Wei Liuying looked at Yang Xian's back in front of her. He was still guiding her through the dark alleyway without turning his head around even once. However, his words were clearly telling her that they believed in her and willing to be on her side no matter what the situation was.

Believed in her ability and her as a person.

They clearly knew her background and problems, but they didn't move away from her. Even though if things got revealed to the public they would be placed in difficult situation, they still chose to pick her

"Why…?" her voice choked a bit.

Yang Xian looked at Wei Liuying, a bit surprised to hear the slight change in her tone. His expression softened. "You're worth it."

You're worth it.

Just three words and it already warmed her heart. Wei Liuying never realized it, but these three words were words that she never expected to hear from anyone in her entire life because of what she had experienced.

In her entire life, she had been fighting on her own for a long time and only have a few who cared for her. Those who knew her for her ability only wished to use her and gave petty compensation in the end. At the same time, she could not bear to let those who cared for her to be involved in the nasty truth from Wei Household.

But this time, she finally met someone who genuinely willing to accept her for who she was.

Even if it was only because of her ability, she didn't mind. It was far better than the rotten place named Wei Family Household.

At least, they see her as a person and respected her.

Wei Liuying knew how easy it would be for Yang Xian to kidnap her if he just wanted to make use of her abilities. His martial arts were better than her, and he also could easily threaten her because he obviously knew the few people whom she cared about. But he didn't.

He chose to respect her decision and waited for her to come to him by herself.

Probably it was only part of his schemes because only those who were willing to be used would be giving their all in their work, but Wei Liuying didn't mind. She knew that there was no free meal in this world. It would be impossible to have other people cared to her out of the blue.

Even those women who schemed to gain a man's favor knew that they would have to use their body, beauty, and everything to their man if they wished to keep his heart. But of course, they knew that it would be a never ending battles with other concubines because it was not easy to hold someone's heart.

Not everyone could be lucky enough to have one person who love them wholeheartedly in his entire life.

Wei Liuying closed her eyes for a moment. This was good enough.

Strategist Yang and Prince Ji Sheng were better people as they treated her well. Compared to her blood related family, they were more humane in her opinion and will not slight her just because of her position and gender.

"Strategist Yang."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Yang Xian smiled at her answer. "Heh, give your thanks when we have already out of this place."

Wei Liuying's lips curled up to form a smile, but she didn't reply. There was no need for her to give her thanks anymore because she knew that Yang Xian understood.

Dashing through the cold night, Wei Liuying continued to follow Yang Xian. All the time, Yang Xian's hand was still gripping her wrist tightly as if he was afraid that she would leave in the middle. However, Wei Liuying didn't have any intention to leave on her own.

She had made her decision to follow him and helped him with her abilities.

They have reached a point of no return.

This is her decision.

And she would follow it until the very end.

"Stay silent." Yang Xian suddenly stopped and pulled her to the wall. His eyes were watching the street before them as he sensed several people passed. There were guards that were deployed to search for the criminals.

'That's Lou… unexpectedly you also send your best man to the fray, Fourth Prince.'

Yang Xian sneered internally. The Fourth Prince was the most ambitious one aside from the First Prince. There were a few guards around him but the one that Prince Ji Shu trusted the most was Lou.

To be deploying Lou in this search just proved that Prince Ji Shu was placing high importance in the officials who were supporting Prince Ji Shao Yang. If they were not executed, there was no way Prince Ji Shu could calm down.

As they waited, Wei Liuying kept her silence. She couldn't sense anyone, but she knew that there must be someone out there that they have to avoid. It seemed that her martial arts were not high enough. Well, she had never focused to increase her martial arts that much in the future as she only learned so that she would be able to escape and survive.

Besides, she was not that suited to hold the sword because she preferred to stay at the back rather than taking action by herself.

"He left, let's go," Yang Xian whispered and pulled Wei Liuying again.

"En."

After turning a few times, Wei Liuying was stunned. She was drawing the map inside her head, so naturally she knew that they were heading to the center once more. Not only that, the location where Yang Xian stopped was exactly Prince Ji Sheng's residence.

Even though it was dark and there were barely any markings that could be seen, Wei Liuying could never get it wrong when it came to the four princes' residences. They were areas that she wanted to avoid the most in her entire life.

"Strategist Yang."

"What is it?"

"Are you sure it's fine for us to enter His Highness the Third Prince's residence at this time?" Wei Liuying asked in a worried tone.

"If you're worried about the guards, they won't see us as long as we're using the back door. The people who are watching over the palace won't be coming out anytime soon, so we don't need to worry that much," Yang Xian replied.

Wei Liuying looked at Yang Xian with frown. "His Highness the Third Prince is out, right?"

"You're smart. It's almost dawn, so he went to visit his mother to pay his respect because there's an edict that stated he'll leave soon. It might be a bit early, but it's a good show of filial piety."

"I thought his mother is in the cold palace and Prince Ji Sheng didn't have good relationship with her," Wei Liuying remarked. If she was not wrong, after falling out of favor, Prince Ji Sheng's mother was banished to the cold palace.

Yang Xian pursed his lips. "Even if she's in the cold palace and they didn't have good relationship, putting up a face is always important."

"I see."

Even though Wei Liuying didn't know much about the harem or so on, she knew that Prince Ji Sheng's mother was totally unfavored in the harem. There were only a few who knew her and met her over the past few years. Since she was also in the cold palace, not many people wanted to meet with her.

In addition, it was not a secret that Prince Ji Sheng's mother didn't have good relationship with her son. There were many words saying that she would even beat up her son. Though, Wei Liuying could never know the truth because she also didn't dare to ask it directly to the Third Prince.

She still wanted to keep her small life too.

She was living simply in an ordinary palace with not so many servants. Compared to many other women who easily earned the Emperor's favor, she was a bit pitiful in comparison.

"His Highness the Third Prince is a good son."

Yang Xian chuckled. "Isn't it normal for children to be filial to their parents?"

"There are many who were taught to never care from the time they were born," Wei Liuying said as a matter of fact.

"Well, true enough."

Yang Xian couldn't deny that. He came from a humble family back then and not got involved in the so called favor battle. After all, his father only has one wife. But that simple and comfortable life didn't last long because of the thing called war.

He lost everything.

Pushing the thoughts to the back of his head, Yang Xian opened the back door and ushered Wei Liuying to get inside.

"Come in."

Wei Liuying looked around. The backyard was filled with trees and many other plans. The sky was still dark, so she couldn't know for sure how they exactly looked like. However, the fresh air in this place soothe her troubled mind.

"You can appreciate them at later times. We need to go now."