The temperature dropped so sharply frost formed along the white-stone steps.
"Official Song," he said, voice quiet. "The bond between Yan and me is not a business arrangement, not a court favor, and not a seat your daughter can inherit because you think my wife may die."
My wife.
Yan's breath caught.
Jin Liwei did not look at her.
"If Yan returns to the wheel, I will guard the wheel. If her soul breaks, I will gather the pieces. If heaven refuses her, I will stand against heaven. If death claims her, then death will answer to me first."
No one spoke.
The red seal at his throat glowed like blood under moonlight.
"So do not stand before me and speak of replacing her."
Song Ziyi's face went pale.
Official Song's smile finally cracked.
"God of Death, this official meant no insult. I merely spoke of what is practical."
Jin Liwei's gaze sharpened.
"Practical?"
The word sounded almost gentle.
That was worse.
Huan Mei stepped forward before Jin Qiang could.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
Official Song unconsciously took half a step back.
Huan Mei smiled at him.
"Official Song, you are a father. I will respect that much."
Her voice was soft enough to be kind.
It was not kind.
"You believe your daughter is precious. Good. A father should. You believe she deserves a worthy husband. Understandable. You believe she has talent. Perhaps she does."
Song Ziyi's fingers tightened around her sleeve.
Huan Mei's smile deepened.
"But do not mistake your affection for qualification."
The words landed cleanly.
Song Ziyi's face burned red.
Official Song's expression twisted.
Huan Mei continued, still gentle. "My son is not a prize for your daughter's ambition. My daughter-in-law is not an empty seat waiting for a replacement. And your family is not important enough for us to pretend otherwise."
Yan stared at her.
Soft.
Deep.
Fatal.
Jin Fen pressed one hand to his chest. "There. Ultimate weapon."
Ran whispered, "I see it now."
Ye Tianxin nodded. "Educational, is it not?"
Jin Qiang looked proud enough to start a war in his wife's honor.
Official Song's face changed several times.
Anger.
Humiliation.
Fear.
Then pride forced itself back into place.
"Goddess of Disaster speaks sharply," he said.
"No," Huan Mei replied. "I am speaking gently because your daughter is present."
Song Ziyi flinched.
Yan almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
Then Song Ziyi looked at Yan again, and the pity vanished.
There was no shame in that gaze.
Only resentment.
As if Yan had stolen something that had always belonged to her.
Yan found that fascinating.
She had woken up today with no memories, no stable authority, no idea how marriage worked in this life, and apparently still managed to be someone's romantic enemy.
Life after death was busy.
Official Song tried once more.
"God of Death, surely you will not reject every rational alliance for a bond that may not survive the next full moon."
Jin Liwei's expression went completely still.
Before he could answer, Yan spoke.
"I have a question."
Everyone turned to her.
Yan looked at Official Song.
"If I am as unstable and doomed as you say, why are you so eager for him to leave me?"
Song Byin frowned. "Because—"
"No," Yan said. "Think before answering. You are not very good at this."
Jin Fen made a choking sound.
Ran turned away.
Ye Tianxin's fan trembled suspiciously.
Yan continued, her voice calm though her wrist still burned beneath her sleeve. "If I am doomed, then waiting would cost you nothing. If Jin Liwei truly wanted your daughter, he would not need your public begging. And if your daughter is as excellent as you claim, she should not require another woman to die before being considered."
Song Ziyi's face went white.
Then red.
Official Song's eyes sharpened with fury.
Yan tilted her head.
"So which is it? Are you worried for his future, or afraid that I might survive long enough to keep what you want?"
The silence that followed was beautiful.
Even Jin Liwei looked at her.
This time, Yan did not look away.
She was still confused.
Still frightened.
Still unsure what this bond between them meant.
But she was not a vacant seat.
And she was tired of people speaking like she had already died politely enough for them to divide what remained.
Huan Mei's eyes warmed.
Jin Qiang looked delighted.
Ye Tianxin murmured, "Good. She found the throat."
Ran smiled slowly. "There she is."
Official Song could not answer.
Song Ziyi did.
Her voice was quiet, trembling with anger.
"Do you think you are worthy of him?"
Yan looked at her.
Song Ziyi stepped forward despite her father's sharp glance.
"You do not even remember him. You do not remember your vows. You do not remember what he suffered for you. Yet everyone stands around you like the world should bow because you woke up cursed and pitiful."
Jin Liwei's aura surged.
Yan lifted one hand slightly.
He stopped.
She did not know why she trusted him to stop.
But he did.
Yan studied Song Ziyi.
There it was.
Not just jealousy.
Injustice.
In Song Ziyi's mind, Yan had everything without earning it. Love. status. protection. Jin Liwei.
Yan could almost understand the shape of it.
Almost.
"I do not know if I am worthy of him," Yan said.
Song Ziyi froze, clearly not expecting that answer.
Yan glanced at Jin Liwei.
His eyes had softened again.
Dangerous.
She looked back at Song Ziyi.
"But I know this. If your claim depends on my death, then it is not love. It is scavenging."
Song Ziyi's lips parted.
No words came.
Huan Mei smiled.
This time, even Yan felt a little afraid of it.
Official Song's face had gone dark.
"Come, Ziyi."
He turned sharply.
Song Ziyi did not move at first.
Her gaze remained on Yan, filled with humiliation and something that looked dangerously close to a vow.
Then she looked at Jin Liwei.
For one brief moment, her expression cracked.
He had not looked at her once.
Not truly.
That hurt her more than any insult.
Yan saw it.
And for the first time, she understood Song Ziyi might become a problem.
Not because she was loved.
Because she was ignored.
Song Ziyi lowered her head and followed her father.
As they left, Jin Qiang rolled his shoulders.
"A pity. I was hoping he would say one more sentence."
Huan Mei looked at him. "You were hoping to break something."
"Same thing."
Jin Fen offered Yan the food box he had somehow kept safe through the entire confrontation.
"Pastry?"
Yan looked at him.
Then at the box.
Then at the group around her.
Against all reason, she laughed.
It was small.
A little breathless.
But real.
Jin Liwei looked at her as if the sound had undone him.
Yan immediately stopped laughing.
"Do not look at me like that."
He lowered his eyes. "Like what?"
"Like I performed a miracle."
His voice softened. "You did."
Yan's heart made a poor decision.
She turned away before it could make another.
Behind them, the Official Palace stood cold and silent.
Ahead, the path stretched toward uncertainty, evidence, witnesses, and a full moon deadline.
Yan took one step forward.
This time, when Ran's sleeve brushed her hand, Yan did not move away.
And when Jin Liwei walked beside her, she noticed.
She also did not tell him to leave.