Jian Yi clearly disapproved of the way Feng Qingyin lived her life. He let out a cold snort. “Your father and grandfather are well and good, but what about you? Is this truly the life you wish to live?”

Feng Qingyin remained entirely unbothered, her face still wearing that careful, gentle smile. “What does it matter where I’m concerned? One day is much the same as any other.”

“You—” Jian Yi felt a flicker of irritation. How could she be this selfless? This was nothing short of blind filial devotion!

“Are you telling me that if your father ordered you to marry someone you didn’t love, you’d go along with it willingly?”

“Marriage has always been arranged by matchmakers and decided by one’s parents. Who am I to have a say in whether I’m willing or not?”

The smile at the corners of Feng Qingyin’s lips slowly faded. She spoke with quiet sincerity. “If marrying that person would be good for the Feng Family, for Father and Grandfather, then yes — I would be willing.”

“Then why were you hiding away just now, crying on your own?” Jian Yi let out another cold snort.

The smile on Feng Qingyin’s face finally gave way entirely. She lowered her gaze, her expression tinged with a faint, sorrowful loss.

“It’s nothing. Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister teased me a little — it’s truly nothing worth mentioning.”

“If it were merely teasing, would you have cried like that?” Hadn’t she always been resilient and optimistic?

“Alright, don’t be upset. I’ll go and fetch you something to eat. Let’s end this conversation here, shall we?”

As if she wished to avoid stirring up any more trouble, Feng Qingyin urged him repeatedly to stay put, then turned and slipped out the door.

The moment she stepped outside, every trace of that humble, docile expression vanished in an instant.

She smiled — cold and sharp — and walked toward the kitchen.

Whatever fine things she had found there, as she came out of the kitchen, the commotion in the front courtyard had grown louder and louder, as though a great many people had arrived.

Feng Qingyin had always been a deeply curious soul. She hesitated for only a moment before making her way toward the front courtyard.

She hadn’t yet reached it when she ran into Feng Junzhuo, who was hurrying in that direction himself.

“Father, what’s going on?” The night was dark. There were lanterns lit, but in that light, the fingerprints on her face could not be seen, so Feng Qingyin moved toward him boldly.

She had no wish for Feng Junzhuo to know she had fallen out of the Empress’s favour. If he learned she was no longer favoured, he would surely grow cold toward her.

Her father was precisely that sort of man — calculating and self-serving. Whoever was of use to him became his treasure.

So all that talk about being willing to suffer as long as Father and Grandfather were well — what utter nonsense!

Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him!

Feng Junzhuo was rushing to the front courtyard and had little attention to spare for her at that moment. He said only in haste: “The Imperial Guards are searching for an assassin. That person is said to have wounded His Highness the Crown Prince. Now even Feng Manor is to be searched.”

“How could our Feng Manor possibly be harbouring a fugitive wanted by the court? Surely even the Feng Family deserves a measure of face?”

“It isn’t a question of whether Feng Manor has a fugitive. It’s that nearly every residence in the city is being searched.”

The one who had been wounded was His Highness the Crown Prince. Who in the palace would spare face for anyone? Unless, of course, one held the rank of Ninth Prince.

Anyone else — don’t even think about it!

“Father is going over to take a look. Get back to your room and don’t wander about.”

“Understood.” She watched him leave, then immediately turned and hurried back toward her own courtyard.

The assassin who had gravely wounded His Highness the Crown Prince bore the name Jue Yan — the foremost killer of the Bei Mu nation.

Jian Yi… Hmph. Did he truly think she didn’t know his identity?

Still, this man was not only strikingly handsome, but possessed of exceptional ability. He was, without question, a useful person to have.

For now, she had no wish to hand him over to the palace — and besides, it was a fact that she had been sheltering him. If he were discovered here during the search, she herself would not escape the consequences.

By the time she returned, Jian Yi was channelling his energy to heal his wounds. The medicinal pill Feng Qingyin had given him earlier was nothing exceptional, but it had served its purpose well enough.

Feng Qingyin came back looking visibly tense. “You need to find somewhere to hide, quickly.”

“What’s happened?” Jian Yi opened his eyes and looked at her.

“There are Imperial Guards outside — a great many of them. They say they’re searching for an assassin who wounded His Highness the Crown Prince…”

“You suspect I’m that assassin?” Jian Yi’s palm tightened slightly, a quiet displeasure rising within him.

“What assassin? You?” Feng Qingyin wrinkled her nose at him, pulled a face, and looked entirely unconcerned.

She went to the door and listened for a moment. The sounds from the front of the manor seemed to be drawing closer.

She turned back to look at Jian Yi, her face visibly uneasy. “You’re a grown man in my private chambers. When the Imperial Guards search their way here and find you, my reputation will be ruined for the rest of my life — all because of you.”

“Your only concern is that I’ll ruin your reputation?” Not that she suspected him of being Jue Yan?

Because he was Jue Yan. He had simply never said a word to her about his identity.

If she were to discover who he truly was, he would not kill her — after all, this girl had once saved his life. He had always been a man who repaid his debts. He would never raise a hand against someone who had shown him kindness.

But from that point on, he would most likely never come to find her again.

As it was, mercifully, her only concern was for her own chastity and reputation, not any suspicion about his identity.

The cold edge in Jue Yan’s eyes softened a little. Feng Qingyin was pretending not to watch him, but she could still sense the chill radiating from him.

Had he finally let his guard down around her completely?

She concealed the amusement in her eyes. When she looked at him, her face was still a picture of panic. “What do we do? I haven’t yet been married off. If someone sees a man in my chambers, how will I ever show my face again?”

Jue Yan’s gaze fell on the bundle of food she was still holding. Even in the midst of all this panic, she had still thought to bring him something to eat…

His eyes flickered faintly. All at once, he crossed the room, took the parcel of food from her hands, and turned toward the window.

“Are you leaving? When will you come back?”

She had used the words come back.

A subtle warmth stirred within Jue Yan, quietly spreading.

He turned and looked at her, his expression still frost-cold. “Didn’t you just say you resented me? That you were afraid I’d ruin your reputation?”

“That’s not what I meant — it’s just… it’s just…” Feng Qingyin bit her lip, looking utterly pitiful.

Jue Yan gave her one last cold glance, and then, almost imperceptibly, a faint smile curved the corner of his lips. “I know that’s not what you meant. I will come back to see you.”

He pushed open the window, then couldn’t help but look back at her once more. A glint of cold light flashed through his eyes.

“Those who have wronged you — I will make sure every debt is repaid.”

How, exactly? She hadn’t even told him yet that the one who had wronged her most was Feng Jiu’er.

But Jue Yan was already gone.

Outside the window, not a sound. Not even a shadow. He had left without so much as a whisper — and that, more than anything, spoke to the depths of his lightness skill.

Even wounded, he remained an absolute force!

And wasn’t that precisely the kind of ally she needed right now? Without one, with only the strength she currently possessed, she could accomplish nothing.

With Jue Yan — the foremost assassin of the Bei Mu nation — what was there left to fear?

Feng Jiu’er… Hmph. She would let her off for now. But in time, there would always be an opportunity — to tear her apart, piece by piece.