Xiuying stared at the identity token in her hand. It was a small bronze tablet with the name Feiyu engraved on it. Etched on the other side of the token was the emblem of the Ye family—a monkey poised on a slender bamboo stalk, encircled by a delicate frame of bamboo leaves.

It had been brought to her room by a servant, just as she woke up. She couldn't be more satisfied that Feiyu finally had his own Pass, and even more so being employed under someone with power.

She brushed a thumb across the characters engraved on the tablet, admiring it for a few seconds before hanging it at her left waist, opposite where her sword hung. A moment later, she heard the door open behind her. Turning around, she smiled as Yunxi came out of her room. Behind her were her three first rank maids, all young ladies just like her.

Xiuying's gaze settled on the jade necklace that Yunxi was wearing. She had noticed that ever since the assassination attempt, Yunxi had never taken it off. Mingxia told her that before the incident Yunxi always kept the necklace in a box and wore it only on special occasions.

Yunxi smiled at her, but it didn't reach her eyes. Today was the final day of her bodyguard's funeral. After Wencheng's servants collected Po Jun's corpse from the forest, his casket was carried back to Yuhan City, his hometown. True to his words, Wencheng had organized a grand funeral for him.

Yunxi had been in mourning for the entire week. She rarely left her room and frequently skipped meals. She really looked affected about what happened to Po Jun, as though grieving a close friend. From what she'd heard from Mingxia, Po Jun had served as Yunxi's bodyguard for five years, and their relationship had grown to something like friendship. No wonder she looked so upset. Po Jun was practically a friend who had always been there for her.

That said, Xiuying had no regrets.

"Please take good care of the Third Young Lady," one of Yunxi's maids said, and the other two nodded in agreement.

"The Third Young Lady is fortunate to have such thoughtful attendants," Xiuying said with a smile. "Don't worry, nobody can harm her under my watch."

Because Po Jun's remains would be buried in a few hours, Yunxi wanted to buy something to offer at his grave since she could not come to Yuhan City personally, as much as she wanted. Wencheng and her father forbade her from leaving the capital lest someone would attempt on her life again.

"Third Sister," a voice called.

A young woman just entered the Dawn Courtyard and was heading towards them with quick yet elegant steps. "Are you heading somewhere?"

"Second Sister," Yunxi greeted her with a smile. "I'm going to the market."

"So early in the morning?" the young lady asked. "And you're going with this...bodyguard of yours?"

Xiuying offered her a small smile. This was Ye Xiang, the Second Young Lady Ye from the Second Household. Xiuying had always been aware of the woman's dislike, or more accurately, mistrust, for her. Xiang had always been suspicious of her from the moment she met her, the day after she was employed. At one point, she offered to find Yunxi a more capable and reliable bodyguard. Fortunately, Yunxi declined. Xiuying could see how much Xiang cared about her cousin, to the extent that it would cause Xiuying some problems.

She would have to be careful around her.

"I know you're worried about me, Second Sister," Yunxi said. "But Feiyu will be with me. I know you don't trust him yet, but please trust me."

Xiang's expression softened as she looked at Yunxi. "Then come back quickly. Don't make Grandfather worry too much." In a low, gentle voice, she added, "Ruyu will be leaving soon." She gave Xiuying a sharp look before turning on her heels and walking away.

***

The morning sun shone with lazy warmth on the marketplace. Xiuying and Yunxi walked along the calm streets of Hongling. There were not many pedestrians at this time of day, and some vendors were just setting up their stalls.

Yunxi was silent the whole time. Xiuying had really no idea what she was actually looking for. They had already passed by several stalls, but Yunxi didn't approach any of them. She seemed to have a destination in mind as she walked with calm and measured gait. After passing a few more stalls, Yunxi finally stopped at a steamed bun stall.

"If it isn't Third Young Lady Ye," the stall owner greeted Yunxi with a beam as soon as they reached his stall. "A pleasant morning to you."

Yunxi returned his smile and said, "Good morning, Mr. Chang. I'd like to buy a bag of steamed buns."

When Mr. Chang handed her the bag of steamed buns, his eyes turned to Xiuying and frowned, as if he had just realized that she was there. He studied her mask before speaking again. "Please excuse me for asking, Third Young Lady Ye, but is the young man beside you...your new bodyguard?"

"Yes, he is," Yunxi responded in a small voice. "His name is Feiyu."

"I'm sorry about what happened to Po Jun," Mr. Chang said, his eyes downcast. "He was a kind and brave man. And he really liked my steamed buns."

Yunxi once again forced a smile. Clutching the bag of steamed buns in her chest, she turned to face Xiuying. "Po Jun loved steamed buns, and Mr. Chang's was his favorite." She took one steamed bun from the paper bag and gave it to Xiuying. "Here. I'm sure you'll like it too."

Xiuying thanked her. She stared at the soft and fluffy looking steamed bun before taking a bite. The tender, juicy filling of pork melted in her tongue and she couldn't help but actually enjoy eating it. Yunxi wasn't lying. Compared to the other steamed buns she had tried, this one did taste rather good.

"Is it good?" Yunxi asked.

"Third Young Lady is right. This steamed bun tastes great, better than others, I should say."

Mr. Chang laughed, looking pleased. "Thank you, young man. I'm glad you like my steamed buns, too."

Yunxi's smile lingered as her gaze drifted downward. "Elder Sister was the one who first brought us to Mr. Chang's steamed buns. One day, she came home with a bag of them and, with her usual generosity, offered one to Po Jun. From that day on, we became regular customers of Mr. Chang."

Xiuying remained silent as she listened to her. In her week-long stay in the Ye Residence, she had learned that there was another young lady named Ye Yunru, an Eldest Young Lady of the First Household and Yunxi's older sister by four years. Unfortunately, she died a year ago.

Yunxi opened her mouth to speak again, but before she could, a somehow familiar voice cut her off.

"Third Young Lady?"

Turning around, Xiuying's eyes almost turned wide as she looked at the man walking toward them. He was dressed in a black robe with a sword strapped to his waist. Emblazoned on his scabbard was an ox shaped like a crescent moon—the unmistakable crest of the Shen family of the Twelve Great Families. Hanging about his left waist was a golden tablet belonging to a high-ranking military official. Tall, well-built, and with sharp features; Shen Gui was an imposing sight as she remembered.

Xiuying had known him for years, but they rarely interacted. There was one time he asked for her hand in marriage, a month before she was betrothed to Jin Ge. But Gui's intentions were purely political. He was an ambitious man who had always wanted to gain her father's favor in order to climb up in his career.

Like Ruwen, he was a high-ranking general of Moon Knight, but they never got along. Gui envied the man who, despite being two years his junior, outperformed him in every way. On top of that, Ruwen wasn't even from the Twelve Great Families. Ruwen had the attention that Gui craved for himself. He must have realized that he could never beat Ruwen, which was why he made a risky decision to come to the Great General's manor to propose marriage. A huge mistake on his part.

Xiuying didn't really expect to meet him so soon.

"Greetings, Lord Shen," Yunxi said. Her voice and smile were friendly, as though they were more than acquaintances.

"How have you been?" Gui asked Yunxi in a strangely gentle voice that Xiuying had never imagined he possessed. Even his expression was milder than usual.

"I heard about what happened," he continued. "And I'm sorry about your bodyguard. I've been quite busy this week, so I apologize for not coming to see you and your family. But I'm really glad you're okay."

"Thank you for your concern," Yunxi said. "I also understand how busy Lord Shen is, so please don't mind it."

Gui smiled at her. But when he focused his attention on Xiuying, his face returned to its usual cold and feral expression that Xiuying was well familiar with. "Who is this? Your new bodyguard?"

"Yes. Feiyu will be my bodyguard from now on."

"Feiyu," Gui muttered, as if speaking to himself. His critical gaze swept over Xiuying with a frown. "Slim build and average height... At first glance he looks like a woman."

Xiuying held her breath, conscious all of a sudden of the mask touching her face. Gui had a keen eye for detail, that was one thing Xiuying remembered about him. All her plans would come to naught if he recognized her.

"I'm sorry for saying this, Third Young Lady," Gui addressed Yunxi. "But are you really sure about hiring this man as your bodyguard?"

"Ruyu tested Feiyu himself," Yunxi began. "And we were there to observe. Feiyu might not look like it, but he's really capable. Besides, he's the one who saved me from the assassin."

Gui didn't say anything else, but his gaze remained calculating as he looked at Xiuying. Xiuying met his gaze, refusing to show the slightest discomfort. He might be good, but his tendency to underestimate people would eventually lead him to his downfall. That was the case with Ruwen, and it seemed that he never learned from it.

A loud, crashing sound forced Gui and Xiuying to break their gaze. A carriage had knocked over a nearby stall that was selling fruits. Two soldiers clad in intimidating black armor dragged a man from the inside of the carriage and pinned him to the ground. The soldiers' uniforms were unusual, with headbands wrapped around their foreheads as black as their looming shadows.

Another man, the driver wearing a bamboo hat, jumped out of the carriage and bolted like lightning. One soldier attempted to follow him, but the man reached into his sleeves and hurled several small blades at the soldier. The soldier drew his weapon from its sheath and swung. As if an invisible sword had been released from the movement he made, a wind as sharp as a blade cut the small blades in half, rendering them useless to the ground like pieces of broken mirror.

People nearby screamed in fear and fled the scene. Xiuying positioned herself in front of Yunxi to protect her from any possible danger. Gui did the same thing.

Before the man could run again, the soldier stomped his foot on the ground, causing the fragments of broken blades to hover a few inches above the ground. With a kick, the blade pieces shot at the running man like darts and struck him in the back. The man stumbled forward and cried out in pain as he fell hard to his knees. His green robe darkened with blood, as did the ground underneath him.

Knowing that the victim no longer had the strength to escape, the soldier proceeded towards him with somewhat relaxed steps. He took him by the arm and threw him over his shoulder like a lifeless doll. Without an explanation or apology for the commotion, the two soldiers marched away, carrying the criminals with them and leaving crimson droplets in their wake.

"Who are those?" Xiuying asked as she watched them disappear into another carriage, which departed as soon as they entered. She knew what those soldiers were; Dishi had warned her about them. But it was her first time seeing them in person—and they were far more daunting than she had expected.

Gui looked at her with a mocking smirk. "I suppose you're still clueless. Let me enlighten you. The black-armored soldiers are officers of the Black Tortoise Bureau, an organization of highly skilled soldiers who serve only the Acting Emperor." His smile turned bitter. "Because they are backed by the Acting Emperor, they've risen to unimaginable power and influence. On top of that, they oversee all matters related to the missing Crown Prince. In short, they are the elite warriors of the Kingdom of Yu. Only those with the desire to die are allowed to mess with them."