“Prefect Liu, why test your own brother-in-law now?” At that moment, a tall man approached, his muscular frame suggesting a formidable warrior.

The man in black slowly turned; it was indeed Liu Bang. He looked over the crowd and sighed softly. “Ah, Fan Kuai, you wouldn’t understand. Ye Xiu is essential for me to achieve my grand ambitions. Though I don’t entirely favor his methods, still…”

Fan Kuai nodded in agreement, picking up Liu Bang’s thought: “But Prefect Liu believes this man holds great potential value.”

Liu Bang waved his hand, dismissing the others, and slowly walked toward the setting sun over the mountain. How could he secure Ye Xiu’s loyalty for his cause?

The sky darkened. In such a night, with mountains, water, flowers, and the moon present.

Ye Xiu and Lü Xu had not returned to the manor, but remained on a stone bridge in the suburbs, quietly observing the unique scenery.

“Xu’er, can you sing?” Ye Xiu quietly broke the stillness of the moment.

“No, Xu’er only learned the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting; I know a little dancing.” Lü Xu felt a flush of shame, wondering if her husband wished to hear her sing.

Ye Xiu studied Lü Xu through the moon’s reflection on the river. The moonlight’s softness, combined with the jade-green ripples by the bank, had already adorned the inherently reserved and moving Xu’er into breathtaking beauty. He once again gently took Lü Xu’s delicate hands into his own palms.

“I want to sing a song for you,” Ye Xiu’s eyes trembled slightly. He had never so intensely desired to sing for a woman before. If singing for Wan’er before was due to the perfect setting, this time he was certain: he wanted to sing a piece for the woman he deeply loved.

“Good,” Lü Xu smiled faintly, her small dimples looking utterly magnificent in the moonlight’s shadow.

“The grass is lush and green, the white mist stretches far, there is a beauty, waiting by the water’s edge…” Ye Xiu genuinely loved the songs of Tsai Chin, especially those accompanying the romantic sagas written by Chiung Yao. It was rather embarrassing to admit that in school, he often, as a grown man, frequented the library to read Aunt Chiung Yao’s Beyond the Window, sitting there for an entire afternoon.

“These lyrics…” Lü Xu, having studied the Book of Songs, naturally found the vocabulary quite familiar. She hadn’t expected Ye Xiu to possess such talent to transform poetry into melody, and so beautifully moving at that. Not only did her admiration for her future husband deepen, but her hands turned to tightly grasp Ye Xiu’s in return.

“I would swim upstream, to rest by her side…” Ye Xiu continued to showcase his musical talent, using his captivating, soft voice to draw Lü Xu into the very realm of his affection. In that moment, he rediscovered a warmth akin to home, a sentiment he hadn't felt since leaving Sister Ji Jiang.

As he sang, he gently slipped his hand from Lü Xu’s, then wrapped one arm firmly around her waist, pulling her whole body into his embrace. This allowed him to see Lü Xu closer as he sang to her.

At this precise moment, Lü Xu was completely immersed in the love Ye Xiu was expressing. She felt she was the happiest woman in the world, grateful to Heaven for allowing her to meet someone who loved her so deeply, and whom she equally adored.

“Close your eyes,” Ye Xiu whispered gently.

Lü Xu closed her eyes, the corner of her mouth curving upward slightly. She didn’t know what Ye Xiu planned to do, but she trusted implicitly that whatever it was would bring her joy.

Ye Xiu leaned his head slightly closer to Lü Xu, and then kissed her.

In that instant, Lü Xu’s gently closed eyes snapped open, widening immensely. She had never known what a man’s lips tasted like; she thought this must be a dream.

Ye Xiu paid no mind to anything else. He knew what this kiss signified. Yes, he loved Lü Xu, even as the thought struck him that he was about to leave the woman he adored.

The moonlight fell lazily upon them, illuminating Ye Xiu’s tenderness and Lü Xu’s delicate charm.

“Xu’er, I have some matters I must attend to, and I may have to leave you for a while,” Ye Xiu suddenly spoke words he knew he shouldn’t utter, yet felt compelled to say.

“How long?” Lü Xu was now leaning securely in Ye Xiu’s arms, her expression placid, as if she had long anticipated such a decision from him.

“I don’t know. But for your sake, I will definitely return,” This was the first promise Ye Xiu had ever made to a woman in his life, and he felt absolute certainty he could keep it.

Lü Xu gently buried her head in Ye Xiu’s chest. Though she believed his words, a hint of wronged tears began to flow again: “Can you wait a few more days before leaving?”

Ye Xiu understood what Lü Xu meant: she was referring to the days following their wedding. Yet, he felt that doing so would only betray Lü Xu more deeply, and he lacked the face to meet Lord Lü, nor did he know how to explain it to Lü Zhi.

“I must be your wife, even if it is only for that single day,” Lü Xu fully embraced Ye Xiu now, her tears dampening the front of his robe. Though she knew her slender hands could not possibly hold him fast; though she knew of the arrogance and casual indifference her father spoke of regarding Ye Xiu; though she had mentally prepared for everything—still, when the moment came to voice the separation, who could bear it?

“Enough, Xu’er, don’t cry, I promise you,” At times, Ye Xiu desperately wished he could simply stay, remain here with Xu’er and live out the rest of their days. But he always had his curiosity, always had promises to fulfill. He had sworn to Wang Long to look after Wan’er, and he still wanted to find the Lord of the East Sea that Zhang Liang had mentioned.

“Wuuu…” Lü Xu finally let out a sob, a mixture of gratitude and resentment, but overwhelmingly, happiness.

“There, there, my wife, don’t cry anymore,” Ye Xiu comforted Xu’er, gently kissing the tears from her cheeks. “It’s alright, it’s alright.”

Lü Xu finally managed a rare smile, and even playfully punched Ye Xiu’s chest with her small fist: “You are so wicked, deliberately making me so sad.”

“Oh dear, oh dear, someone is trying to murder her own husband!” Ye Xiu was overjoyed. To have such an understanding wife—what more could a man ask for?

So, he unclasped the “Azure Phoenix” from around his neck and carefully fastened it onto Lü Xu’s delicate neck.

“What is this…” Lü Xu looked down at the “Azure Phoenix.” It was so verdant, so exquisite, still holding the warmth of Ye Xiu’s body.

Ye Xiu drew Lü Xu into his arms once more, gazing (leisurely/calmly) at the moon behind her. “This Azure Phoenix might be the most important thing in my life. Now I entrust it to you. I will certainly return to claim it back. If you lose it for me, I shall punish you severely, do you understand?”