In her previous life, Yu Lingxi had plenty of free time at the Regent Prince’s mansion. Besides reading, painting, and writing, she did needlework. After two years, her skill at making shoe soles had become quite refined.

With no other men to give gifts to, she would often embroider a sachet or sew a pair of shoes for Ning Yin, filled with perfunctory and clumsy attempts to please him.

But Ning Yin was too precious then—how could he appreciate things she had sewn? Those embroidered items were either thrown away or piled in some unnamed corner gathering dust.

Yu Lingxi didn’t mind. She sewed her things, and he discarded them, neither interfering with the other.

From the initially crooked stitches to the later fine and neat ones, in those two years, the only thing Ning Yin barely found acceptable was the last pair of cloud-patterned leather boots she had made.

Ironically, on the day she died, Ning Yin was still wearing those boots she had sewn, spattered with Xue Cen’s fresh blood.

That memory was almost carved into her bones. Yu Lingxi had sewn these deerskin boots with practiced ease, without thinking too much about it.

Unexpectedly, Ning Yin immediately noticed her slip.

The cat Huanu leaped down from the window frame, and circled Yu Lingxi’s feet with a meow, calling back her wandering thoughts.

After just a moment’s pause, she quickly regained her composure: “I saw you were about the same height as Qing Xiao, so I guessed.”

Ning Yin didn’t show whether he believed her or not. He picked up the cat that would give Yu Lingxi a rash and nodded: “Young Miss has a very accurate eye.”

“Sit down,” Yu Lingxi tilted her head slightly upward, gesturing toward the couch with her chin.

Only when Ning Yin obediently sat down and that sense of towering pressure disappeared did she look at him at eye level, trying to step out of her previous life’s prejudices and once again carefully examine the seemingly docile and harmless young man before her.

“Wei Qi.”

The beauty in the lamplight shifted her gaze and asked him, “Tell me honestly, how do I treat you?”

Ning Yin tilted his head slightly and replied without hesitation, “Young Miss treats my wounds, gives me a name, and provides superior food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. You are the person who has treated me best in this world.”

“What if, in the future, others treat you just as well?”

“Without Young Miss’s rescue, how could I even have a ‘future’?”

Yu Lingxi narrowed her eyes, suspecting that Ning Yin’s survival in his youth, besides his extraordinarily resilient willpower, probably also relied on his silver tongue.

She decided to follow this line of conversation to set a trap, curving her eyes as she said: “Then you must remember how well I’ve treated you.”

“Wei Qi would not dare forget.”

Unlike other servants who would be timid, Ning Yin looked directly into her clear autumn-water eyes and said softly, “If I could repay even a fraction of Young Miss’s deep kindness, I would be willing to do anything.”

From his tone, it seemed he wasn’t yet aware of his promotion.

Yu Lingxi felt mischievous and deliberately asked: “Oh? What can you do?”

“I am willing to serve Young Miss, attending to your every need.”

Seeing Yu Lingxi raise an eyebrow without speaking, Ning Yin thought for a moment, then added with a smile, “I can also fight. If Young Miss has enemies she wants to be killed, I can…”

“Stop!” Yu Lingxi raised her hand to halt him.

Listen, just listen—this must be how he grew crooked in her previous life, with his mind full of simple and brutal killing.

“I don’t want you to kill people. On the contrary, I want you to protect me and protect the Yu family.”

“Protect?” Ning Yin showed a slightly puzzled expression.

“Yes. If you truly want to stay by my side, you must follow my rules. No matter when or where you must never do anything that betrays the Yu family or goes against your conscience.”

Yu Lingxi stood in the lamplight as if countless stars were crushed in that shallow pool of her eyes. She gently laid out her bargaining chip: “I have no intention of exploiting your gratitude. If you’re unwilling, I still respect your choice, will give you a generous reward, and help you settle outside the mansion.”

“I am willing.” After her long speech, Ning Yin responded without hesitation.

He raised his head slightly, his ink-black pupils as deep as whirlpools, captivating and soul-stirring.

The fingers Yu Lingxi had been twisting in her sleeve gradually relaxed, her brow smoothed, and she smiled with raised eyebrows: “In that case, starting tomorrow, you will be an honored guest in my household. How does that sound?”

As if he hadn’t expected such “courtesy” from her, Ning Yin was momentarily stunned.

Although the title of honored guest sounded good, he would ultimately be an outsider, which would inconvenience his investigations and movements.

“Wei Qi is of humble origin and limited knowledge. I am willing to start as a guard, protecting Young Miss.”

Ning Yin lowered his gaze to cover the emotions in his eyes and said softly, “As long as I can stay by Young Miss’s side, anything is acceptable.”

Limited knowledge? That was doubtful.

In two or three years, both the country and the emperor would be ants in his palm, crushed at his whim.

Yu Lingxi inwardly scoffed, silently watching his self-deprecation and self-pity.

But he did remind her of something: Ning Yin becoming an honored guest of the Yu household would indeed be too conspicuous. It would make it easier for those with ulterior motives to dig up his identity, thus dragging her father and brother into dangerous disputes. Being a guard would provide better protection and discretion.

This thought flashed through her mind, and Yu Lingxi said: “Then start as a guard. But guards are people too, not slaves. You must not do those self-deprecating things anymore. For the rest, I will teach you gradually.”

Yu Lingxi left, a point of lamplight crookedly disappearing into the pitch-black night.

Ning Yin sat on the couch for a while, then waved his sleeve to close the door.

He took off the deerskin boots and examined them for a moment in the cold light spilling in from the windowsill. Then he released them from both hands, letting the brand-new boots drop to the floor with a thud. As if discovering some amusing game, he bent his elbow and curved his lips, bursting into a muffled laugh from his chest.

The little girl thought her thoughts were meticulous, yet she couldn’t even tell a proper lie: this deerskin was very new, impossible to be old stock from the storeroom.

Her care was more like trying to put a gentle shackle on him, a beast in sheep’s clothing.

Had she guessed his identity?

Impossible, Ning Yin quickly rejected this guess: if even Yu Yuan and his son couldn’t recognize him, how could a sheltered girl who rarely left home?

Moreover, from all his observations, Yu Lingxi’s circle was extremely simple, without any involvement in palace factions or royal parties.

She harbored a mystery yet to be solved, that light in the mist growing ever more dazzling, ever more brilliant, drawing people to approach and explore.

According to Ning Yin’s previous temperament, anyone who had seen his humble and wretched side should be killed after being used, and everything burned clean.

But now…

His eyes darkened slightly as he gradually restrained his smile, stood up to pick up the boots, and dusted them off.

Now, somehow, he found himself reluctant to kill her.

The moon’s shadow slanted westward, the night was still.

By the window, a moth flapped its wings toward the dancing candlelight, instantly turning to smoke and dissipating. It was already impossible to distinguish who was the schemer and who was the prey.

…

Late March, the Spring Banquet.

Yu Lingxi had firmly decided to feign illness to avoid this banquet. Before she could even go pet the flower cat to induce an allergic reaction, her elder sister fell ill first.

Rose ringworm, a patch of red swelling on her face, quite severe.

During the previous northern expedition, both the Yu father and son had fallen ill and missed the march. This time for the Spring Banquet, if both daughters claimed illness and did not attend, it would inevitably arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.

After much consideration, Yu Lingxi could only represent the Yu family at the banquet.

“Young Miss, why don’t you change your outfit?”

Hutao looked somewhat troubled at Yu Lingxi who wore no makeup, concerned for her mistress: “At the banquet, all the young ladies will be dressed up, doing their utmost to show themselves off. Even with your beauty, such plain attire will make you seem unremarkable.”

“Being unremarkable is exactly what I want.”

Yu Lingxi smiled, pushing away the golden hairpin in Hutao’s hand. She stood up, checked herself in the mirror from front to back, and satisfied, went out the door.

A figure stood by the carriage—it was Ning Yin.

Seeing Yu Lingxi descend the steps surrounded by her maids, a faint ripple passed through his dark eyes.

Today she wore only plain clothes, her hair simply arranged with a jade hairpin inserted at an angle, accentuating her naturally spirited face, a pleasure to behold.

Ning Yin’s lips moved slightly, and he proactively extended his arm forward.

Yu Lingxi rested her hand on his arm to board the carriage. Her plain white hand touched and left immediately, leaving a faint feminine fragrance on his hard leather wristguard.

Remembering something, Yu Lingxi lifted the carriage curtain again and said to Ning Yin: “For this palace entry, you need not follow.”

The area outside the palace was filled with a mix of people, and she feared someone might recognize Ning Yin’s identity, disrupting her plans.

Ning Yin obediently nodded: “All right.”

A moment later, he added with a smile: “The palace banquet will be crowded. I hope Young Miss will be careful and avoid conspicuous places.”

Yu Lingxi was puzzled, feeling there was more to Ning Yin’s words as if he was hinting at something.

However, even without his reminder, Yu Lingxi knew how to avoid standing out.

“I understand,” she lowered the carriage curtain.

Yu Huanchen, accompanying his sister to the banquet, observed their conversation intently, his sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“Qing Xiao.”

He called for the guard and lowered his voice: “Find someone to protect my sister, don’t let her get too close to that Wei Qi. Also, investigate that boy’s experience before he went to the fighting arena. Report to me immediately if you find anything.”

The palace banquet was set in the royal garden.

Yu Lingxi had just lifted her skirt to get off the carriage when she saw a horseman trotting over, calling: “Yu Official…”

Upon seeing Yu Lingxi’s face, Nanyang Jun Wang Ning Ziluo’s smile froze, showing a trace of awkwardness: “Ah, it’s the Second Young Lady.”

“Young Jun Wang,” Yu Lingxi curtseyed.

Ning Ziluo hurriedly dismounted and looked inside Yu Lingxi’s carriage, as if searching for someone.

“Where is Official Yu?”

Ning Ziluo made a surprised sound, “Last time during the spring hunt, I owe her thanks for risking herself to save me. I’ve never had the chance to thank her in person.”

The official was her sister’s title. Because of her excellent archery, at seventeen she had been promoted by His Majesty to be the only female commander of the Hundred Riders, responsible for guarding the palace women during sacrifices or outings.

“My elder sister is unwell and cannot attend the banquet.”

Yu Lingxi smiled slightly, “I will convey your gratitude to her.”

With that, she did not linger for small talk and entered with Yu Huanchen, who had removed his sword, to attend the banquet.

West City, Golden Cloud Temple.

It took Ning Yin some time to shake off that troublesome guard. When he arrived at the meditation room’s secret chamber, a tall royal guard carrying a bronze greatsword had been waiting for a long time.

“Your Highness!”

Seeing Ning Yin stride in with his hands behind his back, the royal guard hurriedly bowed and knelt, his trembling Adam’s apple showing both loyalty and fear as he said hoarsely, “This subordinate was late due to circumstances, please punish me.”

The black-clothed young man turned to sit on the small couch, looking at him from the corner of his eye: “Since you know you’re late, do I need to act personally?”

The royal guard, knowing that his lax surveillance had almost led to his master being harmed by the West Chuan Jun Wang Ning Changrui, broke into a cold sweat. He swallowed and drew the heavy sword from his back with a swing.

With the sound of tables and chairs breaking like dry twigs, a little finger rolled on the ground, offered as an apology.

The heavy sword fell, raising dust.

The royal guard covered his severed finger, blood streaming through the cracks between his fingers. He endured the pain and looked at Ning Yin’s still-bandaged left hand: “Your Highness has been in hiding for so long, enduring such danger and humiliation. Now that you’ve summoned us subordinates, are you planning to make a move…”

“Not so fast.”

Ning Yin’s tone was casual, “The Yu family controls significant military force. Such a large piece of fat meat—absorption is more valuable than destruction.”

The royal guard showed momentary surprise, then regained his composure: “What does Your Highness mean?”

As if recalling something interesting, Ning Yin suddenly smiled: “An interesting prey should be fattened up and eaten slowly for the most enjoyment, don’t you think?”

His gaze fell on the brand-new deerskin boots on his feet, which had two very small crimson spots—blood that had accidentally splashed when the royal guard cut off his finger.

The smile in Ning Yin’s eyes faded.

He played idly with the short blade between his fingers. After a while, he said flatly: “Zhe Ju, you’ve dirtied my new boots.”

Despite his toneless voice, Zhe Ju seemed to feel a piercing cold killing intent directed at him, pressing his eight-foot frame to the ground, prostrating himself and unable to rise.