Love is a weakness I cannot afford.

Streets of the Capital Xuanjing

The streets of the capital were alive with the hum of daily life, yet Xu Liangchen and Zhou Jinyu walked in near silence. The faint scent of roasted chestnuts and fresh ink from calligraphy stalls lingered in the air, but neither man paid attention to their surroundings.

Zhou Jinyu stole a glance at his lord, his sharp eyes studying the stoic expression on Xu Liangchen's face. He had known this man for years—had fought beside him, survived alongside him, shared both victories and losses. And yet, when it came to matters of the heart, Xu Liangchen was an enigma even to him.

Unable to hold back any longer, Zhou Jinyu spoke. "My lord, why didn't you go to her? Miss Feng was right there, yet you chose to walk away."