Bai Yihao looked into the dark eyes of the girl in front of him. Her eyes clear as a mountain stream and she looked at him with calm determination. Nobody had ever looked at him like that.

He had never thought that such a delicate young girl could even look at him so calmly. Her eyes were alert, nervous, but not hostile. He could see some helplessness and bitterness in those beautiful eyes. They were deep, bright, and sharp, completely different from her frail appearance.

Yet something about those wise eyes only made her more pitiable. She was too young to carry so much weight, too calm for a child. What could have happened to make her like this?

There was a hint of stubbornness in her eyes too, barely visible, but he could see it clearly. He came to a new decision in a split second. Bai Yihao smiled gently.

"Why do you think I will help you? A daughter of an eminent family making such an appointment with an unknown man would be bad for your reputation."

"I would not trouble you if it was not urgent." Mo Xuetong looked at him quietly with wide eyes.

"Oh, what's the matter?"

"First, I'd like to thank you for your help at the city gates. Please accept my gift of thanks." Mo Xuetong backed away and curtsied, taking a book from her sleeves. She handed to him respectfully.

Bai Yihao did not reach out to take the book. He placed his hands behind him and stood up.

"It was just a small matter. A music book was enough. Miss Mo does not have to thank me again." He looked at her intently, light streaming down from the sun behind him. It made him look even more ethereal.

"Please help me again, sir. Your aid would would mean a great deal to me." She'd known it was him that day at the city gate when You Yuecheng had mentioned him. He was not an easy man to reach, but this was the only idea she had.

Bai Yihao looked at her. His voice was so soft as a lover's caress, but the meaning behind his words was cold.

"Why should I help you again? What are your affairs any concern to me?"

"I am willing to give you a sacred military book." Mo Xuetong stretched out her hands, showing him the ancient script.

Bai Yihao was not as indifferent as he looked. He had become a steel-willed emperor in the future. The military methods found in the book would definitely be more attractive to him than music manuscripts. She had found the book in a hidden corner behind her mother's bed. He had ambitions, and this book was what he needed right now.

She needed him in order to get rid of Auntie Fang.

Bai Yihao's face darkened.

"I'm just a scholar. What do I need a military book for? Miss Mo, please go back."

He was as gentle as water when he smiled, but his current dark expression was cold. She felt like she was walking along a cliff ledge in the fog. It was hundreds and thousands of meters deep, and if she took a wrong step, she would fall into the abyss. The air felt like it was pressing down on her.

Mo Xuetong forced herself to remain calm. She lifted up her pale face and looked at him firmly. Only her slightly trembling hands betrayed her frayed nerves.

"Sir Bai, do you want to stay as a hostage in Qin? With your abilities, you would be able to achieve much. How could Qin lock up your ambitions? If in the future...wouldn't this book of military arts be useful?"

She knew it was dangerous to speak so bluntly about the secrets hidden in others' hearts, but she didn't have much time to deal with him. If she missed this chance, she wouldn't necessarily have another chance to speak to him. Even if she did, she wouldn't have the chance to speak privately. The family rites were about to happen,and she could not afford to wait.

Bai Yihao did not speak, looking down at her coldly. The pavilion was so quiet, only the sound of the whistling wind could be heard.

Just as Mo Xuetong could not bear it any longer, Bai Yihao smiled warmly.

"Alright, then I'll help you again."

Bai Yihao reached out to take the book from her. Mo Xuetong heard her heart finally begin to calm. She could not help but lean weakly against the pillar for support.

"Speak, what is your favor?" Bai Yihao flipped through the book.

"My father has already invited you to the Mo family rites. I ask that you come and help. You just have to tell my father all you've seen and heard," Mo Xuetong said.

In her past life, her father had also invited Sir Bai to the family rites, but he said that he was busy and had not turned up.

"Alright! I will be there." Bai Yihao looked up slightly.

"Then, thank you very much, Sir. I shan't bother you any more and will take my leave." Mo Xuetong's eyes were still clear. She did not appear to be mesmerized by him like regular girls, nor did she behave coyly. She only looked aloof, as if she wanted to leave. However, she was still the one who had taken the initiative

"Go!"

Bai Yihao smiled and pressed down on the strings of his instrument. The music was crisp. Then, he lifted his finger and the music stopped.

Mo Xuetong shuddered slightly, then curtsied deeply. She turned to walk away slowly. Her clothes fluttered in the wind as if they were dancing, showing off her slender waist.

Only she knew that her back was soaked in cold sweat. She wanted to flee but didn't dare. Bai Yihao was dangerous. She had seen the darkness that flashed through his eyes when she spoke about the military arts book. He had wanted to kill her. His fingers had locked onto the instrument. If she behaved oddly, he would kill her.

The fight between Qin and Yan has nothing to do with her. Her heart only had room for the people around her. Everything else was irrelevant. The events of the country were too much for a weak girl carrying the pain of two lives.

If she hadn't needed Bai Yihao's help, she would have avoided him too.

"Miss, miss, where did you go? I couldn't find you anywhere" Mo He ran to her hurriedly from the end of the corridor, holding her cape.

Mo Xuetong smiled.

"I'm here, don't worry. Has grandmother woken up?"

"Old Madam is awake and looking for you. She told me to hurry when she heard that I was bringing you a cape. It's getting cold, and Mo Yu told me just now that we're still heading back. You'll be gossiped about if you're late," Mo He told her as they walked back together.

It was indeed getting late. She still had to return home after bidding her grandmother goodbye. She was going to come to stay for a few days soon, so she shouldn't dawdle.

"I will go and bid Grandmother goodbye. Ask Mo Yu to prepare the carriage and to not waste too much time on the road," Mo Xuetong ordered.

"I understand!"

The sweet voices drifted away as the two girls went inside.

A figure appeared behind Bai Yihao, who was watching them leave as he leaned against his seat.

Bai Yihao's gaze followed Mo Xuetong into the distance. There was a smile on his handsome face, but the instrument under his hand was silent, and his eyes were grave.

"Sir, are you just going to let her go like that?" the young man who appeared behind Bai Yihao asked, puzzled.

"Should I ask her to stay and listen to my music?" Bai Yihao asked. He did not turn around, but lowered his head and plucked a string. A crisp, warm note sounded.

"But Sir, she's discovered your secret..." The guard said anxiously, stepping foreward.

"Secret? What secrets do I have? Why don't I know about them?" He turned around leisurely, a smile in his eyes. He stood up and flung out his sleeves, ignoring the guard, then turned around and followed the path Mo Xuetong took.

The guard only regained his wits when Bai Yihao left the pavilion. He quickly picked up the instrument. He did not understand what his master meant, but he knew that he could not doubt his master's decisions.

Mo Xuetong bade the old madam farewell and brought Mo Yu and Mo He home. She had just entered the courtyard when she saw Mother Xu hurrying towards her. She pulled her to one side.

"Miss, Eldest is here and is waiting for you inside,” she said anxiously.

Mo Xuemin was waiting for her? Mo Xuetong was startled.

"Is there anyone else?"

The unhappiness in Mother Xu's eyes could not be disguised.

"Eldest miss brought a gentleman with her. She said that he is the Duke's son. They're waiting inside right now."

Mother Xu looked displeased that Mo Xuemin had dared to bring a man to her mistress's yard.

If noble families in Great Qin got along well, the young masters and mistresses could meet, but it was very rude to enter a person's inner courtyard.

"A gentleman?" Mo Xuetong said, frowning.

"The Duke's son. Eldest Miss brought him here and said that she had something to tell you. I did not dare to ask too many questions and only asked them to wait under the tree in the corridor. I've offered them tea, and Mo Lan is watching them." Mother Xu gritted her teeth. She wanted to ask questions, but Mo Xuemin had replied indifferently, saying she could only speak to her third sister about the matter.

She had no response to that. After all, she was just a servant and could not interfere with the businesses of her mistresses.

Mo Xuemin a young man here. She was old enough that people might think that she had something going on with Sima Lingyun. Mother Xu understood this as well, which was why she was so worried.

"Mo Yu, Mo He, let's go to father's study. Mother Xu, come to find me later. Spread the news to Fourth Sister's courtyard and to father's study." Mo Xuetong said with a faint smile.