Ji Fengyao stood at the cave entrance, feeling somewhat resistant. She had always been somewhat averse to such secluded and dark environments.

"Are you scared? I walk through this passage several times a year. It's very safe," Shang Beiyu's clear and pleasant voice gently rang in Ji Fengyao's ears, like the delicate sound of wind chimes being caressed by snowflakes in a cold night.

The realization that "at least I have someone to keep me company" put Ji Fengyao at ease, and she asked, "Where does this lead?"

"It's a dilapidated temple leading out of the city. I discovered it by chance when I was playing a game of hide-and-seek as a child," Shang Beiyu answered frankly, his tone and expression as calm as ever.

Ji Fengyao nodded slightly: "Then I'll have to trouble you this time. Please lead the way."

"In the past two months, you've added so many things to my palace. I've only brought you one round trip; it's nothing," Shang Beiyu said with a hint of a smile and warmth in his voice.

He was not ashamed of accepting her gift, nor did he feel sorry for himself because of his situation.

Ji Fengyao admired his temperament most; he was humble in his high position and did not suffer in his difficulties.

They entered the cave.

Following Shang Beiyu's instructions, Ji Fengyao restored the cave entrance at the back to prevent others from discovering the secret passage.

Feeling their way down the steps, the two walked down a short distance.

Suddenly, Shang Beiyu stopped. He was not clearly visible in the darkness, and Ji Fengyao bumped into his back without realizing it.

The soft, warm touch on his back made Shang Beiyu's hand clench slightly in the shadows.

"What's wrong?" Ji Fengyao asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing, the light shouldn't be able to get through here. I'll find a tinderbox to light the way." As Shang Beiyu spoke, a rustling sound of clothes rustling came from the darkness, and soon a small flame was lit.

In the sudden flickering light, his strikingly beautiful face appeared even more breathtaking.

Looking at such beautiful colors, even the dark and cold night seems to become beautiful.

In the flickering firelight, the little bandit girl, nicknamed "Little Bun," had a fair and tender face, and her clear phoenix eyes appeared even brighter. She looked at people with a somewhat innocent expression, and her cherry lips were rosy red, making her extremely cute.

As Shang Beiyu looked up, a dark glint flashed in his eyes: "You're really beautiful."

Without hesitation, Ji Fengyao smiled brightly and said, "You're very beautiful too."

Yes, appropriate commercial flattery can be beneficial to the development of friendship between girlfriends.

Shang Beiyu seemed to understand what she meant, smiled slightly, and said nothing more; he held the tinderbox to his side and turned to lead the way.

Previously, the light was too dim for Ji Fengyao to see clearly, but now, with the light from the tinderbox, she realized that this passage was not a single passage, with branch paths appearing on both sides from time to time, and there were obvious drag marks on the ground.

"With so many forks in the road, didn't you get lost back then?" Ji Fengyao asked casually.

"These are not side paths, but dark rooms like prison cells, with nothing inside except some skeletons."

Shang Beiyu didn't say the last sentence;

Ji Fengyao wasn't particularly curious about these mundane secrets, so she didn't press the matter.

Beneath the palace lies a secret passage with numerous prison cells, its entrance located within a palace's sleeping quarters.

It's obvious that this isn't a place where it can be used effectively.

Despite being mentally prepared, Ji Fengyao was still startled when she emerged from the secret passage.

When Shang Beiyu said the exit was in a dilapidated temple, she actually thought it was inside the temple. But it turned out to be in a deserted grave behind the temple—they had actually come out from next to someone else's coffin!