[The Brother's Test]
At the Eastern Palace, Li Yan knelt before Crown Prince Si Moyan. His wounds had healed into scars of honor, and his spirit was as sharp as tempered steel.
The Prince looked at him, his voice calm yet heavy with hidden meaning. "Li Yan, rumors say my sister, the Princess, visits you often. You know the court is buzzing. If her heart is true... how do you intend to respond?"
Li Yan's knuckles whitened. "I am a general; she is a Princess. I dare not have transgressions. I would rather bear the shame alone than let her reputation suffer."
The Prince sighed, his gaze softening as Li Yan left. "He is honest and loyal," the Prince murmured to the empty hall. "But his eyes tell a different story. Yi-rou is stubborn; she won't let go. If you can truly protect her for a lifetime, Li Yan, I will protect you both. But if you waver... I will sever this bond myself."
[The Reunion of Five Yao]
That afternoon, the new General's Estate was filled with laughter. The four other Yao—Lin Lie, Cang Yuan, Luo Ye, and Sang Qi—arrived to celebrate Li Yan's recovery and his new station.
They were no longer just wandering outcasts; they were now high-ranking officials of the new administration. Yet, beneath their silk robes, they were still the brothers who had bled together at the Sanctuary.
"Enough with the official talk!" Sang Qi teased, leaning in with a predatory grin. "Tell us the truth, Li Yan. What do you think of the Princess?"
The four of them cornered Li Yan, their eyes glinting with mischief and genuine concern. Luo Ye folded his arms, demandingly, "Don't give us palace etiquette. Give us your heart."
Li Yan's breath hitched. He looked at his brothers, their faces expectant. Finally, he spoke, his voice low but vibrating with a steel-like resolve:
"I will treat her with all my heart, and I will protect her until the very end."
[The Secret Smile]
Outside the door, Si Yirou froze. She had come to bring another food box, but her feet felt rooted to the ground. Those four words—Protect her until the end—hit her heart like a physical force.
Tears pricked her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Instead, a brilliant, proud smile broke across her face. "That's what you should have said from the start, you stubborn stone," she whispered.
She quietly handed the food box to a maid and slipped away, her heart soaring like a bird. She didn't need to see him; she had heard the only words that mattered.
[A General's Resolve]
Late that night, Li Yan stood in his courtyard, the scent of osmanthus surrounding him. He gripped his sword hilt, looking up at the stars.
The time for retreat was over. He was no longer just a general of the Yao Realm; he was a man who had made a vow to a Princess.
"Yi-rou," he vowed to the silence of the night. "No matter the rumors, no matter the obstacles, I will become a man worthy of standing by your side."