Sixty years of blacksmithing, a single hammer blow forging a celestial being.

Zhang Yi was still angry.

"No, no, no, Prince Zhang, please don't say that. He saved me. I can sense that he and that man in black are not working together."

Lin Yao pleaded.

"This…"

Zhang Yi hesitated. Normally, given his personality, he would never let this matter go, but with his beloved pleading for him, he couldn't bring himself to say no.

"Alright, Yao Yao, I'll let it go for your sake."

After saying that, he glanced at Li Ping'an and shoved him hard. However, Li Ping'an did not move at all, but Zhang Yi was pushed back a step by the rebounding force.

Zhang Yi's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, but he still nonchalantly raised his hand.

"Get lost, and don't let me ever see you again."

Li Ping'an was too lazy to argue with a mere mortal and turned to leave.

The news that Li Ping'an had saved the princess at the garden party spread like wildfire throughout the capital city in less than a day.

The Imperial Palace, the Council Chamber.

The middle-aged man with a long, flowing beard frowned as he looked at the report in his hand.

He is none other than the current emperor of the Great Xia Kingdom, the King of Great Xia.

"Yaoyao, why don't you stay home and rest for a few days instead of leaving the palace for the next couple of days?"

The King of Great Xia looked at Lin Yao with some concern.

"No need, Father, I'm fine now."

Lin Yao sat at the council table, her face calm, as if the events of the past two days had no effect on her.

"That's fine then."

The King of Great Xia nodded, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"Although these two people are hateful, they served as a wake-up call for me."

"Yaoyao, although you haven't officially entered politics yet, you have good qualities, and now many people are starting to pay attention to you, and there's this public opinion. I think it's necessary to arrange someone to be specifically responsible for your safety."

Lin Yao was a little unhappy when she heard this, and pouted.

"Father, I've already told you, that person wasn't putting on a show. He really saved me. Why don't you all believe me?"

The emperor smiled and waved his hand.

"Very well, if it's not just a show, wouldn't it be even more dangerous? And with this precedent, more people will follow suit. I'll pass on the decree to General Zhao right away and have him make the arrangements."

Lin Yao looked troubled.

"No need. I'm just a princess now, not some great general. It would be so strange to have a bodyguard by my side... What would the ministers think of me?"

"No, this is non-negotiable. You are the most talked-about princess in our Great Cheng Kingdom these past two years."

"With so much public opinion these days, it's hard to guarantee that someone won't try to ride the wave of popularity one day. There are all kinds of people in this world. You can't even imagine what those hiding in the shadows might do."

The emperor's attitude was resolute, and his tone exuded an unquestionable authority.

Then he gave a wry smile.

"Besides, if something really happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to your mother? She talked to me about this all day yesterday, it's giving her a headache..."

"All right…"

Judging from her father's tone, Lin Yao knew there was no room for negotiation. But the thought of having someone follow her around in the palace every day gave her a headache.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, as if she had thought of something, and she abruptly raised her head.

"Father, I can reluctantly agree to this request! But you must also grant me one request."

The emperor shook his head helplessly.

"I really can't do anything with you, fine... you tell me, as long as it's not too outrageous and doesn't violate any principles..."

"Don't worry, Father, this request is very simple..."

Lin Yao chuckled and said mysteriously.

"Exactly... this guard, we need to use people we found ourselves!"

Upon hearing Lin Yao's request, the emperor paused, then stroked his chin and pondered for a moment.

"It's possible... but Yao Yao, are you sure you can find the right person?"

"Of course, think about it, it would be so strange for a girl like me to be with a complete stranger every day. I wouldn't be able to stand it. It's more reliable for me to choose myself."

"Alright."

The emperor nodded.

"But let me make this clear first: the people you choose must be brought here for me to vet. If they don't pass my test, then they'll have to obediently follow my instructions."

"Don't worry, it's absolutely reliable!"

Lin Yao looked very confident.

The emperor chuckled inwardly. What could this little brat possibly find? Just some good-looking young men; they're utterly unreliable when it really matters. If they can't get past me, they'll have to obey my orders.

……

The afterglow of the setting sun scattered across the palace walls as Li Ping'an casually tossed aside the empty wine bottle he had just finished drinking.

Counting the days, this is the third day since I arrived in the Great Xia Kingdom.

For the past three days, Li Ping'an has been searching everywhere, but he has been unable to find any news about Zhao Wuji.

As I was walking, I suddenly heard a clear and melodious girl's voice.

"What are you doing here! I've been looking for you in the palace all morning. I thought you had left the capital!"

The girl's voice was full of joy as she looked at Li Ping'an with delight.

Li Ping'an stood there stunned for a long time. He felt that the girl in front of him looked very familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen her before.

"Who are you…"

"I'm Lin Yao, the Lin Yao who showed you the way at the last amusement park. Don't you remember me?"

"Lin Yao... Oh, I remember you."

Li Ping'an immediately recalled the princess with a charming smile, wearing a light yellow silk robe and a swallowtail-shaped hairpin.

She left a deep impression on Li Ping'an, but today she was wearing a light green off-shoulder dress and had her long hair down, which was completely different from the image he had seen that day, so he didn't recognize her at first.

"Did you need something from me?"

Lin Yao looked Li Ping'an up and down and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Why are you still wearing this? Look, it's all dirty..."

He pointed to the dust on Li Ping'an's Taoist robe as he spoke.

Li Ping'an felt a little embarrassed. Although it was common for someone like him to have dust on his clothes because he often ate outdoors, it was still a bit awkward for such a pretty girl to say it.

Little did he know that Lin Yao meant that such clothes shouldn't be allowed to get dirty so easily, not that he was sloppy.

"Come on, I'll take you somewhere else."

Li Ping'an was led by Lin Yao to a secluded garden. It was midday, and the sun was blazing.

The two strolled aimlessly under the shade of the trees. Lin Yao remained silent, kicking at the pebbles beside the path.

Li Ping'an couldn't stay calm any longer. What kind of situation was this, with a man and a woman alone together?

"Your Highness, what brings you here? Just say it here."

Lin Yao glanced at Li Ping'an discreetly. She had originally planned a very good scheme, but when it came to actually saying it, she felt it was a bit absurd, so she hesitated for a long time without speaking.

"Um... Senior Li, I haven't thanked you yet for saving me that day."

Li Ping'an said solemnly:

"Rescuing people in distress is our duty."

Hearing Li Ping'an's serious words, Lin Yao chuckled.

"Senior, do you really know martial arts?"

Li Ping'an was taken aback. He was a cultivator, and perhaps he had used some techniques that day, which led Lin Yao to mistake him for a martial arts master.