Everlasting Longing Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Everlasting Longing Synopsis

Jun Qiluo and her brother Jun Feifan, both of whom have dual identities, are captured by Xuan Lie during their journey to the North. With different motives, the two head north together. Throughout the journey, they test and guard against each other, experiencing life-and-death situations, from their fateful encounter to heartbreaking separation. Their intense "battle of love" unfolds in this thrilling story.

Everlasting Longing Recap

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The state of the world is still uncertain, divided into the three nations of Beixuan, Xixiang, and Yannan. Beixuan people are known for their bravery and martial prowess, while Yannan boasts a prosperous economy that can rival Beixuan. Within Beixuan, five factions vie for the position of the Wolf Lord.

The death of Xuan Shu, the head of the Xuan faction, is linked to the descendants of the Hundred Crafts of Yannan, and his son, Xuan Lie, is investigating the matter. The Jun family of Yannan, as descendants of the Hundred Crafts, is also searching for the whereabouts of the crystal stones. Jun Qiluo decides to lead a caravan to Xixiang the next day, with the goal of finding the legendary crystal stones.

However, her father is deeply concerned about the journey, fearing the long and dangerous road, especially since it passes through the infamous "No Man's Land," where bandits are rampant and dangers abound. He begs Jun Qiluo to give up the trip, return to her life as a woman, and marry the man who has always been devoted to her, Shao Qimin, for a peaceful life. But Jun Qiluo has made up her mind.

She knows that as a descendant of the Hundred Crafts, her responsibility is immense—not only to forge high-quality crossbows for Yannan, but also to protect her family’s honor. She tells her father that even if she returns to a woman's life, she will still be Jun Qiluo, the heir to the Hundred Crafts, and cannot stand aside.

She is even more unwilling to see the family business fall into the hands of the second branch, fearing they will ruin it in no time. At this moment, Jun Qiluo’s third sister, Jun Jiangjuan, comes to ask if she truly plans to marry Shao Qimin. Jun Qiluo smiles and shakes her head, saying that it is just a temporary measure. Jun Jiangjuan silently agrees.

She knows that although Shao Qimin is deeply in love with Jun Qiluo, Jun Qiluo’s talents and abilities mean her future husband will not be an ordinary man. However, the second sister believes that Shao Qimin, being the only outsider who knows Jun Qiluo's true gender, is a perfect match for her. Before Jun Qiluo leaves, her father reminds Shao Qimin once again to take good care of her.

On their way to Xixiang, Jun Qiluo’s group encounters a severe horse plague, resulting in the death of many horses. At their current pace, they will not reach their destination in time. Faced with this predicament, Jun Qiluo quickly finds a solution. She notices a Beixuan caravan nearby and decides to approach them to negotiate, hoping to borrow some horses in exchange for a valuable Jun family kosi.

However, the caravan members are skeptical of her offer, not believing that such an ordinary caravan would possess such valuable kosi. To dispel their doubts, Jun Qiluo reveals that she knows of a secret path that can help them avoid danger and continue their journey safely. After some deliberation, the caravan leader agrees to her proposal. Yet, as they travel along the secret path, they are suddenly ambushed by a group of horse bandits.

During the fierce battle, Jun Qiluo keenly observes that the bandits' clothing is unusual, suggesting they may not be real bandits. Shao Qimin tries to protect Jun Qiluo and help her escape, but unfortunately, he is captured. He tenderly tells Jun Qiluo to be strong, as the Jun family needs her. When Jun Qiluo wakes up, she is filled with sorrow and helplessness.

Meanwhile, Luo Qi reports to Xuan Lie that they discovered a beautiful silk fabric on the battlefield, which is likely to be the Jun family's kosi. When Xuan Lie questions her, Jun Qiluo quickly comes up with a lie, claiming she is not part of the Jun family caravan, but rather a personal maid of Jun Feifan.

She explains that due to her mutual affection with the young master, she is pretending to be him in order to stabilize the caravan. Xuan Lie searches the caravan and finds weapons, realizing that this caravan is actually a cover for smuggling arms. However, he is still unsure which faction of Beixuan they belong to. To uncover the truth, Xuan Lie decides to release information and set a trap, waiting for the mastermind to fall into it.

Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo attempts to escape but is captured again by Xuan Lie. During the search, he discovers a Jun family merchant's token on her, placing her in even greater danger. In order to find a solution, Jun Qiluo agrees to take Xuan Lie to find Jun Feifan. Xuan Lie temporarily believes her. Jun Qiluo then proposes three conditions: ensuring her personal safety, helping to bury the deceased, and delivering the goods to Xixiang. After weighing the options, Xuan Lie considers the conditions reasonable and readily agrees to her request.

Jun Qiluo fainted due to her injuries, and after being examined by a doctor, it was determined that her condition was caused by external trauma. However, since there were no female attendants in the army, Xuan Lie had no choice but to treat her wounds himself. Just as Xuan Lie was about to apply the medicine, Jun Qiluo suddenly regained consciousness and mistakenly believed that he intended to harm her.

Seeing her reaction, Xuan Lie allowed her to tend to her wounds herself. Jun Qiluo requested to go to the riverbank to wash her wounds, assuring Xuan Lie that she wouldn't escape as the area was crowded. After considering her request, Xuan Lie finally agreed. When Jun Qiluo arrived at the riverbank, she resolutely took off her outer garments to clean her wounds. Xuan Lie, feeling awkward, turned his back and hid behind a tree to give her privacy.

However, Jun Qiluo seized the rare opportunity and quickly fled the scene. When Xuan Lie realized something was amiss and turned around to search for her, she had already run far away. Xuan Lie quickly gave chase, but Luo Qi and the others, who had noticed his prolonged absence, became anxious. They had heard of a dangerous place nearby called the "Desert of Death," which further fueled their worry. They immediately set out to search for him.

Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie had entered the desert, where Xuan Lie accidentally sank into the sand. In a desperate moment, he used his whip to catch Jun Qiluo, pulling her back, and once again, their fates were tightly bound together. Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie woke up under the scorching sun in the desert, surrounded by an endless sea of sand. They realized they were trapped in this deadly place.

In order to find a way out, Xuan Lie had no choice but to temporarily tie up Jun Qiluo to prevent them from getting separated. However, Jun Qiluo noticed that Xuan Lie's leg was injured, and it was a critical situation. If left untreated, he might lose the use of his leg. She sincerely promised not to escape and asked him to untie her. After careful consideration, Xuan Lie decided to trust her and loosened the ropes.

Using her sharp observation skills, Jun Qiluo went out to find the necessary herbs to treat Xuan Lie's injuries. At first, Xuan Lie thought she might take the opportunity to flee, but soon, Jun Qiluo returned with the herbs and carefully bandaged his wound, an act that surprised and deeply moved him. Meanwhile, in Beixuan, He Jiyao urgently reported to King Xuan Xu about Xuan Lie's disappearance.

Luo Qi's concern prompted him to send He Jiyao ahead to report, while he continued leading the search for Xuan Lie. The timing was critical as the election of the Wolf King was approaching, and Xuan Lie's disappearance created instability in the country. Princess Xuan Qingkou, upon hearing the news, insisted on personally joining the search, despite her father’s objections. Though Xuan Xu believed her noble status should keep her out of danger, Xuan Qingkou was resolute in her decision.

On the other side, Jun Qiluo's family also learned of her disappearance, and the household was thrown into chaos. Jun Jiangjuan wanted to go search for her, but was persuaded by her younger sister, Jun Xiukun, that the journey was too dangerous. However, far away in the desert, after enduring hardships, Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie finally saw the outline of a city on the horizon, sparking a glimmer of hope.

As they made their way toward the city, a pack of hungry wolves suddenly appeared. Xuan Lie fought to protect Jun Qiluo and was injured once again. Jun Qiluo quickly used the materials around her to craft a bow and arrows, fending off some of the wolves. But in a critical moment, Xuan Lie stepped forward and saved her from being knocked down by a wolf. Jun Qiluo, weakened by her injuries, fainted again.

Xuan Lie hurriedly carried her into the city to settle her. Soon after, He Jiyao arrived, bringing news of the king's concerns and leading a group of elite soldiers to assist in the search for Xuan Lie. With only two rooms available in the city, He Jiyao suggested sharing a room with Jun Qiluo, but Xuan Lie politely refused, insisting on personally taking care of her.

Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo's father, anxious, visited the Prime Minister, bringing a large quantity of pearls in hopes of securing his help to find his missing daughter. The Prime Minister, recalling Jun Qiluo's contributions to Yannan, agreed to assist her without hesitation. When Jun Qiluo woke up, she realized her clothes had been changed and became furious. Xuan Lie quickly explained that he had asked the kitchen maid to help with the change, assuring her that he had no improper intentions.

Jun Qiluo mentioned that although the young master was not in Xixiang, the grand merchant conference was approaching, and he would certainly appear. She suggested Xuan Lie go and search for him.

Xuan Lie's evaluation of Jun Qiluo continued to rise. He believed that the longer he spent with her, the more he could feel her unique charm, calling her an exceptional person. However, Jun Qiluo clearly told Xuan Lie that she was already married. Xuan Lie immediately reassured her that he would not disturb a married woman, but if she were a widow, that would be a different matter.

Jun Qiluo went out to talk to the innkeeper, pretending to be a member of the Xuan Clan and claiming that she had lost her documents due to a bandit attack. While Xuan Lie was focused on treating his own injuries, Jun Qiluo quietly entered the room. With a gentle smile, she offered to help. Her movements were delicate and practiced, as if she was no stranger to such tasks.

However, behind her seemingly considerate gesture, she was subtly scanning the room, trying to spot Xuan Lie's token. Meanwhile, the situation in the city was brewing with hidden dangers. The young clan leader of the Xi Clan secretly set up a deadly trap, planning to target Xuan Lie at night. Although Luo Qi and the others were outside the city, they also faced an unexpected turn of events.

They encountered a mysterious person who seemed to be involved in arms trading, but the person chose to commit suicide after being discovered to avoid revealing any secrets. On the other hand, He Jiyao discovered numerous Xi Clan spies disguised as common folk in the city and immediately reported it to Xuan Lie. Upon hearing this, Xuan Lie's expression grew serious, but he seemed to have a plan in mind.

At that moment, Jun Qiluo left under the pretext of some business and quietly approached a raw stone stall, where she had a conversation with the shopkeeper about rare minerals, subtly revealing her deep interest in Xuantie Crystal Stones. Xuan Lie suddenly realized that Jun Qiluo was no longer around. A sense of unease rose within him, and he quickly set everything aside to search for her.

In the streets, he encountered a person from the Xi Clan and urgently asked if they knew where Jun Qiluo was. The person looked confused and denied any knowledge of capturing anyone. Just as Xuan Lie was becoming frantic, he spotted Jun Qiluo in the distance. He hurriedly approached her, asking with both reproach and concern where she had been.

Jun Qiluo smiled softly and explained that she had simply turned around to find that Xuan Lie was missing, so she had been searching for him. She then proceeded to treat his wound again. When Xuan Lie wasn't paying attention, she secretly took a token from him. However, it wasn’t the clan leader's token she had hoped for, but rather a simple inn room key.

Xuan Lie noticed the small action, and Jun Qiluo quickly became embarrassed, explaining that she only intended to hang the key up. As night fell, members of the Xi Clan quietly approached. Xuan Lie knew the situation was critical and asked Jun Qiluo for a favor. When the Xi Clan members broke into the inn, ordering the men to kneel and the women to leave, Jun Qiluo blended into the crowd and managed to escape.

Xuan Lie handed her a token and instructed her to find Luo Zhizhou, explaining that every year at this time, Luo Zhizhou secretly came to Yaol City to pay respects to his mother. Although Jun Qiluo hesitated, she ultimately decided to trust Xuan Lie and set off with the token. Meanwhile, Xuan Lie and He Jiyao fought back against the Xi Clan's assault, retreating while continuing to fight. Eventually, they took refuge in an abandoned house.

The Xi Clan members set fire to the area, attempting to trap them inside. In a desperate moment, Jun Qiluo arrived with reinforcements from Luo Zhizhou, and a fierce battle ensued. Jun Qiluo rang the alarm, forcing the Xi Clan members to retreat. However, Xuan Lie and He Jiyao, having inhaled too much smoke, fell unconscious in the fire. Jun Qiluo immediately commanded the men to carry them out.

Shao Qimin met with misfortune, being imprisoned and drugged with the intention of being sold. While unconscious, he recalled memories from his childhood when he had been bullied, and how Jun Qiluo had stepped in to help him, offering him warmth and protection. Just then, Xuan Qingkou appeared, instantly falling in love with Shao Qimin and deciding to purchase him. Xuan Qingkou was particularly drawn to Shao Qimin's eyes and vowed to take good care of him.

Meanwhile, at Luo Zhizhou's residence, the maid misunderstood Jun Qiluo’s intentions toward Luo Zhizhou, speaking highly of him. Jun Qiluo then asked Luo Zhizhou to help her prepare men's clothing, planning to accompany Xuan Lie to Beixuan to search for the Xuantie Crystal Stones.

The people of the second branch were secretly discussing matters, and the son of the second branch was full of confidence, believing that since Jun Feifan was absent this year, the eldest uncle would surely come in person, and at that time, the Jun family would be under their control.

The head of the second branch harbored doubts, but his son was sure of the outcome, claiming that he had a way to ensure that the eldest uncle would come personally. Jun Qiluo expressed her desire to go to Xixiang, believing that even if she couldn't transport goods back, it would still be appropriate to make the trip to Xixiang. Meanwhile, Jun Jiangjuan tried to secretly go out but was caught by her father, who sternly stopped her.

Jun's father warned her that the border area was extremely dangerous, and he had already asked the Xiang family for help. The Xiang family had agreed to assist in finding Jun Qiluo, and the bodyguards he had hired were already on their way. Jun Jiangjuan felt dissatisfied, thinking that since Jun Qiluo could go, why couldn't she?

However, her father countered, saying that Jun Qiluo had been traveling for many years and had rich experience, while Jun Jiangjuan had never gone far from home. Jun Qiluo revealed to Xuan Lie the purpose of her trip. She had originally planned to buy incense stones in Xixiang. Upon hearing this, Xuan Lie suggested that there were incense stones for sale in Beixuan as well.

Jun Qiluo explained that if she purchased through their usual channels in Xixiang, she could get a pre-agreed low price, but if she turned to Beixuan, that discount could not be guaranteed. Xuan Lie promised that if Jun Qiluo was willing to go to Beixuan, he would ensure that she got the same low price as in Xixiang. After weighing the pros and cons, Jun Qiluo accepted Xuan Lie's offer.

Xuan Lie took Jun Qiluo’s necklace as a token between the two of them. Jun Qiluo hesitated slightly, but then suggested that if Xuan Lie truly wanted to use this as a token, she should also offer something in return. She then took Xuan Lie's treasured dagger, which held great sentimental value for him, as it had been his father's heirloom. Seeing this, Xuan Lie felt reluctant but understood Jun Qiluo's intention and silently allowed her to keep it.

After arriving in Liangzhou, Xuan Lie's first priority was to pay respects to Luo Zhizhou's biological mother. Luo Zhizhou's mother was a woman from Xixiang, of low status, and was merely a concubine of the Luo family. In order for Luo Zhizhou to inherit the family business, his father had adopted him into the main wife’s household, which meant that Luo Zhizhou's biological mother could not be enshrined in the Luo family’s ancestral hall.

Luo Zhizhou deeply cared for his mother and had secretly buried her here. Xuan Lie silently expressed his gratitude, believing that it was the blessing of Luo Zhizhou’s mother that allowed him to meet Luo Zhizhou and be saved during times of danger. Xuan Lie’s purpose in coming to Liangzhou was to gain the support of the Sun family. Sun Zhaomin, the princess of Liangzhou, had been saved by Jun Qiluo during a time of crisis.

This year, Liangzhou had suffered a drought, and the birthday banquet for the madam had been canceled. Xi Clan's Xi Zhangkun, who had a familial connection with Madam Sun, brought food supplies to Liangzhou to help relieve the immediate crisis. As the only daughter of the Sun family, Sun Zhaomin had always carried the heavy responsibility of protecting Liangzhou. She had trained diligently in martial arts, and the spear she chose was exceptionally heavy.

Jun Qiluo deeply resonated with this, as she had also experienced the unfair treatment of women in society. Sun Zhaomin had long been aware of Jun Qiluo's true identity. Xuan Lie aspired to become the Wolf King, not only for power but also to uncover the truth behind his father’s murder by the heir of the Baigong clan. Back then, the former king and the queen dowager had classified the incident as an accident to stabilize the situation.

Now, the king had promised Xuan Lie that if he could become the Wolf King, the case would be reopened for investigation. Therefore, one of Xuan Lie’s key objectives during this trip was to gain the support of Lord Sun. Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo’s father had an audience with the king, expressing concern over Jun Feifan's disappearance. He believed that Jun Feifan, being so familiar with the routes, would not have gotten lost.

In secret, the second branch was scheming, delighting in the thought that once Jun Qiluo couldn’t return, the Jun family would fall into their hands. As night fell, Shao Qimin seized the opportunity, quietly taking out his weapons, intending to deal with the two human traffickers. All of this was witnessed by Xuan Qingkou, who had been secretly observing from the door.

Shao Qimin arrived with a sharp sword in hand. Xuan Qingkou pointed out that the two individuals were human traffickers, deserving death for their crimes. She reassured Shao Qimin that he would not harm her. Despite the lawless nature of the area, Xuan Qingkou believed the situation needed to be properly handled and set fire to the house, burning it down. Luo Zhizhou gently handed Sun Zhaomin an exquisite sachet, a gift specially prepared for her by Madam Zhang.

Sun Zhaomin accepted the sachet, her eyes lighting up with delight. She carefully examined the finely crafted item from afar, her heart filled with gratitude. In Beixuan, such sachets were rare treasures, only found in the bustling regions of Yannan. Madam Zhang, knowing her fondness for such items, never missed an opportunity to bring her surprises from distant places. Standing nearby, Xuan Lie quietly observed the scene, already formulating a plan in his mind.

He spoke slowly to Sun Zhaomin, saying, "To truly govern Liangzhou, martial skills alone are far from sufficient. " Sun Zhaomin nodded slightly in agreement but showed a trace of confusion. She admitted that she had pondered the matter deeply the previous night but still couldn’t come up with a solution.

Noticing her expression, Xuan Lie smiled faintly and mentioned Jun Qiluo—the young lady of the Jun family in Yannan, who was not only of noble birth but also skilled in embroidery. He suggested that if Sun Zhaomin could learn embroidery under Jun Qiluo’s guidance, she could promote the craft in Liangzhou, providing the people with a livelihood and a path to prosperity. Sun Zhaomin’s eyes lit up at the idea, agreeing that it was an excellent plan.

Sun Zhaomin returned home with an array of Beixuan delicacies, stepping into Jun Qiluo’s residence with great enthusiasm. She eagerly introduced the various specialties, her words filled with pride and affection for her hometown’s flavors. She sincerely invited Jun Qiluo to try each dish, hoping to foster a closer bond between them. Jun Qiluo responded with a warm smile but gently expressed her preference for lighter flavors, noting that some of the stronger-tasting Beixuan dishes might not suit her.

Sun Zhaomin, understanding this, immediately selected a bowl of milk porridge, confidently claiming its delicate and mild flavor would be to Jun Qiluo’s liking. Changing the topic, Sun Zhaomin finally revealed the real purpose of her visit—she hoped Jun Qiluo could teach her embroidery skills to aid Liangzhou’s development. Jun Qiluo, though understanding her request, took a moment to consider it. Later, Jun Qiluo visited Xuan Lie and praised his idea of using embroidery to promote development.

Seizing the opportunity, she proposed her own condition: she wished to use this chance to facilitate trade between Beixuan and Yannan, establishing the Jun family business in Beixuan. Xuan Lie readily agreed, promising to share the profits from the embroidery industry, and they reached an agreement. Shortly after, Jun Qiluo and Sun Zhaomin partnered to open the Silver Embroidery Workshop, which quickly drew public attention.

While some criticized the timing—arguing that opening an embroidery workshop during a food shortage was inappropriate—Jun Qiluo addressed their concerns by emphasizing the trade opportunities and the promise of earning wages. With Xuan Lie’s strong support, the workshop began operating smoothly, marking a new chapter in the collaboration between Beixuan and Yannan. As the Silver Embroidery Workshop gained fame, skeptics questioned its capabilities.

Unfazed, Jun Qiluo showcased an awe-inspiring double-sided embroidery piece, her exceptional craftsmanship earning unanimous praise from all present. Numerous merchants placed orders, eager to acquire her work. Xi Mo reported this success to Xi Zhangkun, his heart filled with displeasure. However, Xi Zhangkun remained calm and confident, appearing to have a plan in mind. Elsewhere, Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo discussed the three Jun siblings.

Jun Qiluo jokingly described the second young lady’s exceptional embroidery skills and the third young lady’s lively and playful nature, often seen joking around with their eldest brother yet always showing her care for her sisters. Suddenly, trouble struck the Silver Embroidery Workshop. A seamstress fell ill due to exposure to infected animal fur used in the fabric. Xi Zhangkun seized the opportunity to accuse Jun Qiluo, but Xuan Lie stood up for her, dismissing the accusations as utterly absurd.

However, the treatment for the seamstress required ginseng, which had been completely bought out in recent days. Determined, Jun Qiluo promised to find ginseng and ensure timely delivery of the orders, ultimately convincing the merchants with her sincerity. Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie searched all the pharmacies, only to be told that ginseng was sold out everywhere. They decided to venture into the mountains to harvest wild ginseng themselves.

After enduring many hardships, they finally found a plant, only to be ambushed. They narrowly escaped falling off a cliff, but the ginseng they had gathered was stolen.

Xuan Qiluo and Xuan Lie, unable to return, found a cave where they could take shelter from the wind and rain. For Xuan Qiluo’s safety, Xuan Lie volunteered to stay outside the cave while she rested inside, and they spent the night there. When Xuan Qiluo and Xuan Lie returned, they looked exhausted but determined. They admitted they had done everything they could to find the medicinal plant, *xuan shen*, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.

Just then, Xi Zhangkun entered with a mocking smile, ordering his men to bring in a box of *xuan shen*. He claimed that he had solved their problem by purchasing the batch from elsewhere. Xuan Qiluo smirked inwardly but remained calm. She slowly revealed part of the truth: “If these *xuan shen* were indeed purchased by you, Xi Zhangkun, then why does the one we picked yesterday, which was later stolen from us, appear among your supply?

” She motioned for several apothecary owners to step forward. They all confirmed that Xi Zhangkun’s people had been aggressively buying up all the *xuan shen* in recent days. Next, several individuals were brought forward to testify that Xi Zhangkun had not only hoarded medicinal supplies but also ordered them to plant contaminated items in Silver Embroidery Workshop in an attempt to tarnish its reputation.

The truth became clear to all, and Xi Zhangkun’s face turned ashen, while Xuan Qiluo and Xuan Lie looked on silently with the air of victors. Lord Sun expressed his intense anger and disappointment at Xi Zhangkun’s actions. He sternly rebuked Xi Zhangkun for harming the people of Liangzhou, calling his behavior lawless. Knowing he had no defense, Xi Zhangkun left in disgrace. Lord Sun then invited Xuan Lie over to express his deep gratitude.

He thanked Xuan Lie for stepping up and resolving the crisis for the people of Liangzhou. Humbly, Xuan Lie replied that it was simply his duty. Changing the topic, Xuan Lie asked Lord Sun about the scene he had encountered at the time of his parents’ deaths, particularly if anything unusual had been found. Recalling the events, Lord Sun mentioned discovering a mysterious emblem. Due to the chaos at the time, he hadn’t spoken of it.

He handed the emblem to Xuan Lie and vowed to fully support his quest to claim the title of Wolf Lord. Back at his residence, Xuan Lie showed the emblem to Luo Qi, who immediately recognized it. Luo Qi remembered seeing a similar emblem, albeit only half of it, on the body of someone who had taken poison to commit suicide. Realizing the emblem might hold a critical clue, Xuan Lie decided to seek Xuan Qiluo’s help.

He approached Xuan Qiluo, asking her to embroider the design as a gift for Luo Qi’s birthday. Xuan Qiluo readily agreed, but Xuan Lie observed her reaction carefully and doubted she knew the emblem’s true meaning. Meanwhile, Shao Qimin took Xuan Qingkou to a gambling den. Xuan Qingkou, confident in her gambling skills, kept losing.

Frustrated, she suspected foul play and, with Shao Qimin’s help, seized the den’s money, distributing part of it to beggars before fleeing when the den’s enforcers arrived. Jun Yujue planned a banquet for the Prime Minister but was met only by the Prime Minister’s trusted aide. Jun Yujue, eager to please, hinted at his desire to replace Jun Feifan. Meanwhile, Sun Zhaomin reluctantly bid farewell to Xuan Qiluo’s group, inviting her to stay.

Sun Zhaomin’s parents thought it inappropriate to openly recruit talent in Xuan Lie’s presence, but Sun Zhaomin insisted that, as the future clan leader, she needed to gather capable individuals. Upon arriving in Beixuan, Xuan Lie escorted Xuan Qiluo to her residence and summoned servants to attend to her needs. Xuan Qiluo noticed a young woman standing silently at the doorway and chose her, finding her more composed than the others.

The head maid explained that the woman, named Dong Yin, was of mixed Beixuan and Yannan descent and was only allowed to do lowly tasks like cleaning latrines. Surprised by the discriminatory practice, Xuan Qiluo expressed her disapproval. Xuan Qiluo noticed Dong Yin’s attire, a traditional Yannan outfit, and learned it was her late mother’s keepsake. Xuan Qiluo praised the craftsmanship of the Jun family’s textiles from Yannan, noting how rare and exquisite they were. She encouraged Dong Yin to continue wearing the outfit confidently, without concern for others’ opinions.

Xuan Lie carefully prepared a lavish feast and invited Jun Qiluo to join him. Seeing the spread of delicacies, Jun Qiluo curiously asked if it was a special occasion. Xuan Lie smiled and explained that he simply wanted to be a good host and reassured her not to overthink it. After the meal, Xuan Lie and Luo Qi left together, as Xuan Lie expressed interest in exploring the royal city’s black market to find some rare items.

Luo Qi led Xuan Lie to the black market, but the bustling area became eerily empty upon Xuan Lie’s arrival. Luo Qi ordered the crowd to stay, while Xuan Lie asked if anyone sold red beans. Intimidated by his identity, no one dared to respond. Seeing this, Luo Qi asked Xuan Lie to step aside. Once Xuan Lie left, a shopkeeper nervously brought out the hidden red beans.

Xuan Lie later gifted Jun Qiluo a unique necklace made from Beixuan’s rare black jade and Yannan’s distinctive red beans. He personally put it around her neck, where it gleamed beautifully. Meanwhile, in the palace, Young Prince Yu and Young Prince Yi got into a heated argument that escalated into a fight. Young Prince Yu struck Young Prince Yi, who retaliated. Li Side Concubine hurried to the scene to stop the brawl.

Shortly after, the Queen arrived and sided with Young Prince Yu. Left with no choice, Li Side Concubine had Young Prince Yi apologize to Young Prince Yu. At this time, Luo Zhizhou appeared, bringing pastries from Xixiang to comfort Li Side Concubine. He promised to protect her and Young Prince Yi during the upcoming hunting event. Though Xuan Lie was the king’s favored candidate for the Wolf Lord position and his close brother, Luo Zhizhou assured her of his commitment.

Reflecting on his missed romance with Li Side Concubine, Luo Zhizhou felt a complex mix of emotions. Xuan Lie sat alone in a pavilion, holding a cup of wine and gazing into the distance. Jun Qiluo quietly approached and sat beside him. Xuan Lie shared that this pavilion was his father’s favorite place when he was alive. His father often spoke of the loneliness of power and urged Xuan Lie to self-reflect, hoping he wouldn’t follow the same path.

He recounted how his father had gifted him a golden silk armor, a cherished item from his childhood. Haunted by his parents’ deaths, Xuan Lie blamed himself, thinking that if he hadn’t taken the golden silk armor, his father might have survived. Gently comforting him, Jun Qiluo assured him that his father’s spirit would not hold him accountable. Xuan Lie then opened up, saying that since he had shared his secret, Jun Qiluo should share hers.

After a brief hesitation, Jun Qiluo revealed that she was the eldest daughter of the Jun family, not a maidservant. Xuan Lie, however, seemed unsurprised, as though he had known all along. Later, Xuan Lie invited Jun Qiluo to drink with him. Tipsy, he rested his head on her lap, murmuring about his exhaustion and wanting a moment of rest.

At dawn, Dong Yin and others came searching for them and were shocked to find Jun Qiluo nestled in Xuan Lie’s arms. Embarrassed, they woke up hurriedly, and Jun Qiluo explained it was merely an unintentional moment of reliance. Before parting, Xuan Lie gently draped his cloak over Jun Qiluo’s shoulders. In private, Dong Yin mused about the growing bond between Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie, thinking it wouldn’t be long before she’d have to address Jun Qiluo as “madam.

” Jun Qiluo quickly denied it, clarifying that she and Xuan Lie were not destined to be together and asked Dong Yin to stop such talk. Elsewhere, the Xixiang delegation arrived. Hearing that Jun Qiluo had not returned, Jiang Juan worried that the second branch of the Jun family might seize the opportunity to gain an advantage. Disguising herself as a man under Jun Feifan’s name, she successfully negotiated a business deal with the Xixiang merchants, leaving them highly satisfied.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager summoned Li Side Concubine to discuss recent events, reassuring her that the Queen had reprimanded Young Prince Yu and urging her not to take it to heart. The Empress Dowager also treated her to Xixiang pastries and promised to find an archery tutor for Young Prince Yi during the hunting event.

Li Side Concubine saw this as a subtle warning and lamented the political scheming, feeling that if not for the Queen’s aggression, she wouldn’t have been drawn into such struggles. Jun Qiluo mentioned that she had acquired some Yannan seeds and wanted to plant them near fresh water. Hearing this, Xuan Lie offered to accompany her, as he had no pressing matters that day.

Jun Qiluo searched multiple locations but failed to find a suitable place due to temperature issues. Seeing her frustration, Xuan Lie asked about her requirements. Jun Qiluo explained that the location needed to have an ideal temperature. Xuan Lie had an idea and mentioned a hot spring that might meet her needs, offering to take her there to investigate. Xuan Lie led Jun Qiluo to the destination, where they happened upon He Woshan overseeing a mining operation.

As Jun Qiluo strolled through the area, she was thrilled to discover traces of crystal stones and felt ecstatic to have finally found what she was looking for. However, Xuan Lie dismissed the stones as worthless. Jun Qiluo suggested a bet: if the crystals proved valuable, Xuan Lie would help her mine them. Xuan Lie agreed. When they encountered He Woshan, Jun Qiluo was initially surprised, mistaking him for someone else.

Luo Qi jokingly explained that He Woshan was the twin brother of He Jiyao. Embarrassed, Jun Qiluo apologized, and Luo Qi teased her, saying that He Jiyao knew her as a woman while Xuan Lie knew her as a man, making her truly androgynous. Xuan Lie, hearing this, seemed lost in thought. The king summoned Xuan Lie and Xi Zhangkun to discuss the mine.

Previously, the king had promised to grant the mine to Xi Zhangkun, but Xuan Lie raised concerns, pointing out the unknown dangers within the mine. He suggested that He Woshan should explore it first to ensure safety before handing it over. The king accepted Xuan Lie’s proposal, prompting Xi Zhangkun to excuse himself and leave. Afterward, the king inquired about the Yannan woman accompanying Xuan Lie.

Xuan Lie candidly admitted that he hoped to use Jun Qiluo to locate Jun Feifan. The king cautioned him to act carefully. Xuan Lie assured the king that after spending time with Jun Qiluo, he believed she was trustworthy. However, Luo Qi’s earlier remarks lingered in Xuan Lie’s mind, leading him to suspect that Jun Qiluo might actually be Jun Feifan. Elsewhere, He Jiyao sought out Princess Xuan Qingkou, intending to bring her back.

Princess Xuan Qingkou gave Shao Qimin a nickname, “Qingming,” and expressed concern about him lacking the necessary travel permits for Beixuan. She handed him her token as a precaution. However, He Jiyao found this inappropriate, fearing that if Shao Qimin had ulterior motives, the token could pose a threat. Princess Xuan Qingkou asked Shao Qimin if he would ever harm her, and he firmly promised he wouldn’t. Trusting him, Princess Xuan Qingkou dismissed He Jiyao’s concerns.

At the mining site, Jun Qiluo set up a simple teaching area to train Dong Yin and other female workers in weaving techniques. She planned to use the crystals as innovative components for weaving tools. However, she found herself short on crystals, which frustrated her. Seeking answers, Jun Qiluo showed Xuan Lie a detailed drawing she had made of a unique tattoo on an old man she had encountered in the market.

She explained that she hadn’t thought much of it at the time but later realized the tattoo might hold a clue, so she recreated it from memory. Xuan Lie studied the drawing carefully but grew suspicious. He sensed that Jun Qiluo was intentionally steering him away from the mining area and became quietly vigilant. Meanwhile, in the royal palace, Young Prince Yu and Young Prince Yi were racing on horseback while the queen praised them enthusiastically.

However, Young Prince Yu fell from his horse and was saved by Luo Zhizhou’s quick intervention. The king rushed to the scene and ordered his servants to tend to Young Prince Yu. Unbeknownst to many, this event was part of a plan orchestrated by Luo Zhizhou and Li Side Concubine to create a crisis for the queen and Young Prince Yu, thereby solidifying their own standing.

Elsewhere, He Woshan informed Xuan Lie that the crystals might be forgeable into weapons, though no documentation existed to confirm this, and further research was needed. Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie returned to the mine, but Xuan Lie grew doubtful upon seeing the unrefined crystals and considered abandoning the effort to pursue incense stones instead. However, Jun Qiluo firmly believed in the crystals’ value.

She instructed workers to grind the crystals into axles and planned to use this innovative method to refine other ores. Xuan Lie was impressed by her ingenuity and admired her determination. Just as things seemed to be progressing, the mine suddenly began to shake, filling Xuan Lie with an ominous sense of unease.

Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo were trapped in a collapsed mine. Xuan Lie suffered only minor injuries, which were not serious, and he carried the injured Jun Qiluo out of the mine. Luo Qi arrived with a portrait of Jun Feifan, and the person in the portrait closely resembled Jun Qiluo, except for a mole near their eye. Luo Qi believed that this person was Jun Qiluo's brother.

Xuan Lie brought Jun Qiluo back to his residence, where Princess Xuan Qingkou arrived with a newly acquired slave. Jun Qiluo immediately recognized the slave—Shao Qimin. Although Shao Qimin’s life had been saved by the princess, Jun Qiluo, deeply grateful, hoped the princess would spare him. Shao Qimin had been with Jun Qiluo since childhood, quietly protecting her, and she considered him family. Princess Xuan Qingkou, however, was not so easily willing to release her favorite slave.

She proposed a hunting competition in the forest to settle the matter, and Jun Qiluo agreed. Xuan Lie began to worry, knowing that Princess Xuan Qingkou had grown up riding horses and hunting, and was an expert at both. On the other hand, Jun Qiluo, being from Yannan, was not skilled in horse riding or hunting, but she was determined to save Shao Qimin, regardless of the challenge.

Princess Xuan Qingkou, being clever, knew that Shao Qimin was skilled in martial arts but had always quietly followed her. She suspected he had another agenda and decided to add some soft muscle-relaxing powder to the incense burner, rendering him immobile. Jun Qiluo was worried about Shao Qimin’s situation, and her maid Dong Yin admired Jun Qiluo’s kind nature for caring so much about a servant. Jun Qiluo, however, had never seen Shao Qimin as just a servant.

They had grown up together and were like family to her. Despite this, Jun Qiluo was anxious because she knew that even if she won the competition, Princess Xuan Qingkou, as a royal, would likely not easily let Shao Qimin go. Xuan Lie came to visit Jun Qiluo and took her by surprise with a sneak attack. Jun Qiluo, however, was no match for Princess Xuan Qingkou in martial arts, so Xuan Lie believed she would never win.

Additionally, Xuan Lie felt a tinge of jealousy over Jun Qiluo’s concern for Shao Qimin. To ease the tension between them, Xuan Lie openly confessed that he was not the one responsible for the massacre of the merchant convoy and promised to strengthen management and assign more personnel to ensure nothing like that happened again. Xuan Lie hoped that once Shao Qimin was free from Princess Xuan Qingkou, the matter with the merchant convoy would be forgotten. Jun Qiluo agreed.

Feeling troubled by Jun Qiluo’s situation, Xuan Lie’s close friend Luo Zhizhou came to keep him company and drink. As another man, Luo Zhizhou understood Xuan Lie’s feelings and specifically reminded him not to get too deeply involved, as Xuan Lie’s legitimate wife could not be a foreign woman. Xuan Lie arranged for a letter to be sent to the Jun family, hoping to draw out Jun Feifan, but the letter was intercepted by Jun Qiluo’s uncle.

They decided to alter the letter in hopes of causing Jun Qiluo’s father to worry over his beloved daughter. The night before the hunting competition between Princess Xuan Qingkou and Jun Qiluo, Shao Qimin broke free from his restraints and went to find Jun Qiluo. He had planned to take her away from there first and then figure out a way to obtain the mysterious Xuan Iron Crystals they needed.

However, Jun Qiluo was not willing to leave without a fight. She had already found a clue and intended to compete with Princess Xuan Qingkou, as she and Xuan Lie had made a pact to clear up the matter with the merchant convoy. During the competition, Princess Xuan Qingkou intentionally led Jun Qiluo into a forbidden area to shoot a fierce tiger, hoping that Jun Qiluo would meet her end.

However, Jun Qiluo quickly thought on her feet and managed to kill the tiger. Xuan Lie arrived just in time to save her from the tiger’s jaws. Jun Qiluo won the competition and successfully took Shao Qimin away from the princess. Princess Xuan Qingkou, upset by the outcome, was reminded by Luo Zhizhou not to be too stubborn. Even though her brother, the king, couldn’t control her, if the Empress Dowager found out, Shao Qimin would surely die.

Fearing her mother’s wrath, Princess Xuan Qingkou reluctantly followed Luo Zhizhou back. Jun Qiluo discovered a note that Shao Qimin had left in her room. He had gone to the northern forest in the city to keep an appointment. Jun Qiluo immediately decided to follow, instructing Dong Yin that if she didn’t return by noon, she should inform Xuan Lie. Meanwhile, Xuan Lie received an imperial summons to the palace.

Dong Yin took the opportunity to inform him that both Shao Qimin and Jun Qiluo were missing. Xuan Lie immediately set out with his men to search the northern forest. Unbeknownst to them, Princess Xuan Qingkou also arrived, knowing her slave was there, and began searching as well. When Jun Qiluo and Shao Qimin met, Shao Qimin believed that Xuan Lie had led him there, but there was nothing they sought.

In fact, everything was being manipulated behind the scenes by Luo Zhizhou, who had no intention of letting Xuan Lie appear at the hunting competition.

Xuan Lie and Xuan Qingkou were ambushed, but Jun Qiluo and Shao Qimin arrived in time to help. The enemy outnumbered them, and the four of them were no match for the attackers. Both Xuan Lie and Shao Qimin were injured, and during the fight, Xuan Qingkou stepped into a animal trap. Fortunately, Shao Qimin discovered it in time and saved her.

They made their way to a village in the mountains, where Jun Qiluo recognized from their tattoos that the people there were mountain bandits. She lied, claiming they were merchants seeking a place to stay. To lower their guard, they pretended to be two married couples. Meanwhile, He Jiyao reported back to the palace and saw Luo Zhizhou and Luo Qi. The king was already resting, and Luo Zhizhou felt it would be best not to disturb him.

He knew that Xuan Lie was in the northern forest of the city, so he decided to personally lead a search party. He asked He Jiyao and Luo Qi to prepare for the upcoming hunting competition, as Xuan Lie was the best candidate to lead the wolf pack, and he was confident he could bring Xuan Lie back. Xuan Lie had always suspected that there were clues to be found in this area.

He believed the ambush in the forest was arranged by his longtime rival, Xi Zhangkun. However, he had not expected that this turn of events would provide him with the perfect opportunity to enter the village. Jun Qiluo, however, did not share his view. She reasoned that Xi Zhangkun had no knowledge of Shao Qimin's existence. Shao Qimin had received a warning that he was in danger, so he had come to the forest without giving it much thought.

Xuan Lie, feeling jealous of the attention Shao Qimin received from Jun Qiluo, became upset. To show his appreciation for Jun Qiluo, Xuan Lie gave her a hairpin that he had crafted himself. Jun Qiluo had given up her own hairpin to the bandits earlier that day in exchange for staying in the village. To stay a few more days in the village, Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo decided to teach the villagers how to identify medicinal herbs.

Otherwise, they would have to trade wild game for herbs when they returned to the town, which would save them a lot of effort. The village chief agreed to their proposal. Luo Zhizhou had sent people to search the mountains all night but had not found any trace of Xuan Lie and his group.

He reported to the king that he had increased the number of men searching for the princess and Xuan Lie, but in truth, he was hoping to delay Xuan Lie's return until after the hunting competition. Shao Qimin learned from Xuan Qingkou that the Xuan Iron Crystals were in Xi's territory. Since Xuan Lie had no Xuan Iron Crystals, Shao Qimin realized that Xuan Lie had deliberately kept Jun Qiluo behind.

He found an opportunity to inform Jun Qiluo and speculated that Xuan Lie’s real goal was to use her to find Jun Feifan. Shao Qimin thought that now was the perfect time to leave, and decided to part ways with Jun Qiluo and meet up at a safe location later. The upcoming merchant conference required the Jun family’s merchant license, so Jun Qiluo needed to retrieve it.

Jun Qiluo confronted Xuan Lie, hoping he would hand over the merchant license, so they could go their separate ways. As she spoke, Shao Qimin appeared behind Xuan Lie, holding a sword to his back and demanding the license. In an effort to keep Jun Qiluo with him, Xuan Lie intentionally bumped into Shao Qimin's sword, knowing that even if he got revenge for the past, he would never allow Shao Qimin to take Jun Qiluo away.

Jun Qiluo, seeing Xuan Lie injured, felt deeply saddened and stayed by his side. Although Xuan Lie’s injury was not serious, he and Jun Qiluo made a new agreement. If she could help him find evidence of Xi Zhangkun trafficking in arms, he would also help her find the Xuan Iron Crystals.

The villagers expelled Xuan Lie and his group, but from the village chief, they learned that the villagers had once been part of the army but had been framed and fallen into this situation. Xuan Lie promised that if they cooperated with him, he would ensure they could live a stable life again. Xuan Lie revealed his identity as the leader of the Xuan clan and explained that the old case was deeply related to the Xuan clan.

Helping them was essentially helping himself. The villagers' enemies were Xi Zhangkun, who had framed Xuan Lie’s father in the investigation of the arms case, leading to his death. Xuan Lie was determined to investigate this case thoroughly and avenge his father.

Jun Er Shaoye went to deliver a gift to Xiang Ye (the prime minister). He wanted to show off his position, but the prime minister, having met countless people, easily saw through his intentions. If Jun Er Shaoye wanted to become the chief manager, there was no problem. As long as he achieved results similar to Jun Feifan’s, he would naturally have a chance at that position. Xuan Lie and the others were still trapped in the dense forest.

Jun Qiluo hoped that Xuan Lie could become the Wolf Leader and proposed her idea of establishing a customs post in the no-man's land. This would reduce the frequency of wars and make it easier for the people of various regions to travel. This was Jun Feifan’s idea, and Jun Qiluo wanted to help her brother fulfill this wish. Xuan Lie agreed to Jun Qiluo's suggestion and promised to work hard to stabilize the situation and reduce the conflicts.

Xuan Lie and his group planned to leave the dense forest as quickly as possible to attend the hunting competition, but they were being monitored. As soon as they neared their exit, they would be pursued. This time, the masked black-clad figures showed no mercy and struck decisively. Xuan Lie was injured, and Jun Qiluo took him to an abandoned house. To protect Xuan Lie, she ran out to distract the black-clad figures.

The black-clad men chased them all the way until Jun Qiluo had nowhere else to run. Not seeing Xuan Lie, they decided to tie Jun Qiluo up and hang her from a tree. As long as Jun Qiluo was there, Xuan Lie would surely come to save her. Sure enough, Xuan Lie appeared and saved Jun Qiluo. Fortunately, Luo Qi and his men arrived just in time, scaring off the black-clad figures.

Meanwhile, Xuan Qingkou and Shao Qimin had become separated from Xuan Lie and the others and were now trapped in another part of the forest. Xuan Qingkou was hungry and tired and didn’t want to continue. She asked Shao Qimin to hunt a rabbit for food so that they would have the strength to keep moving. Shao Qimin had no choice but to go hunting.

When Xuan Qingkou saw this, she was pleased and thought that Shao Qimin still cared about her. This time, Xuan Qingkou revealed her feelings to Shao Qimin. She liked him because, from childhood, he had always been the only one who dared to express his true thoughts in front of her. As long as Shao Qimin stayed by her side and did as she asked, she would ensure that Jun Qiluo could return to Yan Nan safely.

She could help them, but it all depended on what Shao Qimin chose. Shao Qimin agreed to her request. Xuan Qingkou then blew a few notes on a whistle and asked Shao Qimin to remember the sound. From now on, whenever she blew that whistle, he must appear in front of her immediately. Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo took the water route to leave the dense forest.

Luo Qi escorted Xuan Qingkou, and Shao Qimin and the others rode horses back. The reason Luo Zhizhou had trapped Xuan Lie in the dense forest was to seize the position of Wolf Leader for himself, but he had not expected Xuan Lie to return. The king asked him about the situation, and Xuan Lie explained that someone did not want him to become the Wolf Leader and had sent people to pursue him.

The king now hoped that Xuan Lie would strive to take the position, as only by doing so could old grievances and new grudges be resolved. This was because the Empress Dowager came from the Xi tribe and protected them, meaning they could do nothing to Xi Zhangkun. Xuan Lie was handsome, skilled in martial arts, and admired by women from various tribes. The princess of the Xi tribe was particularly fond of him.

She took the initiative to speak to him, which made her brother, Xi Gongzi, unhappy, as the two tribes had always been at odds. However, the princess thought that only Xuan Lie was worthy of her and ignored her brother’s objections. Jun Qiluo took the initiative to approach Xi Gongzi for business negotiations. She wanted to buy the Xuan Iron Crystals from them.

To the Xi tribe, those crystals were just stones, but for her, they could hold much greater value. Xi Gongzi thought that Jun Qiluo sought him out instead of his father because she believed him easier to deal with. However, Jun Qiluo stated that she wanted to do long-term business with the Xi tribe, and since Xi Gongzi was the future clan leader, it made sense to negotiate with him. After hearing this, Xi Gongzi seemed to ponder her words thoughtfully.

Jun Qiluo accidentally discovered that someone had tampered with the crossbow that Xuan Lie was going to use in the competition, so she specifically retrieved it from He Jiyao to have it repaired. Dong Yin was relieved when she saw that Jun Qiluo had returned unharmed. However, she felt a bit sad for Jun Qiluo. If Xuan Lie became the Wolf Leader, he would have to choose a wife from the five noble women of the tribes.

Jun Qiluo pretended not to care about this, but deep down, she was very upset. Still, she was a practical person and understood that she and Xuan Lie would never be together. Jun Qiluo personally handed the repaired crossbow to Xuan Lie and gave him a safety charm, hoping that he would win the competition safely. The competition was fierce, and no tribe wanted to lose. Of course, some tribes, like the Sun tribe, wanted to protect their allies.

At a critical moment in the competition, Xuan Lie’s crossbow broke. Luckily, Luo Zhizhou reacted quickly, knocking away the arrow that Xi Zhangkun had shot at Xuan Lie, allowing him to leave the arena first. Xuan Lie and Luo Qi encountered an ambush during the competition. The arrows were real, and someone was trying to kill Xuan Lie. However, they failed, and instead, Xuan Lie’s deputy, Luo Qi, was injured.

Xuan Lie and Luo Zhizhou managed to eliminate Xi Zhangkun from the competition. To save Luo Qi, Xuan Lie temporarily abandoned this round of the competition. There would be another chance to overtake, but life was at stake, and he couldn’t ignore Luo Qi’s wellbeing for the sake of winning. In the end, Luo Zhizhou took first place in the competition. The king understood why Xuan Lie hadn’t won the first place after seeing that Luo Qi had been injured.

Jun Laoye (Jun Qiluo's father) received a letter regarding a hostage exchange at a designated location. He led people there, but they were ambushed. In the chaos, he managed to escape. Luo Qi’s injury was not fatal; the arrow had been tipped with a tranquilizer powder, which caused him to fall unconscious. Jun Qiluo was very worried, so she stayed outside the tent waiting for news.

Luo Zhizhou informed Xuan Lie that Xi Zhangkun had said that his son, Xi Mo, had met with Jun Qiluo. This made Xuan Lie suspect that the tampering with his crossbow might not have been accidental. Xuan Lie didn’t want to suspect Jun Qiluo, thinking that Luo Zhizhou was overreacting. However, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He went outside the tent and pulled Jun Qiluo aside to confront her, asking why she didn’t trust him.

Jun Qiluo had her own plans. She couldn’t allow Xuan Lie to ruin the Jun family, as the Xi tribe was about to sign a crystal contract with other parties. She couldn’t wait any longer and had no choice but to seek out Xi Mo on her own. However, Jun Qiluo had not tampered with the crossbow; Xuan Lie had misunderstood her. Feeling enraged, Xuan Lie decided to part ways with Jun Qiluo.

Xi Mo believed that Luo Qi’s injury had been orchestrated by Jun Qiluo. He thought that Jun Qiluo was someone not to be underestimated, but Xi Zhangkun advised his son to be cautious so that Jun Qiluo wouldn’t turn on him. The Empress Dowager had already arranged for people to investigate Shao Qimin, but Xuan Qingkou did not allow anyone to approach her camp, so the servants could only gather limited information.

The Empress Dowager now knew that Shao Qimin and Jun Qiluo were acquainted and that he was currently by Xuan Qingkou’s side, mainly to protect Jun Qiluo and prevent Xuan Qingkou from turning her anger towards her. The Empress Dowager realized the danger Shao Qimin posed. No matter where he came from, she couldn’t let such a dangerous person stay by Xuan Qingkou’s side. Jun Qiluo went to find Xi Mo. She urgently needed the Xuan Iron Crystals.

Xi Mo thought that Jun Qiluo was behind the incident with Luo Qi, and from this, Jun Qiluo deduced that the ambush in the forest had not been arranged by the Xi tribe. Someone else was behind it, trying to prevent Xuan Lie from becoming the Wolf Leader.

To manipulate Xi Mo, Jun Qiluo decided to use this opportunity and told him that if the Xuan Iron Crystals were not sent to Yan Nan soon, she could make sure that the Xi tribe would be eliminated from the next round of the competition without anyone knowing. Luo Zhizhou received news that Jun Qiluo had joined forces with the Xi tribe and was going to the dense forest with Xi Mo to familiarize themselves with the terrain.

He worried that Jun Qiluo might disrupt his plans, so he ordered Dong Yin to act quickly. Dong Yin was also under Luo Zhizhou’s command, but she had other feelings for him. In Luo Zhizhou’s heart, however, she was just a tool. Jun Laoye’s life was saved, but he was left paralyzed from the waist down. His two daughters arranged for the housekeeper to find the best doctor to treat their father.

Jun Qiluo and Dong Yin met Xi Mo in the forest. Xi Mo stated that the Xi tribe could not afford to lose in the upcoming competition, so Jun Qiluo would have to help. He also promised to keep his word on the things he had promised her. Jun Qiluo subtly hinted that Xi Mo could set a trap here in advance, which surprised Dong Yin. She hadn't expected Jun Qiluo to go to such lengths.

When Sun Zhaomin saw that Jun Qiluo had sided with Xi Mo, she became furious and went to confront her. However, Jun Qiluo only cared about doing business with Xi Mo and paid no attention to their past relationship. Sun Zhaomin was very angry and no longer wanted to be friends with Jun Qiluo. The Empress Dowager visited Xuan Qingkou's tent, but her real aim was to dispose of Shao Qimin.

She arranged for her people to bring him wine, intending to take advantage of the situation. However, several of her people were no match for Shao Qimin and were all killed, while Shao Qimin himself remained unharmed. Dong Yin had planned to eliminate Jun Qiluo in the forest, but just as she was about to act, she got her foot caught in a beast trap.

Jun Qiluo saw this, quickly pried open the trap, and carried Dong Yin back, even personally treating her wound. Dong Yin was moved by Jun Qiluo's kindness because she had never encountered anyone who cared for her like this before. Shao Qimin took the opportunity to leave, and Xuan Qingkou was heartbroken when she learned of it. Since childhood, she had witnessed her mother killing those close to her whenever she formed attachments, leaving her with deep emotional scars.

After this incident, Xuan Qingkou was extremely agitated and locked herself in a corner. The Empress Dowager had no choice but to call for Xuan Lie, who promised to help her find Shao Qimin. Li Fei and Luo Zhizhou had once been lovers. At the time, Li Fei was going to marry the king, and they had planned to elope. However, on the way, Luo Zhizhou stopped, and Li Fei, heartbroken, no longer wanted to run away.

Now, Luo Zhizhou aspired to become the Wolf King to support Li Fei’s child and also to give Li Fei the freedom she desired. Li Fei used the opportunity of meeting with Luo Zhizhou to secretly give him something she had prepared, asking him to protect her because of her old illness, to avoid it affecting the competition. Jun Qiluo arranged for Shao Qimin to monitor the Xi tribe’s people as they escorted the crystal stones in the mining area.

Xuan Lie secretly came to find Jun Qiluo, but in reality, they were working together to stage a play. Xuan Lie came to find out Shao Qimin’s whereabouts and hoped that once Shao Qimin completed Jun Qiluo's tasks, he would go and find Xuan Qingkou. Xuan Lie told Jun Qiluo that when Xuan Qingkou was young, she had secretly gone out to play. After returning, she had a high fever that wouldn’t go down.

Later, Xuan Qingkou witnessed her mother’s orders to kill all of her servants and guards. This experience left a deep emotional scar, which is why she had never gotten close to anyone. Jun Qiluo listened and felt sorry for Xuan Qingkou. Now, Jun Qiluo had successfully earned Xi Mo's trust. However, Xi Zhangkun was cunning and would not easily trust a foreign woman. To test her, he asked her to kill Xuan Lie while they were eating together.

He even gave her the most potent poison from Beixuan. However, killing Xuan Lie was no small matter. If the plan failed, it would be seen as a family-destroying crime, and Xi Zhangkun would be the first person under suspicion. Xi Zhangkun arranged for someone to call Xuan Lie over for a meeting and instructed Jun Qiluo to give him poisoned wine.

Jun Qiluo had no time to send a message to Xuan Lie, so when handing him the wine, she deliberately said, "Whether or not you drink this, we can never go back to how things were. " Xuan Lie must have received the message, as he did not pick up the cup. At that moment, Xi Jixiu and Xi Mo barged in. Xi Jixiu had secretly taken her father's private seal, intending to transfer the mining rights to Xuan Lie.

However, she didn’t know that the private seal was useless, and Xi Mo’s paper had been stamped with the official seal. This greatly disappointed Xi Mo. Xi Jixiu felt she had broken her promise to Xuan Lie and was about to drink the wine herself. Fortunately, Xi Zhangkun reacted quickly and knocked over the wine cup, so the poison could no longer be concealed.

Seeing this, Xuan Lie deliberately pressed a knife to Xi Zhangkun's neck, but he had no intention of killing him. Instead, he took the opportunity to steal his waist token.

Xi Mo and Jun Qiluo met, and Jun Qiluo asked Xi Mo about the location and safety of the traps he had set. Xi Mo provided detailed information. At that moment, Sun Zhaomin arrived and found Jun Qiluo with Xi Mo, curious about their association. Xi Mo explained that Jun Qiluo was their strategist and was naturally accompanying them.

Jun Qiluo and Sun Zhaomin conversed, with Sun Zhaomin hinting that after taking the crystal stones, Jun Qiluo could return to Xuan Lie’s side and even offered to help them mend their relationship. Sun Zhaomin enthusiastically pulled Jun Qiluo toward Xuan Lie. Upon seeing them, Xuan Lie suggested that he take Jun Qiluo out. This sudden action left Sun Zhaomin stunned and full of questions, not understanding the exact nature of the relationship between Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xuan Lie asked Sun Zhaomin to watch over things and left with Jun Qiluo. They went to a spot where they could overlook the Xi family’s villa. To their shock, the villa was engulfed in flames. Xuan Lie had used Xi Zhangkun's token to send He Woshan in to plant explosives. Next, Xuan Lie took Jun Qiluo to another field of flowers—rare flowers from Beixuan, which bloomed only once every few decades.

In front of the flowers, Xuan Lie made a wish, hoping Jun Qiluo would become his wife. Jun Qiluo, however, reminded him to be cautious about the ambush that was about to happen. Xi Mo, concerned about Jun Qiluo, came to find her but was stopped by Dong Yin, who informed him that Jun Qiluo was bathing and could not be seen at the moment. Xi Mo, frustrated, had no choice but to leave.

Meanwhile, Sun Zhaomin hatched a plan to impersonate Jun Qiluo and pretend to be in the bath. She successfully tricked Xi Mo. Afterward, Xi Mo told Xi Zhangkun about this, feeling uneasy since he had shared the location of the ambush with Jun Qiluo. The next day, Xi Mo returned to find Jun Qiluo and mentioned the explosion at the villa the previous night.

Jun Qiluo pretended not to know anything, claiming that after her bath, she had gone to bed early. Soon after, the second round of the hunting competition began. Warriors from all tribes showcased their strength, competing in the weight and quantity of their hunted prey. Xi Mo had already set up an ambush here, intending to win the competition. However, Jun Qiluo quickly noticed the flaw in the trap’s location and hurriedly warned Xuan Lie.

Seeing this, Xi Mo immediately chased after them, but little did he know, his carefully laid trap would become his own downfall. Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo cleverly avoided the trap, and Xi Mo tragically lost his life to the trap he had set. Xuan Lie knew this matter must remain quiet and had someone secretly escort Jun Qiluo back, cautioning her not to tell anyone what had happened.

After the competition, Xi Zhangkun grew anxious when Xi Mo did not return, and he immediately organized a search party. The incident soon reached the king’s ears, who ordered a curfew and offered full support to Xi Zhangkun in locating the missing Xi Mo. Eventually, Xi Zhangkun found Xi Mo's body in a desolate area, devastated by grief.

Xuan Lie revealed the truth about Xi Mo’s death to the king, explaining that Xi Mo had intended to harm Jun Qiluo but accidentally died in his own trap. When the king expressed doubts about Jun Qiluo’s involvement, Xuan Lie firmly defended her, saying that her actions were solely to help him. At that moment, Shao Qimin suddenly appeared, attempting to forcibly take Jun Qiluo. Upon waking, Jun Qiluo realized she had been taken and tried to dissuade Shao Qimin.

Not long after, Xuan Lie arrived and blocked their path. In order to protect Shao Qimin, Jun Qiluo drew a dagger and threatened to harm herself if Xuan Lie did not release him. In the end, Jun Qiluo was taken back by Xuan Lie, though his heart was filled with anger and frustration.

The next morning, Jun Qiluo woke up and realized that it was already daylight. She decided it was time to return. Upon returning to her residence, Dong Yin revealed that Xuan Lie had deep feelings for Jun Qiluo and had even allowed her to skip taking the birth control medicine, which was unusual before he had married a formal wife.

However, Jun Qiluo knew that if the child carried the bloodline of Yan Nan, they wouldn't be able to inherit the title, so she instructed Dong Yin to prepare the birth control medicine for her. Xuan Lie was in high spirits, with a smile on his face, seemingly very happy. Luo Qi, noticing this, approached with curiosity and asked what good news had made Xuan Lie so joyful, hoping to share in the happiness.

However, Xuan Lie simply smiled and did not reveal any details. At this point, Luo Qi mentioned the upcoming New Year Festival and said that other tribes had already begun preparing for the celebrations. He suggested they take the opportunity to relax. Xuan Lie agreed to Luo Qi's suggestion, and everyone was delighted. Meanwhile, Dong Yin was preparing medicine for Jun Qiluo when she suddenly realized that the angelica root was missing. She hurriedly went back to fetch it.

Taking advantage of this, Xi Jixiu secretly examined the medicine pot left behind by Dong Yin and discovered that it contained birth control medicine. She was furious, believing that Jun Qiluo had not only killed her brother but also intended to monopolize Xuan Lie. Her maid, filled with malice, suggested adding a poisonous ingredient to the medicine, making it so that Jun Qiluo could never have children again.

On her way back, Dong Yin ran into Luo Qi, who urgently informed Xuan Lie of what he had just witnessed. Hearing this, Xuan Lie was frantic and immediately summoned a doctor to examine the tainted medicine. After a thorough examination, the doctor confirmed that it was birth control medicine, but it had been maliciously laced with a powerful poison called Thunder Vine, which could cause complete infertility, and in severe cases, death from massive blood loss.

Just as Jun Qiluo was about to drink the lethal medicine, Xuan Lie arrived just in time, knocking the cup out of her hand and saving her. Furious, Xuan Lie demanded to know why Jun Qiluo would do this to herself. With tears in her eyes, Jun Qiluo explained that she wasn’t ready to become a mother and didn’t want her child to be caught in the brutal conflict between their paternal and maternal families in the future.

Although Xuan Lie had once vowed not to attack Yan Nan, Jun Qiluo knew that the future was unpredictable and such promises were not set in stone. Xuan Lie was heartbroken. He admitted that what he truly desired was not for Jun Qiluo to bear him children, but for her sincere heart. Xuan Lie then angrily questioned Dong Yin. Terrified, Dong Yin repeatedly denied any involvement, insisting that she could never harm the lady she so faithfully served.

Luo Qi also stood up to defend Dong Yin, suggesting that the true culprit was someone else. All eyes turned to Xi Jixiu, who had just entered the room. Xuan Lie stormed toward Xi Jixiu, demanding to know why she was so cruel. However, before the confrontation could continue, the king's sudden summons interrupted.

The king warned Xuan Lie that Xi Jixiu had grown deeply suspicious of them, and for the greater good, they should avoid interfering with the matter any further. When Shao Qimin returned, Xuan Qingkou revealed Jun Qiluo's relationship with Xuan Lie and hinted that if Shao Qimin wanted to keep an eye on Jun Qiluo, he should stay close to her.

As the festival approached, Xi Jixiu was deeply troubled by her brother's sudden death and felt dissatisfied with the tribes' celebrations. She was reminded by Xi Zhangkun not to speak out in public. Tired of her current surroundings and eager to explore the bustling inner city, Xuan Qingkou pulled Shao Qimin along with her. Despite the queen’s attempts to dissuade her, she claimed to be tired and left with Shao Qimin.

Meanwhile, Xuan Lie visited Jun Qiluo and invited her to attend the festival with him. Xuan Lie gave Jun Qiluo a wolf-shaped candy figure, and the vendor praised the wolf's strength and loyalty, a meaningful gift. Back at home, Jun Qiluo’s two younger sisters were celebrating the festival but felt melancholic as they missed her.

The younger sister was comforted by Jun Qiluo's reassurance, believing that Jun Qiluo would be safe and that the family would soon turn their situation around. Meanwhile, Xuan Qingkou and Shao Qimin enjoyed the inner city, releasing sky lanterns to make wishes. Xuan Lie took Jun Qiluo to stand beneath an ancient tree, where she tied a red ribbon and made a silent wish.

The fireworks were dazzling as Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie enjoyed the display together, feeling elated. On the other side, Xuan Qingkou took the opportunity during the fireworks to suddenly kiss Shao Qimin, leaving him in shock. Just then, a performer accidentally collided with them, and Xuan Lie hurriedly pulled Jun Qiluo away to avoid the collision. However, he was injured in the eye and lost his sight.

Shao Qimin and Xuan Qingkou rushed over upon hearing the commotion, but by the time they arrived, Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo had already managed to escape, leaving behind an eventful and unforgettable memory of the Spring Festival. After diagnosing Xuan Lie's injury, the imperial physician solemnly reported that his eye was severely damaged and that medicine had been applied. It would take at least half a month for him to recover.

The king was deeply worried, as the finals were only two days away, and Xuan Lie's injury would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the competition. However, Xuan Lie firmly assured the king that despite his eye injury, he would give his all and strive for victory. At this moment, Jun Qiluo was waiting anxiously outside the door. Upon hearing the news, Xi Zhangkun secretly rejoiced, planning to take advantage of the situation to defeat Xuan Lie.

Fortunately, Xuan Qingkou arrived with a new medicine, and Xuan Lie's condition showed some improvement. Xuan Lie, fully aware of the severity of his eye injury, knew that if he couldn’t recover in time, it could affect the larger situation. Hesitantly, he suggested to the king that, if the situation didn't improve, perhaps Luo Zhizhou could take over as the leader of the wolves.

However, the king immediately rejected this proposal, firmly believing that only Xuan Lie could hold the military power and ensure stability. The king’s stance was clear and resolute, and Xuan Lie chose not to argue further. On the other side, the queen dowager also approached the king to discuss the matter. She proposed that if Xuan Lie’s injury could not be healed, Xi Zhangkun should take over as the leader of the wolves.

The queen dowager emphasized that Xi Zhangkun was from her own clan and would surely be loyal to the king. But the king had other plans in mind. He was well aware of Xi Zhangkun’s ambition and feared that if he became the leader of the wolves, the king would no longer be able to control the situation. Meanwhile, the king of Yan Nan grew increasingly dissatisfied with Jun Feifan's delayed return.

The marquis seized the opportunity to spread rumors, claiming that Jun Feifan had already engaged in business dealings with Beixuan and had betrayed Yan Nan. The king was furious upon hearing this. Xuan Qingkou, meanwhile, brought marriage gifts to Shao Qimin, proposing to marry him. Shao Qimin firmly rejected, stating that he had come to Yan Nan only for Jun Qiluo. Furious, Xuan Qingkou demanded to know if Shao Qimin had never liked her.

Shao Qimin replied calmly that he had assumed this was something they both understood. The day of the competition finally arrived. This time, the competition rules had changed. It was no longer a simple test of strength, but rather a battle of both intellect and courage—a flag-placing contest. Whoever could first plant the flag in the designated spot would be declared the winner. Xuan Lie confidently led his team into the dense forest.

However, they were unaware that Xi Zhangkun had secretly set a trap to capture Xuan Lie and his group. Lord Sun and his subordinates, who had been following Xuan Lie closely, unfortunately fell into Xi Zhangkun’s trap and died unjustly. Upon hearing the news, Sun Zhaomin was heartbroken and rushed to the scene. Furious after learning of Lord Sun's fate, Xuan Lie confronted Xi Zhangkun and the others at the crucial flag-planting location, and a fierce battle broke out.

Xuan Lie angrily denounced Xi Zhangkun’s treacherous actions and insisted that he would never hand over the military power to someone as ruthless as him. After an intense struggle, Xuan Lie managed to defeat Xi Zhangkun and was about to plant the flag. However, Luo Zhizhou, standing nearby, did not intervene. Upon hearing the news of Xuan Lie’s victory, the king was overjoyed. Meanwhile, Sun Zhaomin and others stayed behind to guard Lord Sun’s body.

Xi Zhangkun pretended to come to pay respects, but was met with Sun Zhaomin’s furious reproach. At this moment, Jun Qiluo noticed an unusual arrow near Xuan Lie and was filled with a sense of foreboding. Meanwhile, Xi Zhangkun was urgently searching for his missing former soldiers, fearing they might expose his secrets. His plan was to silence them once they were found.

An arrow appeared near Xuan Lie, catching Jun Qiluo's attention. A sense of doubt arose in her heart, but when Xuan Lie asked her about it, Jun Qiluo shook her head and claimed she hadn’t seen it before. She recalled that many years ago, her father had revealed that in order to revive the Jun family, he had sold the weapon blueprints designed by Jun Qiluo.

However, Jun Qiluo had insisted that her talents were meant to contribute to the Jun family’s revival. Luo Zhizhou carefully placed a kite in front of Consort Li’s residence, which delighted her. Yet, hidden within her smile was a hint of past bitterness—Luo Zhizhou had promised to return in the spring, but it was only in autumn that he appeared, which had previously upset Consort Li.

However, Luo Zhizhou’s sincere apology and the specially brought kite helped to soothe her lingering resentment. Soon after, Luo Zhizhou summoned Dong Yin and sternly questioned her about the trap. Dong Yin confessed that she had altered the trap setup on her own. Luo Zhizhou understood that if it weren’t for Lord Sun shielding Xuan Lie, Xuan Lie might have already perished.

Dong Yin further analyzed the situation, suggesting that if Xuan Lie were to die, the position of the wolf leader would pass on, giving them a chance to replace him. Luo Zhizhou, however, did not openly respond to this suggestion. Meanwhile, Xuan Lie accidentally came across Jun Qiluo’s merchant order and was shocked to discover that she was the heir of the Baigong family. This revelation stunned him.

Luo Qi attempted to comfort Xuan Lie, suggesting that Jun Qiluo was still young and that even if she were connected to the Baigong family, it likely had no direct involvement. However, He Jiyao disagreed, arguing that although Jun Qiluo was young, her abilities should not be underestimated. At this time, a secret emissary of the marquis quietly approached Xi Zhangkun, intending to team up and eliminate Jun Qiluo. Xi Zhangkun, however, came up with a plan.

He suggested that he personally find an opportunity to act, and once done, he could distance himself from the matter to avoid being implicated. The marquis’s emissary found this idea brilliant, and the two quickly came to an agreement. Jun Qiluo fell into deep thought, recalling the mysterious crossbow arrow from twelve years ago, filled with doubts.

Just then, Xuan Lie came to find her and spoke about his father’s situation, asking what Jun Qiluo would think if she were in his position. Jun Qiluo responded gently, expressing her belief that the person who designed the weapon could never have foreseen that it would harm Xuan Lie’s father. Xuan Lie, eager to uncover the truth, immediately went to the king and requested that an investigation begin without delay.

The king, with a hint of teasing, remarked that he had planned to issue the order the next day but was surprised by how impatient Xuan Lie was. However, since he had promised him, the king allowed the investigation to proceed. Xuan Lie urgently summoned the five tribal leaders and informed them that Yan Nan spies had infiltrated, requiring immediate pursuit. The leader of the Su tribe, however, suspiciously accused Jun Qiluo of being a Yan Nan spy.

Sun Zhaomin stood up to defend Jun Qiluo, emphasizing that she had been in the area for a long time and posed no threat. Xuan Lie calmly analyzed the situation and pointed out that the real spies were someone else, urging immediate capture. The king attached great importance to this matter and ordered them to act swiftly.

Meanwhile, Sun Zhaomin was preparing to return home with her father, and Xuan Lie assured them that they could always seek their assistance if needed. Xuan Lie sent Luo Qi to investigate Xilin, and they successfully captured him. Xuan Lie promised Xilin that as long as he revealed the truth, he would ensure his mother’s safety. Xilin weighed the pros and cons and chose to cooperate.

When revealing everything to the king, Xi Zhangkun hurriedly distanced himself, accusing Xuan Lie of framing him. Xuan Lie then proposed that Xilin could help find the crucial weapon as physical evidence. The king accepted Xuan Lie’s suggestion. Afterward, the king privately kept Xuan Lie behind and suggested that he form a marriage alliance with Sun Zhaomin and also consider making Jun Qiluo one of Xuan Lie’s concubines.

Xuan Lie firmly disagreed with the king's proposal; he wanted Jun Qiluo to be his legitimate wife. However, the king rejected Xuan Lie’s request, citing Jun Qiluo's background as the reason. Xuan Lie then proposed that Sun Zhaomin had just lost her father and should be given consideration for her feelings. The king replied that if it weren’t for this, he would have already arranged a marriage, but he agreed to first ask Sun Zhaomin for her opinion.

Luo Zhizhou apologized to Xuan Lie, admitting that he had failed to capture the spy. He also revealed that Xi Zhangkun had tried to sow discord between them but had not succeeded. Xuan Lie stated that their deep bond could never be shaken by Xi Zhangkun. Meanwhile, Xi Jixiu urgently sought an audience with the Empress, crying that Xuan Lie had framed her father.

The Empress comforted her, asking her to remain calm, and assured her that the truth would come to light once the matter was thoroughly investigated. On the other side, the second household was making preparations for the upcoming merchant association conference, which greatly displeased Jiang Juan. She had a dispute with the second household over these preparations. Dong Yin came to deliver tea to Jun Qiluo and the others, and Jun Qiluo noticed something unusual.

She subtly signaled to Xuan Lie not to drink it. Later, Jun Qiluo, claiming the tea was too hot, tried to swap cups with Xuan Lie, but Dong Yin accidentally knocked over the tea. Jun Qiluo confronted Dong Yin about the poisoning attempt. Dong Yin, holding a knife, tried to stab Xuan Lie but was stopped in time by him.

He ordered that Dong Yin be taken away, sparing her life for now while he questioned her about the mastermind behind the plot. However, Dong Yin refused to speak, clenching her teeth and remaining silent. At this moment, a messenger arrived in haste with news that Xilin had returned, and the king urgently summoned Xuan Lie. Xuan Lie left immediately, leaving behind the recovered weapon as irrefutable evidence.

Xi Zhangkun, realizing that he had no room to deny the facts, had no choice but to admit everything. He angrily stated that Xuan Lie’s father had wanted to reclaim military power, an action he could never tolerate. He believed both Xuan Lie and his father should pay the price. Upon hearing this, the king ordered Xi Zhangkun’s arrest, sentencing him to execution in ten days.

Jun Qiluo later visited Dong Yin, who was puzzled about how Jun Qiluo had uncovered the poisoning plot. Jun Qiluo smiled and explained that her family had been weaving for generations, and the change in colors was as clear to her as day and night. Dong Yin finally understood. Before parting, Dong Yin curiously asked why Jun Qiluo didn’t question the mastermind behind the plot. Jun Qiluo calmly replied that she knew Dong Yin would never betray that person.

Xuan Lie visited Xi Zhangkun again, offering to protect his daughter if he confessed everything. Xi Zhangkun finally gave in and disclosed that Xuan Lie’s father had once proposed to the former king to reclaim military power. He confessed that he had secretly manufactured weapons in a no-man’s land, preparing for emergencies. Xuan Lie’s father had discovered the anomaly and came to investigate, but he was unfortunately killed in an ambush set by Xi Zhangkun.

Regarding the Baigong family, Xi Zhangkun explained that they were shrouded in mystery, and although he had never seen their true appearance, he had personally handed over the weapon blueprints. Xuan Lie tentatively asked Jun Qiluo about the possibility of the blueprints being lost, to which Jun Qiluo thoughtfully replied that if the blueprints had fallen into someone else’s hands, it was entirely possible that they could have been turned into weapons.

At that moment, Xi Zhangkun mysteriously died from poisoning in the prison. Xuan Lie rushed to the prison, filled with confusion. The prison guards said no one had visited that day, and outside the prison, Xuan Lie unexpectedly discovered a red bean. Meanwhile, Xi Jixiu was shocked to hear the news of her father’s death. When Xuan Lie returned, he once again brought up the matter with Jun Qiluo.

Jun Qiluo explained that when she had gone out today, her bracelet had accidentally broken. Xuan Lie offered to help her repair it, and she handed it to him. Meanwhile, Luo Qi reported the results of his investigation, revealing that twelve years ago, the Jun family's second household had incurred a huge debt due to speculation. However, shortly after, the Jun family had received a large sum of money, resolving the crisis.

Xi Jixiu came to present herself before the king, firmly believing that her father’s death was closely tied to Jun Qiluo. She accused Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie of colluding to frame her father’s death. She earnestly requested that the king thoroughly investigate the matter. In response to Xi Jixiu’s accusations, the king noticed the red bean in the hand of a maidservant who was attending to Jun Qiluo. He immediately ordered that Jun Qiluo be imprisoned and interrogated.

Xuan Lie defended Jun Qiluo, stating that she only wished to help him claim the position of Wolf Lord. However, Xi Jixiu was convinced that Xuan Lie had been bewitched by Jun Qiluo and cursed that they would never find happiness. The king, sharp-eyed and insightful, had long suspected Xuan Lie's deep feelings for Jun Qiluo.

However, he also reminded Xuan Lie that Jun Qiluo came from a merchant family in Yannan, and the social gap between her and the royal family was insurmountable. He warned that their future together might be fraught with danger. Despite the king’s advice, Xuan Lie did not retreat. He firmly declared Jun Qiluo’s innocence, stating that she had nothing to do with his father’s death, and earnestly requested more time to fully investigate the matter.

Later, Xuan Lie accepted Luo Zhizhou’s invitation for a drink. During their conversation, he revealed that, aside from Xi Zhangkun, there were others who harbored ill intentions toward him. Luo Zhizhou analyzed the situation and concluded that Lord Sun, who had risked his life to save Xuan Lie, could not possibly be the murderer. Furthermore, the Su clan was too weak to be interested in the position of Wolf Lord.

Thus, it seemed the only remaining suspect was the Luo clan. However, Xuan Lie stated that, despite Luo Zhizhou’s suspicions, he still believed in his innocence. Finally, Xuan Lie revealed that they had discovered that a maidservant had met with a mysterious woman in the bamboo forest to the west of the city before her death. He was eager to investigate further. Jun Qiluo carefully packed some daily necessities and had Luo Qi help deliver them to Dong Yin.

While packing, she suddenly recalled the exquisite embroidery on the Crown Prince’s hat and the technique used on Luo Zhizhou’s cuffs, realizing that they were remarkably similar. This raised some suspicions in her mind. To resolve her doubts, Jun Qiluo decided to test Dong Yin. After a series of clever questions, she was able to confirm that the person behind everything was indeed Luo Zhizhou.

At the same time, Xuan Lie arrived at the bamboo forest following the clues but was attacked by unknown individuals. He quickly recognized that the one trying to kill him was Luo Zhizhou, and Luo Zhizhou realized he had been deceived. Faced with Xuan Lie’s questioning, Luo Zhizhou revealed his tragic story.

He explained that he had met Li Fei in Xixiang and originally planned to propose, but then he heard that the King of Xixiang planned to marry Li Fei off for an alliance. He realized that only by becoming the Wolf Lord could he protect the woman he loved and their child. Xuan Lie’s heart ached upon hearing this, and just then, the king’s messenger arrived to take Luo Zhizhou away.

The king produced a kite, clearly aware of the relationship between Luo Zhizhou and Li Fei. Luo Zhizhou admitted to it and expressed his willingness to hand over his military power and the clan’s seal, hoping that the king would spare Li Fei. After weighing the pros and cons, the king finally agreed to Luo Zhizhou’s request. Xuan Lie tried to drown his sorrow in alcohol, with Jun Qiluo silently comforting him.

However, news soon arrived that Dong Yin had escaped. Jun Qiluo pleaded for Dong Yin’s life, and Xuan Lie ultimately agreed to spare her. Meanwhile, the second household began to stir, hoping to seize power. However, unexpectedly, Jun Qiluo’s father appeared and announced that he would temporarily take charge of the household until Jun Feifan returned. Yet, a sudden court upheaval took place. Jun Feifan was accused of treason, and the entire first household was arrested.

Jun Qiluo’s father sought an audience with the king but was turned away. During a grand ceremony, Sun Zhaomin cleverly disguised Jun Qiluo as a maidservant and took her along to observe the event. During the ceremony, the king solemnly arranged a marriage between Xuan Lie and Sun Zhaomin. Faced with this unexpected decree, Xuan Lie showed visible discomfort, clearly unwilling. However, the king seemed to have already seen through Xuan Lie’s feelings.

He proposed a compromise, allowing Jun Qiluo to become Xuan Lie’s concubine. The king also sternly reminded Xuan Lie that, as the Wolf Lord, he bore an irreplaceable responsibility and should accept the decree without delay. Upon hearing this, Sun Zhaomin, surprised, quickly glanced at Jun Qiluo. In the end, Xuan Lie and Sun Zhaomin reluctantly accepted the royal decree.

Xuan Lie rushed to the prison to visit Luo Zhizhou, only to find that he had already passed away. Moreover, there were no old scars on his hands, which raised Xuan Lie's suspicions. He deliberately made harsh statements and ordered the body to be burned. At that moment, Shao Qimin attempted to take Jun Qiluo away, but they were blocked by numerous guards, who claimed that the king had ordered the capture of Jun Qiluo.

Seeing this, Jun Qiluo stepped forward, signaling Shao Qimin to leave first, while she calmly followed the guards, prepared to face whatever fate awaited her. Xuan Lie, burning with anxiety, urgently requested an audience with the king to inquire about Jun Qiluo's current whereabouts. Upon hearing this, the king's expression darkened, reproaching Xuan Lie for becoming so concerned about Jun Qiluo that he no longer seemed to regard the king as his ruler.

In response to the king’s reprimand, Xuan Lie proposed a condition: if he were able to marry Jun Qiluo within three days, he requested the king’s permission to take her away. The king, after listening, made a demand of his own: as a descendant of the Hundred Crafts, Jun Qiluo must serve their interests, or else she would face the death penalty. Xuan Lie firmly stated that he would ensure Jun Qiluo would not betray them.

After returning, Xuan Lie honestly confessed to Jun Qiluo that he knew everything. Surprised, Jun Qiluo asked why he had never questioned her about it. Xuan Lie gazed at her affectionately and explained that when she was still young, she had no reason to kill his parents. He chose to trust her unconditionally.

At that moment, Luo Qi rushed in with urgent news, saying that the king had sent people to surround the place, clearly worried that Xuan Lie would secretly take Jun Qiluo away. After a moment of thought, Xuan Lie instructed Luo Qi to spread a rumor that the Jun family had allied with Beixuan in order to seek wealth. He planned to use this as a cover while secretly plotting to rescue Jun Qiluo.

Luo Qi was deeply worried, concerned that the situation might escalate further. However, Xuan Lie remained confident. He explained that the more exaggerated and bizarre the rumors were, the less likely people would believe them. Luo Qi understood and agreed, acknowledging that as the wealthiest family, the Jun family would never make such unfaithful and dishonorable moves for the sake of money. Though Jun Qiluo’s family was imprisoned, her father remained remarkably calm.

He reassured everyone not to worry too much, as he had already expressed his desire to meet with the king and was confident he could persuade him to investigate the matter thoroughly and clear their names. On the other side, Dong Yin overheard some gossip about Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo, and in her anger, she nearly took action.

Fortunately, Luo Zhizhou intervened in time, reminding Dong Yin that their situation was already very delicate, and they had to keep their composure. Dong Yin, knowing how much Jun Qiluo had respected and cared for her, said she was determined to find a way to rescue Jun Qiluo. Luo Zhizhou, however, revealed that he, along with Li Fei and Dong Yin, had already come up with a plan to rescue him.

Li Fei had arranged for a terminally ill prisoner to take Luo Zhizhou’s place, thus protecting him and leaving some money for the prisoner’s family. At this moment, an imperial eunuch suddenly arrived, taking away the Crown Prince, claiming that the king had adopted him and given him to the Prince of Yuwang at the border. Although Li Fei was unwilling, she was powerless to stop it.

Sun Zhaomin then found Xuan Lie and frankly admitted that, although she truly regarded Jun Qiluo as a sister, she would never marry Xuan Lie. She asked if Xuan Lie had a solution, and he confirmed that he did, but it required the cooperation of Madam Sun. Sun Zhaomin immediately discussed it with her mother, Madam Sun, hoping that her mother would adopt Jun Qiluo as a foster daughter.

After all, the king’s decree only mentioned that a princess from the Sun family would marry, but it did not specify which princess. Madam Sun agreed to this plan, thinking it would demonstrate loyalty to the king and also help Sun Zhaomin. Shao Qimin hurried to take Jun Qiluo away, but she urged him to leave first. Soon after, Xuan Lie returned, only to discover that due to the chaos caused by Dong Yin, Jun Qiluo had quietly left.

Xuan Lie sensed something was wrong and immediately chased after her, but he could not find her. Jun Qiluo, walking alone to the edge of a cliff, reflected that the only way to free Xuan Lie from his pain was for her to disappear. With that resolve, she leaped off the cliff. Xuan Lie saw this and desperately lunged to catch her, but he failed.

Overcome with grief, Xuan Lie tried to jump after her, but Luo Qi and others managed to stop him in time. Deeply immersed in the unbearable pain of losing Jun Qiluo, Xuan Lie was inconsolable.

Upon learning about Xuan Lie's current condition, the king ordered the cancellation of the originally planned wedding, deciding to choose another auspicious date for the ceremony. At the same time, after a doctor examined Xuan Lie, it was concluded that he had simply fallen into a coma due to emotional distress and exhaustion. It was expected that after resting for a few hours, he would regain consciousness.

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhaomin rushed to the scene, shocked by the news of Jun Qiluo. Luo Qi, on the other hand, asked He Jiyao if anyone unusual had appeared today, speculating that the incident might have been related to Jun Qiluo's own scheming. He Jiyao remembered having encountered Dong Yin. When Xuan Lie woke from his coma, Jun Qiluo’s image appeared in his mind, and his heart was filled with unbearable sorrow.

At this moment, Xuan Qingkou was demanding to see Xuan Lie. She firmly believed that only Xuan Lie would never deceive her and would genuinely help her find Qing Ming. However, the king coldly informed her that Jun Qiluo had fallen off a cliff and died, and that the servant who had accompanied her was also gone, never to return. Xuan Qingkou was struck speechless, stunned by this revelation. Meanwhile, Dong Yin was brought in to face Xuan Lie’s questioning.

He was equally shocked by the news of Jun Qiluo’s death. He admitted that he had indeed taken Jun Qiluo out, but she had insisted on leaving, and he had agreed. He hadn’t known that she would die as a result; otherwise, he would never have let her go. Dong Yin then presented a letter, claiming that it was Jun Qiluo’s final request for him to deliver to Xuan Lie.

He had originally planned to secretly leave it with Xuan Lie. With trembling hands, Xuan Lie opened Jun Qiluo's letter. In the letter, Jun Qiluo pleaded with him to release Dong Yin and stated that they should part ways forever, never to meet again.

After reading the letter, Xuan Lie’s heart was torn, but he suppressed his grief and ordered Dong Yin’s release, feeling that if he didn’t do so, he would have no face to meet Jun Qiluo in the afterlife. At the same time, Sun Zhaomin resolutely entered the palace, asking the king to rescind the royal decree and to send someone to summon Xuan Lie to the palace.

She firmly declared that, although Jun Qiluo was gone, the woman Xuan Lie had chosen as his wife would be her and no one else. She would never steal his love. Sun Zhaomin knew the king's intentions and was willing to give up the Sun family’s seal of authority and swear an oath of loyalty to the king in her father’s name.

Despite the devastating blow of Jun Qiluo's death, Xuan Lie, undeterred by his own safety, set out for the border, determined to resolve the chaos there. Meanwhile, Shao Qimin successfully rescued Jun Qiluo. After a doctor’s examination, it was revealed that Jun Qiluo was unharmed, though she was over a month pregnant. Shao Qimin, though shocked, was moved by Jun Qiluo’s resilience. After Jun Qiluo regained consciousness, she decided to no longer live as Jun Feifan.

She believed that anything Jun Feifan could do, she could do as well. Determined, she returned to the palace, expressing her loyalty to the king and revealing the truth behind the false pretense of helping him, which was actually an attempt to obtain the Xuantie Crystal. She begged the king to treat her family, who had died because of her, with kindness and pledged to improve Yan Nan's weaponry as a sign of her loyalty.

The king, upon hearing this, finally believed in Jun Qiluo’s loyalty and revealed that he had not truly killed her family; he had only forced her to reveal herself. Jun Qiluo then visited her family in prison, and they joyously reunited. The second branch of the family gave her cold remarks, but Jun Qiluo ignored them. The Duke was shocked by Jun Qiluo’s return. Xuan Lie, unwilling to attack Yan Nan, caused displeasure in the king.

The king believed that gathering the military forces of the five tribes was meant to wage war on Yan Nan, but Xuan Lie advocated for opening trade and resolving the issue through negotiation, feeling that making too many concessions in talks would be less effective than solving the problem through battle.

Xuan Lie rushed to the prison to visit Luo Zhizhou, only to find that he had already passed away. What struck him as odd was that there were no old scars on Luo Zhizhou's hands, raising Xuan Lie's suspicions. He made harsh remarks on purpose and ordered the body to be cremated. At that moment, Shao Qimin attempted to take Jun Qiluo away, but they were stopped by numerous guards who claimed that the king had ordered Jun Qiluo’s capture.

Seeing this, Jun Qiluo signaled for Shao Qimin to leave first, while she calmly followed the guards, ready to face whatever fate awaited her. Xuan Lie, burning with anxiety, urgently requested an audience with the king to inquire about Jun Qiluo's whereabouts. The king's expression darkened upon hearing this, rebuking Xuan Lie for being so concerned about Jun Qiluo that he no longer seemed to regard the king as his ruler.

In response to the king’s reprimand, Xuan Lie proposed a condition: if he could marry Jun Qiluo within three days, he requested the king’s permission to take her away. The king listened and then made a demand of his own: as a descendant of the Hundred Crafts, Jun Qiluo must serve their interests, or she would face the death penalty. Xuan Lie firmly stated that he would ensure Jun Qiluo would not betray them.

After returning, Xuan Lie openly confessed to Jun Qiluo that he knew everything. Surprised, Jun Qiluo asked why he had never questioned her about it. Xuan Lie gazed at her affectionately and explained that when she was still young, she had no reason to kill his parents, and he chose to trust her unconditionally.

At that moment, Luo Qi rushed in with urgent news, saying that the king had sent people to surround the place, clearly worried that Xuan Lie would secretly take Jun Qiluo away. After a moment of thought, Xuan Lie instructed Luo Qi to spread a rumor that the Jun family had allied with Beixuan to seek wealth. He planned to use this as a cover while secretly plotting to rescue Jun Qiluo.

Luo Qi was deeply worried, concerned that the situation might escalate further. However, Xuan Lie remained confident. He explained that the more exaggerated and bizarre the rumors were, the less likely people would believe them. Luo Qi understood and agreed, acknowledging that as the wealthiest family, the Jun family would never make such unfaithful and dishonorable moves for the sake of money. Though Jun Qiluo’s family was imprisoned, her father remained remarkably calm.

He reassured everyone not to worry too much, as he had already expressed his desire to meet with the king and was confident he could persuade him to investigate the matter thoroughly and clear their names. On the other side, Dong Yin overheard some gossip about Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo, and in her anger, she nearly took action.

Fortunately, Luo Zhizhou intervened in time, reminding Dong Yin that their situation was already very delicate, and they had to keep their composure. Dong Yin, knowing how much Jun Qiluo had respected and cared for her, said she was determined to find a way to rescue Jun Qiluo. Luo Zhizhou, however, revealed that he, along with Li Fei and Dong Yin, had already come up with a plan to rescue her.

Li Fei had arranged for a terminally ill prisoner to take Luo Zhizhou’s place, thus protecting him and leaving some money for the prisoner’s family. At this moment, an imperial eunuch suddenly arrived, taking away the Crown Prince, claiming that the king had adopted him and given him to the Prince of Yuwang at the border. Although Li Fei was unwilling, she was powerless to stop it.

Sun Zhaomin then found Xuan Lie and frankly admitted that, although she truly regarded Jun Qiluo as a sister, she would never marry Xuan Lie. She asked if Xuan Lie had a solution, and he confirmed that he did, but it required the cooperation of Madam Sun. Sun Zhaomin immediately discussed it with her mother, Madam Sun, hoping that her mother would adopt Jun Qiluo as a foster daughter.

After all, the king’s decree only mentioned that a princess from the Sun family would marry, but it did not specify which princess. Madam Sun agreed to this plan, thinking it would demonstrate loyalty to the king and also help Sun Zhaomin. Shao Qimin hurried to take Jun Qiluo away, but she urged him to leave first. Soon after, Xuan Lie returned, only to discover that due to the chaos caused by Dong Yin, Jun Qiluo had quietly left.

Xuan Lie sensed something was wrong and immediately chased after her, but he could not find her. Jun Qiluo, walking alone to the edge of a cliff, reflected that the only way to free Xuan Lie from his pain was for her to disappear. With that resolve, she leaped off the cliff. Xuan Lie saw this and desperately lunged to catch her, but he failed.

Overcome with grief, Xuan Lie tried to jump after her, but Luo Qi and others managed to stop him in time. Deeply immersed in the unbearable pain of losing Jun Qiluo, Xuan Lie was inconsolable. Xuan Lie came to persuade the Empress Dowager and the king, and the Empress Dowager showed him the new weapons, revealing that the descendant of the Hundred Crafts had passed away.

Xuan Lie, deeply concerned about the suffering of the people, urged the king to seize the opportunity to negotiate peace and avoid the ravages of war. However, the king insisted that Xuan Lie lead the troops into battle. Xuan Lie resolutely stated that he could not obey the king’s command. The Empress Dowager, with a heavy heart, urged the king, pointing out that Yan Nan now had new weapons, which significantly reduced their chances of victory.

Moreover, with Xuan Lie unwilling to lead the army, the Empress Dowager believed the wisest course of action would be to negotiate peace. After much consideration, the king finally accepted the Empress Dowager’s suggestion. Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo visited the king, keenly observing that the king was actually not enthusiastic about war but was instead concerned about the people. Jun Qiluo further analyzed that with their current advantage, negotiating peace was undoubtedly the best choice.

The king was impressed by Jun Qiluo’s insight but was also considering how to keep her in Yan Nan. Given that the crown prince was of marrying age, the king began to entertain the idea of marrying Jun Qiluo to the crown prince. Faced with the king’s proposal, Jun Qiluo could not directly refuse, but she asked to marry the crown prince as a woman, wearing a wedding gown she had made with her own hands, in a grand ceremony.

The king readily agreed. Soon after, Jun Qiluo’s family was released, and Jun Qiluo was overjoyed. Jun Xiukun’s husband came to visit, learning that Jun Feifan had “died,” and he became worried about the future of the Jun family. Jun Qiluo reassured him to focus on his studies and prepare for the upcoming spring exams. Jun Xiukun’s husband became furious, thinking that Jun Qiluo’s words were inauspicious and that the Jun family had shown him no respect.

He regretted coming to visit today. Jun Xiukun hurried after him to explain, claiming that her eldest sister did not mean it that way. Meanwhile, the king sent He Jiyao on a diplomatic mission to Yan Nan, and Xuan Qingkou secretly followed him. Upon learning of this, the king, though helpless, could only advise He Jiyao to take care of the princess. Xuan Lie left a letter behind and set off alone for Yan Nan.

Jun Qiluo went to her family’s shop, only to find that the second branch had already made arrangements, with various shops setting up obstacles. She then went to confront the second branch, who smugly insisted that it was inappropriate for a woman to manage the household and that the Jun family should be handled by the second branch. In the second branch’s place, Jun Qiluo unexpectedly found Shao Qimin’s belongings.

Shao Qimin confessed that he was actually a secret guard of the king, sent to the Jun family from a young age. Because the Jun family had treated him kindly, he had always regarded them as family. Jun Qiluo had actually suspected this all along but had been waiting for Shao Qimin to admit it himself.

She knew that the king was well aware of the Jun family’s every move and had harbored doubts about those around him but had often felt that she was overthinking. Shao Qimin returned to report to the king, stating that the crown prince and princess were happily married, so there was no need for Jun Qiluo to marry the crown prince. Instead, he suggested that he marry Jun Qiluo, promising that he could ensure she remained in Yan Nan.

To his surprise, the king nodded in agreement. Jun Qiluo and her two younger sisters continued searching for a shop and finally found one at the end of the street. They believed that as long as the goods were of good quality, the remote location would still attract people, especially since it was close to the Jun family, saving labor.

They went to speak with the shopkeeper but were told that they were unavailable, which Jun Qiluo knew was the second branch’s interference. The third sister sighed at how difficult business was. Just then, Xuan Lie arrived in Yan Nan and seemed to have seen Jun Qiluo. He rushed after her, but she had already disappeared.

Jun Qiluo fainted, and her sisters quickly called for a doctor. The doctor diagnosed that Jun Qiluo was two months pregnant. Her sisters were shocked. The third sister went to ask Shao Qimin about it. Shao Qimin hoped that she would wait for Jun Qiluo to wake up and tell them the news herself. He then went to see the doctor. Unexpectedly, their conversation was overheard by the second sister’s fiancé, Master Zheng.

He felt that the situation was damaging to his reputation and decided to call off the engagement. The second sister felt deeply for Jun Qiluo and respected her older sister. She knew how much her sister had suffered for their family over the years and decided not to cause Jun Qiluo any more trouble. She agreed to respect Master Zheng’s decision. The third sister went to the street to buy medicine and happened to see Master Zheng with his friends.

He was boasting about the next woman he planned to marry. In a fit of anger, the third sister confronted him. Although she was a woman, she was not afraid to speak her mind. She accused Master Zheng of marrying for money, spending it on pleasure, and demanded he return the dowry. Master Zheng chased after her, trying to strike her, but fortunately, Luo Qi and Xuan Lie arrived just in time to intervene.

Luo Qi recognized the mole on the third sister's cheek and realized that she was Jun Feifan. He and Xuan Lie followed her back to the house, and Xuan Lie overheard the conversation between the third sister and Shao Qimin, realizing that Jun Qiluo might be there. That night, they quietly arrived at the house and found Jun Qiluo’s room. Xuan Lie, seeing her sleeping peacefully, couldn’t hold back his tears.

He reached out to touch her face, accidentally waking her up. Xuan Lie had never expected Jun Qiluo to be alive. He had only intended to visit the place where she had lived, but this surprise was unexpected. Jun Qiluo, with determination in her eyes, told him that the moment she jumped off the cliff, she had severed all ties with him. Shao Qimin discovered Xuan Lie and drove him away.

He warned Jun Qiluo that if anyone found out about her connection with the Wolf King of Beixuan, her family would be accused of betraying the country. Hurt by Jun Qiluo’s words, Xuan Lie decided to return to Beixuan, no longer wanting to stay there. Jun Qiluo decided to marry Shao Qimin. Her sisters were surprised, but although they didn’t understand, they would respect her decision.

Luo Qi and Xuan Lie had originally planned to return to Beixuan, but they saw Jun Qiluo on the street. Luo Qi, under Xuan Lie’s instruction, went to inquire about the situation. He learned that Jun Qiluo was planning to open a new shop for weaving and hoped to secure a royal palace order. However, it seemed like someone was hindering her progress. In the process, Luo Qi unintentionally encountered Jun Yujue.

To take out his frustration on Jun Yujue for causing trouble for Jun Qiluo, Luo Qi gave him a beating. However, he was soon arrested by the authorities. Xuan Lie, helpless, had to ask Jun Qiluo for help. Jun Qiluo privately arranged for the third sister to redeem Luo Qi from the prison. She told her sister that Luo Qi had once helped her and was a good person.

When the third sister arrived at the prison, she found out that Luo Qi had been imprisoned for beating Jun Yujue, and she couldn’t help but feel some sympathy for him, especially since he had punished someone who had bullied her sister. However, the third sister was mischievous and bribed the jailer to keep Luo Qi locked up for another three days. After three days, she would come back to release him.

During their time together, the third sister brought Luo Qi some candied fruits, and they found they shared a mutual love for reading novels. Seeing that Luo Qi wasn’t bad, she decided that after he was released, she would offer him a job at home and pay him for his work. Luo Qi saw it as an opportunity to send a message to Xuan Lie and agreed to the arrangement. Xuan Lie temporarily decided to stay in Yan Nan, but this time, he did so under the guise of a merchant.

Shao Qimin saw Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo together and deliberately mentioned that he would soon marry Jun Qiluo. Xuan Lie was heartbroken. Seeing his reaction, Jun Qiluo turned and left, but she didn't blame Shao Qimin. This matter could no longer be hidden, and Xuan Lie would have to find out eventually. Jun Qiluo's father returned, and she felt both happy and guilty. She felt she had harmed her father and caused the Jun family's business to be lost.

However, her father didn't blame her. The second sister personally made Jun Qiluo's wedding dress, and the two sisters were happy that their older sister would marry Shao Qimin, as they had grown up together, and Shao Qimin had always treated her well. The day of Jun Qiluo and Shao Qimin’s wedding arrived. As Jun Qiluo looked at her wedding dress, she thought about the promise Xuan Lie had made to her.

Unexpectedly, when she turned around, Xuan Lie was standing behind her. He embraced Jun Qiluo, knowing that she didn’t truly want to marry Shao Qimin. Jun Qiluo broke free from his arms and grabbed her wedding dress to change. At that moment, Shao Qimin’s bridal sedan chair had been waiting at the gate for a long time. Jun Qiluo’s two younger sisters came to urge her.

When they entered the room and saw her already dressed in the wedding gown, they helped her. The journey went smoothly, and everything was fine until the ceremony was about to end. When Shao Qimin was about to lift the bridal veil, unexpectedly, the bride couldn’t wait and lifted it herself first. Shao Qimin was stunned, never imagining that the woman he was marrying was actually Xuan Qingkou. In Xuan Qingkou’s heart, Shao Qimin was always meant to be her husband.

Now, according to their understanding, their marriage wasn’t so bad. But Shao Qimin was furious, feeling that he had been deceived and left with nothing. Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo had been knocked unconscious by Xuan Lie and taken to another location. When she woke up, she was very angry. Xuan Lie comforted her. Once she had calmed down after venting her anger, she explained the reason for her marriage to Shao Qimin.

The marriage was ordered by the king, who had long distrusted the Jun family and suspected they harbored ill intentions. If Xuan Lie had interfered with her marriage to Shao Qimin, it might have led to the downfall of the Jun family. Xuan Lie promised to stand by Jun Qiluo and find a solution. The next day, when they returned home, they learned that it was Xuan Qingkou who had married Shao Qimin. Xuan Lie had no knowledge of this.

Xuan Qingkou had been secretly monitoring Jun Qiluo and Shao Qimin through He Jiyao, and when Jun Qiluo disappeared, Xuan Qingkou decided to take her place and marry Shao Qimin. As long as Shao Qimin was hers, nothing else mattered. At this point, there was no choice but to figure out a way forward. Jun Qiluo and Shao Qimin had to be considered married, or they would be accused of defying the king’s orders.

For now, they had to pretend to be a married couple. This was a crucial time for the peace negotiations between the north and south. Xuan Lie asked Jun Qiluo for help, suggesting that Xuan Qingkou temporarily stay at the Jun household while he figured out a way to get them out of there. Jun Qiluo agreed. The third sister remembered that she needed to pick up Luo Qi and almost forgot.

When she arrived at the prison, Luo Qi had been waiting for a long time and had even been mistaken for a beggar. The third sister comforted him, telling him that he no longer needed to worry. She promised him that, with her, both money and a wife would come. Luo Qi became a long-term servant for the Jun family. Xuan Lie asked Luo Qi to help him get into the Jun household.

Luo Qi, knowing Xuan Lie’s intentions, brought him to the third miss, pretending that Xuan Lie was his fellow townsman and hoped that the Jun family would take him in. Luo Qi and Xuan Lie performed a little act in front of the third miss and had already prepared a contract. If they were dismissed without cause, the Jun family would have to pay a hundred gold.

Luo Qi did this to ensure that he could stay with the Jun family. The third miss, seeing their sincerity, agreed and stamped her handprint on the contract. As a result, Xuan Lie and his group were smoothly settled into the Jun household.

The Jun family was being closely watched by many people, including Jun Yujue and the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister’s spies had already discovered that Xuan Lie and his group had arrived in Yan Nan and were even seen at Jun Qiluo’s shop. Jun Yujue, through a beggar, learned that on the night of Jun Qiluo’s wedding, the groom, Shao Qimin, had left the house in the middle of the night.

Jun Yujue spread the news throughout the city that Jun Qiluo and Shao Qimin’s marriage was fake. The next day, Jun Qiluo and Shao Qimin heard this news. Jun Qiluo knew that this information had probably already reached the king’s ears, so she decided that she and Shao Qimin should immediately enter the palace to explain the situation. Upon arriving at the palace, Jun Qiluo explained that on the day of her wedding, a thief had sneaked into the embroidery room.

She had gone to catch the thief, and during that time, her distant cousin had taken her place. By the time she returned, the wedding ceremony had already been completed, but the next day, she had swapped back with her cousin. Jun Qiluo was able to say this confidently because Xuan Lie had discussed it with her beforehand. Xuan Lie had arranged everything, so she was not worried about the king investigating further.

Taking this opportunity, Shao Qimin proposed to the king that he wanted to annul the marriage. He didn’t want Jun Qiluo to suffer from the rumors spreading about them. The king was furious, as he never expected that they would secretly carry out such a thing and that they were both dissatisfied with his marriage arrangement.

Jun Qiluo then stated that the Jun family was willing to pay 150,000 bolts of cloth annually to establish a customs house for the south-north peace negotiations. Upon hearing this, the king, for the time being, believed in Jun Qiluo's loyalty. His attitude softened, and he and Jun Qiluo agreed that the Jun family must deliver the 150,000 bolts of cloth within a month.

At the same time, the King of Beixuan and the Empress Dowager were also aware of the situation. Both were furious, and the king immediately sent someone to deliver a message to Xuan Lie. Consort Li had been confined to her quarters, and she had fallen ill these past few days. No matter how much the maidservants requested the guards outside her door, they refused to let them go out to find a doctor.

After all, it was the king's order, and no one dared to disobey. Consort Li now only wished for an early release from her confinement. The only thing she worried about was her son and Luo Zhizhou. As long as they were safe, she would be at peace. As for Luo Zhizhou, he had returned to Xixiang.

Using the Luo clan’s influence, he had saved Consort Li’s life, and now he only hoped that King Xuan Xu would treat her well. Luo Zhizhou was also a tragic figure. His mother had been unaware that his father already had a wife and daughter in Beixuan when she had him, and so she had warned him to never fail the woman he loved. But now, Luo Zhizhou had failed to protect the woman he cared about.

Shao Qimin was severely punished by the king for concealing Jun Qiluo’s replacement marriage and was forced to drink poisoned wine. As long as he completed his tasks, he would receive an antidote each month. As long as he took it on time, his life would be spared. The Jun family discovered Xuan Qingkou and He Jiyao’s presence. Jun Qiluo had no choice but to tell the truth.

Lord Jun only hoped they would leave quickly, as they couldn’t be involved with people from Beixuan. Shao Qimin, severely injured, returned to his room, where Xuan Qingkou had been waiting for him. She saw his wounds and, being skilled in making medicines, identified the poison he had been given. After smelling it, she recognized the toxin and was determined to make the antidote. She reassured Shao Qimin and began treating his wounds.

It was time for the merchants to submit their silk, but unexpectedly, Jun Yujue had bribed Zheng Gongzi and learned about Jun Qiluo’s unwed pregnancy. He had also stolen her silk. However, Jun Qiluo knew they wouldn’t understand how she could have made such silk, so she revealed her secret technique for making it. She offered to share it with everyone present. Seeing this, her second uncle publicly revealed that Jun Qiluo was pregnant before marriage. Xuan Lie was taken aback, and it was at that moment that he realized the child Jun Qiluo was carrying was his own.

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