Mu Yunhe stopped in his tracks.

He heard Bai Fanlu say again, “If Brother Mu wins this round, I will take off my bamboo hat and let Brother Mu see my face. How about this bet? Is it worth taking another gamble?”

“Are you serious?” Mu Yunhe asked, his feet unconsciously moving back.

“Of course, I’m serious!” Bai Fanlu nodded.

“Alright! A gentleman’s word is his bond!” Mu Yunhe sat back down. “Anyway, I have nothing left to lose. Even if you strip me naked, you won’t see anything. Since you’ve put it this way, I might as well go all in and gamble with you one last time!”

Bai Fanlu was drinking tea, and almost spat it out when he heard Mu Yunhe’s bold declaration.

“Cough… cough! Brother Mu, you truly are spirited. Then please, go ahead!”

He pushed the wine jar toward Mu Yunhe, signaling for him to take the initiative.

Mu Yunhe didn’t decline, but since this round was crucial, he calmed himself down to think carefully.

After placing his things properly, Bai Fanlu did not immediately reveal the answer.

“This item seems to hold some weight in Brother Mu’s heart. Let me ponder it for a moment…”

As Bai Fanlu spoke, he suddenly changed the subject and casually asked Mu Yunhe, “We just mentioned the second reason. Does Brother Mu still have the interest to hear it?”

Although Mu Yunhe was nervous, his curiosity got the better of him, and he naturally replied yes. However, his eyes were still fixed on the wine jar, fearing that Bai Fanlu might try to cheat.

But Bai Fanlu’s attention seemed to have shifted from the item under the wine jar. He slightly turned his head to face the window.

“My father once warned me not to let others see my face unless absolutely necessary. But he never mentioned the second reason. Until a young lady insisted on seeing my face and used various means to threaten me. Helpless, I had to let her have her way.”

At this point, Bai Fanlu suddenly paused.

Mu Yunhe, who was listening intently, hurriedly asked, “Why did you stop? What happened next?”

“Next… she was so frightened that she fainted.”

“What?”

Hearing the shock in his voice, Bai Fanlu couldn’t help but laugh. “Fool, I was just teasing you!”

“…”

“But I imagine my appearance must be quite rough and unsightly, which is why my father warned me. So, Brother Mu, you’d better be careful later and try not to faint.”

“That’s impossible! Your father surely didn’t mean it that way, stop talking nonsense.”

Without thinking, Mu Yunhe objected. He instinctively felt that Bai Fanlu couldn’t look frightening; in fact, he probably looked rather good.

Bai Fanlu pretended to sigh and said, “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I should focus on guessing what Brother Mu has placed under the jar.”

He then propped his chin with one hand and gently tapped the table with his index and middle fingers, as if lost in thought.

Ding… ding… ding…

The sound from the item under the jar echoed with his tapping. To others, it might have seemed like he was simply thinking, but Bai Fanlu was actually identifying the material.

Moreover, the noise Mu Yunhe made while hurriedly searching for the item, hesitating to place it down…

Bai Fanlu’s thoughts gradually became clearer, and he continued tapping unconsciously.

The rich fragrance of wine spread with his movements, slowly filling the atmosphere with a subtle change as they both fell silent.

Mu Yunhe watched his hand and listened to the rhythm, when suddenly, a clear and youthful laugh echoed in his mind.

“Senior Brother! I went down the mountain again today, and I brought you something good!”

“…”

“Look, a pair of jade pendants.”

The blooming pear blossoms shone brightly, enveloping the two figures in a sea of white.

Mu Yunhe was momentarily dazed, unsure of reality.

Across from him, it seemed like the person was smiling. Though veiled, that smile felt as if it outshone even the beauty of spring.

He really must be quite good-looking, Mu Yunhe thought.

“Brother Mu, under this wine jar should be your jade pendant. Am I correct?”

Mu Yunhe was still lost in that faint smile, feeling as if he was slightly drunk. Otherwise, why did he see Bai Fanlu pick up the jade pendant and subconsciously want to snatch it back, yet his body didn’t respond?

“Brother Mu probably wouldn’t want to lose his pants to me, so this jade pendant must be the last thing you have, right? Then it’s mine now?”

Bai Fanlu’s low laughter reached Mu Yunhe’s ears, full of teasing.

Before leaving, Bai Fanlu even took a few coins from the bag Mu Yunhe lost and handed them to the innkeeper as a hush money, leaving the rest on the table.

In fact, his goal from the beginning was just one thing, but it’s a pity that a certain fool didn’t realize it.

Thus, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted from inside the Lingbo Tower.

“Lu Linqiu! You… you… you’re too cunning! You’ve infuriated me! Give me back my jade!”

Everyone in Hengchang turned to look. If they said the little prince Mu Yunhe feared nothing—not even his mother—there were three things he treasured the most.

The third was wine, and the second was his jade pendant.

Mu Yunhe chased after Bai Fanlu, “When are you going to give me back my jade?”

“Brother Mu’s jade?” Bai Fanlu glanced sideways. “Since you lost it to me, how could you ask for it back?”

Mu Yunhe hurriedly said, “I was drunk and lost it by accident, so it doesn’t count!”

Bai Fanlu’s tone turned cold, “Oh? So Brother Mu is someone who can’t afford to lose and goes back on his word? Very well! I must have misjudged you—”

As he spoke, he made a move to retrieve something from his bosom. Mu Yunhe quickly pressed down on his hand, annoyed, “You know what kind of person I am, so why say such things to provoke me?”

Bai Fanlu smiled instead, “Linqiu and Brother Mu are just casual acquaintances. How could I know what kind of person Brother Mu truly is?”

Bai Fanlu’s quick change of attitude made Mu Yunhe even angrier. “You… I really give up! If you like jade pendants, the palace has a whole box of them. I could give you a cartload without a problem. I have a few good ones here, and you can have them all!”

Mu Yunhe said as he shoved two pieces of jade into Bai Fanlu’s hand. They were the finest pieces he had picked up earlier from the jade shop—a piece of white mutton-fat jade and a piece of emerald jade. The texture was delicate and warm to the touch. Bai Fanlu didn’t even need to look to know that each of these would be considered an unparalleled treasure in the world.

But he casually tossed them back to Mu Yunhe and said indifferently, “No reward without merit. Only what I win is mine.”

Mu Yunhe was left speechless. “Alright, you have a point. I won’t argue with you, but this jade pendant means a lot to me. From today on, I owe you a great favor. You have to return it to me.”

“What if I don’t?”

Bai Fanlu countered, and Mu Yunhe had already grabbed his wrist, leaning closer.

Bai Fanlu didn’t resist, just smiled calmly, “I heard that the little prince Mu was taught by General Mu himself, that his martial arts are unmatched. Are you really going to use them against a blind man?”

Hearing the word “blind” struck a nerve, and Mu Yunhe’s grip on Bai Fanlu’s hand suddenly loosened and fell away.

“Fine! Fine! I really surrender to you! Tell me, what do you want? As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do it—even if it means climbing mountains of swords or crossing seas of flames. Just give me back my jade pendant. Anything in exchange! A man’s word is his bond!”

Mu Yunhe spoke loudly, even raising his right hand to swear. Seeing him so serious, Bai Fanlu hesitated for a moment before asking, “What’s the story behind this jade pendant that makes Brother Mu so nervous?”

Without thinking, Mu Yunhe replied, “It has a deep connection. I absolutely can’t lose it. You can ask for anything, but you must return the jade pendant to me.”

His earnestness was unmistakable, and all the earlier playful banter was gone. Bai Fanlu couldn’t help but take him seriously.

In fact, Bai Fanlu had intended to quietly obtain the jade pendant to test something. No matter the result, he would return the jade intact. He didn’t want to directly ask Mu Yunhe for it because he didn’t want him to dig deeper into the matter, so he had devised this plan to distract him. Unexpectedly, he had taken something so precious by accident.

Reflecting on this, Bai Fanlu couldn’t help but shake his head, “I was just joking. It was my fault to trouble Brother Mu like this. I didn’t mean to ask you to part with it, just wanted to verify something.”

“Huh? What?”

Bai Fanlu took out his own jade pendant from his waist. Mu Yunhe watched his movements, suddenly feeling that the jade in Bai Fanlu’s hand looked quite familiar.

Then Bai Fanlu took out Mu Yunhe’s pendant from his collar and carefully placed

 the two pendants together.

Both were half-moon-shaped, and the grooves of the jade buckle fit perfectly, with no gaps at all. With a slight force, the two pendants joined to form a circular jade.

Even the texture of the jade was flawlessly continuous, making it impossible to tell they were originally two pieces. It seemed as if they were naturally one.

“…” Mu Yunhe was completely stunned.

Bai Fanlu had suspected something and wanted to confirm it today. But now that the conclusion was so easily reached, he couldn’t quite process it.

After a long silence, a suspicious blush appeared on Mu Yunhe’s face as he stammered, “This jade… is… is it yours?”

Bai Fanlu, unaware of his state, replied, “It is mine.”

Mu Yunhe suddenly fell silent, his eyes darting around Bai Fanlu’s veiled face.

Bai Fanlu still found it hard to believe that he had found the right person so quickly. He hadn’t even had time to sense the pull of the soul between them from Mu Yunhe.

Holding the jade, he touched the surface, noticing the engraving on his piece: “Yunzhan.” The one on Yunzhan’s piece was engraved with “Bai Fanlu,” a little trick from when they were young.

It shouldn’t be wrong; this person is Yunzhan.

“Brother Mu…”

“Linqiu…”

They both spoke simultaneously.

“Uh, Brother Mu, you go first.”

Mu Yunhe hesitated for a long time before saying, “I… I’ll escort you home. It’s getting late.”

When they arrived at Jiang Tian Yise Tower, it was afternoon. Later, they went to Lingbo Tower. Although Bai Fanlu couldn’t see the time, he figured it wasn’t early.

Mu Yunhe had just said that, realizing where Bai Fanlu might want to go. He hadn’t been too happy about it initially, but now he was even more unwilling.

“You shouldn’t go back to Meng San’s place.”

Bai Fanlu didn’t want to go back either, but he really couldn’t give an address.

“But I have nowhere else to go. Wherever I go, the Fifth Prince will find me.”

Mu Yunhe suddenly said, “Then I’ll take you back.”

Not escort you back, but take you back.

Bai Fanlu was puzzled, “Brother Mu, what do you mean?”

Mu Yunhe said, “You come to my place, and no one will dare to bully you.”

To help Yunzhan pass the tribulation, he had to stay by his side, so Bai Fanlu thought it was a good idea and agreed after some polite refusal.

They still rode the same horse, and by now, the moon was high in the sky, and the streets were almost empty.

The clattering of horse hooves echoed through the quiet night, and Bai Fanlu could clearly feel the person behind him was a bit tense. He wasn’t as relaxed as when they came, moving closer and then farther away from him, as if caught in some dilemma.

When they arrived at the palace, Mu Yunhe directly led Bai Fanlu to a room. “It’s late, so stay here tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone find you another place.”

Bai Fanlu replied, “There’s no need to trouble yourself. This place is fine.”

Mu Yunhe didn’t answer either way, standing in place for a while. When the maid brought in bathing supplies, he finally took his leave.

Bai Fanlu reminded him, “You haven’t taken your jade.”

He was about to separate the jade ring when Mu Yunhe stopped him, “No need.”

Seeing Bai Fanlu look up, Mu Yunhe instinctively avoided his gaze, his expression becoming strange, “I don’t need it now.”

“Hmm?” Bai Fanlu was puzzled. Didn’t he treasure this jade? Why suddenly not want it?

Mu Yunhe became even more uneasy, “It’s nothing. You should rest early.”

After speaking, he was about to leave when he bumped into two servants carrying a large wooden tub.

These were instructions from the little prince Mu to take good care of the guest. But now, seeing the tub and the bathrobe in the maid’s hands, he suddenly recalled the glimpse from the previous night and felt a vague sense of displeasure.

After they put the items down, Mu Yunhe said, “You may leave.”

The maid glanced up uncertainly, seeing her master’s gesture, and confirmed that they weren’t needed before bowing and exiting.

Bai Fanlu heard the sounds, knowing they had brought the bathwater, but Mu Yunhe had dismissed the servants, leaving him puzzled about his intentions.

“If you don’t want them to help, can you manage on your own?” Mu Yunhe tentatively asked.

Bai Fanlu thought, of course, he could. When he couldn’t see, he handled all his personal matters himself. Having servants was what made him uncomfortable.

But before he could answer, Mu Yunhe followed up with another question.

“If it’s inconvenient, I can help you.”