Pingting walked to the table and placed clean paper before her. She dipped the brush in ink, raised her hand in midair when she suddenly stopped, sadness crossing her face. She didn't lower her hand for a long time.

Zuiju knew what she was thinking and waited several breaths long until she could wait no longer. "Miss?" she asked, quietly.

Pingting slowly replied and bit her lip as she lowered her hands to write, not pausing at any time, until the paper was finished. She gracefully wrote her name in the corner and put down her brush.

Zuiju put away the brush and ink while Pingting carefully blew the letter dry and sealed it in an envelope. She added her signature on the top and handed it to Yaotian with both hands.

The letter had been written, as if putting an end to the Chu Beijie she knew.

The two had wanted to leave the Prince Consort Residence since their arrival and had long put thought into what they would bring. Not long later, Zuiju had already packed up their bags.

Yaotian waited for them to pack up properly and summoned a maid. "Prepare a carriage, I am leaving."

With one hand supporting Pingting, Zuiju held the baggage in her other hand.

On the way out of the backyard, all the guards in the atrium were deeply shocked when they saw Pingting's figure by Yaotian. He Xia was out on an expedition and had taken the many Jing-An Ducal residents with him, so most of the guards left behind at the Prince Consort Residence were Yun Chang's men. They knew that it was Yaotian, their country's Princess and knew not to offend her. Even a few of the bravest had taken a step forward to try to stop her anyway. How could they speak after seeing Yaotian's inviolable-looking eyes?

The Prince Consort Residence guards watched Yaotian bring Pingting out the door, when they suddenly heard a clear male voice urging, "Princess, please slow down!"

Dongzhuo hurriedly came forwards from inside, with a small team of guards. He straightened after bowing respectfully to Yaotian and eyed Pingting. "I wonder where Princess is taking Pingting?"

"City entrance."

"Why to the city entrance?"

Yaotian's expression was neutral. "Pingting wanted to go for a walk and I have approved."

"Does the Prince Consort know?"

"I will naturally tell the Prince Consort when he comes back." Yaotian replied, "Please move." As a Princess who had dabbled in national affairs, the power in her words were influential. Her cold words brought a chill.

"Princess, please forgive me! Dongzhuo has been ordered by the Prince Consort to guard the Prince Consort Residence. The outside is very dangerous so without the Prince Consort's protection, she musn't leave the residence."

Yaotian angrily replied, "And you dare defy my orders?"

Dongzhuo bowed three more times, but his voice hardened. "If Princess wants to take away Pingting, then please kill Dongzhuo first."

"How dare you!" Yaotian flew into a rage, challenging him to go further.

How daring could anyone act so rudely to Princess Yaotian in Yun Chang? Yaotian waved her sleeves and the guards that had come with her from the Royal Residence unsheathed their swords, gleaming with its cold light as it pointed towards Dong Zhuo and his group.

The atmosphere was very tense.

Dongzhuo still refused to move. He had received orders from He Xia and had been ordered to guard the Prince Consort Residence. No matter what, he couldn't let Yaotian take away Pingting. He raised his head to look at the sharp tips of the swords, articulating clearly his words. "If Princess wants to take away Pingting, then please kill Dongzhuo first."

Yaotian was furious, secretly shattering her teeth. However, Dongzhuo was one of the people He Xia had brought from the Jing-An Ducal Residence. Taking away Pingting had already taken a lot of effort, but if she were to kill one of his beloved men, how could she ever explain to him? She harrumped and coldly replied, "Even the Prince Consort doesn't speak so rudely to me. How mighty brave of you."

Dongzhuo wasn't afraid of Yaotian and was about to retort back until he heard Pingting's familar soft voice that drilled into his ears. "Dongzhuo, do you really want to stop me?" Her voice was gentle and made his heart ache.

Because of various unspeakable reasons, ever since Pingting had fell into He Xia's hands, Dongzhuo had done everything to hide from her.

"Pingting, I..."

"Are you really that heartless?" Pingting's voice was soft. "Dongzhuo, look at me."

Dongzhuo lowered his head even further.

He was one of men from the Ducal Residence and had personally witnessed He Xia pushing Pingting to her limits out of jealousy, wrenching her away from Chu Beijie's side.

He Xia had imprisoned her at the Prince Consort Residence but elevated her status to a mistress. Dongzhuo had been both afraid and doubtful. If He Xia's jealousy towards Chu Beijie would not waver, then he may force Pingting to become his concubine. Knowing Pingting's pride and arrogance, perhaps she'd be completely crushed by this as a result.

How could former playmates go to such extent to harm each other?

Ever since the murder of the Duke and Duchess, he understood less and less of the Master he had grown up with.

"Dongzhuo, raise your head and look at me."

Dongzhuo turned away as if Pingting's gaze was fiery hot, burning until cracks appeared on his skin.

So painful that it didn't hurt any more.

Seeing no response from him, Pingting walked towards him, brushing away the sword points away. She held his hand.

The sudden touch, no matter how gentle, still sent a jolt through Dongzhuo's body.

"Do you still remember that night when you sent me off?" Pingting asked with a whisper.

Dongzhuo clenched his teeth, muffling out his words several moments later. "I do."

It had been after the King of Gui Le, He Su, had decided to execute the House of Jing-An, but Pingting had finally deceived Chu Beijie into a five-year truce of peace to Gui Le. It had been a great accomplishment but because of He Xia's suspicion, she was forced to leave.

In the endless darkness of the night, he had watched the lone figure on the horse off.

Pingting faintly sighed. "Why stay when I shouldn't?" She tightened her grip on Dongzhuo's hands, softening her voice. "My dear brother, send off your sister once more, okay?"

It seemed as if Dongzhuo had frozen stiff. He couldn't bear the expression on Pingting's face as she pleaded. Then, the silence yanked out the many thoughts and memories that had been pressed deeply into his heart.

These two soft hands that held his could play very nice-sounding qin yet had been swept into the war, bloodstained and no longer innocent.

Dongzhuo raised his head and looked into Pingting's eyes. He suddenly removed his hands from hers, turning away fiercely. He lowered his voice, "I didn't see anything."

Pingting was very saddened by this and watched him quietly. Zuiju had already begun to pull her by the wrist towards the door, overjoyed. "Hurry!" and then pushed her through it.

Yaotian really didn't want to form a bad impression on He Xia's people, so she was secretly overjoyed by this as she led the rest of her escorts to the outside of the Prince Consort Residence.

Once all were in their respective places, horse or carriage, they began to leave the Prince Consort Residence with a thunder.

"Here is some silver, please use it on the way." Yaotian's carriage had already been prepared with a bag of money and she ordered Zuiju to put it away carefully. She softly sighed and turned to Pingting, "A woman's life is just no good. If you really can explore the earth without a single care for the rest of the world, as free as a bird, then you are indeed stronger than me."

Pingting managed a smile. "With the Prince Consort with Princess, how could you not be stronger than Pingting?"

Yaotian did not know when she had been touched by her. She just sighed and didn't say another word.

The three remained silent in the huge, elaborately decorated carriage. They quietly listened to the sound of the rolling wheels.

Not long later, the carriage stopped and a person reported from outside the curtain. "Princess, we have arrived at the capital entrance."