After that day, Yuwen Zhao was like a changed man.

He stopped going out of his way to make things difficult for me. Instead, he often stared at me as if he had something to say.

Whenever I looked back, he would flee in a panic.

As it happened more often, I realized that while Yuwen Zhao knew everything and could calculate any scheme, he was incredibly naive when it came to matters of the heart.

Even Xiaoju noticed the strange atmosphere. She whispered to me, “Did you offend the Master? I saw him repairing his zither… You have no idea how much he treasures that instrument!”

I didn’t know how to explain it to her, so I could only pretend to be busy to change the subject.

But as I worked, I suddenly remembered that my mother and younger brother were still in Qin Yiheng’s hands.

If I were dead, he would surely treat them well, but what if he knew I was alive?

Just as the thought crossed my mind, I seemed to hear Qin Yiheng’s voice: “Niantang!”

Then, before I could react, a pair of arms pulled me into a forceful embrace.

It suddenly dawned on me—Yuwen Zhao had agreed to Qin Yiheng’s terms. Of course he would come.

“You’re alive! You’re really alive!”

I began to struggle, but I was no match for Qin Yiheng’s strength. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by. Qin Yiheng let go of me, and Yuwen Zhao pulled me to his side.

Qin Yiheng slowly regained his composure. He looked at Yuwen Zhao’s hand gripping mine. “Mr. Yuwen possesses talent enough to rule the world, yet I wonder what logic allows you to steal another man’s wife?”

Yuwen Zhao fanned himself, looking every bit the elegant scholar. “Isn’t your esteemed wife resting comfortably in the Prince of Jin’s manor?”

At those words, I saw Qin Yiheng stiffen abruptly, his face turning deathly pale.

He didn’t look at Yuwen Zhao; he only looked at me, his eyes filled with a world of pain.

From the moment I fell into the water, I had resolved to sever all ties with him. I just hadn’t expected to see him again.

I turned my head away and sighed inwardly. It seemed this wouldn’t end peacefully today.

After thinking it over, only Yuwen Zhao could help me. I secretly took his hand and traced a line of words in his palm: Make him leave. I will repay this debt with my life.

Yuwen Zhao jerked his hand back as if burned, but then he pulled me into his arms, shielding me from Qin Yiheng’s gaze.

He gave a cold laugh. “Could it be that you have designs on my wife?”

Startled, I couldn’t help but look up at him.

I saw Qin Yiheng’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared back. “What is the meaning of this, Mr. Yuwen?”

Yuwen Zhao only said one thing: “Don’t forget the agreement between us.”

Qin Yiheng’s face turned even paler, and he finally left, looking utterly despondent.

I knew why.

The throne. All of Qin Yiheng’s years of effort and ambition—that was the one thing he could never let go of.

After that day, Yuwen Zhao seemed like a different person.

He no longer went out of his way to make things difficult for me; instead, he often stared at me as if he had something to say.

Whenever I looked back, he would flee in a panic.

After this happened a few times, I realized that while Yuwen Zhao knew everything and could calculate anything, he was hopelessly naive when it came to matters of the heart.

This strange atmosphere was so obvious that even Xiao Ju noticed. She whispered to me, “Did you offend the Master? I saw him repairing a zither… you don’t know, he treasures that instrument more than anything!”

I didn’t know how to explain it to her, so I just pretended to be busy to change the subject.

But as I busied myself, I suddenly thought of my stepmother and younger brother, who were still in Qin Yiheng’s hands.

If I were dead, he would surely treat them well, but what if he found out I was still alive?

Just as I was thinking this, I seemed to hear Qin Yiheng’s voice: “Niantang!”

Before I could react, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around me.

I suddenly remembered that Yuwen Zhao had agreed to Qin Yiheng’s conditions; of course he would come.

“You’re not dead! You’re really not dead!”

I struggled, but I was no match for Qin Yiheng’s strength. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, Qin Yiheng released me, and Yuwen Zhao pulled me to his side.

Qin Yiheng slowly regained his composure. He looked at the hand Yuwen Zhao had on me and said, “Master Yuwen possesses the talent of the world, yet does he not know the impropriety of seizing another man’s wife?”

Yuwen Zhao fanned himself, looking perfectly elegant. “Isn’t your wife still sitting safely in the Prince of Jin’s estate?”

As soon as those words left his mouth, I saw Qin Yiheng stiffen, his face turning deathly pale.

He didn’t look at Yuwen Zhao, only at me, his eyes filled with immense pain.

From the moment I fell into the water, I had resolved to cut all ties with him, but I never expected to see him again.

I turned my head away and sighed inwardly. It seemed today wouldn’t end peacefully.

Thinking it over, only Yuwen Zhao could help me. I secretly pulled on Yuwen Zhao’s hand and wrote a line on his palm: *Let him go, I will repay him with my life.*

Yuwen Zhao reacted as if he’d been burned, suddenly letting go of my hand, only to pull me into his arms and hold me firmly, shielding me from Qin Yiheng’s gaze.

He sneered, “Could it be that you have designs on my wife?”

I was startled and couldn’t help but look up at him.

I saw that Qin Yiheng’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared back at him. “What does Master Yuwen mean by that?”

Yuwen Zhao only said one thing: “Don’t forget your agreement with me.”

Qin Yiheng’s face turned deathly pale, and he left in a state of utter despair.

I knew why.

The throne—all of Qin Yiheng’s years of hard work and ambition; that was the one thing he couldn’t let go of.

After that day, Yuwen Zhao seemed like a different person.

He no longer went out of his way to make things difficult for me. Instead, he often stared at me as if he had something to say.

But the moment I looked back, he would flee in embarrassment.

After this happened several times, I realized that while Yuwen Zhao knew everything and could calculate any outcome, he was incredibly naive when it came to the matter of love.

Even Xiaoju noticed the strange atmosphere. She whispered to me, “Did you offend Master? I saw him repairing the zither… You have no idea how much he treasures that instrument!”

I didn’t know how to explain it to her, so I could only pretend to be busy to change the subject.

But as I worked, I suddenly remembered that my mother and younger brother were still in Qin Yiheng’s hands.

If I were dead, he would surely treat them well. But what if he found out I was alive?

Just as I was thinking this, I seemed to hear Qin Yiheng’s voice: “Niantang!”

Then, before I could react, a pair of arms pulled me into a forceful embrace.

It suddenly hit me—Yuwen Zhao had agreed to Qin Yiheng’s conditions, so of course he would come.

“You’re not dead! You’re really not dead!”

I began to struggle, but I was no match for Qin Yiheng’s strength. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past; Qin Yiheng let go of me, and Yuwen Zhao pulled me to stand by his side.

Qin Yiheng slowly regained his composure. He looked at Yuwen Zhao’s hand holding mine. “Mister Yuwen possesses talent that could rule the world, yet you don’t know the principle against stealing another man’s wife?”

Yuwen Zhao fanned himself, looking every bit the elegant scholar. “Is your esteemed wife not staying safely within the Prince Jin’s manor?”

At those words, I saw Qin Yiheng stiffen abruptly, his face turning deathly pale.

He didn’t look at Yuwen Zhao; he only looked at me, his eyes filled with what seemed like a thousand agonies.

From the moment I fell into the water, I had resolved to cut all ties with him. I just hadn’t expected to see him again.

I turned my head away and sighed inwardly. It seemed today would not end peacefully.

After thinking it over, I realized only Yuwen Zhao could help me. I secretly took Yuwen Zhao’s hand and wrote a line in his palm: *Let him go. I will repay this debt in this life and the next.*

Yuwen Zhao’s hand flinched as if burned, but he suddenly pulled me into his arms, holding me firmly and shielding me from Qin Yiheng’s gaze.

He gave a cold laugh. “Could it be that you have designs on my wife?”

I was startled and couldn’t help but look up at him.

I saw that Qin Yiheng’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared back fixedly. “What is the meaning of this, Mister Yuwen?”

Yuwen Zhao only said one thing: “Don’t forget the agreement between you and me.”

Qin Yiheng’s face turned pale instantly, and he finally left, looking utterly soul-crushed.

I knew why.

The throne. All of Qin Yiheng’s years of effort and ambition—that was the one thing he could never let go of.