At the banquet, everyone, including those from the East City represented by Yuwen Jin, and those from the South City represented by Chou Tu, were all caught in a subtle atmosphere.

First, Nangong Qin lost her composure and chased after Xun while shouting. If one only saw this part, it would seem like an amorous anecdote of an unfeeling man and a pining woman. But immediately after, the two embraced as if they were long-lost lovers, making it inscrutable.

Even Yuwen Jin, who got up to chase after them, couldn't help showing an expression of the world collapsing upon seeing Brother Xun holding the beauty tightly in his arms.

Brother Xun, the Brother Xun who was so cold that he wouldn't allow anyone to get close to him? What are you doing? You're holding an unmarried lady from someone else's family in front of many people from the South City and not letting go, even holding her tighter and tighter!

Wait, doesn't Lady Nangong seem to have a marriage arrangement? Yuwen Jin twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking this was bad.

After Chou Tu and Yuwen Jin exchanged a glance, they both felt inexplicably awkward. Chou Tu was even more dumbfounded than Yuwen Jin. Thinking back to the young lady from before, pure and untainted, like an icy mountain snow lotus at a young age, now awakened from her slumber, a bit more gentle than before, still dignified and polite.

But who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, as if possessed, she lost all restraint and chased after a man while shouting.

He only heard his family's young lady shout that one sentence "Xun Nu, stop right there, it's me, it's Tang Li! I'm back!" This sentence left him puzzled after hearing it, but upon careful consideration, he vaguely felt a chaotic tangle of emotions - no matter what, even if others weren't clear, how could they of the South City not be clear, their family's young lady had a marriage arrangement with the North City Lord Xiahou Xuanyu.

It's said that the two had mutual feelings back then, otherwise the young lady wouldn't have taken that hit for Xiahou Xuanyu back then, leading to her being poisoned and falling into a coma for several years.

But from the looks of it now, this young lady didn't just entice one City Lord Xiahou back then, she likely also had a private relationship with this formerly renowned assassin Xun, and it seems she used a fake name at that time. There must be some inside story that outsiders shouldn't know about.

Chou Tu had a complex expression. He thought, who exactly does the young lady like? Neither of them are easy to provoke. Also, he always felt City Lord Xiahou was emitting a green light all over.

He was someone who thought a lot. He quickly associated it with the big battle between Xun and Xiahou Xuanyu back then. At that time, no one knew the reason. But now it seems it was all because of emotional entanglements.

Feeling like he found the reason, Chou Tu's expression became even more complex. He even started worrying that if Xiahou Xuanyu really came here with their city lord and saw his fiancée entangled with another man, would he lash out in anger and do something.

Their South City's Lady Nangong Qin was about to capsize without being careful. And their wish to unite with the North City was also about to be shattered. This can't happen!

Chou Tu bravely stepped forward, the first to try to snatch the person. "Lady, you're too drunk tonight, better go rest first. Someone come, quickly help the Lady down!"

Chou Tu, who tried to snatch the person from Xun's hands, before even getting within ten steps, was fixed in place by Xun's fierce gaze.

Tang Li had disregarded a lot earlier in order to keep Xun Nu. Now Xun was in the same mood. He was anxious to figure out what exactly was going on. He also disregarded these onlookers with complex emotions. He directly picked up Tang Li and walked out.

Under the pressure of his imposing manner, no one dared to chase after them. A few chivalrous men from the South City barely chased out a couple steps under Chou Tu's pressure. They felt a stinging pain on their faces and legs. When they raised their hands to touch, they felt their hands covered in fresh blood. They immediately stopped in fear.

They were all very clear this was a warning. If they dared to go forward again, it would definitely mean death.

Chou Tu watched helplessly as Xun took the person away, his face turning green. Yuwen Jin rubbed his nose, stepped forward to pull him to sit down, and said leisurely as if nothing had happened, "Sir Chou, no need to worry. Brother Xun and Lady Nangong seem to be old acquaintances. The two look to have deep feelings. It's fine for them to catch up. Why make the two unhappy? Come, never mind them, Sir Chou, drink!"

Chou Tu: ...Drinking when sad only makes one sadder, tears flow before words can be spoken. What about the marriage alliance between North City and South City! What about their city lord's grand plan!

Xun's imposing manner of wanting to kill someone without a word was too terrifying. They managed to escape for now and found a quiet place to talk, avoiding the crowd. Tang Li hugged Xun's neck. She was extremely anxious before but now her mood slowly calmed down.

She wasn't in a hurry to speak, just quietly leaned against his chest, listening to the slightly hurried heartbeat inside.

She had never relaxed since waking up in this body. But leaning against Xun Nu, she naturally let down her guard, just like when she first opened her eyes and found that she had become the female lead Chu Li. Only by this person's side would she have this sense of security.

She didn't know where Xun had taken her. After being put down, she immediately reached out and grabbed Xun's wrist. "Xun Nu, believe me, I am Tang Li, I didn't lie to you."

For a moment, Xun suddenly recalled the circumstances of Tang Li's death. The last thing she seemed to say was also this sentence. His pupils constricted and he subconsciously held Tang Li's hand in return.

Tang Li could understand his current mood because she also couldn't calm down. She slowly said, "I awoke in this body about three months ago. My last memory is being killed by Xiahou Xuanyu. This body is called Nangong Qin, the niece of the South City's lord. I don't have her memories. After waking up and investigating, I learned that five years had passed since my death."

"Returning from death, you may not believe it, but it is indeed the truth."

Xun looked at her face under the moonlight, his voice extremely hoarse. "Something so absurd, I dare not believe it, but I want to believe it."

Tang Li couldn't see his expression, she could only hear his emotions from his voice. This made her apprehensive and heartbroken.

She couldn't help but soften her tone even more, gently saying, "I remember everything we went through together. Shall I tell you about it?"

"At first, I met you in the Ghostly Crying Plains. You were severely injured, almost lifeless. I thought you were very good-looking, so I decided to stay there and take care of you..."

It wasn't because he was handsome, but because she had known about this person's life since her teenage years. At the age when she first understood what it meant to like someone, the person who first made her heart flutter - because of this special connection, liking him seemed to be a very simple thing.

"...Later, we were led out of the Ghostly Crying Forest by the red fox and went to an inn. At first, I didn't realize it was a shady place. When I borrowed the kitchen halfway through, I found a corpse under the firewood pile and was startled..."

"We settled down in Bailu City. At that time, my thoughts were very simple. I just wanted to find a place to live, a way to make a living, and a place for you to rest." Tang Li said, suddenly smiling, "When you accompanied me out shopping, others mistook us for a married couple. I thought at the time, if only it were true. If you were also willing to like me, I would definitely treat you well for the rest of my life."

Just like when she first learned about that person named Xun Nu in that book, she felt that if she was fortunate enough to receive such quietly protective love, she definitely wouldn't abandon it like the female lead did. She would cherish and reciprocate it.

"...Besides the first two silver hairpins and silk flowers, you later bought me wooden hairpins and earrings. I loved that pair of small pearl earrings the most, but unfortunately one day I lost one and didn't know where it fell. I was too embarrassed to tell you and secretly searched for it myself. Then one day when I woke up, I saw it on the dressing table. I guessed that you had found it for me..." Tang Li recounted in detail.

For Xun, this was something from several years ago, but he hadn't forgotten a bit. As Tang Li spoke, he clearly remembered that brief time together. He tightly embraced Tang Li, finally speaking again in a hoarse voice, "Actually, that one earring was bought separately by me, not found."

Although Tang Li didn't say it, he noticed she wasn't wearing her previously favorite pearl earrings, with only one left on the dressing table. Seeing her often searching in corners, he guessed she had lost one earring.

So he also quietly helped look for it, but unfortunately he couldn't find it either. Noticing Tang Li seemed unhappy, he went to find the vendor who sold the earrings before. The vendor initially refused to sell just one to him, but the vendor's wife, after hearing his story, agreed to sell it to him.

Tang Li: "Actually, I knew you bought it separately, because later, I found the one I lost in the corner of the big water vat." So she understood and hid the recovered pearl earring at the very bottom of her jewelry box, pretending she never noticed anything.

This was just a very small matter. Regardless of the loss or the recovery, neither of them ever mentioned it. That pair of pearl earrings, which weren't originally a set, she continued wearing on her ears until her death.

"You're back, it's really you," Xun said almost with a sigh.

Tang Li's heart ached. She reached out and felt Xun's face. With her fingers, she traced his current facial features, seeming a bit thinner, the sharp contours slightly unfamiliar. She slowly felt it over, then touched Xun's hands, still those broad hands, just the knuckles rougher, seeming to have a few tiny scars remaining. Feeling them, she asked, "Are these scars?"

"Just minor injuries, long healed." Xun remained motionless, allowing her to feel, his eyes fixed on her unwilling to look away for a moment.

"I remember before, your hands didn't have injuries here." Tang Li gently caressed with her thumb, her actions and tone full of heartache and apology, "I'm sorry for leaving you alone for so long."

Xun's usually cold expression crumbled. He thought again of Tang Li's death, his hands trembling involuntarily, "No, I'm the one who let you endure such pain, I failed to keep my initial promise."

Tang Li: "But you survived, that's what I hoped for at the time. Thank you for being well now." Saying this, she tried to feel Xun's head, hugging it to her chest and kissing it.

Xun: "..." He didn't understand why his beloved wife, clearly younger than him, always liked to hold him with such a caring manner.

But because it was Tang Li, he didn't resist, allowing her to hold him. He wanted to say, it won't happen again, he won't let her suffer such pain again, won't let such an accident occur again. But before he could say it, he heard Tang Li say, "Xun Nu, don't worry, I won't let you endure this kind of suffering again, and such accidents won't happen again either."

Xun: "...Mm." His intended words stolen, he didn't know what to say for a moment and could only make an acknowledging sound.

After a moment of silence, he wanted to say there's no need to worry about Xiahou Xuanyu either. But as soon as he opened his mouth, he heard Tang Li say, "And that Xiahou Xuanyu, don't worry about him either. I've already thought of a way to deal with him. I absolutely won't let him off easy."

Xun: "...Mm." Ever since personally witnessing Tang Li's death five years ago, he had decided he must kill Xiahou Xuanyu with his own hands.

"Your eyes," Xun touched the corner of Tang Li's eyes, "they can be cured."

"Okay." Tang Li rested her face against his palm, her expression gentle and tranquil, like a soft lotus blossom. "As long as you're by my side, I'm not afraid anymore."

The two sat in the lakeside pavilion. Across the lake, the faint sounds of music and dance from the banquet drifted over. Tang Li leaned against Xun, listening to the ethereal music for a while. "Should we go back?"

"No, I'll take you to rest. You need a good rest." Xun had already noticed her current physical weakness. He supported her as she stood up.

Tang Li stood up and suddenly hissed, lifting her right foot. Xun looked at her foot and only then noticed a few drops of blood where she had lightly stepped.

"You're injured?" Xun helped her sit back down and lifted her foot to examine it, only to find that the sole of her shoe had been cut, the entire bottom soaked with blood. His mind had been in turmoil earlier and he actually hadn't noticed at all.