After lunch, Hua Qingcheng and Feng Lingyan chatted for a while in the carriage, said goodbye to everyone, and returned to the Imperial College.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Hua Qingcheng arrived at Jinyi Pavilion. When she arrived, Bai Yuheng, the painting teacher, was already sitting at his desk, marking students' homework.

"Master Bai." Hua Qingcheng stood beside the desk, waiting for Bai Yuheng.

"Yeah." Bai Yuheng responded, but he didn't raise his head. He didn't put down the cinnabar pen until he finished correcting the homework on the desk.

"Princess, today's make-up lesson is to draw a picture of the life you most want in your heart." Bai Yuheng gestured to Hua Qingcheng, indicating that she should sit opposite him and draw a picture.

His face was gentle, his voice deep and magnetic, and he looked elegant and easygoing. He was like the first ray of sunshine in the morning, warm and bright, shining into one's heart.

Hua Qingcheng nodded slightly, sat down opposite Bai Yuheng, mixed the paint, pursed her lips, and after a little thought, she began to paint.

Time ticked by as Hua Qingcheng focused on her painting. On her canvas, she depicted a green mountain. The setting sun's rays, combined with the magnificent sunset glow on the horizon, illuminated the earth, painting everything a faint orange-red. At the foot of the mountain lay a large field, where several people were working.

At the foot of the mountain, there's a farmhouse. In the front yard, a family of four sits under a large tree, enjoying the cool breeze. The husband and wife, depicted in the painting, hold hands, seemingly chatting. Two children, a girl and a boy, about one year old, play nearby. In the backyard, six other men—one practicing boxing, another drying herbs with a baby on his back, another sweeping the yard, another painting, and two sparring in martial arts.

After the last stroke was completed, Hua Qingcheng let out a sigh of relief, then looked up at Bai Yuheng who was sitting opposite her, with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

Bai Yuheng took the scroll and unfolded it. He saw that the painting was fresh and natural, with smooth brushwork. When he saw the content of the painting, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"This painting is very artistic. I didn't expect that the life the princess longed for was such a simple and ordinary, yet peaceful, harmonious, warm and happy pastoral life." Bai Yuheng commented with a smile.

This was the first time that Bai Yuheng sincerely recognized Hua Qingcheng as a student. He not only affirmed her progress, but was also shocked by her great love and desire for a peaceful and prosperous world.

Hua Qingcheng smiled faintly, her eyes gazing leisurely towards Huaqiao Village in the south. She said, "Thank you for the compliment, Master Bai. Fame and fortune are nothing to me. In fact, what I long for most is to live this ordinary life with the one I love, working from sunrise to sunset. No schemes or deceptions, just a close lover, lovely children, and simple folks..."

Bai Yuheng nodded slightly, expressing his understanding. He recalled having similar aspirations in his youth, but it was a pity that things were unpredictable... He sighed inwardly, then gathered his composure and said to Hua Qingcheng, "That's all for today's class. Princess, you can return to the classroom and prepare for your afternoon class."

"Thank you, Master Bai." Hua Qingcheng bowed to Bai Yuheng, then left Jinyi Hall and walked towards the Class D classroom in Mingde Building.

Looking at Hua Qingcheng's gradually receding figure, the light in Bai Yuheng's eyes, which were as bright as stars, suddenly dimmed, and a struggle flashed through his heart.

News came from Lengyue Kingdom that he could either win the favor of the Princess of Laifeng Kingdom and become a spy planted by Lengyue Kingdom in the palace of Laifeng Kingdom, or find an opportunity to kill the Princess Nalan Qingcheng.

But... no matter which choice, it wasn't what Gongyang Yuheng wanted. At this moment, Gongyang Yuheng wished he could simply be Bai Yuheng, the painting teacher at the Imperial Academy...

After Hua Qingcheng returned to the classroom, the bell rang. The first class in the afternoon was a numerology class. Although Hua Qingcheng came back more than half a month late, the subject was not difficult for her and she listened to it without any pressure.

The second class was horse riding, and the teacher was still Xiahou Yu.

On the training ground, Xiahou Yu said to Hua Qingcheng righteously, "Your Highness has missed half a month of classes. You must work hard."

"Thank you, Master Xiahou. Qingcheng will do her best and live up to your expectations." Hua Qingcheng also bowed slightly to Xiahou Yu seriously.

There was nothing wrong with their conversation, but the glances they exchanged across the air were filled with the glint of a sword.

Hua Qingcheng jumped onto the horse nimbly and started riding it "clatter, clatter" around the training ground.

Hua Qingcheng, on horseback, her long hair flowing, her clothes fluttering, her eyes piercing, her body rising and falling with the horse's jolt, looking heroic. Behind her, the dust kicked up by the horse's hooves flew like a flower blooming on the battlefield, dazzling and gorgeous.

Xia Houyu, who was standing aside, glanced at the beautiful figure on the training ground. There was a hint of sinisterness and cruelty in her eyes, as well as a feeling called "jealousy" that she herself was not aware of.

Nalan Qingcheng, I want to see how long you can remain so proud...

At the same time, in the main room of the Anxiang Pavilion in the backyard of the Imperial College, Bai Yuheng was sitting in the large misty bathtub, taking his afternoon bath as usual. His personal servant Zizhu came in with clean clothes in his hands.

"Sir, the clothes are on the rack for you."

"Yeah." Bai Yuheng, who was sitting on the edge of the bathtub with his eyes closed, responded slowly.

"Young Master..." Zizhu, who was about to turn and leave, seemed to remember something and said to her master who was bathing, "News has come from the Lengyue Kingdom. They say they are very dissatisfied with your delay in taking action. Now, General Leng Qingqiu has secretly sneaked into the territory of Laifeng Kingdom. They will join forces with Lady Xiahou to attack Nalan Qingcheng during the afternoon horseback riding class. You must cooperate with General Leng and others to kill Nalan Qingcheng in the training grounds."

"What?" Bai Yuheng, who was originally lazily leaning on the edge of the bathtub enjoying a moment of tranquility, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Young Master, I think they will be here soon. You have to hurry, otherwise all the credit will go to General Leng and the others. They have always been at odds with you. I'm afraid they have been trying to sow discord in front of the emperor. Otherwise, this action would not be so sudden." Zizhu said indignantly.

"You idiot, why didn't you tell me such an important thing earlier?!" Bai Yuheng waved away his personal servant Zizhu, then got up from the bathtub, used his internal energy to dry his body and hair, quickly put on his clothes, and tied up his waterfall-like black hair high.

A moment later, Bai Yuheng, dressed in a black suit and with a black scarf covering his face, used his lightness skills to climb over the eaves and walls of the Anxiang Pavilion. With a light figure, he headed towards the training ground like a ghost.

At this moment, Hua Qingcheng had already ridden her horse around the training ground twice. Suddenly, with a whoosh, an arrow flew out from the darkness and shot straight towards Hua Qingcheng's heart.

Hua Qingcheng sensed an arrow was being fired at her and was about to dodge into space. However, a dark figure suddenly appeared in mid-air. He first caught the powerful poisonous arrow with his bare hands, then hurled a row of darts into the darkness...