The young man sensed Ming Huashang’s gaze and raised his eyes to look at her, giving her a slight smile. He came to a stop and stepped aside, nodding courteously: “After you, please.”

The manner in which he stepped aside was upright and natural — neither servile nor arrogant. Yet his hand remained shielding the girl, his body still screening her without drawing attention to the gesture. Behind him, the young woman glanced past her brother’s shoulder at Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang with a curious look, but said nothing either.

Ming Huashang had seen the true daughter return to the Zhenguo household to claim her place in a dream, and so the moment she set eyes on this young woman, she recognized her instantly — this was the true daughter, Su Yuji. Combined with the young man calling Su Yuji “little sister,” and the information Ren Yao had gathered from Taiyuan Prefecture, it took no great effort to conclude: this young man was Su Xingzhi.

It had not occurred to Ming Huashang that, not long ago she had been fretting over where on earth to find Nanny Su’s kin — and here they were before her in the flesh.

A dream and reality carry entirely different kinds of impact. If before Ming Huashang had treated the vision from the beginning of the year as a prophetic glimpse — holding a “better safe than sorry” vigilance against her own death — then this moment was a blow struck directly to her head.

She saw with crystalline clarity that she was false. The father who cherished her without conditions, the elder brother who was cool and accomplished yet earnest and responsible, the full and peaceful life of a duke’s household — all of it false.

None of it belonged to her.

The true daughter had appeared — and looked exactly as she had in the dream. If that meant the dream was accurate, then the part where her father drove her from the household and she died alone and forgotten was not far off.

Su Xingzhi had already offered to step aside, yet Ming Huashang stood rooted to the spot, staring at them without moving. Su Yuji’s brow furrowed faintly, and a trace of displeasure entered her gaze.

Ming Huazhang had also noticed that Ming Huashang was behaving strangely. Ming Huashang was at the age of youth’s full bloom, but she was unlike other girls her age who dreamed of romance — she had never shown interest in any young man, focusing instead on food with single-minded devotion. This was the first time she had ever looked at a man this long, and this intently.

Ming Huazhang found himself studying the two strangers as well. The young man appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, his spine held very straight, with a pair of phoenix-tailed eyes — the lids thin and fine, the outer corners fanning into a shallow arc. His gaze was very bright, and at this moment, fixed on Ming Huazhang, it could no longer conceal the wariness and edge within it.

Ming Huazhang felt the young man’s hostility and shifted his attention to the other. The young woman behind him was equally striking — apricot-shaped eyes, peach-bloom cheeks, a fine nose and delicate mouth, a very clean and lovely face. But because she always pressed her lips together and kept her expression cool, the softness of her features was muted, giving her a quality of inner steel.

Those in the Xuan Xiaowei came from all walks of life, but a pair this striking in appearance was distinctive enough. Ming Huazhang guessed their identities almost at first glance.

Other than himself and Xie Jichuan, the other pair who had entered together — Su Xingzhi and Su Yuji.

As Ming Huazhang’s gaze lingered on the young woman, the young man’s shoulders drew tighter still, and his hand had already quietly shifted into an attack-ready stance. Ming Huazhang paid the boy’s defensive posture no particular attention. He had reviewed the Su siblings’ mission records — they had some ability, but only up to a point. Su Xingzhi was not his match.

The evidence was the timing of their entries: Ming Huazhang, Xie Jichuan, Su Xingzhi, and Su Yuji had all entered at roughly the same time, yet Ming Huazhang had already risen to be a high official of the Heaven-character tier with direct access to the throne, while the Su siblings were still ordinary operatives — unaware of Ming Huazhang’s true identity or name.

So then — what had Ming Huashang been looking at just now?

Su Xingzhi’s body grew tighter by the moment. Just as he was on the verge of breaking protocol and making a move, Ming Huazhang spoke first: “We didn’t realize anyone was here — we beg your pardon. You were here first; please, after you.”

Ming Huashang also came back to herself at last. She lowered her eyes and stepped behind Ming Huazhang. Su Xingzhi’s gaze swept over the pair. Su Xingzhi had heard many people praise his own appearance over the years, and long since grown indifferent to the subject — but when he looked at Ming Huazhang, he was struck by a sudden, involuntary brilliance in the eyes.

Not merely because of the man’s features, but more because of his bearing. Those eyes in particular — light moved through them, yet they were sharply black-and-white, like the sun and moon of the heavens — bright, noble, pure, and untouchable.

The young woman behind Ming Huazhang was even more puzzling. Even accounting for how accustomed he was to Su Yuji’s beauty, Su Xingzhi had to acknowledge that the young woman was flower-bright and moon-beautiful, lovely to behold — yet the look she had given him was strange, as if she recognized him.

Su Xingzhi had absolutely no recollection of any prior dealings with a young woman besides Su Yuji. With this suspicion lingering, he did not leave immediately, and instead said, “It is we who were careless. The bearing of you two is remarkable and admirable. May I ask your names?”

Ming Huazhang drew Ming Huashang behind him and said with quiet composure, “Hers isn’t necessary. If there’s anything you wish to know, ask me. I am, for what it’s worth — code name, South Dipper.”

Su Xingzhi and Su Yuji’s eyes both went wide. They exchanged a glance. This was the famous South Dipper? But then who was the person beside him — Dangerous Moon? No one had mentioned that Dangerous Moon was a woman.

Xie Jichuan, Jiang Ling, and Ren Yao came walking over. Seeing Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang standing there, they asked curiously, “What’s happening?”

Ming Huazhang looked away from the two newcomers. “Nothing. We ran into two extraordinary individuals. May I ask what you two go by?”

Facing five people against their two felt strongly disadvantageous to Su Xingzhi. And that man in blue — a pair of peach-blossom eyes that seemed to smile without smiling — gave Su Xingzhi the prickling feeling of being watched by a fox.

Su Xingzhi disliked being looked down upon. He said coldly, “You’re too kind. I am called Thousand Mountains. This is my younger sister, Flowing Water. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be on our way.”

These were their code names — Su Xingzhi naturally would not give real names to strangers. Xie Jichuan smiled and said, “Safe travels, no need to see you out.”

Su Xingzhi nodded, took Su Yuji with him, and walked away. As they passed each other, Ming Huashang looked up — and met Su Yuji’s eyes precisely.

Not a single word passed between them. Yet in that one moment, it was as if a thousand things had been said.

After the two had walked on, Xie Jichuan asked, “Changchang little sister — what were you looking at?”

Ming Huashang shook her head and said distractedly, “Nothing.”

Jiang Ling and Ren Yao had already walked on ahead. They turned back, saw the others still hadn’t followed, and waved impatiently. “Come on! What are you two dawdling for?”

“Coming.” Ming Huashang answered, forced herself to smile, and said, “Second Elder Brother — if we don’t hurry, Jiang Ling will take all the good rooms. Let’s move.”

Ming Huazhang behaved as though he had not noticed how strained her tone was, and nodded lightly. “All right.”

The training base was deep within Zhongnan Mountain — the one thing it had in abundance was space. Each student had a private courtyard to themselves. Ming Huazhang exercised his authority to select for Ming Huashang a small courtyard beside the hill and facing a stream, where one could see the long forest and the running water just by opening the window — a wild mountain beauty all its own. It was quiet and safe, and not far from Ming Huazhang’s own courtyard.

Ming Huazhang first took her to her quarters, then went with the other two to find their rooms, leaving Ming Huashang to unpack alone.

Compared to the Zhenguo household, this little room was very sparse — only the most basic bedding, a table, and chairs. But Ming Huashang didn’t mind; she actually liked the natural wildness of it here. With no maidservants now, everything had to be done herself. She rolled up her sleeves and was in the middle of cleaning the small room when a light, unhurried, triple knock came at the door.

Without needing to ask, Ming Huashang already knew who it was. She didn’t even bother pushing her sleeve down — she ran to the door and threw it open: “Second Elder Brother, what brings you here?”

Ming Huazhang’s gaze passed over Ming Huashang’s porcelain-white arm. He looked away and said, “I let Xie Jichuan take the others to find their quarters. Are you all right — are you settling in?”

“Of course I’m fine.” Ming Huashang ushered Ming Huazhang inside, hurriedly gathered the clothes on the table into her arms, and stuffed them into the wardrobe. “The room’s a bit of a mess — please find somewhere to sit, Second Elder Brother. I’ll be done tidying in no time.”

Ming Huazhang watched her clumsy movements and pressed his lips together. “You are a daughter of the Ming household. You shouldn’t have to do any of this.”

Ming Huashang was unconcerned. “No one is born a servant. Zhao Cai and Jin Bao weren’t born to wait on me, either. I have two hands and two feet — why can’t I do what they do? Second Elder Brother, don’t worry about me. I’m perfectly fine.”

Ming Huazhang let out a quiet sigh and helped her tidy up, unobtrusively taking over all the more laborious tasks. Both of them had grown up in the Zhenguo household, yet Ming Huazhang’s practical abilities vastly exceeded hers. The clothes she had been folding for ages and still looked a rumpled mess were sorted into neat stacks in his hands within moments.

Ming Huashang stood by the wardrobe, watching Ming Huazhang sort her clothes by category, organizing everything with smooth efficiency — she couldn’t even find a moment to help. A faint sense of embarrassment came over her. “This is my own responsibility, and yet I’m making Second Elder Brother help with it.”

“It’s nothing,” Ming Huazhang said. “I dislike having anyone close at hand, so I’ve done things like this for myself since I was young.”

Ming Huashang felt even more ashamed by comparison. She wanted to thank him, but when she looked around, there wasn’t even a cup of tea to offer. She picked up the teapot. “Second Elder Brother, wait just a moment — let me go and heat some tea.”

“No need.” Ming Huazhang stopped her, gestured for her to sit down, and asked, “Today you seemed very preoccupied with that pair of siblings. What was the matter — do you know them?”

Ming Huashang’s fingers tensed, and she shook her head with a smile. “Not at all — I just thought they had a pleasant quality about them and couldn’t help looking a little longer.”

Ming Huazhang raised an eyebrow. Something mildly peculiar stirred in him. The one Ming Huashang had looked at most was that young man called Su Xingzhi. She found him to have a pleasant quality?

For a girl just at the blooming age of youth, that wasn’t a particularly reassuring thing to hear.

Ming Huazhang showed nothing, and asked, “What kind of pleasant quality?”

Ming Huashang was stuck. Could she possibly say she was curious about her own true elder brother? She could only feign indifference and say, “Nothing really — he just seemed very approachable, and like a decent person. Second Elder Brother, do you know anything about them — why they joined the Xuan Xiaowei?”

Approachable.

This was an answer that only made things feel worse with every word.

Ming Huazhang said with quiet composure, “I’ve happened to come across their records. They are originally surnamed Su — the elder brother is Su Xingzhi, the younger sister Su Yuji. They are from Taiyuan Prefecture, but after their elder left them, they felt they were being followed and relocated from their hometown, and by a twist of fate crossed paths with the Xuan Xiaowei and were taken in.”

Ming Huashang’s eyes went wide. She knew Su Xingzhi’s name, but she had not known they had left Taiyuan Prefecture because someone was following them! Her heart leapt to her throat immediately. “Who was following them?”

Ming Huazhang watched her quietly. “You’re very concerned about him.”

The phrasing was a question, but the certainty behind it left no room for Ming Huashang to answer. Ming Huashang also realized her reaction had been far too conspicuous. She laughed it off: “Just curious, that’s all. Second Elder Brother — what are we doing next?”

In her haste to change the subject, she didn’t notice that Ming Huazhang had said “him.” The way she behaved fell on Ming Huazhang’s eyes as tacit confirmation.

Something difficult to name stirred in Ming Huazhang. He had always found the idea of love at first sight unconvincing — to him, it was no more than being struck by outward appearance, dressed up in the language of love. Yet now here was his sister, and she had very possibly just fallen for a penniless young man at first sight.

Ming Huazhang couldn’t quite locate the source of the faint displeasure rising in him. He reminded Ming Huashang: “Er’niang, you said yourself you didn’t wish to discuss marriage matters for the next two years — it was precisely for that reason that I made the arrangement with the Virtue and Achievement Temple. If your heart has been moved and you wish to return to lay life, the household will be difficult to explain to.”

In truth this was entirely baseless — if Ming Huashang changed her mind and decided to go back to the Zhenguo household and be properly married off, Old Madam Ming and the Duke would be delighted. Breaking away from the Xuan Xiaowei mid-process carried some complications, but none that couldn’t be resolved.

It was precisely the outcome Ming Huazhang had originally hoped for — so why was he dissatisfied with it now?

Ming Huazhang couldn’t make sense of his own feelings. Ming Huashang hugged his arm, eyes bright and shining as she looked at him. “I know. Jiang Ling and Ren Yao’s cover stories are straightforward — only mine is this complicated. That’s entirely because Second Elder Brother favors me. You wanted both to protect my reputation and to honor my wishes, and you took all this trouble to make it possible. There is no one else in the world who would go to such lengths for me, except for Second Elder Brother. All the care you’ve shown me — I carry it in my heart. From now on, I will serve you as a devoted daughter, and I will never let you down.”

This declaration from Ming Huashang was earnest and heartfelt, yet hearing it, Ming Huazhang felt oddly, inexplicably uncomfortable.

A devoted daughter?

“That really isn’t necessary,” Ming Huazhang said. “You’re still young. Just look after yourself and don’t let idle thoughts get into your head. You’ve had a tiring day — rest. I’ll have someone bring your meal to your room this evening. Tomorrow there’s a great deal of training — sleep well, build up your strength, and don’t overthink things. Understood?”

Ming Huashang nodded vigorously, thinking to herself that she’d always eaten well and slept well — what on earth was Ming Huazhang worried about?

Ming Huazhang could see from her expression that she hadn’t understood what he truly meant, but as her elder brother, he couldn’t say these things plainly. He could only reassure himself that Ming Huashang was merely curious, and that given enough time, her interest in Su Xingzhi would naturally fade on its own.

With that thought, an odd and inexplicable calm settled over Ming Huazhang. He rose, and lightly ruffled Ming Huashang’s fluffy bun of hair. “Rest well. I’ll come for you tomorrow morning.”