When Xique changed into men's clothing and chased after her, Lin Shuang was nowhere to be seen on the street.

Fengxiang City truly lives up to its reputation as a mini-Kyoto. This is the busiest time in Fengxiang City, with the streets bustling with people. Finding Lin Shuang among so many people is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Having no other choice, Xique had to ask Wuhen and Wuzhong for help, and the three of them split up to search.

At this time.

Shang Beiyu also entered Fengxiang City and was strolling along the street, looking for a place that caught his eye to rest for the time being; the flow of people coming and going here was complicated, and it was also a transit and resting point for the various forces sent by Kyoto.

He believed that even if he couldn't find the little female bandit here, he could always find some clues about the Ninth Prince.

Lin Shuang wandered aimlessly down the street, looking lost and dejected.

She also knew that, given her status, she had no right to lose her temper with her master, much less the right to abandon her master who still needed her service and run away on her own.

She was a servant, and servants were of lowly status.

In a normal family, such a thing would result in being sold off at best, or even beaten to death at worst.

She did this simply because the princess treated her well; it was utterly rebellious.

But she couldn't control herself; her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by the fiery claws of a demon, suffocating her and burning her with pain.

She had never thought about or realized how much she cared for Black Owl before. Now, suddenly knowing that she might never be able to have Black Owl, never be with him, she realized just how deeply she had fallen in love with him.

When he was on the boat to the underworld, he turned back and gave her a gentle smile;

Every time he greeted her as they passed each other on ordinary days;

Even his conversations with princes, princesses, Marquis Anping, and the heir of Anping—sometimes nonchalant, sometimes witty and humorous, sometimes quiet and reserved—everything about him was deeply imprinted in her heart.

Giving up on him and losing him like this is really painful and she feels very unwilling!

Lin Shuang forgot that she had changed into women's clothing but hadn't had time to remove her makeup.

How bizarre it was that her rough, masculine face, paired with the latest and most fashionable dresses from Kyoto, made her look so strange.

So heartbroken she was almost in a daze that she didn't even notice the stares of passersby.

And the pointing and whispering behind her back.

Shang Beiyu hadn't noticed Lin Shuang at all.

But just as he brushed past Lin Shuang, a little girl pointed at Lin Shuang and said to her mother in a clear voice, "Mom, look at that uncle's dress, it's so pretty."

Upon hearing this, Shang Beiyu followed the little girl's hand and glanced back at Lin Shuang:

Why does this man's back look so familiar?

Shang Beiyu was searching through his chaotic memories for a time when he had seen such a man's back. Several fierce-looking men walked in front of Lin Shuang; they were local thugs and bullies from Fengxiang City.

When people saw these people, they all ran away and made way for them, avoiding them at all costs.

Distracted and lost, Lin Shuang didn't notice the strange behavior of the people and bumped into one of them, falling to the ground after being knocked down by the burly man.

"Where did this blind brat come from, daring to bump into our boss?" A thug behind the man saw this and stepped forward and kicked Lin Shuang, sending her rolling several times on the ground.

Lin Shuang finally came to her senses and looked up at the group with the fierce gaze of a caged beast, her eyes reddening.