His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

A dirty figure was squatting under the corner of a banquet table by the roadside, reaching for half a roast chicken that hadn't been finished. The movement was light and quick, clearly not the first time he had done this.

Yun Yihe stopped beside her, looking down at her and asked, "What are you doing?"

The man froze abruptly and slowly turned his head.

He looked like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy.

The boy was covered in dust and dirt, wearing a faded old shirt, with half a chicken leg dangling from his mouth. When he saw Yun Yihe, his eyes flickered with panic for a moment, but he stubbornly refused to let go of the chicken leg.

Yun Yihe grabbed his collar and lifted him up like a chick.

After examining it closely, he said with considerable disdain, "Where did this little beggar come from, daring to come to my Cloud City to steal things?"

The boy was suspended in mid-air, his feet off the ground, swaying back and forth, looking both pathetic and comical.

Even so, he held onto the chicken leg tightly in his mouth, refusing to let go for a second.

With his cheeks bulging out, how could he still have the appetite?

Yun Yihe raised an eyebrow at this unrepentant look.

Having lived for so many years, ruling Cloud City and holding a high position, he was used to seeing the awe and fawning of all living beings.

It's rare to find someone who can remain so calm even after being caught stealing by him.

Isn't this a form of provocation?

A hint of amusement crept into Yun Yihe's eyes.

He held the boy's collar with one hand, not with much force, yet the boy couldn't break free at all. His voice carried a hint of drunken languor, yet also concealed a condescending oppressiveness.

"You've got some nerve, stealing my Cloud City's banquet."

As soon as he finished speaking, the boy being carried finally swallowed the chicken in his mouth.

She raised her dark, bright eyes and looked directly into his.

His eyes were clear yet wild, showing no fear or pleading, but rather a righteous and arrogant arrogance.

The boy mumbled, "Isn't today a banquet with everyone eating? The food is laid out on the table, so why is it considered stealing when it comes to me?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Yihe was so angry that he laughed.

What a domineering and twisted logic.

The entire banquet in Cloud City was set up for the wedding guests.

Ordinary people can sit down, but only those who are residents of Cloud City are allowed to.

This little thing that appeared out of nowhere, hiding under the table to steal food, and still dares to argue!

"Oh?"

Yun Yihe leaned slightly closer.

A warm breath swept across the boy's dirty cheeks.

"According to you, my palace is filled with countless treasures, displayed in the outer room. Does that mean anyone can take them at will?"

The boy's eyes darted around, showing no fear of his imposing presence.

"A banquet is meant to be a celebration, not something for your personal use."

"How is it wrong for me to eat a few bites of leftovers?"

These words left Yun Yihe speechless for a moment.

He stared at the dusty little thing in front of him, and the loneliness and desolation in his heart strangely dissipated at that moment.

The desolation of the bustling city and the dim lights of every home that I had just witnessed has quietly faded away.

This little thing is wild, stubborn, and incredibly good at arguing.

That's really interesting.

Yun Yihe tightened his grip on her slightly.

"Sharp-tongued and quick-witted."

"My mood is still good today, so I will not hold your theft against you."

"Judging from your appearance, you are obviously of unknown origin. You dare to trespass into my Cloud City. I need to investigate you thoroughly. If you have any other impure motives, I will not let you off easily."

Upon hearing this, the girl's eyelids twitched, and she finally showed a slight panic, but she still refused to back down and stubbornly held on.

"I just came in to take a look around, I don't know what this place is."

Yun Yihe had no reason to believe her story.

Cloud City is heavily guarded, with layers of barriers sealing it off.

Ordinary, idle people cannot even get close to the foot of the mountain.

This dirty little fellow somehow managed to sneak into Cloud City without anyone noticing. Judging from the looks of it, he must have been here for quite some time...

He didn't bother arguing with her and simply took her away.

The boy immediately struggled, flailing his limbs wildly.

"Where are you taking me? Let me go!"

She was extremely weak, and her struggles were like a kitten scratching an itch to Yun Yihe, posing no threat whatsoever.

Yun Yihe carried her back to the clan as easily as if she were a chick, and headed towards the main hall.

The night wind rustled by, lifting the corner of his clothes.

The boy in her arms continued to writhe and struggle, shouting, "Let me go! Arresting someone in broad daylight! Is there no law anymore?"

"Fine, I won't eat your food anymore, just let me go!"

Yun Yihe ignored him, his steps steady as he walked across the long red carpet.

The guards on duty along the way were all shocked.

On this joyous day, why did the Lord bring back a little beggar?

But no one dared to say a word, and they all bowed their heads and gave way, so they made their way back to the main hall that belonged to the lord without any hindrance.

The magnificent palace, with its carved beams and painted rafters, was covered in gold and jade, and was extremely beautiful.

The contrast between the boy's worn-out and dirty clothes and his clothes was extremely jarring.

Yun Yihe casually closed the palace door, shutting out all the noise and bustle outside.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Only the boy's soft breathing remained.

Yun Yihe looked down at the person he was carrying.

His body was covered in filth, his hair was disheveled, and his face was a dark mess, making it impossible to see his original appearance.

The once clean and elegant hall was now somewhat stained by her.

It's an eyesore.

Yun Yihe frowned deeply, his face full of disgust: "How can you be so unhygienic at such a young age?"

After saying this, without waiting for the boy to object, he carried him straight to the clear pool behind the hall.

This pool of water is a sacred spring, clear and bright year-round, specially used for cleansing and purifying. The water temperature is just right, and it is clean and pure.

Yun Yihe was utterly devoid of gentleness.

He lifted his hand, released it, and then pressed it down again.

With a "thump".

The boy was pushed directly into the pool.

The icy spring water instantly soaked his entire body, and the boy choked on it, thrashing about in a panic.

"What are you doing? Let me go!"

She struggled desperately to surface.

But Yun Yihe's hand firmly gripped the back of her neck, his strength restrained to the point of no resistance, pressing her firmly into the water.

"Behave yourself, wash up before you speak."

His tone was calm, but his actions were very forceful.

"You're crazy, are you sick in the head?"

The boy cursed loudly, but was then pushed back into the water. This was repeated several times, forcing him to drink several mouthfuls of water. He dared not open his mouth to speak again.

Until the mud covering her head and face dissolved with the spring water, and the black ash gradually faded away with the water, revealing her fair and delicate skin underneath.

The messy, matted hair was completely washed away by the spring water, leaving it long, black, and smooth, spreading out on the water's surface.

Her originally thin and frail figure was now outlined by the wet clothes clinging to her body.

This isn't some skinny young man at all; it's clearly a slender woman!

Yun Yihe paused, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He actually brought a girl back with him?

He subconsciously loosened his grip and slightly withdrew his strength.

In that very moment when he was lost in thought...

The girl in the water broke free of her restraints and quickly raised her hand to slap him.

"Snapped!"

A crisp, loud slap landed squarely on Yun Yihe's handsome, aloof profile.

Yun Yihe froze on the spot, a clear numbness and pain coming from his cheek.

He slowly turned his head, the languid playfulness in his eyes fading away, replaced by astonishment and disbelief.

Apart from that madman Xiaoyuer, no other woman has ever dared to hit him!

Yun Yihe lowered his eyes and looked at the girl in the pool.

The young girl, Su Xi, floated halfway in the clear spring, her long hair wet and clinging to her shoulders. The clear water washed away the dust, revealing a delicate and petite face.

Her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, her nose was straight and upturned, her lips were light in color, but her appearance was exceptionally outstanding.

But those eyes held no trace of gentleness.

It was filled with ferocity, stubbornness, and a strong sense of defensiveness, like a little wildcat that had been driven to the brink of despair and raised its quills.

Even when in a disadvantageous position, we will never bow our heads and admit defeat.

His eyes were frighteningly fierce.

Su Xi was panting heavily, glaring coldly at him.

He showed no fear after beating the person; on the contrary, he was full of confidence.

"What right do you have to bully people like this? What right do you have to push me into the water!"

Yun Yihe raised his hand and gently stroked the side of his face where he had been hit. His fingertips touched the skin, and there was still a faint pain.

He stared at the fierce-looking girl in front of him, feeling no anger at all, but rather a surge of excitement and anticipation.

It's been a long time since I've encountered something this interesting.

A smile slowly spread across Yun Yihe's eyes, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

He leaned down, looking down at the girl in the water, his voice deep and magnetic, with a hint of amusement: "You've got some nerve. You're the second person in the world who dares to hit me."

Su Xi wasn't afraid at all. She raised her chin and glared at him fiercely, saying, "So what if I hit you? You were the one who started it!"

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

"Do whatever you want, I don't want to stay in this lousy place for even a day longer."

Seeing her stubborn and unyielding demeanor, Yun Yihe's interest grew even stronger. He wasn't in a hurry to pursue the matter, but slowly asked, "What's your name?"

Su Xi's eyes flickered, and she quickly avoided his gaze, her guard extremely high: "It's none of your business."

"Where do you come from? How did you manage to trespass into my Cloud City?"

Seeing that she remained silent, he chuckled, his tone tinged with danger: "Won't talk? No problem. From the moment you hit me, you're not leaving."

Su Xi's pupils contracted, her face filled with vigilance: "What do you want to do?"

Yun Yihe: "You think you can get away unscathed after hitting me? There's no such thing as a free lunch. From now on, you'll stay here and pay the price for tonight's slap!"

Keeping such a thorny little creature around doesn't seem so bad.

"you……"

Su Xi clenched her fist, forcing herself to calm down: "What will it take for you to let me go?"

"Stay put."

Yun Yihe chuckled softly and then turned to leave.

He then instructed his maid to bring her clean clothes and temporarily confined her to the room.

Early the next morning.

After finishing his business, Yun Yihe was preparing to have breakfast with Yun Wangshu and Feng Xingyu.

He had just stepped out of the main hall when he suddenly paused, remembering that there was someone locked up next door.

He changed direction and walked towards the side hall.

As I pushed open the door, sunlight streamed in obliquely through the window, casting a warm, golden glow on the floor.

Su Xi had already changed into the dress brought by the maid. The simple light blue dress made her look clean and refreshing, completely different from the disheveled little beggar she had been the night before.

Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her features were exceptionally clear in the sunlight, possessing an unadorned, wild beauty.

Yun Yihe leaned against the door frame, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

The little girl is quite well-behaved when she's not talking.

When Su Xi saw the door open, her eyes lit up instantly, as if she had seized an opportunity.

Without saying a word, she rushed towards the door at lightning speed, like a little rabbit that had been waiting all night for its chance.

Without even lifting his eyelids, Yun Yihe reached out and precisely grabbed her waist, pulling her back from mid-air.

"Behave yourself."

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, carrying a hint of laziness.

Su Xi was held tightly in his arms. She struggled a couple of times with her hands and feet, but couldn't break free. Just as she was about to curse, her stomach let out a long and loud rumble.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Su Xi was quite embarrassed, and a blush rose on her cheeks.

There's no way around it; food is essential for life, and you'll get hungry if you skip a meal.

Yun Yihe glanced down at her, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved up, with an obvious hint of mockery.

He released her and gestured with his chin toward the door: "Bring some food."

A moment later, a maid brought in a bowl of hot porridge, two plates of delicate side dishes, and a plate of shrimp dumplings, placed them on the table, and then quietly withdrew.

Su Xi stared at the steaming food and swallowed hard.

Since she transmigrated here, she has never had a full meal.

This wretched place is impossible to escape, and it's fraught with unknown dangers. She can only disguise herself as a beggar and try to figure out what kind of place this is before making any plans.

As a result, this person caught me and brought me here.

A man with red eyes.

She had once met one who was a couple with that silver-haired woman.

They have a daughter, and she even took photos of them.

I wonder if she has any connection with this red-eyed man in front of her?

Yun Yihe sat down opposite her, resting his chin on his hand, and looked at her leisurely: "Not eating?"

"You'd be that kind?"

He locked her up here last night because she secretly ate a chicken leg, so why is he being so generous by bringing her food today?

"Fine, don't eat it then."

Yun Yihe made a move to get up and instruct the maid to remove the food, but Su Xi quickly stopped him, saying, "I'll eat."

If we don't eat it, we'll be wasting our time. Only when we're full will we have the strength to escape.

She sat down, picked up the bowl, and took a big gulp.

The moment the hot porridge entered her stomach, her eyelashes trembled.

good to eat.

He picked up another shrimp dumpling and stuffed it into his mouth, enjoying it immensely.

Yun Yihe leaned back in his chair, watching her wolf down her food, a hint of interest in his eyes that even he himself didn't realize.

This feeling is even sweeter than eating by himself.

When she finished the last shrimp dumpling and the porridge in her bowl was almost empty, he suddenly spoke slowly: "I forgot to tell you, I poisoned the porridge."

Su Xi's movements suddenly froze.

She looked up at him, her eyes widening suddenly.

Looking at her shocked and angry expression, Yun Yihe couldn't help but laugh out loud, his shoulders shaking with laughter: "What, weren't you fearless of death?"

"..."

Su Xi slowly put down her chopsticks.

She swallowed all the food in her mouth, then picked up the bowl of porridge and stood up.

Yun Yihe leaned back in his chair, raised an eyebrow, and looked at her fierce expression, a disdainful smile playing on his lips: "Judging by your posture, you still want to force-feed me?"

Su Xi did not answer.

She walked step by step towards him, carrying the bowl, and did something that he never expected.