Yao Ji wasn't angry. Instead, she dismounted and stood watching him. For some reason, whenever she saw Moroha, she felt a strange sense of familiarity and kinship. Now, feeling troubled, she was content to stay by his side.

She remembered how, before descending to the mortal realm, whenever something upset her, she would seek out Fei Guang outside Hongyuan Pavilion. Fei Guang, with his naturally cold and quiet demeanor, rarely spoke. Yao Ji didn't need him to. Simply being in his presence brought her comfort.

Unfortunately, after Fei Guang's reincarnation, his earthly form no longer provided the same solace. Yao Ji couldn't understand why. Hearing about Zong Jun and Hu Lan’s playful banter in the tent made her heart flutter anxiously, as if a hand clutched at it, leaving a dull ache in her chest. Back in the Heavenly Palace, she had never been bothered by the other celestial maidens' admiration for Fei Guang.

Had her first descent to the mortal realm unsettled her heart as well?

Though intelligent, Yao Ji was still naive when it came to love. She couldn't comprehend the complex mix of joy and sorrow, sweetness and bitterness that came with such emotions.

After watching Moroha for a while longer, Yao Ji sat down on the grass, idly twirling a wildflower. Moroha, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke in a deep voice, "Why is the Great Khatun lingering here?"

This was the first time Yao Ji had heard him speak. Startled, she instinctively replied, "I quarreled with the Great Khan."

Such domestic matters were not typically discussed with outsiders. Moroha hadn't expected Yao Ji to answer so honestly. He thought to himself that the Great Khatun from Yan was indeed as innocent as rumored. A wave of sympathy, mixed with the strange feeling he'd experienced upon first seeing her, prompted him to speak again, something he rarely did. "Was it the Great Khatun's fault, or the Great Khan's?"

Having started, Yao Ji poured out her troubles. "I think it's his fault, but he thinks it's mine." She felt a surge of resentment as she spoke. It wasn't just his lack of consideration, but the fact that he hadn't thought about how Hu Lan's sudden return would embarrass her. As the other Great Khatun, she couldn't control someone of the same status like Hu Lan, which undermined her authority. Thinking of the barbarians' lack of decorum, and Zong Jun's part in it, she angrily muttered, "That smelly barbarian!"

Seeing her childish display, cheeks flushed as she stamped her foot, Moroha couldn't help but chuckle softly. Immediately realizing his lapse, he said, "Forgive me, Great Khatun. I have offended you."

Yao Ji frowned. "You were just speaking normally. Why are you suddenly so formal? I know your identity. If the Great Khan punishes you, I can't intercede. But you were once a person of high status, and I don't want to look down on you, so you shouldn't look down on yourself either."

Since his capture, no one had spoken to Moroha with such sincerity. He, too, had once been proud. Defeated and now Zong Jun's prisoner, his pride and resentment hadn't diminished. He knew Zong Jun's intent in assigning him menial labor was to humiliate him, to show everyone how far the former young master of the Tijia tribe had fallen.

Though aware of Zong Jun's motives, the daily humiliation had begun to wear him down. Yao Ji's words stirred something within him. He resolved to regain his strength and not let Zong Jun win.

Seeing the defeated look vanish from his face, Yao Ji was happy for him. Though she knew Moroha was Zong Jun's enemy, her subconscious affinity for him made her overlook this.

As their interactions continued, Yao Ji remained at odds with Zong Jun, but she often went riding, frequently visiting Moroha. Meanwhile, Zong Jun, busy with affairs, finally found some free time. He longed for his young wife, and the thought of her made his heart ache.

Thinking of his stubborn little wife, Zong Jun felt helpless. He'd expected her jealousy to drive her to seek reconciliation, but Yao Ji ate well, slept well, and remained unmoved even with Hu Lan constantly by his side.

Zong Jun waited and waited, finally losing patience. He realized he was completely smitten with her. He couldn't understand how such a small person held so much power over him. Days without her left him restless and unable to concentrate, even during important meetings with his advisors.

That evening, having had a few drinks, Zong Jun decided to swallow his pride and seek Yao Ji's forgiveness. Entering the tent, he found her already washed and dressed for bed, reading a book. He strode in, reeking of alcohol, and without a word, pulled her into a tight embrace. "Yaoyao," he murmured, "I've missed you."