Li Buyan’s mother was called Li You. She was the first inner demon Yan Sanhe had resolved. Before Li You died, the last thing she saw was a vast, deep night sky.

It took her a whole year to find the root of this inner demon.

It turned out that at the end of the night sky was another world—

In that world, women could enter schools and study just like men. After studying, they could go out and earn money.

In that world, men could only have one legitimate wife. Women could choose to marry or not marry. If they married, they could choose to divorce, and after divorce, they could remarry…

Until her death, Li You had always wanted to return to that world.

“Sanhe, don’t be afraid.”

Li Buyan murmured, “You’re so clever. There’s no inner demon in this world you can’t resolve.”

“But I can’t solve the mystery about myself.”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes were rarely confused.

“Who am I? Where did I come from? What kind of people were my parents? Why do I have no memories from before? Why is my body temperature lower than others? Why am I not afraid of cold at all…”

“Stop!”

Li Buyan laughed lightly. “Listen, Yan Sanhe, weakness doesn’t suit your character. My mother said doing things that don’t suit one’s character easily makes one abnormal.”

“What does abnormal mean?”

“It means not normal—going crazy.”

“I only make others go crazy.”

“That’s right, my young mistress.”

Li Buyan tucked the blanket around her. “Sleep. In three hours, we’ll be traveling day and night again.”

Yan Sanhe tightened her hold on the arm in her embrace.

In the human world during the third month, warm breezes blow, swallows return home, trees bloom everywhere—she didn’t find any of it particularly good.

But beside Li Buyan…

Everything was wonderful!

…

Before three hours had passed, the sky was already showing faint light.

There was movement on the stairs.

Xie Zhifei, who had been dozing with his head on the table, lifted his head, his heart in momentary disarray.

On the stairs, Yan Sanhe and her servant descended one after another. Both had their hair tied high and were dressed as men, each carrying a bundle on their back.

The scab on Yan Sanhe’s forehead had fallen off, leaving a very faint scar that was still somewhat pink. Her face carried a trace of drowsiness that she’d never shown before, having just woken up.

He had to admit—this girl was truly beautiful.

Xie Zhifei coughed to cover his reaction. “Eat breakfast before departing.”

“Good!”

Yan Sanhe sat down, placed her bundle on the chair, then lowered her head and covered her mouth to yawn.

When she looked up again, her eyes held a bit of moisture from the yawn. The tears concealed her usual coldness, leaving only softness.

Xie Zhifei took quite a while to steady his breathing. “That, uh…”

Starting with those words, Xie Zhifei inwardly raged at himself.

Starting to speak before thinking it through with “that, uh”… Have you never seen a beautiful woman before, or what?

“What do you want to say?” Yan Sanhe frowned.

Speaking so hesitantly first thing in the morning—didn’t he wake up properly?

“It’s like this—Zhu Qing and Huang Qi left early. Mama Chen has also departed. The four of us have one horse and one carriage. Who will ride the horse, and who will drive the carriage?”

Xie Sanye put on a troubled expression. “This needs proper discussion.”

Yan Sanhe used her eyes to inquire of Li Buyan.

Li Buyan, resting her chin on her hand, said, “I won’t drive the carriage—too tiring. Pei Daren’s bottom isn’t good, so he can’t ride horseback. So I’ll ride the horse.”

Hearing Li Buyan say this, Xie Zhifei wasn’t too surprised. “Then fine, I’ll drive the carriage.”

Yan Sanhe: “You can?”

Xie Zhifei glanced at Yan Sanhe but didn’t speak.

That glance meant: Young lady, who are you looking down on?

Yan Sanhe had slept well and didn’t want to show him a cold face, so she pretended not to understand that glance’s meaning.

Just then, the innkeeper came over carrying a food box.

“Honored guests, four bowls of plain noodles, eight meat buns, eight scallion pancakes. What else would you like?”

Yan Sanhe: “I’ll take all the dry rations in your kitchen.”

“Ah?”

The innkeeper was stunned and pointed at Xie Zhifei. “This official gentleman already bought them all.”

This time it was Yan Sanhe’s turn to glance at Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei deliberately didn’t catch her meaning and picked up his chopsticks to eat noodles.

Yan Sanhe was stunned for a moment before belatedly realizing something.

Back then, when she had kidnapped Xie Erli and left the Xie residence, she’d checked into an inn and bought up all the dry rations from the kitchen.

He was copying me.

He has made progress, actually.

Yan Sanhe had just praised him mentally when she suddenly remembered the scene in that alley when he’d trapped her like catching a turtle in a jar.

Inhale…

Exhale…

“Hey, where’s Pei Daren?” Li Buyan suddenly asked.

Xie Zhifei pointed outside.

Before his finger lowered, Pei Xiao strutted through the doorway looking pleased with himself.

“Xie Wushi, I added two more quilts in the carriage. Surely my bottom won’t be jostled this time!”

Inhale again…

Exhale again…

Yan Sanhe bit down hard on a mouthful of noodles.

There were already two quilts, now two more—could she kick this wastrel off the carriage?

…

Northern Bureau.

Imperial Prison.

The corridor was gloomy and oppressive, candlelight flickering like ghostfire. The nauseating smell of blood and wailing cries like resentful souls filled the entire prison.

Zhao Yishi stood with his hands behind his back before a door, his expression indifferent.

The door creaked open.

Old Censor Lu Shi emerged from within and bowed to Zhao Yishi. “Your Highness, Ji Lingchuan refuses to confess no matter what.”

Zhao Yishi said coldly, “Then use torture.”

Lu Shi shook his head. “Torture must be used, but not now. Under my hand, there are no forced confessions or wrongful cases.”

“Lord Lu!”

Zhao Yishi’s body bent forward in a shallow bow to Lu Shi, frightening Lu Shi’s expression into great alarm.

“Your Highness, this absolutely cannot be done!”

“Lord Lu, this bow is on behalf of my father.”

Zhao Yishi’s expression was sorrowful. “Father has managed the Ministry of Revenue for many years, yet never imagined that vermin existed among his subordinates. Indulgence is one fault; oversight is another.”

Lu Shi sighed. “Everyone in the realm knows the Crown Prince’s temperament—he is most benevolent.”

“Compassion cannot command troops, righteousness cannot manage wealth. With his nature, no wonder His Majesty…” Zhao Yishi’s voice choked as he turned his head away.

“Your Highness.”

Lu Shi consoled him. “One need not be compassionate to command troops, nor righteous to manage wealth, but if a ruler possesses benevolence and righteousness, it is truly a blessing for the realm, the state, and the people!”

Zhao Yishi whipped around, looking at him in disbelief.

Lu Shi stroked his beard. “Does Your Highness have any other instructions?”

“Lord Lu, I have none. Handle the case impartially!”

“Yes!”

Lu Shi finished his bow and was about to turn when he suddenly thought of something. He stepped forward and said in a low voice, “Minister Ji asked me to relay a message to Your Highness.”

Zhao Yishi: “Please speak, Lord Lu.”

Lu Shi: “He said to thank Your Highness for your deep grace and protection.”

“These words, privately, deserve thanks. But publicly…”

Zhao Yishi paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly. “Publicly, I have failed His Majesty’s trust and cultivation by harboring selfish intentions.”

Lu Shi didn’t respond. After bowing, he pushed the door open again and began a new round of interrogation.

Zhao Yishi gradually withdrew his bitter smile until no trace of emotion showed on his face, then turned and walked out of the imperial prison.

Under the shade of trees, his personal guard Shen Chong stood with his head bowed. Seeing his master emerge, he quickly came forward.

Zhao Yishi’s eyes flicked to the side.

Shen Chong understood immediately and changed his words. “Your Highness, the carriage and horses are ready.”