The leader of the cultivation alliance has a crush on me.

The moment Song Ke opened her eyes, the glaring sunlight made her blink several times before she could see where she was.

She was on one side of a wide ancient road, surrounded by a crowd of people. Firecrackers were being set off and lions were being danced in the middle of the road, creating a lively atmosphere as if it were Chinese New Year.

She froze for a few seconds, then subconsciously looked for Feng Xun, but she couldn't see his face in the crowd. Just as she was about to step back to look for him, she was pushed forward by the crowd behind her.

"Don't push, don't push, I need to get out, please make way."

The uncles and aunties next to her looked at her with puzzled expressions, as if they didn't understand why she wanted to go outside at this time, and assumed she was an outsider, so they kindly reminded her.

"Young lady, you're not from the capital, are you? Today marks General Wei's first successful return from suppressing a rebellion, and everyone is here waiting to see his prowess."

"Look how hard you managed to squeeze to the front. Once you get out, you won't be able to squeeze in anymore."

Song Ke smiled and thanked her, "Oh, I see. Thanks for reminding me. But I'm looking for someone; my friend who was with me is missing."

"You see."

She squeezed through the crowd and breathed a sigh of relief. Looking down, she saw several footprints on the back of her feet and belatedly hissed, no wonder it hurt a little.

She walked along the street, and after only a few steps, her arm was grabbed. The voice was unfamiliar, but the tone was familiar: "Where are you going?"

Song Ke turned around and saw the person pulling her, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy. His face was unfamiliar, but his indifferent gaze was familiar. She tentatively asked, "Feng Xun?"

Feng Xun nodded, then released her and said, "There are too many people here now, wait here for a while, and go find Rong Xiu after everyone has left."

"However, Rong Xiu should show up today. I'll try to see if he recognizes us later."

Seeing Feng Xun's appearance, Song Ke looked him over for a few moments, then touched her own face and asked, "What have I become?"

"Why has your face changed?"

How did you recognize me at first glance?

Feng Xun said calmly, "This is Rong Xiu's illusion. Before the Western Kingdom was destroyed, he did not know me, so when he came in, he directly transformed into someone else's appearance."

"As for you." As Song Ke listened to him, she suddenly felt a pain in her wrist. It wasn't the kind of pain that comes from being strangled, but rather a pain like being pricked with a needle. She raised her wrist and saw the red veins faintly visible.

She got it.

Song Ke asked him, "Who is this General Wei?"

Feng Xun paused for two seconds, then said with some speculation, "Perhaps he is Rong Xiu's friend."

Hearing him say that, Song Ke asked curiously, "Feng Xun, have you remembered something?"

Feng Xun didn't answer, but instead asked her, "And what about you?"

Song Ke looked confused: "What about me?"

Feng Xun didn't continue speaking, but instead looked towards the center of the street. Song Ke found the lion dancers' figures increasingly familiar. Soon, the sound of horses' hooves came from the city gate. In no time, a large group of people entered. The man at the head of the group looked young, but he was strong and upright. Only his somewhat thin figure confirmed that he was not very old.

As they approached, the young man at the head of the group raised his hand, and the entire procession stopped. He nimbly dismounted, then knelt on one knee with his back straight, his voice loud and imposing: "Your subject Wei Ping pays respects to the Crown Prince."

When his voice stopped, the lion dance also stopped. The person at the front removed the lion's head with both hands, looked at the person kneeling in front of him with a smile, handed the things in his hands to the servant beside him, then stepped forward, bowed slightly, and extended his hand to Wei Ping.

"You've worked hard, it's good to see you back safe and sound."

Wei Ping didn't hesitate to extend his hand, and Rong Xiu pulled him up. He looked at the long sword in Wei Ping's other hand and smiled slightly: "Your sword is becoming more and more spiritual."

Wei Ping smiled easily and said, "I'm so glad I came back safely this time, all thanks to it."

Rong Xiu nodded as he listened: "If I remember correctly, this knife was given to you by your master. Did you hear any news about her during your trip?"

Wei Ping shook his head: "No."

"However, Your Highness, I am quite flattered by your display of power. I bet those civil officials will be giving you sarcastic and cryptic lectures again."

Rong Xiu patted Wei Ping on the shoulder with a smile, looking both bold and affectionate: "What kind of relationship we had before is none of anyone else's business."

"By the way, you weren't injured this time, were you?"

Wei Ping paused for a moment, then honestly said, "It's not very serious. Don't let it slip to my parents, especially not."

Before Wei Ping could finish speaking, a displeased and angry voice suddenly came from behind Rong Xiu.

"Wei Ping, why don't you greet me? What's wrong? Am I, the prince, unworthy?"

Rong Ling glared at Wei Ping with displeasure, then glanced at his elder brother with a hint of resentment, as if he were angry that his brother treated Wei Ping better than him.

Wei Ping wasn't angry at all. Instead, he politely greeted her. Rong Ling couldn't say anything more, so she just pouted and said, "I won't stoop to your level."

After saying that, he glanced at himself and emphasized, "I didn't come here specifically to welcome you; I'm just accompanying my brother."

Rong Xiu and Wei Ping exchanged a smile and shook their heads helplessly. Wei Ping didn't even go home; Rong Xiu took him directly to his palace, where a meal had already been prepared.

The two sat down, and Rong Ling hesitated for a moment before reluctantly sitting down beside them. Rong Xiu ordered wine to be served, and Rong Ling immediately widened his eyes and said with a accusing expression, "Brother, you want to drink? How old are you? If Father and Mother find out, you'll be in big trouble."

Wei Ping, still holding a cup, deliberately offered the wine to the prince, saying casually, "Ninth Prince, I have something to say to the Crown Prince later, so I specially invited Feng Chao over to play with you."

Upon hearing Wei Fengchao's name, Rong Ling's hand, which was holding a small pastry, paused subconsciously. He glared at Wei Ping angrily, "You... why did you call her here?"

Rong Xiu smiled and said, "Be good. Didn't you say you lost to Feng Chao in archery and couldn't sleep because you were so angry? You can have a competition with her later. She twisted her arm while climbing a tree a couple of days ago, so she'll definitely win this time."

Rong Ling was even angrier upon hearing this. He looked at Wei Ping, then at his elder brother, and his voice cracked with anger: "Brother, whose side are you on?"

"This is outrageous, I'm not talking to you anymore."

As Rong Ling was about to run away, Wei Ping added from behind, "Don't go and tell on me."

Rong Ling was even angrier when she heard this. She stopped on the spot and stomped her foot heavily, as if she were stepping on Wei Ping.

Wei Ping looked at Rong Xiu and chuckled, "Your brother is still so easily amused."

Rong Xiu sighed: "Don't tease him too much, he's been very irritable lately."

"By the way, let's talk about your work in quelling the rebellion this time."