The sun peeks through the clouds, making it the perfect day to ride Yanbei's magnificent horses across the scenic hills, lush grasslands, and flower-filled meadows. It's a beautiful, blissful experience.

Two people arrived at this stunning view, almost like a dream come true. At the scene were a graceful woman and a handsome man, each on their splendid horses.

Yan Xun looked at Chu Qiao, who was riding beside him. With a charming smile, he said, "A'Chu, if you've forgotten everything, let me remind you of what we once were."

Chu Qiao catching the scent of the grass, admired the lush mountain hills and open green valleys. She glanced at Yan Xun and replied, "Remind me of everything we were before?"

Her voice was soft, curious about what "everything" meant to this prince. She couldn't deny that the charming man beside her was hard to resist. His little eyes, his smiles, and the little gestures he made were beginning to break through her defenses.

Yan Xun gently responded, "Yes."

Chu Qiao heard Yan Xun's voice and found herself increasingly drawn to it. Every moment with him felt better, making her feel special. Although she had only met him yesterday and was aware of her upcoming marriage in a few months, his treatment made it seem as if they were already a couple.

With a hint of confusion and curiosity, Chu Qiao asked, "Like this?"

Yan Xun kept flashing his charming smile, his eyes unable to resist admiring Chu Qiao's lovely face, as if he were flirting with her. Chu Qiao, on the other hand, received his attention with innocent curiosity.

In a gentle tone, Yan Xun said, "Yes, I promised you this…"

Chu Qiao responded with a playful tone, "Why can't I remember it?"

She then closed her eyes to enjoy the breathtaking view, taking a deep breath. Yan Xun, watching her, joked, "Maybe someone made you forget?"

As he observed Chu Qiao's serene expression, her lips slightly visible in profile, he felt a strong impulse to kiss her. With a sigh, he quickly shook off the thought, inhaled and exhaled deeply, rolling his eyes and smiling.

Noticing his reaction, Chu Qiao asked, "Why did you shake your head and smile? Is that the right attitude?"

Yan Xun replied casually, "Nothing…"

Chu Qiao, pressing further, asked again, "Really?"

Yan Xun finally admitted, "I just missed you," with a flirty smile before tapping his horse and riding down the grassy hill.

Chu Qiao, left on top of the hill, muttered to herself, "What just happened?"

She waved her hands and shouted after him, "Hey! Are you just going to leave me here? What did I do?"

Yan Xun called back cheerfully, "Come on, we have a lot more to see!"

Unaware of Chu Qiao's lost memories, Yan Xun acted as if she had forgotten everything. He felt it was his job to remind her of their past together.

They had shared many sweet moments and deep connections: cold nights spent holding hands, comforting each other when sick, waiting for each other at night, serving each other's food first, playful food fights with chopsticks, running through fields, and practicing martial arts together.

Yan Xun had trained Chu Qiao in close combat, and even though they had shared near kisses, he always brushed it off. Chu Qiao, though blushing, managed to hide her feelings well.

It is not fair for Yan Xun to let Chu Qiao pass this to the wind then come back empty today, looking like a stranger to him.

Whereas, Yan Xun put them all together in a place that one should never forget.

Those times have so much potential to blossom from solid friendship into a budding love to a lifetime bliss. ending her at Yan's marriage bed.

However, Yan Xun did not want them all at first. Because maybe he is so sure that while Chu Qiao is very close to him, that they have already shared more than what others have already done for her.

The final piece was for him to propose marriage and make Chu Qiao his forever.

While Yan Xun enjoys a moment of togetherness with Chu Qiao, he became overconfident that their memories together, his presence alone would surpass his best friend Yuwen Yue.

Yan Xun took that opportunity where Chu Qiao was so consumed about her anger for the Yuwen household, and he let it flourish in her heart.

Yan Xun never thought that Chu Qiao is still breakable after that solid friendship he underestimated how fragile she could be.

When the truth came to light, and Chu Qiao confronted him with icy resolve, she declared, "If Yuwen Yue dies in Yanbei, I will never forgive you."

After riding for a few hours, Yan Xun arrived at a small community. He dismounted and handed his horse to a little boy before returning to Chu Qiao, who was circling on her horse.

She asked, "Are we going to stay here for a while?"

Yan Xun smiled, opening his palm and saying, "Come down here, A'Chu. Just trust me, like we used to."

Hearing his voice again brought Chu Qiao a sense of relief. She placed her hand in his open palm, and Yan Xun felt a jolt of warmth from her cold touch.

Swallowing hard, Yan Xun tried to stay composed when Chu Qiao asked, "Is something wrong?"

With a calm smile, he replied, "Nothing, my little fox."

Chu Qiao laughed and teased, "Little fox? Who are you calling little fox?"

Yan Xun gave a playful smile and said, "Yes, you're my little fox. You might try to outsmart me with your clever moves, but I always make sure to win."

He reminded her, "You once said that if you can win against me, you can outsmart anyone."

Chu Qiao looked up and muttered, "God of memories, help me here."

Yan Xun laughed heartily and said, "As we speak, the God of memories has already replied. He's telling you that this man in front of you is your first love."

Annoyed, Chu Qiao felt her ears buzzing and, in a moment of frustration, slapped Yan Xun's nape.

Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that those words might hold some truth. She thought to herself, "Is it really him?"

As Yan Xun prepared to playfully tease her, a rugged old woman approached and greeted him, "Ahem, ahem, your grace, how may we serve you?"

Just then, the sky darkened with the threat of a thunderstorm, and raindrops began to fall.

Without warning, Yan Xun pulled Chu Qiao close and hugged her tightly, trying to shield her from the rain. But it was too late; the heavy raindrops soon turned into a torrential downpour, drenching their purple robes.

Chu Qiao felt overwhelmed by the embrace and pushed Yan Xun away, giving him an irritated look.

Yan Xun, still grinning playfully, turned to the old woman and said, "I'll have the usual."

Chu Qiao's ears perked up in surprise, and she exclaimed, "The usual? What does that mean?"

The old woman, understanding the situation, realized that the Prince usually came alone. Today, however, he had brought an exceptionally beautiful companion, although the girl's face was hidden by a full metal mask, concealing her delicate features.

The old woman, intrigued, looked at Chu Qiao with curiosity, noting her stunning presence amid the stormy weather.

Yan Xun, feeling a mix of anxiety and enjoyment, teased Chu Qiao, "Why? Will you get jealous if you find out you're not the only one I've invited here?"

Chu Qiao, unable to handle his playful teasing any longer, gave him a sharp, exasperated look. Yan Xun, recognizing that look, felt a secret sense of victory; he knew her well enough to understand when she was upset with him.

Soaked through in the rain, Yan Xun continued to act like a playful child. He turned to the old woman and said, "Will you tell her the truth?"

The old woman, addressing Chu Qiao with gentle words, explained, "Your Grace invited you here as his first company. We've never seen him with anyone else before. But you and Your Grace should just be happy. This is the first time we've seen him with someone since his last…"

She hesitated, her voice trailing off, hinting at something significant yet unfinished.

And the old woman looked at the Prince of Yanbei like a kid playing happy in the rain, and continued to speak to her: "… Your Grace has never been with anyone else until now."

Chu Qiao does not know, but she feels entitled from that news she heard from the old woman.

Is her heart secretly overjoyed?

She asked herself again: "Is this taking effect on me? How come I feel something there…

Chu Qiao wondered to herself, "Why am I feeling so joyful inside, knowing that no one else has come to this paradise with the Prince of Yanbei except me?"

The old woman spoke again and told her: "I will prepare your place to stay. Please ask your Highness to stop playing in the rain and come to the house."

And the old, woman left them alone.

Chu Qiao watched from a distance as Yan Xun, drenched and childlike in his playful attitude, made her unable to contain her laughter.

She called out to him, "Yan Xun!"

Her own voice surprised her with its loudness and familiarity in addressing the Prince by his name.

Yan Xun's attention was finally captured. He shifted from his playful boyish grin to a more composed, handsome face as he slowly walked toward her.

Every step he took seemed to make Chu Qiao's heart race faster. Despite the torrential rain and a flash of lightning that illuminated the sky, their eyes remained locked, undistracted.

In the midst of the grassy field, under the stormy sky, Yan Xun softly asked, "Little fox, what did you call me?"

Chu Qiao, feeling the rain-soaked clothes sticking to her and the mud clinging to her feet, stammered, "I… I…"

Yan Xun, drenched and utterly captivating, kept his gaze fixed on Chu Qiao. His eyes, unblinking and intense, conveyed a deep, unspoken connection.

As Yan Xun's intense gaze seemed to drift toward the possibility of kissing her wet lips in the rain, Chu Qiao abruptly snapped back to reality, shattering the sweet moment. She stammered, "Aw… aw… aw… I think I can't move my feet."

"Spoiler!" The Princeinstantly turned serious as he realized the crisis. His face shifted from concern to anxiety as he asked urgently, "What? Your feet? Take my hand, quick!"

"Help!" Chu Qiao's desperate cry cut through the rain.

Without hesitation, Yan Xun drew his sword and drove it into the ground. Using all his strength, he managed to pull Chu Qiao from the quicksand. After a few intense minutes of effort, he succeeded in rescuing her.

Exhausted, Yan Xun collapsed next to his sword on the ground, panting heavily. Chu Qiao, equally worn out, looked at her swollen hands from his pulling, feeling a mix of pain and relief. She nearly laughed through her tears.

Yan Xun, still catching his breath and making tired, humorous noises, managed to chuckle and say, "That was so close! What a rush!" He gasped for more air, his laughter bursting in his relief.

Yan Xun breathing up and down, laughing and making some funny tired noises, still managed to tell her: "It was so close and yet here we are, what a rush!" And he was gasping more air.

Chu Qiao, lying on the grass and breathing heavily, finally let out the laughter she had been holding back. She said, "I thought I saw a lightning flash and heard the thunder. Just what we needed to add to this agony—if you had let go of me!"

Yan Xun, still in high spirits despite their exhaustion, replied cheerfully, "Oh, that can't happen. Let the thunder come—it'll make for a perfect sight."

With a bright smile, he added, "Let the thunder roar and the world be one with the stars."

Yan Xun still catching his breath, looked at Chu Qiao with a thoughtful expression. He asked,

"But if a star fell, like what happened at the frozen lake, do you know who died first?"

Chu Qiao caught off guard by his serious tone, frowned, "What do you mean?" he asked, trying to understand the deeper meaning behind her words.

Yan Xun paused.. on his usual poetic tongue, put in something for Chu Qiao's heart to sink.

"It's the World."

On a hushed voice full of sadness and misery Yan Xun gave it away.

Chu Qiao looking at the black sky, she asked, devoid of any emotion: "A star went down the icy lake? Why?"

Yan Xun answered casually as if it was just a useless conversation, he said: "She went down because she did not like to live with the world anymore and went with the master ice cube."

Suddenly there was silence…

As a soft rumble of thunder echoed through the sky, Yan Xun and Chu Qiao lay on their backs, staring up at the dark expanse above. Yan Xun waited for a response, but all that came were the intermittent sounds of thunder and lightning across the open field.

Chu Qiao remained silent, lost in her thoughts. She closed her eyes, trying to make sense of the lingering question. Suddenly, a vivid flash of memory surfaced in her mind.

In her flashback, Chu Qiao saw a woman screaming desperately, "Yuwen Yue!" The woman leaped into the lake and swam with all her strength. She reached Yuwen Yue, her face filled with anguish. She came close to kiss his forehead, but he was gravely injured. With what little strength he had left, he tapped her shoulders, urging her away. As he uttered some silent words, she thought she heard him say, "Live well… live well… live well," before he was pulled under by the depths of the lake.

As the rain began to taper off, with only a few raindrops remaining, Yan Xun gently woke Chu Qiao. She stirred and opened her eyes, her exhaustion evident.

Seeing that Chu Qiao was awake, Yan Xun's concerns eased. He helped her to her feet, and they made their way to the cabin. Walking closely together, Yan Xun wrapped his arms around her for warmth. Both were still drenched and shivering, their lips and skin turning pale from the cold.

Suddenly darkness fell in the mountain hills, and the grasslands just received their blessing from heaven.

As the rain stopped to give way to the moon who joined the stars of the heavens, it twinkles and sparkles under the quite grasslands of Yanbei. What an unspeakable moment.

Earlier was so fast pacing, here is the Prince of Yanbei walking alone outside his own cabin and looking after Chu Qiao's cabin whose candle is still lit. Yan Xun preferred that they do not share one cabin.

In this expensive moment, he gives himself far from his duties and responsibilities to Yanbei state and its citizens for the sake of his heart's desire. Yet he chooses to stay distant from her. When in the past they use to share his room, his bed, take turns in their duty to be like a watchdog to protect each other.

Besides A'Chu there was no one and this alone made the heart of the Prince of Yanbei loved her but kept himself in control and reserve the right moment at the right time.

Is this the right time to bridge the gap between them, or should he continue to wait for the perfect moment?

Yan Xun reflected on his darkest moments at the Imperial Garrison, where he felt his life slipping away. The pain and despair had been overwhelming, and he was on the brink of giving up.

In those final moments, Chu Qiao had come to him, offering not comfort but a bitter dose of advice. She urged him to hold on to the blade of revenge, reinforcing the idea that it was his only path forward. At that time, hope seemed elusive, and the name of the Yan household felt like a distant echo. He saw himself as nothing more than a dying, forgotten man, destined to be covered by the ashes of oblivion.

Yet, amidst the darkness, he kept hearing Chu Qiao's voice echoing in his mind: "Even if it's like a dog, live it!"

Her words had been a stubborn beacon in his despair, a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, there was a reason to keep fighting.

For that last string, A'Chus advise became Yan Xun's string to pull himself.

Even if it meant he has to cut his last finger for the sake of her, even if it means he has to turn away from a marriage and hurt a princess' heart, decapitate his favorite buddy and destroyed both of his childhood friends, even if it means he has to lure Yuwen Yue, his brother by blood compact, swore their loyalty to each other, used his feelings for Xinger.

He did not spare any mercy to end his life at the frozen lake. Is it to steer clear of Yan's future with A'Chu?

Yan Xun's actions, ruthless as they were, had indeed propelled Yanbei to newfound power and success. The state rose from the ashes, strong and influential. Yet, despite his achievements and the trust he had garnered from the Yanbei citizens, his heart remained shackled by the choices he had made.

As he stood on the brink of conquering Changan City—the very city that had taken him away from Yanbei during his childhood—Yan Xun found himself entangled in a web of power and ambition. He had sacrificed so much, and though he had gained control and influence, the internal struggle remained unresolved.

In his moments of introspection, Yan Xun thought to himself, "If it were just my heart that needed to be resolved, I could simply go to the cabin and ask her to run away with me."

Yet, he knew that the weight of his decisions and the complex web of responsibilities tied him down. The power he wielded and the path he had chosen made such an escape seem impossible. His heart longed for a simpler resolution, but the reality of his situation was far more complicated.

Yan Xun struggled with his thoughts:

"If it were just my mind," he mused, "I could turn away from her by day and call her to me by night."

He wondered if this was the life he wanted for Chu Qiao—confined to the palace, her role reduced, while he continued his quest for power.

He questioned if making her his queen would truly bring him peace. Yet, he knew that lasting peace required more than personal fulfillment.

The blood of the Yan royal family still demanded justice. His reign would be overshadowed by the need for retribution. Could he ever achieve peace while justice remained unfulfilled?

Yan Xun knew that choosing his heart would make him complacent. Embracing comfort and love could dull his edge and cause him to surrender to the sweetness of affection, which might undermine his plans. He questioned the value of such an outcome.

Yan Xun faced a profound choice.

If he followed his heart, he might become complacent, losing his edge to comfort and love. What good would come of that? What would he teach his children—love and the failure of justice?

Would he repeat the mistakes of his past, or should he pursue his legacy as the King of Yanbei who restored justice for his slain family?

Which path would truly balance the scales of vengeance and fulfill his duty?

… …

On this third night together, it felt like time had stretched infinitely for Yan Xun. With only seven days off from the throne, he faced the choice of returning to his duties or forsaking the citizens of Yanbei. "I hope this moment never ends," he whispered, playing a soft tune on the Yanbei warble flute, hoping its melody would reach distant ears.

Chu Qiao, unable to sleep, was haunted by fleeting memories: a girl with a bow and arrow, the Poe Yue Jian sword, a frozen lake, and a man named Yuwen Yue. She questioned, "Who is Xinger? Is she the star Prince Yan Xun mentioned?"

He calls me A'Chu, but who is Xinger?

As Chu Qiao struggled to stay awake, a hauntingly sad melody from a flute reached her ears, urging her to find its source. She was too weary to move and soon succumbed to sleep.

The melody ceased, leaving her wondering why it had ended.

Yan Xun, having finished playing, walked quietly to Chu Qiao's cabin. His movements were reminiscent of his patrols in the Yanbei military camp. He wandered thoughtfully, just as he used to in General Chu's quarters. The servants who saw him knew to remain silent, understanding his signal to keep quiet.

The night was cold, with bright stars twinkling over the expansive Xiu Xiu mountains—a paradise of undisturbed grasslands, both beautiful and unforgettable.