The sky suddenly darkened and fierce winds howled, causing the guards and servants standing in the courtyard to draw in sharp breaths.

Guanzhi watched in bewilderment as the two figures stood before him – one in black as dark as night, the other in red like fire. Their robes occasionally brushed against each other in the wind, yet they seemed separated by countless mountains and seas, never to meet again.

How had things… come to this?

A fine drizzle began to fall, dampening their faces. Yin Gezhi slightly raised his head, suddenly remembering a rainy day from long ago.

Back then, Fengyue had smiled with rippling charm in her eyes, holding a peach-red oil paper umbrella over his head, insisting on dragging him to the market.

“I am a prince of Great Wei,” he had said.

“Mm-hmm, this humble one knows. You are mighty and formidable,” she’d replied.

“So?” Was she still going to make him go shopping?

“So…” Walking on tiptoes through puddles, Fengyue suddenly turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling enchantingly as she smiled: “So this humble one likes you.”

A foot stepped into the water, creating small splashes and rippling circles.

Those rainy days had been wonderful. Even with mud-stained hems, his heart had felt content. Though his expression remained neutral, his eyes reflected her vibrant, lively image. In all the rainy days that followed, he would remember how she had swayed and laughed with such vivacity.

But now. The rain fell, yet the person before him no longer smiled. Her eyes were calm but her gaze cut like knives, making his heart ache with each beat. The pain made him laugh.

“Enough.” Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze. “It’s raining. Don’t stand here anymore.”

Fengyue gave a cold laugh, turned her head away without looking at him, and started walking toward the back courtyard.

“Where are you going?”

“Isn’t Your Highness going to confine me?” Fengyue said. “I’m choosing my place.”

Choosing her place – just wanting to be far from him, even when confined? Yin Gezhi lowered his eyes and reached out to pull her back.

“I don’t trust others to watch you,” he said softly. “Better I handle it personally.”

Her eyes reddened as Fengyue turned and bit down hard on his arm, holding nothing back. There was a clear sensation of teeth tearing flesh, followed by the taste of blood filling the air.

This hurt far worse than a knife cut, but Yin Gezhi made no sound. He looked down at her slightly trembling head and reached out to stroke it.

“Get lost!” Fengyue was truly angry now, both furious and hurt. She kicked his shin hard, spat out a mouthful of blood, and stomped toward the main courtyard!

If others were guarding her, she might find ways to escape. But with him watching, it was hopeless – utterly hopeless! Even knowing Guan Canghai had been wrongfully executed by the Emperor, even knowing the Emperor was selfish, muddleheaded, and arbitrary – that was still his father, and he couldn’t let her kill him!

She could understand, truly. Everyone had their own position, it was all fate. But someone who had helped her for so long, walked alongside her for so long, suddenly standing opposite her as an enemy – her heart inexplicably felt stifled, her eyes burning uncontrollably.

This was Yin Gezhi! The man who had helped her from Wu to Wei, from dealing with Yi Guoru to Stone Youxin. Who had burned incense at her father’s coffin? Who complained about her but always cleaned up after her… Even if he had just asked about her thoughts, and tried to persuade her, that would have been better. Why, why did he have to just confine her directly?

The door to the main room slammed shut with a “bang.” Fengyue collapsed ungracefully to the floor, kicked her legs, and suddenly burst into loud sobs like a child, hysterical and heartbroken.

Yin Gezhi stood outside the door, hands clenched tight, face pale.

As evening approached and the rain grew heavier, just as Fengyue had finished crying and stood up, there was a tremendous “crack” from the sky above the roof.

“BOOM—” The massive thunder crashed down, truly letting one experience what it meant to be struck by five thunderbolts!

The frustration in her heart had been released through crying, bringing considerable relief, and with heaven’s perfect timing, Fengyue suddenly laughed! Thunder was good – some people deserved to be struck by heaven’s lightning!

“Miss.” Guanzhi’s voice came from outside. “Your evening meal.”

Touching her stomach and feeling indeed hungry, Fengyue quickly opened the door and took the tray from Guanzhi’s hands.

Then she saw Yin Gezhi standing at the door, deathly pale, facing her direction with unfocused eyes.

Startled slightly, Fengyue pursed her lips: “Guanzhi, move him away. It’s scary having him stand there.”

Face darkening, Guanzhi said: “Miss, this is my master’s room.”

Fengyue: “…”

Thunder boomed. The great Prince Yin looked to be in very poor condition as if about to be frightened to death, all spirit was gone. Fengyue thought gleefully that they should just let him stand outside with thunder striking all night – tomorrow they could collect his corpse and she could leave this place!

However, while she was thinking this, Guanzhi had already helped his master into the room.

Shaking her head somewhat disappointedly, Fengyue sat down to eat on her own. After finishing and washing up, she hugged a blanket and lay down on the daybed in the outer room.

The thunder overhead continued intermittently, disturbing Fengyue as she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Just as she was getting annoyed, the light in the room suddenly lit up.

Slightly startled, Fengyue turned her head to see Yin Gezhi sitting at the table wearing a robe, and holding some papers. His lips were still pale but his expression was composed, seemingly unaffected by the thunder.

Raising an eyebrow curiously, she could hardly believe it. Someone who had been so afraid of thunder before wasn’t afraid now? Could he have been pretending before? That didn’t seem right.

But now they were enemies – even if his behavior was strange, she shouldn’t be curious. Never mind getting up to look at things during a thunderstorm – even if he stripped naked and ran outside wildly, she shouldn’t care!

Shaking her head, Fengyue turned over, trying hard to fall asleep.

But people are like this – the more you try to avoid something, the more it lingers in your mind. After tossing and turning several times, Fengyue finally sat up.

She wanted to know what documents could make Yin Gezhi get up to read during a thunderstorm.

The man at the table was writing something. After watching him for a while, Fengyue gritted her teeth and carefully tiptoed over to look.

Yin Gezhi did not attempt to hide anything from her. Several papers were spread openly on the table, all containing news from outside.

“The Minister of Justice has disappeared, shocking the court and common people. His crimes are being circulated. Similar to the situation with Inspector He Lan.”

“Dozens who maliciously stirred up public sentiment have been imprisoned and interrogated one by one. No mastermind was found. This has been reported to the Chancellor but not yet to His Majesty.”

Not a bad response, Fengyue curved her lips. At this rate, once someone begins investigating the Minister of Justice’s misdeeds, Stone Youxin can “commit suicide out of guilt.”

“He Lan Changde is dead. The new Inspector Wu Ze is a passionate idealist,” Yin Gezhi said flatly amid the thunder. “He will follow these rumors and begin investigating Stone Youxin’s past. Stone Youxin has long had intentions to alter death sentences. He must have killed many people in secret. When discovered, these too will be capital crimes. You can kill him yourself, but we must explain Madam Chai. I will determine the charges.”

Rolling her eyes, Fengyue mocked: “At this point, why pretend to be righteous?”

Yin Gezhi looked up at her expressionlessly: “If you’re unsatisfied, you can try to stop me.”

“…”

So what if you’re a prince, so what if you influence the court? Fengyue shrugged: “Do as you please, but don’t expect my gratitude.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Looking away, Yin Gezhi said coldly: “We each go our way, but while you’re in my Xiao Qin Prince Manor, I’m afraid you cannot do as you please.”

“Fine.” Laughing in extreme anger, Fengyue nodded: “You just don’t want me to kill the Wei Emperor, right? Well then, I won’t leave – but the Wei Emperor will still die by my hand eventually!”

“Guan Qingyue!” His hand tightened as Yin Gezhi looked up at her with frost in his eyes: “Must you cut off all paths between us?”

“Paths between us?” Those words were laughable. Fengyue swayed her slender waist, laughing vibrantly again: “When you appeared at the Guan family execution ground, weren’t all paths between us already cut off?”

“Could it be that because you’re of the royal family, you can kill my father but I cannot kill your emperor? When you kill there are still paths, but when I kill, all paths are cut off? The royal family is truly tyrannical!”

Her eyes were seductive as Fengyue curved her lips. Her finger, painted with cinnabar, brushed past her smiling lips as she sighed: “The royal family is truly domineering!”

Thunder “BOOMED” overhead. Yin Gezhi closed his eyes, face white.

All cut off already?

If all was cut off, why did she come to provoke him? Provoking him into thinking there was still something between them besides a dead end. After trying so hard to walk forward, she says there is no path ahead – what are you still walking for?

He laughed silently. Yin Gezhi shook his head, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes: “I didn’t kill your father.”

“Mm, your father killed him.” Fengyue smiled. “So is it wrong for me to seek revenge on your father?”

“Fengyue.” The man at the table spoke in an almost pleading tone for the first time, voice hoarse: “Can we not discuss this right now?”

Looking at him once more, Fengyue felt she truly shouldn’t have been curious – why waste words with him? She might as well go to sleep!

Thinking this, she got up and rolled into bed, wrapping herself in blankets, never looking back again.

The candlelight in the room stayed lit all night. The heavy rain also continued all night. The next morning when Guanzhi opened the door, he saw his master sitting at the table, holding out a letter: “Send this out.”

Master got up so early, Guanzhi thought. Could it be because he was with Miss Fengyue, so he slept well?

Whether Yin Gezhi slept well was unknown, but Fengyue had slept quite well. Though very angry, she had slept deeply without a single dream. She woke up full of energy and even took time to dress up.

“Master.” As the two were having breakfast, a servant came in to report: “Chancellor Stone requests an audience.”

Stone Hongwei?