Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

"You have a good eye."

Xiao Fang helped her sit down on the roof ridge and lent her an arm to steady her.

"This is the best viewing platform in the entire capital; ordinary people can't come here."

The wind blew across the rooftop, carrying a hint of coolness from above, but it couldn't dispel the warmth he emanated.

Yun Shuyao suddenly understood why he liked to enjoy the scenery here.

This is a symbol of supreme imperial power and the place where the strictest rites and etiquette are observed.

Xiao Fang is someone who exists outside the rules.

"Look."

Xiao Fang pointed to the moon in the sky, his voice very soft.

"Does the moon look rounder from here than from elsewhere?"

She looked in the direction of his finger and saw that the moon was indeed big and bright, as if she could reach out and touch it.

Yun Shuyao tilted her head back, and the moonlight shone directly on her eyebrows and eyes, casting a faint shadow on her eyelashes.

Xiao Fang's gaze, which had been casual, suddenly became fixed on her lips.

The woman's lips were like cherries, bright red.

The surrounding scenery suddenly receded into the distance, and all he could see was that red color. Suddenly, his mouth went dry.

When Yun Shuyao turned to look at him, she felt that the light in his eyes was brighter than the moon.

A thin layer of sweat glistened on Xiao Fang's forehead, and the collar of his red robe was slightly open, revealing the tanned skin around his collarbone.

The beads of sweat slid down that outline, revealing an indescribable wildness.

Yun Shuyao tightened her grip on the handkerchief, a strange emotion rising in her heart.

Xiao Fang has long, slender eyebrows and slightly upturned phoenix eyes. When he smiles, he always seems to have a mischievous air about him, but the lines of his profile are exceptionally sharp.

She suddenly snapped out of her daze and realized she had been staring at someone for a long time. She quickly looked down at her shoes, but her ears felt hot, as if they had been exposed to the sun.

To cover up their awkwardness, the two of them brought up a lot of trivial topics.

They chatted absentmindedly for half an hour before Xiao Fang finally got up.

"It's getting chilly at night, let's go back."

On the way back, Yun Shuyao didn't close her eyes again.

The night breeze lifted her hair, which then wrapped around his neck.

As Xiao Fang lowered his head to avoid her, the tip of his nose brushed against her cheek, causing a slight tickle.

As she watched the houses below her grow smaller and smaller, and the streets resembled a luminous river, she suddenly realized what it felt like to see the world from a high vantage point.

Are you feeling dizzy?

Xiao Fang asked in a low voice, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"fine."

Yun Shuyao replied softly.

"It's just... a little shaky."

"Then hold me tighter."

As Xiao Fang spoke, he tightened his grip on Xiao Fang's arm.

When he landed, he placed Yun Shuyao on the windowsill, their fingertips still warm from each other.

"Is the view beautiful tonight?"

Xiao Fang spoke softly, the mischievous glint in his eyes returning.

"……good."

Yun Shuyao turned her head away, but couldn't help but smile slightly.

The man chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"If you want to see it later, I'll take you."

Yun Shuyao's heart skipped a beat. She was about to say "Who wants to go with you?" when she saw him leap onto the courtyard wall.

He left only the words "I'll come find you again tomorrow night" before disappearing into the night.

Yun Shuyao sat on the windowsill, touching her burning cheeks, looking in the direction he disappeared. Suddenly, she realized that habit is indeed a terrible thing.

However, Xiao Fang's outburst dispelled most of the gloom in my heart.

The next day, news spread throughout Kyoto.

Su Yuyan, the most sought-after courtesan of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and the legitimate daughter of the former steward, will have her virginity auctioned off in two days.

Upon hearing this news, Marquis Gu Yan of Yong'an immediately summoned Gu Jinghuai to his study.

"Your wedding is just around the corner, you're not allowed to continue your entanglement with Su Yuyan!"

Gu Jinghuai's eyes flickered, and he did not answer immediately.

Gu Yan suddenly raised his voice and reprimanded:

"Did you hear me!"

"I...I heard it."

Although Gu Jinghuai didn't dare to openly refute him, his tone still revealed a hint of reluctance.

Gu Yan didn't want to waste any more words; he felt annoyed just looking at his son!

"Remember this, don't say your father didn't warn you."

"Yes, Father."

The child who was fine before, why do I find him increasingly unpleasant to look at?

"Go, go, go quickly."

Gu Yan's impatience was no longer concealed.

The rapidly waving arm looked like it was shooing away a pesky fly.

Gu Jinghuai clenched his fists secretly, but could only give a proper bow before turning to leave.

As Gu Jinghuai reached the corner of the corridor, he bumped into his half-brother Gu Jingming heading to the study.

Gu Jingming was handsome with delicate features, and his tall and straight figure was accentuated by his moon-white long robe.

He held a newly written article in his hands, the edges of the pages still smelling of ink.

"Brother, did you just come out of Father's study?"

Gu Jingming spoke first, his voice carrying a hint of deliberate warmth.

That unabashed gaze swept over Gu Jinghuai's face, as if he were sizing him up.

Gu Jinghuai was too lazy to socialize, so he just snorted and started to walk around.

He despised his half-brother from the bottom of his heart. It was one thing for him to run rampant in the mansion because of his birth mother's favor.

Yet he always puts on a gentle and refined demeanor, while secretly he is constantly struggling with himself.

The ambition in those eyes couldn't be hidden.

"Brother, don't be in such a hurry to leave."

Gu Jingming stepped aside to block him, waving the article in his hand.

"I just wrote a policy essay, which I was about to present to my father for his review."

My father praised my handwriting a few days ago, saying he would personally instruct me on brushstroke techniques.

These words were like a needle, precisely piercing Gu Jinghuai's sore spot.

He was expected to achieve great things from a young age, but even his calligraphy was inferior to that of his half-brother.

His father has become increasingly cold towards him in recent years, while he often speaks gently to Gu Jingming.

The way the servants in the mansion looked at him gradually changed.

"What does it have to do with me?"

Gu Jinghuai's voice was cold and hard, and a vein was throbbing faintly on his forehead.

Gu Jingming seemed oblivious to the displeasure in his tone, and instead smiled even more gently.

"What's wrong, brother? You don't look well."

Did your father scold you again?

Indeed, my elder brother is having a lot of bad luck these days, and it's understandable that my father is worried.

Unlike me, I can please my father simply by studying diligently every day.

He paused, took a half-step closer, and lowered his voice.

"Speaking of which, I think I heard quite a commotion coming from my father's study just now."

"Elder brother, you must be careful and not cause Father any more trouble, lest..."

"Shut up!"

Gu Jinghuai abruptly interrupted him, his face terribly gloomy.

The implication in Gu Jingming's words couldn't be clearer.

If he displeases his father again, the position of heir apparent may change hands.

Seeing that he was angry, Gu Jingming's smile deepened, but he pretended to be innocent and took a half step back.

"Brother, please calm down. I misspoke."

My father is still waiting for me, so I'll go ahead now.

Having said that, he held the article, gracefully walked past Gu Jinghuai, and entered the study with light steps.

Just before entering, he glanced back, his smugness almost overflowing.

Gu Jinghuai stood there, his chest heaving violently, as if Gu Jingming's sarcastic tone was still echoing in his ears.

The wind under the eaves ruffled his robes, but it couldn't dispel the anger and panic in his heart.

He stared at the closed door of the study, then looked down at his empty clenched hands, a chill creeping up from the soles of his feet.

The things he cared about, the things he took for granted, seemed to be drifting away from him one by one...

The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

Xiao Fang, taking advantage of the early morning hour just as Yun Shuyao finished washing up, climbed through the window into her boudoir for the first time during the day.