Facing the betrayal by her relatives, although the young girl’s eyes were full of despair, she showed no intention of resisting, clearly accustomed to such treatment.

With a slight sneer, Ruyi changed her grip to embrace the girl’s waist and waved her hand: “If that’s the case, then give her to me as a maid. Oh, and give me her household registration as well.”

With such terrifying martial arts that could take their lives at any moment, how could the several people in the hall dare refuse? They hurriedly had the steward find the concubine’s daughter’s household registration and respectfully present it with both hands.

Ruyi glanced at it once, reached out to take it, and leisurely left the Xie family compound with the girl.

The masters hurriedly ran to the side courtyard, and upon stepping through the moon gate, they were so frightened their legs went weak.

Dozens of household guards were piled together in a chaotic heap. If not for the occasional groans, it would truly have looked like a mountain of corpses.

Was this still a woman?

The little concubine daughter was also frightened enough by her skills. Even after getting into the carriage, she cowered in the corner the entire way, not daring to even lift her head to look at her.

Ruyi leisurely drank her wine, and only after a long while did she speak: “How do you plan to atone for your sins?”

The little concubine daughter tremblingly kowtowed to her: “I’ll work like an ox or horse for Madam.”

“That’s not necessary.” She waved her hand. “Tomorrow, there will be boats to Lin’an at the wharf. I’ll give you a letter to take back and deliver to a household at Houchao Gate.”

The little concubine daughter was somewhat panicked: “I, I’ve never left Huizhou before.”

“Won’t you be able to leave tomorrow then?” Ruyi smiled. Lin’an is very prosperous. Go take a look. If you like it and want to stay, just tell the person who receives the letter, and she’ll find work to do. If you don’t want to stay, then come back and be my maid.”

Who would be willing to become a slave when they could be a free citizen? The little concubine daughter looked up joyfully, her fear of traveling alone diminishing somewhat: “Really?”

Ruyi directly gave her the household registration she had obtained: “Really.”

Clutching the household registration tightly to her chest, the little concubine daughter cried and laughed for quite a while before timidly asking: “I poisoned the tea and nearly harmed Madam, why is Madam still helping me?”

“The poison wasn’t put in by you, and I’m not exactly helping you.” The person in front of her laughed lazily. “I’m no saint, I can’t do that many good deeds. I’m just thinking that my friend is somewhat lonely alone in Lin’an, so I’m sending her a servant.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

“I already said I’m not helping you, what’s there to thank me for?” She muttered.

The moving carriage suddenly stopped, and then the curtain was violently pulled open.

Ruyi turned her head to look and saw Shen Qiyuan in sky-blue everyday robes, his expression particularly serious. His gaze only softened a bit the moment it touched her, and then he secretly breathed a sigh of relief: “They said the Xie family attacked you.”

Ruyi patted the frightened little concubine daughter and smiled as she bent toward the carriage door, looking down at the person beside the carriage from her elevated position: “Just a few mortals, do you need to be so nervous?”

“I was afraid you were too drunk to handle them.”

“I’m a wine enthusiast, not an idiot.”

“…”

He reached out to lift her down from the carriage, instructed the coachman to drive straight back, then brought her onto horseback: “Let’s stop by to buy some water chestnuts so I can make you a new dish.”

“Alright.”

Their residence in Huizhou wasn’t small either—a compound with three courtyards front to back—but they only used the small courtyard in the main section. There were also kitchen maids and servants, but Shen Qiyuan had recently learned several dishes and had her taste and critique them every day.

Ruyi wasn’t polite either. After eating the dishes he made, she would use magic to wash and tidy the bowls and dishes, then take walks with him along the Yangliu Lake embankment. There were many small trinkets along the way that seemed ordinary to mortals, but Ruyi was constantly surprised and delighted, picking up several to show him.

If she behaved this way with others, they would think she was ill, but Shen Qiyuan knew she hadn’t seen many of these later-era items. Not only did he share in her amazement, but he could also explain in detail how these things were made.

Huizhou wasn’t far from the Great Xia border. Although the two countries were still at war, demons could come and go freely, so Ruyi often used magic to travel back and forth, leading the demons who had been pardoned by Shen Qiyuan toward goodness.

Of course, the demons’ turn toward goodness was relative, not absolute. For them, not eating people was already quite remarkable.

Seeing Wei Zijue’s momentum was unstoppable, with every intention of not stopping until he reached Great Xia’s capital, Ruyi sent several dreams to Great Xia’s ruler, letting him experience in advance what it would be like to have his country destroyed.

Thus, in the middle of autumn that year, Great Xia and Great Qian finally formally made peace. The Great Xia returned all sixteen provinces north of the Nine Rivers to the Great Qian, and the Great Qian also made a treaty with the Great Xia, establishing a hundred years of friendship.

Wei Zijue had no regrets.

At such a young age, he had accomplished what his father had failed to achieve in his entire lifetime. Although he had benefited from much favorable timing and geography, almost as if Heaven itself was protecting him in battle, he had also given his all and done everything within his power. Now returning in triumph, the rest of his life would be free from worry about wealth and honor.

Finally having leisure time, he asked about the news of Vice General Liu Ruyi.

So in winter, the army returning in triumph somehow had to make a detour through Huizhou.

When Shen Qiyuan received the news, he said nothing, informed Ruyi, then rode out of the city to meet them.

Wei Zijue had a vigor that he lacked, like a sapling that had just broken through the soil, his eyes full of burning passion and spirit. His bright red battle robe billowed on horseback, like a flame racing toward the city gate where someone waited.

Shen Qiyuan rode behind him, eyes half-lowered, not looking ahead.

He knew who was there and could guess what she would say. It wasn’t petty jealousy, he just didn’t want to watch.

“Sister Ruyi!” Wei Zijue saw her come out to greet them, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

Ruyi smiled at him, but first passed by him to grab the reins of Shen Qiyuan behind him: “You are something, riding a horse without even wearing a cloak. I was shouting myself hoarse behind you, and you didn’t even hear me.”

Shen Qiyuan suddenly came back to his senses.

The woman beside his horse looked up at him, her eyes containing both reproach and laughter, filled with his reflection—no one else but him.

He was somewhat surprised and somewhat at a loss: “You aren’t you going to look at Wei Zijue?”

“I am looking at him.” She glanced back once, then continued reaching out to him. “I’m exhausted, quickly pull me up.”

The light in his eyes gradually brightened as he reached out to bring her onto horseback.

The horse took two steps forward, drawing level with Wei Zijue’s mount. Only then did Ruyi speak to Wei Zijue: “Congratulations on your triumphant return, Grand Marshal. Since you’ve come to Huizhou, we naturally must host you properly.”

Wei Zijue was somewhat dazed.

Had they been separated too long? She seemed to have completely lost her former concern for him.

His grip on the reins tightened as Wei Zijue asked: “Are you two married?”

“Not yet.” Shen Qiyuan nodded. “But I think it will be soon.”

As if only hearing the first two words, Wei Zijue straightened his chest again: “As long as you’re not married yet, that’s good. Since I’m back, Ruyi can also reconsider carefully.”

This was openly trying to steal someone else’s love. Shen Qiyuan, almost without hesitation, struck him with a sword hilt.

If it were before, Ruyi would have blocked it, since the person behind her struck too heavily, and the one opposite was just a mortal.

But now.

She looked at Shen Qiyuan’s sideways glance that secretly came her way, smiled slightly, and sat still without moving.