Wei Ming's silence lasted so long that it made one suspect he was deliberately trying to put Chi Lian in his place. The servants behind him didn't dare to breathe, their hearts in their throats, terrified that the Prince would anger this beauty who was fiercer than a demon.

Chi Lian, however, kept his head bowed, not moving until Wei Ming bid him rise, appearing exceedingly submissive. After a moment, Wei Ming was suddenly heard asking, "Is this your real self?"

Chi Lian was taken aback. "What?"

Wei Ming rephrased the question. "Is this also one of your illusions?"

Chi Lian finally straightened up, looked at him with a small smile, and proactively extended his hand. "If Your Highness does not believe me, you can feel for yourself."

That smile was like the moon breaking through the clouds, utterly captivating. Wei Ming, with a deadpan expression, glanced at him and actually raised his hand to grasp it.

Chi Lian's hand, like the man himself, was dry and slightly cool. The pads of his fingers bore the calluses of a swordsman, and his bones were as hard as cold jade. In contrast, Wei Ming's hand was a bit warmer, tinging the back of his hand with a thin layer of warmth.

"Since the person is real, then this Prince must ask the Grand Preceptor," Wei Ming pressed his hand back and gestured for him to look at the manor's backyard, which looked as if it had been plowed over. "What is going on here?"

Just as Chi Lian was pondering how to phrase his explanation, a snow-white mountain finch suddenly flew in from outside the courtyard. It flapped its wings, hovering before him, and its tender yellow beak opened and closed, unexpectedly speaking human words: "There is a demon in the palace. His Majesty urgently summons the Grand Preceptor to the palace. Return at once."

Wei Ming said, "What's going on? Demons causing trouble in both places at once. Could this have been planned all along?"

Chi Lian was not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he said, "The demonic creature causing chaos in the palace and the Prince's Manor tonight is likely the same one. Since His Majesty has summoned me, why doesn't Your Highness accompany this subject to the palace? We can sort things out as quickly as possible and avoid wasting time relaying messages back and forth."

Although Wei Ming was an imperial prince, he was not permitted to enter the palace without a summons. He shook his head and said, "I'm afraid that's against the rules—"

"There's no time for such formalities," Chi Lian said decisively. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Please forgive this subject's offense, Your Highness."

Though his words were humble, he left no room for discussion. Taking advantage of their proximity, he stepped forward, scooped Wei Ming up, and with a sweep of his sleeves, ethereal smoke and clouds rose behind him. The two of them instantly vanished into a vast white mist.

"W-wait!"

An arm wrapped around Wei Ming's waist, and he was pulled stiffly into the cool, soft fabric of Chi Lian's robes, completely stunned. In all his life, he could count the number of times he'd been picked up on one hand with fingers to spare. Chi Lian's action was not just unexpected; it was beyond his comprehension, so much so that he completely lost his composure and forgot how to move his own limbs.

Reason struggled to remind him to fight back, to shove the person before him away forcefully. Yet, every inch of skin and every nerve in his body betrayed their master's thoughts. It was as if they were originally one entity, artificially split in two, fated to be drawn to each other. The moment they came close, they melded together seamlessly, producing an inexplicable yet familiar sense of peace.

The sound of the wind and the darkness of the night were all blocked out by this person's embrace, leaving only the dreamlike scent of lotus lingering around him.

Due to the overwhelming shock, the sensations of that moment were infinitely stretched and magnified. But in reality, the journey from the Prince's Manor to the Imperial City took only a brief instant. The next moment, Wei Ming's feet touched solid ground. In his peripheral vision, he could already glimpse a corner of the palace's bright yellow flying eaves. After helping him stand steady, Chi Lian took the initiative to let go.

"You..."

Wei Ming stared at him. Logically, he should be cursing him right now, but the moment they separated, an inexplicable feeling of anxious craving rose uncontrollably in his heart, so his anger died before it could erupt.

He was speechless for a moment, then finally managed a low, exasperated reprimand that held no real threat: "Audacious!"

"Yes, yes, I was audacious." Chi Lian made a grasping motion in the air, conjuring a silver-green ribbon. He meticulously tied back Wei Ming's wind-tousled hair, then skillfully smoothed his collar and straightened his layered cuffs. Only when he was perfectly neat and tidy did Chi Lian say with satisfaction, "Your Highness, please forgive me. This subject will certainly be more mindful next time."

Wei Ming: "..."

In a single night, the sins he had to forgive were probably enough to compile a volume of the Laws and Statutes of Great Zhou.

Inside Hanfeng Palace, Emperor Qiansheng sat on the edge of the couch, still shaken. Compared to Wei Ming, the sovereign's appearance could almost be described as disheveled: his dragon robe was wide open, hastily thrown over his nightclothes, his white hair was disarrayed, and his eyes were filled with terror. Although his right hand gripped the bedpost, it still trembled uncontrollably.

The inner hall was empty; palace attendants and guards had all been dismissed. When the two entered, only the Chief Eunuch Shang Heng and Deputy Preceptor Ye Jintan were in the hall. Chi Lian stepped forward to pay his respects. Without any unnecessary pleasantries, he started by setting Emperor Qiansheng's mind at ease, "Your Majesty, if you would permit me. This subject intercepted the demonic creature at Prince Duan's Manor and has already clashed with it once. The creature was wounded by this subject's blade and should be unable to cause further trouble for a short while. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, and do not worry excessively."

His calm and composed demeanor was extremely convincing, like a spiritual pillar that pinned Emperor Qiansheng's terrified soul back into his body. The Emperor stared at him for a moment, finally let out a long sigh, and his tense shoulders slumped. "Good... you've done well. It's all thanks to the Grand Preceptor... In your opinion, what exactly is that demon?"

Chi Lian said, "It's difficult to say for certain right now, but based on its appearance, it should be a type of Snake Demon."

"Is that so?" Emperor Qiansheng said slowly, seeming lost in thought. "It looked that way to Us, too."

Wei Ming watched with a cool gaze, feeling that there was an unspoken meaning in his words. Just then, Emperor Qiansheng's gaze shifted to him, as if only just remembering he was there. He was not close with this son and said with displeasure, "What is Prince Duan doing here?"

"It was this subject who invited the Prince." Chi Lian spoke before Wei Ming could answer, smoothing things over for him. "The Snake Demon attacked the Prince's Manor tonight, alarming His Highness. Your Majesty, as a precaution, please send people to the Eastern Palace and the manors of the other princes to check if they also saw the Snake Demon."

He was the only one who had fought the demon, so Emperor Qiansheng naturally agreed. He said to Shang Heng, who was standing by, "Send some people." Shang Heng replied with a quiet "yes" and bowed as he withdrew. Emperor Qiansheng then asked, "What do you think this creature is after?"

Chi Lian said cautiously, "This subject dare not speculate. It is too early to guess its motive. The most urgent matter is to find its hiding place to prevent further incidents."

Before long, a report came from the Eastern Palace. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the dispatched eunuch returned to report that, indeed, both Prince Kang's Manor and Prince Ning's Manor had also reported encountering a demon tonight. The Crown Prince was relatively calm, but both Prince Kang and Prince Ning had been frightened into illness, and their households were in a panic, summoning imperial physicians for treatment.

Emperor Qiansheng sighed and ordered someone to summon physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy. He then said to Ye Jintan, "State Preceptor Ye, go assist the Imperial Guard. Use whatever means you have to strengthen the palace's defenses. Don't let chaos arise."

Ye Jintan bowed. "I respectfully obey Your Majesty's decree."

"Grand Preceptor."

"This subject is here."

Emperor Qiansheng said, "This case is entirely in your hands. You must apprehend the demon and bring it to justice as soon as possible."

"This subject accepts the decree," Chi Lian said. "This subject has one more request, and I implore Your Majesty to grant it."

Emperor Qiansheng said, "Let's hear it."

Chi Lian said, "The matter involves the imperial clan. It may be inconvenient for an outside official like myself to conduct the investigation for fear of offending the nobles. I ask Your Majesty to appoint His Highness, Prince Duan, to preside over the command and grant him the authority to make decisions on the spot."

Emperor Qiansheng had never appointed Prince Duan to any serious post. Hearing Chi Lian's words, he thought for a moment and felt he was indeed the most suitable candidate—after all, he was a cultivator. It was a pity he had the status but not the clout, and would likely be unable to keep the powerful clan members in check. Thus, he said, "As you wish. Shang Heng, draft a handwritten order for Us. Have Prince Duan preside over this case, with the Grand Preceptor as his deputy. The Zixiao Academy and the Southern Bureau of the Jinwu Guard are to be at their disposal, and they may act as they see fit."

The State Preceptor's considerations were thorough, and the Son of Heaven's words were final. Wei Ming was neatly maneuvered by the two of them with no chance to object. He could only say, "Your son obeys the decree."

The two exited the hall. The chilly night wind that hit them was quite sobering. Chi Lian glanced at the sky, showing no awareness or remorse for having dragged someone else into this mess. "This subject will see the Prince back to his manor."

Wei Ming, having been moved around like a mascot all night and given a bafflingly troublesome task, was surprisingly even-tempered. He said calmly, "Perfect. This Prince has a few questions for you."

Shang Heng sent a young eunuch to carry a lantern for them, and the two walked along the long palace path toward the outside.

"This Prince felt the Grand Preceptor looked familiar upon our first meeting. At the Thousand Autumns Banquet, I was further indebted to you for your repeated protection." Wei Ming turned his head to look at him. "This Prince would like to ask the Grand Preceptor, what exactly is the connection between you and me?"

Chi Lian's expression did not change, as if he hadn't heard. He said respectfully, though with a hint of falseness, "Your Highness flatters this subject. You may simply call this subject by name."

Wei Ming sneered, "It is Lord Grand Preceptor who is flattering this Prince. A figure like you, whom even His Majesty treats with great respect, how could this Prince possibly have the right to put on airs before you?"

If the protection at the palace banquet and the private gift of the jade pendant were just his own wishful thinking, then tonight—ditching the emperor in the palace to come to the Prince's Manor first, and touching him without so much as a by-your-leave—if Wei Ming were a blushing maiden, he'd be discussing the betrothal gifts with him by now.

Chi Lian's personal intentions had reached the point where he couldn't even be bothered to hide them. But Wei Ming couldn't just pretend to be oblivious and enjoy the special treatment. He hadn't had such good fortune in over a decade. When a pie fell from the sky, his first thought wasn't how to eat it, but whether he deserved it, lest he be accidentally crushed to death by it.

Chi Lian immediately adopted a serious expression. "This subject has absolutely no intention of expecting repayment for any favors to Your Highness, nor would I dare to treat you with disrespect. It is only that I have many concerns, and feared that speaking of them would displease Your Highness, so I dared not speak rashly."

Wei Ming was so annoyed by his convoluted formalities that he really wanted to hit him. "Cut the nonsense and just say it."

Chi Lian had high brow bones and deep-set eyes, and his gaze shimmered like ripples on water, giving the illusion of extraordinary affection when he looked at someone. It was as if he would take whatever the other person said and cherish it in his heart. After hesitating for a moment, as if having considered it over and over, he finally said with extreme caution, "This subject and Your Highness do, indeed, share a past-life connection."

"What kind of past-life connection?"

Chi Lian lowered his eyes and said subserviently, "In our past life, Your Highness's kindness to this subject was as heavy as a mountain. It is for this reason that this subject must do his utmost to protect Your Highness."

Wei Ming laughed with anger upon hearing this, the word 'past life' hitting a sore spot. He said, not without a touch of ridicule, "Grand Preceptor, past-life matters should end in the past life. To insist on dragging them into this one seems a bit lacking, doesn't it?"

Chi Lian raised his eyelids slightly, looking up at him with an 'I told you you wouldn't believe me' expression plain on his face. Yet his expression was extremely sincere, and he gave an apologetic, wry smile. "Your Highness's lesson is correct. This subject has misspoken."

"Who's lecturing you?" Wei Ming couldn't stand seeing him like that. Swallowing a bellyful of bitterness, he became like a dud firecracker. "Besides, have you been anything but presumptuous in front of me? You talk so pitifully, but when you were dragging me into this mess just now, why didn't you remember I was your past-life benefactor?"

He had been away from the capital and the court for a long time, but not so long that he couldn't read between the lines. He, a prince who wasn't close to anyone, on what grounds could he investigate the imperial clan and lead the personnel of the Zixiao Academy to handle a case? It was simply that the Emperor had realized this demon might be targeting the imperial bloodline, but the noble imperial kinsmen were all too precious to be put in harm's way. Only Prince Duan, unloved by his father, was suitable to be pushed out as bait.

The dejected look on his face was swept clean away. As if he had long anticipated that Wei Ming would indulge him, Chi Lian's stunning eyes curved into a smile. "Rest assured, Your Highness. This subject may not have many other skills, but I am more than capable of ensuring Your Highness's safety."

"What are you really after?" Wei Ming simply couldn't understand him. "Going through all this trouble, just to find yourself an ancestor to worship?"

Chi Lian gazed at his face, his cool fingers curling slightly as if he desperately wanted to touch the person before him. But in the end, bearing a crushing weight of restraint, he just gave a casual "en" in the night wind.

"It is to set my own heart at ease."