“Happier things?”

The position with her back against his chest was too dangerous. Yu Lingxi couldn’t help but turn around to face Ning Yin, looking at his countenance bathed in the dim, yellow lantern light.

Ning Yin gave a low “Mmm,” his arms braced on the windowsill, encircling her.

His eyes were profound, catching extremely faint light and shadow, like a wisp of starlight scattered between layers of clouds.

Yu Lingxi felt as if her mind had been captured. Suddenly she realized that, when Ning Yin wasn’t killing someone, his eyes also shone.

The night breeze scattered three thousand sky lanterns, and the shadow at the stairway entrance also swayed slightly.

Ning Yin raised his right hand, supporting the back of her head, his expression showing a kind of tenderness that made one feel dazed.

“It’s my turn to return the favor, Young Lady.”

He casually tilted his head to the side. When his breath fell upon her lips, Yu Lingxi’s eyes widened slightly.

That moment of surprise made her forget to react.

First, because Ning Yin rarely took the initiative to kiss her. Adding up both her previous and current lives, he had only taken the initiative once in that warehouse filled with Extreme Pleasure Fragrance, and even then he was cold, without a trace of emotion.

Second, she was surprised by the burning heat of Ning Yin’s lips, so different from their usual coolness.

There was a small sound, a click, from the stairway entrance, as if something had fallen to the ground.

Yu Lingxi’s eyelashes trembled, and instinctively she looked toward the source of the sound, but Ning Yin held her chin, turning her back, not allowing her to be distracted.

He touched those soft lips, first tracing them meticulously with the tip of his tongue, then opening his mouth to envelop them, savoring them bit by bit as if tasting some exquisite delicacy.

Ning Yin had always enjoyed watching others trying to escape but unable to do so, never missing even the slightest twisted expression of pain on the faces of those about to die, for these were the most beautiful pleasures to him.

But at this moment, his normally calm, open eyes were half-lowered, cast in the darkness of submission, like a whirlpool—only her sweetness could fill it.

Yu Lingxi was pressed backward, her lower back against the cold, hard windowsill, her soft hair like black silk fluttering slightly in the night wind, intertwining in Ning Yin’s pink-colored eyes.

The octagonal lantern under the eaves spread a blurred halo of light above their heads. Yu Lingxi’s heart beat rapidly, pounding against her chest.

Something softened, flooding disastrously in her heart.

She gripped the windowsill tightly, afraid of falling, afraid of drowning between Ning Yin’s thin lips.

Ning Yin made a muffled, entangled light laugh in his throat. One hand steadied her waist, while the other forcefully pressed down her hand that was chaotically bracing against the windowsill, guiding her to wrap her arms around his neck.

Yu Lingxi found something to cling to, her chest slowly pressing against his, trembling as she closed her eyelashes.

The high tower was silent, the howling of the wind no longer audible, only the intertwined breathing between them, hot and hurried.

Their lips parted, like awakening from a beautiful dream, trailing lingering aftertaste.

So this was what “happier things” meant.

Yu Lingxi clung to his shoulders without strength, gasping as if she had just been rescued from drowning.

Ning Yin, on the other hand, was calm and composed, only his lips were somewhat more flushed, carrying a husky smile as he said: “The Young Lady’s breathing needs practice.”

Yu Lingxi gripped his collar as if to punish him, gasping in short breaths: “Fine, tomorrow I’ll find someone to practice with.”

The arm loosely encircled her waist tightened. Ning Yin lightly pinched her chin, making her look up.

“What are you muttering about?”

He looked at Yu Lingxi’s crimson, lovely face, narrowing his eyes dangerously, “The Young Lady is so picky with her lips, others might not be as attentive as I am.”

Yu Lingxi couldn’t help but be annoyed with him. He was the one being picky with his lips, yet he was blaming others.

She would indeed like to practice with more people, but unfortunately, in both lifetimes, she had hung herself on the same tree.

Outside the window, sky lanterns floated one by one in the dark blue night sky. When the wind blew, they scattered orange-yellow warm light, making it impossible to distinguish which one was their “May Suisui Always Have Peace.”

Yu Lingxi’s thoughts also swayed with these sky lanterns, rising toward the vast heavens.

She thought, perhaps what her sister-in-law said was right.

“Do you know what this is called between us?”

Ning Yin fixed his eyes on hers, his pale reddish lips curling upward as he said in a low voice, “Illicit relations.”

Yu Lingxi was stunned for a moment, then raised her eyebrows that seemed traced with ink, softly refuting: “Only illicit, no relations.”

This time it was Ning Yin who was stunned.

After a moment, he laughed very lightly, his chest vibrating gently with laughter, cherishing her sweet words and soft heart dearly.

He cherished her so much that he wanted to hide her away, hide her in the deepest place, making those beautiful eyes bright only for him.

“That was my oversight.”

Ning Yin raised his finger to smooth the stray hair at Yu Lingxi’s temple, his low, husky voice filled with pleasure, “Next time, on a fine day in a beautiful setting, with a comfortable and spacious bed, I will surely fulfill the Young Lady’s wish.”

The wind made the window shutters creak. Yu Lingxi came to her senses and pushed against his solid chest, saying: “Get up, we should go down.”

If her brother noticed something amiss, there would certainly be another interrogation.

Ning Yin glanced nonchalantly toward the stairway entrance, looking at that space on the ground, and said: “Alright.”

He obediently released his arms, brewing some small thoughts unknown to others, being quite compliant.

Yu Lingxi rubbed her still slightly numb lips, not daring to let Ning Yin see her useless appearance with crimson cheeks. She lowered her head and walked toward the exit.

Then she paused, noticing a jade pendant that had fallen at the stairway entrance.

Before Ning Yin’s footsteps approached, Yu Lingxi pressed her lips together and quickly stepped on the jade with her shoe.

……

Xue Cen was standing on the Sky Painting Bridge, looking up at the vast night sky, with an unlit wishing lantern placed by his feet.

Yu Lingxi stood quietly in the corridor for a moment, composed herself, and then walked softly toward Xue Cen.

Upon seeing her, the restrained sorrow on Xue Cen’s face hadn’t had time to subside, and he awkwardly turned his gaze away.

Ning Yin stood on the stairs at the end of the long corridor, taking in everything on the painting bridge.

His mood was extremely good at the moment, so much so that he couldn’t be bothered about Xue Cen standing there like an idiot, pretending to be sorrowful to attract attention.

Moreover, he wanted to see exactly how Yu Lingxi would handle the current situation.

If the Young Lady didn’t handle it to his satisfaction, then he would have to step in personally.

He was not a patient person, and by then, even if she came crying to beg him, he definitely wouldn’t soften his heart.

Just as he was thinking, the people on the painting bridge made a move.

Yu Lingxi took out a mutton-fat-colored jade pendant from her sleeve and handed it to Xue Cen, saying: “Brother Cen, you dropped your jade.”

A flash of surprise crossed Xue Cen’s face, followed by panic.

She knew, knew that he had just gone to the top floor pavilion and had seen her with that guard called Wei Qi…

He took the jade pendant, his knuckles turning slightly white, forcing himself to swallow the words “secret affair” back into his stomach.

Such dirty words absolutely could not be used on Second Sister, not even in thought.

“Thank you,” he dared not look into her eyes, his usually clear voice tinged with hoarseness.

Had that guard seduced Second Sister, or forced her?

That was his Second Sister whom he had cherished for ten years, his most beloved Second Sister! How dare Wei Qi so recklessly defile her?

He couldn’t control himself from maliciously speculating about Wei Qi, feeling both heartbroken and angry.

“I should be thanking you.”

As he was thinking, Yu Lingxi’s voice flowed like a clear spring, gentle yet forthright, “Thank you for your noble integrity, for not disturbing that moment of beauty.”

She said it was a moment of “beauty.”

Xue Cen held the jade pendant, his eyes gradually reddening.

Young Master Xue, who hadn’t lost his composure even in the pavilion earlier, now crumbled completely at her gentle and implicit words.

He wasn’t stupid; he understood her meaning.

“You’re too young, Second Sister.”

Xue Cen’s voice was strained as he looked at her and said, “Drinking poison to quench thirst will ruin your entire life.”

“Ah Cen, Suisui!”

Yu Huanchen’s voice came through, laughingly interrupting them, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, so this is where you’ve been hiding!”

Xue Cen quickly turned his face away, not letting others see his current distress.

“What are you hiding here chatting about? Can your brother listen in?”

Yu Huanchen folded his arms, his gaze sweeping between the two of them, immediately sensing something amiss.

“Ah Cen, you…”

Just as Yu Huanchen was about to inquire, Yu Lingxi hurriedly stepped forward, blocking her brother’s view.

“Nothing, we were just looking at the lanterns.”

Knowing Xue Cen’s proud nature, Yu Lingxi glanced at the new tassel that had appeared on her brother’s sword hilt, curved her eyes, and changed the subject: “Brother’s sword tassel is very beautiful. Aren’t you going to give Sister-in-law a gift in return?”

Xue Cen turned around, his face had regained its gentle and handsome composure, saying softly: “The jewelry and rouge from Wanzhen House are the finest in the capital. Brother Chen should hurry to pick a gift for your esteemed wife before they close.”

“In such a rush to get rid of me? Feeling guilty?”

Yu Huanchen laughed, ruffling his sister’s hair, and said to Xue Cen: “You rascal, don’t bully my sister.”

Xue Cen didn’t refute.

He forced a smile and took the initiative: “Wangxian Tower’s plum wine is exceptional; I’ll accompany you to try it.”

Only then did Yu Huanchen drape his arm around Xue Cen’s shoulder, smilingly walking away.

As he went downstairs, Xue Cen’s footsteps paused, but he didn’t look back.

Ning Yin stood in the shadows on the stairs, watching that large hand of Yu Huanchen’s that had stroked Yu Lingxi’s hair.

His fingertips rubbed together, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he gave a very low hum.

Only after all the interfering people had left did he put his hands behind his back and slowly stroll down the stairs.

“Ning… Wei Qi.”

Yu Lingxi corrected herself, smiling gently at him, her clear eyes dry and clean, without a trace of gloom.

Ning Yin calmly walked over, raising his hand to lightly dust off her hair, as if trying to brush away something dirty.

“What’s wrong with my hair?”

Yu Lingxi raised her hand in confusion, touching the top of her head.

Could it be that when coming downstairs, she had gotten cobwebs or dust on her?

“The Young Lady should consider herself fortunate that I’m in an extremely good mood right now.”

Ning Yin’s fingertip tapped the jeweled ornaments in her hair, saying casually, “Next time, it might not be the case.”

“How long until next time?”

Yu Lingxi smiled, thinking that after “bullying” her for so long, he should at least be happy for a year or half.

Ning Yin saw through her little thoughts and said leisurely: “For someone as carefree as me, the Young Lady shouldn’t expect me to behave beyond tomorrow, unless…”

He lowered his gaze to look at Yu Lingxi’s rosy lips, spreading a meaningful smile.

……

In the Imperial Palace, the Qiong Tower was heavily guarded.

The Empress, dressed in an elaborate gold-embroidered phoenix robe, accompanied the Emperor as they gazed at the scattered sky lanterns outside the palace, quietly massaging his shoulders.

The Emperor’s gaze finally fell on the Empress’s face. He saw that she still maintained her natural appearance, not competing for beauty or favor, which evoked some tender memories from their youth.

The Emperor, having seen many fawning and strong-willed women, increasingly appreciated the Empress’s calm and quiet demeanor as he aged.

The Emperor’s weathered face softened, and he patted the Empress’s hand, saying: “The Crown Prince is incompetent, which has caused you much trouble.”

“It is my duty, and no matter how tiring, it cannot compare to Your Majesty’s burden.”

Empress Feng’s expression remained unchanged as she continued to massage him with moderate pressure, “Tan’er deeply respects Your Majesty in his heart, but doesn’t know how to express it. Yesterday, he even said that once the Seventh Prince’s whereabouts are found, he will have a companion, and they can share Your Majesty’s burdens.”

Hearing this, Cui An, who was standing at the side, felt his eyebrows twitch.

Had the Empress gone mad?

The Third Prince was feeble-minded, the Eighth Prince was only two months old, and the Seventh Prince was the Crown Prince’s only formidable rival.

The Empress should eliminate both Ning Yin and the Yu family, so how could she dare actively reveal to the Emperor that Ning Yin was still alive?

“The Seventh Prince?”

The Emperor indeed recalled that child born in the Cold Palace, whose appearance he couldn’t even remember. His brows furrowed, “Wasn’t it said that when Concubine Li fled the palace, she was assassinated, and the Seventh died without leaving a body?”

Empress Feng said: “The Court of Judicial Review did conclude as such at the time, but General Yu has been investigating for so long, so there should be good news soon…”

“Yu Yuan?”

The Emperor held the Empress’s hand, remained silent for a moment, then asked: “He’s involved in this too?”

Realizing she had misspoken, Empress Feng’s expression changed slightly. She walked to the side, lowered her skirts, and knelt: “I spoke out of turn. The other day when the Crown Prince came to pay his respects, I heard that General Yu was secretly investigating the Prince’s whereabouts, and I thought it was on Your Majesty’s orders…”

Hearing this, Cui An finally understood the Empress’s intention.

Even someone as despicable and filthy as him couldn’t help but admire from the bottom of his heart: the Empress’s tactic of deflecting trouble was truly exquisite.

The Emperor was naturally suspicious, wary of ministers whose achievements might overshadow the throne, and also wary of his sons. Power was something that could only be actively bestowed by the Emperor, but never allowed to be seized by others…

Otherwise, how had the previous princes died?

With one light sentence, the Empress had tied the powerful Yu family to the exiled Seventh Prince, precisely triggering the Emperor’s fury.

“Alright, you may rise.”

The Emperor rubbed his thumb ring, pondering for a long time before standing up and saying: “I am tired. The Empress should rest early as well.”

“This humble servant respectfully sees Your Majesty off.” The Empress bowed.

When she raised her head again, the submissiveness on her face had faded, leaving an evenness bordering on coldness.

……

It rained lightly during the night.

In the morning, the blue bricks were damp, and remnants of wishing lanterns lay in the streets and alleys.

Ning Yin held a purple-skinned grape, looked at the sky for a while, then said with disdain: “Chenfeng, don’t sell grapes next time, they’re too sour.”

Looking at his master’s unpredictable mood, Chenfeng felt quite wrong.

These sour grapes were specially selected by him. If the grapes in the basket were too sweet, more people would buy them, which would not be conducive to exchanging information.

Ning Yin took the grapes into his room, closed the door, and carefully extracted the layer of oilpaper wrapping the grapes. He calmly scanned it once, then placed it on a candlestick and lit it.

As he released his hand, the flame floated down to the ground, turning to black ash in an instant.

On the small table lay a piece of black jade that had been roughly carved.

The palm-sized black jade had been cut into an even square at the bottom, with something reclining horizontally on top, its undulating contours faintly discernible.

It had only been roughly carved and still needed fine engraving.

Ning Yin held the angular black jade in his hand, carefully rubbing and playing with it.

When this jade was finished, it would be time for him to leave.

That sense of attachment and reluctance had barely emerged before dissipating like bubbles.

In that case, he would take the person along with him.

Ning Yin supported his temple, lowered his eyes, and began to smile: she had promised, hadn’t she?