Heavy fog shrouded the Southern Seas.

Li Zhi, the County Magistrate of Nanhai, sat in a dwelling, repeatedly reviewing the latest letters he had received.

Though called peaceful, it was truly desolate here. But Li Zhi paid no mind to the crude surroundings. He drank tea while reading his letters, his bearing dignified, his wide sleeves flowing gracefully, somewhat resembling a great scholar of the age.

When the Late Emperor was still alive, Li Zhi was the outstanding leader of the Li clan, leading many noble families of Chang’an in counterbalancing imperial power. But the Late Emperor had been gone for a year now, and the Li clan had long since been driven back to Jinling to retire. Li Zhi himself had been banished to Lingnan.

The current Emperor was quite remarkable.

When the Late Emperor was alive, he had fought toe-to-toe with the Late Emperor’s faction. After the Late Emperor’s death, he became “grief-stricken to the point of death” and had the whole empire mourn for a year. The Emperor hadn’t even destroyed the Li clan, supposedly out of respect for the Late Emperor’s memory.

Whether true or not, let the Emperor say what he would.

In any case, Li Zhi had been banished to this godforsaken Nanhai County, and likely would never have the chance to return in this lifetime.

The letter Li Zhi was currently reading was from his niece, Princess Mu Wanyao of Danyang. She was supposed to come to visit him personally, but hadn’t arrived yet and had disappeared. Thinking of his niece, Li Zhi took a sip of tea and sighed deeply…

The bamboo house door was pushed open as Lady Li entered to refill her husband’s tea. Seeing his wife arrive, Li Zhi casually asked, “Has another letter arrived from the Princess?”

Lady Li replied, “We haven’t received any letters from the Princess for three days… My lord, should we send someone to check?”

Li Zhi’s expression changed slightly as he unconsciously drummed his fingers on the long table. Lingnan was not an easy place to stay. When he first arrived, his youngest son had nearly died. For a delicate young lady like Mu Wanyao… Li Zhi immediately said, “Call in the Deputy Magistrate. We must send people to escort the Princess.”

That afternoon, a group of riders departed from Nanhai, spurring their horses toward Dayue Ridge to search for the Princess of Danyang—

At this time, deep in the dense forest, fog was spreading.

Mu Wanyao and Chunhua were walking unevenly through the uneven mountain forest terrain, while Fang Tong and other guards looked after the carriage before following behind the Princess.

They had been wandering through the forest for several days, all to find the white ox tea tree.

In her heart, Mu Wanyao blamed Young Master Yan again and again. Why tell her about an unknown tea tree? If the tea tree was interesting, why not just give it to her directly instead of making her search for it herself?

Young Master Yan had gone to take the examinations, but in Mu Wanyao’s mind, his efforts would be futile – he would have been better off staying to help her search for the tea tree.

Over several consecutive days, the mountain fog grew increasingly thick.

These outsiders failed to notice anything unusual about it. They only felt that transportation was difficult here, the forest vast, and the path treacherous. The guards only worried about protecting the Princess from wild animals or falling into water or off cliffs; they didn’t sense any other dangers.

Deep in the forest, Mu Wanyao grew increasingly irritated as they walked.

Suddenly, Chunhua, who was supporting her arm, pointed toward a cliff jutting out from the mountainside and exclaimed excitedly, “My lady, look! Isn’t that the white ox tea tree we’re looking for?”

Everyone looked where Chunhua was pointing and saw a lonely, lush dwarf tree growing in front of the cliff wall. Comparing it to the drawing in the Princess’s hand, it was identical.

Immediately, everyone became energized.

Mu Wanyao showed her first smile in days: “Come, there must be more tea trees near that one. Let’s dig up a few to take back to Chang’an. Once we get these trees, we’ll go to Nanhai to see my uncle.”

Just as Chunhua was about to agree, she suddenly felt a drop of water splash onto her forehead.

Chunhua wiped her forehead and looked up at the gray sky. She worried aloud, “My lady, it seems it’s going to rain.”

Mu Wanyao reassured her, “It doesn’t matter. We’ll leave as soon as we dig up the trees. It won’t take long.”—

In Guangzhou, large numbers of scholars walked out of the provincial examination hall, all feeling somewhat lightheaded and unsteady on their feet.

Yan Shisheng stood at the entrance, watching the stream of scholars file out. Remembering what Mu Wanyao had said days ago about how Lingnan could only send two scholars to Chang’an each year, he couldn’t help but feel emotional.

Compared to the prosperity of the Central Plains, Lingnan was called the “land without education.” Ordinary people from the Central Plains who were banished here were simply waiting to die – how could they hope to return?

Everyone was simply testing their fate.

Even his studies – his father spent all day drinking and paid him no attention. The Yan family supported his studies with all their resources only because they had few family members and didn’t lack this bit of money, and because Young Master Yan’s thin frame made him unsuitable for farming…

As Yan Shisheng pondered these things, scholars behind him kept greeting him, and he smiled and nodded to each of them in return, wishing everyone good results this year.

Actually, most people knew they would never have their day of success, but because Yan Shisheng spoke gently and warmly, making people feel like a spring breeze, everyone enjoyed talking with Young Master Yan… A call came from behind: “Young Master Yan, you haven’t left yet?”

Yan Shisheng turned around to see the young prodigy Liu Wenji approaching.

Seeing Liu Wenji arrive, the scholars gathered around Yan Shisheng began shifting their gazes and scattered one by one: “Young Master Yan, I have matters to attend to. Let’s talk another day.”

Liu Wenji came over and, seeing the space around Yan Shisheng clear out, didn’t think these scholars were annoyed with him at all. He said, “Just a bunch of rabble. Why do you always mix with these useless people?”

Yan Shisheng’s expression remained unchanged: “In Lingnan’s fallen countryside, all are scholars of the world. How can you say who is useful or useless? Brother Liu, your words are quite unreasonable.”

A hint of contempt flickered across Liu Wenji’s handsome face.

Yan Shisheng never offended anyone, but Liu Wenji was different. These mediocre talents would never leave Lingnan, but once he left, he would never return.

Although Liu Wenji prided himself on his outstanding scholarship, his father was always praising Yan Shisheng’s social skills in front of him, giving Liu Wenji a subtle feeling of jealousy and disdain when facing Yan Shisheng.

Liu Wenji probed Yan Shisheng: “How did you do on the poem and rhapsody we wrote for the exam? Are you confident this year?”

Yan Shisheng noticed Liu Wenji’s guarded look.

Yan Shisheng smiled.

He said, “Brother Liu knows me – I’ve never been good at poetry, and my rhapsodies are merely adequate. With Brother Liu here, how could I be confident?”

Liu Wenji’s mouth twitched upward.

But feeling that appearing too pleased wouldn’t be good, he offered hypocritical praise: “Actually, you’re quite impressive too. My father often praises you in front of me. If the provincial examinations have two spots, the position below mine will be yours!”

Yan Shisheng nodded with amusement, finding Liu Wenji’s reluctant praise rather interesting.

Liu Wenji followed behind him: “Young Master Yan, are you planning to go home now?”

Yan Shisheng nodded: “To be honest with Brother Liu, after several days of travel, I’m extremely tired. I need to go home and sleep for two days straight.”

Liu Wenji’s heart stirred.

He thought of the beautiful maid he had seen at Yan Shisheng’s home.

That maid was staying at the Yan residence with her mistress – he wondered if they were still there.

Liu Wenji was too embarrassed to ask Yan Shisheng directly, so he volunteered: “Your home is closer. Could I rest at your place for two days before returning to mine?”

Yan Shisheng gave Liu Wenji a thoughtful look.

In a flash, his mind quickly connected Liu Wenji’s series of traces at his home.

Though he had his suspicions, he showed nothing on his face and maintained his usual accommodating manner: “Of course.”—

The rain did begin to fall, fine as sand.

As Mu Wanyao had expected, several tea trees grew near the cliff.

Afraid the guards would damage the trees with their clumsy hands, she and Chunhua decided to dig up the trees themselves.

At first, there were no problems, but when the tree roots were pulled from the soil and everyone had let down their guard, a snake emerged from the earth. Quick as lightning, it struck out, its forked tongue flicking as it bit toward the two maidens’ soil-stained fair hands…

Chunhua let out a terrible scream as the snake bit her wrist. She kicked at the snake but couldn’t shake it off, feeling only intense pain surge through her wrist!

Just as the snake was about to slither up Chunhua’s sleeve, there was a “ding” sound and a white flash before her eyes as she saw the snake pinned to the ground by a dagger Mu Wanyao had pulled from her sleeve. The snake writhed twice, then went still.

No one had expected the Princess to be carrying a dagger…

Fang Tong and the other guards rushed forward. Fang Tong grabbed the snake-bitten Chunhua, seeing her delicate white wrist quickly turning purple, then black…

They anxiously looked at the Princess, seeing her dagger stuck in the snake’s body while Mu Wanyao crouched on the ground, her face only slightly pale. Mu Wanyao said, “I’m fine.”

However, Fang Tong dared not be careless, for next they heard hissing sounds from all around them in the wild forest. He looked up, his keen eyes seeing snakes surging toward them from all directions… The guards all drew their swords, sweat breaking out on their foreheads.

Mu Wanyao had someone pick up the tea tree she had dug up as she stood. She glanced at Chunhua, seeing her collapse in Fang Tong’s arms, already beginning to break out in cold sweat and trembling.

Mu Wanyao furrowed her brow.

She had only read about Lingnan’s many snakes in books, but now she was seeing them for the first time…

Fang Tong said, “Princess, we must leave this place quickly!”

Mu Wanyao said softly, “I’m afraid we won’t be able to leave.”

She ordered, “Light fires!”

Chunhua’s body was growing cold, and her consciousness gradually becoming fuzzy. Supported by Guard Fang, she could barely manage to remind the Princess: “It’s raining… the fires probably won’t light…”

Mu Wanyao fell silent.

Yet she still stepped forward, letting the fine raindrops splash onto her long lashes, creating a misty veil. She gripped her dagger, her long robes and sleeves flowing, standing before the guards, coldly watching the snakes from all directions: “Light the fires!”

Even if they had to fight, they would fight their way out!—

The light rain continued steadily, pattering into the night.

In the middle of the night, the Yan household heard a violent knocking at the door. Liu Wenji was also awakened by the urgent knocking outside. He peered through the window, seeing the Yan family’s eldest and third sons going to open the bamboo gate wearing rain capes and carrying torches, while a line of imposing guards stood at the entrance.

The guard captain barked, “Where is the Princess? Where are you hiding the Princess?”

Master Yan trembled in fear inside the house, not daring to go out. Little Sister Yan Xiaozhou peeked out from behind her two brothers, timidly asking, “What princess?”

The other side impatiently pushed them aside: “Get out of the way!”

Third Young Master Yan shouted, “How dare you break into a private home again? Big Brother, let’s stop them!”

Yan Shisheng had gone to sleep after returning home but was now awakened by the rain and shouting outside. He put on clothes and went out, just in time to see the guards and his two brothers pushing each other, about to come to blows.

Yan Shisheng stood in the cold rain under the corridor, his long robe slightly lifted, his long hair halfbound, his eyes dark and quiet in the cold night, completely calm: “What has happened?”

Yan Xiaozhou was also afraid they would start fighting. Turning to see her second brother’s tall, dignified figure, she exclaimed with relief, complaining, “Second Brother, they’re looking for some princess! How would we know anything about a princess?”

Yan Shisheng was briefly silent.

He slowly said, “I know.”

Everyone about to fight: “…!”

In an instant, whether the Yan siblings or the guards sent by the Nanhai County Magistrate to receive Mu Wanyao, all eyes turned to Yan Shisheng.

The guard captain looked him up and down, and seeing only a scholar, sneered, “So it seems you’re the one in charge of your household. You know what princess we’re looking for?”

They said they were looking for the princess, but wanted to take advantage of the night to break in and steal valuables.

In remote areas, soldiers were no different from bandits. Where bandits passed was like combing, but where soldiers passed was like shaving.

Yan Shisheng looked at these uninvited guests and said with a smile, “You’re looking for Princess Mu Wanyao of Danyang, who was once sent in a political marriage to the Wuman people, was separated from them, and has returned to our country, correct?”

Yan Shisheng said, “The Princess did stay at my home a few days ago, but she has already left.”

Everyone: “…!”

The three Yan siblings, including Master Yan hiding in the house, all stared at Yan Shisheng in shock—

Living under the same roof, eating from the same bowl.

Yet the difference between people could be so great.