Yu Lingxi searched the back courtyard thoroughly but found no sign of Ning Yin, so she turned and headed straight for the side gate and stables.

Guard Qing Xiao was leading a horse, seemingly preparing to go out on business.

With no time for greetings, Yu Lingxi snatched the reins from Qing Xiao’s hand, stepped on the stone stairs, swung herself onto the horse, slapped its rump, and commanded: “Go!”

“Young Miss, this horse…”

Qing Xiao was horrified: the horse hadn’t even been saddled yet!

There was no time to chase after her as the fine steed had already carried the white-clothed, loose-haired young lady into the thick darkness of the street corner.

Yu Lingxi searched the streets around the mansion but still didn’t see Ning Yin.

In such darkness, and with his injuries, where could he have gone?

A flash of insight struck Yu Lingxi. She remembered one place and immediately turned her horse toward Shengping Street.

At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), the marketplace was closed, with only a few scattered lights on the street, empty of people.

The collapsed buildings of Yujie Xiandu stood like jagged black bones at the end of the darkness. And sure enough, Ning Yin’s solitary figure was leaning against the charred, ruined district gate.

He heard the hoofbeats and stood straight, his shadow casting a long and lonely silhouette beneath his feet.

But his eyes were calm, showing no surprise whatsoever.

In that moment as the dust settled, Yu Lingxi failed to notice the shadow of a gray falcon swooping across the eaves.

After her initial relief came a spreading sense of sadness.

Or perhaps he had deliberately hidden here, in a place where she could find him.

Whether intentional or not, Yu Lingxi had to bring him back.

Whether he was a divine spirit or an evil demon, she would make him the future protector of the Yu family.

“Yu—”

Ning Yin tilted his head slightly upward, his eyes reflecting the small figure of Yu Lingxi abruptly reining in her horse.

The steed raised its hooves high, while the young lady on its back gripped the reins tightly. Her loose black hair flew like clouds, rising and falling, drawing a dazzling golden light behind her.

She hadn’t even taken time to tidy herself or change clothes but had rushed out wearing only a plain white underdress. The fluttering hem revealed a glimpse of her jade-white ankles and dainty embroidered shoes.

The horse’s back was completely bare, without even a saddle.

Yu Lingxi controlled the horse to pace in small steps, her clear, beautiful almond eyes looking down at him.

“Young Miss.”

Their eyes met, and Ning Yin conspicuously hid his heavily bandaged left arm behind his back.

Yu Lingxi still spotted the red seeping through the bandages. She pressed her lips together, and the taste of that warm, sweet metallic flavor seemed to rise again between her lips and teeth.

She suddenly spoke: “You said you have no name, so I’ll give you one.”

Ning Yin gazed at her, listening quietly.

“Your original designation ‘Twenty-seven’ is too awkward, so I’ll take the last character ‘seven,’ and use the state name ‘Wei’ as your surname.”

Yu Lingxi’s chest rose and fell slightly. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the young man before her, reaching into the distant past as she pronounced word by word, “Until we recover your true name, you shall be called ‘Wei Qi’.”

Among the many princes, Ning Yin ranked seventh. “Wei Qi” was the alias Yu Lingxi had given him in her previous life when they left the capital for the palace retreat to treat his illness.

It was a name only she knew.

Ning Yin’s eyes widened slightly, a trace of peculiarity passing through his otherwise dead-pond eyes.

He had never heard this name before, yet somehow, it gave him an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

“Wei… Qi?” he repeated.

His low, husky, and slightly puzzled youthful voice drifted with the gentle wind.

Yu Lingxi nodded.

Her hand gripping the reins tightened and then relaxed. She slowly bent forward on horseback, extending her hand to Ning Yin for the first time of her initiative.

“Come home with me, Wei Qi,” she said, her red lips parting slightly as she breathed.

The word “home” is perhaps the most laughable in the world, yet coming from her lips, it somehow carried a convincing tranquility.

Ning Yin’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he froze momentarily before slowly raising his clean right hand, gently placing his knuckles in her palm.

He said: “All right.”

That small hand was slender and delicate, yet warm and soft. With just a light pull, she brought Ning Yin up onto the horse’s back.

The destitute young man and the privileged young lady, in this moment and night, each began their own high-stakes gamble with an unknown path ahead.

“Your left hand is injured and you’re unsteady. You’d better hold onto me—if you fall off, I won’t be responsible for picking you up,” the young lady’s lowered voice came from in front.

Ning Yin lowered his gaze, hesitantly reached out, and encircled her waist which could be encompassed by his hands.

Slender, soft, as if his two palms could pinch it completely.

For the first time in his life, he felt curious about a woman’s body.

Just as he was wondering what kind of soft jade his palms were touching, an elbow jabbed back, and the young lady’s delicate warning came: “Hold onto my clothes, don’t touch me inappropriately.”

“Yes, Young Miss.”

The young man behind her responded obediently, but in his eyes, there was a dark, willful smile.

The General’s Mansion was still brightly lit.

Yu Lingxi entered through the side door and brought Ning Yin to the side hall.

Along the way, servants bowed in greeting, but none dared to look twice or speak a word.

Seeing their daughter return, General Yu and Madam Yu first breathed sighs of relief, then their gazes fell on the black-clothed young man behind her, and their just-relaxed brows unconsciously furrowed again.

“Father, Mother, Elder Brother, Suisui has returned.”

She carefully watched her father’s and brother’s reactions to see if they would recognize Ning Yin’s identity, but unexpectedly, apart from a slight headache and displeasure, their expressions showed nothing unusual.

They didn’t recognize Ning Yin.

Facing General Yu’s imposing scrutiny, Ning Yin remained completely composed, though his eyes darkened somewhat.

Catching Yu Lingxi’s glance, he immediately displayed a smile, like spring wind melting snow.

“Go and rest first. Food and medicine for your wounds will be sent to your room.”

Yu Lingxi softened her voice, her almond eyes firm, fragile yet radiant.

Ning Yin was very obedient. Enduring his pain, he bowed to General Yu and Madam Yu, then withdrew.

“Little Sister, your heart is too soft.”

Yu Huanchen took a deep breath and spoke first, “You’re not yet married. During the spring hunt, you encountered danger, and no matter how loyal this nameless slave may be to you, he still cannot…”

“He is neither a slave nor a beggar.”

Yu Lingxi looked at Yu Huanchen and said seriously, “He has a name, called Wei Qi.”

“The name doesn’t matter at all; your reputation is what’s most important.”

Yu Huanchen stepped forward and said, “Even though he saved your life, you once saved his life in the heavy snow. They cancel each other out—you don’t owe him anything. A generous reward and sending him away from the mansion would be the best outcome.”

Yu Lingxi accepted a cloak handed by the maid and wrapped it around herself, smiling slightly: “Elder Brother, you know very well in your heart that saving him was just a small effort for me, but his saving me was risking his life. How can these be compared?”

At the corner of the corridor, Ning Yin, who heard these words, paused his steps.

Although everything was under his control, these gentle yet firm words still caused ripples in the dead lake of his heart, disappearing in an instant.

His lips curled in a half-smile as he turned and walked into the endless shadows of the long corridor.

In the side hall, Yu Lingxi continued calmly: “Father has taught me since childhood to be loyal, righteous, upright, and honorable. Having been protected by someone willing to sacrifice his life, how could I do something against my conscience out of fear of others’ gossip?”

“We didn’t mistreat him. The silver I gave him is enough to last a lifetime, but he refused to take it…”

Yu Huanchen mumbled, receiving an elbow from Yu Xinyi, and fell silent.

Yu Lingxi had always been obedient and well-behaved, but this was the first time she was so stubborn. Madam Yu could only sigh and give her husband a look.

General Yu’s expression softened, showing gratification as he nodded repeatedly: “Worthy of being my Yu Yuan’s daughter—faithful and responsible!”

“Husband, Suisui is not a boy. What use does she have for righteousness?” Madam Yu gave him a reproachful glance.

“Suisui, allow your brother one more word. You wouldn’t happen to be…” Yu Huanchen hesitated.

The young man’s appearance was extremely fine and pleasing, even surpassing Xue Cen. He worried that his sister, with her simple heart, might sacrifice her lifelong happiness out of gratitude.

After all, Xue Cen was her suitable match.

Yu Lingxi understood her brother’s meaning and quickly shook her head: “Elder Brother, rest assured, I can distinguish between gratitude and romantic feelings.”

These days, Yu Lingxi had been pondering how to inform her father and brother of Ning Yin’s identity, to persuade them to support him, so that in the future, they could rely on this strongest backing to root out the real culprits behind the Yu family’s troubles.

But reasons like “past life and present life” were supernatural and difficult for her family to believe.

Moreover, the trajectory of fate had already deviated. She had changed the crisis of the northern expedition’s destruction. Now each day was a new experience, and she could no longer predict future events as evidence.

Seeing that her father and brother didn’t recognize Ning Yin, who was once the Seventh Prince, further confirmed she couldn’t use her rebirth prescience as an excuse to convince them.

Otherwise, a fugitive prince whom even current court officials couldn’t recognize, yet was identified and brought back by her, a secluded young lady, would be inexplicable to both Ning Yin and her family, only making things a mess.

The current plan was to drop some hints and let her father and brother discover it themselves.

By the time they discovered Ning Yin’s identity, perhaps she would have already transformed his cruel and cold-blooded nature. At that point, persuading her family to support a fallen prince of virtue and merit would be much easier than convincing them to back a violent madman.

With this in mind, Yu Lingxi pressed her lower lip: “Actually, my treatment of him is not only because I’m moved by his loyalty, but also because his eyes and demeanor tell me he is no ordinary person.”

Her clear eyes looked toward her father, gambling on his appreciation for talent, as she said softly: “Father once said that the Yu family army would never bury any talent, didn’t he?”

“Now that Suisui reminds me, I do recall that though the young man seemed frail, he was extremely willing to risk his life. The spirit of cutting his wrist to feed blood would command respect even from me.”

Yu Xinyi crossed her arms over her chest and frowned, “Just now as he stood at the steps, neither servile nor arrogant, his demeanor was unlike any ordinary servant.”

Beside them, General Yu’s stern gaze had already softened.

Tapping his fingers on the armrest, General Yu sighed: “My good daughter, how do you plan to arrange for that boy?”

Without hesitation, Yu Lingxi looked up and said: “Free him from slave status, promote him to the honored guest, and from now on, treat him with proper courtesy.”

…

After four or five consecutive days of rain, the afternoon finally cleared up with the sun breaking through the clouds.

The peach blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom. As the spring breeze blew, accumulated raindrops pattered down, bringing the moist floral fragrance.

Lady Tang Buli of Qingping County prepared generous gifts and personally came to apologize. After all, anyone would feel guilty and self-reproachful if their close friend encountered such a major accident during a spring hunt they had organized.

“Grandmother was furious and punished me to kneel in the ancestral hall without food. It was terrible!”

As soon as they met, Tang Buli tearfully complained, hugging Yu Lingxi, “Suisui, I’m so sorry! It was my poor management that harmed you.”

“Silly Ah Li, how is this your fault?”

Yu Lingxi smiled, moving her needlework and deerskin away to avoid pricking her careless friend.

“Did they find out what caused the horses to go mad?”

“With the Young Jun Wang of Nanyang nearly injured, how could they not investigate? They said there was a problem with the fodder—a poisonous powder that made the horses frantic was mixed in. In my opinion, it was most likely done by the Zhao family.”

Their thoughts coincided, and Yu Lingxi asked, “Why do you say that?”

“In the first round of hunting, the Zhao family had the poorest harvest. On the second day, everyone’s horses were poisoned and difficult to control, yet the Zhao family reversed their fortunes and harvested bountifully. Who else could have done it but them?”

Tang Buli took a piece of pear pastry and bit into it, indignantly continuing, “Unfortunately, I have no evidence. Besides, Zhao Xu somehow fell from his horse and remains unconscious, while Zhao Yuming just keeps crying, and nothing can be learned from her…”

Recalling the Zhao siblings standing amid the frenzied horses that day, Yu Lingxi lowered her long eyelashes, her eyes deepening.

In her previous life, she hadn’t paid much attention, only feeling that Zhao Yuming’s thoughts might not be as simple as her appearance suggested. Now it seemed that was indeed the case.

“Let’s not talk about this anymore.”

Tang Buli brushed the crumbs from her hands, interrupting Yu Lingxi’s thoughts, “Since I came in, I’ve seen you sewing these deerskin boots, and they look like they’re for a man… For whom? Oh, I know, perhaps for Second Young Master Xue?”

Tang Buli leaned closer, smiling mischievously, “After all, he was the hero who rescued you, carrying you up from the cliff.”

The crisis during the spring hunt—it seemed everyone only remembered Xue Cen.

Yu Lingxi’s red lips parted slightly as she gently bit off the thread end, casually deflecting: “The deerskin was from the last hunt. Since I’m idle anyway, I might as well practice my skills.”

Fortunately, Tang Buli wasn’t a detail-oriented person and quickly changed the subject: “In half a month, there’s the Spring Banquet organized by the Empress. Besides princes and heirs, all unmarried daughters of officials are also invited. So many people will be eyeing Second Young Master Xue! Suisui, you must dress beautifully and outshine them all!”

Spring Banquet…

Yu Lingxi paused, realizing she had forgotten about this.

In her previous life, while living at the Zhao mansion, her uncle had mentioned that the Spring Banquet, though called a feast, was actually for royal and noble families to select wives and concubines. At that time, her uncle had entertained the idea of sending her to the banquet to curry favor with the powerful, but since Yu Lingxi refused and fell ill from excessive worry, he reluctantly gave up.

Since it was for royalty to select wives and concubines, it would be better not to attend this banquet.

…

After the evening meal, the deerskin boots were finished.

Yu Lingxi thought for a moment, dismissed her maids, then took a lamp and the boots, heading alone to the rear courtyard’s outer quarters.

Since she would rely on him in the future, she needed to show some sincerity.

Ning Yin’s quarters were much more spacious than before. The door was half-closed, with a faint warm yellow light visible from inside.

He wasn’t asleep yet.

Yu Lingxi had come quietly, afraid of waking the sleeping guards nearby, so she put down her hand that was about to knock and pushed the door open directly.

Just as she stepped one leg inside, she froze with her lamp raised.

By the candlelit table, Ning Yin had removed the left half of his clothes, exposing his chest and arm, changing the bandages on his knife-cut, blood-letting wound.

The warm candlelight fell on his deeply carved, proportionate muscle lines. Unlike his usual cold paleness, they now emanated a jade-like warmth—

That is if one could ignore the hideous, curling knife wounds.

Seeing Yu Lingxi burst in, Ning Yin showed not the slightest panic or disturbance.

He tilted his head to bite one end of the bandage to tie a knot. Before even putting his clothes back on, he first smiled, as if seeing her was an extremely happy thing. He stood up and called, “Young Miss.”

Yu Lingxi closed the door behind her, cleared her throat, and asked, “How is your wound?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” he shook his head, with a strange yet faint light in his black eyes.

Yu Lingxi couldn’t help but curve her lips.

Placing the deerskin boots on the table, she said directly, “These are for you.”

Ning Yin touched the deerskin boots, his bandaged fingers tracing the dense stitches one by one, then looked up and asked, “Did Young Miss make these for me?”

“Found them in the storeroom.”

Yu Lingxi didn’t lift her eyes, saying calmly, “Try them on to see if they fit.”

Whatever Yu Lingxi asked Ning Yin to do, he obediently did, extremely compliant.

He put on the boots and took a few light steps.

“They fit perfectly.”

When he looked up, the smile in his eyes had deepened somewhat, and he asked, “But Young Miss, how did you know my shoe size?”

“…” Yu Lingxi nearly choked.