Jinglian couldn’t help but start reminiscing about the past two years.

He had almost never left Xie Yun’s side. He knew that Xie Yun and Sang Yao had not met many times; one was a court official, and the other was a lady who rarely left her boudoir. It was difficult for these two to have any connection.

Only at large palace banquets did they have the opportunity to meet. But even at palace banquets, they couldn’t meet every time.

His thoughts drifted, and he remembered the first time he thought Xie Yun and Sang Yao were a good match.

At that time, Sang Yao was still young, and Xie Yun had just entered the court.

Because Xie Yun had helped Sang Yao once, even though her young mistress was not likable due to her young age, Sang Yao still took the initiative to greet him and thank him the next time she saw Xie Yun.

That meeting was rare, and Jinglian forgot the specific details.

Anyway, on that day, he saw the soft and lovely little girl staring at Xie Yun for a long time.

Then, when the two happened to be standing together, she gathered the courage to say to him, “Brother, I embroidered a little butterfly. Can I give it to you?”

Without even looking at her, Xie Yun replied, “No.”

This was actually in line with Xie Yun’s usual style.

Xie Yun from a few years ago was even more aloof than the current Xie Yun.

It would have been strange if he had agreed.

Sang Yao, however, didn’t give up and said, “But my father said we should repay kindness.”

She grabbed Xie Yun’s sleeve and said, “Can you wait for me? I’ll go get it.”

Xie Yun pulled his sleeve back from her hand and said, “I don’t want to say it a second time.”

After that, Sang Yao didn’t say anything more. She was probably hurt by her unsympathetic master.

But as she was about to leave, Sang Yao stood in front of Xie Yun and urgently said, “Wait for me, brother. I’ll be back in half an hour.”

After saying that, she ran out without waiting for Xie Yun’s response.

Maybe she was afraid that Xie Yun would refuse her again, or she was worried that saying one more thing would waste Xie Yun’s time.

Half an hour was actually very short, but he still asked Xie Yun, “Master, should we wait?”

Without waiting, Xie Yun just left.

It was early summer that year when Xie Yun returned to the Hanlin Academy.

Chen Ke was waiting for him there, and the two talked in the bright study.

After what felt like a long time, when Jinglian felt a bit bored, he casually glanced at his master.

Chen Ke was still talking incessantly, but the seventeen-year-old Xie Yun was not listening attentively.

Rarely, someone else was as lost in thought as him, but his gaze fell outside the door.

It was noon, the sunlight was bright, shining on the steps, and the lush camphor trees cast large patches of shade.

Jinglian didn’t know.

In that moment, did Xie Yun think of the girl who said she had embroidered a little butterfly for him?

She might have run back to where she had said she would be, only to find him gone.

Xie Yun’s original intention in coming to the study was to stay for at least an hour so that when Sang Yao finished her work and remembered him, she would have to come find him herself.

Who asked her to ignore him just now?

But after idly looking around for half an hour, Xie Yun felt really bored and stood up to walk back by himself.

———-

The candlelight in the room was still bright.

Sang Yao was still leaning against the flower stand, holding a basket of messy embroidery threads, her long black hair loose.

The girl gently closed her eyes, feeling relaxed.

Perhaps it was because he had heard too much of that boring talk, or perhaps it was influenced by Jinglian, but uncontrollably, a few words came to Xie Yun’s mind.

He Really like her.

He couldn’t deny it.

Xie Yun slowed his pace and walked over. He took the thing from her hand and then embraced her, letting the handkerchief that had been placed on the armrest gently fall.

Xie Yun took her to the bed.

His movements were gentle, but Sang Yao was still somewhat awake. She leaned against his chest and murmured, “I haven’t finished yet.”

Xie Yun said, “No need to finish.”

Sang Yao opened her eyes. Xie Yun had already laid her on the bed, but she still didn’t let go of his hand. She asked, “Where did you go just now?”

Xie Yun certainly wouldn’t tell Sang Yao that he had just waited for her to coax him. He just said, “I had something to take care of.”

Sang Yao responded with an “Oh.”

She looked to where she had been sitting before and saw that the freshly embroidered white handkerchief had fallen to the ground at some point.

She frowned and exclaimed, “My handkerchief!”

When Sang Yao wanted to get up to pick it up, Xie Yun held her down and picked it up himself.

The cotton handkerchief was soft and wrapped around his fingertips. It was a newly made handkerchief with a simple design in the upper left corner—a butterfly spreading its wings.

Xie Yun paused for a moment, frowning as he looked at the simple pattern. Although simple, the embroidery technique was very unique.

Unlike the lifelike embroideries popular nowadays, this butterfly had its wings straight and flat, embroidered in a traditional style in the corner, with no other patterns around it.

However, because of this, it had a rigorous sense of beauty.

Women’s handkerchiefs were mostly made of colorful silk or muslin, but the one in his hand was obviously made for a man.

Xie Yun gathered the handkerchief in his palm, his thin lips slightly curled.

He knew that if even Jinglian appreciated it, he couldn’t possibly not.

The pattern was exquisite, and the embroidery was intricate. It was obvious that Sang Yao had spent a long time working on it.

He approached Sang Yao and then kissed her lips gently, saying, “I really like it.”

Sang Yao smiled and replied, “That’s good.”

She took the handkerchief back from Xie Yun and said, “If you like it, then other men will surely like it too.”

Xie Yun asked, “…Other men?”

Sang Yao nodded and said, “I’ll take it to the embroidery shop tomorrow. After they finish it quickly, I can sell it.”

“…”

Great, not only was this not for him, it was specifically designed for other men.

Xie Yun stared at her pretty face and said patiently, “Then what have you prepared for me?”

Sang Yao exclaimed, “What?”

After a moment, she continued, “You don’t need anything. Don’t you have plenty already?”

Under Xie Yun’s displeased gaze, Sang Yao folded the handkerchief in her hand and said, “Let’s go to sleep.”

But Xie Yun still stood there motionless, still thinking about the unique blue butterfly from earlier.

He didn’t know why, but he cared about it a lot.

Seeing that he was still staring at the thing in her hand and hadn’t asked yet, Sang Yao suddenly reached out and squeezed the handkerchief in her hand.

He said in a tone that brooked no refusal, “Give this to me.”

Sang Yao looked at her empty palm, stunned.

What was Xie Yun doing? Was he trying to take her things?

She moved closer to Xie Yun and said, “What are you doing? Give it back to me.”

“But I’ve already talked to Second Sister-in-law.”

“I’ll explain to her tomorrow.”

Sang Yao was still confused, which didn’t seem like something Xie Yun would do. When did he become so childish?

“I’ll make you a better one next time. Give this one back to me first.”

“Or I’ll give it back to you in a few days.”

She reached out to take it, but Xie Yun, with his height advantage, held the handkerchief high so she couldn’t reach it.

Even more childish, what was he doing!

“You really don’t want to give it to me?” Sang Yao asked. “Xie Yun, what’s wrong with you? Give it back to me quickly.”

Xie Yun said, “This pattern is not allowed to be sold.”

Sang Yao was a little angry. “Why not?”

Xie Yun didn’t answer.

Sang Yao said again, “Give it back to me.”

Sang Yao couldn’t reach it.

At first, she could talk to Xie Yun nicely, but when she saw that he was unresponsive, she became increasingly angry.

She sat on the bed, no longer playing this childish game with him.

Although she hadn’t spent much time on this little butterfly, and it wasn’t important, she didn’t like Xie Yun’s behavior.

Although this was just a simple embroidery pattern, she didn’t want to dispose of it casually.

She could find value and meaning in this matter and didn’t want to disappoint others, so she took every embroidery pattern very seriously.

Thinking about it, she sat in front of him and tears welled up in her eyes.

This trick was always very effective, and this time was no exception.

There was silence for a moment.

Soon, the man bent down and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Sang Yao turned her face away, tears in her eyes. “You tell me what’s wrong.”

After a moment of silence, Xie Yun was still holding the handkerchief gently in his palm.

He pursed his lips, and in the end, he handed the handkerchief to Sang Yao, reluctantly saying, “I won’t tease you anymore. Here, take it back.”

Sang Yao thought to herself, Are you teasing me? You clearly want it very much.

She snorted and pointed to the small table. “Put it there. You’re not allowed to touch it anymore.”

“…”

Xie Yun placed the handkerchief there.

Sang Yao was still angry.

She didn’t want to talk to him and lay down on the bed, turning away from him.

Xie Yun embraced her and said, “Don’t be angry.”

Sang Yao didn’t say anything.

After a moment of silence, Xie Yun whispered in her ear, “You didn’t pay any attention to me when I came back today, and you didn’t give me the butterfly handkerchief.”

He was still not very skilled at coaxing people.

He wished he had tried a different approach earlier.

Compared to Sang Yao’s tears, the butterfly didn’t seem so important anymore.

He forced Sang Yao into his arms and said, “Don’t be angry.”

“I won’t snatch yours next time.”

“Can you embroider it for me when you have time?”

“Don’t be angry.”

Why did he only know how to say this?

Actually, Sang Yao forgave him when he said the first sentence, but she wanted to hear him coax her a little more, so she pretended to still be angry and didn’t say anything.

Xie Yun would occasionally kiss her.

She had planned to stop being angry after hearing him say a few more words, but she was extremely tired, and Xie Yun’s gentle voice when he coaxed her was very pleasant to hear.

And so it went.

She listened until she fell asleep.

But it was okay.

Xie Yun said he wouldn’t attend court tomorrow.

However, early the next morning, Xie Yun left again.

Xia Yun said something came up suddenly, and he had to go in person.

Today, Sang Yao happened to be going to replace Yu Zhi to visit the several shops under the Xie family’s name.

But before she left, she received a letter from the Sang family.

This time it was from her younger uncle’s side, and when she opened it, it was a note from Sang Yinyue.

Her handwriting was not very good, resembling a dog’s crawl, making it very recognizable.

The content of the letter was very simple. It roughly said that she couldn’t stand her parents’ urging and preaching at home, and wanted to travel alone.

However, without her parents’ help, she didn’t have enough money and didn’t know how to arrange it. So, she came to ask for help from her younger sister.

She also naturally made an appointment with her, saying they would meet at noon.

Sang Yao thought she was being unrealistic and didn’t want to see her.

The morning passed quickly.

As she passed by a tavern on her way back, she looked up at the tavern sign, which was exactly the same as what Sang Yinyue had said in her letter.

Ran Dong asked, “Miss, are you going to see Miss Sang?”

Sang Yao hesitated for a moment and said, “Stop here.”

Sang Yinyue was indeed being unrealistic, but if she really could go freely into the vast world, it wouldn’t be bad.

However, when she pushed open the door, she didn’t see Sang Yinyue, but another unexpected person, Mingrong.

Sang Yao quietly clenched her sleeve, glancing behind her without leaving a trace.

Huai Dream also blocked in front of Sang Yao.

Sang Yao frowned. “Where’s my cousin?”

Mingrong looked very haggard. She lowered her posture and said frankly, “Sang Yao, I want to see you today. Don’t rush to leave, listen to me.”

“I won’t harm your cousin. Just promise me one condition.”

“…” Sang Yao never expected that one day someone would threaten her with Sang Yinyue.

She took a step back and said, “I can’t save Rong Yan.”

And why should she save him?

Mingrong shook her head. “Who asked you to save him? Sang Yao, can you help me?”

Sang Yao pursed her lips and weighed her options. “Forget it. Do whatever you want with Sang Yinyue.”

If she agreed to Mingrong today, she would inevitably be in a passive position.

Anything related to Mingrong must be about Rong Yan, and if Mingrong came to her, she must want her to interfere with Xie Yun’s decision.

If she insisted on not agreeing, for the current Mingrong, killing Sang Yinyue would be troublesome for herself.

So, regardless of whether Sang Yinyue was there or not, Mingrong would come to ask her.

She turned to leave, but Mingrong reached out to grab Sang Yao’s wrist. Ran Dong quickly stepped forward to stop her, warning in a low voice:

“Miss Ming, please be mindful of your boundaries.”

Mingrong withdrew her hand and looked around before saying softly, “I won’t harm your cousin. Sang Yao, I know you’ve just entered the Xie family and must be facing many difficulties. I have a way to help you stand firm, as long as you help me.”

“Come in first, and we’ll talk in detail.”

Sang Yao had been standing at the door the whole time, with no intention of going in.

She was slow, not stupid, and realized that Mingrong might have come prepared today.

She couldn’t fall into a trap.

“Just for the sake of our old acquaintance, help me, okay?”

She didn’t directly refuse. Instead, she asked, “What do you want me to do?”

Mingrong didn’t expect Sang Yao to agree so quickly.

She was stunned for a moment before saying, “I’m not asking for much. Just ask Xie Yun to help me leave the capital.”

Sang Yao said, “I understand. I’ll leave now.”

Mingrong reminded her, “Don’t forget.”

But Sang Yao had already left, clearly not wanting to stay in front of Mingrong any longer.

An old woman came out of the room and stood beside Mingrong, whispering, “You let her go like this?”

Mingrong’s face turned extremely ugly. She said, “Didn’t you see? The person beside her is not an ordinary maid.”

“But this is your last chance. Do you think it will be so easy next time?”

Unless she had no other choice, Mingrong wouldn’t come to find Sang Yao.

She couldn’t ask Lu Li and couldn’t see Xie Yun, so she had to find a way through Sang Yao.

Although Sang Yao had agreed to help her just now, she probably wouldn’t actually help her.

“Xie Yun was ordered by the emperor to go to Minghua Temple this morning and won’t be back for a while. Lu Li is a lunatic, only Xie Yun can control him.”

“But if I touch Sang Yao…”

The old woman nodded and said, “But only by using Sang Yao to threaten Xie Yun do you have a chance.”

As long as she left the capital, she would have a chance…

Sang Yao’s pace quickened, and she didn’t say anything.

She didn’t understand how things had progressed with Rong Yan, nor did she know how Mingrong knew that Sang Yinyue was going to see her today.

But she understood that she hadn’t brought many guards with her when she left today.

Although she had Ran Dong, if Mingrong became desperate, it wouldn’t be good for her.

The footsteps behind her seemed to be getting closer, blending in with the crowd and not being obvious.

Sang Yao didn’t dare to speculate too much. Her back felt cold, and she didn’t dare to delay for a moment.

It wasn’t until she turned a corner and saw Xie Yun walking towards her not far away from the tavern that she completely relaxed.

Xie Yun had originally planned to come back in the evening, but since he had said he would rest today, he felt uncomfortable when he was asked to come yesterday and hadn’t comforted Sang Yao properly last night.

So, he hurried back.

When he came back, he happened to see the stopped carriage here and came up to see her.

But just as she was about to reach Xie Yun and could almost touch him, she suddenly felt a cold wind on her back.

Everything happened in an instant.

She saw Xie Yun’s face change abruptly, and then he quickly reached out to pull her. Sang Yao felt herself being turned around, followed by a crisp sound.

She lowered her head and saw a sharp curved knife, stained with blood.