The next morning, the sun shone brightly.
Dawn’s warmth fell upon the serene courtyard. Ji Qingyan, just waking from sleep, sheathed an ordinary iron sword, tying it tightly to her waist with a silk ribbon.
Gazing at the rare fine weather of late autumn, the girl sighed with mild irritation, her thoughts on her stolen famed sword, Shadow Bearer. The Wei King’s Mansion’s deep resources made reclaiming it by force a near-impossible task.
Not to mention the unfathomable Steward Mo, even the Gan brothers, with their black iron chains, might be too much for her.
She could only wait three months for Ji Yanqing to return it voluntarily.
Per her original plan, she should’ve returned to the Rakshasa Ancient Sect, mastered the final form of the Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn, and roamed the martial world as a heroine—not be ordered around like this.
All Ji Yanqing’s fault!
Ji Qingyan stomped her foot in frustration, but her phoenix eyes caught the rouge box by her bed.
Since age six, she’d lived in seclusion with her master in the mountains, her days filled with martial practice and meditation—so dull she could’ve sprouted grass.
At the cusp of adolescence, her heart stirred with curiosity.
Back then, she’d sneak to village markets at the mountain’s base during her master’s retreats. Penniless, she still relished the sights.
Though discovery meant months of confinement, she’d never linger a moment longer in the sect if given the chance.
Her current Transformation Realm cultivation? Pure talent, no effort.
Beyond tavern storytellers’ martial tales, young Qingyan loved squatting in tiny rouge shops, watching women adorn themselves with colorful powders, her eyes full of envy.
Meanwhile, at thirteen or fourteen, Ji Yanqing was busy tasting rouge on the lips of fallen maidens and wives—a peculiar kind of fate with Ji Qingyan, in a way.
…
After hesitating, Ji Qingyan grabbed the rouge box, hurried to the dressing table, wiped dust from the bronze mirror, and began applying makeup from memory.
The Wei King’s Heir was a scoundrel, but his rouge was innocent.
Besides, since Ji Yanqing “borrowed” Shadow Bearer without permission, taking some interest was only fair.
But she’d be careful not to let him see, washing her face clean with lake water before heading out.
Ji Qingyan planned silently.
Finished, she admired herself in the mirror. Her natural beauty was so striking that even her amateur makeup couldn’t dim her radiant allure.
Reluctantly, she set the mirror down and pushed open the door.
Creak—
The courtyard came into view, along with those mesmerizing peach-blossom eyes that never failed to stun her.
Their gazes met, and they stood speechless.
A faint rouge trace adorned her jade-like face, a light powder deepening her tender charm.
Though the Heir had seen countless beauties, this heavenly vision stirred his heart. Ji Qingyan’s face burned, wishing she could dig a hole and vanish.
Ji Yanqing broke the silence, stepping to her side, smoothing an uneven patch of rouge with his fingertip, saying softly, “Next time, I’ll help you apply the rouge.”
No mockery, no lust—his words were as clear as a spring.
Ji Qingyan nodded dazedly, catching his brow before shyly lowering her head, lips pursed, unable to speak.
When she mustered the courage, he’d already moved past, heading out.
“I’ve got leads on Weiyuan’s missing black iron. Want to hear, Heroine Ji?” Ji Yanqing asked lightly.
“Yes, tell me!” Ji Qingyan hurried after him, eager to quell the sudden flutter in her heart.
“There’s no doubt Zhechong Prefecture’s black iron was six hundred jin. Such a lucrative job with official ties—why would it fall to Weiyuan out of the blue?” Ji Yanqing snorted, continuing, “Sure enough, someone used Zhechong connections to deliver only two hundred jin, framing Weiyuan while pocketing the rest.”
“A clever scheme,” Ji Qingyan remarked.
“What now?” she asked, blinking anxiously.
“No rush. First, tip off Weiyuan. As for punishing the wicked, we’ll handle that tonight,” Ji Yanqing said, snapping open his ivory fan with a smile.
“Should I tail the villain to make sure he doesn’t escape?” she offered.
Ji Yanqing glanced at her, surprised. So you’re not clueless after all. How’d I miss that?
“Rest assured, Miss Qingyan, they won’t escape. Even if they flee to the ends of the earth, the Wei King’s Mansion can send them to hell,” he said confidently.
…
At the third quarter of the Mao hour, Ji Yanqing led a horse to Weiyuan Escort Agency. He and Ji Qingyan shared a mount again, but not the Night-Illuminating Jade Lion—just the gaunt yellow horse.
To avoid attention, Ji Yanqing kept a low profile.
Weiyuan was in unprecedented peril. After yesterday’s visit from Zhechong’s captain, everyone was on edge.
In the main hall, heated arguments raged. Su Ningyue consulted the agency’s veteran escorts, but no solution emerged.
With the head escort bedridden and the black iron theft charge looming, their “discussion” was more like a shouting match.
“An upright man fears no shadows. Weiyuan’s clean. We received only two hundred jin from Zhechong. The missing four hundred? Let the officials chase that. It’s not our problem,” one escort growled.
“Old Chen, you pig-brained? It’s obvious Zhechong’s out to get us. They’ll pin any crime they want. My take? Sneak out of Ye City tonight for a slim chance,” another said.
A third escort shook his head bitterly. “This is Ji Province’s Zhechong black iron. Escape’s not that easy. Weiyuan’s doomed.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Limping Li? We just sit and wait to die?!” the first shot back.
“Got a better idea?”
“Hmph, Zhechong’s bullying us too far. If it comes to it, we go down fighting—”
“Enough!” Su Ningyue interrupted, her delicate hand gripping her skirt, her frail frame resolute. “Uncles, in this crisis, your loyalty to Weiyuan moves me deeply.
But the agency’s at its end. You don’t need to sacrifice your lives. Zhechong wants a scapegoat. I’ll bear the blame for the missing black iron.”
Her voice was calm, her resolve unshakable.
Just then, a voice rang out from the courtyard.
“No need for Miss Su to take the blame. Heroine Ji and I have found where the missing black iron is!”