The setting sun bathed the vast capital in a soft golden glow, casting a warm haze over the city.

Shi Buyu leaned against the carriage and looked up for a long while, until someone beside her reminded gently, “Miss, he’s returned.”

Blinking, Shi Buyu withdrew her gaze and looked toward the not-too-distant Yan residence. A man reined in his horse and dismounted with agility—light and swift enough to improve her mood. She didn’t know what he looked like yet, but at least he wasn’t some fat-faced, thick-eared oaf.

She watched him enter the house. After a moment, the woman driving the carriage moved forward and handed a letter to the servant who came out to greet them. “An old friend has come to visit.”

The servant, evidently experienced at reading people, didn’t dare be careless. He took the letter and rushed inside.

Another servant soon emerged to invite the two into the house, but Shi Buyu waved him off and continued looking up at the sky. The cloud that had looked like a fox—or perhaps a fish—had begun to stretch and fade.

She didn’t have to wait long. A steward-like man came striding out, led by the servant.

“I am Yan Ze. Our master is already waiting in the main hall. This way, please.”

Shi Buyu glanced at him. His features were upright, his demeanor honest—not the scheming sort.

As she followed him inside, she made no attempt to hide the way she scrutinized the residence. From what she knew, the estate had only one master, which meant the layout and design reflected that person’s character. Everything was symmetrical and orderly, clean and tasteful—nothing lacking, nothing excessive. It was flawless.

Shi Buyu let out a quiet laugh. Too perfect.

When she stepped into the main hall, the man who had been standing with his back to her turned around.

It was a face more handsome than she had expected.

Their eyes met. The man bowed first. “Yan Shi’an.”

“Shi Buyu,” she introduced herself and chose a chair on the left, sitting down as if she were in her own home.

Yan Shi’an paused slightly. “Shi…?”

“That’s right. The very Shi family set to be executed in three days.”

Yan Shi’an studied her, as if trying to find some resemblance to the Shi family in her face. Then he sat across from her and said, “It’s common knowledge that the Marquis of Loyal Valor had no daughter.”

“Let me jog your memory. The Shi family had a daughter, born with disaster at her heels—a cursed star. Spoke in full sentences at one year old, died young at three. Ring any bells?” Shi Buyu tapped her nose. “I’m that cursed star.”

She said it with such ease, even pride. Yan Shi’an laughed, playing along. “And what does the cursed star want?”

“Live up to the name, of course. For example…” Shi Buyu leaned forward slightly, “Take down his throne.”

The smile on Yan Shi’an’s face gradually faded. He looked down and unfolded the paper he had held in his palm. Written on it were two characters: Ji An.

Ji—the imperial surname.

“I wonder, Miss, this ‘old friend’ you speak of—who might that be?”

“A fake Taoist who gave himself the name Wu Xu. Nine out of ten of his fortunes are wrong—the one that’s right could scare a man to death.” Shi Buyu chuckled. “Even I think it sounds made up. You don’t have to believe it. He has nothing to do with what comes next. Yan Shi’an, I’m here to make a deal.”

Yan Shi’an cut straight to the point. “You want me to help save the Shi family.”

“Exactly.”

“Not easy.”

“If it were easy, I wouldn’t be here.”

Fair enough. Yan Shi’an’s gaze dropped. “Since it’s a deal, may I ask what you offer in return? The Shi family in my service from now on?”

“What I offer has only to do with me.” Shi Buyu stood and moved to sit beside him. As she adjusted her sleeve, she spoke leisurely, “You help me save my family—I’ll help you achieve your goal.”

Yan Shi’an had never met anyone quite like her… bold to the point of arrogance, yet speaking with a relaxed tone, as if she had only commented on the weather. He almost wondered if he was the one being overly cautious.

Silence stretched between them.

After a while, Yan Shi’an asked, “And what exactly gives you such confidence?”

“This.” Shi Buyu tapped her temple. “Agu.”

The woman who had quietly followed her like a shadow stepped forward and respectfully presented a scroll.

“This is my sincerity, Young Master Yan. Take a look and see if it pleases you.”

Yan Shi’an nodded to Yan Ze, who stepped forward, unrolled the scroll, and ran his finger from top to bottom. Seeing no color change on his skin, he passed it to his master with a nod.

A real-life poison test. He was careful to the extreme—but given his status, it was understandable. Shi Buyu watched Yan Ze’s finger with curiosity, wondering what trick lay behind it. She made a mental note to ask once they were more familiar.

Yan Shi’an’s gaze fell on the paper—and what he saw was completely unexpected.

Every official in the imperial court was listed. Each name laid out like a fish on a chopping board: which ones were red or white, which could be used, which should be discarded, which were dangerous, and which combinations could be “cooked” together. Their inner workings had been dissected clearly. Even the emperor might not understand his ministers so well.

Yan Shi’an knew several of the names well, and that only confirmed this wasn’t fabricated.

He took a deep breath and looked up at the woman resting her chin in her hand, smiling as if pleased with his reaction.

“You wrote this?”

“Every stroke of it.”

Yan Shi’an looked down again, his heartbeat quickening. If this was truly her ability, then this trade would be more than worth it. Even if there was someone powerful behind her—still worth the gamble. As long as the person could be used, he didn’t care how. And if it worked out, he’d gain an alliance with the Marquis of Loyal Valor’s family.

“Is there a time limit on this deal?”

It worked.

Shi Buyu leaned back, relaxing her shoulders. “Until the day you succeed.”

“What if I spend my whole life trying and still fail?”

“In my life, Shi Buyu does not break promises.”

Such confidence—bordering on arrogance.

A smile returned to Yan Shi’an’s handsome face. “A fugitive of the Shi family, an unknown imperial bloodline… I wonder which identity scares him more.”

“Right now, it’s you. Later—me.”

“We’ll see.” Yan Shi’an rolled up the scroll and handed it back. “What do you need me to do?”

Shi Buyu placed the scroll on the small table between them. “The people of the Marquis of Loyal Valor are skilled with long spears and dual blades. Prepare enough weapons and grappling hooks. After you rescue them, escort them out of the city. Once they’re out of the capital, they can protect themselves. As for those being exiled, send them to the pavilion just outside the west gate of Yu County. Hand them over to a man named Wu Fei.”

It sounded like she’d told him everything—but the true destination was hidden behind a name that was clearly just a waypoint. Yan Shi’an nodded. “Anything else?”

“One more favor.” Shi Buyu met his eyes. “I need to see them in prison. I’ll need their cooperation to make this work.”

“That’s not difficult,” Yan Shi’an agreed. “Come tomorrow at the start of the si hour [around 9 a.m.], I’ll have everything arranged.”

“Thank you.”