Having left the tent, Yanu appeared to walk aimlessly behind Yu Jingfeng.

Now that his true appearance had been restored, everyone realized just how strikingly beautiful this young man truly was.

Tall in stature, powerfully built, with fair and translucent skin and flawless features — he was dressed in the plain clothes of a commoner, yet carried himself with the unmistakable bearing of an imperial prince.

Yu Jingfeng led Yanu to another tent and lifted the flap.

“Her Majesty the Empress has invited you here. Please — come in.” Yu Jingfeng turned his head, looked at Yanu, and gestured inside.

Yanu fixed his eyes on the interior for a moment, then continued forward without a trace of fear.

Inside the tent, besides Zhan Liyue, there were also Ye Luosha, Elder Shi, Emperor Ji, and Leng Yue.

Four people. Five low tables. Each table was set with a meal.

Yanu stepped inside, his gaze settling on Zhan Liyue at the center.

“Wuyou, come here.” Zhan Liyue looked at Yanu and gave a light nod.

Yanu fixed his eyes on her and furrowed his brow.

Wuyou was the name Jiu’er had given him. He did not understand why this woman knew it.

“Wuyou is the name Her Majesty the Empress gave you. Please — come in.” Yu Jingfeng stepped inside and gestured once more.

The sole reason Zhan Liyue had chosen Yu Jingfeng to summon him was that Yu Jingfeng and her Wuyou had known each other in the past.

She did not wish to put Di Wuyou under any pressure, and she had no intention of revealing to him all at once the truth that he was her Third Imperial Prince. She simply wanted to let them grow closer gradually, and then speak.

Di Wuyou kept his eyes fixed on Zhan Liyue and still did not move forward.

“The Empress says you look very much like someone she once knew,” said Ye Luosha, looking at Di Wuyou — not cold, but not warm either. “There is a possibility you are the son of the Empress’s old acquaintance. She is therefore overlooking the fact that you tried to kill her. Should you not be grateful?”

The moment Ye Luosha finished speaking, Di Wuyou — still gazing at Zhan Liyue — curved his lips into a faint smile.

No one could tell what that contemptuous smile meant, but at the very least, after that slight smile, Di Wuyou walked over and took a seat at the low table that had been left vacant beside Zhan Liyue.

He picked up the water on the table and drank a mouthful.

Zhan Liyue looked at the face beside her — a face that grew more familiar the longer she studied it — and a rare tenderness came over her expression. “Let us all begin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Everyone except Di Wuyou responded in unison.

Di Wuyou picked up his chopsticks and ate on his own, not looking at anyone.

Yu Jingfeng withdrew from the tent. Those sharing the meal all stole glances at him from time to time.

For the time being, only the people present — along with Di Wuya, Di Feimu, and Yu Jingfeng — knew Di Wuyou’s identity.

Di Wuyou ate in silence, as though there was no one else around him.

After roughly a quarter of an hour, Zhan Liyue picked up the cloth beside her and wiped her hands.

She set it down and looked at the person beside her, asking softly, “Wuyou… do you still have family?”

Di Wuyou turned his head and glanced at her, and once again offered only a faint smile.

Zhan Liyue could not read Di Wuyou’s smile — she could see it was not a friendly one, yet she was still glad he was willing to look at her.

“It is of no matter. If you don’t mind, you may stay here from now on — treat this place as your home.”

Di Wuyou’s gaze swept briefly over Zhan Liyue, then he withdrew it and continued eating.

He said nothing at all, and no one knew what he was truly thinking.

Yet everyone present could see clearly that his hostility toward Zhan Liyue was unmistakable — indeed, every time he looked her way, his eyes were tinged with killing intent.

“Wuyou — you must not be rude! It is your great fortune that Her Majesty the Empress regards you as family. Do you understand?” Ye Luosha said in a grave tone.

“Let the things of the past drift away with the wind. From now on, you are Wuyou, and you can live a good life.”

Ye Luosha’s admonishment fell like a stone into the sea, without stirring so much as a ripple.

Di Wuyou continued eating and did not spare Ye Luosha even a single glance.

Zhan Liyue gave a faint smile and withdrew her gaze from Di Wuyou, picking up her teacup and taking a small sip.

“About Jiu’er — I am sorry. Everything I did was for the sake of the Di imperial dynasty. In time, you will understand.”

Suddenly, Di Wuyou set down his chopsticks — with slightly too much force.

“I am going back.” He stood and headed toward the exit.

“You—” Ye Luosha glared at Di Wuyou and rose to her feet.

“Jingfeng, see Wuyou back.” Zhan Liyue glanced toward the outside and said softly.

“Yes.” Yu Jingfeng’s voice came from beyond the tent.

Di Wuyou swept the flap aside and vanished from the tent.

Only after the sound of footsteps outside had faded into the distance did Ye Luosha turn to look at Zhan Liyue, her brow furrowed.

“Your Majesty, if you don’t tell him his true identity, he will still find every means to kill you. I cannot bear the thought of such a thing ever coming to pass.”

“Moreover, no matter how I look at it, I feel certain that this is all part of Feng Jiu’er’s scheme — and that this person is not Wuyou.”

“He is Wuyou.” Zhan Liyue’s voice dropped, becoming markedly more somber.

“Don’t speak of these matters to him for now. He was barely two months old when it all happened — even if I told him now, he would likely not believe me.”

“Wuyou has suffered too much in these years. I only hope that the days ahead can bring him some happiness.”

It was rare for Zhan Liyue to be so moved by her feelings like this. Even toward Di Wuya and Di Feimu, she had always been cold — yet toward this Di Wuyou who had appeared so suddenly, she seemed like an entirely different person.

Ye Luosha’s concern was not without reason.

Emperor Ji let out a quiet sigh and said softly, “To identify him as Wuyou on the basis of nothing more than a birthmark — that is far too hasty.”

“He is Wuyou.” Zhan Liyue said once more, with the same certainty.

“He will come to accept it in time. Give him a few days. He has come back, and I can afford to wait.”

“Your Majesty, if he raises his hand against you again…” Ye Luosha’s brow creased with worry.

“He is no match for me.” Zhan Liyue glanced in the direction Di Wuyou had departed, and the corner of her mouth curved slightly upward. “Yesterday, I also held back.”

“I have never shown mercy to an enemy — yet to think that I held back a move. Perhaps everything truly is fated.”

“Just as with last night’s affair — I had been worried that Wuya would act on impulse and leave in anger. I never expected him to take Yi City in a single night.”

“The restoration of our Di family is within sight!”

Speaking of the previous night’s events, Ye Luosha’s expression cleared of its shadows, and her face finally eased.

“Wuya is truly a rare talent. Even I hadn’t anticipated that taking Yi City would require only a single night.”

Zhan Liyue turned to glance at Ye Luosha and asked softly, “How is Mu’er?”

“He is now with Wuya.” Ye Luosha shook her head slightly. “These two brothers — I fear they will not forgive us so easily.”

“It is of no matter.” Zhan Liyue picked up her teacup and looked at the tea froth drifting on the surface. “As long as the Di imperial order can be restored, if they wish to resent us, let them resent us.”

“They will come to understand in time — there is no need for excessive worry.” Emperor Ji set down his cup. “What concerns me most right now is still Feng Jiu’er.”

“I hear that she left Black Gorge more than a month ago. It is possible she has already reached the imperial city.”

“We have made numerous attempts on her life. She will not let it rest so easily.”