Han Mingyue carefully observed Su Zuidie, his heart slightly relieved. Though she had lost some weight, it seemed she hadn’t been tortured. The wound on her forehead wasn’t very noticeable; even if it left a scar, it wouldn’t affect her beauty. Upon seeing Han Mingyue’s arrival, Su Zuidie showed only a moment’s joy before quickly suppressing her smile, asking, “Did you bring the Purple Dew Balm?”

Han Mingyue frowned, “Hasn’t the Princess Consort given you medicine? Does the wound still hurt?”

The mention of Ye Li touched Su Zuidie’s nerve. She swept her sleeve in cold anger, “Don’t mention that worthless woman!”

Han Mingyue sighed, taking out an exquisite small porcelain bottle from his robes and handing it to Su Zuidie. She took the bottle, opened it to smell, and satisfied, turned to apply the medicine in front of the bronze mirror in her room.

Han Mingyue followed her into the bedchamber. Looking at the rather modest furnishings, he understood the source of her earlier anger toward that little maid. Having been pampered since childhood, she had never been one to endure hardship. She wouldn’t settle for anything slightly inferior, yet Ye Li had confined her in this simple place – no wonder her mood was poor.

After applying the medicine, Su Zuidie finally turned to look at Han Mingyue, satisfied to see a trace of infatuation and admiration in his eyes. This instantly restored some of her confidence that had been battered during her days here. Slightly raising her head, forming a beautiful arc with her smile, Su Zuidie softly asked, “Mingyue, have you come to rescue me?”

Han Mingyue’s expression shifted slightly. He sighed and nodded, “Why else would I be here? I’ve arranged for people outside to help. Wait a bit longer, and we can leave this place.”

Su Zuidie froze, hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, “No, we can’t just leave like this.”

Han Mingyue frowned, “What else do you have to do here?”

Su Zuidie gritted her teeth, “Ye Li! That worthless woman… go help me kill her.”

Han Mingyue’s smile became somewhat forced and bitter. He gazed deeply at Su Zuidie, trying to reason with her, “Zuidie, I promised… I wouldn’t move against Ye Li again.” This wasn’t just because of Mo Xiuyao, but more because of Han Mingxi. No matter how much Han Mingyue was infatuated with Su Zuidie, Han Mingxi was still his only brother, his closest blood relation in this world. He knew well his brother’s feelings for Ye Li, and though he knew it was one-sided, Han Mingyue knew that if he truly moved against Ye Li, Han Mingxi would never forgive him. He had never truly considered becoming enemies with the brother he had raised since childhood.

Su Zuidie’s expression changed, and she let out a cold laugh, “Promises! Always promises! I knew I meant nothing in your heart. If that’s the case, why do you care about my life or death? I don’t need the great Young Master Han’s rescue. Even if Ye Li kills me, it’s my fault. Just leave by yourself and don’t worry about me.”

“Zuidie,” Han Mingyue said gravely, “Now is not the time to be willful. It’s already fortunate that we can get out safely. Moving against Ye Li is simply impossible. You should have seen these past days – Mo Xiuyao won’t stand on your side.”

Struck at a sore spot, Su Zuidie faltered, understanding the logic in Han Mingyue’s words. But letting Ye Li go like this made her heart unwilling. Her enchanting eyes turned, and she looked at Han Mingyue coquettishly, “Then you mean you’ll help me teach her a lesson when there’s a chance later?”

Han Mingyue froze. He had intended to persuade her to stop provoking Ye Li. But now was not the time to reason with her, so he could only perfunctorily nod, “There will be opportunities in the future.”

Su Zuidie smiled brilliantly, lowering her eyes, “I knew that in this world, only you, Mingyue, treat me the best.” How could she not hear that Han Mingyue was merely placating her? But it didn’t matter – as long as Han Mingyue agreed, she always had ways to make him do as she wished. When it came to Han Mingyue, Su Zuidie had endless confidence and methods.

“Why wait for another time to deal with this Princess? Aren’t I right here?” A clear, slightly lazy laughing voice came from the outer room. Han Mingyue’s heart jolted as he became secretly alert – he hadn’t noticed anyone entering the outer hall. Ye Li’s light laugh continued, “Young Master Han, it’s been long since we parted in Guangling. Won’t Young Master Han come out to reminisce?”

Han Mingyue looked down at Su Zuidie, giving her a reassuring smile and saying softly, “Don’t be afraid, nothing will happen. Let’s go out and see.”

Passing through the screen and leaving the room, they saw Ye Li lounging lazily on a soft couch in the flower hall, smiling as she watched the two approaches.

Seeing Han Mingyue, she smiled and said, “Young Master Han has such skill – it seems this Xinyang City and the Governor’s mansion are as open to Young Master Han as if there were no one here at all.”

By now, if Han Mingyue still didn’t understand, he wouldn’t be worthy of being the master of Tianyi Pavilion, which controlled the world’s intelligence network. He smiled bitterly, “Perhaps the Princess Consort was merely showing mercy?”

How could the Princess Consort have such capable people under her command yet allow him to enter the Governor’s mansion undetected for so long? Most likely, the net had been spread long ago, waiting for him to walk into it.

Ye Li pursed her lips in a smile, saying softly, “Young Master Han’s deep feelings and heavy sentiment make him worthy of being called this generation’s greatest romantic – I truly admire this. Since White Noble Consort was here, how could Young Master Han not come?”

Han Mingyue heard the mockery in Ye Li’s words but merely smiled faintly without responding.

Ye Li rested her chin on her hand, looking at the two indifferently, “Originally, for Mingxi’s sake, I shouldn’t have troubled Young Master Han. But now the situation is somewhat special, so… I’m afraid I must offend you.”

Han Mingyue cupped his hands, smiling composedly, “Falling into the Princess’s hands, Han Mingyue willingly submits and awaits the Princess’s disposal.”

Ye Li nodded slightly, looking at the still-refined man before her with some regret in her heart. Family background, appearance, ability, and skill – Han Mingyue lacked nothing and even exceeded ordinary people in many ways. No wonder he could be Mo Xiuyao’s good friend in his youth. It was a pity that someone who should have been heaven’s favored son had fallen to such a state simply because he couldn’t overcome matters of the heart.

Han Mingyue’s days in Xiling hadn’t been easy. Even though he possessed a force as vast as Tianyi Pavilion, if only he could let go of Su Zuidie, he could live freely and unrestrained wherever he went. Yet he insisted on entangling himself with Su Zuidie. While the Xiling royal family indeed needed the power in his hands, they treated him more like an outsider and remained guarded against him. Even more so, they coveted the power in his hands – after all, isn’t it always more convenient to use one’s things rather than others?

“Take Young Master Han away,” Ye Li waved her hand and said softly.

Han Mingyue smiled at her, “Won’t the Prince come out to see an old friend?”

Ye Li looked at him calmly, “Does Young Master Han think the Prince has time to see friends now?”

Han Mingyue pondered for a moment, nodding slightly to show he understood. Furrowing his elegant brows, he asked, “I understand why the Princess has gone to such lengths. If I give the Princess what she wants, what will the Princess offer in exchange?”

Ye Li stared at Han Mingyue for a long while before finally laughing softly, saying leisurely, “Does Young Master Han think I intend to make a deal with you?”

Han Mingyue raised an eyebrow, indicating that was exactly what he meant.

Ye Li said regretfully, “Originally if Young Master Han had come directly to make a deal with me, I would indeed have agreed. However now, after spending so much effort to finally capture Young Master Han, if it were just an equal exchange, I would feel somewhat shortchanged. Moreover, I don’t need to make a deal with Young Master Han to get what I need.”

Han Mingyue frowned, his face full of disbelief, “That’s impossible. If Tianyi Pavilion could be so easily controlled, this young master wouldn’t need to continue existing.”

Ye Li shook her head, “To be honest, I have no interest in Tianyi Pavilion. Such a vast intelligence organization – even if Young Master Han handed it over to me, do you think I would dare to use it?”

Han Mingyue watched the elegant and graceful woman on the seat warily. It seemed that since their first meeting, he had never correctly guessed this woman’s thoughts, which only increased his inexplicable unease. He heard Ye Li say indifferently, “Since it cannot be used by me, my opinion is – destroy it!”

Han Mingyue took a deep breath, his handsome face finally showing shock, “You want to destroy Tianyi Pavilion?!” This Tianyi Pavilion, which countless heroes and even emperors and ministers coveted, controlled half the secrets of the world when in one’s grasp – the woman before him wanted to destroy it without even blinking.

“I’ve already started destroying it,” Ye Li said softly.

Han Mingyue closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, they were filled with stillness, “Tianyi Pavilion has your people.”

Ye Li smiled approvingly and clapped lightly. A man in gray robes walked in from outside, calmly sweeping his gaze over the slightly pale Han Mingyue and Su Zuidie beside him, then respectfully bowed to Ye Li, “This subordinate, Dark Four, greets the Princess Consort.”

Ye Li smiled, nodding, “Rise. You’ve worked hard these days.”

Dark Four respectfully said, “Having failed to fulfill the Princess Consort’s orders, this subordinate dares not speak of hardship.”

Ye Li said, “You’ve done very well. Like Zhuo Jinglin Han, from today on, you are no longer a Dark Guard.”

Dark Four bowed again, “This subordinate Wei Lin greets the Princess Consort.”

Han Mingyue’s face turned ashen as he looked at Wei Lin indifferently, “You are a Dark Guard of the Prince Consort’s mansion?”

Wei Lin stood up, looking at Han Mingyue, “Indeed. These days have troubled the Pavilion Master with his care.”

Han Mingyue’s smile was bitter – hadn’t he cared indeed? In barely half a year, he had promoted an unknown person to become his most trusted right-hand man. It was partly because the other had once saved his life, but more because he admired the other’s talent and ability.

Somewhat weakly, he turned to look at Ye Li, “I hadn’t expected the Prince Consort’s mansion’s Dark Guards to be so capable now, or is it that the people by the Princess’s side are particularly outstanding?” Having once been close friends with Mo Xiuyao, he naturally had some understanding of the Prince Consort’s mansion’s Dark Guards. But Wei Lin’s abilities and methods exceeded the Dark Guards by far. Initially, he had suspected Wei Lin might be a spy from the Garrison South Prince the Xiling Bai family, or even the Xiling Emperor or other forces, but it was finally proven that he had no connection with any of these people, so he gave his trust, yet never imagined he would be from the Prince Consort’s mansion.

Ye Li smiled, “Young Master Han flatters me. Please go down now, perhaps the Prince will have time to chat with Young Master Han later. As for your people in the Northwest… Young Master Han need not worry. Worrying would be useless, wouldn’t it?”

Han Mingyue was speechless for a long while before finally saying, “The Princess is brilliant. Han Mingyue admits defeat.”

Ye Li smiled faintly without speaking, waving her hand for people to take him away.