The Huo family could practically recite Lu Yang’s post-examination speech backward by heart—nothing more than talk of chronic stubborn illness, ineffective medicine and treatments, seek better physicians, and so forth.

Zhao Xun seemed quite regretful about this, saying that if they could invite Physician Luo to come out of retirement, there might still be a thread of hope. He urged Huo Liuxing not to lose heart and to continue caring for his legs properly, and instructed Lu Yang to keep watch for his master’s whereabouts.

Yu Wanjiang wiped her reddened eyes.

But Huo Liuxing remained calm and fulfilled his duties as host, telling Zhao Xun about Qingyang’s scenic spots and local products.

Zhao Xun appeared quite casual, saying there was no need to make a grand spectacle of this night tour—they should just visit the night market the couple had originally planned.

Shen Lingzhen had no opportunity to interject at this point. Even though she vaguely felt this cousin’s enthusiasm was peculiar, she could only obediently follow Huo Liuxing onto the carriage.

This modified carriage was firstly spacious, facilitating servants in helping Huo Liuxing up and down, and secondly equipped with special railings to prevent accidents during bumpy travel. It was ingeniously designed and exquisitely crafted.

However, Shen Lingzhen had no leisure at the moment to marvel at “masters among the common folk”—she remained preoccupied with thoughts of Zhao Xun in the carriage ahead.

Only after the two carriages started moving and opened some distance between them did she use a breathy voice to ask Huo Liuxing beside her, “Husband, can they hear me speaking like this from outside?”

Huo Liuxing hadn’t yet digested her performance in the hall. Seeing her furtive manner, he felt confused again.

But he still answered gently, “The driver can.”

The driver was a Huo family person, so that didn’t matter. Shen Lingzhen nodded and mouthed silently—what about the Fourth Prince?

She still remembered that earlier Zhao Xun had mentioned martial artists having exceptional hearing.

Huo Liuxing turned one ear to the side as if gauging the distance. After a moment, he shook his head, indicating they couldn’t be heard anymore.

Shen Lingzhen relaxed and, after considering her words, lowered her voice. “Husband, actually I don’t much like this cousin.”

Huo Liuxing raised an eyebrow slightly. “Why? Did he treat you poorly in the capital before?”

She quickly shook her head, fell silent, then said hesitantly, “I know gossiping behind people’s backs is immoral, but compared to doing something immoral, I’m more afraid the Fourth Prince might harm you, husband. That’s why I can only speak ill of him during this private moment with you…”

“Oh,” Huo Liuxing nodded. “Then it’s difficult for you to violate your noble principles for my sake.”

Shen Lingzhen’s brows drooped—she truly did find it difficult.

Huo Liuxing smiled, leaned closer to her, patted the back of her hand, and coaxed, “Go ahead and speak. I’ll remember this sentiment of yours.”

“Then I’ll say it. I don’t like the Fourth Prince because he’s always enjoyed playing and causing mischief, and coincidentally, whenever he becomes particularly close with someone, that person often ends up in misfortune.”

“For instance, when he was young, he once dragged the Crown Prince to sneak out of the palace to ride horses. Because the Crown Prince was weak and sickly and unskilled in martial arts, he nearly fell from his horse. Though he was protected and didn’t get injured, it still alarmed Imperial Uncle. Imperial Uncle flew into a rage and as punishment forbade the Crown Prince from leaving his quarters for a full month, not allowing him to interfere in government affairs.”

Huo Liuxing made an understanding expression. “Living in seclusion as you do, how would you know these things?”

“When I studied in our family’s private school, occasionally cousins from both sides of the family would visit to study together. I heard them discussing external affairs and remembered.”

Huo Liuxing slowly rubbed his fingertips. “Then according to their meaning, the Crown Prince’s horse incident—could it be that the Fourth Prince intentionally…”

Shen Lingzhen was so alarmed she covered his mouth with her hand. “Husband, you absolutely must not speak such words carelessly!”

Huo Liuxing stopped, looking down with some surprise at the hand covering his lips—fingers like jade bamboo shoots, each one slender and pale white.

Shen Lingzhen hastily withdrew her hand.

The soft, feather-light warmth vanished in an instant, leaving only a trace of fragrance at his nose. Huo Liuxing gave a soft “oh.” “Then I won’t speak carelessly.”

Shen Lingzhen felt awkward about her impulsiveness and shifted slightly toward the corner of the carriage, moving a few inches away from him, pulling back to the topic. “…No, they didn’t mean that. It’s just that I’ve heard too many such stories about the Fourth Prince and think it’s better not to get too close to him, lest I also suffer misfortune someday.”

Huo Liuxing looked at her with an inscrutable expression. “I’ll remember your warning.”

——

As they conversed, they arrived at the street entrance.

Zhao Xun alighted from his carriage first ahead of them and waved away all the attendants who wished to ensure his safety, saying there was no need to follow him so conspicuously.

The Huo family naturally couldn’t make a greater display than the prince. Only because Huo Liuxing’s situation was special, they kept Kongqing close to attend him, and because Shen Lingzhen was a woman, they also kept Jianjia to accompany them.

At this hour, the street market was still brightly lit. From afar, one could hear vendors shouting their wares. The shops lining the street—from food to drink, from tailors to cosmetics stores—were truly more complete than Shen Lingzhen had imagined.

However, it truly couldn’t compare to Bianjing where a single entertainment district housed more than ten performance stages, with the whole street filled with actors’ singing. Here there weren’t so many places for nobles to enjoy and amuse themselves.

But Huo Liuxing had gotten one thing wrong—tonight for Shen Lingzhen wasn’t “going from luxury to frugality,” but rather “going from frugality to luxury.”

Her few previous street outings could be counted on one hand and had been cursory affairs—she was only permitted to browse from inside a carriage, calling the driver to stop when she spotted novel items so maids could purchase them for her. How could they compare to today’s walking the streets and alleys with her own feet on the ground?

As soon as she descended from the carriage, Shen Lingzhen’s eyes fixed intently on a sugar figurine stall by the street. That gaze held even more radiance than when she looked at Huo Liuxing tonight.

Zhao Xun was quite familiar and walked ahead at the front, while Huo Liuxing followed alongside in his wheelchair, chatting with him casually.

Shen Lingzhen rarely forgot her propriety. Only when she heard Jianjia’s reminder did she react and hurry to catch up with the two, though her eyes still gazed longingly at the sugar figurine master diagonally ahead.

Just as they were about to pass that stall and Shen Lingzhen planned to properly observe this craftsman making sugar figurines, the two men ahead showed no intention of stopping. They continued talking and laughing as they headed straight for a blacksmith’s shop.

She opened her mouth wanting to say something to them, drew a breath and released it, then drooped her face and continued following. Jianjia immediately moved to buy her a sugar figurine, but Shen Lingzhen tugged at her sleeve, indicating she mustn’t overstep bounds.

Jianjia sighed, truly feeling sorry for Shen Lingzhen. Hadn’t the young master said he would take the young mistress to browse the night market?

But Shen Lingzhen’s status truly wasn’t sufficient before Zhao Xun. She could only accompany the two men to the blacksmith’s shop and listlessly watch the blacksmith work the bellows, hammering the red-hot iron block stroke by stroke, wondering what there was to see in this hot, smelly place.

After viewing the blacksmith’s shop, this distinguished person enthusiastically went to see the grain shop, saying he wanted to see how Qingzhou’s wheat was growing. Then he went to see a pawnshop, saying he’d test whether the proprietors here knew quality goods.

Shen Lingzhen trailed behind with no interest. After half a street, she felt her legs aching unbearably and her eyelids ready to droop.

Zhao Xun seemed only then to remember she was behind him and stopped to turn back. “Is cousin sister tired from walking?”

“I’m not tired.” Shen Lingzhen blinked away her drowsiness and forced herself to rally her spirits.

“Why should a young lady try to be so capable? If you’re tired, go back to the residence first.”

She waved her hand. “I’m fine. I’ll stay with my husband.”

Huo Liuxing glanced at her, then at the sugar figurine stall half a street away, but didn’t speak.

“You…” Zhao Xun smiled, looked around, and fixed his gaze on a busy teahouse not far away. “Alright then, I’m just thirsty anyway. Let’s go have some tea.”

The group changed course and entered the teahouse.

Though simply decorated, this teahouse did excellent business. At the moment, half the tables and chairs were occupied by people, both men and women. The northwest territories had bold and open customs, not placing such heavy emphasis on segregating men and women.

Because Huo Liuxing’s wheelchair made upstairs inconvenient, the tea server led the group to seats by the south-facing window on the first floor. The south side of the teahouse had a door opening onto a narrow corridor, beyond which lay a river about two zhang wide.

Zhao Xun didn’t insist on a private room, saying the evening breeze by the river at this time of year was most pleasant and refreshing. He had the tea server open the door, then ordered a pot of the local specialty wild thyme tea.

Wild thyme, also called “hundred-mile fragrance,” filled the air with its aroma when the tea arrived. Tea drinkers at the two neighboring tables, smelling it, also clamored for a pot, their voices booming loud enough to startle people.

Shen Lingzhen wasn’t accustomed to such noisy, chaotic settings. She sat restrainedly beside Huo Liuxing, listening to him and Zhao Xun continue their street conversation while watching the tea server bustle about constantly.

Just as she took a sip of tea, she suddenly saw a man at the neighboring table slam his hand down and rise, roaring, “Son of a bitch, do you dare say that again?”

Shen Lingzhen froze, then saw a burly man at another table grab a teacup as if to throw it. “I just called you worthless—what of it?”

People all around cast strange looks. The tea server hurried forward to mediate.

Seeing this scene, both Zhao Xun and Huo Liuxing’s eyes gained depth, as if they had understood something.

Zhao Xun’s expression remained unchanged as he asked, “Cousin brother-in-law, do you think that teacup will hit you or me?”

Huo Liuxing’s eyes lowered slightly as he slowly turned the teacup in his hand, his lips curved in a smile. “I’ve been to this teahouse several times before without incident. I’m afraid you should be careful.”

“I’ll be fine, as long as they don’t accidentally injure cousin sister.”

Shen Lingzhen hadn’t yet realized what was about to happen when she saw tables and chairs at the neighboring table crash to the floor with a clatter, and a teacup suddenly came flying through the air toward them.

She cried out in alarm and was about to cover her head when it was already protected in Huo Liuxing’s embrace.

The teacup shattered on the ground. Simultaneously, burly men all around seemed to receive the “smashing cup as signal” message and drew hidden knives from their sleeves, surging toward them together.

The entire teahouse instantly descended into chaos as common people all around fled with cries of alarm.

Huo Liuxing raised his hand and pulled two thin gold hairpins from Shen Lingzhen’s coiffure, pushing her toward Jianjia.

Before Shen Lingzhen could recover from the daze of thinking “so they were after the hairpins on my head,” combatants from both sides fiercely engaged.

Flashing blades made her dizzy and disoriented. Her heart jumped wildly as she crouched behind Jianjia, yet truly couldn’t rest easy about Huo Liuxing and had to peek out with one eye to watch the battle.

With this one glance, she saw Huo Liuxing flick his hand and the two gold hairpins flew out, piercing through the throats of the two leading “tea drinkers.”

Shen Lingzhen’s whole body trembled, her legs nearly giving way beneath her. His killing method was still as fierce as that time in the mountains.

Seeing his weapons exhausted, she tremblingly pulled two silver hairpins from Jianjia’s hair and said in a panic, “Quick, quick, take them to my husband!”

Jianjia choked, pulled her back to safety, and indicated she shouldn’t worry needlessly. Then they saw Huo Liuxing extract a short knife from the dying “tea drinker’s” hand.

Shen Lingzhen had a sudden realization, thinking she had panicked foolishly. She took deep breaths to calm herself.

Once calm, she discerned something subtle.

The “tea drinkers” in the building had originally mostly attacked Zhao Xun. In such circumstances, Kongqing naturally had to prioritize Zhao Xun’s safety and protect him closely. Thus as the fight continued, more and more people surrounded and pressed Huo Liuxing instead.

Moreover, Shen Lingzhen noticed these several men kept attacking Huo Liuxing’s lower body. This way, if he didn’t move his legs, he truly couldn’t protect himself.

Watching him retreat all the way to the narrow corridor the teahouse had opened on its south side, Shen Lingzhen pushed Jianjia. “Go help my husband.”

Jianjia shook her head, insisting on guarding her. Shen Lingzhen grew anxious and secretly mouthed to her: They wouldn’t dare harm me.

Seeing her gaze so determined, and seeing the situation at the narrow corridor truly dire, Jianjia had no choice but to rush over.

But before she could arrive, a low shout rang out as a burly man viciously chopped his blade toward Huo Liuxing’s wheelchair leg.

With no room to retreat, with a splash, Huo Liuxing was forced to tumble into the river.

Shen Lingzhen startled. In that split second, she understood the reason for everything. She stole a glance at Zhao Xun, then bit her lip, shouted “Husband!” and ran out, jumping into the river after him.