Without a moment’s hesitation, Yan Qing said, “Zheng Yun.”

Ling Ai tried hard not to look too startled. She wasn’t sure whether Yan Qing was bluffing her again.

Yan Qing peeled a grape, smiling over at her. “The person you’ve been spending the most time with lately is Zheng Yun. I honestly couldn’t think of anyone else.”

Even with how freely she and Ling Ai usually joked around together, when it came to Zheng Yun, Ling Ai couldn’t help but blush.

Seeing her coy, half-shy expression, Yan Qing felt even more certain of her guess.

She had noticed from the start that Ling Ai and Zheng Yun suited each other very well, and she had also sensed that Ling Ai had feelings for him. She was genuinely delighted to see things working out between them.

What surprised her, though, was that Zheng Yun — who seemed even colder at first glance than Shi Ting — had managed to capture a beauty’s heart in such a short time. Then again, the people of the Military Police Division were all full of hidden depths. They truly couldn’t be underestimated.

“Did Captain Zheng confess to you?”

“Mm.” Ling Ai gave a shy nod.

“How long ago?”

“Fifteen days and ten hours.” Ling Ai ticked it off on her fingers.

Yan Qing laughed. “You remember it down to the hour?”

“Yan Qing, what do you think of Captain Zheng?”

“One in a million.” Yan Qing had nothing but praise for Zheng Yun. “He may favor a cold expression, but his temperament is excellent — quick-minded, meticulous, warm toward others… Honestly, his good qualities are too many to count. I could run out of fingers.”

“I feel exactly the same.” Ling Ai grinned. “I really do have excellent taste.”

Yan Qing burst out laughing. “Who praises themselves like that?”

“What can I say? My taste really is exceptional.” Ling Ai was completely unapologetic.

“Miss Ling Ai has the very best taste of all,” Jing Zhi said with a smile, walking over to join them. “Even our Miss can’t compare.”

“See? Even Jing Zhi says so.”

Yan Qing shook her head helplessly. Women in love truly were beyond reason.

Jing Zhi stepped forward, presenting an invitation card. “Miss, this was delivered from the Qian Family. Old Madam Qian is celebrating her sixtieth birthday and has invited you and Second Concubine-Mother to attend as guests.”

“The Qian Family? Which Qian Family?” Ling Ai frowned. Just hearing the name Qian made her think of Qian Wei.

“How many Qian families are there in Shun Cheng? It’s naturally the Qian Yongfu household.” Yan Qing accepted the invitation card. “The Qian family is Shun Cheng’s foremost merchant family. The General Commander was once indebted to them, and to this day still holds them in high esteem.”

“Do they have an only son?”

“Qian Yongfu had a son late in life. Yes, he has one son — the very Qian Wei in your class.”

Ling Ai: “…”

So it really was Qian Wei’s family. What a small world.

“What’s the matter? You look like you’re grinding your teeth at the mention of Qian Wei.” As only a specially appointed instructor with three classes a week — coming and going after each session — Yan Qing wasn’t particularly well-informed about class matters, let alone aware of Qian Wei having pursued Ling Ai.

“That Qian Wei blocked me at the school gate, pulled out a diamond necklace, and declared his feelings for me. When I refused, he taunted me and had people block my way so I couldn’t leave.”

Yan Qing frowned. “So something like that actually happened.”

“Zheng Yun stepped in afterward, taught those men a lesson, and gave Qian Wei a good beating too.” Ling Ai gave a cold snort. “That Qian Wei was at least smart enough to know not to provoke someone he couldn’t handle — and worried I might go crying to my father — so he hasn’t dared bother me since.”

“He’s just someone who relies on his family’s money.” Yan Qing gave a quiet sigh. “The moment he runs into someone with real power and authority, he wilts.”

“I don’t want to bother with Qian Wei anymore.” Ling Ai took the invitation card from Yan Qing’s hand. “Is this kind of banquet fun? I want to go along and see the excitement.”

“The men drink, the women chat, and if there’s a theater troupe, they perform opera. If you want to go, I can just bring you along.”

“Should I dress up as your little maidservant?”

“With Miss Ling Ai making a personal appearance, the Qian family would probably put you on a pedestal. If you want to play my maidservant, you’d have to ask whether the Qian family would agree first.”

“I don’t want all that fanfare. I’ll be your little maidservant.” Ling Ai propped her chin in her hand, smiling contentedly. “Zheng Yun is away on a mission lately and I’ve been at loose ends.”

“So without Zheng Yun around, you have nothing to do?”

“It’s not exactly that, but no matter what I do, I just can’t get interested. He still hasn’t finished teaching me that self-defense routine either.”

Thinking of Zheng Yun, a bright, radiant smile spread across Ling Ai’s face without her even realizing it — the kind of smile that only belongs to a girl in love. The kind that makes others envious, even jealous, and yet fills them with longing all the same.

“By the way,” Ling Ai asked with boundless curiosity, “aren’t you the one managing the Shi family’s inner household?”

“It’s my mother.”

“Lady Shi has been cast out for so long, and the mistress’s seat at the General Commander’s Mansion has sat empty all this time. Does your mother have any chance of filling that role?”

“My mother may be virtuous and dignified, but her birth is of low standing — that seat is simply not within reach for her.”

“What about Third Concubine-Mother?”

“Impossible as well.”

“Does that mean the General Commander intends to remarry?”

“The General Commander will certainly take a new wife — and she would need to be a match of equal standing.”

Ling Ai pursed her lips. “The General Commander is already a grandfather. I wonder what kind of wife he’ll end up with.”

“There must be countless prominent families in Shun Cheng eager to marry their daughters into the household — even if the General Commander is older than the girls’ own fathers.” Yan Qing smiled lightly. “Marrying in would make her the General Commander’s wife — that’s rising to the top in one step. Who wouldn’t envy that?”

“Back in the day, one Lady Shi was enough to throw the Shi family’s inner court into chaos. If the General Commander ends up with a wife who isn’t of good character, I worry you’ll be made to suffer.”

Jing Zhi smiled from the side. “Miss Ling Ai, rest assured. It would be enough if our Miss didn’t go around making others suffer.”

Yan Qing gave her a helpless look. “Is that any way to speak about your own mistress?”

Jing Zhi covered her mouth, laughing.

“Jing Zhi is right — I’ve never once seen anyone manage to bully you.” Ling Ai blinked her big eyes. “Yan Qing, who in the world could possibly bully you?”

“You’re hoping someone will bully me, aren’t you?” Yan Qing popped a peeled grape into Ling Ai’s mouth.

Ling Ai munched away happily on her grape. “Then I’ll come find you first thing tomorrow morning, and you can take me along to the Qian family gathering.”

“You’re not afraid that Qian Wei will make trouble for you?”

“That depends on whether he dares.” Ling Ai tilted her chin. “Has this young miss ever been afraid of anyone?”

“Not afraid of Zheng Yun?”

At the mention of Zheng Yun, Ling Ai wilted a little, but still refused to yield. “He just fights better than me. It’s not like he’d hit a girl.” She then turned it around: “Are you afraid of Shi Ting?”

“She isn’t afraid of me — I’m afraid of her.” A rich, melodious voice cut in, and both women froze.

Shi Ting had moved without a sound. Neither of them had noticed when he’d drawn near.

Ling Ai’s face went hot with embarrassment. She hadn’t expected to be overheard in the middle of this topic by the very person being discussed. She immediately stuck out her tongue and grimaced.

“Since Director Shi is back, I won’t keep you company any longer.” Ling Ai quickly rose to her feet, ready to make her escape.

She wasn’t exactly afraid of Shi Ting, but the man exuded an oppressive presence far too overpowering. With him in the room, she found it absolutely impossible to relax and chat freely.

“Don’t sleep in tomorrow — come early. Arriving late to this kind of banquet is embarrassing.” Yan Qing called out thoughtfully after her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be up before your gate guards.” Ling Ai said her farewells to Shi Ting, and Jing Zhi walked her to the door.

“The Qian family’s invitation?” Shi Ting sat down beside Yan Qing, one arm drawing her waist close while the other hand picked up the card.

“Old Madam Qian’s sixtieth birthday celebration. Mother and I were both invited.”

Luo Huaimeng currently oversaw the Shi family’s inner household. Though she was not the official wife, she held some degree of authority over both small and large household matters. When the Qian family extended invitations, it was natural to invite her first.

“The General Commander was invited as well.” A faint glimmer crossed Shi Ting’s eyes. “The Qian family once provided financial support to the General Commander — he has always treated them with a degree of particular favor. And now that the Qian family is undeniably the wealthiest power in the region, the General Commander won’t let such a valuable ally slip from his grasp.”

“Are there any unmarried young women in the Qian family?” Yan Qing had a vague feeling that tomorrow’s birthday banquet would not be as simple as it seemed.

“I already had someone look into it. Qian Yongfu is not a man given to indulgence. Aside from his official wife, he has taken no concubines. His wife had always been in poor health and never became pregnant, but just as the Qian family was pressuring Qian Yongfu to take in several concubines, his wife unexpectedly conceived in her later years and gave birth to their son, Qian Wei.”

“No daughters?”

Shi Ting shook his head. “Not currently. But who knows what tomorrow may bring?” His words carried a weight of meaning.

“Will you be attending tomorrow then?”

“I won’t be going. The Military Police Division still has matters to attend to. You and Mother will just have to read the situation and respond accordingly.” As he spoke, he took her hand in his. “I’ve been spending less and less time with you lately.”

Yan Qing smiled. “Am I the petty sort who would hold that against you?”

“But I feel guilty nonetheless.”

“Well then, since Director Shi feels so guilty, perhaps he ought to think about how to make it up to me.”

Shi Ting’s gaze deepened, and he looked over with a smile. “I really should make it up to you properly.”

Yan Qing knew his every look and gesture well enough — she could read his intentions from a single glance. Just now, the man beside her was radiating a particular kind of warmth that set off all her internal alarms.

“Hey — Shi Xingzhi, that’s not what I meant at all.”

“I think it’s exactly what you meant.”

“I really didn’t mean—ah, what are you doing?” Yan Qing’s protest was cut short as he swept her off her feet.

“I’m going to make it up to you.” He carried her in his arms and strode toward the inner rooms with a long, purposeful step. “Otherwise my conscience won’t rest easy.”

Yan Qing knew perfectly well what he intended, yet she was powerless to stop it. All she could do was hold on tightly to his neck, as though afraid she might fall.

Director Shi’s idea of making things up to her proved to be as intense as a storm, and Yan Qing nearly missed the banquet the following morning.

—