Prologue

"As for being a person?" the young woman hesitated and replied, "Since the Emperor has dispatched the capital troops to Yanmen Pass, he must be a good Emperor, right?"

Qingyi, what do you think of the current Emperor?

He raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly, his tone seemingly frivolous, yet in reality filled with discontent, and said

He turned to his fiancée, who was dressed in women's clothing again, as she had not yet recovered from her serious injuries at Yanmen Pass. Although her complexion was still somewhat pale, she was full of spirit and had a hint of innocent charm.

Hmm?

She nodded, then glanced at Dongfang Fei, and said earnestly and with deep emotion

"What do you take me for? Can you not even keep such a small promise?"

He regards this as a challenge

She spoke sternly, saying

As soon as dawn broke, the city gates opened. Early in the morning, taking advantage of the thick fog to leave the city would avoid unnecessary crises. Dongfang Fei made a gesture to the one in blue, who immediately left the front courtyard

"What the adult said is true. Winter has passed, and so have we," said Feng Yilang softly

"Ha ha, who asked you to look at his actions? What I want you to observe is his character."

Sir... is it truly possible to resign from this official position?

"Brother Dongfang, we shall meet again in the future." She clasped her fists and smiled as she spoke

"What? Do you see something in my expression? So focused?" The beautiful sword-like eyebrows arched slightly, adding a touch of playfulness.

It was precisely because he saw through her true feelings that he gritted his teeth, secretly angry in his heart. He slightly curled the corner of his mouth and added his vow:

Ruan Dong touched his nose and muttered

Hmph, are you setting a trap to force him to comply? Will he be afraid?

Very well. Within a year, I will come to propose with the betrothal gifts, so wait for me, Dong Gu.

The owner of the phoenix eyes is strikingly handsome, usually dressed in official robes with an air of superiority, arrogant and conceited. Tonight, he is wearing a purple-black straight robe, exuding youthful nobility with a hint of scholarly charm. However, to the discerning eye, it is evident that he must hold a high position.

It is almost dawn, and the noble should be dressing to attend court.

The men—Yisheng Feng Yilang, Huaining, and the loyal guard Qingyi beside Dongfang Fei—were all taken aback, but only Dongfang Fei squinted his handsome eyes and asked

The vermilion gate of the Eastern Mansion is slightly ajar, and a faint silver glow envelops the young woman in the front courtyard

Dongfang Fei glared at her coldly for a moment, no longer continuing this boring topic, and asked in a cold voice

"In the East, although there were no matchmaker's words between Dong and Ruan, today they privately pledge their lifelong commitment, thus binding their fates together, and they cannot go back on this promise." A pair of men and women, having mutually pledged their lives, how could she possibly escape from his grasp.

Feng Yilang nodded and accepted it. "Thank you, my lord." The medicinal materials in the long box must be extremely precious, and he would not be stubborn, as Dong Gu indeed needed them.

She stole a glance at the man beside her, only to inadvertently meet his slightly wicked phoenix eyes

Dongfang turned around and faced her, gazing at her for a moment before saying, "Extend your hand."

Ruan Dong Gu, Ruan Dong Gu, do you know that at this moment, my heart and eyes are filled with you? I long to see the moment when you wholeheartedly fall in love with me...

"Everyone in the court says so, so I think Brother Dongfang must be as handsome as Huaining. Brother Dongfang, I will have to ask you for advice on this beauty technique another day"

"Brother Dongfang, you have been in the court for over ten years; how old are you this year?" As soon as the question was asked, the men present were momentarily taken aback.

Good Emperor? A man who has never truly experienced the hardships of the common people does not understand how to regard them as human beings. She thought that by changing the emperor and driving away the evil forces in the court, there would surely be achievements in the court, so perhaps my absence from the court is a good thing. Ha ha, she is truly upright and naive; no, I should say, this little fool prefers to think positively. Her expression slightly tightened as she coldly said: "Where in this world is there a good emperor? The era of peace is merely an illusion; within ten years, there will surely be chaos in the court." Whether he is there or not makes no difference; ha ha, she is truly upright and naive; no, I should say, this little fool prefers to think positively. Her expression slightly tightened as she coldly said: "Where in this world is there a good emperor? The era of peace is merely an illusion; within ten years, there will surely be chaos in the court." It makes no difference whether he is present or not; as long as there are people, the struggle for power and profit is a common occurrence.

The safe return of this little fierce lion brings an indescribable joy

Yes, I will go to Yingkang to find my elder brother

The thought that only he could toy with her feelings filled Dongfang Fei with great joy

"Haha, Dong Gu, do you still only think about such matters? Do you believe there are still loyal and virtuous people in the court?" He did not respond directly, taking the black wooden box handed to him by the attendant in blue, not giving it to her, but instead passing it to Feng Yilang. "After nurturing your injury for half a year, it still hasn't fully healed; your sworn brother is truly pathetic." Dong Fang Fei's tone was slightly displeased: "You have some knowledge of medicine, so you naturally know how to use the medicinal materials in the box."

With phoenix-like eyes glancing askance, she locks onto that warm-clad Ruan Dong, waiting for the private vow of a lifetime commitment

I, Ruan Donggu, vow in the second year of Shengkang to bind myself in a love pact with Dongfang Fei, declaring that in this life and the next, I shall marry no one but him. Should there come a day when Brother Dongfang's heart turns to another, this agreement shall be rendered void, and we shall each pursue our own marriages, with no further ties between us. My voice is clear and unafraid, showing no signs of hesitation or testing.

In other words, whether he is present or not does not significantly impact her future life. His expression remained unchanged, but suddenly he grasped her delicate wrist, pulled her closer, and gazed at her saying

She, Ruan Donggu, purchased an official position at the age of sixteen, relying on the support of her two sworn brothers. At eighteen, she successfully entered the court as the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue; this year, at the age of twenty-five, she is without any official title, living a life of simplicity.

She spread her hands and laughed heartily, saying: "Brother Dongfang, I truly made this vow from the heart. In the future, if you have a woman you fancy, do not let me ruin your good fortune."

Besides him, who else would be willing to endure her? Who can tolerate her temperament and appreciate her noble character? Uncontrollably licking his lips, his handsome eyes brimmed with an unusual heat. He truly wanted to tear her apart and savor the taste of her rigid bones!

You do not ask me when I will resign from my official position

I, Dongfang Fei, hereby make a solemn vow that if one day, Yuan Dong has someone she admires, I will never force her to stay. I wonder if such a vow would satisfy your sworn brother

She answered frankly

After a while

Dear Brother Dongfang, I have had something on my mind for a long time...

It is already the third watch of the night. The young woman in blue replied lightly without changing her expression

Two days after the New Year's Day of the second year of Shengkang

However, he would not analyze such matters with her, lest her heart be forever occupied by these trivialities

"Eastern brother, your appearance resembles that of Song Yu, handsome yet not over thirty. However, you are not Gan Luo who became a minister at a young age, so no matter how I calculate, I feel you are over thirty-five."

She had long been mentally prepared. Even if one day she woke up in prison, she would not be surprised, so... Now, her ability to escape unscathed is not just due to luck, but also thanks to the help of many people

"Does it have anything to do with me?" Seeing her actually nod, he was both surprised and delighted as he asked, "I had no idea you have always had me in your heart; this is truly rare. Feel free to ask, you can ask anything without hesitation."

Brother Dongfang, you can cover the sky with one hand, but after all, accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger; please be very careful

Upon considering this, a strong sense of excitement overwhelmed him, causing his heart to race, and he longed to resign from his official position and rush to the place where she was.

Your power is greater than ever before; before you withdraw from the court, please do not further harm the loyal and virtuous.

Qingyi, what time is it now

"So what?" Dongfang raised an eyebrow nonchalantly.

The East was completely unconcerned about the unusual vow she made in the latter part, and then swore an oath:

She smiled gently and said, "Brother Dongfang, you are now the favored minister of the new emperor, and it is impossible for you to extricate yourself in the short term. I will not put pressure on you; you can change your oath at any time, truly."

Wait! The witness, Feng Yilang, spoke up: "Your Excellency, you have not yet resigned from your official position"

"Am I handsome in your eyes?" This is truly interesting. I initially thought that she was mostly indifferent, but I did not expect that she actually cares about him quite a bit.

Her superior, the Minister of Revenue, once privately mentioned that for those serving in the court, after five years, their appearance would inevitably age rapidly; after ten years, it is common for them to become bald and their bodies to undergo significant changes. Only the current Prime Minister, Dongfang, is an exception to this rule

"Why are you suddenly asking about this, Dong Gu?"

Who else can be more adept at such political maneuvering than I? Winter, take care of yourself as well. He said, personally watching the three sworn siblings disappear into the night of the imperial city

Brother Dongfang, you still have a chance to regret... well, fine. "Taking a deep breath, I raised my right hand and swore to the heavens:

She understood his meaning and smiled as she clasped hands with him in alliance

Thank you for your support, my lord. Feng Yilang looked at the sky and reminded, "My lord, it is almost dawn"

What does it feel like? He is eager!

In other words, her vow of leaving a way out was taught to her by her benevolent brother. If a woman can generously make such a straightforward pledge, it would be rather petty of him not to follow suit.

As long as you have not resigned from your official position for a day, you cannot reside far from here for a day. Now that winter has come, and you have returned to your female form, staying in the capital for even a moment is an additional risk. If the high-ranking officials cannot resign from their positions for many years...

As night falls, the imperial city is silent and still, with the heavy snowfall covering the entire city. The pure white snow blends seamlessly with the pitch-black night, rendering the beauty of the imperial city visible without the need for candlelight

Upon thinking of this, she touched her nose and recalled her departure from Beijing today... It seems she will have to leave with burdens.

The Emperor has only been on the throne for one year, and I am still unable to discern his actions.

Within a year, I will surely appear before you. Are you going to Hong Kong?

"Adult ... ... " the young woman in blue called out

Brother Dongfang, before this, you must grant me one request

The gleam of secret delight flickered through his beautiful pupils, and he said with a smile

His face is smooth and handsome, with delicate skin and shiny, charming black hair. Should she say that he takes good care of himself? He clearly looks to be nearly thirty, yet somehow he seems to be well over thirty-five.

The screen couch in the hall still had the warm blanket she had covered herself with. He sat down on it without a care, caressing the surface of the blanket and gently inhaling the lingering fragrance. If it had not been for her brother-in-law visiting in the middle of the night, he had intended to admire her sleeping姿态 until dawn

"Heaven and earth bear witness, I swear by this." He clapped his hands and then said, "You may leave now; if you delay any longer, you might miss the opening of the city gates."

What must he do to make her fall in love with him, to regard him as a piece of flesh that she has reluctantly let go of

A person of high status always keeps their promises, and the common people dare not question it. However, matters of the heart are difficult to articulate; perhaps tomorrow, the person of high status will encounter even greater challenges. At that time, I kindly ask that they spare the winter's past.

Indeed. He was absent-minded, still gazing into the dark distance. After a long while, he finally turned back into the hall with his hands behind his back

Hmph, your sworn brother designed this vow to leave you a way out, fearing that you might fall in love with other men in the future. He forgot one thing, Dong Gu, with your temperament, to love a man more than life itself is simply as difficult as ascending to the heavens! Who in this world could be favored by her, and which man would fall in love with a woman who prioritizes the well-being of all living beings?

This burden, which is the title of fiancée, in other words, she has gained a fiancé.

Even now, in her heart, he is merely a cabinet minister who can summon the wind and call the rain, rather than a truly real man

You speak

On the day she disguised herself as a man to enter the court, Yi Lang had already informed her of the worst possible outcome—death at the hands of treacherous individuals, death for disrupting the order of the court, and a body that would not be whole.