Nineteen nineteen.

Before the fire broke out, Pei Heng had not sensed anything amiss. Just as he was about to seize the man in black, a hidden weapon struck him, and suddenly it felt as if a raging fire had ignited within him. A restless agitation surged inexplicably in his chest, nearly causing him to lose his grip.

The two other generals assisting in the capture also faltered at that crucial moment. Upon reflection, Pei Heng suspected that the last cup of wine he drank was tainted.

Given his unique status, he could not risk exposure. Before the toxin took full effect, he slipped away into an empty courtyard.

Occasionally, light footsteps fell on the eaves above. Pei Heng was almost certain it was the man in black searching for him.

His heart quickened, a cold sweat broke out on his back. The poison spread slowly but deeply into his bones, the fever burning his heart, clouding his thoughts. His entire attention focused on the surrounding sounds. He listened as the footsteps on the roof receded, only to be replaced by a light, careless step approaching from the corridor.

He needed reason to distinguish others' footsteps, but for Yue Zhi, he had known her every detail since childhood. Without thinking, he pulled her in.

What was he trying to do?

Even he did not know.

He only felt ill at ease, like when he was a child running a high fever or suffering from a bad stomach, caught between excitement and weakness. He wanted to seek solace in her arms, to calm the fire within him.

He inhaled her gentle fragrance, his palm gripping her slender wrist. Even her startled, shallow breaths brushed against the back of his hand. She was so soft, so light—like a bud on a branch, easily held in the palm of his hand.

She smelled sweet and warm, faint traces of wine lingering in her breath.

Pei Heng bit his lower lip hard.

Yue Zhi was the most important person in his life. How could he impose his filthy, tangled desires upon her?

His lips bled, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. He did not regain clarity but instead felt like a man dying of thirst in the desert, instinctively reaching for the lifeline she represented.

Her temper was gentle; even when angry, she would never strike him. A light touch was all it would take—she would surely forgive him.

His bloodied lips parted slightly, nearly touching the elegant curve of her neck.

"Pei Heng?" she whispered softly.

Her fragile, wavering voice tightened his heart. The boiling blood within him cooled halfway, his grip on her wrist slackened. He did not know where to place his hand.

Yue Zhi felt as if she were dreaming. Adjusting to the dark, she looked at the side of his face resting in the hollow of her neck. His youthful jawline was sharp, his nose straight and proud. A bead of blood glistened on his thin lips.

Carefully, she touched his injured lips, wiping away the fresh blood with her sleeve, frowning. "How did you get hurt?"

Hearing her concern, the chaotic noise in Pei Heng’s mind vanished. All that remained was the peace of being near her.

Others cared only for his achievements, his strength, his status. Only Yue Zhi cared for him, genuinely.

He had nearly been disrespectful to her in his daze, yet she worried over the wounds on his lips…

The restlessness within him eased slightly. Like a child, he lay his head on her, "It’s nothing; I’ll be fine soon."

Yue Zhi lay on the ground, her head growing cool. She stroked the fine strands of hair in his ponytail, her gaze vacant as it fixed on the beam above, silent for a long moment.

"Yue Zhi, did you drink?"

"Just a little."

"Don’t drink again next time. It harms your health."

"Mm."

The sound of their hearts beating intertwined, occasional soft murmurs like the whispers of dreams, every question answered.

---

In the unfamiliar darkness, the two found a rare sense of security—not because of the bricks and tiles surrounding them, but because their hearts beat close together. Even a few trivial words felt like the music of flowing streams on lofty mountains, soothing body and soul.

Sounds in the room gradually diminished. One was sobered by the wine; the other's poison had slightly abated. After half an hour, they helped each other and left the room.

When they were finally found, the household staff relaxed. From the steward, they learned that the assassin’s body had been recovered.

The assassin had hidden in the garden’s rockery, intending to strike again amid the chaos of the fire. But Pei Heng’s hidden weapon was poisoned. By the time the man sensed something was wrong, it was too late—he died in a dark corner.

Yue Zhi did not listen to further details. She was escorted by the nanny into the carriage. After a while, Pei Heng joined her, and together they returned home.

Once the carriage left the Marquis’s estate, Yue Zhi asked the question that had been nagging her, “What happened to you back there?”

Pei Heng said nothing, leaning wearily against her shoulder and exhaling deeply.

Perhaps sensing his fatigue, Yue Zhi did not press further.

She reached up to rub his cheek, lowering her hand to gaze out the window at the streetlights illuminating the night. She did not see the boy raise his hand to touch the back of her hand, only to hesitate, frozen mid-air.

It was rare for them to return home together. Yue Zhi watched him enter the East Wing room before returning to her own chamber.

She undressed and lay on the bed, yet her heart remained restless. Closing her eyes, she seemed to return to that cramped little room, as if Pei Heng’s breath still whispered beside her…

Tossing and turning until past midnight, sleep eluded her. Though it was spring, the night felt oppressively hot, like summer.

Yue Zhi got up and poured herself a cup of cool tea. After drinking, she felt some relief from the heat and sat by the table, staring blankly outside. The West Wing was silent, but in the East Wing’s window was a hesitant shadow.

Was Pei Heng also unable to sleep?

Lost in thought, Yue Zhi wrapped a coat around her and stepped out the door.

---

In the East Wing, Pei Heng sat on the edge of the bed, his heart pounding.

Though the burning poison within had temporarily cooled, his face was hotter than before. A strange urge surged inside him, wanting to do something, yet not knowing what. Instinctively, he longed to see Yue Zhi.

In the room, in the carriage, by her side, his body had been normal. Only back alone in his room, facing the lonely night, did he feel the heat rise again.

Perhaps just one glance would be enough.

He swallowed hard, rose, and quietly opened the door. Standing before him was a slender figure, pale cheeks illuminated by cold moonlight. She looked up at him, her expression briefly uncertain.

In that instant, it was as if a celestial maiden had descended from the heavens. Their spirits connected, and Pei Heng’s breath caught.

Yue Zhi had not expected him to open the door so suddenly. Her hand, poised to knock, dropped to her side.

“Why are you still here at the Marquis’s estate? The assassin who was caught—was he sent for the Marquis of Jing’an, or for you?”

There were many questions she wanted to ask. The Marquis’s sudden promotion, the unexplained proposal for their families to marry, the mention of some “important matter” today—all of it she knew nothing about.

“Since you became involved with the Marquis’s estate, you’ve stopped telling me about your military affairs…”

Those around her told her that a man must grow up, go out into the world, establish a family and career. She knew Pei Heng was clever and capable, that she could never keep pace with him. Sooner or later, she would become a forgotten memory in his mind.

But understanding this and truly facing it were two different things. She could not easily let go; her heart felt suffocated.

She lowered her head slowly, hearing no reply. Her heart shrank bit by bit, filled with fear and pain.

A hand reached out, gently tugging at her sleeve.

She looked up into the young man’s slightly embarrassed, flushed face. He stammered, “It’s cold outside. Come in and talk.”

---

He did not grip her hand tightly, yet Yue Zhi did not hesitate and stepped inside.

Pei Heng was nervous. He moved a chair for her and sat opposite, the same face in the night, now clear-eyed and free from the haze of intoxication, filled only with concern for her.

Her presence was like a miracle cure. Even a few words of silence slowed his racing heart and cooled the fever burning his cheeks, soft and warm as a spring breeze.

He wanted to hold her hand, as he did when they were children.

But they had grown up. He was no longer a boy who could cry or whine, but a man who must stand tall for her.

His hands brushed over her sleeves but did not grasp them, letting them slip through his fingers.

Looking at her gave him confidence, the strength to fight with all he had.

“The emperor is gravely ill, and the court is in turmoil. The Marquis of Jing’an refuses to sit idle. He has allied with me to enter the capital under the pretense of purging the corrupt, attacking as defense. He can preserve his domain in Liangzhou, and I… I hope to fight for a broader future.”

Hearing this, Yue Zhi’s anxious heart settled. She could almost hear her own frantic heartbeat.

No wonder he never spoke of military matters. This was not a baseless accusation but open rebellion! If even a whisper leaked, the capital of Yanjing would fall, and neither she nor he would have a grave to be buried in.

She opened her mouth several times but found no words.

Today, an assassin entered the Marquis’s estate. It was clear someone sought their lives. To attack was a gamble for survival; to retreat was to invite death.

“Will you come back?” she asked the question that weighed heaviest on her heart.

“Of course,” Pei Heng smiled faintly. “As long as you are here, whether I succeed or fail, I will return to you.”

His regard soothed the insecurities deep within Yue Zhi. She smiled back, “Then I will wait for you.”

If victorious, they would share glory and ease.

If defeated, they would wander the world together.

She was willing.

---

The long night gave way to the first light of dawn. Spring mist lingered, and parting came unbidden.

Outside Yanjing, troops assembled, banners raised. Within the city, parents, wives, and children gathered to bid farewell to the soldiers, the crowd growing denser.

A slender figure stood on tiptoe, straining to catch a glimpse of the youth.

“Sister, cousin is over there!”

Following Hua Qing’s gesture, Yue Zhi saw the young silver-armored officer mounted on horseback. He wore the boots she had made. His upright figure seemed to sense her gaze, turning slightly atop his horse.

Yue Zhi stood on tiptoe, waving to him. Her fluttering sleeves were like butterflies returning in spring, lighting up his eyes once more.

Pei Heng drew a deep breath, holding back tears, and smiled, waving for her to return early.

The ranks moved forward, and the parting figure faded into the distance.