Hearing that the young prince wanted to gather the Black and Crimson groups, Liu Ying’s heart jumped. His gaze swept across his lord’s face, which faintly carried a killing intent. Leaving the city in the dead of night—all because the Chancellor’s third young lady was meeting the Fourth Prince on the grassland?

The Anqing Prince held substantial military power, and the estate’s Black Robe Cavalry were death warriors formed by decree of the late Emperor, obeying only the prince’s household’s commands. Apart from the Anqing Prince himself, only the young prince could mobilize them; ordinarily, no one even knew where they were hidden. The Black Robe Cavalry had six groups in total—even to guard the current Prince Ning’s ascension to the throne would require no more than five groups. Tonight, he was gathering two groups. Liu Ying couldn’t help but grow tense.

Half an hour later, over a hundred shadowy figures had silently appeared in front of Songfeng Hall at the estate, all uniformly wearing black scarves over their faces. The Black group wore dark green soft armor, the Crimson group wore deep red battle attire. In the darkness, if one didn’t look closely, they seemed to blend into the night itself.

Liu Jue said coldly, “Tonight, this young prince goes hunting on the grassland. The Black group will follow, the Crimson group will provide support.”

The hundred-some figures before him knelt on one knee in unison, answering in low voices, “Command received.”

From assembly to departure, the Black Robe Cavalry made almost no sound at all. Their horses’ hooves were all wrapped in cloth, and they galloped through the streets to the South City Gate. The soldiers guarding the gate, roused by Liu Ying, opened their eyes and were so frightened their legs gave out and they sat down on the ground. They had no idea when this group of people had appeared.

Without further words, Liu Jue raised his hand, revealing the Crimson Dragon Token. This was the token bestowed upon the Anqing Prince’s estate by the late Emperor before his death—whoever held it, in times of court turmoil, had the power of life and death, and could directly take over the city’s defense. Tonight, Liu Jue had actually used this token just to leave the city.

Upon seeing the Crimson Dragon Token, the soldiers opened the gate without a second thought. The group galloped off toward the grassland, like a dark cloud drifting across the ground in the moonlight.

The soldier rubbed his eyes again. Hearing the last person in the horse procession say coldly, “You slept soundly through the night, you’re dreaming right now,” the soldier nodded blankly. Watching the dark cloud drift away, he hurriedly closed the gate, shrank back into the guardhouse, and huddled under his blanket, trembling as he tried to sleep.

Five li outside Feng City, Liu Jue waved his hand, and the Crimson group split into several smaller groups, dispersing into the grassland. The Black group death warriors followed closely behind Liu Jue. When they could faintly see distant firelight, Liu Jue urged his horse on even faster. Suddenly, they heard the twang of a bowstring, and Liu Ying’s horsewhip curled around what turned out to be a headless arrow. Ahead, the grass stirred, and several dozen figures stepped out. In the moonlight, it was clear—they were dressed in the manner of the Fourth Prince’s estate.

One man stepped forward and said quietly, “Could this be the Anqing Prince estate’s Black Robe Cavalry?”

Liu Ying shouted, “How dare you block the young prince’s path!”

The man bowed to Liu Jue but didn’t back down. “Greetings, young prince. My lord is currently enjoying the scenery and resting. Please take a detour, young prince.”

Liu Ying said angrily, “Outrageous! Our young prince is out hunting in the dead of night—how dare you speak so insolently?”

The estate guards drew their swords with a flourish, clearly prepared to fight if necessary.

Liu Jue suddenly laughed. “The Fourth Prince is here—well, this shouldn’t have disturbed him, but since we’ve happened to meet, why not enjoy the scenery together with the Fourth Prince?” He looked up at the night sky. “Tonight’s stars are so beautiful! You all may stay behind—too many people would spoil the view.”

Liu Ying said urgently, “My lord!”

Liu Jue glanced at him. Liu Ying had no choice but to withdraw, answering, “This subordinate will wait here.”

Liu Jue rode slowly forward. The estate guards exchanged glances. One said, “Please proceed slowly, young prince. This humble servant will go ahead to announce you,” and moved off toward the firelight.

Zili watched A’Luo’s sweetly sleeping face. He’d already sensed the slight tremor in the ground from approaching hoofbeats. After a moment’s thought, he reached over and pressed A’Luo’s sleep acupoint, then carried her into the tent and settled her there. Standing in front of the tent, he heard his guard report that Liu Jue had led the Black Robe Cavalry into the grassland at night, riding in alone.

Zili walked slowly to the campfire and sat down, casually adding wood to the fire. The hoofbeats stopped behind him. Liu Jue laughed heartily. “Your Highness truly has fine taste, knowing how to enjoy yourself like this.” As he spoke, he too walked over and sat by the fire, tossing over a wineskin. “This wine my father brought back from the border city—drinking it feels like fire, exhilarating!”

Zili’s expression was somewhere between a smile and not, and he took the wineskin, drinking a large mouthful before tossing it back to Liu Jue. “What an unusual hobby the young prince has, enjoying nighttime hunting.”

Liu Jue tilted his head back and also drank a large mouthful, laughing. “That’s because the Fourth Prince has never experienced the pleasure of nighttime hunting. You know, hunting at night by watching only the prey’s eyes is truly more thrilling than during the day!”

Zili asked flatly, “Did the young prince see his prey’s eyes tonight?”

Liu Jue’s gaze seemed to flick toward the tent, and he laughed. “The prey was so frightened of this young prince’s arrows that it closed its eyes and went to sleep.”

Zili’s mouth curved into a faint smile. “Since it’s already asleep, it seems the young prince will return empty-handed tonight.”

Liu Jue suddenly stood up, stretched, and laughed. “This young prince never returns empty-handed. I’ll just wake it up.” He said this while stepping toward the tent. Zili’s form moved, already blocking the entrance. “This young prince goes off to hunt on the grassland himself—I won’t see you off.”

Liu Jue’s face turned cold. “This young prince saw a pair of eyes flickering inside the tent. If they’re wandering about disturbing Your Highness’s sleeping quarters, that wouldn’t be good—let this young prince catch it and bring it out!” He suddenly swept a palm strike toward the tent.

Zili raised a hand to block the strike, smiling. “There’s no need for the young prince to trouble himself over matters inside my tent!”

Liu Jue sneered coldly. “Why doesn’t Your Highness satisfy this young prince’s curiosity?” The two figures moved, and they actually began to fight. Amid the fierce clash of palm strikes, there was a resounding “boom,” and the tent collapsed. Zili started, rushed into the tent, and pulled out A’Luo, still wrapped in her blanket.

Liu Jue stopped his hand. “My apologies—so Your Highness was meeting a confidante under the stars on the grassland. This young prince was rather rash.”

Zili’s expression had turned quite grim, and he said flatly, “Not at all, not at all. If the young prince still has the mood for it, why not continue drinking? A’Luo is sleeping soundly and wasn’t disturbed.”

Liu Jue’s eyes swept over A’Luo’s sleeping face. He could tell she’d had her acupoint pressed and was still deep in dreams. He stepped back and sat by the fire, drinking.

Several estate attendants appeared from nowhere, quickly gathering up the collapsed tent and leaving. On the empty grassland, only the enormous campfire remained, crackling and burning. Zili gently laid A’Luo on the felt mat, his movements light and tender.

Liu Jue suddenly spoke. “Your Highness truly has good fortune—in another two months, you’ll be marrying one of Feng City’s Twin Peerless Beauties, Chancellor Gu’s daughter.”

Zili still smiled faintly. “Indeed, quite fortunate. When the time comes, please do come to witness the ceremony, young prince.”

Liu Jue chuckled, his eyes looking toward A’Luo. “Could it be Your Highness wishes to enjoy the fortune of having multiple wives?”

Zili smiled. “The tale of the two sisters E Huang and Nü Ying also made for a fine story—what about it, has the young prince recently been thinking of starting a family too?”

Liu Jue laughed. “Perhaps Your Highness doesn’t know—this young prince already proposed to Chancellor Li before the New Year, and the Chancellor happily agreed. We’re just waiting for his youngest daughter to come of age before the wedding.”

The smile froze on Zili’s face. He was silent for a moment, then resumed smiling. “It seems this young prince isn’t the only one who’s proposed to Chancellor Li. A woman doesn’t marry two husbands—could it be Chancellor Li intends to keep a foot in both boats?”

Liu Jue stared at Zili’s face, seeing him meet his gaze openly, showing no trace of guilt, and for a moment couldn’t tell if he was being truthful or not. It was well known that Chancellor Li was cunning and deeply calculating—could it be that having married one daughter to the Crown Prince, he wanted to marry another to the Fourth Prince as well? So that whoever ascended the throne, he’d profit either way? Liu Jue’s mind turned rapidly, his smile unchanged on the surface. “What should we do about this, then, Your Highness? Could it be the two of us need to settle this with a contest? That would be quite embarrassing if word got out.”

Zili understood Liu Jue’s meaning—the embarrassment would naturally fall on Chancellor Gu, whose daughter wasn’t yet married, while another proposal had already been made to Chancellor Li. Where would Chancellor Gu’s dignity go? Moreover, Gu Tianlin’s marriage had been arranged by Prince Ning himself. This would also be an affront to Prince Ning. Zili said flatly, “A’Luo still has more than a year before coming of age. Let A’Luo decide.” Then his eyes suddenly turned sharp, his gaze sweeping across Liu Jue’s face. “This prince has no wish for anything to force her hand.”

Seeing an opportunity to withdraw gracefully, Liu Jue laughed heartily. “This young prince isn’t one to be unreasonable either. A melon forced to ripen isn’t sweet! Of course, if Your Highness and the Gu family’s young lady are deeply devoted to each other and change your mind, don’t forget to let this young prince know.” Liu Jue stood, leapt onto his horse, and looked at the faint glow of dawn on the horizon, murmuring, “The scenery here truly is beautiful.” He was about to spur his horse to leave.

Zili suddenly spoke. “I’ve heard that the young prince has kept Miss Gu’s portrait hanging in Songfeng Tower all this while—is that why you’re competing with me?”

Liu Jue was startled. Zili continued, “If that’s the case, this prince advises you not to set your sights on A’Luo any longer.”

Liu Jue sneered coldly. “Is this how you treat A’Luo? Even if you dote on her, would you really let her suffer as a mere concubine?” Without waiting for a response, he forcefully spurred his horse, which let out a long neigh and galloped off in the direction they’d come from.

Zili stood frozen for a moment, then clasped his hands behind his back and watched as the sky gradually brightened, a touch of orange slowly staining the horizon red. He couldn’t help but sigh softly.

He beckoned, and an attendant brought over a horse. Zili carried A’Luo up and rode into the city. The wind blew past his ears; the April dawn on the grassland still carried a chill. A’Luo’s cheeks were flushed pink, still lost in dreams. Zili held her tightly, the soft warmth of her body against him making him feel that his embrace was no longer empty.

Leaping into the Chancellor’s residence, Zili gently woke A’Luo. “We’re at the residence. Go on back.”

A’Luo rubbed her eyes. “Elder Brother, I fell asleep the whole time, I didn’t even keep you company.”

Zili smiled tenderly. “Next time, elder brother will take you to see even more beautiful scenery. It’s getting late—hurry back.”

A’Luo looked at Zili, her heart full of joy—Zili really was so good to her. She waved to him. “Elder Brother, goodbye!” She turned and ran off out of the bamboo grove.

Xiao Yu had already gotten up, and seeing A’Luo walk in, she said, “I saw your door tightly shut and thought you weren’t even awake yet.”

A’Luo stretched and laughed. “I went to the bamboo grove early to practice.” She pinched Xiao Yu’s cheek. “Help me prepare some water to wash my face—I haven’t washed yet.”

After Xiao Yu left, A’Luo looked around, then climbed back in through the window and opened the door from inside. She sat down in front of the mirror, thinking about the thrilling night ride and the beautiful starlit grassland. She thought, if it weren’t for Chancellor Li’s pressure, if not for all the complicated ancient customs, living freely forever in this beautiful land would actually be quite pleasant. Things could never be perfect on both sides. This wasn’t the modern world, where she could do whatever she wanted. Still, whenever she could snatch a moment of ease, she’d take it. Who knew what else might happen.

After breakfast, once Seventh Madam had returned from paying respects at the main hall, A’Luo said to her, “Mother, we have enough silver now. Shall we run away?”

Seventh Madam smiled at A’Luo. “San’er, how would we leave? Without a foolproof plan, we can’t act rashly—otherwise how far would we even get?”

A’Luo also smiled. “I know. I just want so badly to leave. Don’t worry, until we’re properly prepared, I won’t reveal the slightest hint. Now that we have the silver, we still have over a year to plan our route and arrange everything properly.”

Seventh Madam smiled with relief.