“Where did you go?” As I snuck back into the room, just about to congratulate myself on not being discovered, I heard a voice devoid of warmth.

“I just went to relieve myself.” Lying without blushing has always been one of my proudest qualities.

With a “swish” sound, a lamp was lit in the darkness. Feng Tingxie’s expression could be described with a line from Brother Li He’s poetry—”dark clouds press upon the city, threatening to crush it.”

“I waited for you for three whole hours. Does relieving yourself take that long?”

“Were you waiting to sing me a lullaby? You’re a grown man, and it’s so late. Is it proper for a man and woman to share a room?”

As I spoke, I began to undo my belt, preparing to go to bed. From the corner of my eye, I saw his face turn green, and I felt secretly delighted. Hmph! You brat, this young lady has found another bright path, and I no longer need to worry about your mood.

He stood up and said coldly, “Put your clothes back on! My master wants to see you.”

“I’m tired. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow.”

I collapsed onto the bed as I spoke, but before my head could touch the pillow, he pulled me up. His expression was unprecedentedly serious. “My master wants to see you. Now.”

I complained, “If he wants to see me, why doesn’t he come here himself?”

He was speechless with anger. “Do you know who he is?”

Whoever he is, I need to conserve my energy for tomorrow’s escape and don’t want any complications. “I only know that sleep is very important for a woman’s appearance…”

Before I could finish speaking, I felt my chest go numb, and my entire body could no longer move. Feng Tingxie wore an expression of utter exasperation. “Forgive me, Miss Rong.”

He hoisted me onto his shoulder and, instead of going downstairs, leaped onto the roof. With a few light bounds, I was already dizzy and disoriented, unable to tell north from south. In a moment, he jumped into a deep, secluded courtyard, released my pressure points, and said in an extremely cold tone, “Miss Rong, I’ve warned you. When you meet my master, please mind your words.”

I surveyed the magnificent yet dignified courtyard and sneered silently. When outmatched in skill, there was naturally nothing to say.

Although it was spring, the nights were still cold. We waited in the darkness for a long time, but no one came. The courtyard was brightly lit, yet eerily silent without the slightest noise.

Finally, a delicate-skinned young man arrived with just one sentence: “Follow me.”

Feng Tingxie nodded without replying.

As we reached the rear courtyard, we heard a clear voice say, “You’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting so long I fell asleep.”

A man in blue garments stood quietly under the corridor, looking at us with gentle eyes. It was the noble young master I had encountered at the Wuxi brothel.

“You must be Miss Rong?”

He had eyes as clear as water, the kind of unstained gaze cultivated in an overly fortunate environment, possessing natural tolerance and compassion. He was undoubtedly a man born with gravity that could not be ignored. My belly full of resentment suddenly dissipated, and I even had the illusion that just being looked at by him made any wait worthwhile.

Feng Tingxie lightly tugged at my clothes and whispered, “My master is speaking to you.”

I came to my senses. “Yes, I am Rong Shukuang.”

“It’s cold outside. Let’s talk inside.” He smiled and turned around, his blue sleeves drawing ripples like water in the night.

I swallowed dryly and followed him in. Although the room was warm, it was still not as cozy as being under the covers. To avoid delaying my sleep any further, I decided to get straight to the point.

“May I ask, what do you two want from me?” I sat down casually on a chair. After wandering all evening and standing for so long, my legs were very sore.

Feng Tingxie stood nearby, and seeing my casual manner, his expression changed slightly. He kept giving me looks, which I pretended not to notice.

The young master in blue seemed unconcerned and smiled, “Tingxie, you sit down too.”

“Yes!” Feng Tingxie bowed in thanks and sat across from me.

“Miss Rong, Master Lin has told me about your purpose for this journey,” he smiled. “I greatly admire your courage and bravery.”

I laughed dryly, “You didn’t bring me here so late just to praise me, did you?”

Feng Tingxie’s face turned ashen. The young master in blue, however, laughed out loud. “Miss Rong truly lives up to being a child of the jianghu. I’ll be brief. I hope that from now on, Miss Rong will report directly to Tingxie about your actions. He will fully cooperate with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“That list—if you obtain it, you can give it directly to Feng Tingxie.”

“Who exactly are you people?” I couldn’t sit still anymore.

“There’s no harm in telling you. We are people from the imperial court.”

“How can you prove it?”

“I can’t. Even if I could, I wouldn’t show you proof.” He was still smiling. “Miss Rong, you must understand. If this matter fails, it’s just a jianghu dispute, unrelated to the court. If it succeeds, you still get no credit.”

I sneered, “Then why should I give the list to you?”

“As they say, a commoner bears no guilt, but possession of a treasure brings trouble. Miss Rong surely understands this principle. This list is a major problem for whoever possesses it.”

“With this ‘major problem,’ at least I can reclaim Yu Chi Mountain Manor’s shops in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.”

“In this regard, Master Lin is undoubtedly wiser than Miss Rong.” He rose to his full height, smiling, “Miss Rong, please consider: what Prince Han can do, can’t the imperial court also do? Since ancient times, commoners do not fight against officials!” His casual tone contained a thick vein of threat.

These words were not wrong!

I couldn’t help but re-examine him. High forehead, large eyes, straight nose bridge, and gentle eyes that now emitted a hawk-like sharpness. Who exactly was he? The Embroidered Uniform Guard? No, that group was supposedly directly commanded by the emperor. Yet he not only had a group of well-trained yellow-clothed guards but also first-rate bodyguards like Feng Tingxie.

In a flash of insight, I thought of someone. Could it be…?

I stepped back, eyes wide, looking him over from head to toe again, my mind rapidly searching through memories. If I wasn’t mistaken, this person was the current Crown Prince, the future Xuanzong Emperor—Zhu Zhanji.

OMG! This thought startled me greatly, making me so excited that my body couldn’t help but tremble slightly. Feng Tingxie seemed to remember something and took out a pill, offering it to me. “You haven’t taken your medicine tonight.”

I accepted the pill and ate it, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, then raised my head to meet his gaze, striving to maintain composure.

“Very well. I promise you, if I get that list, I’ll immediately give it to Feng Tingxie.” Hmph! Listen carefully. I said, “if.”

He smiled with satisfaction, “Excellent! Tingxie will ensure your safety. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

I tossed my hair and coughed dryly, “There is indeed one question.”

He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Go ahead.”

“May I ask your honorable surname?”

At this, both he and Feng Tingxie were startled.

“Haha, if Miss Rong completes this task, you will naturally know.”

At this point, I was pretty sure my guess was eight or nine-tenths correct. Suddenly, I made a bold decision.

“When I was young, I met a master who taught me a bit about physiognomy and astronomy.”

He looked at me sideways. “Oh?”

I smiled. “Regarding Prince Han’s conspiracy, you can rest assured. I can tell you plainly that he has absolutely no chance of success. On the contrary, your appearance is extraordinary, with the countenance of an emperor.”

His expression changed, and Feng Tingxie suddenly sprang out.

The room was quiet, the red candlelight flickering in the night, time suddenly becoming extraordinarily long.

He didn’t speak, just looked at me for a long time.

After a while, Feng Tingxie returned and shook his head slightly at him. “I’ve checked. No one’s there.”

His expression eased somewhat, his gaze taking on a complex quality, his tone becoming clear and cold: “Miss Rong is indeed knowledgeable. However, don’t speak so carelessly in the future. Based on what you just said, I could immediately charge you with a crime.”

“You won’t,” I shook my head. “Because you are a kind person.”

Feng Tingxie drew in a sharp breath, and the air fell silent again.

Finally, he smiled, “It’s late. Miss Rong is unwell. Please go back and rest early.” He turned to Feng Tingxie and said, “Take good care of Miss Rong.”

Feng Tingxie acknowledged with a sound and walked toward me. At that instant, the candlelight suddenly flickered slightly—Feng Tingxie’s sword came out of its scabbard with a clang.

A fierce, cold light flashed past my cheek. I instinctively closed my eyes but heard a short, muffled groan.

When I opened my eyes again, the candles in the room had gone out. The curtains moved without wind, a murderous intent surging unseen. Countless points of sword light gleamed coldly, merging with the clear moonlight shining in from outside. The entire room was filled with shifting lights, making it impossible to distinguish between sword light and moonlight.

Amidst the chaos, the person who might be the future emperor suddenly grabbed my hand and commanded, “Go.”

I could no longer think, only following him as we ran out. The corridor under the moonlight was silently still. A bright sword light thrust toward us, like a sparkling Milky Way breaking through space. Terrified, my legs went weak. Instinctively, I leaned against the wall but pushed too hard, knocking him down.

The sword light that was about to pierce my brow suddenly paused. The attacker made a light “hm” sound, and the sword’s trajectory sharply changed downward, directly targeting the person beneath me.

In that instant of lightning and stone fire, the assassin’s sword broke with a “ding” sound.

A woman scolded in a delicate voice, “How dare you!”

The assassin didn’t reply, his body lunging forward like a moth to a flame, swift as lightning, utterly fearless of death.

Looking closely, I saw a black and a white figure entangled together, their movements so dense that not even wind or water could penetrate.

At this moment, several yellow-clothed men swarmed into the courtyard.

The black-clothed assassin suddenly emitted a short, shrill whistle, forcefully struck out a palm, and his body flew into the air, disappearing into the night after a few bounds. The woman in white leaped up, pursuing relentlessly.

The courtyard was in chaos. Immediately after, two more black shadows darted out, instantly surrounded by the yellow-clothed men. Feng Tingxie shouted sternly, “Keep them alive!”

The two black-clothed men exchanged a glance, their bodies suddenly stiffening as they fell to the ground motionless. Feng Tingxie leaped forward, bent down, and pulled down their face coverings. In the moonlight, I saw that both had bulging eyes, contorted faces, and thick black blood at the corners of their mouths—they had taken poison to commit suicide.

I suddenly felt sick, as if something in my stomach was about to surge up. The world spun, and I felt dizzy, about to fall.

In the quiet of night, one’s senses are often particularly acute. Lying in the quiet, dark room, I stared blankly at the window, jumbled and hurried shadows overlapping on the window paper, like lurking monsters. Everything around me felt both strange and terrifying.

“Can Rong Shukuang be trusted?”

In the silence, someone asked this. The voice was very soft; on a normal day, I might not have heard it. But now, my heart felt as if it had been washed with clear water, extraordinarily clear and quiet.

“She has indeed lost all her martial arts and some of her memory.” Feng Tingxie paused. “Why does the young master ask this?”

“That assassin seemed to recognize her.” He pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed, “Perhaps I’m overthinking. Just now, it was fortunate she blocked the blow.”

I was shocked. Wasn’t this suggesting I was an accomplice of the assassin? How could the assassin possibly recognize me? I knew only a handful of people… No, it’s not that I didn’t recognize the attacker, but rather that the attacker might recognize Rong Shukuang, who was, after all, the leader of Yu Chi Mountain Manor.

“Why hasn’t Jingli returned yet? I hope nothing’s happened to her?”

“Her martial arts have greatly improved these past three years. She’s been eager for action.” Feng Tingxie’s tone was quite reassuring.

Before he finished speaking, I saw a white figure leap into the courtyard, her steps hurried and heavy, not appearing as relaxed as Feng Tingxie’s tone suggested.

The two outside went out to meet her simultaneously. Feng Tingxie exclaimed, “What happened to you?”

I couldn’t help but get up and walk out as well.

Outside, the sky had already turned grayish-white, with a thin crescent moon hanging coldly in the sky. By the moonlight, I could see the woman in the courtyard. Dressed in white, with bright eyes and snow-white skin, she was a great beauty. She had been injured, her pearl-like teeth biting her full red lips, her slender willow eyebrows tightly knitted. Her left hand gripped her right arm, and even in pain, she remained beautiful.

“Jingli, your arm…”

“The opponent showed mercy and didn’t damage the tendons and bones.”

“Who injured you?”

“I couldn’t even see his shadow.”

“How is that possible? What weapon did he use?” Feng Tingxie’s throat seemed suddenly constricted.

“He didn’t use a weapon. I didn’t even see him move. It was like a gentle breeze passing by, and I ended up like this…” Her voice trembled slightly.

“Who in the world has such skills?” The young master in blue, who had been silent, couldn’t help but ask.

“No more than three people.” Feng Tingxie’s pupils contracted slightly, as if afraid of something. “The most likely is Chu…”

“Rong Shukuang? Why are you here?” Feng Jingli suddenly screamed, walking directly toward me with a strangely aggressive look in her eyes.

“Jingli, Miss Rong is the young master’s guest.”

Feng Tingxie restrained her in time, whispering something in her ear. Then, her expression changed from surprise to suspicion, and finally to an extremely complex expression.

Feng Tingxie must have told her about my loss of martial arts and memory. According to him, I should have known Feng Jingli for a long time, and something had happened between us at Biyu Peak. Judging from her attitude toward me today, it probably wasn’t something good.

Right now, my whole body is cold, tired, and exhausted. I didn’t have the energy to figure out these things. “Everyone, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

I started to walk away as I spoke. I’d pointlessly come here to stand in the wind all night and nearly got killed by mistake. I’d truly had enough.

The young master in blue suddenly spoke, “If Miss Rong doesn’t mind, why not stay at my humble abode for the night?”

I immediately turned back: “Please provide a bed.”

A smile spread across his eyes, and he whispered a few words to someone nearby. In a daze, I fixed my eyes on someone’s heel, following them around for a while before finally collapsing onto a bed.

I slept heavily and confusedly, not knowing how much time had passed. When I woke up, the bright moon was high in the sky, and the heavens were clear as washed jade. I was confused for a moment before remembering where I was. Following the corridor and garden, I walked without seeing a single person. The people from last night had suddenly all disappeared. The vast courtyard was empty, with only the hollow sound of my footsteps questioning the cold moon at the edge of the sky.

When I opened the main gate and was about to step out, a person finally appeared. “Miss Rong, Master Feng said he would send someone to receive you.”

I said coldly, “He had an urgent matter and won’t be coming. I was just about to hurry off to meet him.”

The person was startled: “Why haven’t I received any orders?”

I sneered, “You have now. Quickly prepare a sedan chair. I need to go out.”

“This…?”

“If you delay Master Feng’s business, how many heads do you have?” My tone became severe.

The person hesitated no more and turned to leave. Shortly after, two men brought a small sedan chair. Seeing I was still standing at the door, his expression visibly relaxed, clearly believing me now.

“Miss Rong, where do you wish to go?”

“Do I need to tell you where I’m going?” I got into the sedan chair without even lifting my eyelids.

He was rebuffed and called to the two sedan carriers, “Take Miss Rong wherever she wishes to go.”

I took the sedan chair out, went around two streets, and then found an excuse to shake them off. I headed straight for Confucius Temple, hoping Yan Shao was still waiting for me. Otherwise, I’d truly have no options left. In these times, finding a man who was easy to control was so difficult.

At this hour, the moon was setting in the west, and few pedestrians remained on the streets. Like Red Dust fleeing in the night, with anxious feelings, I ran with all my might to seek a man whose real name I didn’t even know. Even for someone like me who made a living writing love stories, this seemed incredible. But I was indeed doing this, proving that life is far more fantastic and strange than you could imagine.

When I reached the teahouse, the owner was about to close. He looked at me with a troubled expression.

“I’m looking for someone.” I hurriedly described Yan Shao’s appearance.

He nodded: “I remember. He came last night and left a generous tip when he left.”

A tip? Didn’t that guy say he didn’t bring any silver? Had he lied to me?

“Has he been here tonight?”

He shook his head: “No.”

My mood immediately plummeted. Liars, all liars. Talking about not missing our meeting—it was just my wishful thinking. Overnight, I felt betrayed and abandoned by the entire world, somewhat filled with misanthropy, completely forgetting that he owed me nothing and had no obligation to help me.

The row of lanterns under the eaves went out one by one, and I gradually sank into darkness. Cold and hunger attacked simultaneously, with unprecedented fragility, nearly bringing me to tears.

The owner blew out the last lamp and said, “The wind is rising. You should go home, miss.”

I ignored him, a feeling of self-destruction welling up inside me, almost wishing to die right then.

“Young people today are so stubborn. That man also stood under these eaves all night yesterday.” He sighed as if talking to himself, turning to go inside.

I quickly asked, “He stood here all night yesterday?”

“Yes,” he closed the door.

I was stunned. Had he not lied to me? Had I slept for two days?

“Hey, open the door, explain yourself more clearly!” I pounded on the door forcefully.

“You’re the one who should explain yourself clearly.” Someone suddenly said coldly behind me.

I turned around and saw Feng Tingxie with a frost-like expression.

“Who are you looking for?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“You promised that your actions must…”

“I only promised one thing: to give you that damn list.” I turned to leave, but after a few steps, my legs suddenly went weak, and my whole body broke out in a cold sweat.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to relieve myself.”

“That excuse isn’t very clever.”

“If you don’t believe me, then follow me!”

“Miss Rong, things have changed. We must set off immediately. Please stop making trouble, will you?” His tone suddenly softened, and he looked at me somewhat pleadingly.

I remained unmoved and said coldly, “With your excellent martial arts and ability to seal pressure points, do you need my consent?”

He was left speechless.

I sneered silently.

After a moment of silence, he said, “Miss Rong, at this point, there should be no secrets between us. Who exactly are you waiting for?”

“She’s waiting for me!” A voice answered faintly from the end of the alley. The voice was deep and rich, with a hint of lazy weariness, like the low tone of a plucked string, which sounded like heavenly music to me.

I turned sharply, and a figure in light blue stood at the entrance of the alley. The moonlight illuminated his clear-cut, thin frame, casting a long, slender shadow. The moonlight shone on his open, forthright features, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he gazed leisurely at me.

Like a child who had been wronged and then saw her mother, I rushed over and hugged him, sobbing, “I thought you’d left.”

He was slightly startled, then embraced me, smiling, “Without seeing you, how could I dare to leave?”

After a while, he gently stroked my hair, “That’s enough, someone’s watching.”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I wiped my tears on his sleeve and looked up to see Feng Tingxie staring at us in astonishment, as if witnessing something incredible.

“Miss Rong, this is…?”

Just as I was about to speak, I felt my waist tighten.

“I am Miss Rong’s traveling physician, known in the jianghu as Yan Shao.”

“Yan Shao?” Feng Tingxie frowned. “Forgive my ignorance, but I’ve truly never heard of this name.”

He nodded and said, “Then you are indeed ignorant. Once upon a time, though the name ‘Yan Shao’ might not have shaken the world, it was certainly renowned for a time.” As he spoke, he sighed lightly, his tone filled with reminiscence.

Feng Tingxie was stunned into silence.

Seeing Feng Tingxie confused by his bluff, I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. If not for previous experience, even I might have been fooled by him.

Feng Tingxie looked at me with doubt.

I immediately said, “That’s right. He is the physician I hired.”

He pondered for a moment, then turned to Yan Shao and asked, “Then may I ask about Miss Rong’s condition? When will she recover?”

Yan Shao’s expression darkened, and in an extremely serious tone, he said, “The cold poison in her body has not been eliminated, and she has caught colds one after another. She has at most two more months to live.”

At this statement, not only was Feng Tingxie greatly shocked, but I was also startled.

Feng Tingxie sneered, “Sir, aren’t you exaggerating? Is your medical skill superior to Divine Physician Li’s?”

“Li Xiuran’s medical skills are certainly not lacking. But she has been traveling continuously and has caught a cold, so her condition has likely worsened.” He said coldly, “Her pupils have turned greenish, and her lips are purplish-black, all signs of deep cold poison infiltration.”

Hearing this, Feng Tingxie stared at my eyes, his expression suddenly changing.

I cried out, “Really? Am I doomed to die?”

Yan Shao held my hand and smiled, “You’re fortunate to have met me.”

Feng Tingxie now dared not be negligent and hurriedly asked, “May I ask for your excellent prescription, sir?”

“Rest assured. Since I’ve become her traveling physician, I will naturally be responsible for curing her.”

“In that case, please wait here with Miss Rong while I check if the carriage is ready.” Feng Tingxie bowed and turned to leave.

Seeing him go far away, I pulled Yan Shao and started to walk, “While he’s gone, let’s escape quickly.”

He stood still, smiling, “Escape to where?”

I was startled, “Wasn’t that the plan? You protecting me as I escape.”

“When we can ride in a carriage, why escape? Besides, your body truly cannot endure any more travel.”

I was shocked, “I thought you were just deceiving him?”

He shook his head, “I wouldn’t joke about your health.”

I was stunned, “So I only have two months to live?”

He took off his robe and draped it over me, smiling, “Don’t worry. With me here, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I was dazed for a while, then asked, “Why are you so good to me?”

He blinked and smiled, “You have an extraordinary appearance, and I want to make friends with you.”

I smiled, “But we still must leave.”

“Why?” His gaze looked at me profoundly.

“I’ll tell you in detail later, but I can’t go with him.”

“After your body recovers, it won’t be too late to get away from him.”

“Getting away from him won’t be easy. This guy has good martial arts, and he has a powerful backer behind him.”

“Haha, then wouldn’t escaping be even more difficult?”

I glared at him, “Are you afraid?”

“I’m afraid your body can’t take it. Why not wait until you’re healed and then plan carefully?” He smiled at me, then suddenly added, “Besides, you can’t escape anyway.”

I sighed helplessly, knowing he was right. If I escaped, perhaps Lin Shaoci wouldn’t do anything, but now that the imperial court was involved, I had no way out. Moreover, there was also a Chu Tianyao.

“Fine, I’ll listen to you for now.”

He looked at me with satisfaction, smiling without speaking.

I suddenly felt I couldn’t directly face such a gaze and lowered my head, only to hear my heartbeat, one wave stronger than the next. His robe had a faint masculine scent, seeming to have a calming power. His clothes had a slight grayish-white tint, but the color had a certain warmth, like the blue night sky on the verge of dawn.

Neither of us spoke, and it was quiet for a while.

I suddenly remembered something and looked up to ask him, “Did you wait for me all night yesterday?”

He was startled, and his pale face slightly reddened, his expression somewhat embarrassed.

It was the first time I’d seen him blush, and I couldn’t help but find it amusing. “You waited for me all night?”

He coughed dryly, “Yes.”

I teased, “Waiting for me isn’t something to be ashamed of. Why are you embarrassed?”

He suddenly raised his eyes to look directly at me and sighed, “I just never expected that at my age, I would still be foolishly waiting for a woman at night.”

I was somewhat moved, but outwardly I dismissed it: “It’s natural for men to wait for women. There’s a saying: ‘Men spend their lives waiting for women, half the time waiting for women to get dressed—'”

I paused.

He asked, “And the other half?”

Ha! I was waiting for this question and immediately said, “The other half is spent waiting for women to undress.”

He laughed: “Nonsense.”

I also laughed: “The one who said this was a famous novelist named Gu Long.”

He didn’t ask who Gu Long was, only saying mildly, “Is that so? But what he said isn’t accurate. Look, I’m helping you put clothes on right now, aren’t I?” As he finished, his eyes fixed intently on me.

My face reddened, and I changed the subject: “By the way, you just said at my age.’ How old are you?”

He suddenly sighed lightly: “I’m old.”

I smiled mischievously: “How old is ‘old’?”

He smiled: “What do you think?”

I held his arm, examining him carefully for a moment. Smooth forehead, slender phoenix eyes, deep black pupils that seemed able to encompass all things in heaven and earth, the corners of his lips curled in a smile, yet his gaze suddenly became profound and unfathomable.

“I think you… hmm, you’re like a monster.”

He was startled: “I’m like a monster?”

“Yes, one moment you’re like a frivolous, playful youth, the next like a murderous warrior, and now you’ve transformed again into a jianghu physician. If you’re not a monster, what are you?”

Looking at his unpredictable expression, I couldn’t help but lean against him and laugh heartily.

He only shook his head and smiled bitterly.