Ning Yin was a person without the five senses, never knowing what shame was.

In her previous life, when Yu Lingxi attended to his bath, he would often expose his cold-white, muscular body like this, like a bewitching water demon walking step by step from the steamy pool toward her, letting water droplets trail over fresh wounds on his skin and hidden places.

He had an almost numb indifference toward his own body—whether exposed or cut by knives, he remained unmoved. It was as if his body were just a piece of warm dead flesh, nothing to be discreet about.

Those cold-blooded traits from her previous life that she couldn’t understand and detested seemed to find vague answers after meeting the young Ning Yin.

How could one expect moral shame from a person who couldn’t even control his own life?

Coming back to her senses, as Ning Yin tried to continue undressing, Yu Lingxi stopped him in time: “Stop!”

Ning Yin raised his ink-black eyes, and that expressionless gaze gave Yu Lingxi a headache.

“This isn’t the Realm of Desire. In my place, you must understand propriety and shame.”

Yu Lingxi’s temple twitched slightly as she patiently said, “Go change behind the screen.”

Whatever bad habits he had in his previous life, in this life she would correct them all!

The screen was old, its silk thin and yellowed, faintly projecting the thin but not weak shadow of the young man.

The medicinal smell in the room was bitter. Yu Lingxi stood under the eaves with her sleeves gathered, breathing fresh air. After some thought, she tentatively asked, “What’s your name?”

Behind the screen, there was a moment of silence, then the answer: “Twenty-seven.”

Yu Lingxi asked, knowing the answer: “I mean, your name from before.”

Another moment of silence, then Ning Yin said, “I don’t remember.”

Couldn’t remember who he was, yet remembered to return to the palace for revenge; couldn’t remember who he was, yet could attain the position of Regent Prince.

If Yu Lingxi didn’t have memories from her previous life, she might have believed this nonsense.

“Whether you truly don’t remember, or it’s inconvenient to reveal your past, I’m returning this kitten to you.”

Remembering her purpose, Yu Lingxi ordered her maid to place the kitten on the bed and said to Ning Yin behind the screen, “Due to my special constitution, I cannot keep cats. In a few days when your injuries are better, take it with you and care for it well.”

Behind the screen, the young man seemed to understand something, noticeably pausing as he tied his belt.

She still had no intention of keeping him, even though he had said he was “willing to do anything.”

Seeing that Ning Yin didn’t respond, Yu Lingxi cleared her throat and explained, “The Realm of Desire has been destroyed. The people who worked there, having unclear origins, cannot be sold as household slaves. My brother says female slaves will be sent to the Teaching Institute, while male slaves will be dispatched to the borders as laborers. Though I am reluctant to send you to the border as a laborer with your severe injuries, I cannot keep you indefinitely…”

“I understand Miss’s meaning,” Ning Yin lowered his eyes, covering the emotions within, and walked out from behind the screen.

Yu Lingxi looked up, slightly dazed.

No matter how many times she had seen Ning Yin’s face, each time they met in a different setting or attire, she was still amazed.

He had tied back his hair, and the dark blue guard’s robe he wore made him indescribably handsome and impressive.

Ning Yin walked in front of Yu Lingxi. The seemingly thin young man was still a full head taller than her.

Yu Lingxi disliked this oppressive feeling and was about to step back when she saw Ning Yin lower his head, lift the hem of his robe, and kneel stiffly.

Before her thoughts could catch up, her body reacted first.

Yu Lingxi grabbed Ning Yin’s arm to support him and asked, “What are you doing?”

Ning Yin maintained his position, bent on one knee, about to kneel completely, a rare ripple passing through his pitch-black eyes.

During these years when he had been like a stray dog, everyone wanted to trample him underfoot, to push him into the mud. The woman before him was the only one who didn’t want him to kneel.

“I am bidding farewell to Miss.”

Ning Yin seemed to understand her difficulty and said with difficulty, “Although I wish to stay by Miss’s side and serve with all my might, I shouldn’t cause Miss any trouble.”

Yu Lingxi was slightly surprised—when had he become so understanding?

But it was better if he left a few days earlier, so she wouldn’t always be reminded of the broken accounts from her previous life whenever she saw him.

Moreover, Ning Yin’s identity as a prince was too dangerous; one misstep could draw the Yu family into factional disputes. She had never intended to keep him long.

Yu Lingxi lifted his arm slightly and said, “If you’re saying farewell, then say farewell. Why kneel? Stand up properly.”

She couldn’t accept this kneeling from him.

She could resent him, hit him, but would never humiliate him.

“I know my status is humble. Having received Miss’s life-saving grace, I should serve as your slave for life, weaving grass shoes and carrying rings in my mouth to repay you, but…”

Ning Yin glanced at Yu Lingxi, then quickly lowered his eyes again.

That glance was truly forlorn and pitiful. Pressing his bloodless lips together, he continued hoarsely, “But I am a fighting slave who escaped from the arena, more lowly than the lowest servant. It’s right that Miss doesn’t want to keep me by her side. I have already imposed on Miss for too long. I have nothing—even this life is given by Miss. Except for this one kowtow, I truly don’t know how else to thank Miss for her profound kindness.”

“You…” Yu Lingxi’s heart wavered as she turned to examine Ning Yin.

His current reluctant and pitiful appearance was completely different from the violent, bloodthirsty madman of her previous life!

As her resentment and prejudice were repeatedly destroyed, Yu Lingxi finally softened her tone and called Hutao in, “Go pack up the remaining set of clothes, prepare some dry provisions and noodles, and give them all to him to take away.”

But Ning Yin refused to accept.

“Although I am a slave, I am not a beggar.”

After a pause, Ning Yin looked at the sleeping kitten on the bed, “But this cat, please find another good person to adopt it.”

Yu Lingxi asked, “Why? Don’t you like it?”

Ning Yin shook his head slightly, with the stubbornness of a young man, “I have no home to return to. I cannot let it suffer wandering with me.”

Even knowing Ning Yin would wield overwhelming power in the future, Yu Lingxi still felt uncomfortable.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she felt a faint sense of guilt.

“I’m leaving. Take care, Miss.”

Ning Yin coughed, enduring the pain as he insisted on bowing deeply. When he straightened up, his entire face had gone white.

Clutching the wound on his chest, he turned and walked toward the opposite side door. Although he tried to keep his back straight, his steps were extremely unsteady, looking very weak and pitiful.

For some reason, even though he was following her wishes, Yu Lingxi didn’t feel as relieved as she had imagined.

She watched Ning Yin’s lonely, desolate figure retreating, her eyes showing signs of wavering. It was only for a moment before she suppressed it.

After all, he would have to leave once healed; a few days earlier or later made no difference.

There was no sound behind her for a while.

Yu Lingxi hesitated, wondering if he had left, when suddenly she heard a “thud” as someone collapsed.

Then came the maid’s cry: “Miss, he seems to have fainted!”

Yu Lingxi turned back in shock.

Was the Ning Yin of this life so fragile?!

…

Ning Yin lay on the bed, his complexion as terrible as a dead man’s.

The old doctor felt his pulse for a long time, frowning, “His pulse is weak and floating. Even an iron body couldn’t withstand such strain.”

If the old doctor wasn’t trustworthy and his expression wasn’t so serious, Yu Lingxi would have suspected that Ning Yin was faking his unconsciousness.

She asked, “He has been carefully recovering in the mansion for half a month, with continuous medicine. Why haven’t his injuries shown any improvement?”

“To be honest, this pulse is extremely ominous. I’ve never seen anything like it,” the old doctor frowned. “It seems the external injuries may have healed, but the internal ones have not. Injuries to tendons and bones take a hundred days to heal!”

A hundred days? Wouldn’t that mean he could only recover after spring began?

Just as she was worrying, Ning Yin slowly regained consciousness.

His eyelashes fluttered lightly, his black eyes meeting Yu Lingxi’s complex gaze.

Then, as if remembering something, he clutched his chest and sat up unsteadily, coughing hoarsely, “Miss, I’ll leave right away…”

“Hey, don’t move!” Yu Lingxi quickly pressed him down, frowning, “Do you not want to live?”

Ning Yin pressed his lips together, his pale, handsome face showing a hint of embarrassment: “I cannot… trouble Miss any further.”

“If you die at the mansion gate, that would be even more trouble.”

Yu Lingxi was so angry she tapped his forehead, saying irritably, “After taking so much medicine, where did it all go? Why aren’t you at all like your previous life…”

Realizing she had almost let something slip, Yu Lingxi bit her full lower lip.

Ning Yin didn’t understand, but still lowered his eyes and obediently said, “I’m sorry.”

Seeing his pitiful appearance, Yu Lingxi couldn’t vent her anger.

She was tired and didn’t want to struggle anymore.

After a while, she sighed and said helplessly, “Lie down. It must be that I owed you in a previous life.”

So Ning Yin lay down, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on her.

Weak as he was, his eyes were very bright, probably happy that he could stay again.

Like a stray dog, persistent and pitiful.

His Adam’s apple moved as he said hoarsely, “From now on, this life of mine belongs to Miss.”

Yu Lingxi looked away, snorting lightly, “Save these pretty words until you’ve recovered.”

Soon, Hutao, who had gone to fetch medicine, came running back.

Her face radiant with joy, she curtseyed hurriedly before even entering the door, smiling, “Miss, the Elder Miss has returned from her official duty!”

Like a long-disused mechanism starting to work again, a bright light flashed in Yu Lingxi’s eyes as she rose and repeated, “Sister?”

“Yes, yes, the Elder Miss!”

Hutao, slightly out of breath, her cheeks flushed with excitement, winked at Yu Lingxi, “Second Young Master Xue also came along. They’re chatting in the front hall right now!”

“Second Young Master Xue?” It had been too long since she’d heard this title, and Yu Lingxi didn’t react immediately.

“It’s the Second Young Master from the Prime Minister’s mansion! Miss, have you forgotten in your happiness?” Hutao laughed.

“Indeed, I should be happy.” A light smile spread in Yu Lingxi’s eyes as she walked a couple of steps toward the door.

Remembering something, she paused and glanced back at the bed.

“Rest well,” she said, then without further lingering, she walked quickly toward the exit.

The front courtyard was lively.

Yu Lingxi stood in the corridor, hearing from a distance her brother Yu Huanchen teasing their sister, slyly saying, “Not seeing you for two months, Yu Xinyi, you’ve grown even more burly! With such a mannish appearance, which family would dare take you as a bride?”

Yu Huanchen and Yu Xinyi were twins, the same age and both stubborn, having quarreled since childhood.

Behind the plum tree, a tall female general stood with her hand on her sword, the blade partially drawn, shouting delicately, “Yu Huanchen, are you looking to die?”

Yu Xinyi’s appearance wasn’t stunningly beautiful, but with bright eyes and red lips, a heroic and spirited demeanor, her voice clear like falling pearls, she possessed a unique beauty that blurred the line between masculine and feminine.

In her previous life, Sister had journeyed a thousand miles alone to the northern frontier to uncover the truth about their father’s and brother’s deaths, only to fall into an abyss on her way back, evidence and all, leaving not even her remains…

Thinking of this, Yu Lingxi’s nose reddened.

“Suisui!”

Yu Xinyi spotted the gentle and beautiful young woman in the corridor, sheathed her sword, and opened her arms, “Come, let Sister hug you!”

It had been so many years since Yu Lingxi had seen that spirited smile. She could no longer hold back, lifting her skirt and running all the way to fall into Yu Xinyi’s cold armored embrace.

“Sister!” Her eyes reddened as she smiled, “I’ve missed you so much.”

“You little crybaby,” Yu Xinyi patted her sister’s shoulder, then set her down steadily on the ground. “By the way, there’s someone who wants to see you. He insisted on coming to the mansion with me.”

With that, she stepped aside with a mischievous smile, revealing the elegant figure in moon-white behind her.

Xue Cen looked younger than in her memory, and even more gentle and refined. As the wind blew, the jade ornaments at his waist made a tinkling sound, like the music of a gentleman.

Looking at Yu Lingxi, his eyes held a barely concealed, restrained joy. His voice, clear as spring water washing over jade, came to her as he called, his ears reddening, “Second Sister, have you been well lately?”

In the back courtyard, in the outer quarters.

The medicinal pot boiled on the stove, a bitter herbal fragrance filling the room.

Ning Yin lay on the bed, the light in his eyes gradually dimming and growing cold.

Expressionless, he raised his hand, pressed his fingers to the back of his tongue, then “umph” — spat out a half-dissolved, blood-stained poison pill.

This pill was still in the experimental stage; though it could deceive doctors by creating symptoms of extreme weakness, it was extremely harmful to the body.

The young man suppressed the burning pain in his stomach, crushed the pill to destroy the evidence, and tapped his fingers on the edge of the bed.

Prime Minister’s mansion… Second Young Master Xue?

The direct grandson of the old fox Xue family… this game was becoming more and more interesting.