Why are you so kind to me?

After successfully climbing into a man’s bed, it isn’t unheard of to then marry an ideal husband. In fact, among royalty or noble families, this can be considered a promising way to ascend from obscurity to prominence. Many women have chosen this path. I always wondered why they didn’t devote such determination to more interesting pursuits. Relying on a man, especially one for whom many women compete, is hardly a dependable foundation. My mother is a phoenix, and as her daughter, I am a little phoenix myself. There’s no need for me to stoop to the tricks of barnyard hens. Though I was heartbroken, I disdained to compete with Qiao Ruoqing, nor would I bargain my body for love—I would rather forgo it altogether. I didn’t want to guess whether Yun Heng harbored feelings for Qiao Ruoqing. My own heart was in turmoil; I strode abruptly to the table, and when I saw the half-filled cup, I swept it to the floor, shattering it with a crash.

The sound jolted me back to reality.

I was no longer the exalted Princess—no longer free to throw tantrums or break things at will, with servants kneeling for forgiveness and cleaning up after me.

Yun Heng, Yun Heng, I resolved then and there: when I return, I must demand clarity, or at least come to terms with it myself. I can’t go on drifting aimlessly like this.

The moment the cup shattered, my mind cleared once more, and almost simultaneously, the door was flung open.

Kong Jue Lin hadn’t gone far. As he entered, I was stooping to pick up a shard. The abrupt noise startled me, and the shard cut my hand.

“What are you doing?” Kong Jue Lin strode over, tossed away the shard I was holding, and helped me up. “All because I teased you a little about you and Ye Xuan? Is that any reason to be so distraught?”

What? Did I mishear him?

Just then, Li Ye Xuan entered, evidently having heard Kong Jue Lin’s words. His expression had stiffened.

“Kong Jue Lin, with your imagination, why don’t you write novels? Distraught? I just broke a cup by accident, was picking up the pieces when you barged in and startled me. What are you thinking, you blockhead?”

I half-expected Kong Jue Lin to fly into a rage, but instead, he only rubbed his nose and praised my quick wit, admitting he’d make a good novelist.

Li Ye Xuan said nothing and left.

“Ye Xuan is clearly interested in you—can’t you tell?” Kong Jue Lin looked at me.

“I don’t know.” I turned away, avoiding his gaze. Li Ye Xuan was a prince of Yuehua; perhaps he was entangled in the fall of Lingyun, too. I’d seen him in Lingyun’s palace. I truly didn’t want to think about any of this.

Kong Jue Lin smiled and departed, calling for a waiter to clean up. With a tip of silver, the waiter worked swiftly.

Li Ye Xuan returned, carrying some items.

“Sit down,” he said.

Obediently, I sat at the table. He took my hand and carefully sprinkled medicinal powder on the cut, then bandaged it.

“Why are you so kind to me?” I couldn’t help but ask. He was a prince, while I was but a maid, a runaway from a general’s household, with no value to offer—there was no reason for Li Ye Xuan to go so far for me.

“I was the one who took you drinking. I have to take responsibility.”

“Are you trying to prove you’re a responsible man, Your Highness?” I withdrew my bandaged hand.

“I told you, I don’t like it when you call me ‘Your Highness.’”

“Then I’ll call you Master Li. Calling you Li Ye Xuan all the time makes me sound uncultured.”

“Suit yourself. Mu Fan, you’re troubled.”

Indeed, no one knows me better than Li Ye Xuan.

“Li Ye Xuan, are you prying into my thoughts?” I folded my arms and looked at him, lips curled in a confident, challenging smile.

“Oh? Is that what you think?”

“What else?”

“A wound to the hand can be healed by others. But the wounds within can only be healed by oneself.”

Li Ye Xuan was surprisingly gentle—he didn’t take the chance to chide me, and for a moment I wondered if I’d misheard.

“Mu Fan is grateful for your advice.” After all, he only meant to console me; I couldn’t be rude—I’m not that kind of person.

“When did you become so tame—keeping those claws of yours sheathed? It’s a little unsettling,” Li Ye Xuan teased, likening me to a cat. I understood the jest.

“Tell me, did I say anything last night?” I asked, genuinely anxious, worried I might have revealed a secret.

“You were just rambling drunken nonsense—nothing coherent.”

“Yes, yes, I always babble after drinking—it’s just nonsense. No need to take it seriously, really.”

“Let’s go check on that girl. She’ll likely have figured things out by now.”

“Alright.”

We entered the young woman’s room, only to find it empty. On the table lay a letter:

Thank you all for saving my life. After a night’s reflection, I realized how foolish my attempt was. We will meet again, and when we do, I shall repay your kindness tenfold. Signed, Jin Yu.

“It seems she’s come to her senses,” Li Ye Xuan remarked.

“That’s all for the best.”

“Why were you so intent on saving her?”

“Her eyes.”

“Her eyes?” Kong Jue Lin had come in and heard our conversation.

“She’s suffered a great deal—her gaze held a deep, heartfelt resentment. But there was also a touch of indomitable spirit. She’s merely fallen on hard times. If she can pull through, she’ll live well.” I tapped the table twice as I spoke.

“Women are just more perceptive.”

“We simply see more clearly into other women’s hearts than men do.”

“Then tell me why the young lady three doors down flees at the sight of me,” Kong Jue Lin said, tugging at my arm as if to drag me outside. I could only answer honestly: you frighten the poor girl.

I glanced back to see Li Ye Xuan shaking his head—was even his own brother helpless before him?

…

During our days in Maple Leaf City, we managed to explore most of its sights.

Before going out, I debated whether to dress as a man or a woman. In the end, I thought it best to be cautious, since the auction would attract many prominent figures—some of whom might recognize me as Huangfu Ziyun. So I decided to play it safe.

Li Ye Xuan and Kong Jue Lin watched as I changed back into my female attire. I protested that men’s clothes were much more convenient, and they both nodded in agreement, though the innkeeper’s gaze grew increasingly bewildered. In the end, he’d probably attribute his confusion to his failing eyesight.

At last, the Maple Leaf Auction began, held in a grand hall that could accommodate many guests.

But entry was not open to all. Only those with power or wealth were permitted.

I had neither, but Li Ye Xuan’s pockets ran deep. We entered under the guise of merchants from afar and were promptly assigned three seats.

“Did you bring enough silver?” I whispered to Li Ye Xuan.

“No.”

“What!” I clapped a hand over my mouth, then leaned in and murmured, “After all the trouble to get in, if we have no silver, won’t we leave empty-handed?”

“You don’t understand. The auctioned items vary greatly in quality and price, and if we lack enough, there’s always the premier lot.”

“Premier lot?”

“Let’s just say—only the destined will know.”

What sort of answer was that? “Only the destined”—was I truly that ignorant?

But therein lay the auction’s brilliance. It functioned much like a modern trading platform: those with treasures brought them here to sell, those seeking treasures came to bid, and the city of Maple Grove acted as the intermediary, reaping its share of the profits. Of course, Maple Grove itself possessed many fine items, some of which were also put up for sale, making this prosperous land even richer and attracting many covetous eyes.

The Three Kingdoms of the Central Plains—Lingyun, Yuehua, and Beian—shared a delicate balance of power. Though Maple Grove belonged to Yuehua, the other two kingdoms schemed constantly to seize it.

I scanned the crowd—some were from the royal courts, others from the martial world. There was little decorum; most people lounged about casually, some even dozing off. I followed suit, gazing idly around.

Then someone entered, and at the sight of him, my whole body tensed.

Wang Huan—Wang Huan of Lingyun. The man who nearly became my husband, whose wedding I and my brother ruined. He was here. Would he recognize me as Huangfu Ziyun? If my identity were exposed, would I have any chance of escape? I began to regret coming to the auction.

My sudden rigidity did not escape Li Ye Xuan’s notice.

“Mu Fan. Mu Fan…”

He was calling my name.

“Yes?”

“Why is your hand so cold?” At some point, Li Ye Xuan had taken my hand.

Meeting his gaze and feeling the warmth of his grip, my tense body relaxed. What was I afraid of? I was Mu Fan in men’s attire now, no longer the green, sheltered Huangfu Ziyun of three years ago. I refused to believe Wang Huan could recognize me.

“I’m fine.” I smiled at Li Ye Xuan and didn’t pull my hand away, letting him hold it.

Still, I watched Wang Huan warily. He didn’t notice me, simply took his seat and waited quietly for the auction to start, and I finally relaxed.

Fate brings people together, even those we’d rather not meet. Watching Wang Huan, still so full of pride, my heart soured. All his nobility built on the lives of my parents and countless palace servants—how could he wear it so easily? Laughable. Thank goodness I ruined that marriage, or I’d regret it for the rest of my life.

“Ahem.” Kong Jue Lin coughed twice and whispered in my ear, “Don’t forget what you two look like. Let go of his hand.”

Only then did I realize that, to outsiders, Li Ye Xuan and I both appeared to be men. This—this was impossible.

Such a scandal—how mortifying!

I hurriedly withdrew my hand; Li Ye Xuan, realizing the impropriety, also let go.

I shot a sidelong glare at Kong Jue Lin, full of contempt, and muttered through clenched teeth, “Are you afraid we’ll disgrace you by being mistaken for lovers?”

“Of course not. How could I, Kong Jue Lin, be that sort of person? Mu Fan, look—see that girl in the far corner? Isn’t she lovely? That figure, that face…”

…

Kong Jue Lin’s head was full of nonsense—there was no hope for him.