Mo Li

By the quiet cliffside, a crescent moon hung in the sky, neither too close nor too far. The cool breeze swept over the mountain, and the one-eyed man lying weakly on the edge of the cliff wore a bitter smile of utmost regret. "Miss Ye, isn’t this method a bit too underhanded?"

Ye Li sat leisurely beside him, casually tearing off the cloth strip stained with rouge potion from her shoulder and tossing it down the cliff. She shrugged indifferently. "You’re no gentleman either, so I won’t feel guilty. The method doesn’t matter—what matters is the result."

"Don’t move." The thin yet razor-sharp blade pressed lightly against the man’s pulse on his neck. "I wouldn’t advise reckless actions unless you’re absolutely certain. If I push this blade just half an inch further, not even a Daluo Golden Immortal could save you."

"A very peculiar poison. May I ask what kind of rare toxin you used on your savior?" The man reluctantly gave up on trying to circulate his inner energy to temporarily suppress the poison—in fact, he couldn’t muster even a trace of inner energy now.

Ye Li shook her head. "A secret. Though the title of 'savior' is still up for debate. By the way, I’ve been in a very bad mood lately."

"It’s an honor to hear the grievances of the capital’s top talented lady," the man chuckled, though the effect was somewhat comical given his terrifying appearance.

Ye Li frowned. "Ever since Prince Ding and I were betrothed, it seems all sorts of troubles have come knocking. Endless probing, surveillance, provocations—and of course, kidnappings."

"If it’s so troublesome, how about running away with me instead?"

Ye Li’s long lashes fluttered slightly. "I’m not interested in the drama of wealthy young ladies and talented scholars. And I suspect those plays conveniently forget to address what happens to the lady’s parents, relatives, sisters, or reputation. How would she survive? What if the scholar later elopes with another beauty?"

The man gazed at her wistfully before finally saying, "You think too much. The plays always say the scholar will eventually pass the imperial exams, gain wealth and honor, the lady’s parents will forgive her, her relatives will envy her, and her sisters will be jealous. Most importantly, the scholar and lady will surely grow old together in love and harmony, right?"

Ye Li shook her head. "The plays only end with 'The End.' Growing old together in love is just what most people imagine, isn’t it?"

The man thought carefully. "Huh, you’re right. I don’t recall any play or story ever following the couple all the way to old age and grandchildren."

"Alright, fine. What will it take for you to let me go?" Realizing that beating around the bush was useless with Ye Li, the man cut straight to the point.

"Tell me who’s trying to harm me," Ye Li replied bluntly.

"And if I don’t?"

The cold blade slid lightly across his neck, raising goosebumps on his skin. "Don’t worry, I won’t stab you. I’ll… just push you straight down." She glanced at the bottomless ravine below and smiled.

"You might as well stab me," the man said, torn between laughter and tears. "No, I really can’t say."

"You can.""I promised someone. A man's word is his bond. Even if you really stab me to death, I won't speak," the man said firmly. Ye Li studied him for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said, "Fine. In that case, let me see what kind of face is hidden beneath this mask."

"Miss Ye, if you let me go now, I'll owe you a favor. How about that?" the man negotiated.

"That sounds familiar. But do you think I'd trust someone whose identity I don't even know? Even if you owed me a hundred favors, it'd be useless if I couldn't find you." Ye Li kept the dagger steady at the man's jugular while her other hand began exploring the twisted, ugly face. "Miss Ye, I have twenty thousand taels in banknotes on me. Take them as compensation for your shock. Let's call it even for today, alright?"

Ye Li continued her search without pause, replying coolly, "Do you think I'd risk my life for money like you? If we call it even this time, how do I know there won't be a next time?"

After a moment of silence, the man said, "I can't speak for whether she'll try again, but I can guarantee I won't cause Miss Ye any more trouble. How about that?" Sensing Ye Li's hand pause slightly, he quickly pressed on, "I swear I won't trouble you again. You can ask Mo Xiuyao—he knows who I am and whether my word can be trusted." The cold blade finally withdrew slightly as Ye Li stood up. "I'll take your word for it—for now."

"Antidote."

"There isn't one. Qingyu gave me the drug on the spot. It may have sealed your inner energy, but you shouldn't need Light Body Skill to get down from here," Ye Li said with a faint smile.

The man gritted his teeth, but the sound of approaching footsteps left him no time to argue further with Ye Li. He had no choice but to stand and prepare to descend the valley using a method he'd never tried before. Unfortunately, he was a step too slow. A cold voice echoed from the other end of the path: "Han Mingyue—"

A man in plain robes slowly appeared at the end of the path, seated in a wheelchair pushed steadily by a silent youth in brown. Even on this uneven mountaintop, the wheelchair's movement seemed effortless. Mo Xiuyao's expression was icy as he fixed his deep, chilling gaze on the one-eyed man. A single glance from him froze the man in place as if encased in ice, leaving him staring helplessly at the cliff edge barely two steps away.

"A Li, are you alright?" Mo Xiuyao's gaze warmed slightly as he looked at Ye Li. Calmly, she sheathed the dagger under his watchful eyes and approached him with an apologetic smile. "Sorry for worrying you."

Mo Xiuyao's eyes flickered, his brow furrowing briefly before he sighed softly. "You're tired. Let's talk more when we get back."

Ye Li agreed that the current setting wasn't ideal for conversation and nodded in assent. Among the group following Mo Xiuyao and A Jin, a woman stepped forward and offered Ye Li a cloak. Though she didn't feel particularly cold, Ye Li accepted it with a faint smile and draped it over her shoulders.

"Han Mingyue," Mo Xiuyao's sharp gaze pinned the man by the cliff. "Would you care to explain why you're here?"You could still recognize me like this? The man sighed, reaching up to feel around his face for a moment before peeling off a leather mask to reveal his originally peerlessly handsome yet visibly dejected features. When Mo Xiuyao uttered the name Han Mingyue, Ye Li merely raised an eyebrow. Seeing the man remove his mask to expose that striking face didn’t surprise her much either. This face bore at least an eighty percent resemblance to that Wind and Moon noble from some time ago. However, while that face had been marked by frivolous charm meant to seduce, this one carried far more uprightness—the same raised brow and faint smile instead exuding an air of unrestrained grace.

"Heh, Xiu Yao, it's been many years. Who’d have thought we’d meet again under such circumstances? Truly... a bit regrettable." Even dressed in the rough garb of a bandit, the handsome man radiated the elegance of a noble scion. Only the slightly ingratiating expression on his face now struck a discordant note. "The moment I heard you were getting married, I rushed over from afar to congratulate you. Seems you’re still as unwelcoming to old friends as ever."

"And your way of congratulating me is by kidnapping my fiancée?" Mo Xiuyao’s voice was deep and pleasant, but Ye Li, standing behind him, unconsciously tightened her cloak around herself.

"Misunderstanding," Han Mingyue said with a pained expression. "I didn’t know beforehand that the target was your fiancée! But once a job’s accepted, if I don’t complete it, where would Han Mingyue’s reputation and dignity be? I already minimized the damage as much as possible. Now, my job’s done, and your fiancée is unharmed. Besides, she even swindled me—I’m the one at a loss here, alright?"

"Who paid you?" Mo Xiuyao fixed him with a stare.

"I can’t say." Han Mingyue smiled bitterly.

Mo Xiuyao let out a cold laugh. "Han Mingyue, is there anything you wouldn’t sell for money—aside from your brother?"

Han Mingyue sighed, his expression growing even more pained as he looked at Mo Xiuyao. "There are still one or two things I absolutely cannot sell. Besides, Mingxi has already suffered quite a bit at your hands this time. Xiu Yao, for my sake, let it go this once, alright? I swear there won’t be a next time." Mo Xiuyao’s expression darkened further. Han Mingyue stomped his foot. "Fine! I’ll give ten percent of this year’s Pavilion of Heavenly Unity profits to your lady as compensation for her fright!"

"Han Mingyue, you’re too tense." Mo Xiuyao raised a hand, lightly touching the mask on his face as he spoke coolly.

Han Mingyue froze, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. How could he have forgotten? Mo Xiuyao knew him too well. Had he not acted so nervous, Mo Xiuyao might not have been able to confirm the target so easily. "Xiu Yao, I’m begging you—"

"Get lost." After staring deeply at Han Mingyue’s pleading face for a long moment, Mo Xiuyao finally spat out the two words.

Faced with such rudeness, Han Mingyue instead looked delighted. "The compensation will be delivered to your lady’s residence within three days!"

Mo Xiuyao’s response was to raise a hand slightly behind him. "Black Cloud Cavalry, loose arrows!"

The black-clad, black-scarfed figures who had been standing guard in a semicircle had already drawn their bows at some point. They nocked, drew, and released—

With no other choice, Han Mingyue could only leap headfirst off the cliff. "Mo Xiuyao, you ruthless bastard!"Han Mingyue's screams faded over the cliff edge. Ye Li blinked and looked down at Mo Xiuyao, unsure whether Han Mingyue had still been holding back some strength earlier. Even at her best, she wouldn’t have survived such a fall unscathed. Sensing her doubt, Mo Xiuyao explained, "Han Mingyue always leaves himself a way out. He must have prepared something below. He won’t die from the fall."

Ye Li frowned. So her earlier threat to throw him off had been meaningless after all. Indeed, not understanding one’s enemy easily leads to mistakes. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. The Art of War speaks true.

"Let’s go back," Mo Xiuyao said softly, extending his hand.

"Alright."

At the Xu family estate, after finally seeing off her two uncles and five cousins, Ye Li felt both overwhelmed by the sheer number of relatives and warmed by their care and concern. Mo Xiuyao sat quietly across from her, watching the young girl in silence. He suddenly realized how little he knew about his fiancée. She was not even sixteen yet, yet unexpectedly strong-willed, decisive, and mature.

What had he been doing at fifteen or sixteen? Mo Xiuyao rarely dwelled on the past, but seeing her calm smile now made him think that recalling those days might not be so painful after all.

At that age, he had been a brilliant, unrestrained youth, galloping through the capital with reckless pride. Who in the world hadn’t heard of the young master of Ding Royal Palace, a prodigy unmatched in talent? Who hadn’t known of the young general who swept through the Southern Border with godlike prowess? Even on the blood-soaked battlefield, he had been fearless and unrestrained.

Yet this girl, at fifteen, had already endured what most women would never face in a lifetime—losing her mother young, a marriage annulment, a scheming stepmother, a tarnished reputation, a betrothal others shunned, assassination attempts, and kidnappings. And yet, he had never seen her panic. Even today, after such an ordeal, she hadn’t cried or raged. Instead, she had smiled and apologized, saying, Sorry for worrying you.

If their roles were reversed, he wouldn’t have handled it with half her composure at her age. Mo Xiuyao sighed faintly in his heart.

"A Li," he said after a long silence, "I’m sorry about today."

Ye Li looked up at him and smiled. "It wasn’t something you could control. I was the one who wasn’t careful enough. Though… tomorrow, the capital will probably… I’m afraid Ding Royal Palace’s reputation might suffer because of this."

Mo Xiuyao’s gaze deepened, unfathomable. "Ding Royal Palace is under my authority. As long as you don’t regret it."

Ye Li blinked, instantly understanding his meaning. He controls Ding Royal Palace, so no matter how my reputation changes, it won’t affect our marriage. Is that it? Tilting her head, she chuckled helplessly. "I suppose if I did regret it… I’d probably never marry in this lifetime. So… shall we make do?"

The corner of Mo Xiuyao’s lips lifted in a barely perceptible curve. "That would be best. I also think that if you regretted it, I’d have a hard time finding another suitable princess consort in this lifetime."

Ye Li grinned at him. "Since His Highness doesn’t mind, let’s settle for each other then."Watching the young girl by the window turn her head and smile at him, saying, "Let's make do together," Mo Xiuyao suddenly felt a stir in his heart. Under the candlelight, her slightly pale face seemed to glow faintly, tugging at his emotions. He quickly averted his gaze, propping his chin on his hand as he said, "Han Mingyue will probably send you some gifts in the next couple of days. Just accept them all without question."

Ye Li blinked in surprise. "He’s really going to give me ten percent of the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity’s income? The Pavilion is the largest intelligence organization in Great Chu. Even ten percent of their annual revenue from selling information must be an astronomical sum."

Mo Xiuyao nodded, watching her with a hesitant expression.

Ye Li chuckled. "No need to explain today’s events. Since you’ve already agreed to Han Mingyue’s terms. Though I’m not entirely clear on the full extent of the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity and Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion’s influence, I’d rather not make an enemy of him. But this is the only exception. If that man ever makes another move and falls into my hands again, I won’t accept any pleas for leniency."

"Of course." After a brief silence, Mo Xiuyao looked at her solemnly and promised, "Since A Li has no regrets, from now on, you and I are family. Anyone who dares harm A Li will be my enemy."

Ye Li nodded with a faint smile, saying nothing. Outside the window, the crescent moon gradually dipped below the roofline. The girl lifted her gaze to the fading moonlight, her delicate features bathed in a serene glow. Behind her, the young man in the wheelchair watched her slender figure intently, his gentle eyes shimmering with an inscrutable light.

At a secret outpost of the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity in the capital, Han Mingyue stumbled in, disheveled, startling the occupants of the room.

"Brother, what happened to you?" The Wind and Moon noble—who had driven countless parents to fury and countless young maidens to infatuation—froze for a moment before rushing forward to steady his swaying elder brother. Han Mingyue waved him off, allowing his younger brother to help him onto a nearby couch. With a bitter smile, he said, "I provoked a demon. Though I’m used to meticulous preparations, jumping off a cliff—no matter how careful I was—still left me battered inside and out from the protruding branches." He harbored no resentment, however. Both sides understood perfectly well that Mo Xiuyao had already shown mercy. Otherwise, not a single arrow from the Black Cloud Cavalry would have missed a man stripped of his inner energy.

"Eh? Big Brother, you met the Third Miss Ye?" Han Mingxi exclaimed in shock after checking Han Mingyue’s pulse.

Han Mingyue forced himself to sit up, narrowing his eyes at his brother. "How did you know? Don’t tell me the reason you crossed Mo Xiuyao this time in the capital was because of this Miss Ye?"

Han Mingxi scratched his nose awkwardly, forcing an ingratiating smile. "Brother… well, the thing is, I also got played by Ye Li last time. Same drug and all. Uh… I owe her a favor. Could you… not cause trouble for her?"

Han Mingyue sneered. "You used the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity as collateral for a favor?"

Han Mingxi hung his head in shame, fidgeting with his fingers. "Well… that woman is too sharp. She figured out the connection between the Pavilion and Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion without me saying a word. She took my jade pendant—what else could I do?"That's my jade pendant! Hand it over. Who knows what trouble it might cause if you keep it. Han Mingyue extended his hand, and Han Mingxi, not daring to disobey, obediently surrendered the pendant. After all, he had no interest in either the Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion or the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity. He had only taken his elder brother's pendant for fun. "Big brother, are you badly hurt? I'll call a physician."

Seeing the genuine concern on his usually frivolous younger brother's face, Han Mingyue softened slightly and said gently, "It's nothing serious. I just can't use my inner energy. No need for a physician. Did we have any visitors?" Han Mingxi's expression darkened as he snorted, "There was indeed a woman who came looking for you this afternoon. I chased her away."

"Mingxi..."

Han Mingxi paced restlessly around the room. "Brother, let's go back to Jiangnan and stay out of these affairs, alright? Last time, I merely played a joke on Ye Li, and Mo Xiuyao nearly chopped off my leg and hand. Even if you're the Lord of Tianyi Pavilion, don't forget he's Prince Ding. Are you willing to throw away your life and drag the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity down with you?" Han Mingyue parted his lips to speak, but Han Mingxi cut him off. "Don't say you're friends—bullshit! Even friends don't mess with each other's women. Do you think just because I'm a flirt, I have no principles? And don't forget what you did to him back then! How dare you provoke him again?"

"Mingxi... you've grown up." Han Mingyue watched his agitated brother pacing around the room, no trace of his usual frivolity left in his voice.

Han Mingxi flushed slightly, snorted, and turned to leave. "I'll go call that woman over!" Watching his brother's figure disappear beyond the door, Han Mingyue pressed a hand to his still-throbbing chest and frowned. For some reason, Han Mingxi's earlier words—"Don't forget what you did to him back then"—echoed in his mind. His eyes darkened slightly as he sighed inwardly. Tomorrow's apology gift... I'll increase it by another ten percent.

"How did you end up in this state?" A low female voice came from the doorway. Han Mingyue looked up to see a woman clad in loose black robes that concealed her graceful figure, her face entirely hidden behind a black veil, leaving only a pair of cold, gleaming eyes that radiated faint displeasure.

"You saw it for yourself. Did you think Mo Xiuyao would be easy to deal with?" Han Mingyue sat up and replied indifferently.

The woman in black snorted. "Did you accomplish what I asked you to do?"

Crack! The teacup in Han Mingyue's hand shattered, clear tea dripping between his fingers. "I'm not your servant! Watch your tone!"

A flash of anger crossed the woman's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it and said softly, "My apologies. Mingyue, about tonight's matter..."

"Does it matter whether it was accomplished or not? The news that Ye Li was kidnapped has already spread, hasn't it? Your goal has been achieved either way," Han Mingyue said.

"You failed!" Her voice instantly turned sharp. "I wanted you to ruin her!"

Han Mingyue unconsciously touched his neck, inwardly laughing bitterly. Ruin her? Thankfully, he hadn't actually planned to do so—otherwise, he might have been the one ruined instead. That Third Miss Ye was far from as harmless as she appeared on the surface. For some reason, Han Mingyue had no intention of sharing this revelation with the woman before him."I consider it a favor to her that I had you, the Lord of Tianyi Pavilion and the most handsome man in Jiangnan, personally take action. Why didn’t you do it?" The woman continued to complain indignantly.

"Enough!" Han Mingyue said coldly. "Why don’t you ask how I got injured and how badly I was hurt? Do you think if I had actually laid a hand on Ye Li, I could have returned alive tonight?"

"I..." The woman’s breath hitched slightly, as if realizing her own outburst. She glanced at him apologetically and softened her voice. "Why did you go alone? If you had taken more people with you, even if Mo Xiuyao brought the Black Cloud Cavalry, they might not have been able to harm you. Given the current situation, he couldn’t possibly mobilize a large number of the Black Cloud Cavalry." Han Mingyue’s icy expression softened slightly at her gentle tone, and he replied indifferently, "Because I couldn’t drag the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity into this. This is a private matter between you and me, so naturally, I had to handle it myself. You should also be more careful from now on. Don’t come to me about Ye Li’s affairs anymore—I won’t help you again."

"Why?"

Because next time, Xiu Yao would definitely kill me. I'm a businessman and have never wanted to challenge the Mo family's bottom line. You should go now, and be careful. With that, Han Mingyue half-reclined on the soft couch and closed his eyes, ignoring the black-clad woman at the door. The woman clearly had more to say, but seeing the man on the couch, his face ashen and his entire demeanor screaming rejection, she swallowed her words and snorted lightly, "Then rest well. I'll take my leave."

Turning to leave, she spotted a man under a tree not far from the door, bearing an eighty percent resemblance to Han Mingyue, his gaze dark and fixed on her. "Don't come again. We're returning to Jiangnan soon."

The black-clad woman tilted her head slightly, her alluring eyes lifting with a hint of disdain. "Go pick some flowers when you have time. Don’t meddle in others' affairs. I wouldn’t want Mingyue telling me one day he’s lost a brother." Han Mingxi's expression darkened, then he sneered, "Perfect. I’d like to see what kind of woman has my brother so bewitched." Few knew how skilled the Wind and Moon noble was in martial arts, but his Light Body Skill was no idle boast. With a mere flick of his sleeve, the man vanished from under the tree and reappeared beside the woman, reaching for her black veil. "How dare you!"

"Mingxi, stop!" At the door, Han Mingyue glared at the two, his face stormy. "Let her go."

"Hmph!" Han Mingxi flung his hand away and soared into the air like a startled swan, disappearing over the rooftop. Han Mingyue turned his warning gaze to the black-clad woman in the courtyard. "Don’t provoke Mingxi."

"Tch, as long as he doesn’t provoke me, why would I bother him? Mingyue, he’s still your brother. We’re friends, aren’t we?" the woman murmured with a low laugh.

Bang! Han Mingyue stepped back and slammed the door shut in her face.

"Han—Ming—Yue!" The woman’s eyes flashed with shock before hardening into resentment. But the candlelight inside was quickly extinguished, signaling the occupant’s intent to sleep. With another soft snort, she turned and left the quiet, shadowy courtyard.

Once outside the unremarkable compound, several black-clad figures approached. "Miss."

She nodded coldly. "Let’s go."

The leader, sensing her foul mood, didn’t dare say more and signaled the others. They swiftly escorted her into the night.

Whoosh—

An arrow streaked through the air with tremendous force. The lead black-clad man hastily drew his sword to deflect it, but the arrow was no ordinary projectile. His blade shuddered upon impact, numbing his entire arm. The arrow grazed past the sword and shot straight toward the black-clad woman behind him.

"Ah?!"

"Miss!"

The arrow skimmed past the woman’s face and embedded itself deep into a nearby wall. Staring at the arrow lodged firmly in the wood, her legs nearly gave way. A fraction closer, and it would have pierced her skull or disfigured her face.

"Miss!" Her attendants rushed to steady her, but she shoved them away and delivered a stinging slap to the black-clad man’s face. "Useless!" The man lowered his head, his eyes dim with shame.Feng Zhiyao! A clear, bright laugh rang out from the rooftop nearby. The woman looked up to see Feng Zhiyao in his flamboyant red robes, lounging leisurely on the roof as he observed her disheveled state below. His handsome brows arched slightly, and he waved a bow at her with his left hand. "Feng Zhiyao, how dare you!" the woman gritted through her teeth.

"Oho, I'm so scared," Feng Zhiyao drawled. "Surely it's not a crime for this young master to shoot one or two suspiciously lurking figures in black with a bow in the middle of the night? In fact, Lord Qin might even thank me for contributing to the capital's security. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Kill him!" The woman pointed imperiously at the rooftop, her voice dripping with murderous intent. Just the thought of that earlier arrow made her want to tear the arrogant man before her to pieces.

"Tsk, trying to outnumber me? Think I'm afraid?" Feng Zhiyao lazily raised a hand and gestured behind him. In an instant, a group of black-clad figures silently appeared on the rooftop, each holding a bow with arrows already nocked and aimed precisely at the narrow street below. The woman's eyes burned with fury as she lifted her chin haughtily. "Feng Zhiyao, do you dare kill me?"

Feng Zhiyao shook his head regretfully. "I don't dare."

His answer visibly bolstered her confidence. Tipping her chin higher, she declared, "Since you don't dare, then get lost!"

"Damn it! I hate arrogant women the most!" A cold glint flashed through Feng Zhiyao's fox-like eyes as he swiftly drew his bow and released another arrow. This one skimmed past the hem of her robes, embedding itself at her feet.

"Feng Zhiyao!"

He regarded her lazily, his gaze even more disdainful than hers. "Stop shouting. No matter how much you yell, this young master won't fall for you. Someone asked me to warn you—stop stirring up trouble. Otherwise, the next arrow won't land in the wall. Even if you doubt my archery skills, you shouldn't doubt theirs." He gestured casually at the black-clad men standing motionless behind him.

"No... that's impossible..." The woman stared in shock at the figures behind Feng Zhiyao. "How could he—"

"Feng Zhiyao, how dare you mobilize the Black Cloud Cavalry without authorization!"

"Tsk, delusional woman." Feng Zhiyao sat up impatiently. "Just remember my warning. Don't come crying to me if you end up disfigured next time."

The woman lowered her eyes in silence, and Feng Zhiyao had no interest in further engagement. Turning to his men, he said, "Finish what needs to be done, then disperse."

Whoosh—whoosh—

The whistling of arrows split the air, and the men guarding the woman fell one after another, leaving only their leader gripping his sword in tense readiness. But he knew his arms had gone weak from that earlier arrow—if another came, he wouldn't be able to block or escape it.

"Feng Zhiyao," the woman finally spoke again, "aren't you afraid the palace will find out about your reckless deployment of the Black Cloud Cavalry?"

Feng Zhiyao waved a hand dismissively. "You should worry more about explaining why so many of your people suddenly vanished."In the end, the woman said nothing more and left the desolate street with her last remaining guard, filled with resentment. As soon as she departed, the black-clad figure on the rooftop swiftly vanished into the night. Feng Zhiyao turned and leaped over the roof, landing inside the room through the half-open window. Looking at the composed man inside, he smiled helplessly and asked, "Well? Is Young Master Xu satisfied now?"

Xu Qingchen sat calmly by the window, a jug of wine and two cups placed before him. He poured wine into both cups, set the jug down, and looked up at Feng Zhiyao with a faint smile. "Please convey my thanks to His Highness the Prince," he said.