The servants' rooms were in the western corner of the Posthouse, situated right next to the back courtyard and the back door for easy access. Chi Lian stood at the very front, cautiously shielding Wei Ming halfway behind him, and said, "I'm opening the door."

The old door hinges let out a teeth-grinding "creak" as the door swung open. The room inside was dim and empty. Due to its poor location and lack of sunlight, there was a faint, cold dampness in the air. The room contained three beds made of dilapidated wooden planks. Two had messy quilts, while only one was neatly made, looking as if no one had ever lived there.

Wei Ming went over and looked around. Not a single personal item, not even a strand of hair, could be seen. It was clear this had been prepared in advance. He looked up at Chi Lian, who also shook his head, indicating he had found nothing. Wei Ming sighed, dusted his cuffs, and said to Registrar Liu, "The person is meticulous and left no clues. As for finding him, I'm afraid we'll have to trouble the Court of State Ceremonial to put in more effort."

If Prince Duan had not paid a sudden visit, who knows when they would have found out about something as major as the escape of a foreign musician. Liu Zhan readily agreed and added, "Prince, this matter is of great importance. This subordinate must take his leave first to return and report the details to my superior and arrange for subsequent matters. If there is any news or progress, I will be sure to report to the Prince's Manor in a timely manner."

"I'll have to trouble you, then. Go on," Wei Ming said. "When the artist has drawn the portrait, remember to leave a copy for me."

Liu Zhan bowed deeply. "This subordinate takes his leave."

This trip lasted from morning until dusk. It wasn't until the sun was setting in the west that the two of them managed to leave the Posthouse. Chi Lian was a man of the world beyond, so he did not consider exertion a hardship. However, taking into account Wei Ming, this frail mortal, he proactively suggested, "It's getting late. Your Highness has rushed about for a whole day and must be tired. Why don't we stop here for today? Any unfinished business can wait until tomorrow."

The fiery twilight reflected in Wei Ming's deep, handsome features, revealing a spirit completely different from his usual calm and self-restrained demeanor. Wei Ming stretched his shoulders and said lightly, "It's fine. I've just been sitting in the carriage all day, and I feel cramped and uncomfortable. Have them switch to two horses for us. We're not far from the West Market. If we go now, we can have a quiet dinner."

Since he said so, Chi Lian certainly wouldn't go against his wishes. The two switched to horses and headed for the West Market.

Since the previous dynasty, it had become customary for the Capital City to have an East and a West Market. Although there were other markets of various sizes in the city, none could compare to the prosperity and bustle of these two. The West Market, in particular, was known for being a gathering place for foreign merchants and a hub for treasures from all over the world. Every night, the entertainment districts were brightly lit, with songs, dances, and joyous sounds lasting from dusk till dawn. The crowds of visitors were as thick as woven threads, making it truly a city that never slept.

The time of their arrival was neither early nor late. The brothels and gambling dens had not yet opened, and the shops that operated during the day were closing up. The distant setting sun still hung on the eaves of the city tower, and a thin, golden-gauze-like dusk enveloped the long street with its sparse few visitors. It was a rare moment of tranquility in the day.

The two tied up their horses and walked into a restaurant named "Yujin Fang." A waiter saw their attire and knew at a glance that they were either rich or noble. He attentively led them to a private room on the second floor, first serving a pot of fine tea with assorted refreshments and dried fruits, then brought over a plaque engraved with the names of wines and dishes for them to order.

While waiting for the food, Wei Ming pushed the window open a crack to let in the cool evening breeze from the street. Chi Lian came around and personally poured him tea. "Your Highness, do you think that Hengfang musician is the mastermind of the Snake Demon Case we're looking for?"

Wei Ming slightly raised his phoenix eyes, his gaze fixed on his face, and asked calmly, "Why the sudden question? Do you feel something is wrong?"

"I didn't sense any demonic qi." Chi Lian had said very little in front of outsiders earlier, barely expressing any opinions. Now, facing Wei Ming, he finally spoke a few more words. "Chou Xinwei's room was very clean, without a trace of demonic qi. Either his cultivation has reached a certain high level, or... he's just an ordinary member of the Human Race, and his involvement in this case is purely a coincidence."

"Do demons always leave behind demonic qi where they've been?" Wei Ming asked curiously, holding his teacup. "Aren't there demons that don't emit demonic qi?"

Chi Lian choked, trying his best to sound natural. "It's complicated to explain, so let's not get into the reasons. In short, the demonic qi of the Spirit Race is very difficult to conceal unless their cultivation is exceptionally high. But if he were truly that powerful, there would be no need for him to appear in his original form, and it would be even more impossible for him not to be able to withstand a single one of my sword strikes."

Wei Ming laughed out loud, showing him no face. "What are you so guilty about? Is it that the reason is too complicated, or that you were daydreaming when your master was teaching back then?"

Chi Lian: "...I was not!"

He turned his face away in a show of disdain, a mix of anger and embarrassment. Wei Ming, afraid of having teased him too much, decided to back off. "Your reasoning isn't wrong, but we can't assert right now that Chou Xinwei is the Snake Demon himself... the demon himself, right? What if they're working together?"

"Or perhaps it's Chou Xinwei who is controlling this Snake Demon from behind the scenes. In that case, this person is far more dangerous than we imagined and will very likely look for another opportunity to strike."

"So, what the Grand Preceptor said earlier, while very irresponsible, is indeed the best strategy we can adopt at present."

Chi Lian was stunned by his praise. "Huh? What did I say?"

Wei Ming said with a smile, "'We can only wait for him to come to us, and then life and death will be left to fate.' How could you so easily forget such heroic words?"

Chi Lian: "..."

A knock from the waiter rescued him from his speechlessness. Wei Ming called out "Come in," and casually put down his teacup. "Forget it, forget it. Let's eat first. Unearthing Chou Xinwei today is already a gratifying achievement. We should at least leave some room for the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial and the Capital Prefecture to exert themselves. We can't possibly take on all the work ourselves."

Chi Lian shook his head with an amused smile and didn't reply, remaining noncommittal about this remark worthy of a wily old official.

Yujin Fang's dishes were quite good. Though not rare delicacies, their appeal lay in their freshness and refinement. Wei Ming found them quite palatable. He happened to look up and saw that Chi Lian's bowl and plate were spotlessly white; he hadn't even touched his chopsticks.

He remembered that this person had arrived at the Prince's Manor early in the morning and hadn't had so much as a sip of water all day, yet he showed no signs of fatigue or hunger. 'He really is a true immortal who sups on wind and dew,' Wei Ming thought, 'a hundred times better than that old fraud Jinghui who fishes for fame.' He casually picked up a pair of clean chopsticks from the side and placed a piece of Jade-Stained Golden Peach in his bowl. "Don't just watch. Eat something."

Chi Lian murmured an "Mhm," showing no signs of reluctance. He slowly picked up the sweet piece of peach and ate it.

The two ate and chatted idly. Wei Ming looked up and saw his plate was empty again, so he picked out a Three-Delicacy Spring Roll for him. As expected, Chi Lian ate it. The third time, Wei Ming tried giving him a piece of lamb with his chopsticks. The fourth time, he ladled him a bowl of soup. Neither was refused. Only once, when Wei Ming deliberately didn't serve him himself but merely gestured for him to try a Pearl Meatball, did Chi Lian pick one up symbolically with his chopsticks. The meatball was never touched again after that.

Wei Ming found this meal more exhausting than investigating the case. 'Is he a picky eater or not?' he wondered. 'Does someone have to feed him every meal before he's willing to eat? How on earth did this guy grow up without starving to death?'

He was secretly grumbling about the other person in his mind, but his hands were very honest, picking up another piece of food for Chi Lian. Chi Lian shielded the rim of his bowl with his hand and shook his head. "No more."

Wei Ming came to his senses and raised an eyebrow. Chi Lian, thinking he was confused, showed a slightly troubled expression. "I really can't eat anymore."

"Oh, it's fine." Wei Ming turned his chopsticks and put the food back in his own bowl. A moment later, he reacted a beat too late and asked dryly, "You cultivators... do you all have to abstain from grains? Eating mortal food won't affect your cultivation, will it?"

"It won't," Chi Lian said, a small smile touching his lips as he refilled his tea. "Your Highness can rest assured, it's no matter."

It's over. It's all over.

'Alas,' Wei Ming lamented inwardly. 'Chi Lian isn't a picky eater, nor does he insist on being served. It's just as I thought, he was only willing to obediently eat the food I personally gave him because he didn't want to refuse me.'

He once thought the most absurd saying in the world was "love at first sight," but now he had to face reality—they knew nothing of each other's temperaments besides their looks, so how could someone, after meeting only once or twice, be as deeply affectionate as if they'd known each other for eight lifetimes? Was his Peach Blossom Star even more tyrannical than a bandit kidnapping a maiden?

"Your Highness?" Seeing his brow tightly furrowed and his gaze gloomy, as if trapped by some intractable problem, Chi Lian called out to him in confusion, trying to bring him back to his senses. "What's wrong?"

Wei Ming jolted and looked at him in a daze, his eyes filled with infinite pity and desolation. He wanted to say, 'I won't be staying in the Jade Capital for long in the future. We might not even see each other once a year. No matter how much affection there is, it will eventually be worn away by time and distance.' He also wanted to say, 'The Capital is full of treacherous schemes, and the princes are constantly plotting against each other. My status is special. If you get too close to me, you will attract The Emperor's suspicion. The slightest carelessness, and it will become a weakness for others to use against you. When affection becomes a burden, what will we do then?'

However, these words turned over in his mind a few times before quickly sinking into Chi Lian's clear eyes. Wei Ming sighed, put down his chopsticks, and rested his chin in his hand, gazing at the twilight glow outside the window. As naturally as if making small talk, he asked, "What kind of flowers do you like?"

Chi Lian: "Ah?"

He thought for a moment and said hesitantly, "I suppose... the Trumpet Vine Flower. Legend says, 'Its flowers and leaves flow with gold, red clouds reflect in the sky, as if born of flame.' When it blooms in early summer, it should be quite beautiful."

"Okay." Wei Ming took serious mental note of it, then added, a little unnaturally, "I just remembered, the steward asked me yesterday how the manor's flower garden should be arranged, since spring is coming. I'm not very good with flowers and plants, so I wanted to ask your opinion."

Baffled, Chi Lian nodded with a mixture of belief and doubt, reluctantly accepting his explanation.

Wei Ming silently picked up his cup and took a sip of hot tea, thinking to himself, 'When I get back tonight, I'll ask Yi Dayou for money to hire a gardener and buy saplings—although the road ahead is destined to be fraught with difficulties and hardships, the Prince's Manor is, after all, a place for two people to live together. I must get it ready as soon as possible and absolutely cannot delay the blooming season.'