She was a passerby in the mortal realm, so naturally, all mortal affairs were none of her business, but his tone made it hard not to arouse her curiosity.

Ruyi met Shen Qiyuan’s deep gaze and smiled wickedly: “What if I insist on meddling?”

His hands clasped behind his back tightened slightly.

What could he use to threaten her? The Immortal Wine Tower? Fuman and Yanning? Or himself, whom she didn’t take to heart at all?

His chest felt as if a boulder had been placed upon it. Shen Qiyuan lowered his eyes: “Then you may do as you please.”

These words lacked all authority—he grew annoyed, even saying them.

But unexpectedly, the person across from him relaxed her brow upon hearing this, even smiling as she leaned closer to him: “You don’t even know how to make harsh threats, always just putting on an attitude of ‘I won’t play with you anymore.'”

“But what can I do? I just find this look of yours delicious and attractive.” Her pale fingertip pressed against the corner of his lips, light sparkling in her eyes.

Shen Qiyuan felt somewhat uncomfortable: “I only wanted to tell you not to stand opposite me.”

“Who would want to stand opposite Master?” Her red-painted nails flashed before him. “I’d rather hide behind Master—it’s good to enjoy the shade under a big tree.”

His expression relaxed slightly, and he made an extremely soft sound of agreement.

Ruyi wasn’t lying to him about this. He held great power, with both court and country in his grasp, let alone the common folk, where she belonged. So being allied with him was beneficial for both her and everyone at the Immortal Wine Tower.

However, as soon as news of Lady Zhang’s death spread, Wei Zijue’s side encountered some problems.

Originally he was supposed to kneel in mourning for a full seven days, but upon receiving this news, he didn’t even remove his mourning clothes before mounting his horse and racing frantically toward the palace gates.

Ruyi intercepted him halfway, ignoring his anxiety and forcibly bringing him into a nearby braised meat shop.

“Wearing mourning clothes while storming the palace gates—do you want to be beaten with boards?” She casually handed him a bowl of braised meat.

Wei Zijue didn’t even glance at it, his eyebrows knitted together: “War is about to break out. I must go to the palace to await orders.”

“Who told you that?” She raised an eyebrow.

Looking around and seeing only their table in the shop, Wei Zijue spoke in a low voice: “Ten years ago, Great Qian was defeated in war and accepted many excessive conditions from Great Xia. One condition was allowing the Great Xia’s envoy to remain stationed in Huizhou, permitting him to communicate freely. When His Majesty ascended the throne, the Great Xia envoy had become a threat. To win him over, His Majesty selected a trusted minister to marry the envoy’s daughter.”

This trusted minister was naturally Yuncheng, and the envoy’s daughter was the deceased Lady Zhang.

“Great Qian has spent these years reducing troops and emphasizing agriculture and commerce, like a piece of boneless fat meat. That envoy spent ten years in Huizhou collecting much intelligence. If not for his daughter being in Lin’an, he would have long since instigated the Great Xia to attack the borders again. Now that Lady Zhang is gone, the envoy has lost his restraint. I must have His Majesty prepare early.”

Like a blocked bamboo pipe suddenly cleared, Ruyi suddenly understood: “So that’s how it is.”

No wonder Yuncheng had to compete with Haiyan for Lady Zhang. At that time, whoever married Lady Zhang would become a favored minister. Haiyan might have truly liked Lady Zhang, but he chose to yield, allowing his good brother.

And Lady Zhang—she wholeheartedly believed Yuncheng truly liked her, so despite her father’s dissuasion, she resolutely married into Lin’an.

Perhaps discovering her husband’s true nature, or perhaps for some other reason, Lady Zhang took her own life.

To prevent her death from arousing the envoy’s anger and hatred toward Great Qian, Shen Qiyuan chose to let Yuncheng bear all the blame alone, reducing the matter of state to a romantic entanglement, so he could compensate the envoy from elsewhere and pacify the war.

His choice wasn’t wrong. From the overall perspective, sacrificing Yuncheng alone could save the lives of countless soldiers.

But Ruyi still frowned.

If she remembered correctly, gods who distorted right and wrong in the mortal realm would invite heaven’s punishment.

Had she missed some crucial detail and misunderstood him? What immortal would be foolish enough to suffer such heavy punishment for mortal trifles?

“Miss Liu?” Seeing her silent for so long, Wei Zijue grew anxious. “There are too few troops at the border. I must quickly petition His Majesty.”

“No need to go,” Ruyi pressed her lips together. “His Majesty won’t agree to stationing troops.”

Wei Zijue froze, his fingers clenching into fists.

He knew His Majesty wouldn’t easily consent, but they couldn’t just wait helplessly. If the Great Xia attacked, would they have to surrender their mountains and rivers again?

The mourning white on his sleeves was glaring. His father’s bones weren’t yet cold—he couldn’t just watch like this.

Taking a deep breath, Wei Zijue stood up: “Thank you, Miss, but I still must make a trip to the palace.”

“Even if the outcome is being beaten bloody and thrown outside Hening Gate?”

“I have no regrets even unto death.”

He bowed to her with firm resolve.

Ruyi’s pupils contracted slightly, then her lashes slowly lowered gently.

She sighed and grasped his sleeve: “Don’t go to the palace to die. I’ll think of a way for you.”

Wei Zijue was puzzled. For such a grave matter, what solution could a young lady have?

He shook his head, about to refuse, when Ruyi pulled him onto the horse outside.

“If Lady Zhang’s death is ruled as a crime of passion by her husband, even if you kowtow until your head bleeds at the palace gates, you’ll only arouse imperial suspicion.” Gripping the reins, she said in measured tones, “A great man must have courage, but also strategy.”

News of Lady Zhang’s death spreading meant the Ministry of Justice had closed the case. The final report should be on its way to Huizhou along with the imperial edict of consolation.

Wei Zijue watched in astonishment as Ruyi spurred her horse into the wind, pursuing determinedly in one direction through the vast snowy landscape.

Wearing mourning clothes to storm the palace gates would only earn a beating, but intercepting imperial edicts midway was a capital offense. He completely couldn’t understand why Liu Ruyi would advise him to value his life while simultaneously covering her face and knocking unconscious the courier carrying the edict.

He looked at her dryly: “If he doesn’t reach the next station and return before dark, the previous station will report to the palace and hunt down everyone who passed this route.”

Ruyi lit a fire starter and burned the imperial edict and case files on the spot. As flames rose, she blinked innocently: “Who told you we passed this route?”

“From the city gate to the station, everywhere has registrations.” Wei Zijue shook his head. “You wrote your name and pressed your handprint just now.”

The ashes were soaked by snow water. With a wave of her sleeve, they turned to mud. Ruyi mounted her horse and said carelessly, “Really? I don’t remember. They probably don’t remember either.”

How could no one remember? Wei Zijue kept shaking his head.

But in the blink of an eye, they were back in Lin’an City, and he suddenly felt somewhat dazed too.

This round trip was still during the hour of the Monkey. Had they left the city just now?

Ahead on Worship Street, the lion dance troupe was competing again. He stared blankly as the embroidered ball fell from the high pole, then suddenly closed his eyes.

—Gods protect us.

He pressed his palms together.

—I hope Miss Liu won’t be implicated by him, and I hope she can escape safely.

The blue lion head caught the embroidered ball. Cheers erupted all around. Ruyi turned to look at the person beside her and smiled gently.

—I heard you.