After Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao finished discussing their upcoming journey, it was time to disguise themselves. The wooden cabin already had some coarse clothing stored away. After the three of them changed and confirmed their new identities, Han Shuxing brought cold water, and together with Mu Wanyao, they helped remove the bandages covering Yan Shang’s eyes.

Initially, Mu Wanyao hesitated, having heard from servants that Yan Shang’s eyes couldn’t tolerate strong light. But now… Yan Shang said it didn’t matter, since he couldn’t see anyway, whether there was light or not made little difference.

Mu Wanyao knew there must still be some effect. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have kept the bandages on constantly.

Yan Shang gently squeezed her hand. Mu Wanyao lowered her eyes, looking at his slightly protruding wrist bones for a moment, but still didn’t refuse. Though Yan Shang appeared gentle, she had already witnessed how ruthless and determined he could be. Even if she tried to stop him from coming along now, as long as he wanted to, things would still end up going his way.

Mu Wanyao’s lips curved in self-mockery as she leaned forward to slowly peel away the bandages covering his eyes under Han Shuxing’s watchful gaze. As the layers became thinner, the outline of his eyes began to emerge… Mu Wanyao’s heartbeat involuntarily quickened.

After the bandages were completely removed, Mu Wanyao quietly observed him.

He sat with his eyes closed, pausing for a moment before opening them. Mu Wanyao’s heart raced as he opened his eyes, but once they were fully open, though the young lord’s long thick eyelashes curved upward beautifully, that stirring feeling gradually subsided as she gazed into those eyes.

His eyes were still gentle, but they lacked their former captivating spirit. Sunlight couldn’t gather in his eyes anymore – they no longer spoke to her.

Sensing the dampened atmosphere, Yan Shang asked, “What’s wrong… Is it obvious at first glance that I’m blind?”

Just as Han Shuxing was about to comfort the Second Young Master, Mu Wanyao spoke coldly: “Yes, it’s very obvious. So be careful yourself. If someone discovers you, I won’t help.”

Han Shuxing: …Indeed, this was the Princess Danyang he knew – such a sharp tongue.

Yan Shang lowered his gaze, saying softly, “Your Highness is so heartless.”

Mu Wanyao: “I’ve always been this heartless. This isn’t your first day knowing me. Better pray for your good fortune.”

Yan Shang smiled faintly: “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao: “You’re welcome.”

Han Shuxing looked bewildered at the two speaking so properly, once again feeling the complexity of Wei people – perhaps he would never truly integrate. When had Her Highness ever shown concern for Second Young Master?

In May, news of Princess Danyang’s ambush in Nanyang reached Chang’an, throwing the entire capital’s officialdom into an uproar.

Pei Qingliu, the princess’s future consort who had left the capital with her, remained in Nanyang. Along with the local governor and military commissioner, he was investigating the bandits, trying to ransom the princess back. Also missing and fate unknown with Princess Danyang was Yan’s Second Young Master, the county magistrate of Nanyang’s administrative center. However, compared to the princess, no matter how renowned Yan’s Second Young Master was, he wasn’t as important.

The Nanyang officials thus petitioned Chang’an for forgiveness, requesting the emperor dispatch more troops to help eliminate the bandits and rescue the princess. The two high officials of Nanyang were willing to remove their official caps in penance, but first, they had to rescue Her Highness the Princess.

Using this as a reason, Chang’an’s officialdom split into two factions. Officials from commoner backgrounds seized the opportunity to attack Prince Qin. The rumors spread severely, forcing Prince Qin to enter the palace and beg the emperor’s forgiveness, swearing he would never harm his flesh and blood. Meanwhile, the emperor’s illness worsened due to uncertainty about his daughter’s fate.

Prince Qin had finally gained prominence and power in Chang’an, but to balance the attacks from the commoner faction, he had to step back, dividing much of his authority. Under such frustration, he still had to constantly write to Nanyang inquiring about Mu Wanyao’s news.

This time, even inner court servants like Liu Wenxi took the opportunity to send troops to Nanyang, taking the military tally from the Nanyang military commissioner to replace the troops there. As Prince Qin cursed everyone for pushing him while he was down, he couldn’t help but feel grateful to the Crown Prince – His Highness was probably the only one who hadn’t pushed him during this incident.

The uninvolved Prince Jin was completely forgotten by Prince Qin.

The struggle between Prince Qin and Princess Danyang, with its undertones of conflict between noble families and commoner officials, had grown so large that not only did officials take sides, but when such gossip reached the common markets, civilians found the topic fascinating and created many story books about it.

As a princess who had returned from a diplomatic marriage, possessed talent and charm, and now held great power, Princess Danyang’s fame among common people far exceeded that of Princess Yuyang, who stayed home with her children.

Yan Xiazhou wore a face veil as she sat drinking in a Chang’an tavern. Her figure was slim and delicate, the snow-white veil reaching the ground, covering her completely. She sat in a private room screened by bamboo blinds, listening through them to the storyteller outside enthusiastically spinning tales about Princess Danyang’s troubles in Nanyang.

The story told of how corrupt Nanyang’s officialdom was, and how an innocent, delicate princess arrived in Nanyang and engaged in battles of wit and courage with those people. To appeal to the common people, the story also invented a scholarly character who provides comic relief amid the tense political struggles while engaging in a romance with Princess Danyang.

The civilians in the tavern listened to the story while drinking, completely absorbed, all wondering if that fair-faced scholar would eventually marry the tender princess.

Sitting behind the bamboo screen, watching the common people’s reactions of sighing and cheering, Yan Xiazhou couldn’t help but smile slightly. Her third brother had finally passed the imperial examinations this year after years of struggle, bringing relief to everyone.

Third Young Master Yan now awaited imperial appointment, but according to their family’s plans, he had no intention of becoming an official. He only wanted to use his status as a successful candidate to quietly make some money after returning to Lingnan. After all, the status of an imperial examination graduate was truly useful… As for becoming an official, they already had their second brother.

Now the brother and sister stayed in Chang’an, living in Second Young Master Yan’s residence, originally waiting for his return. But their newest worry had become whether Second Young Master Yan was alive or dead in current-day Nanyang. To discover this news, not only did Third Young Master Yan go out daily to shamelessly socialize with those awaiting appointment officials, but Yan Xiazhou also went out daily.

Yan Xiazhou looked at today’s audience for the story, and seeing nothing remarkable below, she left some copper coins on the table and departed from the tavern. She walked through the market streets as usual, but when she reached an alley, there was a tall man in traveler’s rain cape and hat leaning against the wall ahead.

Through the rain cape and veil, the young man turned his head to look at her.

Yan Xiazhou’s heart skipped a beat as she curtsied, about to dismiss him softly when the young man took out a black official tablet from his waist and flashed it before her eyes. His voice was cold and indifferent: “From the Northern Command of the Imperial Guard. Here to investigate something with you. This tavern is quite bold, daring to make up stories about court princesses. You’ve stayed at this tavern – speak! What was your purpose?”

Yan Xiazhou curtsied: “Sir, please allow me to explain. I had no purpose. I was merely listening because the story was entertaining.”

The young man said flatly: “Is that so? But someone reported to the officials that a young woman wrote the story. No matter how I investigate, I feel you wrote it.”

Yan Xiazhou asked gently: “What if I did write it? It’s just a story. I haven’t slandered any of Their Highnesses. I’ve heard stories at other taverns speaking of how Prince Qin is cruel, how he harmed Princess Danyang… I merely wrote some romance stories about scholars and beauties. What’s wrong with that?”

The young man sneered. Through his rain cape, his downward gaze at her was sharp as physical ice: “Laughing at those fifty steps away while being a hundred steps away yourself? True, you didn’t makeup stories about Prince Qin, but you made up stories about the Jiang family of Nanyang. If such stories spread, Prince Qin won’t spare you. You still say you had no purpose?”

Yan Xiazhou said softly: “Those who wish to condemn will find any excuse. The struggle between court noble families and commoner officials has already reached a critical point. How could my single story incite the two sides further? It’s merely because I’m weak that you want to use me as a tool to warn the other side.

“Very well, since sir doesn’t believe me, let me take a trip to prison then.”

She appeared completely composed, knowing in her heart that Chang’an’s customs were far more open than Lingnan’s. She had researched before writing stories – Chang’an’s people were bold, and officials had never controlled common people’s stories about the royal family. The worst punishment for the most extreme stories was just a few days in jail and some beatings.

Yan Xiazhou’s purpose was to make contact with them, hoping to learn news of her second brother from officials’ mouths. While her third brother sought other ways to gather information… Unable to enter official circles herself, she could only use such unorthodox methods to make contact with people in government offices.

That young man gazed at her deeply, suddenly smiling: “Such a sharp-tongued little girl.”

He pulled off his black cloth rain cape in one motion, revealing his handsome face. His posture leaning against the wall hadn’t changed as he looked over with a meaningful smile. After a moment of surprise, Yan Xiazhou also removed her veil, revealing her face. Yang Si stared at her.

Yan Xiazhou lowered her eyes: “Sir, aren’t we going?”

He raised an eyebrow, saying: “I heard some taverns were spreading wild stories, and the capital governor was arresting people everywhere. Having nothing better to do, I came to help take a look. I wanted to see what little girl had such courage, didn’t expect it was you… You’re quite bold.”

Yan Xiazhou froze for a moment, catching the flaw in Yang Si’s words: “Sir said you were from the Imperial Guard’s Northern Command, but now you mention the capital governor. Which side are you really from?”

Yang Si looked at the sky.

He laughed once: “Neither side. Just that I’m not commanding troops now, and being bored in Chang’an, helping others do some things, trying to trick you that’s all.”

Yan Xiazhou was slightly stunned, her eyes widening slightly. Clearly he wasn’t here to arrest her – unable to go to prison, Yan Xiazhou became slightly flustered. She couldn’t help but purse her lips, curtsying to him before turning to leave the alley.

Yang Si clicked his tongue – now that she had fallen into his hands, how could he let her escape again?

Yang Si stood lazily in place, watching her back as he said, “So eager to take a trip to prison, to be questioned? Tell me your name, where you live, and why you’ve come to Chang’an, and I’ll help you once.”

Yan Xiazhou stopped and looked back. Her eyes were clear as water, her lips carrying a slight smile with a hint of natural mischief.

She said, “Is that all?”

Yang Si suddenly felt uncomfortable. He coughed once and straightened his posture. However, his tone remained cold and indifferent: “Also… you’ll go release river lanterns with me on the Dragon Boat Festival. As long as you don’t commit any crimes that fall into my hands, I won’t investigate your identity.”

Yan Xiazhou didn’t care about being investigated or not. She was a law-abiding citizen, not a spy. Her second brother was so famous that even if she went to prison, no one would dare torture her. But Third Young Master Yang thought she had ulterior motives… Yan Xiazhou sighed and said sincerely, “I’m just in Chang’an looking for my brother.”

Yang Si: “Brother?”

Yan Xiazhou: “…Not a sweetheart.”

Yang Si burst out laughing, teasing: “You know quite a lot.”

Yan Xiazhou’s cheeks instantly burned hot, quite embarrassed by his laughter. She didn’t need to study for examinations, so the books she read at home were quite diverse… Yang Si walked toward her, and Yan Xiazhou felt the pressure, stepping back, but Yang Si blocked her path.

He said flatly: “Come on, brother will accompany you for a while.

“Don’t forget our Dragon Boat Festival appointment, little sister.”

—

Before the Dragon Boat Festival, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao, under pursuit by various Nanyang local authorities, arrived at a city.

Though it was the pursuit, with Pei Qingliu maneuvering behind the scenes and Mu Wanyao’s status as princess, the officials didn’t dare to arrest them openly.

They could only say they were searching for the princess.

In reality, openly searching while secretly assassinating wasn’t rare.

As Mu Wanyao’s fate remained unconfirmed, Nanyang was constrained, and the attacks from commoner officials in Chang’an left Prince Qin in a difficult position, the Nanyang side grew increasingly anxious. When Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao entered this city and saw the notices posted at the city gate about catching mountain bandits, they knew that while entering the city was easy, leaving would be difficult.

The Nanyang officials were being driven nearly mad – if the princess were dead, that would be one thing, but keeping them in suspense like this, neither dead nor alive, put them in the most passive position. To capture or kill Mu Wanyao, they began using every means at their disposal – for example, throughout the entire Shannan Circuit, they cut off the supply of three medicinal ingredients needed for Yan Shang’s eye treatment.

Yan Shang hadn’t applied any medicine along the way.

This made Mu Wanyao irritable – being unable to buy the medicine anywhere caused her to maintain a cold expression all day, making Han Shuxing afraid to meet her eyes. However, when they reached this city and made inquiries, they learned that the Universal Salvation Temple here actually had the medicinal ingredients they couldn’t find anywhere else.

The officials had openly placed the medicine on the Buddha’s altar. Every day, civilians who came to worship could see the three medicinal ingredients when they came forward to burn incense for the Buddha and Bodhisattvas.

This was completely unconcealed, clearly using it as bait. The Nanyang officials weren’t certain if Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao were together, but they had to try. They couldn’t possibly be unaware of the rumors of a romance between Second Young Master Yan and Princess Danyang from back then.

After Han Shuxing brought back news about the three medicinal ingredients at Universal Salvation Temple to their borrowed residence, Yan Shang said: “We can’t risk everything for something small. My eyes aren’t important – if you take risks for this, all our previous efforts will be wasted. It wouldn’t be worth it.”

Mu Wanyao perfunctorily responded with an “Mm.”

Hearing her dismissive attitude, Yan Shang grew anxious and couldn’t help saying: “I came on this journey to help you. If I cause you trouble, I might as well not have come along in the first place. Don’t take risks… my eyes can be treated again when we return, this delay won’t matter.”

Mu Wanyao: “I know. Don’t worry. You’re not important to me.”

But every day seeing his eyes so dim and lifeless – perhaps because the three of them now relied on each other for survival – Mu Wanyao couldn’t help paying more attention to Yan Shang. She could observe the red blood vessels in his eyes gradually increasing, his eyes often feeling sore, frequently needing to close them to rest…

When Yan Shang wasn’t paying attention, Mu Wanyao pressured Han Shuxing to tell her what the doctor had said back then – that continuous treatment for two months was needed to restore sight. Yan Shang had almost recovered, but now with this interruption, when treatment resumed, there would be effects… The increasing blood vessels in his eyes were proof.

If he developed a lifelong condition because of this delay, Mu Wanyao would probably regret it for life.

Fortune favors the bold.

Mu Wanyao secretly pondered how to obtain the medicine right under the officials’ noses-

That afternoon, Mu Wanyao and Han Shuxing went out as usual to gather information, not staying with Yan Shang.

Yan Shang was in the side room of their borrowed residence, bent over the desk writing letters. Because he couldn’t see, he had figured out how to make a wooden tool with square grids. Whenever he needed to write, he would place the tool on the paper, using the raised edges to ensure his characters weren’t crooked or outside the boxes.

Though this method wasn’t as convenient as having someone else write for him, Yan Shang couldn’t possibly rely on others for everything. He felt embarrassed always asking Mu Wanyao to write for him, making himself seem so useless. Moreover, the official business he was handling in his correspondence now was from Rang County. There were always some confidential messages that weren’t convenient for Mu Wanyao to know.

Yan Shang spent the afternoon in the room writing letters. He had finished handling matters here, but Mu Wanyao and Han Shuxing still hadn’t returned. Yan Shang felt slightly uneasy, worried something had happened. He had never been one to sit and wait – when he felt something wasn’t right, he had to take action.

Yan Shang felt his way along the wall out of the room. Using his gentle temperament and handsome face, he gave the household’s young son a few copper coins to gather information according to his instructions.

Half an hour later, when the child returned, he told Yan Shang the news he wanted to know. The child was extremely excited-

“There are so many people at Universal Salvation Temple! Officials in uniform are checking everyone going in and out. Brother Yan, will Sister Mu also go there to see the Buddha? It’s safe there now…”

Yan Shang’s jaw tensed slightly as he gently asked the child to take him outside. He was afraid the temple was too safe, full of officials… Maybe he was overthinking, but based on his understanding of Mu Wanyao… Yan Shang let the child lead him out by the hand, saying he wanted to walk around the streets.

The child felt sympathy for his eyes and generously helped Yan Shang tour the streets. On the market street, Yan Shang easily used a few candies to get the child to watch magic tricks while he called over several beggars.

Giving each beggar a string of cash, Yan Shang pondered for a moment and said: “Tonight is the county magistrate’s mother’s birthday. Universal Salvation Temple is giving out free rice for everyone to collect. But it’s only for the poor. The officials haven’t told the whole city to avoid chaos.

“Spread this news.”

The beggars who had been called over, originally intending to mock a blind man, were stunned and somewhat excited: “Young sir, is what you’re saying true? They’re giving out free food?”

Yan Shang immediately said: “My wife is a maid in the county magistrate’s mansion – how could this news she told me personally be false?”

As the news spread through the beggars, all the city’s beggars rushed toward the Universal Salvation Temple. The more chaos there, the more opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

And even if Yan Shang’s judgment was wrong and Mu Wanyao and Han Shuxing weren’t being reckless… letting the officials deal with the gathering of beggars in the city wasn’t wrong either-

Mu Wanyao sat drinking in a small tavern diagonally across from Universal Salvation Temple. From her position, she could easily see the situation in the temple.

Today was the Dragon Boat Festival, and the whole city’s people were busy celebrating. There were many people coming and going at Universal Salvation Temple today. Even though officials kept checking people entering and leaving the temple under the pretense of catching bandits, they couldn’t stop the people’s enthusiasm for worshipping Buddha.

Mu Wanyao had slightly disguised herself with makeup, making her features look as much like those of a modest young lady as possible. Only when she felt her current appearance wasn’t so similar to the portrait of Princess Danyang that officials had seen did she dare to come out, boldly sitting in the tavern to observe them.

She had to get those three medicines.

If they missed this perfect opportunity of the Dragon Boat Festival, there wouldn’t be another chance for such a gathering of people in the short term. Yan Shang’s eyes couldn’t wait any longer.

As lanterns began to be lit, the temple’s lanterns were gradually illuminated, glowing brilliantly red. Though there was a surge of people in Universal Salvation Temple, the officials still hadn’t found anyone who looked like the princess among them. As night fell, the officials’ actions began to escalate. Mu Wanyao watched as these officials, who had initially only been checking people entering and leaving the temple, gradually began to inspect customers in the surrounding taverns.

This was exactly according to Mu Wanyao’s plan. Let these officials think the person wasn’t in the temple, but nearby.

Calculating that the time was about right, Mu Wanyao put on her veil, left a silver ingot on the table, and left the tavern. After going downstairs, sure enough, she encountered officials at the tavern entrance. The officials blocked the door, staring intently at everyone, male or female, for a long time.

Mu Wanyao kept her eyes lowered, queuing to leave. She calculated the timing – by the time it was her turn, the woman she had hired and arranged to enter the temple would try to get in, which should draw the officials’ attention.

One by one, ladies and gentlemen left the tavern under the officials’ scrutiny. When it was Mu Wanyao’s turn, she removed her veil, putting on a timid expression, carefully glancing at the minor official checking her.

She swayed the wine jug in her hand, pleading softly: “My husband sent me to buy wine…”

The minor official glanced at her casually, seeing this woman with heavy makeup and cheap perfume – she couldn’t possibly be the princess. The official was about to wave her through, when Mu Wanyao suddenly acted startled then delighted, hurriedly stepping out of the tavern.

Her sudden haste caught the officials’ attention: “Wait!”

Mu Wanyao acted frightened, not looking back after leaving the tavern, lifting her skirts and running quickly. This made the previously only slightly suspicious minor officials alert, immediately shouting: “After her!”–

“They might have found the criminal outside the temple!”

“Quick, go look!”

After being led near the Universal Salvation Temple and getting off the carriage, Yan Shang heard these shouts in the chaos. His heart tightened, and he quickly tried to identify the voices while recalling the layout of this place in his mind.

In every city they entered, he would memorize the layout with Han Shuxing’s help. It hadn’t necessarily been useful before, but tonight it was–

Many officials had cornered Mu Wanyao in the street. Mu Wanyao’s face was pale, seemingly frightened: “Sirs, I only came to buy wine, why are you chasing after me?”

The officials surrounded her, with their leader saying: “If you weren’t guilty, why did you run?”

Mu Wanyao looked wronged, crying out her innocence: “That sir spoke so fiercely, I was just scared.”

People surrounded her with torches, staring at her heavily made-up face. They felt this woman indeed looked similar to the portrait their superiors had provided, but couldn’t be certain because of the thick makeup. The lead official said coldly: “Stop playing tricks! Someone, take her to wash her face clean, let’s see what she really looks like!”

Mu Wanyao naturally resisted, sobbing and begging, making the officials increasingly suspicious. A minor official stepped forward forcefully, grabbing her hand, pushing and pulling as he tried to take her to the tavern’s back courtyard to wash her face. This official held Mu Wanyao tightly, and everyone had almost decided she was the person they were looking for.

Suddenly, another minor official came running from afar, shouting: “Brother Chen, quick! We’ve found someone! At Universal Salvation Temple’s gate – someone in disguise trying to enter the temple, we found them!”

The official holding Mu Wanyao’s hand froze, looking back to see all the other officials stunned. Everyone gritted their teeth, leaving only that one minor official holding Mu Wanyao while the others ran to the temple gate–

There was chaos at Universal Salvation Temple’s gate, where a strange woman disguised as Mu Wanyao was crying that she just liked heavy makeup and hadn’t committed any crime.

All the officials gathered at the temple gate, interrogating the strange woman as a suspect, which reduced the inspection inside the temple. Just as the authorities’ focus shifted to the temple gate, Han Shuxing used his lightness skill to quietly leap over the back wall into the temple, sneaking into the grandest hall to steal the three medicinal ingredients…–

This deception could only work briefly. After the strange woman at the temple gate wailed for a quarter hour, the officials began to sense something was wrong. When this strange woman’s identity was verified and news of the stolen medicine from the temple spread, all the officials were shocked: “Search! The thieves can’t have gone far!”

In the chaos, the authorities gritted their teeth and decided to seal off the entire area around Universal Salvation Temple, prohibiting civilian traffic for the night. But when the order was given, a swarm of beggars crashed through like locusts. Officials, civilians, and beggars all mixed in the noise.

Openly catching people, secretly killing them.

But in the complete chaos, everyone lost their direction.

Taking advantage of the confusion, when the minor official holding her was distracted, Mu Wanyao wrenched free and turned to run. The minor official turned to chase her, but the crowd surged between them. In the chaos, Mu Wanyao suddenly saw Yan Shang standing helplessly amid the bustling crowd…

Yan Shang felt the chaos starting around him. Unable to see, he was bumped everywhere, pushed by the crowd. Thin and frail, he could no longer handle this situation, only struggling to discern the information he wanted to hear from the chaos… Constantly being jostled, suddenly someone grabbed his wrist.

Yan Shang startled slightly: “…Yaoyao?”

Mu Wanyao spoke in a breath: “Come with me… officials are chasing me.”–

They hid in a narrow alley, leaning against the wall. Mu Wanyao wiped the sweat from her face, and in the dim moonlight, she saw the white powder that had stained her palm. With her forehead resting on his shoulder, breathing in his scent, her wildly beating heart gradually settled.

Yan Shang gently gripped her arm, letting her lean against him to catch her breath: “I knew you were here.”

Mu Wanyao immediately became angry, raising her face to glare at him: “Why did you run around? If I hadn’t found you, you would have been knocked down by people…”

Yan Shang: “You promised me you wouldn’t act recklessly…”

Mu Wanyao: “I wasn’t reckless! My plan was quite good…”

Yan Shang was slightly annoyed: “You clearly said I wasn’t important. How can you go back on your word like this?”

Mu Wanyao impatiently: “You aren’t important! Why did you come to interfere with me?”

She suddenly stopped speaking because she heard the officials’ shouts getting closer to their hiding place. The officials were still searching, and Mu Wanyao looked up at Yan Shang, secretly stamped her foot, and said softly: “…Hide yourself well, I’ll draw them away.”

She tried to leave, but he caught her wrist.

Yan Shang’s voice was very low: “No need for such trouble.”

He pulled her back, embracing her. He took off his outer robe and draped it over her. While Mu Wanyao was still confused, he felt for them and removed the pins from her hair, letting her beautiful hair cascade down over the moonlight-colored robe he had placed on her.

Yan Shang lowered his head, his hand supporting her face as he bent down to kiss her.

Blue-tinged light fell in the long alley, with bamboo baskets, boxes, and other items scattered messily behind them. Mu Wanyao was thunderstruck, stepping back in shock until she met the vine-covered wall. Her long hair spread across his hands, his face pressed close to hers, their breaths mingling.

His hot breath covered her lips as his hand caressed her delicate neck, his voice very soft: “I’m sorry… in this situation, I must ask Your Highness… to pretend to be a courtesan once again.”