They said she was the pearl of the Fengjian clan, the most treasured princess of the Fengjian clan. Everyone loved and protected her, everyone doted on her. She had once possessed so many people’s love that even in their final moments of death, they hadn’t changed—they had left the last chance of survival to her.

“I miss you all so much, so much, so much…” Yusang closed her eyes and reached out her hand, gently moving it through the air as if those familiar faces were right beside her. Unknowingly, something slipped from her eyes and dripped onto the steps.

“You’re crying?” A sudden voice came from nearby. Yusang was somewhat startled and slowly opened her eyes to discover that Yan Qige was already standing among the wild grass several steps away, though she didn’t know when he had arrived.

Yusang stood up, looking at him with embarrassment and confusion, saying, “How did you come here?”

Yan Qige didn’t answer Yusang’s question. He simply walked over with his hands behind his back, stopped in front of her, studied Yusang for a moment, then looked up at the tall palace before them, saying, “Dajing City, Fengjian Dajing. This is the ancient site of the Fengjian clan.”

Yusang walked a few steps forward, turned her head to look upward following Yan Qige’s gaze. That great hall stood like a lonely old man, erected there waiting for its master’s return.

“There are legends in the world that the Fengjian clan was annihilated in a single battle by the ancestral emperor of the human realm, with only the youngest daughter of the Fengjian clan leader escaping this calamity,” Yan Qige turned his head slightly to look up at Yusang, who stood gazing from the high steps.

“Two thousand years ago, the Fengjian clan was destroyed, and Dajing City fell. The Dajing Imperial Palace was also destroyed, and all the Fengjian clanspeople perished in a single battle. Only I survived. That’s right—I am the last princess of the Fengjian clan, Yu Wensang.” Yusang smiled and turned her head to give Yan Qige a brilliant smile, then resumed her upward gaze.

Yan Qige said nothing more, only standing in place watching Yusang, who wore a smile on her face but sadness in her eyes. After a long while, he reached out his hand to grasp hers that hung at her side.

Yusang turned her head in surprise, discovering that Yan Qige was examining her with a look she had never seen before. Yan Qige reached out to wipe away a trace of remaining tears beneath Yusang’s eyes, saying, “In the future, you don’t need to cry behind my back, nor do you need to force a smile when you see me. If you want to cry, you can do so openly in front of me—I won’t laugh at you.”

…

…

Yusang was stunned. After a long moment, she numbly nodded, then turned to leave with something of a sigh, saying, “Who knows if you’ll acknowledge this once you turn around? You’ll probably still bully me as usual later.”

“Actually…” Yan Qige hesitated to speak. This was something Yusang had never encountered before, so she turned back around to patiently wait for him to continue.

“I don’t want to bully you. It’s just… It’s just that I’ve been alone for too long and have forgotten how to treat someone well. If possible, give me more time. I’ll learn ordinary people’s ways of caring for you and treating you well, as long as you don’t leave first. I’ll always stay with you.”

Yan Qige spoke very slowly, with an unprecedented look of awkwardness and embarrassment on his face. Yusang watched him, standing motionless in place. This was too surprising for her—where was the resemblance to Yan Qige, who always looked down on people from on high? She suspected this was her hallucination.

“Don’t you believe me?” Seeing that Yusang remained silent for a long time, Yan Qige appeared somewhat disappointed.

Yusang came back to her senses. After a pause, she smiled, her eyes covered with helplessness and sadness. In her heart, she silently thought, “What does it matter? When we leave this place, you definitely won’t remember today’s words. As long as you leave this place, all memories of today will disappear.”

But Yusang didn’t voice these thoughts. She simply nodded silently and said, “I believe you.”

Yusang stepped forward and gently embraced Yan Qige, not letting him see her expression. Yan Qige lightly held her waist. For an instant, Yusang felt this sensation seemed very familiar, yet she couldn’t remember where the familiarity came from.

“Does the wound still hurt? Zi Feng said you need to rest for one night,” Yusang asked, smelling the medicinal fragrance from Yan Qige’s shoulder.

“Zi Feng? That’s the doctor, right? He seemed quite unwilling for me to continue resting there—he was quite angry.”

“We’ve known each other since childhood. He’s not bad-hearted, just has a poor temper.”

“You asked him to save me. It seems I owe you a favor.”

“Do you want to repay this favor?” Yusang asked with a smile, stepping back from Yan Qige.

“Tell me.”

“I haven’t thought of anything yet. I’ll tell you when I do.” Yusang said mischievously, leaving with a face full of smiles. However, the moment she turned around, her eyes became somewhat sore. Knowing clearly that everything would be forgotten upon leaving here, how could she dare ask for promises?

Yusang took Yan Qige to get a flower wine as a thank-you gift for Zi Feng. Carrying two wine jars, they returned to Taiyi Island two hours later. Upon entering the courtyard of Yunjin Pavilion, Yusang saw Zi Feng standing under the corridor. She took a breath and called his name in greeting, but after calling twice, Zi Feng didn’t respond.

Yusang thought he was still angry, so she moved closer. Only then did she discover a yellow immobilization talisman pasted on his shoulder. Yusang was greatly alarmed and immediately turned to look at Yan Qige.

Yan Qige walked forward several steps with his hands behind his back, looking completely calm, saying, “He kept making noise and demanding to know what relationship you and I have. I had no intention of competing with him…”

“So you used a talisman to immobilize him?” Yusang was shocked, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“It appears so.”

“Yan Qige, if he wants to kill you later, I definitely won’t stop him.”

“That would depend on his abilities.”

“You’d better take care of yourself.” Yusang sighed, closed her eyes, and tore off the talisman paper from Zi Feng’s shoulder. Before Yusang could see clearly, she only felt a purple shadow flash before her eyes, and then the sound of two people fighting came from beside her.

Zi Feng directly forced Yan Qige to retreat several steps. Once they entered the courtyard, the two began casting spells—one using phantom swords, the other using flower shadow transformation techniques. They shook the flowers and trees in the entire courtyard until leaves rustled down, and even the cherry blossoms outside the courtyard were shaken and flew inside.

Yusang let them continue their magical duel while she carried the two wine jars into the room herself. She made tea and sat by the window to drink it. After finishing one pot, she felt somewhat drowsy. Seeing they still hadn’t stopped, she closed the windows and door and went to bed to sleep.

When Yusang woke up again, it was already the next morning. Sunlight swayed and shone into her eyes. She blocked it with her hand before opening her eyes and discovered someone standing backlit in front of her.

“Yan Qige?” Yusang called out questioningly, then sat up in bed. Only then did she realize the person standing before her was Zi Feng. She saw his clothes were disheveled, his chest garment half-open, his long hair scattered messily over his shoulders. That handsome face showed fierce light, appearing very angry and unwilling.

In Yusang’s memory, Zi Feng was the most fastidious about cleanliness. Since childhood, he had prided himself on his elegant and handsome appearance, unmatched in the world. Being so unkempt was a first. She couldn’t help but be both shocked and want to laugh, asking, “What happened? Who did this?”

“Yan Qige.”

“This…” Yusang was speechless. She couldn’t imagine that Yan Qige had stripped Zi Feng’s clothes. Her mind buzzed continuously for a moment, then she urgently asked, “Where is he now?”

“All you know is to ask about him. I’m standing right in front of you, and you don’t even ask about me once. Your heart is getting harder and harder. Get out.” Zi Feng waved his sleeves and began driving her away. Yusang rolled off the bed, nimbly put on her shoes, and darted out the door. Only then did she discover that the courtyard, which yesterday had been lush with trees and abundant flowers, was now left with fallen leaves and broken trees, with debris scattered everywhere.