Na Jin went to the Twelfth Master’s courtyard. Though the Twelfth Master appeared gentle and refined, as a prince with a military background, he was much more impressive than their pampered Seventh Prince. His attendants were all carefully selected men. Even in this freezing season with ice stretching a thousand miles, they stood in the wind and snow for hours, their backs as straight as pine trees. Unlike those in the Virtuous Prince’s household, who would hunch their shoulders, rub their hands, and blow warm air at the slightest chill, completely losing their composure.

Na Jin felt utterly inadequate as he passed under the watchful eyes of these men. They were like arhats in a temple, gazing down upon mortals from on high. To them, a short, fat man like him with imperfect faculties could only be described as bloated and overfed!

He quickly crossed the covered walkway and reached the corridor under the eaves, where he immediately spotted Sha Tong. He and Sha Tong had some acquaintances; although they served different masters, they were both eunuchs and shared a sense of mutual sympathy. He stood behind a pillar and beckoned, “Tong, come here!”

Sha Tong went over and covered his nose, saying, “Did you sleep in a pickle jar last night? You smell like sour feet!”

Na Jin said, “Don’t mention it. Xiaoshu left her duties and ran off, so what about the two birds? With no one to take care of them, I had to do it—cleaning the cages and removing bird droppings. I wasn’t careful,” he spread his five fingers forward, “and got it all over my hands.”

Sha Tong nearly got touched and quickly stepped back, “Alright, alright, that’s the reward your master gave you. Wash it off with soap! What brings you here so early in the morning?”

Na Jin awkwardly put his hands behind his back and stood on tiptoe to peer at the hall door. “Is the Twelfth Master up yet?”

Sha Tong frowned, “Our master is most disciplined. He rises earlier than the roosters every day… What’s the matter? Do you have business with him?”

“No, no,” Na Jin waved his hands repeatedly. Now that they were in opposing camps, recklessly seeking the Twelfth Master would surely get him cut down. He felt anxious, shrinking back and pointing to the distance, “I’m looking for our Tree. The Seventh Prince summoned her; he had instructions… Tong, we’re on the same side, so I’ll speak frankly. I’m not saying this—the Twelfth Master’s actions are truly unfair. Mu Xiaoshu is, after all, under the Seventh Prince’s banner and entered the Virtuous Prince’s household openly and properly. The master hasn’t given her away, yet she chooses a higher branch and doesn’t return—how can that be? No banner has such rules, right? It’s her good fortune that the Twelfth Master fancies her, but shouldn’t she at least give some explanation before abandoning her former master? Regardless of whether she’s male or female, one should uphold principles of righteousness. Don’t you agree?”

Sha Tong leaned against the wall with his arms folded, looking at him askance, “Don’t ramble to me. Would you dare say this to your master if it were you? Since when did servants like us have a say in our masters’ affairs? I’ve been watching from the beginning. In my opinion, your Seventh Prince’s behavior is truly unfair! A proper young lady and he forced himself on her—what was she supposed to think? Even now he can’t let go; it depends on whether the lady favors him. After what happened last time, I think it’s unlikely. You should advise him too—there are beautiful women everywhere; why fixate on one and make everyone suffer?”

Arms always bend inward—each loyal to his own master. Na Jin felt quite indignant, “What nonsense! No one knew Xiaoshu was a woman. Our master truly likes her. Rather than acknowledging the Seventh Prince’s devotion, why do you criticize him so? Fine, I won’t waste words with you. Please do me the favor of relaying a message to Xiaoshu: the master is calling her, and she should respond promptly. At this point, nothing is settled, so she shouldn’t act so self-important. The Seventh Prince has made it clear—it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t return. He’ll go to Shuntian Prefecture to find her master and ask how he taught his disciple. If the disciple is unworthy, the master must bear responsibility. If she wants to enjoy good fortune, she may go, but her master and senior disciple will repay her debts. That’s all!”

Na Jin left without looking back. Sha Tong stood there fuming, muttering, “Like master, like a servant. Devoted? More like troublesome!” After pondering, he realized this couldn’t be simply overlooked. While the banner registry could be manipulated, Wu Changgeng was a living person. If the Seventh Prince decided to make things difficult, it would truly be hard to handle.

He turned and entered the main house. The Twelfth Master was discussing matters with people in the side hall. As an imperial envoy on a mission, he wasn’t just out hawking; once dispatched, he had to periodically report back to the court and write peace memorials to the Emperor and Emperor Emeritus. With the Twelfth Master absent, only Miss Wen was in the room. When he entered, she was grinding something with a mortar and pestle. He approached and greeted her, “Please sit. Shall I have someone bring some pastries?”

Ding Yi shook her head, “I just heard Na Jin’s voice. Did he come by?”

Sha Tong affirmed and relayed the message. She paused slightly upon hearing it, “Trouble comes when you’re sitting at home. My master and senior disciple haven’t benefited from me; instead, they’ve been disturbed because of me. This sin is too great. I thought a lot last night. The Twelfth Master and Seventh Prince are brothers after all, and the court mission is barely half complete. They still need to work together in the future. If they become irreconcilable enemies because of me, it would reflect poorly on the Twelfth Master when word gets out. After much consideration, I should return to my original post. With proper guidance, the Seventh Prince is willing to listen to reason.” She turned and took a warm hat from the hat tube and put it on, smiling, “Please tell the Twelfth Master for me that I’ve left. Tell him not to worry; I can handle things myself.”

That was her way—accustomed to independence. With or without a man, she had her backbone. Sha Tong admired this about her; it was what made her respectable. After enduring hardship for over a decade, she hadn’t become dependent upon finding the Twelfth Master. Instead, she weighed the advantages and disadvantages. Returning wasn’t just for her master’s sake but also the Twelfth Master’s. The Seventh Prince’s temperament was like a dog’s—everyone could see but not touch, which made him feel better. If he were simply excluded, he would destroy what he couldn’t have—that was his flaw. The Twelfth Master had fallen into the mortal world, wholly focused on a lasting relationship. Sha Tong had held back many words, restrained by the difference in status. Now that Miss Wen understood without explanation, nothing could be more appropriate. This young woman was righteous, causing no worry as she understood the stakes. With such a chivalrous spirit, she was truly worthy of their Twelfth Master.

He called for an umbrella and held it over her head, “It’s snowing outside. Let me escort you. Allow me to add a word—be careful when you reach the Seventh Prince. If anything happens, shout. I’ve stationed people outside; they’ll rush in to save you at your call. I must say, I find you quite remarkable, and our master hasn’t misjudged. So take care of yourself. The Twelfth Master is a responsible and calculating man. Current difficulties don’t matter; good days await you in the future!”

Ding Yi smiled, “Don’t keep using ‘you’ so formally. It makes me uncomfortable. I see things clearly—I neither think too highly of myself because of the Twelfth Master’s favor nor do I belittle myself because of my humble origins. I am who I am, still the same as before.”

Sha Tong admired her even more. To have such an attitude, one must first be steady and composed. He smiled in agreement, “Honestly, I’m still used to calling you Xiaoshu—such a lively name. Your formal name sounds like that of a noble lady, a name befitting someone who stands alongside the Twelfth Master. This nickname reflects your resilience. Think about it—a small tree facing wind and rain, growing upward, eventually becoming a towering tree.”

The two chatted as they returned to Ding Yi’s quarters. After Sha Tong left, she changed her clothes—a long robe, a jacket with a ‘cow-tongue’ hat—and made herself presentable before heading to the Seventh Prince’s courtyard. She was a bird keeper and still had to care for the two birds; otherwise, she would be useless.

She was somewhat afraid; after yesterday’s abuse, she shuddered at the memory. But she couldn’t avoid seeing him. They hadn’t even reached Ningguta yet, and they had to travel together—how far could she avoid him? She forced herself to go. As she passed through the connecting courtyard, several guards gave her strange looks and started gossiping after she passed. She paid no mind. Whether true or false, she had lived as a man for over a decade, and she had mastered the broad-mindedness of the gentlemen of Beijing.

The wind carried snowflakes for thousands of miles. She lifted the curtain to enter, and fine snow drifted in with her, falling on the carpet inside the threshold, and melting in the blink of an eye. She didn’t dare raise her eyes. The hem of the Seventh Prince’s robe was not far ahead. She swept her sleeve and bowed deeply as before, “Greetings, Master.”

Earlier, the Seventh Prince had been full of resentment, pacing inside and outside. He wondered what attitude to take when he saw her, how to reason with her. Though he had accumulated a basketful of words, from the moment she entered, he forgot them all—he was at a loss for words, feeling embarrassed and unable to look her in the face. Truthfully, for a man to mistreat a woman this way was indefensible. He deeply regretted his actions—using force, stripping her clothes, and pressing her on the kang. These were the actions of a bandit. Looking back, it felt like a nightmare. How could he be such a person? He must have been possessed at the time. He wanted to apologize, to say he was worse than a beast, but couldn’t bring himself to do so. After all, he bore the Yu Wen surname. If he admitted to being beastly, wouldn’t that implicate the Emperor on the Dragon Throne as well? He maintained proper conduct on important matters.

She was bowing, and he couldn’t let her remain bent over. Awkwardly, he uttered, “Rise.” Stealing a glance at her, he saw she was quite composed as she turned to tend to the birds. He was filled with anxiety, wanting to speak but feeling unable to open his mouth, unwilling to lose face. She spoke first, asking, “Have you fed the birds this morning? What about food and water?”

He seized the opportunity to approach, “I’ve given them everything. I was afraid you wouldn’t return, and what would happen to the two birds? What if they starved to death? They cost several hundred taels… Tree, I was reckless yesterday and wronged you. Don’t be angry with me. How could I be so crude? That must not have been me.”

If it wasn’t him, was it a ghost possessing him? Ding Yi looked up at him, “There are many wronged souls here—exiled and neglected, treated like animals, and disposed of at will. Can the master bear to see this?”

Tsk, what a kind heart. The Seventh Prince hurriedly said, “I’ll summon the estate manager later. The laborers on the estate need reorganization. Working day and night without rest—they’re all born of parents and shouldn’t be mistreated this way.” He smiled ingratiatingly, “If there’s anything else wrong, just say the word, and I’ll take care of it for you. Just don’t be angry with me. From today, I’ll reform. Give me a chance—can we start anew?”

She lowered her eyes and said, “I still serve you, just like before.” After a pause, she added, “Before coming, I thought of a few things I wanted to tell you. Are you willing to listen?”

The Seventh Prince’s heart was in his throat, like a criminal awaiting sentencing, not knowing whether she would grant him rebirth or condemn him to the eighteenth level of hell. He sat down anxiously, gesturing forward, “No need to ask, of course I’ll listen. Sit…” Seeing she was about to speak, he hurriedly interrupted, “Think carefully. Speak gently—my temper is bad, and if provoked, I might lose control. You speak first, then I’ll respond.”

Ding Yi took a breath, “Master, I stayed at the Twelfth Master’s place last night. Did you know?”

This was deliberately rubbing salt in the wound. The Seventh Prince’s chest suddenly contracted, “Can we avoid this topic? Although you don’t want to be with me, I still care for you. Stabbing me in the heart isn’t very nice! I’m extremely devoted. Look—before, when I thought you were a man, I liked you. Now that you’ve turned out to be a woman, I like you even more. I don’t care about your confusion with Old Twelve; I remain steadfast. I told Na Jin earlier, that as long as you return, we’ll let bygones be bygones… Well, did anything happen between you two last night?”

Regardless of everything, she was still a young woman. The Seventh Prince’s tactless questioning made her face flush red. This question was difficult to answer, yet not answering was also problematic. The ambiguity, if left unaddressed, would fester like gangrene. Better to be straightforward, “I made everything clear to you last night, and after a night’s reflection, my thoughts remain the same. Master, there’s nothing remarkable about me. I’m just a poor girl, getting by through deceit. My greatest wrongdoing was concealing my true situation and serving as your guard. Now I deeply regret it, causing you so much trouble—that wasn’t my intention. I’ve been thinking, you fancy me only because there aren’t many options on this journey. Among a group of rough men, I stand out as the least bad choice. Once we return to Beijing, with its colorful world offering everything, I’ll fade into insignificance. So, Master, please be patient. There will be many fine young ladies in the future. When you look at me again, you’ll find me completely unworthy of notice.”

The Seventh Prince felt she was wrong, “You’re not good? If not, why would Hong Ce lose face by openly competing with me for you? I just realized something—you girls like to be coaxed, attracted to the immediate glamour and excitement. Old Twelve can put on lantern shows? What’s so special about that? I can buy you a hundred sheep and let you herd them. I’ll even set aside a pasture for you. You can collect wool, milk the sheep, and exchange them for silver—much better than lanterns. It’s a real business. I don’t deal with fantasies; I love practicality. Since I can’t be Emperor, money-making is my only hobby, which is why our family is wealthy…”

As he spoke inside, Na Jin, eavesdropping outside the window, sighed continuously, thinking his master was truly beyond help. To court a woman, one should cater to her preferences. Talking about practicality during a romantic moment, comparing his sheep herding to the other’s lantern display—how could they be the same? No wonder the consorts in his household were all arranged marriages. He wasn’t willing to put in effort; they simply followed their fate when marrying him. With such a lack of romantic sensibility, always talking about money, he was shallow and reeked of copper. How could he compare to the graceful Twelfth Master?

Sure enough, Xiaoshu rejected him, “This has nothing to do with money. I value my own heart.”

“Can’t I enter your heart? What’s wrong with me? I have height and looks. I only lack one thing—I’m not as pretentious as Old Twelve. He may seem gentle as warm water, but that boy has grand ambitions. I’m very good at judging people.” After some thought, realizing that slandering his opponent wasn’t gentlemanly, he changed tactics, “Follow me, and I guarantee you’ll want for nothing. I won’t trouble your master’s household anymore. I’ll even support your master so he can enjoy his twilight years in comfort. Isn’t that a generous offer?”

At this, Ding Yi became unhappy, “I’ve already left my master’s side and don’t want to involve him in my personal affairs. If you still wish to employ me, leave my master alone. Otherwise, I’ll risk my life against you.”

Look at that—he hit an iron plate. Who was to blame? The opponent was too strong. None of the Seventh Prince’s conditions were beyond the Twelfth Master’s ability to fulfill. Both were princes, but the other had two additional words in his title. Why would she choose him? Xiaoshu had wandered into the jianghu and saw many strange characters. If angered, she might create unforeseen problems. Now it was a matter of who could be more considerate, who could better capture the beauty’s heart. The Seventh Prince was so foolish that it truly worried Na Jin.

Fortunately, after less than half a cup of tea’s time, the Seventh Prince slapped his thigh as he finally understood, “Fine, I won’t touch your master. From today, I’ll compete with Old Twelve. Don’t rush to a conclusion—see which of us is better! If you ultimately choose me, my worries won’t have been in vain. If you choose Old Twelve, at least I pushed him to be better, so you should still be grateful to me. I won’t force you—I won’t force you in the future. It all depends on your own will. For now, while you’re with me, stay steadfast. Don’t have your body in Cao’s camp but your heart with Han, and don’t be greedy for more after getting what you want. Just open your eyes and choose a son-in-law who will cherish you—it’s a lifelong matter. I’m doing this for your good. I’m about ten years older than you; listen to me, and you won’t go wrong.”

Ding Yi reluctantly complied. At this point, persisting in refusal would bring no benefit. She would have to play along for now. After some time, when his enthusiasm waned, surely peace would return.