Chapter One

With that, she hurled Zhou Yao's belongings into the street.

"Wait!" Zhou Yao started, but before she could finish, the woman shoved her and Bige out as well.

Clothes hit the ground with a dull thud. Zhou Yao hadn't gathered much in Chang'an, but her bundle had held colorful shards of glass from the Western Regions—priceless treasures she could never replace. Now they lay shattered.

It was the dead of night. Even if any inns had vacancies, they'd shuttered hours ago. And with debt weighing on her, she had no money for lodging anyway.

Zhou Yao stared blankly at Bige, who lay unnaturally still on the ground, and fell into thought.

But the curfew forbade commoners from roaming the streets. Her brazen presence on the empty avenue drew attention almost immediately.

"Who dares loiter at this dark hour? Have you no respect for the law, or has your head grown too heavy for your shoulders?" An official, flanked by guards, fixed Zhou Yao with a fierce glare. "This officer will give you one chance to return home at once. Otherwise, don't blame me for casting aside all civility—I'll have you dragged to the yamen!"

Seeing her unmoved, he signaled to his men.

The guards moved swiftly, pinning Zhou Yao to the ground. Even Bige, who had been lying quietly, wasn't spared.

Feeling the weight press down on her, Zhou Yao's heart lurched. Low-ranking officials rarely had dealings with court affairs and wouldn't recognize her. But if they dragged her before the yamen, the matter would reach the throne by morning.

At that point, I'm done for! Her heart pounded wildly, beyond her control.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Bige, suddenly wide awake, erupted into frantic barking. He barked with such ferocity that even pinned down, he refused to quit. Gradually, even the guards couldn't hold him.

"Lord Zhu, hold. My master has something to say." A commanding yet steady voice came from a carriage slowly approaching behind them.

Everyone turned. A splendid carriage rolled into view. Beyond the bamboo shades, fine gauze embroidered with gold and silver thread draped the sides, every tassel strung with fine jade. Its opulence was beyond words.

The speaker was merely a servant; the true master remained seated inside.

A leisurely voice drifted from within. "Lord Zhu, you should quit while you're ahead."

Those words sent the official sprawling to his knees.

"Your subordinate... I don't know how I've offended Prime Minister Qi. Please enlighten me."

Trembling, he signaled his men to release Zhou Yao. She regained her freedom, but her numb legs refused to support her, and she collapsed to the ground.

The concerned gaze from inside the carriage was almost tangible. Zhou Yao looked in that direction and caught Qi Yanhan's serious expression. His fox-like eyes, usually brimming with laughter, now held worry... and resentment?

Every time she landed in her most humiliating state, Qi Yanhan just happened to witness it. This inn clearly wasn't near the Qi Mansion.

Zhou Yao turned her face away, refusing to dwell on their brief exchange, and tried to brush it off.

Unlike the awkwardness here, the moment Bige was released, he bolted toward Qi Yanhan's carriage with the speed of a dog fleeing for his life—or racing to a meal. As he ran, he let out mournful cries. Though no one had touched him, this lone dog could feign pitifulness so convincingly.

"Aren't you getting in?" Qi Yanhan looked at Zhou Yao, who was ignoring him, and spoke with slight irritation. In just half a day, she'd fallen this far in Chang'an, even bullied by a nobody.

Sitting on the ground, Zhou Yao dared not move a muscle, fearing that any shift would unleash the numbness in her legs like a flood through her entire body.

Inside the carriage, he used his folding fan to lift one corner of the gauze. Qi Yanhan leaned out and stepped down.

The atmosphere between them turned tense, as if swords were about to be drawn. The official nearby dared not make a sound and wisely shuffled a few steps away.

The instant Qi Yanhan stepped down, he put on his customary smile, though any sharp-eyed person could see it was a smile without warmth.

He walked over, bent close to Zhou Yao's ear, and murmured, "Your Highness's current attitude truly leaves me puzzled. We had an agreement, yet now you seem to be avoiding me?" His folding fan creaked under his grip, but Zhou Yao remained unruffled, as if dancing on the edge of his patience.

"Your Highness is still at the age for playfulness, but shouldn't you rein yourself in around me? Don't you agree, Your Highness..."

His gaze was piercing, and Zhou Yao truly couldn't withstand it.

Just as she was about to explain, Bige chose that moment to lunge. His solid head slammed into Zhou Yao's numb leg, making her eyes fly open.

"Aahh!"

Zhou Yao's miserable scream pierced the sky. Qi Yanhan, however, looked on with an unexpected expression.

"Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Bige, who had crashed into her, didn't realize his mistake; instead, he barked with an air of self-righteousness.

This chaotic scene only came to an end once the numbness in Zhou Yao's legs finally subsided.

After the official and his men had left, Qi Yanhan pressed her for the full story. The man's lowered lashes masked the flicker of smugness in his eyes.

He gently fanned her with his folding fan. Though it was late and dew was heavy, the midsummer heat was not something anyone could easily bear.

Since she was now his 'wife' in name, it was only fitting that he provide her with the finest things. In return, every move she made should be within his expectations. With this thought, the smile on his face grew even softer.

After all, the Prime Minister's residence had no shortage of such trifling resources. Keeping his 'wife' living outside the estate was hardly advantageous to this marriage in name only...

"Your Highness's current status is awkward, making it inconvenient for you to move about the city freely. I'll simply have Duyun arrange a new identity for you to use."

Qi Yanhan let out a light laugh and continued, "Though Your Highness is penniless, you still managed to find lodging in Chang'an. In that case, it's their good fortune. As for the rest, you can leave it to me."

His voice was soft and delicate, in stark contrast to the tone he had used to threaten the official earlier, startling Zhou Yao for a moment. An ordinary listener might mistake him for a singsong boy from a pleasure house, never a young master of a distinguished family.

Zhou Yao sized up Qi Yanhan unobtrusively, her mind turning over recent events, feeling that something was off.

Qi Yanhan looked at the pensive Zhou Yao with mild discontent. In the brief moment she was distracted, he exchanged a glance with Duyun through the sheer curtain. Duyun gave a silent nod in reply.

"Your Highness?"

He called out to bring her back. Zhou Yao had barely regained her focus when the carriage gave a sudden lurch.

"Ah..." Qi Yanhan purposely pretended to lose his balance and tumbled into Zhou Yao's arms.

It wasn't until Zhou Yao sensed the scent of agarwood from him that Qi Yanhan looked up, his moist fox-like eyes directly meeting hers.

"Your Highness..." Qi Yanhan's loose strands of hair slipped down slightly as he murmured with feigned fragility.

To be honest, having sparred with Qi Yanhan for years, this was the first time Zhou Yao noticed the tiny teardrop mole at the corner of his eye.

Their closeness was too much. Even if Zhou Yao wanted to evade, there was no room to shift. His heated breath fanned her neck. She could only blush and turn aside, gazing at the night view fully veiled by bamboo curtains and silken gauze.

"Um... well, it's steadier now. You can move back over there," Zhou Yao said, embarrassed, reminding him.

Qi Yanhan's warm breath continued to hover near her neck, making her cheeks burn. She wished she could shove him to the other side.

"Master, we've arrived."

Duyun's voice from outside broke the atmosphere in the carriage.

Zhou Yao noticed a momentary stiffness flash across Qi Yanhan's face.

"I know. Duyun, you go down first." He shot a glance at Duyun, who seemed superfluous at the moment, with a trace of impatience.

"Yes."

After Duyun withdrew, Qi Yanhan turned to Zhou Yao with a tender gaze. "Your Highness, if you wouldn't mind, you may rest at the Qi Mansion from now on." He closed his folding fan and looked outside at Bige, who was in Duyun's charge, adding meaningfully, "You won't go back on your word, will you, Your Highness?"

Qi Yanhan was bringing up how Bige had shattered the jade pendant. Aware she was in the wrong, Zhou Yao said, "Since I gave my word, I'll naturally keep it."

He chuckled. "Thank you, Your Highness." A glimmer of starlight seemed to dance in his eyes. In that moment of distraction, Zhou Yao let him lead her down from the carriage.

The warmth of his palm seeped into hers. Zhou Yao pursed her lips. "Thank you..."

"Why does Your Highness say that? We are husband and wife."

The faint thrumming of her heart at that moment was quickly suppressed. True, they were each taking what they needed. This cooperative arrangement didn't call for excessive emotion.

After a maidservant led Zhou Yao to the side chamber, Qi Yanhan looked at Duyun with a dissatisfied gaze. He handed his folding fan to Duyun and scolded, "Fool."

"This subordinate has failed in his task. Please punish me, master."

Qi Yanhan's lashes lowered. "Forget it. Your merits and faults cancel out. Have Linglong clean up the traces at the inn. Don't let anyone catch wind of it."

"Yes, master."

Though Qi Yanhan was the nominal head of the Qi family, he held limited real power. What surprised Zhou Yao most was that the layout of the residence was exactly as she remembered it from her childhood. The courtyard where the maidservant had brought her was once a place her mother, the Consort, had taken her when the Emperor went on excursions while she was still alive...

"Your Highness!" Linglong came rushing over and knelt before her. "This servant failed to remain by your side. It's been years, and the princess has grown so thin."

Linglong's tearful expression made Zhou Yao's heart ache. It was she who had neglected to eat and drink, yet she had let someone far away worry about her.

She quickly helped Linglong up from the ground, pretending to scold her. "Linglong, what are you doing? You've been by my side since childhood. How could you not know my temperament?"

Zhou Yao looked around the courtyard, recalling, "You must have seen my mother's appearance."

Linglong nodded hastily. "The Consort gave her instructions before she left. I swore to protect you with my life. My living in hiding at the Qi family's estate was already a sin deserving death, but to see the princess again is my greatest fortune, and I would not hesitate to die for you."

"Princess, the Consort's dying wish was for you to marry peacefully. Now that you and Prime Minister Qi are wed, why not make a good life together? Then her wish would be fulfilled."

Zhou Yao's gaze deepened as she looked at Linglong on the ground. She deliberately ignored her words, pushing her away with a feigned coldness. "The deed of release is in your hands. You are no longer a servant. So why call me mistress?"

"This servant... this servant..." Linglong's gaze faltered. After a long pause, she said, "I truly wish to stay by the princess's side and serve you."

Her evasive eyes made the observant Zhou Yao notice something off. Linglong was not a treacherous or petty person, but she had never been one to readily speak such vows of life and death. If she had been given the chance to leave back then, her old temperament would have led her to flee far away, not to return to the Qi Mansion upon hearing of Zhou Yao's comeback.

This single point baffled Zhou Yao. She thought it over carefully, then waved her hand to dismiss Linglong.

After turning away, Linglong let out a quiet sigh, believing her acting was seamless. She failed to notice Zhou Yao's intense stare on her back.

Zhou Yao couldn't figure out what connection Linglong had with Qi Yanhan, but she was as clear as a mirror that Qi Yanhan was hiding something from her.

This was not the first time she'd been to the Qi Mansion, nor would it be the last.

After an uneventful night, Zhou Yao rose early and sat by the window, replaying recent events in her mind. The mysterious female innkeeper, and how she'd been directed to the Jiuyao Kilns by a random passerby—one thing after another, all too coincidental.

Before she could sort out the threads, Zhou Yao packed her things and headed out of the Qi Mansion. There were still unfinished porcelain pieces at the kilns. She'd go over today and try to complete the remaining steps!

"Your Highness, wait." Qi Yanhan's gentle gaze rested on Zhou Yao. "Since you're going out, why not let Duyun escort you? Having a carriage at your disposal will certainly make things more convenient and might save you some time."

Zhou Yao raised an eyebrow, a vague answer forming in her mind. She pretended to be unconcerned. "Let's go."

"Yes." Qi Yanhan's eyes lingered on Zhou Yao's retreating figure, his fox-like gaze filled with cunning calculations.

The carriage was the same one as last night, but this time, many bystanders lined the streets.

Upon arriving at the Jiuyao Kilns, Zhou Yao noted Chen Yuwen's face as dark as the bottom of a pot and dared not say a word. She silently set to work, separating, washing, and dehydrating the filtered sand. By the time she finished, sweat had soaked her clothes, and beads of perspiration on her forehead were wiped away with her sleeve.

"All done?" Chen Yuwen lounged in a reclining chair in the shade of a large tree, watching her lazily.

She nodded, casually tucking stray hairs back into place, looking neat and tidy.

Chen Yuwen gave a satisfied nod and patted her shoulder. "Alright, go back for today. Come again tomorrow."

Zhou Yao was taken aback and instinctively wanted to refuse, but this abrupt change caught her off guard.

Out of nowhere, Bige came tearing in, knocking over tables and chairs. The sand that had been wrapped in gauze and separated toppled back into the basin...