Several people were kneeling in the courtyard; they were the same students from Yingzhou who had spread rumors in the past. Upon seeing Yao Xiuyan, they all trembled with fear.

Yao Xiuyan toyed with his riding whip, his tone languid: "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll give you two choices: one is to leave the capital immediately and never come back; the other is to go to the border to join the army and atone for your crimes through meritorious service."

The men kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness! We are willing to go to the border!"

Yao Xiuyan nodded and said to the deputy general beside him, "Take them away. Train them according to the standards for new recruits, and do not give them any special treatment."

The deputy general accepted the order and left. Yao Xiuyan gazed at the snow scene outside the window, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Your Highness," the guard asked in a low voice, "those officials from Yingzhou..."

"Proceed according to plan." Yao Xiu said indifferently, "I want them to never dare to set foot in the capital again in their entire lives."

"The Xie family..."

Yao Xiuyan waved his hand: "There's no need to touch the Xie family. Mingyue said that Xie Ansu is not a wicked person." He smiled slightly, "Besides, is there any punishment more painful than living and watching yourself make a mistake?"

The guards understood and withdrew. Yao Xiuyan stood alone by the window, gazing in the direction of the Qi residence, and murmured to himself, "Mingyue, this world is filthy, and I will cleanse it for you. Just go and see the vastness of the world..."

At this moment, Qi Mingyue was removing her makeup in front of the mirror. The woman in the mirror still had the same features, but with a more resolute look. She gently stroked the tiger-shaped jade pendant, her eyes flashing with complex emotions.

Zhi Shu smiled and said, "The young master is really thoughtful towards the young lady. Today at the princess's residence, he has given her plenty of face."

Qi Mingyue remained silent, carefully putting the jade pendant away.

Outside the window, snow began to fall again. Inside and outside the capital, everything was covered in silver, as if all the filth had been covered in purity.

But Qi Mingyue knew that some things had changed. Just like this snow, seemingly soft, it could break branches and freeze rivers.

And she was no longer the young lady of the Qi family who only hid in her study.

“Zhishu,” she suddenly said, “we’ll go to the border after spring.”

Zhi Shu was startled: "Miss? That place is a bitterly cold land..."

Qi Mingyue looked out the window, her gaze distant: "Brother Xiuyan is right. The world is vast, and we shouldn't be confined to one corner." She smiled slightly, "Besides, someone promised me that they would allow me to see the world, to see all living beings, and to see myself."

The snowflakes illuminated her beautiful profile, and her eyes shone with a light she had never seen before.

The phoenix returns to its nest, no longer destined to remain confined to a pond. When the spring breeze rises, it will surely spread its wings and soar into the sky.