A month had passed, and as Xiuying expected, the perpetrator had made no move. The unsuccessful assassination attempt alerted Wencheng and Jingyu, forcing the culprit to keep a low profile. They were being careful.

Yanyan had not made contact with the Ginkgo Courtyard since Mingxia last caught her. Xiuying had a strong feeling that whoever the servant was working for was only inside, living under the same roof as them. But if someone from the Second Household was really involved, things were about to get more complicated.

Likewise, Xiuying was being extra cautious. She hadn't asked Mingxia to do anything in the past few weeks except keep an eye on Yanyan and observe any suspicious activities. She also advised her not to approach her unless she needed to relay crucial information. Constant interactions were bound to draw suspicions.

To win against an opponent as careful and hidden as she was, she needed to be patient—but she wasn't certain how long she could keep that up.

Now that Yunxi was aware of her true identity as a woman, Xiuying believed that the situation brought as many advantages as disadvantages. With Yunxi's knowledge of her deception, the person she was tasked to protect was bound to grow wary and cautious around her, which might cause her problems in the future. On the other hand, the situation provided her more leeway to conduct her own investigation, as Yunxi, her master and the victim herself, gave her the order. However, Xiuying couldn't tell her about Yanyan without exposing her involvement in the conspiracy. She would just have to find the best opportunity to reveal the scheming servant without giving the hint that she knew all along.

According to Yunxi, Yunru had been acting strangely a few days before the incident. She appeared tense and nervous most of the time, as if something was bothering her. Yunxi believed that Yunru's sudden departure to meet Gui had something to do with it. Yunxi also reassured her of Gui's innocence in the matter—not that Xiuying ever suspected him. Because how would Yunru's death benefit him? On the contrary, it would only complicate his situation as a young provincial lord without an heir.

Xiuying suspected that Yunru might have found something. Maybe the reason she left to meet Gui was to inform her fiancee of it, which didn't end up well.

"What made you think that the same person is after your life?" Xiuying asked Yunxi in a low voice as they watched the spar in the outer courtyard before them.

"Like I told you before, I don't remember offending anyone," Yunxi said. "Believe me or not, I don't make enemies, Feiyu. I know they are aware that I know something about Elder Sister's death. I made a mistake once. During her funeral, I told them that there was a conspiracy behind her death, and it had nothing to do with rukki." A bitter smile formed on Yunxi's lips. "It was already late when I realized how stupid that was. I should have kept my mouth shut, but I was overcome with grief at that time."

"Now they want to get rid of you to prevent you from prying too much," Xiuying said, and Yunxi only smiled in response. Knowing the young lady would not speak again, Xiuying focused her attention on the sword fight in front of them.

The taller man jumped back as his opponent lunged at him with unbridled enthusiasm. Ye Renshu, the Eldest Young Master and brother to Xiang, was sparring with Ye Yanlin, the Third Young Master from the Third Household. They wanted to test their abilities for the upcoming Warrior Hunt, which would take place in two weeks.

Only noble men of fifteen years or older were allowed to participate in the event. The Warrior Hunt was celebrated annually on the sixth day of the tenth month and was established as a standard by the First Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. Since there was no current reigning emperor, the Acting Emperor would preside over the launch of the hunting ceremony, as he had for the previous two years.

A loud clang resounded throughout the courtyard as Yanlin's sword was knocked out from his grasp. He blinked a couple of times, and then he smiled.

"It's your win again, Elder Brother," Yanlin commended as he picked up his sword and sheathed it. "At this point, you might take first place in the Warrior Hunt."

Renshu sighed. "Don't exaggerate. Hunting wild animals is different from sword play."

Xiuying studied Renshu. He was from the Second Household, which meant there was a possibility that he could be the person Yanyan was working for. But the man didn't look suspicious at all. Even so, Xiuying reminded herself to keep an eye on him.

Yanlin shrugged at Renshu's remark. He might have a small frame, but his strong physique compensated for it. He also looked young, perhaps as young as Yunxi. "It will be my first time to participate. I wasn't able to join last year due to..." He shot an awkward glance at Yunxi, who didn't show any signs of discomfort. Regardless, an awkward silence settled over the courtyard.

Renshu shook his head lightly as he gave Yanlin a reprimanding look.

The incident with Yunru happened last year around autumn, so it seemed that none of the Ye Family were able to attend last year's Warrior Hunt Ceremony because they were in mourning period.

Yunxi smiled at him. "Don't worry, Third Brother. You've had years of training with Elder Brother and Ruyu, so I'm sure you're fully prepared for this year's Warrior Hunt."

A smile spread across Yanlin's face. "I hope so."

The young boy, who had been eagerly watching the duel between his cousins, rushed over to Yunxi. He looked up at his sister with wide, expectant eyes.

"Sister, can I participate in the hunt, too?"

Yunxi smiled gently as she patted his head. "You'd have to wait another six years to participate, Wen'er."

Ye Bowen pushed out his lower lip in a pout, but he didn't argue. He was the Fourth Young Master of the Ye Family, and the youngest.

"Maybe we can ask for Grandfather's permission to go to a forest to hunt," Yunxi suggested.

Xiuying glanced at Yunxi. She wasn't sure if the young lady was actually being serious. There was no way Wencheng and Jingyu would let her go, especially at a place where she was almost assassinated.

"Just us?" Bowen asked.

"Feiyu will be with us," Yunxi said. "Maybe you're not aware yet, but my bodyguard comes from a family of skilled hunters, so I'll ask him to teach us some tactics for hunting."

Xiuying could only smile when the boy looked at her as if she were some kind of hero.

As Xiuying and Yunxi headed back to the Dawn Courtyard, Xiuying caught sight of Mingxia. The two met gazes, and a tacit understanding occurred between them.

The sun was barely beginning to set when Mingxia came into her room. Xiuying sat at a table, looking out the window at the empty and calm courtyard.

"Mingxia, I need you to do something for me."

"Are you sure about this?" Mingxia said after Xiuying informed her of her plans.

"Yes," Xiuying confirmed, a trace of a smile on her mouth. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

It was seven days before the Warrior Hunt. The three young masters of Ye Residence were busy preparing to submit their names to participate in the event. Xiuying couldn't help but feel a slight twist in her stomach. Seven days from today, the Warrior Hunt would officially commence, marking the third year anniversary of the tragedy that took place in the Imperial Palace and Ya'an Mountain.

The following two days, an eunuch showed up at the Manor of the Marquis of Jing. Wencheng gathered everyone in the main hall as the eunuch announced the names of the members of Ye Family competing in the Warrior Hunt. The Reading of Names indicated that an individual's name had already been engraved on the stone tablet, thus they could no longer back out or miss the event, as doing so would bring dishonor to their entire family.

Today, the magnolias in the Dawn Courtyard were in full bloom, filling the air with their sweet and elegant fragrance. Xiuying stood in the courtyard as she watched Yunxi admire the flowers. Since the Warrior Hunt was exclusively for noble men, females of the house weren't obliged to attend the Reading of Names in the main hall.

"Oh no," Yunxi muttered under her breath.

"What is it, Young Lady?" Xiuying asked as she walked over to where Yunxi was crouched down. Before she could hear a response from her, Xiuying already saw it. Among the blossoming flowers, two magnolias were bent gracefully toward each other. Their once snow-white petals were tarnished and curled up, as if touched by the brutality of age and death.

"Poor flowers," Yunxi said softly. "They withered as quickly as they bloomed." With a regretful sigh, she plucked the two withered flowers.

Her two maidservants rushed to her side and grabbed them from her as though the flowers were deadly poison.

"Dead flowers are a sign of bad luck," one of the maidservants said. "Third Young Lady shouldn't touch them."

Quick footsteps sounded in the corridor, and a servant entered the courtyard. She made her way to Yunxi and bowed.

"Third Young Lady, you are summoned to the main hall."

Yunxi furrowed her brow in confusion.

"Has something happened?" Xiuying asked the servant.

The servant looked at her. "Third Young Lady's name is included in the list of participants for this year's Warrior Hunt."

Xiuying and Yunxi exchanged a look of bewilderment.

"This is ridiculous!" Wencheng was saying when Xiuying and Yunxi arrived at the main hall, his face contorted with rage, confusion, and worry. "Why was her name included in the list? She's a woman, so she shouldn't even be qualified to participate!"

"Once a name has been engraved on the stone tablet, one is obliged to participate," the eunuch explained in a voice so flat and calm, holding a scroll with wooden handles. He was a tall man in his late fifties, his face calm and expressionless as it had always been. Xiuying knew him; he was Luo Xian, the head eunuch. "The Warrior Hunt Ceremony is a competition for glory. If one fails to show up, their names will be tainted by disgrace and they will lose the favor of the gods."

"My daughter would never submit her name," Jingyu said with a deep frown, pacing through the room. "There must be some kind of mistake."

"Old Marquis, Eldest Master," the servant who escorted Yunxi said with a bow. "The Third Young Lady is here."

Wencheng and Jingyu jerked their heads up. Yunxi looked around the room, confusion on her face. The three young masters also looked bemused and worried; Siu, Yanlin, and his older brother named Ye Jue, the Second Young Master.

"Xi'er," Jingyu called as he scurried over to his daughter and placed gentle hands on her shoulders. "Have you submitted your name for the Warrior Hunt?"

Yunxi mirrored her father's puzzled expression. "Why would I do that, father? I don't even have any martial arts skills. Joining the Warrior Hunt is like throwing myself right at the sharp teeth of the beasts."

Jingyu didn't question her any further. He believed that Yunxi was not responsible for this chaos. Someone else had submitted her name.

"Is there any consideration for this?" Renshu asked the eunuch. "My cousin is not particularly skilled with any weapons. She would not survive in a place surrounded by dangerous beasts. Not to mention that she is a woman. The Warrior Hunt is an occasion reserved for noble men."

"I understand what you're trying to say," Xian said. "But rules cannot be changed. Her name is already engraved on the stone tablet, which has been approved by the Acting Emperor, thus her presence is expected."

"Are you saying we'll just let her go to her grave?" Yanlin exclaimed in disbelief.

Jue nodded in agreement with his brother's remark. His brows lowered in concern as he flicked a glance at Yunxi.

"This is unacceptable," Jingyu said. "There's no way I'd send my daughter to the hunting ground like a sacrificial lamb."

"Wait," Renshu said, a thoughtful look on his face. "As per the rules, participants may bring their own entourage. How about this: while my cousin will attend the hunting ceremony, she will not do the hunting herself. Is there a strict rule that prohibits a participant from seeking assistance in slaying a beast?"

Xian looked at him, his eyes expressionless. "There's not."

Renshu smiled. "If that's the case," he looked at Xiuying, "then my cousin will attend the Warrior Hunt, but someone else will hunt for her."

Xiuying met Renshu's eyes, and some sort of understanding was exchanged between them.

A smile worked its way on Wencheng's face. "Renshu, you are as thoughtful as you have always been."

Renshu smiled as he cupped his fists. "Thank you, Grandfather. I'm merely concerned about Third Sister. As the older brother of this residence, I should prioritize the safety of my younger brothers and sisters."

Wencheng nodded, pleased, then he looked at Xiuying. "Feiyu, as my third granddaughter's bodyguard, you are expected to act as her sword and shield."

"If something were to happen to my daughter," Jingyu said with a warning tone as he fixed a gaze at Xiuying, "I will hold you accountable." It was the first time Xiuying saw him wear such a frightening expression. He was usually a kind and benevolent man.

Xiuying placed her hands in front of her and bowed. "This servant understands. As the Third Young Lady's bodyguard, I will do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means risking my own life."