After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

Its daybreak.

Xie Qinglan hadn't slept all night, her eyes were slightly dark, but her face remained calm and indifferent.

The maidservants brought breakfast according to the time: a plate of crispy, fragrant flatbread with ice cream, a dish from the Northern Shuo region; and a bowl of plain porridge with pickled cucumbers, a dish from the Southern Yue region.

Xie Qinglan sat down and ate a small bowl of congee, then casually asked, "Was this ordered by the palace?"

The maid bowed with her eyes lowered and said, "Reporting to the Prime Minister, it was arranged by higher authorities."

Xie Qinglan didn't press further—the Beishuo Post Station didn't have a rule of preparing local delicacies for foreign officials; he knew who was behind it.

Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), a middle-aged eunuch dressed in a crimson palace attendant's robe entered the courtyard. He was fair-skinned and beardless, with a smile on his face, and his steps were extremely light—it was Gao An, the chief eunuch in charge of Xiao Jingyuan's household affairs. In his previous life, he had taken care of all the daily life of Lan Yue Pavilion.

"Your servant Gao An greets Prime Minister Xie."

Xie Qinglan's eyes flickered slightly, but she quickly suppressed them and stood under the eaves to accept his greeting.

Gao An bowed and proclaimed the imperial decree: "His Majesty decrees: The envoy from Nanyue has rendered meritorious service in escorting the princess to the marriage alliance and has performed his duties diligently. He is hereby bestowed with a jade wine pot, ten bolts of cloud brocade, and a mutton-fat jade pendant to recognize his hard work."

To be conscientious and dedicated to one's duties is a testament to hard work.

Upon hearing these eight words, Xie Qinglan felt a bittersweet feeling welling up inside her.

"Prime Minister?" Gao An called out again in a low voice when he saw that he did not respond for a while.

Xie Qinglan snapped out of his daze and bowed to receive the imperial decree: "Your subject Xie Qinglan thanks Your Majesty for the reward."

Gao An gestured to the young eunuch to place the gifts on the table in the corridor, then took out a folded book from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "The handover of all matters concerning the marriage alliance has been completed, and Consort Ning has been settled in Chang Le Palace. According to the regulations of the dynasty, once the mission of the envoy is accomplished, a date should be chosen for his return home. This is the itinerary proposed by the Ministry of Rites. Your Majesty requests that the Prime Minister review it. If there are no objections, the envoy may depart for Nanyue in three days."

Xie Qinglan took the folded page; the paper still had the scent of fresh ink.

Turning to the very last line, a neat and upright official script reads: "Envoy Xie Qinglan of Mount Heng, leading the delegation to return home within three days."

The strokes are neat and rigid, all cold and hard, completely businesslike, without a trace of personal feelings.

He closed the book and said calmly, "Understood. Set off in three days to return and report back."

"This servant takes his leave." Gao An bowed again and quietly led his men out.

The courtyard gate creaked shut, and the courtyard returned to silence.

Xie Qinglan picked up the book again, opened it, closed it, and opened it again. The pages rustled as they turned, but not a single word of pleading remained.

In his previous life, at this time, he would have been forcibly kept in the palace, not even allowed to visit the post station. Later, he managed to escape, which enraged the man, who carried him all the way back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, subjected him to a brutal ordeal, and then groveled and coaxed him, racking his brains to keep him.

Now, all he has to do is offer him a pot of wine, a few bolts of silk, and a jade pendant, and he's sent back to Nanyue.

Xie Qinglan placed the lost book on the table and slowly walked to the tray.

At a glance, one can see a jade pendant lying on the moon-white brocade. The mutton-fat jade is as delicate as solidified fat, and the sunlight falling on it creates a soft glow.

Xie Qinglan's pupils suddenly contracted, and her fingertips hovered in mid-air for a long while before gently pinching her skin. Her jade-like body was chilled by the spring cold, but when pressed against her palm, it slowly radiated warmth.

He suddenly flipped over to his back.

A single, engraved character, "澜" (Lan), caught the eye. The strokes were bold and unrestrained, carrying a reckless and ruthless energy—it was Xiao Jingyuan's handwriting. The engraving was still fresh, with extremely fine jade shavings clinging to the edges, clearly indicating that the carving had only been done recently.

The moment my fingertip got stuck in the engraving, the springtime scene in the room shattered instantly.

The heavy snow fell down on him, and the crackling sound of charcoal fire filled his ears—it was the second birthday of his previous life, when he was imprisoned in the Moon-Gazing Pavilion during the dead of winter.

In the depths of winter, snow fell for three days straight in the northern region, blanketing the sky and the earth in white. The windows of the Lanyue Pavilion were covered with paper so tightly that no air could get in, and the silver charcoal inside burned brightly, warming one's fingertips until they felt heavy.

Xie Qinglan was leaning against the window, flipping through a book, when she suddenly heard a soft clatter of roof tiles outside the courtyard, and her brows furrowed.

This is the third time Xiao Jingyuan has climbed over the courtyard wall tonight.

Sure enough, before half a cup of tea had been brewed, the back window creaked open, and a person covered in snow crawled in. Their black cloak was covered in snowflakes, even their brow was speckled with white, making them look like a snow mastiff.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Xiao Jingyuan shook off the snow covering his body, casually tossed his cloak onto the chair, strode over, and tried to press himself against him, his body radiating coldness.

Xie Qinglan put down her book, raised her hand to his chest, and said coldly, "So you can do whatever you want to me now that I'm asleep?"

"Even if you're awake, I'll still do whatever I want." Xiao Jingyuan grabbed his wrist, grinned, and leaned closer. His other hand reached down to his waist and into his clothes, but Xie Qinglan slapped it away.

"My hands are cold." Xie Qinglan frowned even more.

"I brought you something nice." Xiao Jingyuan stopped pestering him, took out a brocade box from his pocket and handed it over, his eyes shining like shattered stars. "Qinglan, happy birthday."

Xie Qinglan glanced down at it but didn't take it: "No need."

Xiao Jingyuan pretended not to hear, grabbed his hand and pressed the brocade box inside, his fingertips brushing against his slightly cool wrist bone, his tone hiding a hint of undisguised smugness: "Open it and take a look."

"You're just sending useless things." He complained, but his fingertips still lifted the lid of the box.

Inside the box lay a mutton-fat jade pendant, its translucent texture warm to the touch. Xie Qinglan remained outwardly calm, but a slight stirring ran through her heart—this man used to send gifts as if he could bring the entire national treasury to Lan Yue Pavilion, piling gold, silver, pearls, and jade all over the table. This jade pendant, though precious, was remarkably simple, clearly chosen with care.

He ran his fingertips along the jade surface, then flipped it over. The slightly crooked yet powerfully carved character "澜" caught his eye, and his fingertips suddenly paused.

"This was left by my mother before she passed away. She said that when you meet the person you love most, you should give it to him." Xiao Jingyuan whispered in his ear, his voice low and husky, with a roguish smile. "I personally engraved your name on it. You can't give it to anyone else, even if you don't accept it."

"If you accept the items that your mother left for you, you are now mine."

"Who's your person?" Xie Qinglan's ears instantly burned, and she raised her hand to shove the jade pendant back. "I don't want it."

Xiao Jingyuan pretended not to hear, grabbed his waist to stop him from moving, and bent down to tie the knot of the jade pendant.

It took her three or four tries to fasten it properly. She even tugged at it at the last minute, looked up at him, and smiled brightly: "It's done. From now on, wear it every day, and don't take it off."

Xie Qinglan snorted coldly: "I'll pick them later."

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his head and gently bit the tip of his burning ear, his tone languid: "Qinglan, you're so cruel. Tonight, I'll make you so weak you can't even lift your hand, let's see how you'll pick it then."

The rest of the words were mixed with his hot breath, falling on her neck and seeping into her clothes. Xie Qinglan stiffened as he was pulled into his arms, his burning body temperature mixed with the familiar scent of ambergris enveloping her.

That night, the commotion lasted until late into the night. The next day, Xiao Jingyuan left for the morning court session. Xie Qinglan sat in front of the bronze mirror, her fingertips tracing the engravings on the jade pendant. After hesitating for a long time, she finally took it off and put it deep inside her dressing case.

The snow's gleam suddenly faded.

Xie Qinglan snapped back to reality. The jade pendant in her palm was warm from her body heat, and the sharp edges of the engravings pressed against her fingertips, the sensation exactly the same as in her previous life.

This jade pendant was a keepsake from Xiao Jingyuan's mother, and its significance is extraordinary. The fact that he engraved his name on it shows his feelings haven't changed. Yet his actions are so contradictory—if he engraved the jade, why didn't he deliver it personally?

In his past life, that man was reckless and imprisoned people; he was someone you'd want to keep close to your heart forever. But in this life, he's playing the role of a virtuous gentleman. Rewards, repatriation, avoidance… what exactly is this bastard Xiao Jingyuan up to?

He was usually calm and composed, but this person had stirred up his restlessness. He stared blankly at the jade pendant in his fingers until dusk crept in through the window, then tied the pendant to his waist, ate his evening meal, washed and changed his clothes, and went to bed.

I didn't sleep a wink last night, and then I strained myself all day to stay awake. Finally, weariness crept over me, and my consciousness slowly sank into darkness.

What you think about during the day, you dream about at night.