The next day was the day to remove the bandages from Li Changle’s face. Previously, Jiang Wu had been wrapping her face with gauze, but after removing the gauze, everything would be impossible to hide.

Throughout the entire night, Jiang Wu was so terrified he couldn’t sleep, extremely fearful of the next day’s arrival. In the early morning, half-dreaming and half-awake, he was suddenly roused by someone. The maid’s face was full of panic: “Master Lu, Miss… Miss…”

Jiang Wu had already been plagued by nightmares of Li Changle’s face. He sat up straight like a sleepwalker. Startled by the maid’s call, his head throbbed with pain. He instinctively touched his own face, then breathed a sigh of relief—good, the disguise was still on. For some reason, he was particularly worried about Li Weiyang discovering his identity. He felt somewhat afraid of this young lady, always feeling that if she discovered his identity, he would certainly come to no good end. After hastily washing and dressing, he steeled himself and left the courtyard. Because he was a male guest, it was inconvenient to stay in the inner courtyard, so special guest quarters had been arranged in the east wing. Now he had to pass through numerous courtyards to enter the inner courtyard.

It had rained last night. In the courtyard, a dewdrop slid like a pearl from the lowered green banana leaf and landed crisply on Jiang Wu’s head, shattering into several pieces. He felt even more depressed, wishing he could immediately turn back, but seeing he had already reached the entrance, there was no escaping now.

Li Changle had risen early, sitting formally dressed. The peach blossom jacket she wore was magnificently inlaid with gems, and her jade magnolia long skirt was so dazzling it was hard to look away. Thick gauze still wrapped her face. Nanny Liu stood to one side with a normal expression, but the maids all had ashen faces, keeping their heads lowered.

Recalling the nightmare just now, Jiang Wu felt dizzy. That fear of impending death pierced his chest like an ice blade, cold air rushing upward. When crossing the threshold, he nearly missed his footing and had to support himself against the door to avoid falling.

“All of you, leave.” Li Changle sat upright, enunciating each word. Her voice was extremely pleasant. If she still had her former appearance, Jiang Wu would probably be delighted, but at this moment, he really couldn’t smile. The maids retreated one after another as if granted amnesty. Li Changle’s gaze seemed to penetrate through the veil, making him almost want to follow those people out. He reluctantly sat in the carved-back armchair. The tea on the table had already gone cold. On the table were preserved fruits, melon seeds, lotus cakes, plum bird’s nest pastries—several types of refreshments, but no one was in the mood to touch them. The room was so quiet it was frightening.

Jiang Wu had no choice but to finally approach, saying carefully: “I’ll help you remove the gauze.”

Li Changle couldn’t wait and had already removed the veil: “Quickly!”

Jiang Wu said nothing. Holding scissors, with a snip, he cut open the gauze on the side of her face. The white gauze strips covered with countless bloodstains fell to the ground circle by circle, making rustling sounds. But Jiang Tian didn’t dare look at her face—he just kept his head down, looking at the embroidery on her wide sleeves. Li Changle impatiently stood up and walked to the mirror, but didn’t expect that what she saw was still a face covered with wounds. She shrieked and suddenly lifted the embroidered stool, smashing it toward the bronze mirror. The mirror’s surface was violently dented, frightening Tanxiang until her whole face turned green. She kept saying: “Miss… Miss…”

But Li Changle suddenly turned around and like a madwoman smashed everything in the room. Soon, the beautiful room was devastated by her rampage. Nanny Liu and Tanxiang looked at each other, neither daring to step forward to persuade her. In her fury, Li Changle might very well order them all dragged out and severely beaten. In these two days, three maids in the room had already been inexplicably beaten until their skin split and flesh tore.

After Li Changle finished smashing everything, she suddenly stared at Jiang Wu with a sinister look, not knowing what she was thinking. For a full quarter hour, she didn’t speak. Jiang Wu felt somewhat afraid: “Why… why are you staring at me like that?”

Li Changle said slowly: “I remember, you didn’t look like this as a child. Can you let me see your face?”

Jiang Wu frowned and glanced at Nanny Liu. She also looked bewildered, not knowing why Li Changle suddenly made such a request.

But Li Changle took a step closer and pressed: “I want to see. Remove your mask and show me!”

Jiang Wu felt his scalp tingle from her strange tone and couldn’t help saying: “Fine! But you mustn’t lose your temper again!” He instructed Tanxiang to prepare water and cloth towels. Tanxiang efficiently brought them over. He went into the inner chamber and didn’t emerge for a full half hour. The moment he walked out from behind the curtains, the room suddenly brightened. Jiang Tian’s own features were very handsome, leaning toward charming and passionate. Compared to his fourth brother, he lacked some martial bearing but had more romantic flair. Though he didn’t have phoenix eyes, when he glanced about, he was graceful and beautiful. Any normal person who saw him couldn’t help but be amazed. Tanxiang was the first to freeze in shock. Nanny Liu was also greatly surprised. Though she had long known this was the Jiang family’s Fifth Young Master, he rarely showed his face in the Jiang household, so this was her first time seeing his face so closely. She couldn’t help but be stunned. But turning back, she immediately worried that Li Changle would be even more stimulated—after all, her face was ruined like this. She would find fault with any pretty maid, let alone Jiang Tian’s such outstanding appearance.

But Li Changle stood in place without moving. Nanny Liu grew increasingly nervous. Just then, Li Changle suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Jiang Tian’s sleeve: “Jiang Tian, you have a method, don’t you? Since you can wear a mask, I can too, right?! You’ve seen my former appearance. Do you think I can bear to endure this face?! I can’t! I can’t! This kind of life is worse than death! Jiang Tian, no, Fifth Brother, save me! Save me! I beg you…” She began to cry, burying her face in his chest, her hands tightly clutching his collar, gripping so tightly her body trembled slightly.

Normally, Jiang Tian would be delighted to have a woman throw herself into his arms, but these past days he had witnessed Li Changle’s cruelty firsthand. Her hair had all fallen out, so she forced the courtyard maids to cut their long hair for her, making it into beautiful wigs to wear on her head. Because one maid had beautiful eyes, she quietly found an excuse to gouge out her eyeballs and drive her away, even selling her to a low-class brothel—merely because she herself was disfigured and couldn’t bear to see beautiful maids walking before her. The former Li Changle had disappeared, replaced by a madwoman whose inner darkness had been drawn out.

Li Changle raised her head. Those eyes like two deep pools—he clearly saw his own face reflected in them, with a sort of pure, shimmering ripples. But around those eyes was something terrible, almost like rotting flesh. Just being near brought an intolerable stench. He had already made his greatest effort, but could only preserve her life—he had no way to completely remove the toxin, and her skin was destined never to fully recover…

One of her hands gripped his arm tightly like an iron clamp. He cried out in pain, but she used her other hand to grab his collar: “Fifth Brother, help me, help me! That bitch Li Weiyang—I can’t let her succeed!”

The faint smell of rotting flesh from her body made him almost vomit. He wanted to pull away, but she clutched his collar, tears falling in large drops onto the back of his hand. In that instant his heart softened. He relaxed his hand and gently wiped away the tears on her face, sighed, and said tenderly: “What do you want me to do?”

“That face of yours… you can definitely make one exactly like my original face! No, even more beautiful! I want to be more beautiful! You must have a way, don’t you!”

But Jiang Tian said in a low voice: “Cousin, calm down. I’ve already thought of this method!”

Hope suddenly flooded Li Changle’s eyes. Jiang Tian slowly continued: “This face of mine cost a huge sum, not to mention the most important thing—it has no pores, so it can’t be like a real face. It only clings tightly to the skin. My original face had no problems, so it can be covered over, but your face… if you wear a false mask, you can imagine that the originally scabbed scars will all fall off and rot, and the places that haven’t scabbed will become even more terrible…”

As Jiang Tian spoke, he felt sorrowful: “Moreover, this false mask can only be worn for a few hours each day at most. The rest of the time, if you wear it, it definitely won’t work. Do you hope your own face will completely rot? Even if you can endure that kind of pain and torment, your scars won’t be able to breathe and will only continue to fester. You’ll have to constantly reduce inflammation and take medicine. Someday you’ll die… Do you understand?”

Tanxiang’s eyes widened more and more, becoming extremely frightened. She could imagine that if the eldest miss wore such a thing, what would happen to her own face afterward? This was undoubtedly drinking poison to quench thirst… So she quickly said: “Eldest Miss, you mustn’t! If you put that thing on your face, what will you do when your own face rots? And Young Master Jiang said it could cost your life!”

But Li Changle’s voice grew colder and sharper: “I don’t care! I absolutely refuse to wear this face anymore! Fifth Brother, you help me make it! Make it for me right now!”

Jiang Tian looked at her in shock. He truly couldn’t understand—having finally preserved her life, how could she still walk the path to death? This was truly too terrifying. In his view, beauty was certainly important, but to preserve beauty even at the cost of one’s life—this was something he absolutely couldn’t do! Especially to watch one’s own skin rot while still insisting on wearing that false skin—this was already obsessive and terrifying to the extreme! As a man, of course he couldn’t understand Li Changle’s thinking. For a beautiful woman, she would rather live ten or twenty years less to maintain her beauty and youth.

Jiang Tian shook his head: “No! I cannot do this—it would harm you! Grandmother wouldn’t agree either!”

Li Changle stared at him coldly: “You refuse?”

Jiang Tian shook his head repeatedly. However, Li Changle suddenly released him, walked to the table, and suddenly picked up a shard from a broken vase, pressing it against her own neck: “If I die, you won’t be able to answer to your maternal grandmother! She will never forgive you!”

The granddaughter was flesh of her flesh. The Duke’s wife loved Li Changle most, even far more than her other grandchildren… Jiang Tian of course knew this. He also knew that when the Duke’s wife heard she was disfigured, she fainted on the spot and has been bedridden ever since… If not for this, she would have long since come here to demand accountability. But Li Changle now didn’t think of this at all. She only cared about her own face—she hadn’t even asked once whether the Duke’s wife had recovered her health… This was too chilling. Jiang Tian looked at her, his expression gradually growing somber: “Fine, I agree.”

Since you yourself want to wear the mask, all the consequences must be borne by you. You think it’s just muscle rotting? A face that already relies on medicine to prevent festering now insists on covering it with a layer of dead skin that can’t breathe. One can imagine this rot will gradually spread to the skull, neck, and finally the entire body… Li Changle had truly gone mad, but he didn’t plan to stop her anymore. He had already done everything he could—this was her own choice! Honestly, he had already had enough of this eldest miss who was beautiful on the outside but cruel to the bone. Let her preserve her beauty until death. This false face could last at most a year. When this face began to crack, her life would be about to end…

Jiang Tian entered his medicine room and stayed inside for a full seven hours, not emerging until midnight. Li Changle had never had the patience to wait so long, but this time she waited the entire time until Jiang Tian came out carrying a brocade box. She personally opened it to reveal a false skin as thin as cicada wings.

“In this world, among animal skins, the thinnest is human skin, but the lightest is shark skin. However, it cannot breathe, and after a period of time it will begin to crack. Every night it must be removed and placed in a spice box to preserve it from spoiling… because it’s ultimately not real human skin… You must think clearly.”

Li Changle’s gaze fell on the box, transfixed, unable to look away. She couldn’t hear what Jiang Tian was saying at all. She snatched the box, her pupils blazing with fire, laughing as if possessed: “I can restore my appearance. Li Weiyang, you never expected it—I can restore my appearance, hahaha…”

“I hope so.” Jiang Tian sighed deeply.

Li Changle didn’t hide that face for long. Soon, everyone saw her in the garden.

The sunlight was good, but Old Madam, who was drinking tea, felt completely dizzy in the noon daylight. She began to pant lightly, supporting her forehead with her hand: “What’s happening?!”

Li Changle walked over with a smile on her face. Though her expression was still somewhat unnatural, that face was indeed exactly the same as before, without the slightest damage: “Old Madam, what’s wrong with you?”

Old Madam carefully examined her face, then turned and asked softly: “Weiyang, are my eyes playing tricks on me?”

When Li Weiyang saw Li Changle’s appearance, her first feeling was shock, followed by eeriness. Could a person’s injured face possibly recover to its original state in just one short month? Though she had no doubts about Master Lu’s medical skills, this was too incredible. She believed in miracles, but not divine miracles. Even a single wound required a long time to heal, let alone that day she had clearly seen Li Changle’s face was completely unrecognizable.

Nanny Liu’s face was full of joy: “Old Madam, this is all thanks to Master Lu! His medical skills are truly unmatched in the world. When the miss removed her bandages, her face had already completely recovered!”

Second Madam rubbed her eyes, almost unable to speak. Li Changru beside her was also too shocked to make a sound.

“This… such a miracle truly exists! Master Lu’s medical skills are truly divine!” Though Old Madam was extremely surprised, seeing Li Changle’s face restored, her face still showed happiness. Of course, this happiness lacked some sincerity and carried more disgust. Seeing Tanxiang standing trembling behind Li Changle, she rebuked her: “The eldest miss just recovered. Who told you to help the miss out to walk so far?”

Li Changle interjected: “The weather is so nice, I wanted to come out for a walk. What, Old Madam doesn’t want to see me? Or is Third Sister unhappy to see my face healed?”

“Of course not…” Li Weiyang said slowly: “I’m naturally overjoyed that Elder Sister could recover. It seems we really must heavily reward Master Lu…” She spoke slower and slower, her eyes staring straight at her, finally smiling and saying word by word: “Elder Sister, your face is even more radiant than before. I wonder what miracle medicine Master Lu used?”

Li Changle sneered: “If Third Sister wants to know, you can certainly cut your own face, then have Master Lu treat you. Wouldn’t that work?”

Her face completely couldn’t breathe—it felt damp and clammy. She could even hear the sound of scars splitting, that pain of skin tearing and flesh splitting. She was tasting it bit by bit, but she desperately endured it, because even if she died, she had to show Li Weiyang her face. She wanted to let her know that she, Li Changle, would forever be the world’s foremost beauty!

Old Madam looked at her and frowned: “Changle! What are you saying?”

That Old Madam favored Li Weiyang was already an open secret. Li Changle didn’t continue answering her question, just lowered her head and smiled to herself. Suddenly, she raised her head sharply. Those eyes were filled with suppressed, impossible-to-hide hatred, facing directly toward Li Weiyang’s direction: “Third Sister, Elder Sister was just joking with you. Between us sisters, what can’t be said? Don’t you agree?” Having spoken, she turned her head coldly: “Tanxiang, I can’t walk anymore. Help me back.”

She had suddenly appeared and now wanted to leave immediately—what was this about? Li Weiyang frowned slightly, then saw her suddenly turn back and say to Old Madam: “Old Madam, I can attend the Empress’s banquet, can’t I?”

Old Madam looked at her in surprise and stiffly nodded.

Li Changle nodded, as if she had suddenly appeared just for this banquet. Then, supporting Tanxiang’s hand, she fled as if running. Li Weiyang looked at her retreating figure strangely, then lowered her eyes, falling into thought. Second Madam beside her gripped her handkerchief: “How is this possible! Her face was clearly ruined like that! How could it completely recover! Could Master Lu’s medical skills truly be so miraculous!”

Old Madam pondered for a moment: “Last time with Minzhi’s illness, he also thought of a method. No wonder people call him a divine physician—it’s truly the case! Regenerating flesh and bone—this is truly extraordinary!”

But Li Weiyang didn’t believe it. Because Master Lu had said in front of everyone that her face absolutely couldn’t recover. How could it suddenly be completely healed in the blink of an eye? Moreover, if Li Changle’s face had truly completely recovered, why was she in such a hurry to leave? It was as if staying any longer would make her faint. There must be some unspeakable reason in this. But what reason could allow someone whose face was completely ruined to restore their former beauty? At this moment, Li Weiyang hadn’t thought of the terrible torment Li Changle was enduring beneath this beauty—a torment absolutely more terrifying than wearing an ugly face.

Even after Li Weiyang returned, she remained thoughtful. Even when Baizhi spoke to her, she didn’t hear.

When Li Minde came in, he saw Li Weiyang sitting in a reclining chair, her cool gaze resting on the parasol tree in the courtyard, her expression very strange. Seeing him enter, Baizhi was about to announce him, but Li Minde waved his hand: “Never mind.”

He walked over quietly and said in a low voice: “What’s wrong?”

Li Weiyang came back to herself, looking somewhat dazed at his face… and the large and small packages in his hands. She smiled slightly: “How do you have time to run over here?” Recently she hadn’t seen him at all.

Li Minde’s gaze looked deeply at her, then suddenly said: “Open your hand.”

So Li Weiyang opened her right hand. Li Minde smiled, unwrapped a corner of the oil paper package, then took out a piece of pastry and placed it in her palm: “Fresh from the oven. Eat it.”

“Oh…” Li Weiyang instinctively put the fragrant osmanthus sugar cake into her mouth—sweet and soft, intoxicating.

Li Minde watched her for a while, then instructed Baizhi to bring a lotus bowl. He unwrapped a corner of each oil paper package filled with pastries and poured out some treats. Red date cake, Ruyi pastries, longan cake, auspicious pastries… quickly filling the small bowl with red and green colors, quite beautiful.

“Eat.” He handed the bowl full of pastries to her. On his face that seemed as still as water, he appeared to be constantly smiling.

Li Weiyang was still somewhat dazed, instinctively obediently eating several pieces of pastry. After finishing, she suddenly remembered: “Are you… treating me like a child?”

In the end, she couldn’t be fooled… Li Minde sighed: “Are you troubled about Li Changle’s matter?”

Li Weiyang paused, then nodded.

Li Minde smiled: “Stirred up a hornet’s nest? Worrying about it afterward?”

Li Weiyang couldn’t help saying: “Li Changle? A hornet’s nest? Mm, that’s quite an apt description. But for Minzhi’s sake, if I had to do it again, I would still stir up this hornet’s nest.”

Li Minde’s slender index finger curved, pressed against his lips, laughing uncontrollably. Li Weiyang looked at him strangely.

Just half a year ago, this third sister of his only reached his eyebrows—she now had to look up slightly to see this once-small boy.

Unlike his usual plain dress, today Li Minde wore very luxurious clothes—a silk robe woven with pure gold thread over a moon-white inner garment, making him appear especially radiant. His black hair was bound in a bundle with long ribbons draped over his shoulders. His handsome face was dashing and spirited, a pair of dark eyes clear and bright, filled with enthusiastic light. Below his straight nose were two lips curved in a smile, warm and moistened, red as if coated with a thin layer of rouge. His figure appeared so upright, and on his waist belt hung a gold-handled short sword and jade pendant.

“Why are you dressed like this today?” Li Changle no longer dwelt on how Li Changle had suddenly recovered and instead asked curiously.

Li Minde finished laughing and said seriously: “To accompany you to the banquet.”

“Accompany me to the banquet?” Li Weiyang paused, then looked toward Baizhi. Baizhi held her forehead: “Miss, this servant has already said three times—today is the Empress’s banquet, with many guests invited! If you don’t wash and dress now, you’ll definitely be late today.”

Li Weiyang said “Oh,” then looked at Li Minde teasingly: “Dressed so beautifully, going to see the Ninth Princess?”

These two years, the Ninth Princess had pursued Li Minde even more insistently. If not for the difficulty of leaving the palace, she would probably appear at the Li household constantly. Unfortunately, Li Minde seemed completely uninterested in her, always treating her coldly, not at all adorable. As expected, hearing her mention the Ninth Princess, Li Minde only smiled faintly: “Quickly go change clothes. Any later and you really will be late.”

Li Weiyang obediently stood up. Halfway there she turned back and looked at Li Minde strangely. Baizhi said: “Miss, what’s wrong?”

Li Weiyang shook her head and said oddly: “Before, I was always the one commanding him. Now this brat keeps commanding me around.”

Zhao Yue burst into laughter, but realizing Li Weiyang had glanced at her sidelong, immediately turned her face away.

Palace banquets—Li Weiyang rarely attended. But this time was the Empress’s invitation. Every household had to send someone to attend. Li Weiyang still had to go, but she really didn’t like overly elaborate makeup. She only used a string of green gemstone tassels, intricately woven into her hair. The faint glow appeared and disappeared in her black hair, as if gathering the night’s starlight in her hair. The largest green gemstone, thumb-sized, hung perfectly at her forehead. Because this was a formal occasion, she had to change into the dress Old Madam had specially prepared—gauze as thin as cicada wings layered over silk fabric, with exquisite embroidery hidden beneath the gauze, lively and beautiful as she moved.

The moment Li Minde saw her, his eyes brightened. He smiled in praise: “Who says Li Changle is the world’s foremost beauty? That’s because they haven’t seen you dressed up.”

Li Weiyang glared at him. In this world, probably only he dared mention the word “beauty” in front of her. Having experienced her past, what she hated most in this life was hearing others speak of beauty. Beauty was just a skin—once lost, it was gone. It was what she cared least about and found most tiresome. If she had Li Changle’s beauty, perhaps her past wouldn’t have been so difficult. However, she had to admit that though she knew these were excessive, insincere words of praise, being complimented still felt very good.

“Though it’s already spring, the banquet is in the evening, so the wind will be strong.” Li Minde said gently.

“No, the banquet is indoors—it will only be hot!” Li Weiyang answered casually.

“Baizhi, go back and fetch a cloak for your miss.” Li Minde turned his head.

Li Weiyang frowned: “I said it’s not necessary to trouble yourself.”

“Go ahead.” Li Minde waved his hand. Baizhi actually obeyed and left. But when she turned around, she herself felt strange. Before, she only followed Miss’s orders, but in that instant just now, Third Young Master had a strange commanding presence that made her unconsciously obey his orders.

Not just Baizhi—even Li Weiyang was somewhat surprised. She hesitated slightly, turned to look at him, and said: “When did you start bribing even my maids?”

“This is them knowing how to go with the flow.” Li Minde smiled. Baizhi moved quickly. In moments the cloak was delivered. Zhao Yue was about to help Li Weiyang put it on, but Li Minde raised his hand and took it: “At tonight’s banquet, Li Changle will go. Not just her—the Jiang family people will all go.”

Li Weiyang raised her eyebrows: “Are you afraid?”

Li Minde laughed: “What do you think? If I were afraid, why would I accompany you? They should be the ones afraid.” Having spoken, she saw his handsome face rippling with endless joy. Clearly she should feel happy too, but at this moment her nose stung and her heart ached slightly.

Had this youth also been forced to grow up by her side? If it weren’t for her, perhaps he could have lived in a normal environment as a normal person—studying, practicing martial arts, marrying and having children. At this moment, Li Weiyang had already forgotten Li Minde’s extraordinary identity. She hoped he was just an ordinary person who didn’t have to face these things he shouldn’t have to bear with her. Li Changle, the Jiang family, Tuoba Zhen, Noble Consort Wu… these people actually had nothing to do with Li Minde. But because of her, Li Weiyang, Minde had to constantly be on guard and careful everywhere. Since those people could strike at Minzhi, then over these years, had Minde also borne so much, so much in places she couldn’t see… Yet he had never mentioned it. Looking down, she saw his slender fingers. His skin was extremely pale, but his fingertips had thin calluses—traces of sword use. Li Weiyang felt somewhat heartbroken and guilty. Perhaps she had only cared about herself and never asked what he wanted to do in the future. Yet unknowingly, he had already planned everything—martial arts, studies, he completed them all independently. The things she had promised Third Madam, she hadn’t fulfilled. She didn’t even know his true background, let alone what kind of friends he associated with normally.

Li Weiyang stared at him intently. He smiled, his face containing an intoxicating smile. His fingers deftly helped her fasten the layers of clasps. Li Weiyang watched him and slowly felt something strange. Such a simple action, yet subtle satisfaction showed in his expression. Her heart had originally been clear and bright as a mirror, but now slight ripples appeared. She didn’t know when, but the child before her had grown into a youth. Between them, was the distance too close—so close she could even hear his strong heartbeat?

Unconsciously, she said softly: “Minde, do you have friends?”

He gently raised his head. The night wind swept his face. His hair strands were touched with moonlight, like a quietly flowing night river of stars. Yet his face only smiled: “I don’t need friends.”

That tone was very certain. Li Weiyang couldn’t help but frown.

“Having you is enough.” Li Minde said matter-of-factly.

For some reason, these words that could be understood as two people depending on each other for survival made Li Weiyang instinctively take a slight step backward.

“When going out, wear the hooded cloak. Alright, let’s go.” Li Minde seemed not to notice, only smiled.

Li Weiyang glanced at Baizhi and the others, only to find them all keeping their heads down as if they hadn’t seen anything. She couldn’t help pondering—she didn’t know when, but her maids no longer even announced Li Minde’s arrivals…

Old Madam wasn’t going today. The others had already departed. Li Weiyang came out latest. The newly appointed steward bowed: “County Princess, your carriage has been prepared.”

This was why the others refused to travel with her. Li Weiyang had a luxurious carriage befitting her rank, and this point was exactly what the other Li family members couldn’t bear. She didn’t mind though, only asking: “What about Elder Sister and Mother—have they all departed?”

The steward smiled: “Reporting to County Princess, the eldest miss and madam have already departed. Madam instructed that they will wait for County Princess at the palace gates to enter together.”

The female family members of each household all went together. Even if they didn’t want to wait, they had no choice. Li Weiyang smiled and rose to board the carriage.

“There are forty-eight households entering the palace today. The official road will probably be blocked for an hour or two.” The carriage driver respectfully requested instructions: “Should we take another route and detour?”

Li Weiyang was about to say being blocked was better than taking an unsafe road, but Li Minde said: “We cannot be late. Take the detour.”

So simple and decisive, directly making the decision. Li Weiyang was completely speechless for a moment.

Li Minde saw her staring at him and couldn’t help blinking innocently: “Blame me for interfering?”

Li Weiyang was speechless. What could she say now? Since he had already said to detour, could she have the carriage turn back? Forget it. She waved her hand, propped her chin against the small table, and closed her eyes.

Baizhi, by candlelight, carefully took out her embroidery hoop to continue unfinished work. Zhao Yue kept her head down, earnestly polishing her soft sword in the corner.

Li Weiyang closed her eyes but felt a gentle, warm gaze fall on her face, making her feel very uncomfortable inside.

How could she sleep like this?

“It’s still early before reaching the palace. Rest for half an hour.”

She mumbled a response, but indeed because of excessive fatigue, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Something warm grasped her hand. She instinctively gripped it tightly.

Spring cold was biting, especially at night—the wind was truly strong. She should have known better than to remove the warming basins so early. She thought hazily—having someone close was truly warm. Gradually entering her dream, Li Weiyang smiled bitterly. Dreams and reality began to overlap. Why hadn’t anyone been willing to give her a little warmth before? If when she was imprisoned in the Cold Palace, someone from the Li family had been willing to extend a helping hand—how wonderful that would have been. She didn’t need them to save her life—even just a word of concern would have been the feeling of family. But there was nothing. Now Old Madam seemed to love her very much, but in reality, even she herself no longer believed in this love… So she had come to trust no one. But still, to survive, she pretended to believe. False warmth… She couldn’t help gripping that hand even tighter.

“Miss…” Baizhi opened her mouth to speak. This wasn’t proper, really wasn’t proper, truly too improper. Following Miss these years, she’d seen plenty of how siblings interacted in other families, but never like this. Li Minde was too good to Li Weiyang, excessively so. The light in his eyes—even she, a mere maid, couldn’t ignore it… But how could this be? They were cousins! Even if Third Young Master didn’t have Li family blood, one day when he took the Li surname, his current behavior would be… These two words flashed through Baizhi’s mind at that instant, and her whole body stiffened. Instinctively, she wanted to remind Li Weiyang, but at that moment, Li Minde suddenly turned his head and glanced at her. His eyes changed subtly.

Though just an ordinary glance, Baizhi felt her whole body trembling. Her eyes held a trace of fear.

But Zhao Yue had been earnestly polishing her sword the entire time, as if flowers could bloom from it. She had indeed acknowledged Li Weiyang as her master. During this time, she truly admired her, respected her, even with a hint of worship. But no matter how much she respected Li Weiyang, her real master was Li Minde. So though she clearly saw Li Minde’s overly fervent gaze, she could only pretend not to understand. However, she occasionally wondered—if one day Master and Miss came into conflict, what should she do?

Li Minde only lightly waved his hand toward the candlelight. Baizhi immediately understood and quickly extinguished one lamp, simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief.

The light in the carriage suddenly dimmed.

Li Weiyang didn’t know that Li Minde was looking at her with faint satisfaction. His right hand was tightly clasped in her palm. He had an impulse, a longing to smooth away every scar in her heart…

With a bang, the carriage violently shook.

Li Weiyang’s eyes suddenly opened.

“This road is a bit bumpy.” Li Minde smiled, his eyes glowing brightly. “At the banquet, seeing annoying people, you probably won’t be able to eat much. You also didn’t eat many of those pastries earlier. I brought the rest. Do you want to have some pastries first?”

Li Weiyang’s gaze was somewhat blurred, slowly moving to his extraordinarily handsome face. In terms of appearance alone, she had seen too many handsome men—as heroic and tall as Tuoba Zhen, as cool as the moon like Tuoba Yu. Even that arrogant Fourth Jiang was an outstanding beauty. But compared to Li Minde, all of them were undoubtedly slightly inferior. No wonder the Ninth Princess always said he was more handsome than her brothers. In that instant, Li Weiyang wasn’t thinking about what had happened outside, but rather what kind of family could produce such a richly talented youth.

Before she could fully wake, the carriage jolted again. She fell into his embrace. He instinctively protected her head with both hands. When the carriage stabilized, he helped her sit properly and smiled at her: “Are you alright?”

Li Weiyang frowned. Had something really happened outside?!

Someone was calling outside: “Li Weiyang!”

That was Fourth Jiang’s voice? Li Weiyang’s consciousness had completely cleared. Many people would choose to detour. Meeting Fourth Jiang here probably meant trouble. She instinctively moved to lift the carriage curtain and go out, but accidentally knocked over the pastry dish beside her. Pastries scattered all over the floor. Li Weiyang froze.

Li Minde carefully cupped her hands and wiped away the dirt.

The clamor outside grew louder. She was about to lift the window curtain, but Li Minde suddenly reached out to cover her eyes, saying calmly: “Don’t look. Just a mad dog barking.”

In fact, while Li Weiyang was talking with Minde, Zhao Nan sat on horseback, eyes narrowed, watching a man at the front charge toward them on horseback, as if he hadn’t seen their convoy at all—clearly deliberately looking for trouble! He sneered coldly, leaped on his horse to meet the man. Both sides only heard the crisp sound of metal striking in the air. When they came to their senses, Zhao Nan had actually been knocked down by Jiang Nan, covered in dust.

“Defeated opponent—dare to show off before me! Tell your master to come out!” Jiang Nan said coldly from his high position. In all fairness, Zhao Nan’s martial arts were very high, but in terms of actual battlefield experience, he far surpassed his opponent!

All the Li family guards showed shock on their faces. They had never suffered such humiliation. Seeing Jiang Nan’s entourage so arrogant, anger already burned in their hearts. Plus Zhao Nan was the one with the highest martial arts among them, yet today facing off, he was severely mocked like this. How could they contain their fury? They simultaneously raised their weapons!

“Mighty General! Inside the carriage is the Anping County Princess!” Zhao Nan climbed up from the ground in fury, swept his sleeve to wipe away a bloodstain on his wrist, wolf-like fierce eyes fixed on Jiang Nan.

Jiang Nan laughed loudly: “Tell her to get out here!” Of course he knew she was in the carriage. He was here just to humiliate her.

Infinite anger appeared on Zhao Nan’s face. He laughed coldly. His hands formed a circle. He lightly placed them at his mouth and let out a long whistle. In the black night, a group of black-clothed men appeared out of nowhere. Jiang Nan couldn’t help but frown: “Coward—called for help?”

Zhao Nan sneered: “You’re welcome to try!” Jiang Nan was just relying on a bit of battlefield experience to pressure people. But facing off armies and the current situation were two different things. In one-on-one combat, he might not be a match, but if Master’s hidden guards deployed, Jiang Nan would have to be carried back!

Fourth Jiang had brought many people. Inside the carriage, Li Weiyang heard chaotic horse hooves and couldn’t help thinking that Fourth Jiang had a group of excellent guards who had fought with him on the battlefield for years, their hands stained with blood. If he was determined to cause trouble today, he naturally wouldn’t leave easily. Could the Li family guards withstand them?

“My people are outside. Don’t worry.” Li Minde smiled lightly, not taking those people seriously at all.

“You don’t understand. They’re not ordinary guards. If Fourth Jiang insists on seeing me, I’ll go out! Would he dare kill me?!” Li Weiyang said coldly. She had thought the Jiang family would make trouble at today’s banquet, but now what was Fourth Jiang trying to do!

But Li Minde pressed down her hand: “He’s not worthy.”

Li Weiyang was stunned for a moment. The flickering light and shadow from outside penetrated the curtain, illuminating a trace of coldness on Li Minde’s face. His voice carried unprecedented mockery: “We should let him know that what walks sideways is a crab, and crabs will one day be at the mercy of others.”