“I don’t want to be just another flower adorning your life. I wish to be like a catalpa tree standing beside you so that when wind and rain come, we can shelter each other.”

After several transformations, the Northern Command Imperial Guards of Chang’an now had the Divine Strategy Army at its head, with the Imperial Guards as second in command.

Dressed in eunuch attire, Huang Zihua passed by the Divine Strategy Army camp and arrived at the Imperial Guards’ quarters to seek an audience with Wang Yun. Since his return to the Imperial Guards, Wang Yun had quickly been promoted to Right Commander, truly ascending to the heights of success.

After Huang Zihua presented her calling card, she looked toward the soldiers training nearby through the tent. She thought it would take a while for Wang Yun to emerge, but he came out quickly and returned her card, saying, “Don’t use Yang Chonggu’s calling card anymore. Next time, just tell people your name is Huang Zihua and come straight in.”

Huang Zihua was slightly surprised, not understanding why he came so quickly.

“I just returned from the Divine Strategy Army and saw you as soon as I turned around,” he gestured for her to follow him inside. The quick-witted military attendant had already prepared tea and brought it up.

Wang Yun stoked the indoor brazier and studied the faint dark circles under her eyes, saying, “Yesterday’s dramatic events were too horrifying. I also couldn’t sleep all night.”

“I came today precisely because of this matter,” Huang Zihua lowered her gaze to the tea in her hands and said softly, “I’ve come to ask for a favor.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at her, examining her expression inch by inch. After a long while, he smiled and said, “A noble person doesn’t stand beneath a dangerous wall. You’re so clever, you should know what would be most beneficial for yourself.”

Huang Zihua pressed her lips together silently, then said quietly, “Yes, however, in this world, there are some things that even knowing it’s like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, even with thousands of people in front, I still must proceed.”

The tea was slightly bitter, catching in her throat. Wang Yun looked at her downcast but resolute expression, feeling his breath catch in his throat, countless words unable to be spoken.

“What’s the reason?” He gently set down his teacup and turned his gaze to the window, looking at the crimson cloud-covered sky after the snow, asking, “What is he to you, and what are you to him?”

What is he to her, and what is she to him…

Those past events flashed before her, countless fragments seemingly within reach. Without promises, yet already beyond question.

Huang Zihua took a deep breath and said in a low but calm voice: “He once accompanied me south to Chengdu, helped clear my wrongful accusations, and even helped me find the true murderer of my family to resolve this blood debt—in this life and the next, such kindness can never be repaid.”

“In this life and the next…” Wang Yun smiled, though somewhat dimly, “I ultimately lacked such an opportunity.”

Huang Zihua remained silent, head lowered, without answering.

Still unwilling to give up, he asked again: “When you came to the capital to seek justice, did you plan to find him from the start? The Huang family has relatives here, and I… was your fiancé at the time, why did you seek his help instead?”

“It was just a coincidence. Zhang Xingying helped me sneak into the ceremonial guard, and he discovered me.” She lowered her head, holding her teacup, her neck deeply bowed. But she knew that even if she hadn’t decided to seek Li Shubai’s help then, she couldn’t have gone to Wang Yun. Because her crime at the time was killing her entire family for the sake of a lover.

Wang Yun naturally thought of this point as well, and both fell into silence. Finally, Wang Yun helped pour her more tea, smiling to ease the awkwardness, saying: “Then I really can’t guess your intention in coming today.”

Huang Zihua looked up at the Divine Strategy Army camp across the way and said: “Previously, at the Taiji Palace, I had a brief encounter with Lord Wang. Thanks to Lord Wang’s kindness, he taught me how to care for the Agashne, helping me successfully find the little fish I had mistakenly released. I think perhaps I should thank him.”

Wang Yun immediately understood her meaning and said: “Lord Wang has been the Left Divine Strategy Army Guard Lieutenant for many years, deeply trusted by His Majesty, and thus visitors come in endless streams. He finds it overwhelming, rarely goes out, doesn’t often come to the military camp, and seldom meets people.”

“Precisely because I know this, I’ve come to ask Commander Wang to write me a note, hoping I might get to see him once.”

Wang Yun frowned slightly and said: “Although Lord Wang shares the surname Wang, we’re not from the same branch. Everyone at court knows that he doesn’t frequently associate with our Langya Wang family. If you want to see him, why come to me?”

“Is that so?” Huang Zihua looked at him with clear, pure eyes, her voice soft but carrying a very certain tone, “However, since he strongly supports Empress Wang, he must be familiar with your family. At least, you are an outstanding member of the Wang family, he must admire you.”

Wang Yun couldn’t help but laugh. He was extremely handsome, and when he smiled he was especially attractive, like the dawn sun, or like spring wind breaking through ice. He propped his chin with his right hand as he looked at her, smiling lightly: “No, Lord Wang admires you the most.”

His sudden words made Huang Zihua slightly surprised, she just opened her eyes wide, wanting to know what he would say next.

However, Wang Yun didn’t continue, he just stood up and said to her: “Wait a moment, I’ll be right back.”

Indeed it was just a moment, Wang Yun took off his military uniform and changed into black fox fur, going out with her.

“Let’s go, Lord Wang’s residence isn’t far from here.”

In the gray sky, the dense crimson clouds became increasingly heavy. Wang Yun and she each mounted their horses, heading toward the Jianbi Palace north of the Daming Palace.

Yesterday’s light snow had melted, yet was frozen again by the severe cold into ice crystals. Huang Zihua leaned down from her horse to look at its hooves sweeping the sand, then gently rubbed its mane to comfort it.

Wang Yun looked back at her, seeing ice crystals on her temples as she bent down, which quickly melted, occasionally flashing bright points of light on her cheeks.

He turned his head to look at that dazzling light on her face, slowed his reins, and rode alongside her. Though knowing he could reach out and wipe it away with one hand, that hand just couldn’t extend.

He felt a surge of irritation and melancholy in his heart, not understanding why, and whipped his horse to gallop forward.

Ahead, beside Jianbi Palace, the trees were desolate, with low walls meandering along the lakeside in the forest, two persimmon trees at the entrance, not even having guardian stone beasts. Wang Yun raised his hand to point in the distance, saying: “We’re here.”

Huang Zihua had thought Wang Zongshi would live in a heavily guarded compound with high walls, who knew his residence would be so modest, causing her some surprise.

Wang Yun knocked lightly on the door, and after a long while a youth came to open it. Seeing it was him, the youth said lazily: “So early, the Lord hasn’t risen yet… eh, who is she?”

Wang Yun said: “She is Huang Zihua.”

“Oh.” He responded casually, turned, and went in. Shortly after he came out from the back courtyard, grabbed a handful of pine nuts, and gave them to Wang Yun, saying: “Let’s sit here and chat for a while, Miss Huang can go in by herself.”

“You go ahead.” Wang Yun nodded to Huang Zihua and started shelling pine nuts with that youth while leaning against the railing.

So Huang Zihua pushed open the door and slowly walked inside.

Behind the door under the corridor was a pool of clear water, even in such snowy weather, still green with duckweed, and even sparse lotus leaves on the water, with one or two small lotus flowers emerging from the surface.

She crossed the bridge over the water, walked to the small pavilion opposite the lotus pond, and saw Wang Zongshi standing there, wearing plain brocade casual clothes, thin and tall. Only those eyes, sharp and gloomy, when fixed on her, made her suddenly startled, producing an inexplicable fear.

Wang Zongshi didn’t speak, just turned to lead her inside, sitting down in the pavilion.

Inside the room was a huge glass tank, with red and black fish coming and going, swimming slowly. The outdoor light shone on the glass and waves, fish scales, reflecting all around, rippling faintly, making the room shrouded in an eerie yet beautiful light.

The floor heating was warm, the room’s air like spring, so Wang Zongshi wore only a thin brocade robe. While Huang Zihua, coming in from the cold wind outside, suddenly felt hot. Wang Zongshi gestured for her to go behind the screen to remove her outer fox fur, and when she came out, she found he had already poured two cups of tea at the small table by the window, two pools of emerald water in small celadon cups, with the small stove still giving off wisps of steam.

She sat down before Wang Zongshi, bowing her head in respect.

Having stayed indoors for long, Wang Zongshi’s skin was pale to near transparency. Under the rippling water light, it showed an even stranger radiance. Huang Zihua felt this person had an icy cold aura about him, dared not look directly, and could only lower her head and sip her tea.

She heard his voice, like ice water striking: “How is Prince Kui?”

Huang Zihua said softly: “Very well.”

“Heh,” he gave a cold laugh, gently placed his teacup on the table, staring at her, and asked, “Then what brings Miss Huang to grace us with her presence?”

Huang Zihua said calmly: “Prince Kui’s Agashne has been quite unsettled recently, so I came privately to seek Lord Wang’s guidance, wanting to know how to calm a startled fish?”

“With sudden weather changes, falling rain and snow, fish can’t withstand abrupt shifts between warm and cold, changes are normal,” his voice was gentle, but his tone icy, carrying an inerasable chill, “As long as that fish still stays obediently in the water, hasn’t leaped out, then all is well.”

Before Huang Zihua’s eyes suddenly flashed like lightning the image of Prince E Li Run leaping down from Xiangluan Pavilion.

She knew Wang Zongshi had many eyes and ears at court, moreover, last night’s tragedy had already spread throughout the capital, so he naturally knew early on. She turned her head, sweeping her gaze across the glass tank, watching the fish swimming lightly in the water before her, and sighed lightly: “My lord sees, I just want to know, why would this fish, living so freely, still choose to leap out? Why would it disregard its life and sacrifice itself?”

“I’ve never seen Prince Kui’s fish, nor have I raised it, how would I know the reason?” Wang Zongshi stood up and walked to the fish tank, lightly tapping the glass wall. The fish inside had already gathered before his finger, looking as if black ashes and red blood were flowing along his fingertips. The fish in the tank had their shapes distorted by the glass, clearly showing a kind of blurred strangeness.

“Moreover, what does Prince Kui’s fish have to do with me?”

Huang Zihua smiled slightly at him and said: “Prince Kui’s fish is no different from your fish. Since his fish has already leaped out, I think perhaps your fish might not always stay obediently in the fish tank either—after all, you also know the weather isn’t very good now, I’m afraid the weather has already changed.”

Wang Zongshi’s gloomy eyes narrowed into thin lines. He examined her carefully, asking word by word, slowly: “Then, how do you know that I am not the one making the fish unusual in this strange weather?”

“My lord protects so many fish, such a huge family, I believe you would prefer to maintain the existing weather, rather than harm the fish group you cherish, wouldn’t you say… is that right?” Huang Zihua also stood up and walked to his side, looking at the small fish gathering and dispersing in the water, the corner of her lips raising in a slight smile.

Wang Zongshi lightly tapped the glass tank with his finger, pondering for a long while. He looked up at Huang Zihua standing before him and saw her standing in the faintly rippling light refracted by the water, calm and clear, like jade glowing with a gentle radiance.

He gazed at her, and even his usual cold gaze seemed to soften somewhat. He turned back to sit at the small table by the window, and again personally poured her a cup of tea.

Huang Zihua knelt sitting before him, lowered her head respectfully to accept it, holding the teacup in her palms.

Wang Zongshi poured himself another cup of tea, saying impassively: “However, I truly don’t know why the weather has been so strange lately, and even less do I know which fish will behave strangely after this sudden change, or in what way they’ll be strange.”

“Even you don’t know the omens?” Huang Zihua looked at him and asked.

Wang Yun’s pursuit and attempt to assassinate Prince Kui might be confidential, but how could Wang Zongshi not know?

Yet facing her questioning, Wang Zongshi only smiled slightly, and in the rippling water light at this moment, that smile also appeared somewhat mysterious: “Even if I knew, what need would there be to tell you? Yun has already broken off the engagement with you, you’re no longer part of our Wang family.”

Huang Zihua pondered for a long while before saying: “I thought that in such circumstances, you would also worry about your fish being affected.”

“I do, but I don’t want to entrust it to an outsider,” he held his teacup in his left hand, propping his chin with his right, speaking slowly, “Between a Wang family daughter-in-law and a eunuch of Prince Kui’s household, when comparing their trustworthiness, the difference is just too great.”

Huang Zihua silently looked at him, not speaking.

As he studied her expression, that gloomy face showed a smile for the first time, but in the rippling water light of the room, it appeared somewhat distorted, making her feel even more chilled.

“Reconsider the engagement with the Wang family, and I’ll let you get involved in investigating this matter.”

Huang Zihua returned to Prince Kui’s residence when it was almost noon.

She led Fusha to the stable, added fodder and beans for it, and turned to see Die’e bouncing over to nuzzle Fusha’s neck.

She rubbed Die’e’s head, but it fiercely shook her off, leaving her momentarily speechless. She lightly patted its head, saying: “Really now, we’ve been through life and death together, yet you won’t even give me face at all.”

“It must have some deep grudge against you, how could it easily give you face?” someone said from behind, “After all, you took Fusha out early this morning, and it’s still sulking.”

Huang Zihua didn’t need to turn around to know it was Li Shubai. A slight nervousness welled up in her heart, and she turned to smile at him: “So you’re saying I’ve wronged it?”

Li Shubai glanced at the mud spots on Fusha’s body, ordered someone to clean it thoroughly, and then said to Huang Zihua: “Change your clothes, it’s just time for lunch.”

Huang Zihua obediently nodded, following behind him for a few steps, but ultimately explained guiltily: “This morning… I went to see Lord Wang Zongshi.”

“Oh,” he said calmly, “I’m now free from concerns, I should also go out for walks like you.”

Seeing he didn’t mind, she finally relaxed and added: “I went to test the waters, Lord Wang should have nothing to do with this matter. Perhaps, he could even become your ally.”

Li Shubai paused, and turned to look at her, saying softly: “The two of us have never had dealings.”

Huang Zihua looked at him with questioning eyes.

He looked at her clear eyes, and let out another long breath, saying: “I don’t want you to worry for my sake.”

The weather was bitterly cold, and his exhaled white breath dispersed in the air, turning to nothing.

“Why worry?” Huang Zihua silently took his arm, saying softly, “You’ve been at court for many years, upright in conduct, without any point of criticism. Since they truly cannot find fault with you, they can only use ghost stories to confuse people, attempting to harm you with these. But false and absurd tales always have a source, we can take this opportunity to find the mastermind behind it.”

Li Shubai looked down at her, shaking his head: “It won’t stop at this. Previously in Shu, we encountered assassins, you think now that I’m in this situation, it’s a perfect opportunity to strike, would they let this chance pass?”

Huang Zihua frowned slightly, asking: “You mean, they will still…”

Before she finished speaking, they heard footsteps from nearby, it was Jingyi coming in, reporting: “Just now, the Left Divine Strategy Army Guard Lieutenant Lord Wang sent someone to inform that he will visit Your Highness at the hour of Wei, requesting Your Highness spare time to receive him.”

Li Shubai’s gaze turned to Huang Zihua, who blinked: “Didn’t you say you never had dealings?”

Li Shubai showed a flustered expression before her for the first time: “How would I know? Do you know why he’s coming?”

Huang Zihua gave him an innocent look, indicating she truly didn’t know why he was coming. However, at this moment, something flashed through her mind, remembering Wang Zongshi’s final words to her.

She lowered her head silently, Li Shubai saw her suddenly grow quiet, didn’t say anything, only slowly tightened his grip on her hand, saying: “Among so many court officials, His Majesty specifically chose Wang Zongshi, with whom I have no connection, as an emissary, there can only be one reason.”

Huang Zihua looked at him questioningly.

“Because he is the Left Divine Strategy Army Guard Lieutenant, now in the capital, even the troops under the Ministry of War don’t amount to half of Wang Zongshi’s. In the capital now, he should be the only one who dares to pressure me.”

Huang Zihua immediately understood, asking: “His Majesty wants to take away your military power?”

“Yes, now in the Northern Command Imperial Guards, besides the Divine Strategy Army and Imperial Guards, the main force consists of the Divine Martial and Divine Might armies that I transferred from Longyou years ago. And now the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Command that control various regional military governors, which had existed in name only since the An Lushan Rebellion, were also rebuilt based on the rotating garrison system with various regional armies after my Xuzhou campaign, and only I can control them,” he frowned slightly, saying softly, “So, although I have no private army, I am indeed a major concern for the court.”

Huang Zihua couldn’t help saying: “When you initially built these two forces, increasing imperial power to control Wang Zongshi, His Majesty must have supported it.”

“Yes, however, His Majesty’s chosen person now is not me,” he lowered his eyelashes silently, looking at their clasped hands, his expression somewhat dim, “How could I not know that keeping a low profile is the way to establish oneself? However, with the imperial clan declining, for many years I could only stand out prominently at court, taking charge everywhere—but it seems, I ultimately took the wrong path.”

“You didn’t take the wrong path. If you hadn’t single-handedly restored the imperial family’s authority, who in this world could control Wang Zongshi? Emperors Shunzong, Xianzong, and Jingzong all died at the hands of eunuchs, the world only knows of eunuchs, not the imperial family, how do we know the past events won’t repeat themselves?”

Because of her earnest affirmation, he finally smiled silently, gently stroking her hair, saying softly: “If only His Majesty could think like you, how wonderful that would be.”

When Wang Zongshi came, he only brought that personal attendant youth. It seemed relaxed and casual, just an ordinary visit. However, his first words after sitting down made Huang Zihua, standing behind Li Shubai, furrow her brow.

He said: “This official comes at His Majesty’s behest.”

Li Shubai asked: “What are His Majesty’s instructions?”

Wang Zongshi leaned back in his chair, the corner of his lips rising in an ambiguous smile, saying: “Originally this matter had nothing to do with me, but who in the capital dares to easily offend Your Highness? In the end, this difficult task fell to me.”

“In that case, it must be a very urgent matter.”

“Your Highness also knows that yesterday’s incident has now spread throughout the court and temporary capital. Such disturbances are not good for Your Highness, and to stop the foolish people’s mouths is no easy task—after all, Prince E condemned Prince Kui for defiling court conduct and overturning the world.”

Li Shubai silently listened to his words, saying nothing.

Seeing he didn’t respond, Wang Zongshi casually stood up, bowing to him: “Now that the three-year garrison period is up, the Southern Sixteen Guards are about to change commanders in succession. If Your Highness would allow the court to control the various commanders, and release control of the Divine Might and Divine Martial armies, the court and world will surely know Your Highness has no rebellious intentions. Then, the rumors can surely be quelled immediately, letting villagers and common folk know of Your Highness’s loyalty to the emperor and country, this steadfast heart…”

“You already called them villagers and common folk, what does it matter to me how they speculate?” Li Shubai rarely showed a smile as he leisurely interrupted his words.

The corner of Wang Zongshi’s lips also showed that ambiguous smile: “This official certainly knows Prince Kui won’t easily agree. However, His Majesty’s will is hard to defy, and Your Highness now faces criticism from countless people. If you remain unmoved, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to answer to the world?”

“With countless thousands of people in the world, young and old, wise and foolish, how can I attend to them all?” Li Shubai still said with a smile, “Moreover, Lord Wang surely must know that I’ve recently faced frequent assassination attempts. If I can’t even hold onto these people, I’m afraid I’ll eventually fall into crisis. Who doesn’t care for their own life? I’m now helpless, and can only let down the world’s people first.”

“If Your Highness won’t agree, then I can only report back to His Majesty thus,” Wang Zongshi cupped his hands and bowed to him, “There’s one more matter. Since the Court of Justice cannot conveniently get involved in Prince E’s case, His Majesty specially ordered this official to investigate jointly with the Ministry of Justice. I request Your Highness’s generous guidance to facilitate our work.”

Li Shubai naturally knew what this was about, but he didn’t expose it, only nodded slightly, saying: “Of course.”

“Does Your Highness have any connection to Prince E’s death?”

“I also very much want to know, after all, Prince E and I grew up together, our brotherly feelings were deep,” he said impassively, showing only slight regret in his expression, “I believe I never did anything to wrong Prince E, who knew he would spread such rumors before his death, making the world misunderstand me, it’s truly perplexing.”

Listening to his calm narration, thinking of his grief on the night Prince E leaped from the city tower, Huang Zihua couldn’t help feeling sad.

In fact, he was probably the person in this world who cared most about Prince E, but now he could only speak of his seventh brother with such a calm attitude.

Wang Zongshi’s half-closed eyes swept over Li Shubai’s face, then lowered again, asking: “When was Your Highness’s last meeting with Prince E?”

“Early this month.”

“Was there anything unusual about Prince E’s attitude toward Your Highness at that time?”

“No.”

“Could Your Highness recount the circumstances of that time to this official?”

“I returned a bracelet of Lady Chen that had been lost outside to him, he took it back and placed it before his mother’s spirit tablet.”

Li Shubai didn’t say a single extra word, but his answers were indeed cooperative, leaving Wang Zongshi finally able only to stand up, bowing to him: “Thank you, Your Highness. This official will immediately go to Prince E’s residence to check for any usable evidence, to quickly clear Your Highness’s name.”

Li Shubai raised his hand slightly to show he was seeing the guest out.

Wang Zongshi straightened up, his gaze sweeping over Huang Zihua, that consistently cold and rigid face suddenly showing a faint smile, saying: “Miss Huang, have you considered that matter clearly?”

Huang Zihua hadn’t expected him to suddenly bring up this matter in front of Li Shubai, was startled for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

Although Wang Zongshi was already in his forties, he had always taken good care of himself, his skin as pale as jade, and when he smiled slightly now, he actually showed something of Wang Yun’s willowy spring charm. Only those eyes remained cold and sharp, making one’s spine chill: “If you’ve made your decision, then come with me to Prince E’s residence to participate in investigating this matter.”

Huang Zihua hesitated, her gaze falling on Li Shubai.

Li Shubai naturally didn’t know what Huang Zihua and Wang Zongshi had discussed earlier, his gaze fell on Huang Zihua, not questioning, but Huang Zihua already felt guilty, could only timidly lower her head to look at her own toes.

That ambiguous expression appeared again on Wang Zongshi’s face: “I ask Your Highness’s understanding, if Miss Huang is still your small eunuch, she would need to avoid suspicion and naturally couldn’t be involved in this case. Therefore she came to find me, agreeing to consider the marriage with Wang Yun, this way she would be a Wang family daughter-in-law, the Right Commander of the Imperial Guards’ wife, the Minister of Justice’s daughter-in-law, her identity would not need to avoid suspicion, as long as Your Highness allows, she could naturally go investigate this matter with us right now.”

“No need,” Li Shubai withdrew his gaze from Huang Zihua, saying lightly, “With Lord Wang and Minister Wang personally looking into this matter, what more could Prince Kui’s household worry about? Why would we need a small eunuch getting in the way?”

“Since that’s the case, everything is up to Your Highness’s decision.”

Wang Zongshi bowed again, turning to leave unhurriedly.

Only Li Shubai and Huang Zihua remained in the room. Li Shubai raised his hand to indicate the seat before him, letting her sit down.

Huang Zihua sat anxiously before him, silently lowering her gaze to look at her fingers intertwined together. Her mind was in chaos, not knowing how to explain, and while she was hesitating in confusion, she finally heard Li Shubai ask: “Why?”

“I… didn’t agree,” she hurriedly explained, “He told me that if I reconsidered the marriage with Wang Yun, he would let me get involved in this case. I was seeking an audience with him at the time, wanting to see if he was friend or foe, how could I flatly refuse? So I perfunctorily said I would consider it—but who knew he would distort my words in front of you.”

“Then why did you suddenly take it upon yourself to go see Wang Zongshi today?” Li Shubai’s brows furrowed slightly, and thinking of another matter, his voice also grew cold, “You couldn’t have seen Wang Zongshi unless Wang Yun took you there.”

Her lips moved slightly, stammering, but unable to speak.

“So do you not trust me, or do you doubt my ability? Do I need a woman’s help?” he asked coldly, his voice containing anger.

Huang Zihua pressed her lips together and shook her head, looking up steadily at him, her voice though low, finally explained: “Although you protect me completely, not wanting wind and rain to assault me, I cannot watch you bear everything alone. I don’t want to be just another flower adorning your life, I only wish to be like a catalpa tree standing beside you, so that when wind and rain come, we can shelter each other.”

He slowly shook his head, saying: “Better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes than to share spittle in hardship.”

“But even if I survive alone in the world, facing all its endless splendor, if I can’t forget you, what then?” she looked up at him, asking softly, “Don’t you think that in our current situation, the Wang family would be our best allies?”

Under her long lashes, her eyes were bright as morning dew in spring, gazing at him unblinkingly. His image was clearly reflected there. At this moment, he knew without asking that in her eyes, he was more important than the entire world behind him.

He felt a string in his heart suddenly tremble, almost unable to control his hands, wanting to hold her tightly in his arms, never to be separated from her in this life.

But she was smoke in the wind, snow on hot springs, a fragile orchid easily crushed.

One light touch, and she would vanish like smoke, so delicate.

That day, Wang Yun’s words to him echoed faintly in his ears—

“What does Your Highness plan to do next? Have you thought about what might happen to Huang Zihua by your side? Do you think you can truly protect her completely in such a situation? Although Your Highness is naturally gifted and strategically brilliant, before matters of state, lives are like grass, let alone just an orphaned girl. Sometimes, the slightest difference might destroy a cluster of orchids.”

In all his life, he had never truly protected anyone. Through years of storms, countless people around him had died or been injured, all of it ordinary, but now, those assassinations, assassins, poisons, traps, soul-catching… could all appear one by one upon her.

Even though she was renowned throughout the world, incomparably clever, she was still only a delicate seventeen-year-old girl. Though she wanted to be a luxuriant catalpa tree, how could she withstand heaven’s angry thunder and burning fire?

He finally turned his face away, avoiding her clear spring-dew eyes, standing up to walk to the door, looking at the pine and cypress in the courtyard.

Neither had noticed that outside, snow had started falling in flurries. From the gloomy sky, goose-feather snowflakes fell heedlessly, covering the ground in shattered jade.

Looking at the heavy snow outside, he suddenly spoke, saying in a deep voice: “You should go.”

Huang Zihua slowly stood up, asking in a daze: “What?”

“If you go to the Wang family for help for my sake, even if it helps me, what meaning would it have? You think you’re helping me, but actually you’re making me a laughingstock,” his gaze fixed on the heavy snow, watching the entire courtyard turn white, “I pressured the Wang family to finally gain your freedom, why would you now ruin my plans, creating complications?”

“But I feel that the power we face now has exceeded our imagination. So, for us both to emerge unscathed, even if using methods you despise, even if cooperating with Wang Zongshi and Wang Yun, even if wronging the Wang family, I would be willing to do it, and moreover, I would do it well!” She pressed her slightly heaving chest, forcing her breathing to calm down, “Because I believe this is the best choice for the Wang family, for you, for me. Even if using some methods, as long as we finally reach the other shore we want to reach, isn’t that the best choice?”

“A noble person has things they will and won’t do.” Li Shubai’s voice was low and distant, sounding cold: “The only thing I need you to do is leave. Your presence here has become my weakness.”

“Why do you think I would become your weakness? If you’re willing, I can also accompany you in your endeavors, keep pace with your steps,” she said, lightly biting her lip, “You don’t need to deliberately provoke me, I won’t become your burden.”

He let out a long breath, looking at the wind and snow outside. The eaves blocked the swirling frost and snow, but couldn’t prevent the cold from invading.

“I said, you should go,” he turned back, walked to the desk, spread out a piece of white paper, weighing it down with a jade ruler, “The capital’s winter is harsh, the weather severe. But now Nanzhao is still covered in flowers, the weather like spring. The garrison there are all trustworthy people, you can take my letter and Prince Kui’s seal south first to enjoy the flowers, then wait for my return.”

Huang Zihua said nothing, only pushed away the jade ruler. The white paper immediately rolled up, preventing him from writing.

He just glanced at her once, silently spread the paper flat again with the jade ruler, saying flatly: “Whether Shu, Jiangnan, or even Longyou, which do you prefer?”

“Don’t drive me away,” she pressed her hand on the desk, her voice trembling, “I just want to be with you, for us both to be safe.”

He put down his brush, looking directly at her: “Zihua, do you think they don’t know that you’re the best way to strike at me? Now I send you away, it’s for your good, and also for mine. So, you must leave as soon as possible.”

“Without resolving Prince E’s case, I won’t leave,” she shook her head, her gaze firmly fixed on him, “As long as I get Wang Zongshi’s permission to participate in investigating this case, I will definitely solve the mystery of Prince E’s disappearance, help clear your name, and even learn the truth about the talismans and little red fish!”

“Impossible. I won’t let you risk danger.” He cut off all her possibilities with one sentence.

“Why? Is it for me, or for your ridiculous pride?” Seeing his insistence, Huang Zihua felt anger surge in her heart, couldn’t help grabbing the jade ruler from the table, slamming it hard beside his paper. Who knew the jade was thin and brittle, under her strike, it immediately broke into two pieces. The broken upper half flew out directly, shattering to powder on the floor tiles, the crisp breaking sound suddenly echoing in the hall.

This sharp sound seemed to cut a sharp gash in their hearts as well. Li Shubai threw down his brush, asking coldly: “Ridiculous pride?”

“That’s right, it’s your so-called male dignity, feeling as if accepting my help somehow costs you face! How does blaming me like this help our current situation?” Huang Zihua breathed hard, holding back again and again, finally unable to help bursting out, “Don’t you understand, I just want to do something for you?”

He laughed coldly: “I need you to do nothing for me. If you would obediently listen to my words, stay quietly in Chengdu, stay in the residence, I wouldn’t have such trouble now.”

She couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe he would blame her like this. She shook her head, slowly stepping back, asking in a trembling voice: “You mean… all this trouble was brought by me?”

Li Shubai saw her face pale, her lips purple-blue, not knowing if it was from the cold weather or from her extreme grief. Though he was supremely intelligent, he still didn’t understand women, so he didn’t know how to respond. Seeing her expression like this, he felt sharp pain in his heart, but had to harden his heart, saying: “Zihua, one should know oneself, don’t make me regret meeting you.”

A wan smile floated across Huang Zihua’s face as she murmured: “So, even our acquaintance must become a mistake?”

Li Shubai shook his head, only saying: “Go pack up, head to Nanzhao after the snow stops.”

“Fine… I will leave you.” She left these final words, not looking back at him once, went out the door, walking straight through the swirling heavy snow in the courtyard, heading outside.

Not looking back, quickly crossing the courtyard, almost running away.

Li Shubai looked up watching her walk through the snow, feeling countless chaotic thoughts in his heart, picking up his brush to write only two characters before finding himself unable to continue.

He sighed, looking in the direction she had gone. The footprints where she had walked were already covered by snow, the pine and cypress now only showing their shapes, their green color completely hidden beneath. The entire courtyard was left only with boundless white, as empty as his heart.

Huang Zihua quickly passed through layer upon layer of courtyards, running toward the main gate.

Her eyes burned hot, unable to contain what was inside any longer, falling drop by drop.

The wind was bone-chilling, but she seemed to feel nothing at all, hurrying past three gates and nine winding corridors.

The scene before her eyes was just a blur in the wind and snow. In her heart she only thought of the final words she had thrown at him, walking step by step.

The snow was falling heavily, and the young eunuch Lu Yunzhong sat in Prince Kui’s gatehouse, roasting chestnuts by the fire stove, when he saw her emerge from behind the corridor in the wind and snow, and was greatly startled. He quickly stood up, pulled her to the fire stove, looking at her frost-blue face, stamping his foot saying: “Aiya, you should at least wear a cloak! If you catch cold, how will we explain to our lord!”

She lowered her head woodenly, saying: “No need to explain.”

“Ah?” Lu Yunzhong looked at her uncomprehendingly.

“I have urgent business, I must go.” She raised her hand to her wrist, clasping the gold thread strung with red beans, wanting to take it off. However, in the firelight, looking at these two blood-red beans, she stared blankly for a while, finally lowered her hand, letting it slide down on her wrist.

Lu Yunzhong quickly asked: “Where are you going in such heavy snow? Let me call a carriage to take you!”

She shook her head, only looking at the street ahead asking: “Has Lord Wang left?”

“Just left, you’re right behind him.” Lu Yunzhong said, looking at the wheel tracks still visible in the snow.

Huang Zihua said nothing more, stood up and ran down the steps. Lu Yunzhong was startled, still calling after her, but she had already quickened her pace, disappearing into the wind and snow.

He stood with his mouth open, staring blankly for a while, then a cold wind blew, making him sneeze twice, and he quickly turned back, running to continue warming himself by the fire stove.

Chang’an was white as mourning clothes, a vast expanse of desolation.

Huang Zihua followed Wang Zongshi’s carriage tracks through the raging wind and snow, struggling out of Yongjia Ward.

Though the snow was heavy, Wang Zongshi hadn’t passed long ago, and the carriage kept heading north, then the tracks ended at the gate of Anguo Temple in Xingning Ward.

Anguo Temple was originally called Qingchan Temple, only renamed in the sixth year of Huichang. When she was young in Chang’an, the old people still called it by its old name. And now, in such heavy snow, hooves and wheels must be slipping, they must have gone inside to avoid the snow.

So she also walked to the temple gate, not bothering to brush away the snow on her clothes, knocking hard on the tightly closed temple door. Quick running footsteps came from inside, she knew these must not be monks, but rather Divine Strategy Army or Imperial Guards soldiers—Wang Zongshi and Wang Yun had come together, each leading a group of troops.

The snow fell heavily, bone-chillingly cold, she was already weak in blood and qi, and now having run too violently in the snow, leaning against the door, she felt her vision darkening, her body extremely weak, her feet unable to support her standing any longer.

She slowly slid down the door, sitting on the ground, hugging her knees. Her right hand tightly gripped her left wrist, feeling the gold thread with two red beans nestled together.

Smooth, warm, lightly pressed together.

Even when she pushed them apart with her finger, they still stubbornly slid back together, no matter where the other one was, with just a slight force, they would roll along the middle curve, pressing tightly together toward each other, inseparable.

And just now, she had told the person who gave her these two red beans, I will leave you.

She raised her hands, covering her face, large tears welling from her eyes, salty and cold, dropping to the ground. Her whole body shook, her face blue from cold, she could only curl up helplessly, hugging herself with ice-cold hands.

The gate opened, among footsteps, someone strode forward quickly, a black fox fur coat still carrying body warmth gently embraced her trembling body. A pair of warm, broad hands grasped her ice-cold, stiff hands.

She dazedly sank into the sudden warmth, looking up at the person before her.

Wang Yun bent down before her, offering her a snow-white soft silk handkerchief.

He had taken off his outer coat for her, wearing only a black round-necked lined robe, the black cloth embroidered with subtle qilin patterns in silver thread, with a few fine snowflakes fallen on it, making him appear even more like one of those noble Jin Dynasty youth in black robes.

Her lips moved slightly, her throat constricted, even trying her hardest, she couldn’t speak any words. Darkness surged before her eyes, she felt a wave of dizziness, clutching the silk handkerchief in his hand, murmuring: “He… he doesn’t trust me…”

Wang Yun held her tight, asking softly: “What happened?”

On her pale face, her eyes had lost all light, and before she could utter a second word, she suddenly lost consciousness.

As the pressure in her chest relaxed, darkness completely engulfed her.

When she came to, she was already in Wang Yun’s arms.

He carried her striding through the corridor, entering inside.

This was a meditation room prepared by the guest monk, simply furnished with just a table and couch. Inside burned a vigorous fire, with a pot of boiling hot tea on top.

Her whole body was exhausted, without any strength, letting Wang Yun place her on the couch, then move the fire stove over, stoking the fire brighter. Seeing her silent, only staring at him with blank eyes, he poured her a bowl of hot tea.

She nestled by the warm stove, holding the hot tea in her palms, the scorching temperature gradually spreading throughout her body, finally feeling her blood revive and melt, flowing again inside her body.

The wind and snow that had just been eroding her, seemingly about to bury her, though still raging outside, now felt like another lifetime ago.

She only then realized that the silk handkerchief he had given her earlier was still in her hand. She slowly covered her eyes with that handkerchief, that silk warm with his body temperature seemed to embrace her like a spring sun he had brought on this snowy day, softly enveloping her. The world’s severe cold was driven back thousands of miles by him, and he was that warm sun melting the ice and snow, rising brilliantly before her.

He helped her lie down, pulling the fox fur coat closer around her, his voice deep and gentle: “I came with Lord Wang, moving a bit slowly, got trapped in the temple by the wind and snow, but never thought you would come at this time.”

Huang Zihua turned to look at his smiling face, her lips trembling, wanting to say something, but her throat choked up, unable to speak.

Wang Yun looked at her with those gentle eyes: “In such bad weather, why are you out alone? Not wearing more clothes either, you could freeze.”

Huang Zihua lowered her head silently, his tenderness touched the softest wound in her heart, making her eyes moisten involuntarily, a layer of mist immediately covering everything before her.

She struggled, as if murmuring, making a tiny sound in her throat: “Because of the marriage with you, we had an argument… I now like this, already… can’t go back.”

Who that “he” was, she didn’t say, and he didn’t ask, only added half a cup of hot tea, handing it to her.

He gazed at her with those gentle eyes, saying softly: “When writing you the letter dissolving our engagement, I thought, there are two kinds of couples in this world. One kind has deep feelings but shallow fate, though deeply in love, with feelings deeply rooted, yet ultimately cannot stay together until old age—like me, I was willing to keep our engagement, spend a lifetime with you, but you fell in love with another, had no destined connection with me… I could do nothing about it.”

Hearing his words “fell in love with another,” Huang Zihua felt a surge of bitterness in her heart, not knowing who he was referring to.

Life’s fate cannot be predicted. Her heart had once belonged to Yu Xuan, and also been given to Li Shubai, yet Wang Yun, who had been her fiancé, should have been the only person she could love in this world, but they never had the fate.

Wang Yun saw her keeping her head down in silence, slowly continued: “There’s another kind, with shallow feelings but deep fate. I’ve seen many relatives and friends like this. Husband and wife share a bed but dream different dreams, each harboring their own thoughts, never having half a bit of feeling in a lifetime of marriage, finally ending up as a pair of resentful companions for life, though they share the same bed in life and same grave in death, what pleasure is there in that? And—if you had married me, would it have been like that?”

Huang Zihua felt great pain in her heart. She thought of Wang Zongshi’s question about reconsidering the marriage with the Wang family; she recalled Li Shubai’s final words, that she would become his burden—

Actually, she knew clearly in her heart that he drove her away only to avoid dragging her down, to prevent the dangers around him from affecting her.

Therefore, she had to leave him even more. Even if he didn’t approve, she would go toward what she believed. Even if it meant using this ruse to get close to Wang Yun now, even if it meant deceiving this person before her who was so gentle and accommodating, even if she despised herself for it, as long as she could use the Wang family’s help to get close to that case, she would do anything without hesitation.

“So at that time, I gave you that letter dissolving our engagement, letting you go, preferring to be the one with deep feelings but shallow fate, rather than have you with shallow feelings but deep fate. But now, I feel I might have been wrong…”

Wang Yun’s consistently deep and gentle voice finally trembled slightly with emotions he could no longer suppress: “Zihua, I cherish you so much, yet you keep getting hurt by others, making me… so unwilling to accept it!”

His trembling, murmuring voice echoed softly by her ear, making the tears in Huang Zihua’s eyes well up again.

She looked up dazedly, looking through her tears at this elegant, upright man before her. He was supposed to be the person destined to walk through life with her, having the gentle warmth of spring breeze. She had walked step by step, the waves of fate ultimately pushing her toward places increasingly distant from him. And missing him, would it become the greatest regret of her life?

And his voice softly sounded by her ear: “Now, I regret it, I think, rather than letting you experience sorrow and pain, I might as well be selfish and willful, determinedly keeping you by my side, at least there will never be a day when you’re alone being assaulted by wind and snow.”

Because of these words, Huang Zihua dazedly gripped her left wrist with her right hand, uncontrollably holding that gold thread with red beans, holding these round-as-pearls, red-as-blood love beans, the tears in her eyes finally sliding down uncontrollably.

And he raised his hand to wipe away the tears on her face, asking softly: “Can you give me a chance to make amends, return that letter dissolving our engagement to me?”

She covered her face, not daring to look up, not daring to see his deeply emotional gaze, not daring to hear his gentle words. She silently cursed herself in her heart: Huang Zihua, how fortunate you are to receive such a person’s love; and how cruel you are, still planning to use this as an opportunity to deceive the Wang family’s help.

Seeing her only burying her face in her hands, her body slightly trembling, saying nothing, Wang Yun also stopped speaking, only gently embracing her shoulders, letting her nestle against his shoulder.

After a very long time, he finally heard her softly make an “mm” sound, seeming like agreement, yet perhaps just a slight sound from difficult breathing.