Xun had a guest residence in the city lord's manor. Due to his eccentric personality, this guest residence was located in a very secluded area, usually with no one around. The courtyard was filled with Chinese parasol trees, tranquil and quiet.

Xun carried Tang Li into the room, lit the lamp, and came in front of her to carefully examine the wound on the sole of her foot. It was a cut on the sole of her foot, not too deep, but bleeding quite a bit.

Seeing the vivid color of blood, Xun couldn't help but turn pale. He silently cleaned the wound, then reached out and hugged Tang Li again.

Although she couldn't see, Tang Li could understand his mood. She raised her face and kissed his chin as comfort, "When I heard you were leaving, I didn't know if I would ever see you again if you really left. I got a little anxious and accidentally stepped on a broken piece of porcelain. Later I was so preoccupied with you that I even forgot the pain in my foot. Actually it doesn't hurt much now, I just feel happy."

Xun held her thin, weak hand, not daring to use the slightest force, "You just stay here, I will take care of you."

Tang Li agreed without hesitation, saying nothing more. She didn't really care about the mess she had abandoned halfway through. After all, the only thing she cared about was Xun Nu, and compared to his wishes and mood, no one and nothing else mattered.

At least not at the moment. Anything could be temporarily put aside and slowly resolved, only matters concerning Xun Nu could not be delayed in the slightest.

Having lost and regained Tang Li, Xun now appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was extremely unsettled. He just wanted Tang Li to stay where he could see her, not going anywhere. He had a misconception that as soon as Tang Li left his sight, she would disappear again.

This extreme sense of unease turned into another kind of protectiveness. He was like an uneasy beast, guarding at the edge of the den, showing hostility to anyone who tried to approach.

Tang Li just stayed obediently in his arms, holding his hand to comfort him.

Chou Tu brought several South City guards over, saying they wanted to take their young lady back. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they felt a strong murderous intent.

"Get out." A voice clearly came from inside the room.

Chou Tu's face turned pale. Although he was wary of Xun, when he thought of the city lord Nangong Xian, he didn't dare to really ignore it. So he still gestured to those beside him and followed into the courtyard.

The door creaked open, and Tang Li appeared at the doorway, supported by Xun. She said to Chou Tu, "Sir Chou, please go back and rest first, don't worry about me."

Chou Tu smiled insincerely, "Lady, you are betrothed. Spending time alone with a strange man so late at night seems inappropriate. If the city lord finds out, he will not agree."

Tang Li smiled, "But if I stay here, what can you do to me?"

Chou Tu: "...Huh?" No, this is not right, why is this her reaction?

Tang Li said directly, "I know about those things uncle has been doing behind the scenes, I also know what he has instructed you to do, and I know even more what he really wants. When he comes, I will have a good talk with him personally. Sir Chou, you don't really need to interfere too much with what I want to do, that would be the wise thing to do."

Chou Tu was startled, and looked at this seemingly harmless and weak young lady with some trepidation. He couldn't help but overthink a bit. Gradually, a layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. Finally, he gave the two of them a complicated look, clasped his hands and left.

What could he do if he didn't leave, he couldn't win if he tried to take her by force, and he didn't dare to really offend Nangong Qin. It's really hard being someone's subordinate!

Except for Chou Tu's arrival, it was very quiet at the guest residence that night. In the latter half of the night, a light rain suddenly started, dripping. Tang Li woke up in a daze. As soon as she moved, she felt the person beside her move along with her. He pulled the quilt for her and put his hand on her back, gently patting.

He was sitting up, seemingly not having slept all night. Tang Li leaned closer to him, "What time is it?"

"Second watch of the Yin hour, still very early." He patted her back, "You keep resting."

"Aren't you going to sleep?" Tang Li's voice was still a bit blurry from just waking up.

"I already slept." Xun told her.

Tang Li found his hand and held it, "Is it raining outside? I hear the sound of rain."

"Yes, it just started raining. Is it too loud?"

Tang Li shook her head, her black hair sliding with the movement, "I think it's very quiet like this, very nice."

Xun also felt it was very nice. No matter when, waking up and seeing her there, just the two of them, undisturbed, he felt a long-lost tranquility. He was willing to trade anything for this tranquility to accompany him forever.

The drizzling rain fell all night and did not stop at dawn.

Not long after Yuwen Jin woke up, he casually ate something and waited in his own room. Sure enough, before long, he heard a report that Xun and Nangong Qin had arrived. He smiled and said, "Please invite the two of them over."

Seeing that Xun was actually carrying Tang Li over, Yuwen Jin quickly took out a fan to cover his expression. He felt he finally understood why Ah Ming liked to use a fan.

At moments like this when one loses composure, a fan is an important tool to save face. If someone saw him so shocked that his mouth was gaping and drooling, wouldn't that be very embarrassing.

As Yuwen Jin expected, Xun brought up wanting to use the Honey Peach to treat Nangong Qin's eyes, and said things like "I can trade anything I have, I can agree to anything".

Even though Yuwen Jin was prepared, he was still shaken by Xun's words. Agree to anything... Several thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but were all rejected by him after a moment.

Finally, he touched his conscience and sighed long and regretfully, his tone sincere, "Brother Xun is my friend and has saved me several times in times of danger. Since you've asked, I naturally have to give it. It's just that this is after all a treasure of my East City. If I give it to you easily, I won't be able to explain myself. How about this... if Brother Xun agrees to protect my East City for fifteen years, not leaving for fifteen years, I will agree."

"Alright." Xun readily agreed.

Yuwen Jin ordered someone to take Xun to get the Honey Peach, leaving Tang Li alone.

"Go, I'll sit here and wait for you for a bit." Tang Li persuaded Xun to go. When only she and Yuwen Jin were left in the room, she bowed in Yuwen Jin's direction, "Thank you, Lord Yuwen."

Yuwen Jin's gaze as he sized her up was different from before, not friendly, but also wary and probing. Only his voice still carried a hint of laughter, "Lady Nangong, there's no need to thank me, this is what Brother Xun wished for and requested."

Tang Li smiled faintly, "No, I'm thanking you for saving Xun Nu's life five years ago. For that alone, I'm immensely grateful to you."

Yuwen Jin was startled and said in surprise, "Since you know about this matter, do you also know that Brother Xun had a wife before?"

Tang Li nodded, "City Lord Yuwen treats Xun Nu as a friend, so I'll speak frankly. Actually, from beginning to end, I have been Xun Nu's only wife. There are some entanglements and secrets that I can't say more about."

Yuwen Jin didn't expect this, but also vaguely felt that this was more normal. He thought to himself, the Brother Xun he knew wasn't someone who would easily transfer his affections, let alone be bewitched by a beauty. It's just that if Nangong Qin was Brother Xun's wife, what was the deal with that corpse from five years ago? Could it be that the wrong person was identified?

The half-concealed explanation was very effective. Yuwen Jin automatically filled in the blanks with a complex plot in his mind. Who knows what he imagined, but his expression towards Tang Li softened quite a bit.

"I heard from Xun Nu that if you hadn't happened to pass by back then, he likely would have died in that heavy snowfall. So I'm extremely grateful to you. I hope to be able to repay this kindness," Tang Li said unhurriedly.

Seeing her like this, Yuwen Jin recalled how she had lost her composure last night, shouting for Xun Nu as she ran out. He felt that what she said was even more credible.

If it wasn't a true outpouring of feelings, she wouldn't have been so heedless of the huge waves her actions last night would cause. Just those rumors alone would be enough to ruin her reputation, as public opinion is a fearsome thing, and she still had a marriage agreement with Xiahou Xuanyu.

Yuwen Jin suddenly tapped his own head with his fan. So that's how it was - Brother Xun had gone to challenge North City back then because of resentment over his wife being taken away! What a complex tangle of feelings. But why did he feel so gleeful about it?

Sigh, it was all Xiahou Xuanyu's fault for being too overbearing and domineering. He couldn't stand the sight of him.

In a very good mood, he imagined how Xiahou Xuanyu would feel upon learning his fiancée had run off with his rival. Yuwen Jin almost laughed out loud. His tone was full of mirth as he asked, "How does Lady Nangong wish to repay me?"

Tang Li didn't know why this City Lord Yuwen suddenly had such a good mood. She slowly laid out her thoughts and plans: "I hope for Xiahou Xuanyu to die. And if he dies, it would also be a good thing for City Lord Yuwen. From what I know, my uncle wishes to ally with Xiahou Xuanyu. They have a private agreement to encroach on East City.

"But I will destroy this alliance and make my uncle turn towards East City, because I have something in my hands that he really wants. I can only say that even if my uncle is unwilling to side with East City later on, he definitely won't ally with Xiahou Xuanyu again..."

"...Other than that, there's also West City. Although the lord of West City is Xiahou Xuanyu's cousin, from what I know, he has long held a grudge against Xiahou Xuanyu. Even that assassination attempt from a few years ago was orchestrated by West City. If not for that, the lord of West City wouldn't have refused to marry his daughter Gong Xiling to Xiahou Xuanyu. Basically, there's no need to worry that West City will lend a hand. They might even cooperate..."

After waking up in Nangong Qin's body, although she didn't have Nangong Qin's memories, she miraculously recalled quite a bit of the contents of that book. If not for that, she feared it wouldn't be so easy for her to deal with Xiahou Xuanyu.

"I will make things clear with my uncle. Once Xiahou Xuanyu comes to East City, we will make him stay for good. This matter still requires specific plans, but there's no rush. If City Lord Yuwen is willing to help, it will be even more foolproof. We can do this..."

Yuwen Jin watched as the sickly, gentle beauty before him spoke sentence after sentence. Her harmless appearance and demeanor were worlds apart from what she was saying. She was earnestly and calmly plotting someone's death.

This contrast gave one a spine-chilling sense of dissonance. Yuwen Jin rubbed his arms and chuckled dryly, "Haha, for Xun Nu's sake, you can go to such lengths to eliminate Xiahou Xuanyu. Your feelings must be deep indeed."

"However, I'm a bit curious. You two must have missed each other for several years. You were said to be in a coma before. Did you never suspect that Brother Xun might have found someone else?"

Yuwen Jin was truly curious. He was a romantic and didn't really believe that there were people in this world who remained devoted. Nor did he believe that a deeply passionate person could happen to meet another equally passionate person.

Tang Li said in surprise, "Why would I suspect him? He is Xun Nu. He won't change."

Yuwen Jin: "No no, people are the most prone to change."

"He won't change, because he is Xun Nu. If he changes..." Before finishing her words, Tang Li lowered her eyes and smiled. If the person she loved changed, of course she would stop loving them. Wasn't this a very simple matter? After all, she only loved "Xun Nu".

Although it was an equally gentle smile, Yuwen Jin felt there was something off-putting about it.

Xun brought back the Honey Peach and took Tang Li to find the accompanying doctor to treat her eyes. Yuwen Jin watched their departing figures, one silent and deeply affectionate, the other gentle and attentive. They were a very loving couple.

But when he recalled Nangong Qin's expression just now, he felt an inexplicable unease in his heart.

Duan Ming walked out from behind the screen. Yuwen Jin asked him, "What do you think of Lady Nangong Qin now?"

After a moment of contemplation, Duan Ming said, "It's really strange. Can a few years in a coma change someone beyond recognition? The Nangong Qin I met before was a vain and selfish woman. This current one seems gentle on the surface but is actually stubborn inside.

"This kind of personality has its good and bad points. If Brother Xun never has a change of heart, then he will definitely be the happiest man in the world, because he will have a gentle lover who always puts him first."

Yuwen Jin: "Well, what if Brother Xun does have a change of heart?"

Duan Ming smiled ambiguously, "Didn't you hear what she said just now about how she would deal with Xiahou Xuanyu? Women aren't innately kind. They also have a fierce side. Once provoked, they can be scarier than men.

"By the way, she just asked you to join forces against Xiahou Xuanyu, but you changed the subject. You don't want to take the risk of getting involved? That's not like you at all."

"Ha, of course I'm interested. With Xiahou Xuanyu dead, I can take advantage of the situation and gain as much as possible in the North City. It would be a shame to miss such a rare opportunity," Yuwen Jin said with a smirk. "But important business can't be rushed. We can afford to wait a bit."

...

Nangong Xian's attitude was kind and amiable. "Xuanyu, there's no need to be so polite. In the future, when Qin'er marries into the North City, we'll all be one family."

Xiahou Xuanyu nodded, his attitude still somewhat arrogant despite restraining himself. "Indeed. However, Uncle, it was too rash of you to let Qin'er go to the East City alone."

Nangong Xian's eyes darkened for a moment, but he laughed and said, "You're right. I shouldn't have let the child do as she pleased. Fortunately, you've come, Xuanyu. She'll surely listen to you."

Xiahou Xuanyu saw through his intentions clearly and sneered inwardly. "Rest assured, City Lord Nangong, our alliance will not change. In the future, the South City and the North City will be as close as one family."

Nangong Xian's smile became more genuine. "With Xuanyu saying so, I can put my mind at ease."

The two happily discussed their alliance, acting as if they had truly become one family through the engagement of Xiahou Xuanyu and Nangong Qin. That is, until a certain rumor spread like wildfire and reached their ears.

— Nangong Qin had thrown herself into the arms of the honored guest of the East City's lord, Xun. Now, the two were inseparable, intimate beyond measure, even openly touring the East City together without any regard for propriety.

Xiahou Xuanyu: "..."

Nangong Xian: "..." Well, this is awkward.