"Damn Feng Xun, my good intentions were all treated like a mule's liver and lungs—may you be tormented to death by the Cold Syndrome halfway there." Ye Lingyue was still venting as she casually picked up a Fortune Crane.

It had been over a year since she gave this box away, and unexpectedly, Feng Xun had not used a single one, and the Cauldron Breath on them was still intact.

Flipping through them casually, Ye Lingyue noticed that these Fortune Cranes were somewhat different; they had some new creases, as if someone had opened them up and then refolded them.

The person wasn't an Alchemist; their folding technique was not skillful, hence the new creases.

Curious, Ye Lingyue unfolded one of the Fortune Cranes, and inside the talisman paper, there were a few new words.

Seeing those words, Ye Lingyue's fingertips trembled, and the paper fell to the ground.

"Feng Xun, likes, Ye Lingyue."

Seven words, crystal clear.

Quickly, she opened several more Fortune Cranes, and inside each was the same seven words.

In her mind, an image surfaced: a pale, sickly youth sitting down, pen in hand, writing down these seven words one by one.

As if afraid of being discovered, he clumsily hid these words and his feelings inside the Fortune Cranes.

Ninety-nine Fortune Cranes, ninety-nine sentences: Feng Xun likes Ye Lingyue.

In an instant, they wove into a net, trapping Ye Lingyue's heart within it.

The earlier gloominess was replaced by a strange sense of elation, yet at the same time, she felt a bit irked.

"Little Zhiyo, Feng Xun must be your real master, right? Are you always this boot-licking?" Ye Lingyue gave Little Zhiyo a noggin bump, and it blinked back with adorable large eyes.

"Zhiyo (Master, I am your Little Zhiyo, Miss Feng is pitiful)"

"What's there to pity about him? When he sent those things back, he never considered my feelings." Ye Lingyue pouted, glancing at the box and then at the Fortune Cranes; she felt a void opening in her heart, slowly expanding.

On the official road, Feng Xun's carriage stopped by the roadside.

Sword Slave had already asked several times, but the Prince had not given any orders.

"Prince, if we don't hurry, we won't be able to reach the nearest town before nightfall." Sword Slave didn't know what the Prince intended.

He only knew that since the Prince sent that box away, he'd been like the dead, utterly lifeless.

If only he'd known it would be like this, why did he have to say that kind of thing to Lady Ye.

Sword Slave didn't understand the affairs of men and women's feelings, but he wasn't foolish; he could tell that at the very least, Lady Ye did not dislike the Prince, that actually, compared to "that one," Lady Ye could even be said to like the Prince.

Perhaps that feeling wasn't quite love yet, but it wasn't far off, was it?

Scratching his head, Sword Slave was about to persuade the Prince to start moving again when he heard a noise from behind.

"Lady Ye, Lady Ye..." Sword Slave was completely dumbfounded; he couldn't be seeing things, could he?

At the sound of Sword Slave's voice, life surged into Feng Xun's face, and he eagerly flung open the carriage curtain.

In front of the carriage, there was no sign of Ye Lingyue.

"Lady Ye's little dog." Sword Slave pointed to the front of the carriage, and there was Little Zhiyo dragging a box, heaving and struggling forward.

Feng Xun's face darkened, and he glared at Sword Slave irritably.

He decided, once he returned to Beiqing, he was going to dock Sword Slave's pay severely.

"Little Zhiyo, how did you come here?" Feng Xun got down from the carriage, picked up Little Zhiyo, and then looked at the wooden box.

Didn't Sword Slave say that Ye Lingyue had already thrown all the Fortune Cranes away? Or was it that Little Zhiyo, fearing he'd be upset, picked the things back up?

"Zhiyo (Master asked me to see you off, she says she is still angry)"

Unfortunately, Feng Xun couldn't understand Little Zhiyo's words; he simply picked up the box.

The moment he opened the box, those Fortune Cranes that were originally lying inside flew out all at once.

Ninety-nine Fortune Cranes circled around Feng Xun.

"Stupid Feng Xun, if you dare to throw away my stuff again, never come back to Daxia."

The woman's voice, containing a mix of annoyance and anger, yet with a hint of coquettish reproach, the familiar tone made Feng Xun pause.

Only then did he realize that these ninety-nine Fortune Cranes weren't the same ones he had returned to Ye Lingyue earlier.

These were ninety-nine new Fortune Cranes, which meant... his heart felt like leaping out of his chest, beating violently; Feng Xun couldn't help but cover his heart with his hand.

She, she had discovered it.

The secret within those ninety-nine Fortune Cranes?

A worried frown disappeared from Feng Xun's face, replaced by a sun-after-rain brightness.

He, he had won his bet.

He knew full well he shouldn't fall for Ye Lingyue, shouldn't get too close to her, but his heart uncontrollably longed for her.

In the end, Feng Xun decided to take a gamble, to send those Fortune Cranes back to her.

If Ye Lingyue didn't discover the secret within the Fortune Cranes, he would give up.

If she did, he...

This was Feng Xun's last chance for himself, the only time he ever went against his own will.

So when Feng Xun heard from Sword Slave that Ye Lingyue had thrown away the wooden box without even a glance, his heart sank.

But unexpectedly, Ye Lingyue eventually discovered it.

"Little Zhiyo, you truly are my lucky star." Feng Xun picked up Little Zhiyo and laughed heartily.

Sword Slave stood there, dumbfounded. What's with his master? It's just a box of Fortune Cranes, yet he seemed to have become a different person.

Also, what did Miss Ye mean by that remark just now? Has she really forgiven the master?

These two, just moments ago they were quarreling, and now... Sword Slave silently admitted his confusion.

"Sword Slave, set out for Beiqing," Feng Xun ordered, taking the box with him as a delighted Little Zhiyo went back to report.

The carriage rattled forward. Feng Xun sat in the carriage, his expression more serious than ever.

"This time, I won't yield to anyone, not even 'him,'" Feng Xun gripped the box tightly, as if it was more important than his own life.

A strange new strength seemed to have emerged in Feng Xun's previously frail body, making him look different.

Feng Xun's carriage turned off the main road and gradually disappeared.

Ye Lingyue stood outside the temporary military camp, watching the carriage fade into the distance.

"Ah, I seem to have done something wrong again," Ye Lingyue sighed, holding a wooden box identical to Feng Xun's.

Subconsciously, Ye Lingyue knew she shouldn't keep this ambiguous relationship with Feng Xun, but she just couldn't bring herself to hurt him.

"Did Prince Feng leave?"

Lan Cai'er poked her head out, smiling at Ye Lingyue.

She knew that Ling Yue wouldn't really be so cruel to Feng Xun.

Such a delicate and beautiful man as Feng Xun, which woman could truly have the heart to reject him.