Mo Li

The Chu Family was indeed a prominent clan of Great Chu, but unfortunately, Ye Li was not part of it. Moreover, Yunzhou, the Chu Family’s stronghold, was still under Lei Zhenting’s control. How could the Chu Family possibly provide funds for Mo Jingli’s military expenses to attack Prince Ding’s Estate? Given the relationship between the Chu Family and the Xu Family, it might even be more plausible for Prince Ding’s Estate to raise funds to fight Mo Jingli.

Yao Ji sighed helplessly as she handed the invitation to Ye Li, saying, “I didn’t want to bother you with such a ridiculous matter. But the Regent has assigned this task to Marquis Muyang Manor, and the current Marchioness has been throwing tantrums lately, so I had no choice but to come personally. Besides, I also wanted to inquire about Qingchen Gongzi’s whereabouts. It’s not easy for me to walk openly into your estate.”

Ye Li glanced at the invitation in her hand with a faint smile. “It seems Mo Jingli truly places great trust in Marquis Muyang Manor.”

Yao Ji curled her lips. “The old Marquis Muyang was always one to sway with the wind—he knew exactly what to do and what not to do. After Mo Jingqi’s death, Marquis Muyang Manor immediately sided with Mo Jingli. Although they had some past conflicts with Prince Li, Marquis Muyang has helped him a great deal over the past two years. Besides, he has already voluntarily stepped down and passed the title to Mu Yang. Mo Jingli has to show some appreciation, or how else would he appease Mo Jingqi’s former officials?”

Ye Li nodded in agreement and lightly tapped the invitation. “I understand. Go back and tell Marquis Muyang that Chu Junwei will attend the banquet as scheduled.”

Yao Ji looked at her curiously. “You’re not actually planning to help Mo Jingli raise military funds, are you?”

Ye Li smiled without answering and instead asked, “What I’m curious about is why Mo Jingli is short on money. Great Chu hasn’t suffered any disasters or engaged in external military campaigns these past few years. When Mo Jingli moved south years ago, he practically emptied Great Chu’s treasury.” Of course, most of that money had likely ended up in Mo Jingli’s private coffers. Ye Li had once thought he might be one of the wealthiest men in the realm.

Yao Ji shrugged. “I wouldn’t know about that. But the treasury of Great Chu probably didn’t have much to begin with. Didn’t they fight several wars in those years?” The most tragic part was that they lost every battle, eventually even losing Chu Jing. “And even if Mo Jingli has money, he might not be willing to spend it on military expenses.”

Hearing this, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle. “Who would’ve thought Mo Jingli has the habits of a miser?” Among the princes and nobles of the realm, Prince Ding’s Estate was undoubtedly the most powerful, yet Prince Ding and Princess Ding themselves were not particularly wealthy. The estate’s assets were incalculable, but neither Ye Li nor Mo Xiuyao had a penchant for hoarding wealth. Their personal coffers combined probably held no more than four or five hundred thousand taels of silver. While that seemed like a lot, it paled in comparison to other powerful nobles.

Yao Ji didn’t linger long. She stood up and smiled. “Now that the invitation has been delivered, I’ll take my leave.”

Ye Li knew that Yao Ji was currently handling many affairs at Marquis Muyang Manor. She didn’t press her to stay and simply said with a faint smile, “Take care.”Deep in the mountains dozens of miles outside Nanjing, a few simple thatched cottages nestled among the hills and streams, blending seamlessly with the surrounding trees and flowers. Unless one approached closely, no one would suspect this rarely visited place was inhabited. In front of the cottages lay several small medicinal herb gardens, planted with various common herbs. Though it was early winter and many herbs had withered, leaving the gardens somewhat sparse, the remaining plants were meticulously cared for, arranged neatly and orderly.

Inside one cottage, an extraordinarily handsome young man sat by the window on the bed, idly flipping through an ancient book. A faint smile graced his lips, giving him an ethereal, celestial air. Who else could this be but Qingchen Gongzi, whom the Mo Family Army had scoured all of Nanjing to find without success?

After reading for a while, Qingchen Gongzi lifted his gaze to look outside, his smile tinged with helplessness. A dull ache in his chest forced him to abandon any thought of getting up for a walk. Who would have imagined that the peerlessly elegant and divinely talented Qingchen Gongzi could find himself in such dire straits?

Light footsteps approached from outside, and a plainly dressed girl entered, carrying a bamboo basket filled with various herbs. Seeing the man by the bed, she quickly set the basket down and hurried over. "Xu Qingchen, why are you sitting up? Are you feeling better?" The girl was no more than fifteen or sixteen, her hair loosely tied with a thin cord matching the fabric of her clothes, dressed in a simple light-green coarse dress. Her attire was even plainer than that of an ordinary village girl. Yet, such rough clothing couldn't conceal her striking beauty—her naturally rosy lips, delicate nose, and those clear, penetrating eyes that seemed to see into one's soul. Though young, her extraordinary charm was already evident. However, the usually cheerful girl now wore a troubled expression, gazing guiltily at Qingchen Gongzi on the bed. "Xu Qingchen... are you better? It's all my fault..."

Xu Qingchen looked helplessly at the girl, who seemed on the verge of tears, and gently reassured her, "How could it be your fault? If anything, you saved me."

"But... if I hadn't insisted on taking you away, you wouldn't have gotten hurt," she said remorsefully. She had only gone up the mountain to gather herbs when she heard beautiful zither music and followed the sound. In the valley, she saw a celestial figure playing the zither and, remembering the yaoqin her late father had left behind—which she couldn't play—she sneaked down to ask for guidance. Upon learning that this celestial gentleman was being held captive, she resolved to rescue him. Yet, in her carelessness, she had caused him serious injuries underwater. Had she known, she wouldn't have taken him away—after all, those people seemed to treat him well."That won't do. I'd rather get injured than stay in that place any longer. So I still need to thank you. Besides, aren't you already treating my injuries?" Xu Qingchen said with a faint smile. Though he was certain Prince Ding's people would come to his rescue, he didn't know exactly when. Sometimes, even a slight delay could spell disaster. Qingchen Gongzi had traveled safely for decades, not just because of his wide network of friends, but also because he knew how to assess situations. Faced with the choice between meeting Dongfang You—a somewhat mad woman—and getting injured to escape first, he'd choose the latter without hesitation. It must be said, this was the first time in his life Qingchen Gongzi secretly regretted not knowing martial arts.

The girl nodded repeatedly, her bright and lovely face breaking into a smile. "Mhm, I'll heal you very quickly. My medical skills are excellent. The doctors in town all say the medicine I make works really well. Xu Qingchen, I just bought some good medicine from the city and finished making it. Here, take it." She took out a small wooden bottle and presented it to him like a treasure, blinking her large eyes eagerly as she watched him.

Xu Qingchen smiled helplessly, accepting the bottle and opening it. A refreshing, pleasant fragrance wafted out from the small container. He poured out a milky-white medicinal pill and placed it in his mouth, where it dissolved instantly. Within moments, he felt the discomfort throughout his body lessen significantly. The bottle contained only five pills in total. Though Xu Qingchen wasn't an expert in medicine, he had some knowledge of it and could tell that these few small pills must have required rare and expensive herbs.

The girl was deeply remorseful, believing she was the one who had caused Xu Qingchen's injuries. In truth, if they were to settle accounts, Xu Qingchen owed her far more. Originally, she had only wanted to ask him about qin music—perhaps because living alone in the mountains made her lonely and eager for conversation. She thought she had acted on her own initiative to rescue Xu Qingchen, but in reality, if not for certain deliberate words from him, this almost-grown child wouldn't have even considered such things. The injury had indeed been unexpected for Xu Qingchen, but the girl had been meticulously caring for him, determined to heal him as quickly as possible. Over the days they had spent together, Xu Qingchen had learned that the girl had lived in the mountains with her father since childhood. After her father passed away three years ago, she had lived alone, only occasionally selling the herbal medicine she grew and the simple medicinal pills she made in the city to exchange for daily necessities. This time, to treat Xu Qingchen's injuries, she had used up all the silver her father had saved over the years while he was still alive. She had also ventured deep into the mountains to gather rare medicinal herbs that ordinary people wouldn't even think of, just to trade for the medicine needed to heal him. Thus, every time he met her guilt-filled eyes, Xu Qingchen felt, for the first time in his life, that he was truly a bit of a scoundrel.

"Yunge, come sit here," Xu Qingchen beckoned to the girl.

The girl named Yunge blinked and obediently sat down on a stool not far from Xu Qingchen's bed. Xu Qingchen asked softly, "Yunge, when you went to the city today, did anything happen there?"

Yunge blinked and said, "I heard people in the city say there's going to be a war.""War?" Xu Qingchen slightly furrowed his brows. The Great Chu was currently south of the Cloud Ripple River, with their only opponent being Prince Zhennan of Xiling, Lei Zhenting. But logically, Lei Zhenting shouldn't be engaging in conflict with Great Chu at this time. "Who are we fighting against?"

Yunge pouted and said, "Against the Mo Family Army. My father said the Mo Family Army are good people, and Prince Li wants to fight them, so Prince Li is bad." Hearing this, Xu Qingchen couldn't help but smile playfully, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "Why does your father say Prince Ding is a good person?"

Yunge thought for a moment and replied, "My father said Prince Ding's Estate was wholeheartedly devoted to the country, loyal and righteous. It's just a pity their achievements overshadowed the ruler, and those in power lacked the tolerance, leading to Prince Ding's untimely death. My father said everyone from Prince Ding's Estate were good people." She nodded emphatically to show her agreement.

Only then did Xu Qingchen understand—Yunge's father must have been referring to the previous generation's Prince Ding, Mo Liufang or Mo Xiuwen. He just didn't know who this already deceased recluse was. To have taught Yunge such profound medical skills and martial arts, he couldn't have been an ordinary man. "Alright, Prince Ding is a good person. Any other news? Did you see any movement at the Chu residence in the city as I asked?"

Yunge nodded. "I watched for a long time, and there were always people going in and out. But there are many experts in that residence, so I didn't dare get too close. However, I saw a very handsome young man in white clothes... and later, a very beautiful sister went in too."

"A young man in white..." Xu Qingchen mused thoughtfully. "Could it be Li'er came personally?"

Yunge looked at him curiously. "Do you want to find that young man in white? I can help you look for him tomorrow. Also, there are many people searching for something in the nearby mountains. I almost got spotted by them on my way back. I went to that valley today, and there's no one there anymore. But don't worry, no one can find this place of ours, so there's nothing to fear."

Xu Qingchen felt somewhat helpless. His only concern was that this place might be too well-hidden—not only would others fail to find it, but even those sent by Li'er to look for him might not locate him either. Still, this was for the best. Since he couldn't move for the time being, it was far better for no one to find him than for enemies to discover him.

"Xu Qingchen, will you teach me to play the qin?" Yunge asked softly, looking at him.

Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Of course. Didn't I promise you before? Once my injuries heal, I'll teach you."

Yunge gazed at him. "But once your injuries heal, won't you be leaving? Can I play for you now so you can give me some pointers? Actually, I did learn a little before. It's all my fault—when my father tried to teach me, I refused to learn properly. And then my father... there was no one left to teach me." Seeing the mix of hope and sorrow in the young girl's eyes, Xu Qingchen's heart softened slightly. He smiled faintly and asked, "Why does Yunge want to learn the qin?"

"Because the sound of the qin is beautiful. I can play for myself," Yunge said with a bright smile.

Xu Qingchen sighed inwardly. Yunge's father had been far too trusting. When he passed away, Yunge had only been a girl of twelve or thirteen. Even with her martial arts skills, living alone in these deep mountains must have been terribly lonely. Still, given this girl's appearance and temperament, without close relatives to watch over her, it was probably safer for her to remain in this uninhabited wilderness.However, this young girl had lived here for several years without ever considering leaving. She only went into town once a month to exchange for daily necessities. All these years, she had strictly followed her father's dying instructions, only trading common herbs and medicines for money. Otherwise, with her medical skills, she would have long gained fame outside.

Lowering his gaze in thought, Xu Qingchen asked, "Yunge, don't you plan to leave this place?"

Yunge looked at him blankly, "Why should I leave? Daddy said there are many bad people outside." Even someone as handsome as Xu Qingchen had been captured—if she went out, she would surely be caught by bad people too. Shortly after her father passed away, when Yunge first ventured into town alone, she had encountered several attempts at robbery and assault. Fortunately, her martial arts were good enough to easily fend them off. Since then, she had learned to conceal her appearance when going to town. But if she left this place, she couldn't possibly smear dirt on her face every day, could she? Though raised in the countryside, the love for beauty was innate in girls, and Yunge had no desire to be grimy all the time.

Xu Qingchen sighed helplessly and couldn't resist tapping her forehead lightly, only to wince as the movement aggravated his injuries. Yunge quickly jumped up and pushed him back down, saying, "Don't move around—your wounds haven't healed yet!"

Xu Qingchen looked at her and said, "A young girl living alone in these remote mountains isn't a long-term solution. Why not come with me to Li Cheng?"

Yunge froze for a moment but ultimately shook her head. "No, Daddy told me to stay here. Someone will come to fetch me."

"Fetch you? Who? Did your father say when they would come?" Only then did Xu Qingchen realize. Yunge's father surely wouldn't have neglected his daughter's future, but three years had passed without any word—would the other party really keep their promise?

Yunge thought for a while, then said uncertainly, "Daddy wrote a letter and told me to send it. Then someone would come for me. But no one has come yet."

What a silly girl. If no one had come in three years since the letter was sent, either it hadn't been received, or the recipient had no intention of coming. Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "How about this: you come with me, and we'll leave a letter here. If someone comes for you, they can go to Li Cheng to find you. Once I return, I'll also send people to keep an eye on this place in case anyone shows up. Besides, didn't you say my internal injuries will take a long time to heal? Wouldn't it be good for you to come and treat me?"

Yunge hesitated, looking at him. She really wanted to leave with Xu Qingchen. Though she wasn't particularly fond of crowds, after spending these days talking with him, the thought of being alone again made her sad. But Daddy had told her to wait here for someone—she couldn't just disobey.

Seeing her hesitation, Xu Qingchen's eyes gleamed slightly as he smiled. "Or do you still remember the address you sent the letter to? I can have someone help you find them. Maybe they really didn't receive the letter—would you wait here forever then?"

After a long silence, Yunge finally nodded and recited an address. Hearing it, Xu Qingchen couldn't help but frown. Noticing his expression, Yunge grew worried. "Xu Qingchen, what's wrong?"Xu Qingchen asked, "Is your surname Mu?"

"Ah? No, my surname isn't Mu. My father's surname is Shen," Yunge replied in confusion. Had she not told Xu Qingchen her surname? Tilting her head, she realized she had indeed forgotten to mention her father's surname. When one lives alone for too long, things like surnames and given names become less important.

"Then what was your mother's surname?" Xu Qingchen inquired.

Yunge answered, "My father said my mother's surname was Li."

Xu Qingchen nodded. "I know who your father is looking for. I can take you to them once my injuries heal. You can come with me then." Yunge's eyes brightened slightly. "Really?"

With a gentle smile, Xu Qingchen nodded, sighing inwardly as he looked at the delighted young girl before him. She was just a lonely child, after all.

Chu Residence

"Reporting to Wang Fei, the servants informed us that a girl was spying outside earlier," Wei Lin reported as he entered.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow slightly. "A girl?"

Wei Lin nodded. "She had decent martial skills but lacked experience. She watched the residence for most of the day before leaving." Ye Li smiled with interest. Neither the Boundless Mountains nor Mo Jingli would send an inexperienced girl to spy on the Chu Residence. "Did you get a clear look at her appearance?"

"She seemed about fifteen or sixteen, but her features weren't clear. Also, the men who followed her out of the city have returned."

Ye Li chuckled. "Lost her?"

Wei Lin nodded in shame, feeling that the shadow guards had been performing poorly lately. First, they lost Qingchen Gongzi, and now they couldn't even keep track of a teenage girl. It was utterly disgraceful for the Qilin.

Ye Li smiled. "Enough, don't be too hard on them. Logically... they should never have lost an inexperienced girl like that. Have them search carefully near where she disappeared. Also, station people to watch that area closely—that girl definitely won't stop at just one visit." Wei Lin nodded. "Understood. Thank you for your mercy, Wang Fei."

Ye Li shook her head. "Even so, I think the Qilin will need additional training later."

"Yes, as Wang Fei commands."

Ye Li smiled. "We'll discuss that later. Do you think... this girl might be connected to Eldest Brother?"

Wei Lin lowered his gaze in thought. "It's very possible. Even Mo Jingli hasn't noticed anything unusual about the Chu Residence, so why would a girl specifically come to watch it? Moreover, she appeared near where Qingchen Gongzi disappeared. Perhaps she was the one who rescued him. But... if Qingchen Gongzi was saved, why hasn't he returned?"

Ye Li frowned. "Eldest Brother... might be seriously injured. Don't worry. Since he knows we're here, we should receive news soon."

"Understood. I'll have people keep watch over that area. Prince Li's Palace has been conducting strict inspections lately, and we'll soon attend the banquet hosted by Mo Jingli. Wang Fei should avoid leaving the city personally." Wei Lin advised. Ye Li nodded with a light sigh. "It seems we have no choice."

Sure enough, by noon the next day, Ye Li met the girl Wei Lin had mentioned. At first glance, she couldn't help but be amused—it really was just a young girl. She appeared to be under sixteen, and most striking were her utterly clear eyes, which even someone like Ye Li couldn't help but feel humbled by.Yunge was brought into the Chu residence by Prince Ding's Estate. Originally, she had come to see Ye Li at Xu Qingchen's request. However, Xu Qingchen had specifically instructed her not to enter through the main gate where she might be seen. Thus, the young Yunge had no choice but to circle around to the rear courtyard of the Chu residence, intending to climb over the wall. Little did she know that the guards in the rear courtyard were far more numerous than those at the front gate, and unsurprisingly, she was caught.

Yunge studied Ye Li with curiosity and asked, "Are you the Li'er that Xu Qingchen mentioned?"

Ye Li smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes, I'm Li'er. And who might you be, little girl?"

Yunge grinned. "I'm Shen Yunge, a friend of Xu Qingchen. You're really pretty, but... why are you dressed as a man?" Ye Li was taken aback. "You can tell I'm a woman? Or did my elder brother tell you?" Ye Li was confident in her disguise—so far, no one had seen through it, certainly not an innocent young girl like this.

"I'm a physician," Shen Yunge declared proudly. "Of course I can tell. There's a big difference between men and women."

Ye Li smiled, thinking that even among those who understood medicine, there were vast differences in skill. At least one other person who claimed to be proficient in medicine hadn’t seen through her identity. She looked at the young girl before her and asked, "How is my elder brother doing?"

At this, Shen Yunge’s face immediately fell, and she said with a pained expression, "I’m sorry, it’s all my fault… Xu Qingchen is seriously injured."

"Don’t worry, I know you saved him. Take your time and tell me what happened," Ye Li reassured her gently. Shen Yunge recounted in detail how she had encountered Xu Qingchen, and Ye Li quickly understood. Perhaps Yunge’s initial hearing of the zither music had been accidental, but from the moment she had managed to sneak into the valley unnoticed to ask Qingchen to teach her, it was no longer a coincidence. Blaming the girl for what had happened to her brother would be too harsh.

Even Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin, standing behind Ye Li, exchanged odd looks, silently musing: Isn’t this just Qingchen Gongzi’s karma for luring an innocent girl?

Ye Li patted Yunge’s small hand and smiled. "How could this be your fault? I should thank you for saving my brother."

Having braced herself for a scolding, Yunge was taken aback by Ye Li’s kindness. She asked timidly, "Li... um, you’re not angry with me?" Ye Li chuckled. "No need to be so formal. I’m a few years older than you—just call me Li’er sister. It wasn’t your fault, so why would I blame you? Besides, for a little girl like you to drag a grown man out of the water while he was unconscious from medicine—it’s only natural if he got bumped or bruised." Ye Li was genuinely amazed at how Yunge, with her petite frame, had managed to pull a drugged, unconscious man out of the water. Even a grown man might have struggled with that. So, Qingchen Gongzi’s internal injuries were actually quite mild—it was fortunate he hadn’t hit his head.

Yunge’s eyes brightened. Growing up, she had only known her father and mother, and she had always envied others who had sisters when she saw them in the village. "Li’er sister."

"Good girl..." Ye Li affectionately ruffled her hair and smiled. "How is my brother’s injury now?"

Yunge replied, "He’ll be able to move freely in a few days, but he shouldn’t exert himself yet. Um... I’ve said everything Xu Qingchen told me to say. I should go back now, or he’ll get hungry." Ye Li nodded with a smile. "In that case, I’ll leave my brother in your care. I’ll send someone to fetch him once he’s recovered a bit more in a few days?"

Yunge shook her head, beaming. "It’s no trouble. Xu Qingchen keeps me company—it’s nice."

"That’s good. Wei Lin, escort Miss Yunge out of the city. Also, send over any medicine my brother might need," Ye Li instructed, turning to him. Wei Lin bowed. "As you command."

Watching Wei Lin lead Yunge away, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle softly. "What an interesting little girl, don’t you think?"

Zhuo Jing nodded. "Who would’ve thought the one who took Qingchen Gongzi away would be such a delicate and clever girl? What’s more, her temperament is refreshingly pure and bright." And most importantly, in such a remote place, there’s actually such a beautiful girl. Qingchen Gongzi is truly fortunate... "Why hasn't Wang Fei sent someone to take care of Qingchen Gongzi?" Zhuo Jing asked with a smile.

Ye Li replied indifferently, "Since Yunge has been taking good care of elder brother all these days, it's fine to trouble her for a few more. What?"

Zhuo Jing raised an eyebrow and smiled, "What does Wang Fei mean by that?"

Ye Li waved her hand and stood up, saying, "I mean nothing at all. Elder brother has been exhausted these past few years, and now that he has this rare opportunity, he should rest and recover properly." That little girl has a pure and simple nature, unlike the usual reserved young ladies with their excessive formalities. The fact that elder brother allowed her to come to the Chu residence clearly shows he trusts her greatly. Since that's the case, let them be.

"Wang Fei is right."

Yunge was escorted by Prince Ding's guards with numerous packages to a spot not far from home before making her way back alone. As soon as she entered, Xu Qingchen looked at the little girl nearly buried under piles of boxes and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow with a smile, "Since when did you develop a liking for shopping?"

Wiping the sweat from her face, Yunge puffed her cheeks and said, "It wasn't me who bought these! They were gifts from Li'er jiejie."

Xu Qingchen found it amusing to watch her. She had only met Ye Li once and was already calling her "Li'er jiejie." What a trusting little girl.

As she busied herself arranging the items on the table, Yunge muttered under her breath, "Xu Qingchen, you really are a pampered young master. Just a few days of recuperation, and you need so many things prepared. Luckily, the guards helped carry them up the mountain for me—there's no way I could have managed all this alone." Opening the packages, she saw an abundance of items: various medicinal herbs and tonics for Xu Qingchen's recovery, books for leisure, and even three or four sets of clothing complete with matching jade pendants.

Xu Qingchen glanced over them and pointed to one box, "Open that one and take a look."

Yunge looked at it curiously, "This one?" Inside was an exquisite yellow dress. While Yunge didn't recognize it, Xu Qingchen knew at a glance from the box that it came from the most famous silk shop in Nanjing. He smiled and said, "That's a gift from Li'er for you. You can try it on."

"For me?" Yunge blinked in confusion at the beautifully embroidered yellow dress in the box. She was used to wearing simple, plain clothes and had never envied the beautiful dresses she saw on other girls in the city. Clothes were just for keeping warm, after all. But now, looking at this bright, elegant dress and then at Xu Qingchen, dressed in white and smiling at her, she suddenly felt a twinge of shame for her usual unkempt appearance. Clutching the box, she hurried out of the room.

Xu Qingchen watched the little girl disappear through the door with a smile, shaking his head in amusement. Teasing children really was quite entertaining. At the same time, he couldn't help but look forward to seeing Yunge dressed up in her new clothes.

As for Li'er clearly not wanting him involved in Nanjing's affairs—well, he'd let things take their course. Besides, he was currently too injured to even get out of bed. Going back now would only be a hindrance. As for Mo Jingli, he was no match for Li'er anyway.In high spirits, Qingchen Gongzi had completely forgotten that in a certain military camp up north, there was a certain man eagerly awaiting his beloved wife's return, gnashing his teeth in frustration. "Xu Qingchen, you'd better not dare come back alive! Making A Li travel all the way to Jiangnan to find you—I swear I'll make you work like a slave for Prince Ding's Estate until your next life!"

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Wiping sweat... This chapter was quite intense~ Not sure if you'll like this little one, but if not, you can just treat her as a younger sister—after all, her ending won't be written in the main story. For those who absolutely want Qingchen Gongzi to get married, this is the CP: pure, adorable, with a childlike heart. Skilled in martial arts (enough to keep someone in check), and highly proficient in medicine, mhm... That's the idea. Qingchen Gongzi is too clever—either he needs someone just as sharp or someone who doesn't scheme at all~