The overwhelming sense of absolute safety, a safety she hadn’t felt since she transmigrated into this chaotic world, pulled her instantly down into the dark, comforting void of sleep.

At the base of the stairs, Xiao Yichen stood frozen.

The Second Prince had stepped out of the carriage fully intending to assert his imperial authority.

He had planned to formally hand over the runaway heir, accept the General’s gratitude, and smoothly insert himself into the estate as an honoured guest to keep his eye on Ji’an.

But as he watched the towering War God sweep the cook up into a protective, incredibly tender embrace, Yichen felt a sharp spike of pure, unadulterated jealousy.

’He let him hold him,’ Yichen thought, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. ’He fought me to the death over a simple touch, sprinted away from the Ice Demon. But he collapses into his arms without a second thought? Is General Lin that trustworthy to him?’

Logically, Yichen knew it was her father.

But the obsessive core of his soul didn’t care about bloodlines. It only cared that someone else was providing her with the sanctuary she had denied him.

Yichen composed his face, pasting on his flawless, aristocratic smile. He snapped his fan open and took a step toward the stairs.

"General Lin," Yichen called out, his voice smooth and melodic. "It is an honor to return your errant sons to you. It was a perilous journey, but Martial Uncle Lin proved to be an... exceptional traveling companion. I trust you will provide us with quarters, so we may rest before I return to the Palace?"

General Lin paused at the top of the stairs, holding his sleeping daughter securely against his chest.

He slowly turned his head, looking down at the Imperial Prince.

The look in General Lin’s eyes was not the deferential, polite gaze of a subject looking at his future Emperor.

It was the cold, calculating, incredibly dangerous glare of a father who commanded armies, evaluating a predator that had followed his child home.

"Your Highness," General Lin rumbled, his voice echoing across the courtyard like rolling thunder.

He offered a slight, stiff nod of his head instead of a bow, as his arms were occupied.

"The Lin Estate is profoundly grateful for your escort," the General stated, his tone polite, but carrying the unmistakable, immovable weight of an iron door slamming shut. "However, the Emperor has been anticipating your return for three days. Your presence is required at the Imperial Court immediately to report on the border disturbances."

Yichen’s smile tightened. "The Emperor can wait until morning. My companions and I—"

"Your companions require immediate medical attention and rest," General Lin interrupted, his voice rising just enough to brook absolutely no argument. He was a Grand General; within the walls of his estate, his word was law, even to a Prince. "They will not be receiving guests. I have ordered my personal guard to escort your carriage directly to the Palace gates. Safe travels, Your Highness."

It was a polite, formal, completely undeniable eviction.

Yichen stared up at the General. For a terrifying second, the dark, murderous abyss threatened to swallow his composure.

He wanted to summon the Azure Severing Threads. He wanted to tear the estate down to the foundations and rip Ji’an from the man’s arms.

But he was in the capital. He was surrounded by the Lin army, so he could not start a civil war.

Not today.

Yichen snapped his fan shut.

His eyes darted to Ji’an’s sleeping face, resting peacefully against the cold iron armor, before snapping back to the General.

"Very well, General," Yichen smiled, a dark, terrifying promise in his eyes. "I shall leave my Royal Uncle to your care. But be assured... I will return."

General Lin didn’t respond and turned his back on the Prince.

"Captain!" General Lin barked to his shadow-commander. "Take Xuan to the western medical wing! Have the healers flush his meridians and feed him! And lock him in his room! If he so much as looks at the front gate, I’ll break his legs myself!"

Xuan, who had been nervously standing by the carriage, visibly gulped, but he scrambled to follow the guards, entirely relieved just to be home.

"And her?" the Captain asked, pointing at the terrified, beautiful stray girl who was still standing by the carriage wheel, looking lost without Ji’an to cling to.

General Lin glanced at the girl, his expression unreadable. "Put her in the eastern guest wing. Assign two maids to watch her. Do not let her wander the estate."

With his orders issued, General Lin Tianzong adjusted his grip on his sleeping child. He didn’t hand her off to a servant. He didn’t call for a palanquin.

He carried her himself.

He walked past the grand halls, past the lotus ponds, and deep into the innermost sanctum of the estate.

He walked until he reached his own private, heavily warded courtyard, a place where even his other sons and trusted lieutenants were forbidden to enter without explicit permission.

The heavy spirit-wood doors clicked shut behind them, sealing the world away.

General Lin carried Ji’an into his private chambers.

He gently laid her down on the massive, plush mattress. He didn’t call for the maids. He kept his promise.

With incredibly gentle, calloused hands, the terrifying War God untied the soot-stained gray apron. He unfastened the ruined white tunic.

And, with a deep, furious sigh at the bruising it had caused, he carefully unwrapped the tight, suffocating linen chest binder, allowing his daughter to finally, truly breathe.

He pulled the heavy silk quilt up to her chin, tucking her in.

He sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to brush a stray, dark lock of hair from her forehead.

He looked at the exhaustion, the newly acquired scars, and the terrifyingly dense spiritual energy radiating from her small frame.

No one knew what was going on in his mind as he stared at her sleeping face.