Nangong Xian stood on the city wall with his attendants, gazing at the carriage procession heading east.

"My lord, is it wise to let her go to the East City like this? What if..."

Nangong Xian waved his hand. "Although Yuwen Jin of the East City is young, he's not as harmless as he appears to be able to secure his position. She will certainly not get what she wants from this trip. This is good. Let her understand that without my help as her uncle, she can't accomplish anything with her current state."

Nangong Xian smiled, but his tone was cold. "Although this child looks like her mother, her personality is just like my elder brother's. She's truly his offspring, untameable. I've been a kind and loving uncle to her for so many years, yet she still refuses to tell me where that place is and keeps the key hidden tightly. I thought she would be more obedient after learning her lesson, but who would have thought... Hmph."

His trusted attendant glanced at his expression and said, "My lord cares too much about the young lady. But to obtain the treasure, sacrifices are inevitable. My lord needs to make a decision soon."

Nangong Xian's expression alternated between gloomy and sunny. "You're right. If this path doesn't work, I'll have to resort to other methods."

...

Tang Li sat in the carriage, feeling drowsy from the bumpy journey. With her eyes unable to see, many things were extremely inconvenient. Unclear about her surroundings, she didn't dare show any abnormalities.

Knowing that the more one speaks, the more mistakes one makes, she remained silent most of the time. After leaving the South City and her uncle's watchful eyes, Tang Li felt much more relaxed.

Although she couldn't remember the specific plot, in that book, this uncle seemed to be a villain. It was this kind of vague impression that made one feel even more uneasy.

The carriage traveled quickly because Tang Li had no desire to encounter Xiahou Xuanyu, let alone be easily caught up to. If Xiahou Xuanyu really arrived at the South City, he could chat with Nangong Xian first. Once she reached the East City and escaped the control of Nangong Xian's environment and the seemingly loyal maids by her side, she could inquire about Xun Nu's whereabouts from others without arousing Nangong Xian's suspicion.

Under Tang Li's urging, this group of people soon entered the East City's jurisdiction and smoothly arrived at the East City's main city.

Upon entering the main city, Tang Li's first sensation was the liveliness. Even though she couldn't see, she could hear the various hawking and shouting from outside the carriage, the murmuring of the crowds. She could imagine that kind of bustling scene with people rubbing shoulders.

After entering the city, the carriage's speed noticeably slowed. Having traveled quickly these past days, Tang Li's weak body couldn't quite handle it, feeling extremely dizzy.

"First find a place to rest temporarily and have someone deliver a visiting card to the city lord's manor." Tang Li called for her maid and gave brief instructions.

"Yes, lady."

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of an inn. This inn was luxuriously decorated, its interior furnishings no worse than ordinary wealthy households, quite renowned in the East City. The inn's attendant stepped forward to greet them. Seeing Tang Li being supported down from the carriage and that group of guards and maids, he enthusiastically led them inside to settle in.

Just as Tang Li's group entered the inn, Yuwen Jin and his good friends Duan Ming and Xun arrived at the inn's entrance on horseback, coming to the tallest restaurant in the East City directly across from the inn.

"Today, they have a new precious ingredient. It's said to be incomparably delicious, leaving one with an unforgettable taste for life. Brother Duan and Brother Xun, you're in for a treat!" Yuwen Jin was glittering in gold from head to toe, the picture of an extravagant dandy.

Duan Ming fanned himself with his fan, a dashing and romantic gentleman. The two of them standing together were the spitting image of two good-for-nothing wastrels. As for Xun, his temperament was completely different from the two of them. With him present, even those who dared to approach decreased significantly.

Yuwen Jin enjoyed the peace and quiet, sitting by the window. He sighed, "With Brother Xun accompanying me, it feels much more convenient. I feel at ease even without bringing a single guard." Thinking back, when his position as city lord wasn't stable, he was often targeted by assassins hired by his brothers. At that time, he didn't dare leave without dozens of guards.

Duan Ming was used to his cowardice. Leaning by the window, he admired the pretty girls on the street below while waiting for the dishes to be served.

"Hey, Ah Jin, look at the inn's entrance. Although her face can't be clearly seen, judging from her figure and bearing alone, she must be a beauty." Duan Ming pointed with his fan at the inn's entrance.

Hearing this, Yuwen Jin also looked over. He saw a woman in white top and yellow skirt, her figure slender as if a gust of wind could snap her. He nodded in agreement. "Definitely a beauty. Oh, she seems a bit sickly, still needing a maid's support. But a sickly beauty has a unique delicate charm that tugs at one's heartstrings."

Xun acted as if he hadn't heard their conversation at all, sitting to the side without the slightest intention of turning his head for a look.

Seeing him like this, Yuwen Jin shrugged at his good friend and placed the dishes the waiter brought before Xun. "Brother Xun doesn't like admiring beauties, so just try the delicacies. I dare say, no one can make food more delicious than this."

He was just boasting out of habit. Who knew that after saying this, Xun actually paused his chopsticks and glanced at him.

Yuwen Jin: "..." Huh, what happened? Why is Brother Xun suddenly glaring at me? Was there something wrong with what I said?

Tang Li sat for a moment in the inn, recovering from her dizziness. Feeling a bit hungry, the maid asked what she wanted to eat. Tang Li had no appetite, but suddenly recalled smelling a peculiar spicy fragrance when the carriage passed by, reminding her of a food she had eaten when visiting a friend in Shu in the past.

On a whim, she followed the scent out of the inn to that small shop and ate a serving of spicy thin noodles that tasted nostalgic. Lightly touching the rim of the bowl, Tang Li thought, if she could reunite with Xun Nu, once her eyes healed, she would definitely make many delicious dishes for him. There were still many dishes she knew how to cook that she hadn't had the chance to let him try one by one.

Actually, she was also very skilled at making this kind of spicy noodles, but back then, chili peppers couldn't be bought in Bailu City, so she couldn't make it for him.

At that time, she had already planned out doing many things together with Xun Nu for the rest of their lives. There were many dishes she wanted to cook for him. If she couldn't accomplish it, she would deeply regret it, unwilling to die.

"Lady?"

Tang Li snapped out of her thoughts and slowly exited the small shop, supported by her maid's hand. The streets were bustling with a surging crowd, and the noise from the passing throngs sounded particularly jarring to Tang Li's ears, making her feel a bit uncomfortable. She quickened her pace to board the carriage.

"City Lord, we just received an invitation stating that Nangong Qin from the southern city has arrived and will visit the manor this afternoon," a messenger from the City Lord's manor delivered the invitation.

Yuwen Jin sighed heavily after just a glance, vexed, "Why did she come so quickly? I really don't want to meet this Nangong beauty. If she's really like what Ah Ming said, I'd rather go to Tianyin Pavilion to watch dancing."

The three of them had just finished their meal and walked out of the restaurant when they received this invitation. Yuwen Jin held it and complained, but when he raised his eyes, he suddenly noticed a flash in front of him. Xun, who was standing beside him, disappeared into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

Yuwen Jin was dumbfounded. "Eh? Brother Xun?" He turned to look at Duan Ming beside him, "Ah Ming, where did Brother Xun go?"

Duan Ming shrugged, indicating he wasn't sure. "I don't know either, but his steps seemed very hurried just now. It's the first time I've seen him like this. Could it be that something major happened?"

Yuwen Jin suddenly leaned close to him, warily looking around, and weakly chuckled, "Could it be that someone deliberately lured Brother Xun away to assassinate me?" After all, people from the South City had arrived!

Duan Ming: "...Calm down, don't cling to me."

Xun stood amidst the crowd, turning his head to look around. All he saw were unfamiliar faces, each bearing their own joys, anger, sorrows and happiness, but none were the familiar face he had glimpsed earlier.

He slowly stopped, and the surging emotions in his heart also subsided.

He probably mistook her again. Yes, she was already dead. He had held her cold corpse for a long time, even personally watched the body start to decay, and in the end, he buried her with his own hands. The fact that she had died was crystal clear. Yet, in that moment when he caught a glimpse of a similar face, he still instinctively chased after her.

The world was vast and hazy, and he had nowhere to go. Xun stood quietly in the lively crowd, but none of that liveliness belonged to him. He turned to walk back, brushing past a carriage.

The wind blew up the green gauze curtain, revealing a pale, delicate face, before gently falling back down.

"Brother Xun! You're finally back! Why did you leave without a word earlier? Did something happen?" Yuwen Jin, seeing Xun return, immediately went from a compressed state to an expanded one, energetically calling out.

Xun shook his head, saying nothing. Duan Ming sensed his aura was even colder than before. He nudged Yuwen Jin's arm, signaling him to shut up. Yuwen Jin was dying of curiosity about Xun's unusual behavior earlier but didn't dare ask. He could only dryly laugh, "Haha, it's good if nothing's wrong. It's good if nothing's wrong. Why don't we head back first then?"

"The people from the southern city are coming this afternoon. I still need to muster up energy to receive them."

Speaking of this, Yuwen Jin let out a sigh, "So troublesome."

No matter how troublesome, guests still had to be welcomed. Yuwen Jin pondered how he should deal with meeting this woman of legend, rumored to be vicious and scheming. He also felt it was strange for a blind woman to dare come alone and suspected she might have assassins with her to threaten him.

"Brother Xun, you must protect me!"

"There won't be any issues." After saying that, Xun stood up and walked out.

"Ah? Ah? What, why won't there be issues? Brother Xun, are you leaving? Wait!" Yuwen Jin was completely stunned. He still wanted to say more but Duan Ming held him down. "Alright, what are you yelling for? Didn't you see Brother Xun is in a bad mood? I reckon he wants to be alone for a bit now. You're too loud."

Yuwen Jin: "What? When was I loud? And how can you tell Brother Xun is in a bad mood? Doesn't he always have that expression?"

He felt uneasy and went out to stand under the corridor, looking up at the roof. Seeing a corner of black clothing, he finally felt relieved and sat back down.

Before long, the guest arrived. When that "Nangong beauty" was supported by her maid to come before him, Yuwen Jin was a bit surprised, because the woman in front of him was quite different from the Nangong Qin he had imagined.

She was thin and delicate, a white gauze top draped over a pale yellow skirt, hazily exuding a light, fresh charm. Half her long hair was tied up with a silk ribbon while the other half cascaded down her back, swaying slightly as she walked.

Although her face was not that of a peerless beauty, her expression was gentle and graceful. Her pale lips and fair skin, along with the frailty from prolonged illness, made her temperament even more ethereal—the moment Yuwen Jin saw her, he inexplicably felt that this beauty was like a pear blossom on a branch, her bearing and appearance stirring one's heart.

Oh no, she's so good-looking, it'll be hard to speak harshly to her! Yuwen Jin glanced at his good friend Duan Ming beside him, giving him a look of "Were you lying to me before?"

Duan Ming sized up Nangong Qin before them, also with a hint of doubt in his eyes. However, receiving Yuwen Jin's look, he still returned a gaze of "Don't be deceived by appearances."

Tang Li couldn't see and was unaware of their visual exchange. She was very polite, giving a slight bow in Yuwen Jin's direction, her voice as gentle as water, "Excuse my abrupt visit and any offense."

Yuwen Jin coughed, "Not at all, not at all. I apologize for the poor hospitality. Please don't take offense, Lady Nangong. Have a seat."

Tang Li was helped to sit down by her maid. The servants served tea. Out of habit, Yuwen Jin extended his hand, "Please have some tea." After saying that, he realized she couldn't see and felt a bit awkward. Tang Li's expression remained unchanged as she reached out and fumbled a bit before touching the teacup. She picked it up and took a small sip. The tea wasn't hot, but warm.

Both sides drank tea and no one seemed intent on speaking first. As the host, Yuwen Jin was composed. But Tang Li, the one who came to visit under the pretext of seeking medicine, also sat steadily without any impatience.

Instead, it was Duan Ming, who was sitting on the side playing with a fan, that spoke first. He said, "Lady Nangong, I am Duan Ming of the Duan clan from East Sea. I once visited the South City and met you. I wonder if you still remember?"

Tang Li didn't have Nangong Qin's memories. Hearing this, she pretended to ponder for a moment before showing an apologetic smile, "I'm really sorry. I fell into a coma for several years due to poisoning. After waking up, I forgot many things."

Her expression was natural and frank, without any flaws. The more Duan Ming looked at her, the more he felt she was different from the Nangong Qin he had briefly met before. Just as he was about to say more, he suddenly noticed someone standing beside the screen.

Xun didn't know when he had stood there, stiffly staring at the gently smiling beauty sitting there. His entire being was like a bow stretched to its limit, and even Duan Ming could see how off he was at this moment. Yuwen Jin quickly also noticed Xun, and at the same time discovered his unusual state, exchanging a glance with Duan Ming.

Brother Xun, why the expression? Why is he looking at that Nangong beauty like that, do they have a feud?

Tang Li didn't hear any other sounds, only feeling the room suddenly go quiet, the atmosphere a bit subtle.

"What's wrong?" Tang Li hesitantly asked.

Author's note: Narrowly missing each other by chance, the willow darkens and the flowers brighten, the mountains end and the waters return, hehe.