“She’s no greenhouse flower.” Thinking of that delicate young face that belied her age, Zhuo Qi’s lips curved into a smile. “She’s a viper.”

“A viper?” Irina didn’t quite understand his meaning. “Then I’ll let Du Ji bite her to death.”

Just as Zhuo Qi was about to speak, he saw a horse approaching in the distance with two riders. He quickly pulled Irina behind some bushes to hide.

The horse stopped nearby, and its two riders dismounted. As they drew closer, it became clear they were a man and a woman—the woman appearing to be little more than a child, holding the man’s hand as they walked slowly in this direction.

“Is that her?” Zhuo Qi started slightly, then smiled. “Interesting.”

“Brother?” Irina grabbed him as he was about to stand. “What are you doing?”

“Irina, your future consort has arrived,” he said.

Han Yan, caught up in the moment, had climbed to the mountaintop with Fu Yun Xi, only to encounter two unexpected guests.

Now, she and Fu Yun Xi looked at the two people before them, their brows slightly furrowed.

The man in dark robes greeted her with familiarity: “Little girl, we meet again!” It was Zhuo Qi, the assassin who had broken into the Zhuang manor that night.

Han Yan didn’t look at him; her attention was drawn to the young woman beside him. In her two lifetimes, Han Yan had never seen such a beautiful woman. She was like a sprite playing among mortals, exuding an intoxicating charm from head to toe. She stared intently at Fu Yun Xi beside Han Yan, her jewel-like eyes showing undisguised love. Instinctively, Han Yan felt a flash of displeasure.

Seeing Han Yan ignore him, Zhuo Qi complained somewhat pitifully: “That night you went to great lengths to save my life, how can you ignore me now?”

As soon as he said this, Han Yan felt the chill around Fu Yun Xi intensify, his gentle expression darkening as he gazed coldly at the man opposite them.

“Fu Yun Xi!” The yellow-clothed young woman beside him called out, her voice enchantingly sweet. “Finally, I see you!” She took several steps forward.

Han Yan was startled and looked questioningly at Fu Yun Xi: “Your friend?” If so, that would mean Zhuo Qi and Fu Yun Xi were also acquainted.

But Fu Yun Xi replied coldly: “No.”

Hearing this, Irina’s steps faltered in confusion. When she noticed Fu Yun Xi and Han Yan’s clasped hands, she asked Han Yan unpleasantly: “Who are you?”

Seeing her expression, Han Yan understood that this extraordinarily beautiful young woman harbored feelings for Fu Yun Xi. However, since Fu Yun Xi had already stated they weren’t friends, his stance was clear. She smiled and said casually: “The Princess Consort of Prince Xuan Qing.”

This was the first time Han Yan had acknowledged herself as the Princess Consort in his presence. Fu Yun Xi couldn’t help but look down at her, seeing her raised chin like a proud swan. Though her expression was gentle and obedient, her gaze was haughty. While her beauty might not match the lovely young woman’s, her composed bearing completely overshadowed the other. His lips curved unconsciously.

Perhaps it was Fu Yun Xi’s inadvertent show of affection that appeared offensive, or perhaps it was Han Yan’s declaration of “Princess Consort of Prince Xuan Qing” that enraged her, but Irina raised her arm, and the colorful small snake coiled around it shot towards Han Yan like lightning. Zhuo Qi’s expression tensed, but before he could intervene, Fu Yun Xi pulled Han Yan behind him. No one saw how he moved, but in that brief instant, the snake that had lunged at Han Yan was now dangling from his hand.

“My Du Ji!” Irina cried out, filled with jealousy and hatred toward Han Yan who Fu Yun Xi protected. She nearly jumped up in anger and demanded petulantly: “Release my Du Ji!”

Han Yan efficiently pulled out a small bottle from her pocket and, without hesitation, sprinkled its contents on the snake. Fu Yun Xi looked puzzled but then saw the snake in his hand convulse several times before going still.

“What did you do?” Seeing this, Irina’s eyes reddened. Her beloved Du Ji had been killed by this woman—truly an unforgivable sin.

Fu Yun Xi released his grip, and the dead snake fell to the ground. Han Yan laughed and said: “Young lady, you don’t appear to be from Central Plains, so you probably don’t know that we Chinese people habitually use sulfur to drive away venomous snakes and insects. As it happens, I brought some sulfur today.”

Zhuo Qi watched the scene with interest. He had expected this—this girl would never quietly submit to others’ schemes. Irina’s rash actions in getting her taught a lesson by Han Yan were only natural.

But Irina didn’t see it that way. In her eyes, Fu Yun Xi had never had any involvement with women, yet now this woman claimed to be his Princess Consort, and he showed her such protection. It truly alarmed her. Thus, Han Yan, who had both gained Fu Yun Xi’s favor and killed Du Ji, became an enemy who must be eliminated immediately. She cried out angrily: “I want your life in exchange!” With that, she leaped up, drawing a curved sword from her waist and slashing toward Han Yan.

Fu Yun Xi’s expression turned cold: “Courting death.” He struck out with a palm strike containing seven layers of force. Irina realized her peril but had nowhere to dodge. At the crucial moment, Zhuo Qi stepped forward to block the strike for her. Despite his martial prowess, he was forced back several steps.

When he steadied himself, he looked at Fu Yun Xi: “Your Highness’s martial arts have improved greatly over these years.”

Fu Yun Xi glanced at him: “You’re still alive.”

Zhuo Qi laughed heartily: “Of course, I’m still alive. This time, I’ll say it again—Your Highness has the talent to rule heaven and earth. If you came to Western Rong…”

“Impossible.” Fu Yun Xi didn’t let him finish. Irina had already cried out: “Fu Yun Xi, do you like her?”

Han Yan was startled, then heard Fu Yun Xi’s cool voice: “She is this Prince’s Princess Consort.”

Hearing this answer, Han Yan felt a slight disappointment in her heart, though she didn’t show it. Irina glared at Han Yan hatefully: “What’s so good about this woman? You made her your Princess Consort! How can she compare to me in any way!”

Han Yan laughed bitterly inside. Since becoming the Princess Consort of Prince Xuan Qing, the most common thing people said was how lucky she was—merely the daughter of a fifth-rank official, with neither outstanding beauty nor great talent, as ordinary as could be, yet she had become Prince Xuan Qing’s only Princess Consort.

She wondered how people had talked about her in her previous life when she became Heir Consort to Wei Ru Feng. Her reputation then had been even worse than now, but since she never left the manor, she didn’t know what was said outside. Lost in these thoughts, she felt her palm grow warm—Fu Yun Xi had taken her hand: “In this Prince’s view, she surpasses you in every way.”

“You!” Never having been spoken to like this before, Irina, despite her willfulness, couldn’t help but tear up. She truly couldn’t understand why Fu Yun Xi could show such protection to that woman yet be so cruel to her.

Hearing his words, Han Yan couldn’t help but look up at him. She saw Fu Yun Xi in his snow-white robes, his bearing cold and aloof, yet his action of protecting her behind him was truly warming.