Nagase said, “In my eyes, you are still the little girl who used to trail behind me begging for sweets. And so I overlooked the fact that you had already grown into a young woman — a clever young woman. That morning, after you saw me with Shi Guang, you ran back home and pretended you had just woken up. You truly managed to fool me.”

Ling’ai said, “You made an agreement with Shi Guang behind my father’s back. You came to Xin Guo pretending to take shelter with Father, but you have always had your own agenda.”

Nagase looked at her quietly without speaking.

“You are a descendant of the illustrious Nagase clan. You hold in your hands the secret arts of the Nagase family, and you used those arts to ingratiate yourself with Prince Wenren, intending to use his power to revive your clan.” Ling’ai fixed her gaze on Nagase’s eyes. “Your Nagase clan once fell afoul of the imperial family and was nearly annihilated. For over twenty years you could find no way to regain your standing, and what you wish to do is make the Nagase clan rise again. My father is nothing more than your stepping stone — you have never held a shred of true loyalty toward him. Or rather, it was also you who proposed to Prince Wenren that I be married to Shi Guang.”

Nagase gave a soft sigh, as though somewhat resigned yet somewhat relieved. “Ling’ai, you have truly grown up. I can no longer look down on you.”

He reached out his hand, intending to lightly touch Ling’ai’s face. Ling’ai turned her head aside and evaded him.

Nagase’s hand hung suspended in midair. He said in a cold and acrid tone, “Ling’ai, I once gave you the chance — but why did you go and fall for that Zheng Shuzhi? With such a fine person standing right before you, why would you not take even a second look? Compared to that Zheng Shuzhi, what do I lack?”

“Don’t compare yourself to Zheng Yun. You are not fit to hold a candle to even his little toe.”

“Am I truly so contemptible in your eyes?”

Ling’ai laughed coldly. “Nagase, you know full well what you have done. You speak endlessly of liking me, yet when you were betraying me and my father, you did not even blink. If that is what you call ‘liking someone,’ then we must all redefine what those two words mean.”

“I like you — but have you ever liked me? Your eyes have held only that Zheng Shuzhi.”

“And so? Because I like Zheng Yun and not you, that can become your justification for hurting others? What right do you have to demand that I must like you? What right do you have to decide other people’s preferences?”

Nagase said heatedly, “Right now I do have that right, and going to the Young Marshal to plead your case would be useless.”

Ling’ai looked at him coldly.

“Ling’ai, Uncle Huicun has already set out for Qian Guan Cheng. Only I know where he is — and what he has gone to do, I think you understand full well. Once he meets His Highness, it will be certain death. He is trading his life so that you and a man can be together for a hundred years. What a filial daughter you are.”

“I may not be a good daughter — but I am not nearly as adept at playing the loyal dog as you are.”

Before Nagase could fly into a rage, Ling’ai spoke. “Nagase, the only way to save Shi Guang is for me to marry him. You would do best not to provoke me right now — otherwise, I am willing to disembowel myself and die alongside my father.”

Nagase’s eyes narrowed, his throat moving up and down.

“I can agree to marry Shi Guang — but you must bring my father back safely and without harm. Only once he is safe will I marry. Otherwise, we all go down together.”

Seeing her expression utterly resolute, Nagase had not the slightest doubt that she would carry through on these words. Her character was in fact very much like Huicun’s — both of them were capable of sacrificing themselves entirely and without a second thought for someone important to them.

“Ling’ai.” Nagase’s tone gradually softened. “Shi Guang will certainly become the master of Bei Di in the future. If you marry him, you will have a bright future and limitless wealth and honor. I am not harming you — I want to ensure you have a carefree life in your latter years.”

Ling’ai laughed coldly. “Keep your good intentions for yourself — I have no need of them.”

“Ling’ai, I truly do not wish to harm you. I could never harm you…”

“Bring my father back, and I will marry Shi Guang. Everything else need not be said.” Ling’ai finished speaking and turned away without hesitation.

In facing Nagase, she had bitten down and suppressed the impulse to slap him across the face. But the moment she turned her back, tears fell in large drops, like pearls cascading down.

“I will marry Shi Guang” — these words had been so easy to say, only four brief words. But in that instant, a thousand blades had been slicing back and forth across her heart.

She thought of Zheng Yun, of his resolute smile when he said he would marry her. The tears would no longer be restrained and streamed down in an endless flow.

~

Zheng Yun came out of the Military Police Bureau and from a distance spotted a girl sitting on the side of the road.

Midwinter, with the weather bitterly cold — and she was sitting there without having dressed warmly enough, like a solitary little bird that had been abandoned, pitifully forlorn.

Zheng Yun strode across the road and came to stand before her, his tone both surprised and tinged with gentle reproach. “Why not wait inside?”

Ling’ai raised her head. Seeing a familiar face, hearing a familiar voice — before he could react, she had already buried herself in his arms, both hands tightly clasped around his waist.

At this moment, several people were coming out of the Military Police Bureau. Seeing their Director standing on the roadside embracing a young woman, they could not help but share a snicker.

Zheng Yun was briefly taken aback, then wrapped his arms around her in return. “Ling’ai, what’s wrong?”

Ordinarily she would never have been this bold — she knew that at this hour, there would certainly be people coming and going from the Military Police Bureau.

And besides, it was dusk, with many people still on the street. Not a few eyes had already fallen upon them.

In this era, which was not so open-minded, such behavior could be called “shameless conduct.”

“Nothing. I just missed you.” Ling’ai nuzzled against his chest a few times. “What are you eating tonight?”

“Haven’t decided yet. Is there something you’d like to eat?”

“I want to eat your cooking.”

Zheng Yun smiled and stroked her hair. “All right — let’s go buy the ingredients now.”

He took off his own coat and draped it over her shoulders. “Why didn’t you dress more warmly when you came out? This season is the easiest time to fall ill.”

Ling’ai sniffled, her nose red, and shook her head. “I’m not cold. The sight of you warms me.”

She handed the coat back to him. “I really am not cold — put it back on quickly. You’ve only got a single layer underneath.”

Afraid that Zheng Yun would not accept it, she quickly turned back her sleeve. “Look — this coat has wool lining inside. It’s especially warm. I really am not cold.”

Zheng Yun unwound his scarf and wrapped it around her neck. “Then at least wear the scarf.”

The scarf was soft and had his scent on it. Pressed against her neck, it was filled with a sense of safety and warmth.

Ling’ai allowed him to wrap the scarf around her neck, round and round, before she finally smiled. “Then let’s go buy ingredients quickly.”

“Do you know where to buy ingredients?”

“Isn’t it the market?”

“Not bad — you actually know that buying ingredients means going to the market.” Zheng Yun teased. “Progress.”

Ling’ai hummed. “I still have some basic knowledge of everyday life. Do you really take me for a pampered young miss who has never lifted a finger?”

“Aren’t you?” Zheng Yun laughed. “Let’s go.”

Not far from the Military Police Bureau was an open-air market, its stalls sheltered by simple grass-thatched awnings that were open on all four sides. Sitting here for a full day in winter was a kind of torment.

The people inside the awnings were all dressed so thickly they looked like round, plump balls, as though they wished to armor themselves completely.

At this time of year there were no fresh greens to sell. What the market offered were vegetables that kept easily: sweet potatoes, radishes, cabbages, and potatoes.

Zheng Yun bought one cabbage, one radish, and then went to the meat stall and bought half a kilogram of pork.

“You’re carrying so much — let me help.” Ling’ai reached out to take the bag from his hand.

“Take this.” What Zheng Yun pressed into Ling’ai’s hand was a few apples. “These aren’t as heavy.”

Ling’ai obediently carried the apples and followed happily beside Zheng Yun.

“Captain Zheng.” A woman selling vegetables spotted Zheng Yun and quickly waved to him.

Zheng Yun walked over and said politely, “Sister Liu.”

Sister Liu looked at him, then looked at Ling’ai beside him, with the air of someone who understands everything. “Captain Zheng, when did you get married? None of us even heard about it.”

For once, Zheng Yun let slip a trace of shyness. “This is my fiancée Ling’ai — we haven’t formally married yet.”

At hearing the word “fiancée,” Ling’ai’s heart was a tangle of emotions.

“Oh, so she’s your fiancée! What a pretty young lady — one look at her makes you like her.” Sister Liu smiled warmly at Ling’ai. “Miss, you’ve found the right man in Captain Zheng — he’s a truly good person. Years ago, our market here was being taken over by thugs, and they beat my son and left him injured. It was Captain Zheng who punished those scoundrels so they never dared come and cause trouble again. He even paid my son’s medical bills himself.”

Ling’ai smiled and looked over at Zheng Yun. This man, though he always wore a cool expression, truly had a wonderful way with people. Everyone who had ever had a case handled by him — their families remembered him fondly, sending food and drink, and there had even been those who tried to “send” their daughters to him.

Sister Liu, as she spoke, picked up a few tangerines from her stall and pushed them into Ling’ai’s hands. “Miss, take these — they just came in today, so sweet.”

“Sister Liu, we can’t accept these.” Ling’ai said quickly. “Zheng Yun, pay her.”

Zheng Yun took out his wallet, only to have Sister Liu press it back with a firm hand, a stern look on her face. “Am I not allowed to give your fiancée a few tangerines? If you’re going to be this formal about it, don’t call me Sister anymore.”

Zheng Yun had no choice. “Thank you, Sister Liu.”

Ling’ai also thanked Sister Liu.

After leaving that stall, Ling’ai smiled at Zheng Yun, and Zheng Yun, somewhat unsettled by her gaze, raised a hand to block it. “Why do you keep staring at me — it’s not as though my face has grown tangerines.”

“Sister Liu said I have a good eye. I’m looking to see whether my eye really is that good.”

Zheng Yun smiled. “Naturally it is — Sister Liu never tells lies.”

Ling’ai pinched his cheek. “You really are shameless.”

“People are watching.” Zheng Yun raised an eyebrow.

Only then did Ling’ai notice that the people all around were looking at her with peculiar expressions. She hastily lowered her head, face flushed, and made her escape.