In the dark night, Su Jin heard clamorous sounds, yet she didn’t know whether this clamor truly came from deep within her body or from the lively Flower Morning Night festivities outside the inn.

When people stay in darkness long enough, they can see things even by a sliver of moonlight.

But when Su Jin lifted her eyes, she felt the moonlight extinguished the moment it entered the room. The entire chamber was so dim she could only see Zhu Nanxian’s eyes—the fierce fire galloping in his gaze, the crystalline sweat on his brow.

Actually, it wasn’t that it didn’t hurt.

But she was accustomed to endurance. In that instant, she bit down hard on her teeth. Though she made no sound, she still felt her breathing choke, her mind momentarily blank.

It wasn’t until he called out, “A’Yu,” his gentle kisses falling on her face, that her consciousness was summoned back.

He asked, “A’Yu, does it hurt terribly? You’re… trembling.”

His voice was frighteningly hoarse, clearly showing he was extremely restraining himself.

She didn’t want him to restrain himself so much.

So she fumbled to extend her hand to his shoulder and softly replied, “I’m fine.”

Only then did Zhu Nanxian slowly begin to move.

Despite being extremely gentle and slow, for her at this moment, each movement was no different from earth-shaking tremors.

Halfway through, Zhu Nanxian suddenly felt heartache.

She had drifted alone through half her life. After coming to him, he had wanted to promise her all the best things in the world. Who knew that things would come to this—hastily finding an inn to marry, when it should clearly be a wedding night with flowers and candles, yet there were neither flowers nor candles, and they had even forgotten to drink the aged wine they’d bought to serve as ceremonial wine.

He could only be as tender as possible, as lingering as possible, yet it was like cooking oil over fierce flames—the more it burned, the more scorching it became.

Su Jin found it strange. Earlier, when it hurt terribly, she could still endure it. Now that the pain had faded, her whole being was slowly wrapped in a floating, drifting sensation, yet she could no longer hold back, a soft moan escaping from her lips.

Hearing this soft moan, the fire that Zhu Nanxian had buried in his chest and abdomen could no longer be suppressed, instantly igniting throughout his entire body.

In a daze, Su Jin felt as if she had returned to their earlier escape route.

Behind them were pursuing soldiers, sounds of battle cries. Zhu Nanxian had switched places with her on the horse, racing swiftly forward.

The horse’s body jolted. Surrounded entirely by his presence, the swaying journey grew faster and faster, yet somehow they couldn’t pass through the imperial concubine-colored cherry rain.

Cherry petals drifted and swayed, gently touching her lashes, her lips. Yet the steed was swift, fierce, wild and unbridled, carrying her with both strength and gentleness, not knowing where they were heading.

Finally escaping the pursuing soldiers, they reached the water’s edge. Zhu Nanxian shouted, “Boatman!” His arm around her waist, yet he wasn’t about to leap onto a boat.

A gust of wind swept up the cherry petals, sweeping him and her into midair, into the clouds, into the river waters dotted with floating lanterns.

Su Jin’s entire being was hazy, unable for a moment to distinguish heaven from earth. Unable to hold back any longer, she called out, “Your Majesty…”

Since he was the late emperor, naturally he was still Your Majesty.

But he didn’t want to be Your Majesty.

Zhu Nanxian, propped above Su Jin, was drenched in sweat, long past the point of self-control, yet still he held her hand to his lips to kiss gently, saying, “A’Yu, call my name.”

Su Jin’s entire being was melting into water. Yielding completely, she softly called, “Nanxian…”

Her voice was as soft as spring rain, nearly wrapping around the fierce fire throughout his body, ready to explode.

Zhu Nanxian had governed the realm, commanded three armies, bathed in blood on battlefields, been trapped in the overt schemes and covert struggles for succession, climbed to the pinnacle of power, and in one day fallen into dust.

He believed himself fearless, unafraid of death. Yet today, just hearing her call his name once, the fire that had just been extinguished blazed up vigorously again, self-abandoningly wishing only to bury his entire life here.

The clamor outside the window had faded at some point. The bright moon grew increasingly luminous, moonlight spilling into the room, illuminating the scattered clothing all over the floor.

The panting sounds were endless. Later, even the moonlight softened. Once more gradually stopping, gradually ceasing, the entire bedding was soaked with sweat.

Zhu Nanxian bent down to embrace Su Jin. The person in his arms had long since become boneless and soft. Her hair, dampened with sweat, clung to her cheeks. Her eyes were closed, trembling lightly.

He had been too demanding.

“A’Yu?” he called to her.

Su Jin slightly opened her eyes to look at him, responding with a low sound.

He brushed aside her hair, gently placed her on the bed, poured a cup of tea to feed her, then put on his clothes and called out at the door, “Innkeeper!” Tossing out an ingot of silver, he said, “Bring water for bathing, and go find two sets of clean clothes.”

The innkeeper’s hand grew heavy. Looking down, he saw this silver ingot weighed a full ten taels. He hastily said, “Guest, please wait!”

The servant was clever. The two sets of clothing he found were both sized to fit them.

Before long, the bathing tub was carried in. The servant mixed hot and cold water to adjust the temperature, placed soapberry powder and cloth towels to the side, then withdrew.

Zhu Nanxian lifted the bed curtain and saw Su Jin sitting there draped in a thin robe. He said gently, “A’Yu, shall I help you wash?”

Color rose again on Su Jin’s cheeks. She lowered her eyes and softly hummed in agreement.

He removed the robe draped over her shoulders, lifted her horizontally, and placed her in the water. First, he used soapberry powder to help her wash her hair clean. When he was about to wash her body, he found it inconvenient across the tub. After a moment’s hesitation, he removed his clothes and also stepped into the tub.

With one more person, the water immediately rose half a foot, permeated with misty vapor. Su Jin lifted her eyes to look at him. Before he could reach out to embrace her, she had already leaned forward, imitating his earlier manner. She used soapberry powder to clean his dark hair, then took fresh soapberry powder and worked it into lather, wiping from his neck to behind his ears, to his shoulders and chest, bit by bit.

Halfway through wiping, she sensed his unusual state. She reached into the water—hard and burning hot.

She looked at him with surprise, couldn’t help lowering her eyes with a faint smile, asking softly, “What shall we do?”

This “What shall we do?” carried a trace of gentleness, a trace of charm, a trace of cleverness and wit that belonged uniquely to Su Shiyu. Falling into this water, it nearly hollowed out his heart.

But they hadn’t slept all night, going through three or four rounds. Just now they’d finally washed clean. Even considering her body, he should exercise restraint.

So he gently held her hand against his heart, gazing at her, “I can endure it.”

She looked back into his eyes, her gaze clear and cool, “Is that so?”

Withdrawing her hand from his palm, she climbed onto his shoulders, pressed her body close, her softness meeting his lips, her tongue tip lightly sweeping across his teeth.

His mind exploded with a thunderous sound.

All thoughts of “endurance,” of “restraint,” were cast to the winds.

The willpower he thought unshakeable instantly crumbled completely. Zhu Nanxian suddenly reached out to hook Su Jin’s nape, one hand embracing her waist, wishing he could meld her into his very bones, bending his face to kiss her once more.

…

A faint morning glow rose at the horizon’s edge.

Water was everywhere in the room—beneath the wooden tub, by the table, beside the cabinet.

Zhu Nanxian leaned back against the bed’s edge. Su Jin reclined in his arms, the clothes they’d just put on half-removed again.

He had just grasped her waist to have her straddle him when urgent knocking suddenly came from outside the inn’s main gate. Several people shouted in succession, “Innkeeper, open up quickly!”

Zhu Nanxian’s movement paused. Su Jin also sensed something was wrong.

Before long, the main gate’s bolt was removed. With a “creak,” it opened. The innkeeper seemed surprised, calling out, “Oh my, honored officials, why so early in the morning—”

“Spare the nonsense. I ask you, did two thieves come to your inn last night?”

Thieves?

The innkeeper and servant thought carefully, both shaking their heads, “No.”

A bailiff slapped his hand on the table. “The boatman on the Funan waters said those two clearly came toward your inn!” He threatened further, “These two are serious criminals who nearly kidnapped the prefect himself. The prefect personally ordered they must be caught. If you don’t honestly confess, you’ll be held accountable!”

Hearing these words, the innkeeper and servant were frightened out of their wits.

Thinking carefully, last night was the Flower Morning Night. Only a scattered few came to stay, all alone. Speaking of two who came together, there were only those two young masters of exceptionally outstanding appearance who spent extremely generously.

Thinking of this, the servant suddenly said, “Innkeeper, could it be those two from the Tianzi room—”

However, when the innkeeper led several bailiffs to the Tianzi room, apart from water stains all over the floor, the room was already completely empty, with only the window still open.

The bailiff rushed to the window and looked—no trace on the street either.

“Why aren’t you chasing them! The prefect said to dig three feet into the ground if necessary—these two must be caught!”

Zhang Zhengcai’s original words were that in this Jinzhou territory, he, Prefect Zhang, had absolute authority. No matter what heaven-reaching abilities these two possessed, could he, Zhang Zhengcai, really afford to offend them? They must be captured and properly prosecuted.

Su Jin and Zhu Nanxian hadn’t slept all night. On the other side, Chao Qing and Tan Zhaolin’s group had also not slept the entire night.

Last night, following Su Jin’s arrangements, they rescued people and sent them to the Yunlai Inn on Liuyang Street. Later, though officers searched here, they didn’t dare disturb the imperial envoy across the street and had to give up.

Who knew that in the middle of the night, Magistrate Yao personally came seeking them. He called Jiang Jiutong aside alone, spoke to him about something unknown, and Jiang Jiutong actually left with him.

At daybreak, Jiang Yue’er arrived with several Jiang family servants. Hearing that Jiang Jiutong had been mysteriously taken away, she was as if the sky had fallen. When Chao Qing asked if she knew the reason, she refused to say anything, only shedding tears saying she would wait for Nanting to return.

A group gathered together—besides Chao Qing, Tan Zhaolin, the Jiang family’s Uncle Tian, several guards, the town’s Elder Wu, there were also Shuxiang and Yunxi’s group whom Zhu Nanxian had rescued last night.

With Su Jin and Zhu Nanxian absent, everyone waited for Chao Qing to make decisions.

Chao Qing thought carefully. This morning he had already sent Huzi’s father out to inquire again about the names of the two imperial envoys from Jinzhou Prefecture.

Su Jin had been a first-rank chief minister with deeply rooted influence in court and countryside. She likely knew most imperial envoys from the capital. Having someone first determine who they were, she was probably unwilling to act rashly—if they encountered old adversaries, it would be difficult to handle.

Chao Qing said, “Uncle Tian, if Guardian Nan and Su Gongzi haven’t returned by the chen hour, take several guards out to search.”

Uncle Tian was just responding when knocking sounds came from outside.

Su Jin called softly, “Yunsheng.”

Everyone heard and rejoiced greatly. Tan Zhaolin took a vigorous step forward and opened the door.

The room faced away from the sun. A ray of sunlight poured down from the doorway, falling on Su Jin, her bearing graceful and composed. It also fell on the person beside her, his presence dignified and imposing, so dazzling it was almost blinding to look at directly.

Tan Zhaolin rubbed his eyes, thinking he must be seeing wrong.

The next moment, clouds covered the sunlight, revealing a handsome face—sword-like brows and starry eyes containing an exuberance that years couldn’t wash away, the slight frost of tumultuous times.

Tan Zhaolin’s mouth opened.

The last time he saw Zhu Nanxian was when he pulled off the jade he treasured around his neck and handed it to him along with a dagger and A’Fu, saying, “I… return to the capital today.”

At that time, he was still Emperor Jin’an.

His throat constricted. Before he could speak a word, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

But Tan Zhaolin wasn’t the only one who knelt. Shuxiang nearly collapsed to the ground, tears brimming in her eyes, her whole body trembling.

Everyone in the room was stunned, unable to understand what was happening for a long moment.

Uncle Tian said, “Hero Tan, Miss Xiang, what are you—”

Before he could finish, Su Jin laughed lightly, “Zhaolin, am I not perfectly fine? Quickly get up.”

Before Tan Zhaolin could react, Yunxi over there had already understood Su Jin’s meaning. She also knelt down with Shuxiang, saying to Zhu Nanxian, “Yunxi should join Aunt Xiang in thanking Guardian Nan for his life-saving grace.”

In the inner room, Jiang Yue’er heard the three words “Guardian Nan” and knew Zhu Nanxian had returned. She opened the door, unable to hold back her tears any longer. She walked quickly forward, curtsied with bent knees, grasped his sleeve and said, “Young Master Nan, I beg you, please save Yue’er’s father. Yue’er knows you have vast connections. As long as you can save him, whatever you ask Yue’er to do, even if it means serving you for a lifetime, Yue’er would be willing.”

She cried heartbrokenly. Su Jin watched her, her gaze growing increasingly indifferent.

Indifferently falling on her delicate hand grasping Zhu Nanxian’s sleeve, indifferently looking straight ahead only at the window.

Zhu Nanxian’s scalp tingled.