jade butterfly

[Content Summary]

They were a pair of jade butterflies bestowed by Emperor Guangxu. In fact, they were two halves of a butterfly. They were complete when separated, but even more perfect when put together.
Legend has it that the two halves grew in different places. He didn’t believe it because he didn’t believe there could be such a miracle in the world—one half seemed to be born for the other, a destined fit.
It is a great irony of the world to bless her and him with this pair of butterflies. He is going to marry a woman he has only met twice, and on both occasions, he only had fleeting impressions.
What’s more, she is a princess, a princess of the Qing Dynasty, a princess with a broken finger.
Could she be his other half?

[Main Text]

Chapter 1 (Part 1)
Nanjing, the sixth year of the Republic of China.
It is late autumn and early winter, the moonlight is like water, and the weather is slightly chilly.
Yao Family Hutong is an unremarkable hutong in Nanjing, and the Weishuzhai is an unremarkable small courtyard in the hutong.
It was late at night, and the only restless things were the dogs in a few households in the courtyard, whose occasional barking broke the tranquility of the moonlit night. There was still a flickering candlelight in the study. It was actually just a place where a group of aspiring young people gathered. But at the moment, there lay one of the student leaders, Jin Fei, who had been injured in the student movement a few days ago.
She has been in a coma for two days. Although Dr. Lang has determined that her injuries are no longer life-threatening, the loss of physical strength has kept her unconscious. She is accompanied by two young men.
Fang Haotian is the thin man sitting at the desk. He has a handsome face and a slender figure. His scholarly temperament is revealed in his grey long gown, and his refined scholarly bearing is enhanced by a pair of delicate black-rimmed glasses.
Mu Jingting was sitting in front of the fireplace, deep in thought. The flames reflected in his deep eyes, but the candlelight seemed unable to warm his cold face. He had a similar gentle and refined air to Haotian, but also had a more rigid temperament.
The person in bed let out a soft sigh, and both of them moved at the same time.
Hao Tian walked over to the bed and carefully examined Cinnabar’s face. The orange candle light illuminated her pale and emaciated face. Her eyelids twitched, as if she was trying her best to open them, but in the end she failed. Jing Ting brought a cup of warm water and tenderly placed it at Cinnabar’s lips. She just unconsciously opened her lips, so he could only moisten her lips.

‘I don’t know when she’ll wake up,‘ Hao Tian’s voice was clear, as gentle as he himself.
’It should be soon.‘
’I can’t even remember how many times she’s been injured.‘ Hao Tian left the bed and walked back to the desk.
’She never knows how to protect herself.‘
’That’s what makes her so precious, isn’t it?’ Hao Tian looked back at Jing Ting, ’She has passion, which is something you and I lack.’
Yes, that’s what they lack.
They are no longer the hot-blooded young men who rampaged around back then. A few years of hard work have matured them, and they have learned how to deal with the puppet government through trial and error. It can be said that they are more resourceful, but they have also unconsciously lost the passion of those days.
Jingting smiled indifferently, ‘Her revolutionary ideals are even more radical than ours.’
‘You’ve taught her well.‘
Jing Ting’s hand, which had been fiddling with the embers, trembled slightly. He paused and said, “The government has officially apologised to the school, and the military police who injured people have all been dismissed.”
’Hmph!‘ Hao Tian snorted in disdain, “It’s the same old trick. It’s really hypocritical and disgusting.”
Jing Ting said nothing.
’How is the Women’s Normal University doing?‘
’It’s still being repaired, but classes should be able to start in another week.’
‘Hmm,‘ Hao Tian nodded, thinking about whether or not to ask the next question.
He looked at Jing Ting’s face in the light of the fire, a face he knew so well. He was familiar with every unruly angle and every profound expression on it.
’Do you remember how long we’ve known each other?’
‘Huh?‘ Jingting looked up in puzzlement, then lowered his head again. After a moment of thought, he said, “Twenty years, I think. I recognised you when you were first adopted by the Varnel Church.”
’Well, twenty years is not a short time,’ Hao Tian looked straight at Jingting, ’but I often feel that I still don’t understand you.’
In their careers, they have supported and trusted each other. Jingting’s calm decisiveness and his careful prudence have always complemented each other, making them the perfect pair. In their lives, they have spent every waking moment together for twenty years, and have long since cultivated a tacit understanding that they can understand each other with just a glance. But why do I still often feel like I don’t understand him?
‘I often don’t understand myself either,’ Jingting said lightly.
Hao Tian let out a sigh. He knew that he didn’t want to pursue the topic, but he couldn’t hold back some things: ‘Are you really planning to get married?’
The firewood in the charcoal stove suddenly shifted, setting off a few sparks, and brushed past the hem of Jing Ting’s black long shirt. His body trembled slightly, but he immediately regained his usual composure: ‘You know, this is the only place I don’t want to mention that matter.’
‘But…‘
’I have to go,’ Jingting interrupted, “Zhiqi is still sitting outside stupidly. You know she is stubborn, if I go out later, she will definitely freeze to death.” He picked up his cloak and patted the dust on it: “I’ll go and get Zhiqi to come in. It’s getting chilly recently, so you guys stay by the bed and remember to put on a quilt.”
He knew he was avoiding the issue, and the more casual he acted, the more uneasy it made people feel: ’Do you really want to hide it from her?’
Jing Ting stopped what he was doing and stared earnestly into his eyes: ‘If we’re still friends, promise me you won’t tell her.’
Hao Tian also looked him in the eye, but he finally lost. His gaze was so decisive and influential that how could anyone say no? ‘If she finds out for herself, she won’t forgive you.’
‘In fact, it’s better for everyone.’ Jing Ting didn’t even turn around as he walked out.

“Better for everyone.’
What did he mean?
Hao Tian looked at the confused person in bed and felt a stab of pain in his heart.
Was Jing Ting hinting at something?
His thoughts suddenly drifted back to the spring when he first met Jin Fei. It was his third year at Central University. At the time, he and Jing Ting had given impassioned speeches in the open-air square on campus, in the heady days of youthful enthusiasm.
The stands were packed with people, not just Central University students, but also students from other universities. People with the same beliefs had gathered here for the future of the country and the rise and fall of the world. As the emotions of the crowd below gradually intensified, the mood of the people on stage became more difficult to calm.
‘The future of China depends on us!’ He and Jingting shouted from the stage.
‘It’s up to us young people!’ A response came from the audience, a clear female voice, gentle but firm, not loud but causing the entire venue to fall silent.
Following the sound, he saw a petite girl not far away under a poplar tree, wearing a pure white sweater and a black cloth skirt. Her short hair was past her ears and obediently stuck to her cheeks. Her white cheeks were like jade, and the delicate features unique to Jiangnan girls carved out a perfect face.
The breeze blew the poplar catkins all over the tree, and they danced gracefully in the air. She smiled gently among the flying catkins, a deep, quiet smile.
His gaze lingered for a moment before he returned to the mood of the speech, except that the frequency of his gaze in that direction was clearly higher than average. He noticed that she had listened to them very attentively. Although she looked like just a high school student, the expression of concentration revealed an uncharacteristic maturity for her age.
After the speech, he and Jingting walked towards the Science Building.
He couldn’t help but glance back in the direction of the poplar tree. To his surprise, the pretty figure was running towards them. The girl ran up to them, pressing her hands against her chest while panting. Finally, her breathing stopped and she looked up and smiled brightly, ‘Can I be your friend?’
Her hand reached out in front of them, her expression unpretentious. Before he could reach out, Jingting had already grasped the slender hand.
‘Mu Jingting,‘ Jingting’s deep eyes revealed a rare appreciation.
’My name is Jin Fei,‘ the girl’s smile became even brighter, radiating dazzling light.
’Fang Haotian,’ he finally also extended his hand and shook it with them.
From then on, on the campus of Zhongda University, in the consolation study, they could often be seen in a “threesome,” and their feelings for each other gradually grew deeper.

Jin Fei was born into a scholarly family, but her parents died young, and she was left to live with her elderly grandfather. Her grandfather, a teacher at Zhongda University, was naturally more open-minded, and his upbringing of Jin Fei incorporated Western democratic values, which is why Jin Fei has such a frank personality. After graduating from high school, Jin Fei went on to study at Jiangling Women’s Normal University. She loved literature and especially admired Jing Ting, who was good at classical Chinese.
Jinfei didn’t really like her name very much. ‘If I had my way, I’d use the character for “non” in the word for right and wrong, as it has a meaning of exhortation and also shows a man’s carefree style,’ she said.
Jingting shook his head, however, and said, ‘I prefer the artistic conception of “snow and rain falling in flurries”. Whether it’s “the smoke disperses as the horses gallop in all directions” or “the forest opens as the sun rises, and the caves close as the clouds return”, it all gives rise to endless reveries.’
Cenfei has always admired the scholarly air of Jingting, and has since jokingly called Jingting her Chinese teacher, while Haotian tutors her in mathematics.
It is impossible for the three of them to get along in absolute balance, but no one has ever made it clear.
Now, Jingting is getting married. So does that mean the things that cannot be explained are over?
‘It’s for the best,’ is Jingting’s hint, or is it just my own overactive imagination?
‘It’s cold!‘ Zhiqi yawned and walked into the house. “Jingting left early tonight.”
’Oh, yeah, he was worried that you’d catch a cold,‘ Hao Tian quickly recovered his thoughts.
’You guys are really something, if there’s something you can’t let me hear, why do you have to make me go somewhere else? You know, that room outside can’t even block the wind…”
Hao Tian responded, unconsciously listening to Zhiqi’s nagging.

‘Young master, you’re out?’ Several people in the alley were leaning against the bluestone wall smoking pipes. When they saw Jingting leaving the house, the old servant Aju, who was in charge, hurriedly took Jingting’s cloak, and the other sedan chair bearers quickly went to the front of the sedan chair to prepare to carry it back to the house.
Jingting frowned. He had always hated the style of the old system. He thought that a big man like him had to be followed by several servants when going out at night, as if he were a child. If his parents saw him facing the gunfire alone, they would faint from fear. But recently, he hasn’t been in the mood to resist. He is very tired, so tired that he doesn’t want to say ‘no’ to that family anymore.
‘You’ve been waiting for so long, aren’t you cold?’
‘Hey, what’s a little cold? I come from the northeast, and the weather there is really cold.’ A Qiu shivered, but he still stuck to his guns.
‘Hm,‘ Jingting looked at him through the gap in the curtain as he shivered, and couldn’t help but lift the corner of his mouth. “I’ve been to the Northeast a few times. It’s cold, but the bed is very warm.”
’You’ve been there, young master? Oh, yes, the young master often travels around, so of course he’s seen a lot. Alas, I’ve been in the Mu family for decades, but I haven’t been home to visit in a long time.’
The creaking sound of the sedan chair echoed loudly in the quiet night.
‘By the way, young master, do you still need to go to the study these two days?’
‘Why?’ He half-closed his eyes and rested against the back of the chair.
“Well… I heard that, Yi Xuan… no, that young mistress has already arrived in Nanjing City, and you should stay at home and take care of things.’
She’s already arrived?
Time flies. He agreed to the marriage just a month or two ago, and she’s already here.
The Qing family is really fast.
‘My lord, I heard that the second young lady is very beautiful. Although there weren’t many people in the entourage, they brought a lot of treasures, all of them tributes from the previous dynasty. She should have been a princess, and she really doesn’t lack for style.’
‘Really?’ He sneers inwardly.
‘My lord, I heard that your marriage was even bestowed by the emperor. Back then, although I had already moved to Nanjing, I also knew that this marriage caused a stir in Beijing.”
A stir in the capital. Chapter 1 (Part 2)
Rewind 21 years ago.
The Fu family was of imperial lineage, descended from the Eight Banners.
Although the Fu family was not as glorious as the Aisin Gioro clan, it was also a clan that the Qing dynasty could not afford to ignore. The Mu family were descendants of the Admiral of the Two Rivers, and Mu Jihong was appointed governor of the capital. By chance, he met Fu Cha Zai Huan, and the two men felt a sense of kinship.
Although the Qing dynasty’s concept of ‘Manchu and Han as one family’ had long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, Mu Jihong’s Han identity and straightforward character had long become a thorn in the eyes of the Manchu aristocracy. He had been persecuted several times, but each time he had managed to escape thanks to Fu Zha Zai Huan’s protection.
‘The Mu family are loyal subjects of the Qing dynasty, not traitors,’ Zai Huan is said to have told Empress Dowager Cixi, who had a request for a thorough investigation of the Mu family on her desk at the time.
‘How do you know?’ Cixi asked, puffing on her opium pipe with an arrogant air.
‘From my experience in knowing people.‘
’Hahahaha…your experience?’ Cixi laughed, “Why should I believe your experience?”
Zai Huan drew the short knife from his boot and brought it down. Red blood gushed from the side of his thigh, but Zai Huan did not even frown. His face was full of righteousness.
Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly lost her colour, and for a long time she remained frozen on the dragon throne. Then she threw the ginseng root at Zai Huan.
The Mu family was finally safe from harm, but Mu Jihong decided to leave the capital, a place of controversy, and return to Jiangnan, where they belonged. There was the Mu family fortune, and there was the Mu family reputation.

At that time, Fu Zha Zai Huan’s concubine was already ten months pregnant.
The main consort of Zaihuan was the one the emperor had arranged for him, and she had died of illness many years ago. The secondary consort was originally the cousin of Zaihuan’s childhood friend Zuma, and the couple were deeply in love.
That winter, the snowflakes were flying and it was exceptionally cold.
‘Wow—’ the cry of a baby girl pierced the sky, and Zaihuan, who had been walking around the front courtyard anxiously, finally beamed with joy.
‘It’s a girl! The concubine has given birth to a girl!’ The midwife ran up to Zai Huan holding a tiny baby in her arms. “Congratulations, Your Highness, congratulations! The concubine has given birth to a princess for Your Highness. I have been delivering babies for many years, and I have never seen such a pretty baby girl.”
Zai Huan took the baby girl and couldn’t stop looking at her snow-white face and delicate features.
‘Ah!’ the midwife suddenly exclaimed, “the princess’s hand!”
Zai Huan lowered his head and pulled out the little hand half-covered in silk. He was shocked to discover that the little finger on her right hand was congenitally missing a joint.
She was a princess with a missing finger!
The few months of anticipation and the moment of joy were immediately diminished by this misfortune. For a woman, a missing finger is not just a physical defect, it is also an unlucky symbol.
A woman with a broken finger or broken eyebrow is always considered inauspicious.
Although the Manchus did not mind these rumours as much as the Han people, they still minded them after all.

Before leaving, Mr. and Mrs. Mu Jihong visited the infant Princess in the Prince Qing’s mansion.
“The little Princess is exactly like the Consort. She will definitely be intelligent in the future.’ Mrs. Mu held the little princess in her arms. The little one didn’t cry or fuss, but instead, she gave a sweet smile, which was truly endearing. ‘Look, she’s smiling at me,’ said Mrs. Mu, who immediately fell in love with the delicate baby girl, who looked like a porcelain doll.
‘No matter how smart she is, it’s useless,’ said Zai Huan with a somewhat helpless smile. ‘I’m afraid she won’t even have a good future.’
‘Would marrying into our Mu family be considered a good future?’ Mu Jihong suddenly asked with a smile.
‘Brother Jihong, don’t joke about this.‘
’Is this a joke?‘ Jihong said seriously, “You and I are brothers who share life and death, and I, Mu Jihong, owe my life to you, my older brother. Now that our family is moving south, I don’t know how many chances we will have to get together in the future. I don’t want this relationship to end like this. It would also be gratifying if our children can continue our friendship.”
’But this child…’
‘Whether this child resembles the Prince or the Princess, he is a rare talent. My second son, Jingting, is only three years old, and although he may not have the talent of a general, he is quite intelligent. I only hope that the Prince will not find him distasteful.‘
’Brother Jihong…‘ Zai Huan’s brows gradually unfurled.
’I, Mu Jihong, cannot guarantee anything else, but if the Princess really marries into our family, I guarantee that she will not suffer in the slightest in the future.’
Zai Huan smiled slightly: ‘Brother Ji Hong, this child hasn’t been given a name yet. The Mu family is a scholarly family, so I’d be very grateful if you could give her a name.’
‘For my children, I only hope that they will have a carefree life. According to legend, day lilies have a quiet fragrance that makes you forget your worries when you smell them, so I think we should name her Yixuan.’
‘Good, Yixuan! Fu cai Yixuan.’
…
Zai Huan’s loyalty to the Mu family and the marriage between the two families were widely praised in the capital.
Soon after, Emperor Guangxu sent a pair of jade butterflies as a congratulatory gift. It is said that the jade butterflies had been buried in the mountains of the South China Sea for a thousand years, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, and were a rare treasure in the world. Therefore, this marriage also had a touch of imperial favour.

Thinking about this, Jingting’s mouth curled into a cold arc—who would have thought that the golden and jade-like marriage that everyone saw back then would evolve into such a desolate situation today?
The Qing Dynasty is over, and the imperial relatives are also running out of luck. It is said that today’s Prince Qing’s Mansion is just a small courtyard, and the former prosperity has long since vanished.
The Mu family, on the other hand, after leaving the civil service, became wealthy in the Jiangnan region thanks to their ancestral estate. But this prosperity was only a flash in the pan, and when the revolution really broke out, everything should have been reduced to ashes.
And he, the anomaly in the eyes of his family, was the main reason why people did not look favourably on this marriage.
He really didn’t want this marriage.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about running away, he had already been putting it off for three years.
At the age of twenty-one, Mu Jihong mentioned the marriage to Jing Ting for the first time. He had not yet graduated from university, and he used his studies as an excuse to put off the marriage.
At the age of twenty-two, without a good excuse, he raised his dissatisfaction with his family for the first time, advocating the new idea of ‘free love and marriage’, which immediately caused a huge uproar in the family.
‘Parents are like the sky; their words cannot be disobeyed, not to mention the congratulatory gift bestowed by the late emperor,‘ said his grandfather.
’The Fu family has been kind to the Mu family, and fortunes wax and wane. Now the Fu family is in decline, and it would be unreasonable and unfilial of us to go back on our word,‘ said his father.
’If Yixuan were just an ordinary girl, it would be fine, but she cut off her finger. If you go back on your promise to marry her, it would be unkind and unjust of us,’ said his mother.
In the end, it was all about feudalism, about benevolence and righteousness, about family honour. No one ever asked how he felt, no one was willing to listen to his thoughts.
At the age of 23, faced with his family’s renewed urging, he began to consider running away to start a family. However, halfway through his journey, he received the news that his grandfather had suffered a stroke. Although he knew that this was not a complete cause and effect link to his running away, the self-blame in his heart was very strong. After all, he could not sever his emotional ties to this family. Even though he was pursuing the revolution advocated by the Ming emperor, he could not sever his emotional ties to this family. He returned home and compromised, promising to marry his grandfather before his bedside.
Now, he is 24 years old, and Yixuan has also come south from Beiping to Nanjing.
They, who were originally thousands of miles apart, have finally gathered in the same city.
He, finally, has nowhere to escape.

‘We’re here, sir.”
Jingting stepped out of the sedan chair, rewarded the bearers, and returned to the house with Aqiu.
The moon was high in the sky, countless stars shone, but his heart was exceptionally dark. November in Nanjing was also this cool, and he couldn’t help but shiver. He tightened his cloak, let out a light sigh, and walked towards the not-too-far black wooden door with carved patterns.
The two stone lions beside the door were covered in moonlight and exceptionally bright, and the heavy door revealed the wealth and prominence of the Mu family.
When he knocked on the door, Liu Ma showed a concerned expression, pulled the cloak on him tighter, and asked without forgetting to say, ‘Young master, you’re back so late? The master and the others have already gone to bed.’
‘Today is considered early,’ A Xiu blabbered.
Liu Mama ignored him and continued to follow Jingting: ‘Today was a busy day at the mansion, and the things in the West Courtyard are almost packed. Second Mistress led some maids to the inn to greet Princess Xuan, and when they returned, the mansion was in an uproar. Everyone said that Princess Xuan was born to be beautiful, even more so than the eldest young lady.
Jingting remained frowning and silent, filled with all this news. Thinking of his sister-in-law, he couldn’t help but feel some sadness. That gentle woman had died young, and she too was a victim of an arranged marriage.
“And, Princess Xuan had the second concubine bring back a lot of jewellery to reward our servants. I can tell that those things are tributes from the Forbidden City and are very valuable.’
Seeing the excitement in Liu Ma’s eyes, Jingting found it even more ridiculous. A disgraced princess could also spend money like water, and she had already won over her servants‘ loyalty even before she had entered the marriage.
’Liu Ma,’ Jingting turned back and interrupted her chatter, ’you should go to bed early. I can go back to the Western Courtyard alone.’
‘Then…you be careful, the courtyard is cold.‘ Liu Ma handed him the lantern.

Passing by the lotus pond, he suddenly noticed two figures by the edge of the pond. Jingting of course recognised who they were.
Coughing, Jingzhi hurriedly stood up and looked at him anxiously. A petite girl next to him blushed and ran away with her head down.
’Second Brother, you scared me,’ Jingzhi complained discontentedly.
‘Why did you pull out Zhenyun at this hour? Aren’t you afraid of bumping into your uncle?‘
’Cough, I know father has already gone to bed before I came out.‘
’Don’t do this again in the future, it’s not good for Zhenyun either.”
Jingzhi is the son of the second master and his cousin, but their relationship is the best among all brothers. Jingzhi is four years younger than Jingting and is also a new young man who pursues democracy and progress. Zhenyun is a young maid in her mother’s room.
Zhenyun’s real name was not Zhenyun; she was originally called Meixiang, but Jingzhi gave her a unique and elegant name, quite like the way Baoyu gave his name to Xiren. Not only did her mother, but even Jingting sometimes find it hard to get used to calling her that, but Jingzhi was quite pleased with himself.
Xiren did not get a happy ending.
Jingting wondered to himself if Jingzhi was aware of this.
‘We are innocent,‘ Jingzhi blushed and hurriedly defended herself.
’I didn’t say you weren’t.‘
’Don’t talk about me, you’ve been the star of the show at the Mu residence lately. I heard that today, the second concubine went to the inn to see my future sister-in-law.‘
’I just heard that too.’
‘As soon as I returned to the mansion, I heard everyone talking about it. Zhenyun said she had also gone with them, and spent the whole night nagging me about it, saying that the princess was so beautiful she didn’t look like a mortal, and was even more beautiful than my sister-in-law.”
Jingting felt a little upset. Why did everyone keep comparing her to his sister-in-law? That woman was a tragedy, belonging to his eldest brother and the Mu family. Did this mean he would create another tragedy?
He didn’t want to, never wanted to hurt anyone, and didn’t even want to get involved with others unnecessarily.
But at the moment, he couldn’t even control his own destiny, let alone anything else.
‘So what?’ he replied impatiently.
‘In that case…’ Jingzhi suddenly grinned, ‘at least you won’t grow tired of each other.’
‘Don’t joke with me. You know what I think.’
“But what can you do? I understand you. You’ve already agreed, haven’t you?’
It’s easy to say when it’s not your own business: ‘If Dad asked you to marry someone you didn’t like, would you obey?’
‘Like?’ Jingzhi suddenly looked at him and said, ‘If I have to say someone I like, of course I have someone. In this life, I only like Zhiyun. But what about you? Do you have someone you like? Is it Sister Jinfei?’
‘Don’t talk nonsense,’ Jingting subconsciously denied, ‘Jinfi and I are just good friends.’
‘Okay, okay, I won’t say anything. Think about it yourself. If you’re just casual friends, there’s no reason for you to refuse this marriage.’ After saying this, Jingzhi whistled as he walked towards his residence.
However, he remained rooted in place.

Did he like Jinfei?
He directed his gaze at the empty lotus pond in front of him, which was filled with nothing but withered leaves.
Intentionally or unintentionally, he never really considered his own emotions.
There was no shortage of women around him. In college, he had fallen in love with the young girls, the famous ladies in the Mu family social circle, and even the various women he had met at work. There were so many women who were devoted to him, but when he thought about it, there really wasn’t a woman who had truly moved him.
Nation before family. Now the country is in turmoil, and stabilising the situation is the top priority. How can I get entangled in personal relationships? He has always believed this, but if he doesn’t meet the other half of his soul in this life, can his life of dedication to the country be considered complete?
The night wind whips up a fallen leaf in the lotus pond, and he suddenly frowns again. Is there really no place in his heart for any woman? Then how can he explain his unusual feelings for Cinnabar?
He had never forgotten that spring day with the flying cotton wool, nor the quiet woman under the tree. What had most impressed him was not her iconic face, but the pair of bright eyes that had been full of emotions and had long held his gaze.
She understood him, and he had come to that conclusion just from their first exchange of glances. The connection they had forged since then had made him even more aware of that rare kind of tacit understanding.
But he had never thought about anything other than friendship. Perhaps it was because he knew too well that some balances should not be broken lightly, especially the balance between the three of them.

As for Fu Cha Yixuan, Jing Ting habitually frowned again. She was simply a shadow that was too distant for him. If they knew each other, it was probably because he had seen her when he was three years old and she was just a month old in her swaddling clothes, or maybe once.
It was when he was ten years old, and the Mu family had specially come to the capital to visit Prince Qing.
He could never forget the imposing style of the Prince Qing’s mansion, but the young boy already knew that the style only came from hereditary status, and he also vaguely knew that one day that style would disappear.
He was right, because eight years later, the Xinhai Revolution turned the Qing Dynasty into history.
He could no longer remember the appearance of Prince Zai Huan and his concubine, but they seemed to be two dignified people. As for Fu Cha Yixuan, he didn’t really mean to wander into the back garden. He just couldn’t find his way back to the guesthouse and so he bumped into some children flying kites in the back garden.
He couldn’t remember exactly what they looked like, and he didn’t bother to try to remember. There was a girl in a red cheongsam, tall and slender, and another in a pink cheongsam, smaller and plumper, but it was obvious that they were both members of the imperial family, and they exuded aristocratic charm.
A young Manchu boy of 16 or 17 was flying kites with them.
The pink-clad girl’s kite flew high, and she and the boy jumped for joy together. The red-clad girl next to her looked increasingly gloomy. ‘I’m not going to fly it anymore, it’s not fun at all.’
‘What’s wrong, sister?’ The pink-clad girl hurriedly ran up to her and asked.
‘Your kite is a good one, but the one you gave me is rubbish, it doesn’t fly high at all, Ama is really biased,’ the red-clad girl complained loudly.
‘Sister, don’t be angry, let’s switch,‘ the pink-clad girl cooed soothingly.
’Okay!”
But the result of the switch was that the pink-clad girl’s kite still flew higher.
Hmph, Jingting snorted in disdain, it was obvious that she was just not as skilled as the other person.
Just as the red-clad girl was about to fly into another rage, the pink-clad girl handed her kite to the young man next to her and ran over to her sister, ’Sister, let’s work together to make the kite fly higher.’
‘Hm!’ The anger that had just started to rise was suppressed, “Yixuan is so nice.”
Yixuan – if he remembered correctly, that was the name she had called.
But at that time, he would never have imagined that he would never be able to escape from those two annoying words.
Was that ridiculous? He was about to marry a woman he had only met twice, and on both occasions, he had only been able to catch a fleeting glimpse of her.
He pulled his cloak closed and determined to leave all these annoying things behind, walking quickly towards Xiyuan.
Chapter 2 (Part 1)
The Mu family wedding was finally held in the cold early winter.
The Mu family was a wealthy family, and the neighbours were inevitably paying extra attention to this marriage.
In this turbulent and unstable environment, there was still such a thing for people to talk about, and everyone seemed quite satisfied, at least having one more thing to talk about over tea and meals.
What’s more, the bride was a former Qing princess, the princess who had broken her finger, and a princess of peerless beauty.
The red bridal sedan chair, the red ceremonial procession, the red bride price, the red dowry.
The fiery colours were a wanton way of expressing the passionate atmosphere of the wedding, and the air’s murderous chill was also tempered by this atmosphere. However, the desolation on Jingting’s face did not diminish in the slightest, and in fact, the angularity of his face became even more severe.
He was a little distracted, and the scene of Hao Tian finding him in the clothing store that day kept playing on his mind.

That day, he was being manipulated mechanically as he tried on the joyous wedding dress. Hao Tian burst into the room, his face ashen.

‘Mr. Fang, you’re here to help the young master look at clothes too?’ A Xiu asked unknowingly.
‘I need to talk to him.‘ Hao Tian’s gaze passed over the others and rested directly on him.
’Leave us,‘ he said.
’Huh? Oh,’ A Xiu sheepishly led the others away.
‘Mu Jingting, you’re crazy! I thought you said you’d think it over. I thought you’d think it through. But now you’re getting married, and I found out from someone else.‘
’What difference does it make when it happens?‘ he replied indifferently, casually arranging the red bouquet in his tuxedo.
’Have you really given it all up? Have you forgotten all your past vows? We keep saying we want to innovate, be free, and emancipate ourselves, but we’ve already become feudalist slaves ourselves.’
‘If you were me, what would you do?‘ He looked at Haotian quietly. Run away or rebel? That would only make his partially paralyzed grandfather die immediately, make his father furious, and make his mother fall ill from depression.
Haotian suddenly ran out of words. “You shouldn’t be so negative at least.”
’You know I’ve already tried. There are some things you just have to try once to know, and there’s no point in struggling… In fact, I envy your freedom.’
Hao Tian sighed and said, ‘What are you going to do?’
‘What?’ Jing Ting looked up, puzzled.
‘I mean, what are you going to do with the wife you married?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘If Cinfay wakes up, I wonder how she’ll react.’
If Cinfay woke up…he couldn’t imagine what the situation would be.
So, he hoped the wedding would end early.
So, thankfully, she didn’t wake up.

‘Young master, we’ve arrived,’ Liu Ma reminded him, and Jing Ting came back to his senses.
He mechanically went through all the rituals, and he simply didn’t have time to look at the person next to him. Anyway, he just needed to be able to move and speak like a puppet. No, he didn’t even need to speak, the wedding officiant would say all the words.
At the banquet, glasses clinked, and everyone beamed with smiles, giving him their genuine or fake blessings.
He accepted all the toasts without reservation, not because he wanted to get drunk, but because he didn’t want to refuse.
‘Er Ge!’ Jingzhi came running excitedly, his face red and his mood high, looking more like the groom than anything else. ‘Drink, drink, this is your wedding banquet.’
Jingting looked at his drunken state and couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘You’ve drunk so much, aren’t you afraid of getting a beating from your uncle?’
‘Forget about that dampener,’ Jingzhi pouted in dissatisfaction, already feeling a little unsteady on his feet.
This wedding was the biggest dampener of all.
Jingzhi bowed his head, raised his wine glass and drained it in one go.
Jingzhi was not to be outdone and returned the toast with all his might. At the end, he turned back with a beaming face and called out, ’Zhenyun, come over here quickly and toast your second brother.’
The little girl standing behind her mother, Mu Chen, blushed suddenly, glared fiercely at Jingzhi, and said ‘no’ with her lips.
Jingzhi became more and more excited: ‘Come over.’
Zhenyun simply turned around and ignored him, with her hands behind her back, and the white handkerchief in her hand kept swinging, as if to stop his absurd behaviour.
Jingzhi smiled awkwardly at Jingting: ‘She’s embarrassed.’
‘Don’t always tease her like that,‘ Jingwei said with a sudden gloomy expression, whispering, “I hope I can drink to your wedding wine one day sooner.”
’I’m looking forward to it too,‘ Jingzhi replied confidently.

After Jingwei left, Jingwei came to the table again.
’Big brother,’ Jingwei called out, but found that the title was so distant.
They were fellow brothers, but they were very unfamiliar with each other.
Looking at the slightly weathered man in front of him, it is hard to imagine that he is only in his early thirties.
‘Congratulations, Jingwei,’ the voice is steady, just like Jingwei’s character, which rarely shows emotion.
‘Thank you,’ he replies sincerely.
They are two people on different paths, but he understands Jingwei’s forbearance. Forced by their parents to do many things against their will and to bear many responsibilities against their will, and that is not cowardice.
‘Big brother really hopes that you will be happy,‘ Jingwei said.
’I know.‘
’And…‘
’Okay, if we talk any more, there won’t be any more of that tacit understanding,’ Jingting interrupted with a smile.
Jingwei nodded, drained the wine in his hand, a rare decisive and firm action. Jingting also raised his glass, looked at the liquid in it, overflowing with an attractive radiance, and drank it all in one go.
Maybe getting drunk would make him feel better, but he had no intention of indulging himself like that. He needed calm, not numbness.
He continued to sit listlessly at the banquet until someone reminded him that it was time to go to the bridal chamber.
There were quite a few people who wanted to play pranks on the newlyweds, led by Jingzhi, who was twenty, and Jingzhe, who was fifteen. However, his cold face helped everyone cool down their enthusiasm. After a while, everyone left one after the other.
After everyone left, the bridal chamber became extraordinarily quiet, except for the matron of honour sprinkling some strange things onto the bed and mumbling.
‘The wine for the cup-handing ceremony is ready.’
The matron of honour was still nagging, and Jingting said impatiently, ‘Just go away.’
Finally, there were only two people left in the room.

Yi Xuan sat quietly at the head of the bed, her hands clutching the pure white silk handkerchief. She dared not move, and dared not ask him why he had not yet removed her red bridal veil. From the small space beneath the veil, she could see the hem of his black wedding robe. He slowly paced over to the cane chair by the bed, sat down, and there was no more noise.
Jingting sat there, his gaze falling on the pair of jade butterflies on the table. They were indeed a pair of treasures, as could be seen from the luster alone. They were said to be a pair, but in fact they were the halves of a butterfly. They were complete even when taken apart, but together they were even more perfect. He couldn’t believe that these two halves of jade had grown in different places, because he didn’t believe that there could be such a miracle in the world—it was as if one half had been born for the other, a destined fit.
Isn’t it the biggest irony in the world to bless him and her with something like this? Jingting’s mouth curled into a sneer.
His sneer seemed to make a sound, because he saw Yi Xuan’s hand tremble slightly. She was wearing a long, dazzling gold finger ring on her right pinky. I heard that Empress Dowager Cixi also loved to wear this kind of long finger ring.
He became more and more irritated.
The silk handkerchief in Yi Xuan’s hand was being tightened inch by inch.
He stopped after just saying one word, but Jingting understood what she meant.
He couldn’t sit facing her like this all night, and he couldn’t keep the veil from her forever. Looking around, he couldn’t find the wedding stick. Frowning slightly, he didn’t want to trouble the matron of honour to bring it again, so he simply walked towards her and used his hand to lift the dazzling red veil.
It would be disingenuous to say he wasn’t amazed; he couldn’t deny her beauty.
Blossoming skin, a slender figure, eyes like autumn water, a delicate nose and a small mouth… He suddenly felt that it was understandable for the heavens to have made her missing a finger. Someone who is too perfect will be envied by the heavens, and the world will seem too unfair.
But the turmoil in his heart was only momentary, and he then returned to his depressed mood. Sighing, he sat down next to her, but kept a distance of one foot. He saw her hand tremble slightly, as if she was also very nervous and scared.
‘I hope you understand that all I can give you is the title of a wife.”
Yixuan raised her eyes. Her clear, mesmerising, watery eyes did not contain the surprise, anger, resentment, or even the slightest bit of surprise that Jingting had expected.
She just looked at him, looking at him indifferently.
Did she understand?
Of course she understood. The marriage that had been delayed for three years was indeed just because of his reluctance.
She vaguely knew that he was also a revolutionary, a young man pursuing advanced democracy and freedom, so naturally he could not accept this arranged marriage under the feudal system. She did not know how he resisted or why he compromised, but it did not matter.
Just be a nominal husband and wife? Her heart trembled slightly. That was fine. After all, she did not need much, just a peaceful life and news that her family was safe.
‘I naturally understand,’ she replied softly.
Jingting was relieved. He had not expected the problem to be resolved so easily, but he was also surprised by her calmness. To be fair, she did not have the slightest hint of a spoiled air, unlike the way ordinary people saw aristocratic princesses as being tyrannical and unreasonable.
Yes, she was calm, calm like a pool of spring water, with a sense of composure and a Zen-like tranquillity. Her tone was not one of resignation, but of understanding from the heart.
Understanding?
What does she understand? It can’t be that she understands him.
Feeling confused and annoyed, Jingting finally got up and said, ‘I’ll sleep in the study.’
‘Tomorrow,’
‘Huh?’ Jingting turned around.
‘Can we go to the study tomorrow?’ Yixuan also got up, ‘Someone is watching outside.’
Jingting was a little dazed.
‘You sleep on the bed, I’ll sleep on the sofa.’ Yi Xuan walked over to the wardrobe and calmly took out the spare mattress at the bottom.
Jing Ting walked over to her side, took the heavy bedding, and said directly, ’You sleep on the bed.’
Yixuan was surprised. She knew the meaning of the Chinese proverb ‘three virtues’: a virtuous woman knows how to endure hardship. It is a virtue to endure hardship oneself rather than cause the slightest discomfort to one’s husband. So she did not let go of his hand, but when she saw the resolute and unquestionable light in Jingting’s eyes, she no longer insisted. Just from that glance, she was convinced that he was a stubborn man, and she understood his imposing manner and aura. If she did not let go, he might really stand there with her all night.
‘Well, there’s something else…’ She walked over to the table and picked up the precious pair of jade butterflies on it. They were treasures she had brought from Beiping to Nanjing, a long way away, and also the lucky charms for her marriage. “Anyway, please take them first. They were originally things shared by both families.”
Jingting took the half she handed him, thought about it for a moment, and put it in his bosom for the time being. Then he turned back to her and said, “You can call me by my name directly in the future.”
He was not a man without a name, and his name was not “Well”.

Yi Xuan watched him go to bed, and then looked at the red candle burning recklessly on the desk. She couldn’t help feeling a little sad. Her marriage had begun like this, in such a strange way. She didn’t know what the future held, or how it would end. Would it be like the red candle in front of her, whose wax would dry up with the last tear?
She looked back and picked up the two glasses of wine on the table. Her mother had said that the wine must be drunk in one go, so that the couple could be forever united. A helpless smile appeared on her face. Yixuan lifted her hand and drained the glass, followed by another.
The wine was strong and bitter.
She walked gently towards the unfamiliar bed. She accidentally saw the figure of Jingting behind the partition. His appearance was not much different from what she had expected, except that his face was even more stern and his tone of voice even more detached. But he was indeed as expected, tall and handsome. Strangely, she had never thought that he would be someone who was ugly, such as a short person, a fat person, or a person with a pockmarked face.
She really had never thought about it.
From now on, she would be alone, perhaps alone until the end of her days.
Was she afraid? She asked herself quietly, then tried hard to fall asleep.
Chapter 2 (Part 2)
In the early morning, Yixuan got out of bed and casually pushed open the window, and unexpectedly found snow flying outside.
She never expected that there would be snow in the winter in Jiangnan. The snow was like the willow catkins torn apart in spring, soft and light.
In the north at this moment, it must already be snowing.
What does the Qingqin Prince’s Mansion look like in the snow? She tried to remember, but found that her past memories were gradually becoming blurry in her mind. It was like a phantom, and when she tried to reach out and touch it, she could only catch the air.
When she came back to her senses, she realised that there were two cold marks on her face, and it seemed that someone was staring at her from a distance.
She instinctively turned around and met two dark, dark eyes.
‘The Mu family has very strict rules, and daily greetings are unavoidable. You will have to get used to it in the future.‘ The voice was as indifferent as it had been the night before. He looked at her in a very formal manner, without the slightest expression, as if he hadn’t even seen the tear marks on her face.
’Gege—’ There was a crisp sound, and a maid entered the room carrying a washbasin. It was Yixuan’s maid, Belle. ’It’s almost time. Hurry up, we’re late, we have to serve morning tea to His Lordship and Her Ladyship.’
‘Leave the water,’ Yi Xuan said gently, then took a towel and handed it to Jing Ting.
He took it and wiped his face, “The Mu family is just an ordinary family, there is no princess here, so don’t use that title in front of other people in the future.”
His tone was gentle, and no emotions could be detected. Yi Xuan nodded, she knew better than anyone else that the title had disappeared with the destruction of the Qing Dynasty.
Bai Er, however, pouted. She had heard that the young master was a strange person, and it was true. The fall of the Qing dynasty did not matter, nor did what others thought. In her heart, the Princess was the Princess, forever.
‘Let’s go.’ Jing Ting had already stepped out of the room first, and Yixuan followed.

The main ancestral hall of the Mu family is extremely spacious. Several lacquered redwood pillars support the high roof, and in the centre hangs a gold plaque that reads ‘Eternal fame’. Next to the wooden pillars are two carefully manicured bonsai pines. Everyone took their seats in turn.
Yixuan knelt on the ground and served tea to the elders cup by cup. Everyone in the hall looked at her up and down, unable to hide their admiration. She really looked like she had stepped out of a painting, dressed in a pink cotton robe, quiet and beautiful.
Jingting obviously didn’t seem as at ease as she did; he had never been able to tolerate these tedious procedures.
‘Jingting…‘ Mu Jihong took a sip of the Longjing in his hand and finally spoke slowly, “Now that you have a family, you can’t be as arbitrary as you used to be. My friend Zai Huan and I are close, and now that he has entrusted Yixuan to us, you must take good care of her.”
’Yes,’ Jingting nodded in response.
Yixuan stood next to him, secretly sizing up everyone in the hall.
In the middle of the hall was Grandpa Mu, who had been paralyzed on one side of his body after suffering a stroke two years ago. He was seated in the middle of the ancestral hall today in a black satin robe with red flowers, being pushed around by someone.
Mu Jihong is the eldest son, accompanied by his wife Chen and his concubine Wei. Mu Jichou is the second son, accompanied by his second wife Liang. Mu Jiyuan is the seventh son, in his early thirties, and looks like he is the same age as Jingting and the others. He is accompanied by his third wife Lin, who looks young and fashionable.
Jing Ting has not had many children in his life. Chen’s daughter Jingwei married Jing Ting; Wei’s daughter Jingzhe married Jingwei; and Liang’s daughter Jingzhi married Jingtang. The eldest, Jingwei, is 31 years old and has a daughter, Mu Yutong, from his previous marriage. The youngest, Jingtang, is only 10 years old.
After the ceremony was over, Jing Ting tried to leave on business.
‘What business?‘ Ji Hong was a little annoyed. “It’s your newspaper office and study again! You’ve just got married and this is how it is, what’s going to happen in the future?”
Mu Chen also complained, “Jing Ting, you should spend more time with Yixuan these days.”
Jing Ting didn’t say anything, and his expression showed no intention of backing down.
’Mother, it’s enough that you’re here with me, let him get on with his work,’ Yixuan said softly, letting Chen hold her hand.
‘Oh, what a good daughter-in-law,’ Lin said with a smile, and Mu Jiyuan also snickered and took a sip of tea. Yi Xuan’s words showed her respect for her mother-in-law and consideration for her husband, so she was indeed a good daughter-in-law.
Jing Ting frowned and gave Yi Xuan a look, a little displeased—if she thought defending him like that would change anything, she was really wrong. Yi Xuan also glanced back at her, but there was no wind or rain in her eyes, as if the words defending him were just lines used to strike up a conversation.
‘Forget it…’ Mu Jihong waved his hand, ‘Go ahead, since Yi Xuan said so, you’ll be back early.’
‘Yes,’ he got up and left without lingering.

After Jingting left, Jingwei also asked to leave.
Yixuan knew that the Mu family relied on Jingwei to handle many of their businesses. He was the eldest grandson and the only quiet and capable heir. Jingwei was just 31 years old, and his lines, similar to those of Jingting, outlined a different temperament. He didn’t seem to be good at talking and didn’t care about anything, and he looked very content with the status quo. However, that obedience was very superficial, as if it were floating on the surface and would be knocked off with the slightest touch.
‘Take Yutong with you,‘ Ji Hong said, a look of disgust flashing across his face.
’Yes,’ Jingwei said, and he led the small, pretty girl next to him away from the lobby.
The little girl was only six or seven years old, wearing a light purple cotton coat. Her bright eyes were full of kindness, and she looked like a little beauty.
Yixuan noticed that when Yutong had just paid her respects, most of the people in the hall had ignored her.
Could it be that this little girl is not endearing?
Her innocent and shy smile makes people like her from the bottom of their hearts. Such a lively child, in the Mu family where there are too many male descendants, why is she in this situation?
Yixuan looked around the hall again, but she couldn’t see anything.
Jingzhi also got up after a moment of hesitation and said, ‘I made an appointment with my classmates a long time ago to study ancient texts with the teacher.’
‘Studying ancient texts is really the best.’ The second master, Mu Jichou, lit a pipe and gave his son a stern look. This son is no less of a worry than Jingting. He is still young and doesn’t show many signs of rebellion, but I’m afraid that if he hangs out with Jingting too much, he’ll grow up to be a scoundrel and cause him a lot of trouble.
‘Naturally, he’s studying ancient texts,’ Jingzheng said seriously, winked at the little maid next to Mu Chen, and then ran out.
Yixuan looked at the pretty maid with a blush on her face and understood.
Just after the first greeting after entering the door, she had a panoramic view of the Mu family’s subtle relationships and surging tides.
She was not a meddler, but having lived in a complicated family for many years, she knew a lot. Suspicion, jealousy, intrigue and conspiracy. Although she did not want to get involved, she had to navigate her way around to protect herself.

‘Xuan’er, walk around with me,’ Mu Chen’s wife took her hand and got up to walk out of the hall. The rest of the women followed.
‘Madam, be careful, the road is slippery. I’ll go with you,‘ came a timid female voice, belonging to the maid who had just blushed.
’We’re just chatting among family, what are you doing following us?’ Seventh Mistress spoke up, her voice quite soft, and if a man heard it, it would surely make his bones melt.
‘Old Seven!‘ Mu Chen’s wife glared at her, then calmed down and said to the maid, “Zhenyun, you go back to your room. With Yixuan here, what’s there to be afraid of?” After she finished speaking, she looked at Yixuan with a smile on her face.
’Then please take your cloak with you, Madam,’ Zhenyun still wouldn’t give up and handed over the mink cloak.
‘Give it to me,’ Yi Xuan said with a smile, taking the luxurious cloak from Zhen Yun’s hands. She gave her a look of “don’t worry” and Zhen Yun’s melon-shaped face immediately revealed a grateful smile.
Yi Xuan glanced back at Bei Er and gave her a wink, indicating that she didn’t need the maid’s company. Bei Er nodded smartly and sensibly returned to the West Courtyard alone.
Now, there were only the female members of the Mu family left.

‘This is the East Courtyard, where Jingwei lives with Yutong. It’s the closest to the West Courtyard.’ Mu Chenxi led her all the way there, introducing the courtyards of the Mu residence one by one.
The four courtyards in the east, west, north and south are exclusively for the four younger generations of Jingwei, Jingting, Jingzhi and Jingzhe. Jingtang is still too young and lives with the second concubine. Grandpa Mu and Mu Jihong each have their own courtyard.
Yixuan only paid 50% of her attention to her mother-in-law’s words, and the other 50% was already on the snowy scene in front of her. Jiangnan has its own delicate southern landscape characteristics, and even a snowfall is so gentle. But this large courtyard gave her a sense of déjà vu. The former Prince Qing’s mansion was even more magnificent and glorious than this place, but it revealed the desolation in the prosperity just like this place.
‘Xuan’er, how is your father’s health? I heard that his rheumatism is worse than in previous years.‘ Mu Chen’s hand never let go of Yi Xuan’s.
’Fortunately, there is nothing to worry about now, and with your mother by my side, I am fine.‘
’It is really hard on your mother. I saw her a few times in my early years, and she was always so dignified and elegant.‘
’That was many years ago. Nowadays… I’m actually used to it.’
‘By the way, do you remember when I held you in my arms when you were a baby?‘ Mu Chen’s expression suddenly became innocent, and then she laughed, “Look at what nonsense I’m talking. You were so young, of course you don’t remember.”
’I remember when I was seven years old, you also held me when you came to the capital,’ Yi Xuan picked up the conversation.
‘Yes, yes, it’s been more than ten years in the blink of an eye.”
A winter breeze blew past, and Yixuan opened the cloak in her hands and gently draped it over Mu Chen’s shoulders. Her movements were skillful and considerate, and her expression was natural and concerned. Mu Chen’s face twitched slightly: “You must have done the same for your mother, right?”
Yixuan smiled bashfully.
‘This is why it is better to raise a daughter. My two sons don’t know where their hearts are. When I was young, I worried a lot, but at least I could see them often. Now that they are older, it is not easy to see them even on weekdays.”
Yixuan paused, not knowing how to reply. The seventh wife next to her said, “It is better to have sons than not to have any.”
Mu Chen’s wife glared at her again, knowing that she would never be able to say something appropriate.
Yixuan smiled as she walked along with them, her gaze falling on the lotus pond not far away. Some fallen leaves floated on the surface of the water, and the whole lotus pond looked like an ordinary scene, struggling between water and ice.
But next summer, this place will definitely be a superb sight. These plants that seem lifeless will flourish again, just like the magnificent lotus pond in the Qingqin Prince’s mansion back then.

‘This is the accounting office,‘ Mu Chen pointed to the hall at the end of the corridor.
’What’s the point of bringing her here?’ Seventh Mistress muttered to herself.
This was the place that managed the Mu household affairs.
The Mu family was one of the wealthiest in Nanjing, with two shipyards, two foreign trading companies, three silk merchants, and five tea merchants under their name. The coordination of all incoming and outgoing accounts is a huge undertaking. Mu Chen’s wife, the eldest daughter-in-law, has always managed the family affairs, and Seventh Mistress, who has studied in a Western school for a few years, usually helps out here as well. The other rooms cannot enter here at will except to receive their monthly expenses.
Yixuan looks at this hall. It is about two zhang high, open and majestic. There are a few black desks and a row of black bookcases, which are full of account books.
“Xuan’er went to school at home, didn’t you?’
‘Oh, when I was young, my mother hired a teacher to come to the house and teach, and I learned a little at that time, just a smattering of knowledge.‘ This was of course deliberate modesty. The tutors hired by the Fu family were all university professors at the time, and the education Yi Xuan received was incomparable to that of an ordinary private school.
’Good, then you can help me in the future.‘
’Sister-in-law—’ Seventh Mrs. Fu was startled and shouted back with some dissatisfaction, but was stopped by Mu Chen’s sharp gaze.
Yixuan did not decline.
According to etiquette, she should have deliberately declined for a while, at least to alleviate the jealousy of the other women, but she did not. She knew very well the meaning of this appointment. First, it was to repay the favor of the princely family from that year and give herself a foothold in the Mu family. Second, it was to consolidate the power of Mu Jihong’s side. After all, she was the daughter-in-law of the eldest Mu family. And third, it was to give her something to do after being neglected by her husband.
Her poor marriage was no secret in the Mu family.

The rest of the women returned to their rooms. Yi Xuan followed her mother-in-law to the accounts department to familiarise herself with the environment.
‘You have to do these trivial things on the first day, you must be tired.’
‘Not at all, I would just be idle at home,’ Yi Xuan said meekly.
‘Well…you…‘ Mu Chenxi suddenly hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself. Yi Xuan immediately guessed what she wanted to ask and blushed a little.
’Xuan’er, last night…‘
’He was drunk,‘ she hastily replied.
’My son is just a bit stubborn. But I know he does have feelings for this family after all. Take your time, I’m sure one day you’ll understand each other.’
‘Yixuan understands.‘
’Well, that’s a relief. By the way, have you discussed the date of your homecoming with Jingting?”
Homecoming?
She froze in place. This was an important matter, but she had almost forgotten about it.
She really wanted to go back.
She wanted to go back alone.
She wanted to go back and never come back.
She wondered if Jingting would agree to go back to Beijing with her to visit her relatives. She didn’t have a clue. If he didn’t agree – she could think of many reasons, such as he was busy, the journey was too long, and he couldn’t let go of his work in Nanjing. This would also be a way to get past Ama and E’niang, but her parents’ worries would be unavoidable.
No, she couldn’t let them worry, she couldn’t let them be uneasy.
‘I will discuss it with him as soon as possible,’ she said with a rare look of determination.
She glanced back at the grey sky, where snow was falling again.
Chapter 3 (Part 1)
It was very quiet in the comfort book corner.
A woman in a yellow dress and purple skirt sat by the window with a book in her hands. For hours, she had not moved, just staring out of the window. The sycamore tree in the courtyard had already lost all its leaves, and its bare branches stretched out towards the grey sky, looking like an old silhouette.
The door in the courtyard had been left ajar, as if waiting for someone.
‘Pat-ta-pat-ta…’ The mechanical sound of an old typewriter kept going on and on.
‘Zhiqi, can you keep it down?‘ she frowned impatiently.
’Huh?’ The other girl in blue and black looked up at her with an innocent expression, “This machine has always been like that. You know, it’s been used for years. I told them last time…”
Listening to Zhiqi’s nagging, Jinfei frowned, as if trying to shake off a bad mood.
She never understood why she felt more like she had been in a coma than awake.
They said Jingting had gotten married, but she couldn’t believe it. She had only been in a coma for a few days, so why was everything so different when she woke up?

‘Zhiqi, did you go to Jingting’s wedding?’ Jinfei asked in a low voice.
‘Yes, but I only sat in the foyer. The Mu family is so grand, how could we little people be in the main hall?‘
’Was she… beautiful?‘
’Huh? Which her?‘ Zhiqi paused, then suddenly understood, “You mean the bride? I didn’t see her, but they said she was so beautiful it was as if she wasn’t human.”
’Oh.’ She lowered her head again, and the book in her hands remained on the same page.
‘Cinnabar? What are you thinking about?‘ Zhiqi stopped what she was doing and blew on her hands. Looking at her friend, who was lost in thought in front of the window, she shook her head. Some things were never made clear, but no matter how obtuse she was, Zhiqi could see the signs.
’I heard that Grandpa Mu is paralyzed, and if Big Brother Mu doesn’t do what he wants, I’m afraid the old man won’t be able to go in peace.’
‘Really?‘ Cinnabar Fei replied indifferently.
’Do you care?‘ Zhiqi looked at her and asked cautiously, “After all, this is just Brother Mu’s personal business, and it’s not our place to care too much.”
’When did I ever care about this?‘ She was eager to refute.
’Don’t you care?’
‘Of course I don’t care. I’m just disappointed in him,‘ Fei said, turning her head away in anger. “I’m in no position to care.”
’Fei, I hope you really feel that way. In fact, it’s obvious to anyone with eyes to see that Brother Mu, Brother Fang and you are a little more than just ordinary friends. I don’t know your true thoughts, but have you considered which of the two of them you really care about?’
‘Zhiqi, where are you going with this? I don’t have anything with them.‘
’Whether you admit it or not is fine,’ Zhiqi sighed, “the most important thing is not to deceive your own heart, otherwise one day you will miss out on something.”
Cinnabar Fei was thoughtful.
Although the balance between the three of them was maintained with great difficulty, and they knew that one day this balance would be broken, they never expected that the first person to walk away would be Jingting, and without any warning.

‘Fei,’ Zhiqi walked over to her bench and sat down next to her, “I have a question. I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about it, but if the person who got married today was Brother Fang, would you feel the same way?”
Fei was frozen, staring at her best friend in disbelief, unable to answer until her gaze moved away from Zhiqi and reached the door, where she saw a tall figure standing in the doorway. ’Hao Tian…’
‘Mm.‘ Hao Tian walked into the room, took off his hat and unbuttoned his snow-white scarf. “I’ve just come back from the printing office.”
Zhi Qi looked at the two of them, sighed to herself, and went back to her typewriter to continue working.
’Oh, was it okay there?‘ Jin Fei asked, intentionally or not.
’It was fine. Everyone’s at work.‘
Everyone’s at work? She looked up.
’Jing Ting was there too,’ Hao Tian added.
‘Really? Working on the first day of your marriage?‘
’Yes.’ Hao Tian handed over a cup of green tea with a misty cloud. “You don’t seem to care at all. I thought you would be as angry as I am.”
Jin Fei lowered her head and said in a muffled voice, ’Why should I be angry?’
‘That’s not like you. You’re always the most determined, and I thought you would disapprove of his compromise with the old regime just as much as I do.‘ Hao Tian frowned, pondering Zifei’s reaction.
’Zhiqi, have you finished typing those documents?‘ He turned to Zhiqi.
’Yes, they’re all done.‘ Zhiqi stood up and pulled out a stack of neatly organised documents.
’I need to take them to the printing office right away…’
‘I’ll take it to the printing office for you.‘
’Sure.’ He didn’t say anything.

Jin Fei pushed the bicycle slowly out of the door, oblivious to the falling snow. The snow in Nanjing is always like this, so insubstantial that people ignore its existence, but it has already left traces on the ground, as if covering the black soil with a thin layer of frost.
‘Fei, wait a minute.‘ Zhiqi chased after Jin Fei with an umbrella, glanced inside the house, and made sure that the man wasn’t paying much attention to their conversation before saying, “You’re still not feeling well, why are you rushing outside? Do you want me to go with you?”
’No, I want to go by myself.‘
’Take the umbrella.‘
’Okay.’ She took the umbrella and pushed the cart into the alley.
Hao Tian stood in the room with his back to the door, staring blankly. In a daze, he remembered Zhi Qi’s last question.
‘If the person getting married today was Hao Tian, would you feel the same?’
And she, without answering.

‘Hao Tian, Zhi Qi.’
A clear voice sounded, and Jing Ting walked into the consolation study covered in snow.
Zhiqi looked up and asked, ‘What? Are you here to hand out wedding candy?’
The person at the door looked a little embarrassed.
Hao Tian glanced at Zhiqi and said to Jing Ting, ‘Weren’t you just at the printing office? Why are you here again?’
‘To get some information to enter into the computer.’ Jing Ting handed a small stack of manuscript paper to Zhiqi, and his eyes subconsciously glanced into the back room.
‘Jinfei woke up yesterday,‘ Hao Tian read his mind.
Yesterday… the day he got married.
’She just went to the printing office. I thought she would run into you,‘ Hao Tian added.
’Really?’ he replied casually. ’Never mind then. Is she all better? In a hurry to run out again?’
‘She’s never idle,‘ Hao Tian said. “Huang Li sent a telegram the other day, asking when we could send someone to Beijing to discuss matters. Now that Duan Qirui has resigned, Feng Guozhang, Wang Shizhen and the like are still manipulating the Beijing government, and the situation in the north is still chaotic.”
’I also want to discuss this matter with you,’ Jingting’s expression suddenly became serious. ’In a couple of days, I’ll have the opportunity to visit my family in Beiping, so I thought I might as well take this opportunity to meet with Huang and the others. Mr. Sun is reorganising the government in Guangzhou, but I think the forces are still too weak, and the current situation is really worrying.‘
’Visiting relatives?’ Hao Tian only caught these words, “You still want to accompany her on a visit to relatives?”
Jing Ting ignored his question, however: ’What do you think? I think the time should be set for the fifth day of the next month, so that there is plenty of time and there is no need to worry about delays on the way. The location is still at 67 Damucang Hutong. I will come back as soon as I get the information.’
Hao Tian was still lost in his thoughts and forgot to speak.
‘What do you think? If there are no problems, I’ll immediately send a telegram to Lao Huang.’
‘Oh, okay.’ He never had to give too much input on these work matters, as Jing Ting was always considerate. But if it was a marriage of convenience, was it necessary to do the full set of all the rituals?
Hao Tian was still worried.

Cinnamon Fei walked out of the printing office, her eyes full of undisguised disappointment.
She had come, but he had left, like their fated missed encounter.
She pushed her cart into the alley next to the printing office, rested her umbrella at her feet, leaned her back against the brick-red stone wall, and stood with her head bowed. The fine snowflakes fell silently, landing on the tips of her hair and the corners of her eyebrows, and on her goose-yellow coat, but she didn’t care.
If the person getting married today were Haotian, would you feel the same way?
Zhiqi’s words still echoed in her ears, but her heart could not give an answer. How could the long-standing ambiguous situation suddenly become clear? It was not that she did not know there would be such a twist one day, it was just that she did not expect it to come so suddenly.
Time passed slowly, and she kept standing in the same corner, in the same posture, from early morning to late afternoon.
‘Cenfei?‘ A familiar voice came from behind her, and she looked up, seeing the familiar face in disbelief.
He’s here. He’s actually turned back.
’Why did you come back?’ She straightened up in the snow, loosening her stiff legs, and fixed her gaze on him. He hadn’t changed much, still as cool and upright as she had seen him before her injury, but today, he was wearing a brand new black semi-long tunic suit, his tuxedo.
‘…I remember I still have some business at the printing office.‘ Jingting stood there for a long time without saying a word. “Are…are your wounds all healed?”
’Have you gotten married?‘ She asked instead of answering.
’Yes.‘ He knew she would ask him herself, and as expected, he could not give any unnecessary explanations. “It’s getting cold, I’ll walk you home.”
’Okay.’ She followed him indifferently. After a long time, she remembered, ’Didn’t you have some business at the printing office?’
‘I…well…it’s not that important,‘ he replied, looking a little forlorn.
’Why do you want to get married anyway?‘
Jing Ting stopped in his tracks and looked back at the person who had stopped walking. He was shocked to see the tear-filled eyes. His heart felt like it was being tugged by a thread, aching faintly.
’Do you care?’ he blurted out.
‘Why would I care?’ Jinfei was so emotional that tears fell from her eyes. “I just despise you. You keep saying that you want to pursue freedom and democracy, but it turns out that these things don’t matter at all. You…you’re practically a coward.”
Jingting turned his head expressionlessly and said, “I feel the same way.” He raised his hand slightly and hailed a rickshaw. ’Let’s go back. You’re all wet.’
Cinnabar Fei did not move, just staring at him quietly, oblivious to the cold that seeped through her soaked clothes.
‘Don’t be like this,’ he sighed, having never seen her cry so quietly like this before. ‘It’s best if you don’t care.’ After saying that, he pushed her onto the rickshaw.
‘Yao Family Hutong 19,’ he turned to give the rickshaw driver his instructions, paid the fare, and watched them go away.
The wheels left two thin marks in the thin layer of snow.
They were not deep, but very clear.

When Jingting returned to Xiyuan, it was already late at night.
The study in the north was lit, as was the master bedroom in the east. He entered through the south gate and did not deliberately go around the bedroom in the east. The bedroom door was wide open, and red Chinese characters for ‘happiness’ were still pasted on the windows on both sides. The room was still a warm red.
Yixuan happened to be facing away from him, tidying the clothes on the bed. There was a tall pile of clothes, and she was tidying them up slowly, calmly and contentedly, as if it was a very interesting task.
He deliberately increased the volume of his footsteps as he walked into the room. Yixuan immediately turned around: ‘You’re back?’
Her expression remained gentle and calm as she walked over to him and took the coat off his shoulders.
‘Mm,‘ he said, sitting down at the table and noticing the fresh preserved fruit and candied fruit on it, a specialty of the capital.
’Second Auntie was worried that I wouldn’t be used to the food down south, so she sent someone to bring it,‘ she volunteered.
’Jingtang was here?‘ he asked, staring at the little footprints in the snow on the stool.
’Yes, Jingzhi brought him over. They’re all kids, and they just go wherever there’s something good to eat,’
‘You get along well with everyone.‘
She understood that this was by no means a compliment, and only smiled bitterly to herself—hadn’t she worked hard to cultivate these good relationships?
’Are you packing?‘ he asked, glancing at the bed.
’Yes, I wanted to discuss this with you.‘
’A visit to your family?’
Yixuan was taken aback, and her hand, which was pouring the tea, trembled slightly. ’How did you know?’
‘Isn’t that the rule?‘ He took the tea and took a sip, not understanding why she was so nervous, as if he were some kind of monster. “I said I would give your wife the title of wife, and I will never let you down in public.”
’Oh.’ Yi Xuan’s eyes flashed with undisguised brilliance. It turned out that the negotiation methods she had rehearsed all night did not have to be used, and she sincerely said, ’Thank you.’
Jingting looked up at her and could only hear politeness in her tone, and he was displeased. This was his duty, but she was behaving as if she were grateful, which made him look bad.
‘What would you do if I didn’t want to go back to your hometown with you?‘ He was deliberately being difficult.
’I would probably ask my parents to go instead,‘ she said honestly.
’So soon you’ve learned to be a Mu family daughter-in-law.”
Ignoring the sarcasm in his words, Yi Xuan said, ’I tidied up the study a bit. I’m not sure if the bedding is warm enough, but there’s a cotton blanket on the bed, so it shouldn’t be too hard to sleep on.’
‘Thank you. In the future, please let me know before you enter the study.‘ He frowned.
’Okay,‘ she obediently replied, “so, when can we set off?”
’We’ll see. We need to arrange things first,’ his tone softened again.
Yixuan wanted to say something, but thought better of it.
She really wanted to know the exact time, but wasn’t sure how long his gentleness would last.
Jingting left the bedroom and walked towards the study. Two red lanterns had been placed at the entrance to the study, as if to guide him in the dark. There were two lights in the study. In the past, he would only light one, as that amount of light was enough for him to think clearly. But his mother always said that his study was too cold, and now, the room was exceptionally bright, so bright that it was blinding.
No one can change his life, and he will not allow anyone to do so. He took down the lantern and turned off one of the lights. He sat down at the desk and began to plan his trip to Beiping.
Chapter 3 (Part 2)
‘Acute pneumonia,’ said Dr. Langke, putting away the stethoscope with a grave expression. ‘You haven’t recovered from your previous injury, and now you’ve caught a cold. This illness is fierce. You should go to the hospital for an infusion.’
‘Okay, let’s go to the hospital right away,’ Hao Tian said decisively, his face clearly showing his worry.
Zhi Qi found Cinnabar’s jacket and put it on her, while Hao Tian picked her up from the bed and walked her to Dr. Langke’s black car.
No one looked at him, no one spoke to him, and Jing Ting stood alone. He knew he had been ignored, on purpose.
When they arrived at the hospital, Jinfei was placed on a white stretcher bed. Her face in a coma still had a look of pain, and she kept muttering. Her pale, slender hands hung outside the bed frame, as if searching for something.
Unwittingly, Jingting walked over and took hold of those hands. Jinfei immediately became quieter, her hands gripping his tightly, as if grasping driftwood at sea, afraid that she would lose it if she wasn’t careful.
‘Sir, please go out first, we need to help the patient with the infusion,’ the nurse in the ward said, bringing the infusion supplies such as the IV drip.
Jingting was about to let go, but Jinfei grabbed him instead, holding on tightly, unwilling to let go of the life-saving piece of driftwood.
Jingting froze, and then completely covered her small and delicate hands with the warm and generous palms of his hands. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, ’I’m not leaving. I promise you, I won’t go.’
He then tentatively withdrew his hand. The strength in Zhenfei’s hand was a little weaker than before. Jingting exited the ward, gently closing the door behind him. The feeling of his heart being pulled painfully by a string grew again.

Zhiqi and Haotian both sat silently on the brown-red bench in the corridor. Seeing Jingting come out, Zhiqi glared at him with a reproachful look. Haotian said, ‘Come with me.’
Jingting followed Hao Tian out of the Western-style clinic building and onto the open space in front of it. The ground was still covered in the snow from the previous day, and the winter sun was lazily reflecting a pale light on the snow.
‘She’s been out in the snow all day. How could you let her stay out in the snow all day?’ Hao Tian’s back was turned to him, and there was a suppressed anger in his low, hoarse voice.
Jingting looked up and saw that the grey European-style arcade above his head blocked out the winter sun, casting a heavy shadow behind him. He stood in the shadow, but didn’t have the courage to go out.
How could he let her get caught in the snow all day?
How could he?
He pondered in confusion, but found his mind a blank.
‘When are you going to leave?’ Hao Tian asked abruptly, turning back to him.
Jingting opened and closed his mouth.
The day after tomorrow. That was the original plan, but he had just promised Jinfei that he would not leave, that was his promise to her. Now, there were not many things he could promise, so could he not even give her this last time?
‘The day after tomorrow, is that right?’ Hao Tian refused to relent, ‘You’re leaving the day after tomorrow, to catch up with Huang Li on the fifth day of the lunar year.’
“Give me two more days, I can’t rest assured.’
‘Not at ease?’ Hao Tian gazed into his eyes and said slowly, ’Jingting, you no longer have the right to be at ease.’
He trembled, and a painful light shone in his deep eyes like never before. Admit the reality, whether it is in name only or out of necessity, before getting married, he dares not make any promises, and after getting married, why should he leave any entanglements behind. At the beginning when he agreed to get married, didn’t he already foresee today’s situation? Why bother to hope?
“Hao Tian, I originally didn’t know that you would care so much about her.’
‘I don’t know either. You don’t care about her.‘
He suddenly smiled bitterly, “You’re right, I no longer have the right to worry.”
Hao Tian softened his tone, “She needs complete love. If you can’t give her happiness, why continue to entangle yourself?”
’I will definitely leave the day after tomorrow,‘ he replied indifferently, then strode away, stepping out of the thick shadows.
’Where are you going now?’ Hao Tian asked with some surprise.
He walked away without looking back, raising his eyebrows, trying to shake off all indecision.
Hao Tian stood still, watching the white sunlight cast a long shadow of Jing Ting’s figure in the snow.
He had thought that Jing Ting’s marriage would end all the entanglements that had not been resolved before, but unexpectedly, it had become the beginning of entanglements. He believed in Jing Ting’s determination and understood his own heart even better, but why was the growing unease in his heart so strong?

Jingting walked into the courtyard with a stack of documents. From a distance, he saw Yixuan and Belle sweeping the courtyard.
In fact, they didn’t need to do this kind of work, at least not in other courtyards. But he never liked to be served, and there were few servants in the courtyard. The only one responsible for cleaning, Auntie Wu, was not in good health, and she spent more time sick than working throughout the year.
Jingting walked into the study, piled the documents on the desk, and planned to pack the things he would need when he went out. However, he found that the low table by the door was already full of clothes and essential supplies, and even the bowls and chopsticks he used exclusively at home were piled there, so he thought there was nothing left to pack.
He walked over to the bookcase and sorted out the books and documents he wanted to take to Beiping, but his eyes were inadvertently drawn to the movement outside the window. Despite their best efforts, those two delicate people were really not cut out for these menial tasks.
He took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves and walked towards the centre of the courtyard: ‘I’ll do it.’
This sudden voice startled Yixuan, and she nervously looked back: ‘When did you get back?’
‘Just now,’ he said, taking the broom, without saying a word, and started sweeping the snow off the ground.
‘Auntie Wu is sick,‘ Yi Xuan said, as if explaining.
’I know. You can tell someone from another house to come and do this.‘ He swung the broom, revealing a large patch of black dirt at once. Looking at their earlier results, there were only a few shallow marks. “The Princess is precious, she shouldn’t be doing the work of the servants.”
’You said that there is no Princess in the Mu family,’
Jingting didn’t expect her to reply with what he had said, and was at a loss for words. After a while, he politely said, ‘If you feel that Auntie Wu is not doing a good job, you can tell your mother to replace her with a more capable servant.’
Yixuan smiled to herself, understanding how hypocritical he was. Not to mention his ‘equality theory’ in his mind, which advocated that there was no difference between the noble and the lowly, just looking at how Auntie Wu had taken care of him for so many years, the two had a relationship as close as that between a mother and a daughter, so how dare she replace her.
In fact, Ah Wu is really not worth half a labourer’s worth, but Jingting always keeps her by his side, taking good care of her, and even taking on many of the servants‘ chores himself.
In fact…he is also a man of loyalty.

’Ge…Miss, what are you thinking about?‘ Belle came over with a dustpan, looking at the dazed Yixuan with confusion.
’Nothing. Go see how the food is preparing in the kitchen.’
Belle ran off, and Yixuan stood up and set the dustpan down, helping Jingting to sweep the remaining snow into it.
Both of them leaned over, so close that if they looked up they would hit each other’s heads. Occasionally Jingting looked up and saw Yixuan’s composed and calm expression. He was a little surprised. This woman, no matter what she did, had an elegant and noble air about her, and even sweeping the floor was so pleasing to the eye.
‘We can leave for Beiping the day after tomorrow.‘ He remembered that he still owed her a definite answer.
’Really?‘ Her bright eyes flashed with rare joy.
’Do I need to lie to you?‘ Jingting frowned. She was surprisingly easily satisfied.
’I didn’t mean that.’ She still maintained a bright smile that she had never shown before—at least not since they got married. But when her eyes met his, her smile gradually faded. ’Are you very unhappy?’
Jing Ting remained silent, not admitting to the emotions she had detected.
‘I know you don’t really want to go to Beiping, but I still thank you for going against your will,’ Yi Xuan said earnestly, looking up at him.
Jing Ting’s heart trembled slightly, and then he became a little displeased. ‘How do you know I’m going against my will? Even if you don’t go, I’ll go myself.’ After saying this, he took the dustpan in her hand, swept the last pile of snow into it neatly, and then turned around and walked out of the courtyard.
‘Wait.’ She suddenly reached out to stop him, “Your clothes are dirty.”
Jingting stared at her as she leaned down to carefully pat the hem of his long shirt, where a little bit of crushed snow and mud was stuck. Her dark head was close to his waist, and her slender hands moved on his long shirt. He immediately regretted the harsh tone he had just used, and he really shouldn’t have transferred this annoying mood to her.
And she didn’t seem to mind his abrupt words.
Why did she move so naturally, as if they were a real couple? Jingting tried hard to shake off the confusion in his heart, but he could no longer move his feet, allowing her to slowly flick away the little bits of snow.

The sky turned pale grey.
Several carriages were parked at the majestic front gate of the Mu residence.
The entire Mu family had gathered there, even the wheelchair-bound Grandpa Mu, who had been wheeled to the door.
‘Big brother, come back early and remember to bring back some local specialties,’ Jingzhi patted Jingting’s shoulder affectionately.
‘Big brother, take me with you,’ Jingtang shouted mischievously from the side, his outstretched hands being unceremoniously slapped away by Jingzhi.
‘Take good care of Yixuan, and don’t lose your manners at the Prince Qing’s mansion,‘ Mu Jihong solemnly instructed.
’Remember, you must be back before the New Year,’ Mu Chen’s wife walked up to him, gazing at her son for a long time with reluctance, and then tightened the collar of his overcoat for him.

In the Furenxi Hospital, Jinfei had just woken up from her slumber. The person who had promised not to leave was still not by her side, and she once again understood the meaning of disappointment.
‘Jingting has a task to complete. When he returns from Beiping, we can be like we were before,‘ Hao Tian helped her prop up the pillows so she could lean back on the bed.
’Like before?‘ she repeated.
’…Yes, when we could work together again.”
But everything that had changed had changed after all. Even if they returned to the same situation as before, the mountains had changed, the water had changed, and people had also changed.

Jingting reached over and gently helped Yixuan into the carriage. Yixuan smiled back at him, her face showing some bashful expression, just like a deeply in love newlywed couple.
They didn’t stop smiling until they saw everyone else smiling with relief, and until they lowered the purple and black curtains in the carriage.
The carriage slowly started to move. Jingting lifted the corner of the curtain lightly and looked towards the east, in the direction of the French Hospital. However, all he could see was a grey sky.

‘What’s wrong?’ Hao Tian looked at the tear that had slipped down Cinnabar’s cheek, and his heart slowly twisted.

‘It’s nothing, the wind is making my eyes hurt,’ she said, tilting her head and looking out the window. If he wasn’t mistaken, that was the direction of the Mu residence.
‘You still can’t let him go?‘
’No,‘ she stubbornly denied.
Hao Tian suddenly sat down by the bed and took her shoulders in his hands. “Cinnabar, do you understand? Nowadays, any changes are changes for all three of us. When you’re sad for him, have you considered how I feel?”
’I’m sorry.’
‘Answer me.‘ Hao Tian took a breath as if making a great resolution, “If it were me who got married now, would you feel the same?”
’Of course I would,’ she replied slowly with her eyes closed, a large drop of water falling on the back of her pale hand, blossoming into a crystal flower, blooming with heartbreak and desperate anger.
Chapter 4 (Part 1)
‘Xuan’er, you’re back!’ With a child’s cry, a small mansion in Beiping immediately became lively.
After the Xinhai Revolution, the Prince Qing Mansion no longer existed, and the Zai Huan family moved to this small mansion. The old bustling atmosphere disappeared, and the people who used to enjoy all the power and influence are now washed away, hidden in the bustling city, living a life no different from ordinary people.
Yixuan was dressed in a pure black fox fur coat, and the skirt flapped around, causing a shower of snowflakes to fall. Her face was as white as a lotus flower, and the bangs of her pretty face could not hide the light joy in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. Jingting’s hand gently rested on her waist as the two walked side by side into the main hall of the mansion, attracting the maidens on either side to whisper and giggle.
Zai Huan, nearing fifty, sat on a high chair in the middle of the hall. His commoner attire could not hide the air of majesty about him.
The side concubine sat to his right, dressed in a simple cheongsam, with a simple pearl hairpin in her hair.
On his left was a noblewoman in her late twenties or early thirties. From her still graceful attire, it was not hard to guess that she was Fu Cha Yiting, the only daughter of the current Consort. Jingting suddenly remembered the girl in red who had yelled for a kite replacement back then. Although she was now heavily pregnant, she still retained the arrogance of her past.
She bears a resemblance to Yi Xuan in appearance and has a similar noble temperament, but the impression she gives is very different. Jing Ting thought to himself, Yi Xuan has never been the arrogant and domineering person he originally expected, at least, not as far as he can see.
He inexplicably remembered the carefree young boy who had flown the kite with him that day. Now, he was a young man in his thirties, but there were only two boys in their early teens in the entire hall. They were Yi Xuan’s younger brothers.
‘Father, mother,’ Jingting stood in the centre and bowed respectfully. He was not used to calling his parents “ama” and “e’ne”, so he followed his own habits.
The side consort carefully surveyed Jingting. The calm temperament around him and the sharp aura between his brows blended into a whole.
It was contradictory, yet harmonious.
Trustworthy, yet threatening at the same time. In any case, the sense of his presence was so strong that it could not be ignored.
Yi Xuan, the perfect daughter in her heart, is married to such a person for a lifetime. Is it fortunate or unfortunate?
‘He Zhe, you and Xuan have not seen each other for a long time. Go to the back room to catch up. I want to have a good chat with Jing Ting.’
Yi Xuan looked at Jing Ting with concern. She knew his temperament well. He did not know how to act smoothly or act with false modesty. She was afraid that if he disagreed with her father, the two sides would part on bad terms.
Jingting snorted inwardly again, completely understanding Yi Xuan’s thoughts.
She was always cautious around him, always avoiding any confrontation with him, for fear of making him angry, or rather, of drawing his attention. He was a man of integrity, always speaking his mind, and she had long since seen through that. Perhaps it was on their wedding day. Without much interaction, she had accurately discerned the characteristics of his personality, which was troubling. It sounded uncomfortable to have someone who shouldn’t be closely associated with you understand you better than a friend.
However, she did not necessarily understand him completely.
Although he was not a smooth person, he had his own way of dealing with daily interactions. He then gave her a look that said, ‘There is no need to worry,’ and Yixuan frowned, slowly following her mother into the backyard.
She understood Jingting’s gaze, and unexpectedly, because of this gaze, she temporarily let go of her uneasy heart.

‘Nothing has changed at home,‘ Yi Xuan said as they walked along, and the maids and servants who came and went greeted her warmly, to which she responded with a smile.
’It’s just that you’ve all left home one after the other, Yi Ting left, you left, and Zongyang has also left,’ said the side wife.
Everyone has left, and Zongyang…has also left?
A sudden feeling of emptiness welled up in her heart. Although she had known he would go, a sense of melancholy still came over her, unstoppable.
In fact, she should have sensed his determination to leave the moment they left Beijing, but she just pretended not to know, as if that would allow her to deceive herself into believing that he would never leave, that he would always stay here with her, with the beautiful memories of their childhood.
‘Your room is still there. His Royal Highness said that nothing in it should be touched, and someone is sent to clean it every week.’ The side consort pushed open a door, and everything in the room was laid bare. “In fact, the person your ama is most reluctant to let go of is you. Although he doesn’t say it, ever since you left the palace, he sneaks into your room every night to sit for a while, without doing anything, just sitting quietly.”
She knows, she knows all of this.
Because she deeply understands the love of her parents, she obediently married him in a foreign land, which was the only way to make them feel at ease.
‘I miss you too,’ Yi Xuan replied calmly, not wanting to show too much attachment in her tone.
‘Xuan’er, now it’s just the two of us, so you have to answer me honestly,’ He Zhe turned her daughter’s shoulders so that Yi Xuan had to look her directly in the eyes.
Yi Xuan realised what her mother wanted to ask and instinctively wanted to run away, ‘Mother—’
‘Are you happy? Is Jingting good to you?‘
’He respects me,‘ Yi Xuan avoided her mother’s searching gaze after all and chose a word with ambiguous meaning.
’Respect?’ He Zhe shook his head, “A husband and wife need respect, but that is by no means the most important thing. Yi Xuan, have you… consummated your marriage?”
Yi Xuan hesitated for a long time, then shook her head, ’No.’
He Zhe grabbed his daughter’s hand and let out a long sigh. ‘Alas, why is it like this. Does he really not want this marriage as rumoured, or is there someone else?’
‘I don’t know… I don’t think so,’ Yi Xuan’s eyebrows knitted.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about it, but every time she did, an unknown sadness in her heart would slowly spread in circles.
Had she prevented the happiness he could have had?
After all, in the twenty years before they met, they had both had their own lives.
But she couldn’t pursue the matter.
She couldn’t ask, and she was afraid to know the answer. She didn’t want to face him with guilt. If Jingting was only reluctant, she could accept it, but if he still carried resentment and hatred, she would not be able to feel at peace.
However, she had heard from the servants that he had a very close female friend, a student at Jiangling Women’s Normal University.
‘Xuan’er, you should not have had this fate. If you had been born a few decades earlier, you would have been a real princess, and lived a life of wealth and privilege. You would never have ended up relying on your husband’s family for support.”
Perhaps this is what is meant by fate: you will not receive even a single bit more than you deserve.
‘Mother, I don’t feel aggrieved. My in-laws treat me extremely well, and everyone in the Mu household is very kind. Jingting treats me…well too, but we’re both so unfamiliar with each other, and it will definitely get better after a while.’
‘I believe in you, no matter what the circumstances, you will always do well, both for yourself and for others. Just don’t suppress yourself too much, sometimes you have to fight for what you want.‘
’Mother…you never used to teach me like this.’
‘After all, we were at home before.’ He Zhe sighed: ’Ever since you were little, you never cared about what you could get for yourself. You were always together with your siblings, never fighting or competing. The Prince once praised you for your broad-mindedness and said you would have great fortune. In a family like ours, being pure-hearted and not greedy certainly has its advantages, and it can prevent people from getting caught up in power struggles. But now you’re on your own, and if you don’t compete, others may not see you as an enemy. You have to learn to fight for what you want, and to protect yourself. Understand?’
Yixuan nodded, but she didn’t feel like there was anything she had to fight for. To her, there didn’t seem to be much in life worth caring about.
She walked slowly to a familiar corner and ran her hands over the familiar guqin, Tianquan.
The pink body was as polished as ever. Once upon a time, she had held a guqin and sat among pavilions and arbors, letting the apricot blossoms of May drift down like rain, while the sound of her playing melted into the rain.
She played for Zongyang.
She played for Ama.
She played for the capital city that had never warmed to her.
‘Tianquan has been with you since you were ten years old, but why did you insist on not taking it with you when you left home?’
‘No, let it stay here with Ama and my mother.’ Tianquan is like a soul outside her body, and of course it should stay here, perched in her homeland that she can never abandon in eternity.
‘Xuan’er…‘
’Don’t worry about me. I know you want me to be happy, and I will do my best to be.’

Before long, Yiting arrived in Yixuan’s room, pregnant and carrying a large belly.
‘Yiting is here,’ said Hezhe, looking at the rebellious-looking legitimate princess and smiling. ‘You sisters haven’t seen each other for a long time, so you should catch up. I’ll go out first.’
After waiting until the side consort had gone, Yiting came closer and sat down next to Yixuan.
“You’re married now. How’s life treating you?’
‘Not bad. Here, have some tea.‘ Yi Xuan brought a cup of freshly brewed Biluochun to Yi Ting’s eyes.
Yi Ting took a sip in return and said, “Zongyang went to Japan.”
’I heard,‘ Yi Xuan bowed her head slightly.
’Heard?’ Yi Ting snorted, ’Is that really your reaction? If Zongyang knows you’re being so cold, I’m afraid his heart will be broken again.’
‘Sister——‘ Yi Xuan couldn’t help but look up, “don’t say that. Now that you and I are both married, why bring up those old stories from childhood?”
’Yes, married, you’re married too. Everyone used to say that the future second young master was a rebel and would definitely not be a good guy, but I never imagined that when I met him today, he was such a gentle and handsome man. You are truly blessed.”
Yi Xuan smiled indifferently and didn’t bother to argue.
‘Ever since we were little, you’ve gotten everything good. Your amah dotes on you, your grandmother dotes on you, and even I, the legitimate princess, can’t compare to you.‘ Yiting’s tone gradually became agitated, “I thought that if I married into the Feng family, my situation would definitely be better than yours, but it turns out that Feng Jinde is also a person who doesn’t improve.”
’Sister, don’t say that about your brother-in-law like that. Think about the child in your belly. Life is still worth looking forward to.’
‘Hmph, child, I never wanted any children. If it’s not a boy, it’s useless.‘
’It’s good if it’s a girl,‘ Yi Xuan said sincerely.
’If it’s good, you go and have it.”
Yi Xuan smiled bitterly in her heart. Maybe in this life, she will never be able to have her own child, since even her husband is not real.
‘You know what,‘ Yi Ting took a breath and continued, “I hate your innocent and pure appearance the most. No matter what others say, you take it all as good advice, pretending to be a saint, not offending anyone and everyone liking you.”
’Sister—’ Yi Xuan was shocked. She had thought that Yi Ting understood her, and that there were no gaps in the relationship between the sisters. She had never thought that Yi Ting would have such a strong dislike for her, and even… envy her.
‘We were both born into royalty, so who doesn’t understand the art of backstabbing? If we really didn’t understand it, how could we have survived until now? And you deliberately put on a high-and-mighty act to show how different you are from everyone else. Why aren’t you saying anything? Why aren’t you refuting me?‘
’Maybe you’re right,’ Yi Xuan said, walking over to the guqin and sitting down slowly. She said coldly, ’Maybe you’re right, I did put on an act, I pretended to be high and mighty.’
‘You…’ Yiting stood up angrily, watching Yixuan’s slender hands stroke the strings of the guqin, and a sense of defeat washed over her.
Yixuan’s expression was as calm as ever, her starry eyes as still as a well.
In fact, she had long known that Yixuan was so different from her and the other princesses.
Yixuan was like a daylily born in a secluded valley, with a soul that was detached from the world, while she herself was a flower truly born in the mortal world, covered in the dust of the mundane.
Yixuan watched Yiting run out without looking back, and let out a sigh of relief. She withdrew her hand from the strings again.
She sat under the window for a long time, before readjusting the strings and playing a familiar tune.

‘You go back first,’ Jingting said to the child leading the way. He had already seen the light in Yixuan’s room.
Walking on the white path, he passed through a plum forest, where the fragrance of flowers drifted in the air. Occasionally, a few yellow flowers fell from the branches and landed on his black clothes.
The winter moonlit night was lonely and cold, but the light ahead was warm, just like the light in the West Courtyard, which had been lit every night to wait for his return.
The melodious sound of the piano floating in the night sky was mesmerising. He was sure that the sound came from Yixuan’s room, but he had never known that Yixuan’s piano playing would be so proficient.
Jingting stopped in the middle of the path, closed his eyes and listened. He could tell that she was playing ‘Autumn Wind Song’.
The clear autumn pool, the bright cold moon, the surging mountain waves, and the quiet valley echoing the sound of the piano strings.
The style of the music revealed a strong character, and he had to admit that the creator of this wonderful music could only be an upright and virtuous person. However, there was also an emotion hidden in the music, one of helplessness and sadness.
Jingting suddenly opened his eyes and remembered the words of the Autumn Wind Ode that corresponded to this piece of music: ‘The autumn wind is clear, the autumn moon is bright, the fallen leaves gather and scatter, the crows perch and are startled. When will we meet again? It is hard to bear this emotion at this time of night.’
Love, is this sound of the zither a kind of love?
Jingting walked gently to the window, and Yixuan was still unaware. He then walked away again, sat down in the small pavilion in the courtyard, and did not disturb her playing the zither elegantly.
After a while, Yixuan changed the tune, playing ‘Three Variations on Plum Blossoms’, ‘Flying Geese over the Sandbank’ and ‘Threefold Sunshine’ in succession, as if she simply wanted to review the tunes she had practiced in the past one by one. The helpless and sad feelings he had sensed at first gradually disappeared.
He admitted that listening to Yixuan play the piano was a treat.
If he had been born in an ordinary era and if he had not had any responsibilities, perhaps the greatest happiness in life would be playing the zither and chess with a loved one, while admiring the flowers under the moonlight.
However, this is a chaotic era, and all romantic and personal fantasies should not exist.
But at this moment, he did feel a sense of tranquility, a sense of peace and contentment in his heart.
So he just sat in the pavilion, listening to her playing the zither, until dawn.

Yixuan woke up in the early morning of the next day.
The blinding sunlight made it difficult for her to open her eyes, but she could vaguely see a figure standing in her room. After trying hard to make out the figure, she finally saw Jingting, who was washing his face.
‘When did you get back?’
‘…midnight.’ Jingting wrung out the towel and hung it up again.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, I fell asleep,‘ Yi Xuan whispered apologetically. She finally remembered that she had played the guqin all night, and it seemed that she had gone to bed for a nap at dawn, not even noticing if he had returned or not.
When she got up, she found that there was a quilt draped over her body.
Could this be the one he had draped over her? Yi Xuan was slightly startled.
’You like playing the guqin?’ He lowered his gaze to the guqin, ’I’ve never heard you mention it before.’
‘I don’t play well, so there’s nothing to mention.‘
’Really? But this is a good instrument.‘ He has a good eye.
’Yes, the emperor bestowed it on my great-grandfather, and it was passed down through the generations before coming to me.”
Since the heirloom was passed down to her, her qin skills are at least the best in the Qing family, and why didn’t she bring the qin she treasures so much with her to Nanjing? How strange.
‘Why don’t you ask what I talked about with your father?‘ he asked.
’What did you and your father talk about?‘ she repeated.
’It seems you’re not really interested in knowing,‘ Jingting looked up at her.
’It doesn’t matter what we talked about, what’s important is whether you got along well?‘ She looked up at him too.
’Your father asked me to play chess with him today.”
That meant they got along well? Yixuan couldn’t help but smile.
Jingting turned his head away, unwilling to see the smile she let slip when she wasn’t paying attention, as if her happiness depended entirely on him. He played along with her, as long as he acted convincingly in front of her family, she would give that grateful, relieved smile, which made him feel very uncomfortable. It was clear that he owed her, but now it was as if he were her benefactor.
‘I’m going over there,’ Jingting said, shaking the water off his hands and walking out.
‘Thank you,’ she said behind him.
He didn’t even want to hear that thank you, so he replied sulkily, ‘You’re welcome.’
Chapter 4 (Part 2)
In the evening, Jingting returned from Zai Huan’s place.
It had been a long time since he had had such a good game, and he had actually played chess with his father-in-law all day. If it weren’t for the important task he had for the evening, he was afraid he would have continued to enjoy the game.
He had thought that Zai Huan was a person with old-fashioned thinking, pedantic and arrogant, but he had never expected him to be so reasonable. It was only after last night’s long conversation that Jing Ting realised that Zai Huan’s views on the situation and the future were even more profound than theirs. There was no kind of sad resentment towards the change of dynasties, but more of a worry about the future situation. Today’s game of chess had taught him many truths beyond the board.
Thinking about Zai Huan’s righteousness towards the Mu family back then, and the understanding and appreciation he and his father had for each other, Jing Ting was even more certain that his father-in-law was a man of great passion and character. If it weren’t for this family relationship, they might have become friends despite the age difference. But, unfortunately, they were embarrassed by this relationship.
‘Jing Ting, Yi Xuan is a child worth cherishing. You, will you treat her well?’ Zai Huan asked him as they finished their last game of chess.
‘I will never abandon her in my life.‘ He chose an ambiguous answer. Merely “not abandoning” was not enough, but that was all he could promise.
He wondered if Zai Huan was satisfied with the answer, because he deliberately ignored Zai Huan’s expression.

’Back already?‘ Yixuan handed him a cup of hot tea.
’Mm.‘
’Thank you for playing chess with Ama.’
‘If I remember correctly, you already said that once this morning.‘ He blew lightly on the tea leaves that were floating on the surface.
’Once is not enough,‘ she said sincerely, “Mother said that you were very happy today, and that you haven’t been that happy in a long time.”
’I didn’t deliberately try to please him.‘
’I know.”
Jingting lowered his head and continued drinking his tea. ’Tonight—’
Yixuan reflexively took over his words: ‘Tonight I’ll sleep on the bench.’ When they arrived at the Prince Qing’s mansion, they couldn’t sleep in separate rooms. They had inexplicably managed to get by for one night yesterday, but tonight was bound to be awkward.
She was really sensitive, and Jingting smiled helplessly, ‘Then it’s not necessary. What I meant to say was that I’m going out tonight.’
She didn’t ask him where he was going, but she remembered what Belle had said about the city being on high alert and the tense situation. If he, a grown man, was out on the street that late, he would be arrested.
‘I’ll go with you. If there’s a woman by your side, no one will suspect anything.’
Jingting was stunned. What was she talking about? Did she know what his mission was tonight? Her natural tone seemed to indicate that she knew exactly what he was going to do.
‘What’s wrong? The situation is very chaotic these days,’ explained Yixuan.
‘Nothing,‘ he said, gathering his thoughts and thinking that he had been over-worried. She was a former Qing imperial concubine, so how would she know about their affairs?

’Belle, remember to turn off the lights early. If anyone asks, just say that we’ve already gone to bed,’ Yi Xuan told Belle, making sure that there was nothing suspicious before leading Jingting out of the backyard.
They walked quietly in the snow, a distance apart, with the moonlight stretching their silhouettes.
Turning a corner, they walked along the wall in fuchsia red. Within the wall was the Forbidden City, the once-mighty Forbidden City.
‘It’s ridiculous that the city walls are still so strong, but the dynasty collapsed at the hands of the Manchus,’ Jingting said suddenly.
How could the fall of the Qing dynasty be the Manchu people’s fault alone? Yi Xuan frowned slightly, about to speak in defence, but inadvertently saw his handsome face in the moonlight. There was a smile on his lips, but it was not sarcastic; instead, it carried a strong sense of bitterness.
His heart was also bitter, so why did she have to add to his suffering?
After walking for a while, they did encounter a pair of patrol soldiers coming towards them.
‘Who are you?‘ A beam of light swept unceremoniously over them. Jingting subconsciously pulled Yixuan close to him and took her thin shoulders in his right hand.
’Visiting relatives,‘ he said coldly, a little impatient.
’Visiting relatives?’ The man in charge rested his hand on his chin and looked back and forth at them, ’Where are you visiting relatives?’
‘22 Damu Cang Hutong,‘ Yi Xuan replied with a smile, “We just finished a banquet at Xifeng Pavilion, and the roads have been slippery these past few days, so we got delayed a bit.”
’Hurry up and go, don’t wander around in the dark,‘
the patrolman said angrily as he walked away, and they continued on their way.
’You can let go of me now,’ Yi Xuan said awkwardly, until the guard’s voice had completely disappeared.
Jingting realised that he had been hugging her in a protective and courageous manner. He let go of her suddenly, and the two of them returned to their usual distance. However, Jingting felt that his heartbeat was not normal.
Just now, they had been so close that he had clearly felt her body fragrance, like that of an orchid: fresh and elegant, just like her impression on people.
What was the address of 22 Damu Cang Hutong? He suddenly thought about this question, and he just felt that her reaction just now was too agile and calm.

‘We’re here,’ he said.
Yi Xuan looked up at the dilapidated wooden door in front of her, which said 67 Damu Cang Hutong. ‘Oh, then you go in first, I’ll wait for you outside.’
‘There’s a guest room inside, you stay there for a while, I’ll come out as soon as I’m done.’ She was really “understanding” sometimes, Jingting shook his head helplessly in his heart, how could he let a woman stand in the freezing cold all night, did she really think he was such a cold person?
Jingting exchanged secret codes with the person inside, and then a middle-aged man in a yellow jacket came out to open the door. When he saw Jingting, he immediately looked surprised.
‘My boy, it’s been a long time!‘ The two men embraced.
Yixuan looked at Jingting and was surprised that he could smile so heartily.
’This is…‘ The man noticed her behind him.
’Oh,’ Jingting also turned around, a trace of embarrassment crossing his face, “this is my wife, Fu Cha Yixuan; this is my friend, Huang Li.”
Yixuan smiled politely, but saw a flash of surprise in the man’s eyes.
As the two of them walked shoulder to shoulder into the courtyard, Yixuan saw two other people, Zeng Ping and Qi Fenghe. Although the four men were dressed differently, they all had a common temperament. That temperament was not unfamiliar to Yixuan.
Huang Li’s wife led her to a guest room nearby to rest. Yi Xuan carefully surveyed her surroundings. It was a very simple and ordinary room. On the yellowed walls hung verses by Su Dongpo, and on the small black square table were a few books and an old worn-out almanac. But perhaps, there were many secrets hidden here, secrets about the revolution and the future of China.
This scene is so familiar. She witnessed the same thing a few years ago, and she knew that some causes needed to be carried out in secret, but that they were dangerous and unlikely to succeed.

‘I heard last month that Jingting got married, but I didn’t have the chance to go to Nanjing to congratulate him.’

‘Oh, Jingting will understand.’ Yi Xuan didn’t know what to say to the plain-looking woman. ‘You…have been married to Big Brother Huang for a long time, haven’t you?’
‘Eight years,‘ the woman said with a smile, a look of happiness on her face. “Although life has been hard and not always stable, I’m very content.”
’I really envy you,‘ she said half-heartedly, half-heartedly.
’Isn’t it the same for you and Jingting?”
How could it be the same? she thought to herself. Huang Li’s surprised expression just now had shown that he was not ignorant of their marital status, and the woman in front of her should know more or less about their situation.
‘In the past, everyone said that Jingting only cares about the big picture and ignores the little things,’ the woman said enthusiastically. “When we first heard that he was getting married, we couldn’t believe it either. He always advocated governing the country before uniting the family.”
So, he must also feel that she is a burden. Even if they are not actually married, she has become a burden to him.
‘He has always been dedicated to his work, but everyone respects him, even Lao Huang admires him very much. This is no wonder, after all, he saved our lives as husband and wife. If he hadn’t hidden us in the church in Varnay, we would have been finished, but he was attacked by the military police to cover us. Those two scars on his back are from that time.’
Yixuan’s face flushed. How would she know where Jingting had been injured? However, she had never heard anyone talk about Jingting’s past in such detail before, and the Jingting this woman described really did differ from the Jingting she had seen. She never imagined that he would have fought people with real guns and bullets.
‘Was he always so reckless with his life?’ Yixuan couldn’t help but ask.
“Which one of them isn’t? Don’t look at Jingting’s youth, his experiences are much richer than the average person.’
‘So what about you, do you often worry about Brother Huang?‘
’Of course I do. But I knew what I was getting into when I married him. At worst, we’ll both die. If the day ever comes when he dies, I can follow him.”
Yixuan’s eyes widened. She felt that this unremarkable woman before her was extraordinary. Her words were not heroic or romantic, but they deeply touched her heart.
To live and die together with someone requires courage and an unreserved love for one another.
That night, in this strange hut, Yi Xuan gained an infinite amount of insight from her conversation with this strange woman.

When it was just beginning to dawn, Jing Ting came out. His face was aglow with excitement, and he was in an exceptionally good mood.
They walked back, still keeping their distance.
The sky was still a pale purple, and a crescent moon and a rising sun appeared in the sky at the same time.
Was it night or day?
How distant was dawn?
The morning breeze was cold. Yi Xuan pulled her inky cloak tighter around her, but she still felt a chill, and she involuntarily hunched her shoulders. Suddenly, she felt something heavy on her shoulders. She turned her head to see that Jing Ting had put his overcoat on her.
‘You’ll catch a cold,‘ she hurriedly objected.
’I won’t, but you will,’ he said firmly.
Forget it, she knew she would never win an argument with him. But it was really warm in the overcoat, with his body heat and his scent, just like…just like half a hug from him unintentionally.
It was only one night, but she knew him better than she had in the past. He is a man of experience, someone who has been on the brink of death. He and his companions try to be the torchbearers of these chaotic times, but what about himself?
Does he feel lonely when he lights the way for others?
Does the light in his hands ever warm his heart?
She always had the feeling that no matter how many lights she lit in Xiyuan, his room would always be so cold, and he would never feel the warmth.

In the next few days, they explored the capital city.
Yixuan was a competent guide, providing explanations at the right time, but never being intrusive. They went to the theatre to watch a few plays, and tried all the special pastries from the north at the restaurant. They even climbed a short section of the Great Wall at Jinshanling and went to see the snow-capped Fragrant Hills. Finally, they stayed at home and enjoyed tea and plum blossoms with Zai Huan, occasionally knocking the chess pieces around and talking about national affairs.
In short, they had a very relaxing time over the past few days.
In these turbulent times, it is truly a wonderful thing to be able to spend such peaceful moments. Jingting could not explain where this tranquillity and leisure came from. Originally, this visit to his family, which was a responsibility, was not as unbearable as he had imagined, and he even felt a little sad when it was time to leave.
They decided to take a boat south. On the day of their departure, the entire Feng family turned out to see them off at the port.
The first to cry was Yiting. Yixuan took her sister’s hand and knew full well that Yiting’s words that day were not from the heart. Maybe she resented her sister’s aloofness and envied her good fortune, but that was just on the surface. The love between siblings flows in their blood, and the love and concern they have for each other will never change.
‘Sister, you must take care,’ Yi Xuan said, worried about her sister’s situation in the Feng family. “When the baby is born, remember to send us a letter in time.”
Yi Ting put her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “You take care too. If you are unhappy about anything, you must speak up. Don’t suffer in silence.”
Letting go of her sister, Yi Xuan walked up to her father. ’Father, if the situation in Beiping becomes too chaotic, consider coming to us in the south.’ In fact, she knew that this kind of persuasion was useless. The surname Fu Cha had long since anchored Zai Huan’s roots in the imperial city. He would rather die than leave his roots, the place where the Qing dynasty had risen.
Zai Huan simply said matter-of-factly, ‘Nanjing is close to Shanghai and was the old capital of the Ming dynasty. Once war breaks out, it will also be a politically important place, so it won’t be safe anywhere.’
Jingting nodded in agreement, ‘Take care, Mum and Dad.’
Zai Huan took his daughter’s hand and placed Jingting’s hand on top of it.
He should have done this when they got married, but they didn’t have the chance, so now he was making up for it, as if this was the only way he could let go of his daughter’s destiny.
Jingting held Yi Xuan’s hand tightly, and Zai Huan and He Zhe had a relieved look on their faces.
Yixuan gave her two younger brothers some final instructions, and everyone chattered about trivial matters until the ship docked.
Goodbye, hometown, Yixuan said to herself as she looked back at the relatives on the dock waving goodbye.
This time she was really leaving, and the next time she would return was unpredictable.
Chapter 5 (Part 1)
It was the early Spring Festival when they returned to the Mu residence, and the house was filled with the bustling atmosphere of the holiday.
Jingting had just left the house. Over the past few days, the couple had still treated each other with respect. Returning to the reality of the Mu household, the carefree time they had spent together in Beiping felt like a dream.
‘Bai, I’m going to the accounts office. Keep an eye on things at Xiyuan,’ Yi Xuan said, feeling grateful that she had something to do. Watching the light in Jingting’s study burn night after night, she often felt a sense of envy.
He has his own beliefs and pursuits, and every day is busy and fulfilling. But she is like a duckweed, floating aimlessly. Now every morning she follows her mother-in-law to the accounts department, and in the afternoon she goes to the old master’s room to read and copy scriptures with him. Although it is not her true interest, it gives her a sense of her own existence.
‘I’ll walk you over there. There’s never much to do at Xiyuan anyway,’ Belle said, rubbing her hands together and skipping up to her.
“Let’s go.’

They walked past several pavilions and water features, and from the corner of a winding corridor came indistinct voices.
‘How many times have I told you not to wander off on your own? Those places are so remote, what if you get lost?’ Yi Xuan recognised the voice of Su Wen, the maid from the Eastern Courtyard.
‘I want to go see my mother,’ the young, timid voice said.
“Is the cemetery a place you can just go to? The master and mistress and the eldest young master will be angry when they find out.’
‘But I really miss my mother. She’s all alone there, and I’m sure she misses Yutong too.‘
’I’ve told you not to go, and if you don’t listen, you’ll get beaten again.‘
’But…‘
’Second Mistress…’ Suwen looked up and saw Yixuan.
Yixuan nodded slightly to her, walked up to Yutong, bent down and asked softly, ’Yutong misses her mother, doesn’t she?’
‘Mmm.‘ Yutong nodded heavily, her innocent eyes full of expectation.
Yixuan couldn’t help but take her hand: “Yutong, it’s too dangerous for you to go see your mother alone. Daddy and your grandparents won’t feel at ease. Next time, why don’t I take you with me?”
’When is next time?’ Yutong looked up at her.
‘After the Spring Festival, shall we go together? Do you trust your aunt?‘
Yutong thought for a moment, then nodded solemnly: “Yes.”
Yixuan smiled. Yutong was very sensible and quiet, so quiet that people ignored her existence, so quiet that it made people feel sad.
’Second young lady, we’ll go first.‘
’Okay.’
Su Wen led Yutong away. After a few steps, Yutong turned back and smiled at Yixuan. Her beautiful face was as pure and beautiful as a white lotus, but the smile was as indifferent as the tassels on her white clothes.

‘Little Miss is so cute, but unfortunately she has a bad life,’ Belle sighed, stroking her pigtails.

“What did you hear?’
‘I heard them say that the eldest young master doesn’t like the young miss at all, because he doesn’t like the eldest young lady. Even when the eldest young lady was still alive, the eldest young master was cold to her, and… and he had a woman on the side. So as soon as the young miss was born, she didn’t please the eldest young master.‘
’Oh?’ Yi Xuan was puzzled. Jingwei seemed like such a kind and benevolent person.
‘The master and mistress didn’t like the little miss either, but it wasn’t because they didn’t like the eldest young lady. On the contrary, the mistress quite liked her. The eldest young lady was pretty, dignified and virtuous, and she was also extremely obedient to the mistress. The eldest young lady died in childbirth when giving birth to Yi Xuan. Afterwards, a Taoist priest came to perform a ritual and said when he saw the little miss that this girl had a hard life, and not only would she kill her own mother, she would also kill her husband and father in the future!’
‘Really?‘
’Of course it’s true. Suwen and the others all said so.‘ Belle was afraid that Yixuan wouldn’t believe her, “The Han people believe in this.”
Yixuan’s face turned pale, and she subconsciously covered her little finger on her right hand. There was no warmth or life in the golden finger ring.

’Oh, Yixuan is here?’ Before she even entered the door, she heard the sweet voice of Seventh Mistress.
‘Good morning, Seventh Aunt,‘ Yi Xuan politely greeted her, taking off her cloak and setting it aside.
’Mm,‘ Seventh Aunt said, rising from her seat in the hall and following Yi Xuan to the counter. “Have you finished distributing the money for the New Year’s purchases?”
’Yes, it’s all been handed out to the various rooms.‘
’This year’s money…why is it so little?‘ Seventh Aunt leaned most of her body over the counter.
’Why? It’s all been handed out according to last year’s rules.’
‘Really?’ She hesitated for a moment and said, ’The money for each room is different, isn’t it? Can I…take a look at the account book? I always feel that there is something wrong with the money for the husband and wife this year. Why don’t you let me take a look to see if there is anything wrong?’
Yixuan knew that each room attached great importance to this account, and there was always a lot of gossip about who had more or less. Mu Chen’s wife was used to it, after all, it was impossible to satisfy everyone, but she had previously instructed her to avoid trouble as much as possible. Yixuan then laughed and said, ‘Does Seventh Aunt not trust Yixuan?’
The Seventh Mistress also pulled a false smile and said, ‘You just arrived not long ago, I’m afraid you might make a mistake entering and paying out the account.’
‘The account books have already been handed over to your mother-in-law. If you are not at ease, Yixuan can go through the accounts with you again.‘
’That’s not necessary.‘ She didn’t want to go to Mu Chen’s and make things difficult for herself. “But even if the accounts are correct, I’m afraid we won’t have enough this year.”
’?‘ Yixuan looked up at her, asking in her eyes.
’Didn’t your sister-in-law tell you that I’m pregnant now? Do you think the money allocated to us should be doubled?’
‘Really? Then congratulations to you, Auntie Qi.’ Mrs. Qi had been pregnant twice before, but each time she had lost the baby naturally before three months, and the doctors had been unable to help. She just hoped that this time it would be safe and sound, and Yi Xuan sincerely smiled, ’Auntie Qi is really very lucky, and the money for raising the baby will definitely be considerable. How about if I discuss it with my mother at lunch and allocate the money again?’
‘There’s no rush,’ Seventh Mistress smiled, looking her up and down with a strange expression. ’It’s been three months since you married Jingting, I wonder when I’ll hear some good news from you?’
Yixuan’s hand holding the pen paused in the air, and some uneasy emotions swept through her heart. Lady Mulins saw her embarrassment in full view – it seems that those rumours are true. Unable to help but sneer inwardly, she wanted to see how long this famous but empty-headed couple could last, and how long Lady Mulins could favour this daughter-in-law?
Since Yi Xuan joined the accounting department, Mu Lin’s position has been in jeopardy. Yi Xuan is proficient in mathematics and knows how to coordinate. She manages the classification of some trivial accounts and manages the accounts with great efficiency. Many of the accounts that were previously under her control have been handed over to Yi Xuan. Now, only the income from the two shipyards is passed through her hands. Not only that, but Mu Chen has also moved most of the accounts in her hands to Yi Xuan, including the most important Mu family finances.
But no matter what, to gain a foothold in this family, it all depends on whose belly is fertile. No matter how capable she is, and no matter how well she handles things, if she can’t add a son or daughter to the Mu family, will she still be as prosperous as she is now?
Mu Linshi walked back to her seat, picked up a small hairpin, and teased the parrot on the table, saying unintentionally, ‘Shouldn’t you have a baby this year too?’

‘Have you done the accounts?‘ Mu Chen’s wife walked into the room and glanced at Mu Lin’s wife, who was teasing the parrot. She knew that her younger sister-in-law was a playful person, but she was also the most educated among the women, so she usually relied on her for the accounts.
’Of course,’ Mu Lin’s wife sat up straight and said, ’How could I neglect the accounts? Even if I’m pregnant, I dare not neglect this important task.’
‘You should take care of your own body,‘ said Mu Chen, who was really worried when she mentioned this. “Just tell the kitchen what you want to eat normally.”
’Thank you, sister-in-law, for your concern. It’s just that the money for this year’s New Year’s goods…‘
’Yixuan, give your seventh aunt an extra 50 taels for this room.‘
’Only 50…‘ The seventh wife held up five fingers, unwilling.
’There are a lot of family matters this year, and the expenses are also high. For the money to buy New Year’s goods, each room should save as much as possible.’
Mrs Mu Lin groaned inwardly. She had married her daughter into the family, but she couldn’t spare the money for a mere pregnancy?
‘Sister-in-law…’ She walked over to Mu Chen’s side and sat down. ‘You know I always have a hard time protecting my pregnancies. The other day, I went to the Guanyin Temple to pay my respects, and the fortune teller there immediately told me that this was my third pregnancy.’
‘Is it that accurate?’ Mu Chen’s leaned over.
‘Not only that, he also said that my previous pregnancies were all doomed, and that I would not be able to be a mother. I must take good care of this one.‘
’And then?‘
’He said… our Mu family has been unlucky recently, and there might be some unlucky people or things. I don’t believe in that sort of thing myself, but the deaths of my previous pregnancies were so mysterious, don’t you think that’s strange? I’m not afraid, but I’m afraid of hurting the baby in my belly.’
Yixuan stared at the account book in her hands. There were just a few simple numbers, but she just couldn’t add them up.
“Sister-in-law, I think you are being paranoid. In the last pregnancy, you said you were afraid that Yutong and you were in conflict, and I thought that Dongyuan was close to you, so maybe there was some influence. So I took Yutong to live with me for a few months, but the baby was still lost. I don’t think it’s a matter of conflict or not, but you just haven’t paid enough attention. But then again, it is indeed time for the seventh child and you to start a family. Nothing is more important than your pregnancy. In the next few months, you should just focus on taking care of yourself at home. You can leave the bookkeeping to Yixuan. Otherwise, if you get too tired, I won’t be able to explain to the seventh child.
Lady Qi was suddenly furious. She didn’t expect Mu Chen’s words.
‘Sister-in-law…’ She stared at Mu Chen for a long time, and then suddenly let out a sneer, “Sister-in-law, you’re really something!”
Yixuan watched Seventh Mistress leave in a huff, and then saw Mu Chen’s gloomy face. She just couldn’t figure out the answer to the seemingly simple sum in front of her.

On weekends, as usual, the whole Mu family gathered in the main ancestral hall for dinner.
The news that Seventh Aunt was pregnant again really cheered everyone up for a while. This was another piece of good news for the Mu family after Jingting got married.
‘Seventh Aunt, take good care of yourself. Everyone is waiting for you to have another little brother!’ Jingzhi, who is outgoing, was the most excited, as if he was the one who was pregnant.
‘Great! Then I won’t be the youngest anymore, and no one can bully me anymore,’ Jingtang said with a beaming face.
‘Who has ever bullied you? You’re just talking nonsense,‘ Jingzhi said, rubbing Jingtang’s head.
’So, after the baby is born, I will have to call him uncle?‘ Yutong asked timidly, holding her small porcelain bowl. Everyone at the table laughed.
’Haha, I don’t know if I’ll be that lucky!’ Seventh Mistress snorted, touching her still-flat stomach.
‘Auntie Qi, don’t say such things. Start taking care of yourself from today, and you’ll definitely give birth to a healthy baby boy.‘ Jingzhi comforted her, still worried about the miscarriages.
’With a murderous star in the family, who knows if my son and I will be able to live peacefully?‘
The others looked at each other, not knowing who she was referring to.
’Eat your food!’ Mu Chen said, her voice tinged with displeasure.
‘What did I say wrong? How can I be blessed with a son when there is a woman with a broken finger in the family?”
The noisy sounds in the ancestral hall subsided for a moment, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.
Yixuan sat where she was, unable to move. Finally, she finally heard the words she was afraid to hear.
She is a woman with a broken finger.
She is a jinx.
She is someone who can kill other people’s children.
‘If you don’t want to eat, get out,’ said Mu Chen, angrily setting down her bowl with a commanding expression.
‘Get out? You’re the one who wants me to get out! How can I stay in this family?’ Seventh Mistress swept the bowl and chopsticks onto the ground with a sharp clatter, then pushed away her chair and stormed out of the ancestral hall.
Mu Jiyuan also suddenly got up: ‘Sister-in-law, you’ve really gone too far.’ Then he went after his wife.

Yixuan lowered her head, her face as white as paper, her hands trembling so badly that the porcelain bowl she was holding in her hands trembled with her, as if it would fall to the ground and shatter at any moment.
But one hand covered hers, warm and generous, with clear lines on the palm. She looked up and saw the owner of the hand. His gaze was like moonlight on a clear stream, rippling with rare tenderness.
But at this moment, she only felt that the eyes looked at her with pity. She didn’t need pity, but she couldn’t pull her hand away. She needed that warmth, that strength.
‘Can’t you even eat?’ Mu Jihong’s voice rang out. Mu Chen and his wife exchanged glances, and both saw understanding and support in each other’s eyes.
There was a slight commotion, and someone else picked up their chopsticks and bowl.
Regaining some strength, Yixuan withdrew her hand and set down her bowl. She couldn’t continue to stay here and endure all the strange looks. But before she could get up, she was held back by the person next to her. She looked at Jingting in confusion, asking with her eyes:
Why won’t you let me go?
You shouldn’t be avoiding it.
Please leave me some self-respect.
You can only maintain your self-respect by staying and facing it.
I don’t know how long it took before Jingting’s clear voice rang out: ‘It’s not easy to buy New Year’s goods this year. The government tightly controls rice and grain.’
‘Yes, a lot of goods are shipped from Suzhou,’ Jingwei picked up the conversation with great understanding.
‘The most important thing is whether we can buy fireworks. My classmates bought Western fireworks, which I heard are really amazing,’ Jingzhi quickly agreed.
Slowly, the people at the table launched into a lively discussion about fireworks.
Yixuan still kept her head down, listening to the irrelevant conversations to ease the initial awkwardness. Although she considered herself strong and never cried, a bitter feeling welled up in her eyes. She didn’t know if it was because of the harsh words, the future she had to face, or the hand that had once given her strength.

After dinner, Yixuan and Jingting did not linger in the ancestral hall, but walked together towards the West Garden.
The two of them were silent. The night was eerie and mysterious. The shadows of the swaying trees revealed some bright moonlight, casting dappled grey shadows on their white brocade clothes.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered, but her head was tilted to one side.
“There’s nothing to thank me for. I’ve never liked those superstitious sayings.’
‘So you’re always so righteous?‘ She frowned slightly and sneered. He was always so insincere. No matter how much care and affection he gave, he was always willing to attribute everything to those lofty reasons, unwilling to face his own changes and unwilling to see the thawing of the ice between them. “You don’t have to worry, I won’t misunderstand your concern.”
’We…’ He stopped by the bedroom and didn’t intend to go in. ’After all, we are not strangers, and caring… is only natural.’
‘Mm,’ she agreed with him, because whatever he thought was his business. She slammed the door in his face, and finally she could hide her emotions.
Yi Xuan sat under the yellowish candlelight, took a deep breath, removed the golden finger ring, and slowly revealed the stump. The flesh-red tip was a bit swollen, and the skin was smoother than the rest. What an ugly finger tip, what a terrible finger tip.
She was, after all, an abnormal person.
Even a calm and uneventful life was a luxury she could not afford.
Perhaps the past days of painted peace would never return.
Perhaps…
After thinking for a long time, she finally leaned over the table and fell asleep.
No matter what would happen tomorrow, she could not resist. She was like a prisoner bound by the chains of fate, unable to escape.
Staying and facing it was the only way to maintain her self-respect.
She remembered these words a second before she fell asleep.
Chapter 5 (Part 2)
Before she knew it, it was New Year’s Eve.
Jingting finished his work early and was ready to go home for the New Year. The work at the bookstore and the publishing house had all been completed, but Jinfei, whom he had not seen since he returned from Beiping, had reportedly gone back to his hometown in Zhenjiang for the New Year. Hao Tian was still alone, so as in previous years, he went back to the Mu family with Jingting for the New Year.
They walked along the streets at three or four o’clock in the afternoon. There were few people coming and going, and most shops, big and small, had closed. Every household was waiting for the arrival of New Year’s Eve.
‘Should I bring some gifts?’ Hao Tian asked.
‘It’s up to you,’ Jing Ting replied. The Mu family had spent at least a month preparing for the New Year, so there was no shortage of anything. But Hao Tian had his heart set on something, so it was hard for him to refuse directly.
‘Why don’t we go to Qingyang Department Store? It always closes late,‘ Hao Tian suggested, and Jingting followed him in silence.
’This way…‘ Hao Tian tugged Jingting’s sleeve, puzzled as to why he was staring at the music store not far away. “What are you looking at?”
’Huh?’ Jingting came back to his senses, “Oh, let’s just go to Yongding Department Store.”
Hao Tian gave him a strange look: ’Can’t you see? Yongding is already closed.’
Jing Ting lowered his eyes without saying anything, nor did he offer an explanation. Hao Tian also pretended not to see the worried look in his eyes, which he had not been able to fully hide. So the two of them went to Qingyang to pick up some New Year’s goods, and it was already dusk when they returned to the Mu residence.

From a distance, they could see two large, bright red lanterns hanging above the carved wooden doors of the Mu residence. Even the two stone lions in front of the door were glowing with red light, unlike their usual solemn appearance.
After knocking on the door for a while, someone finally came to answer it, but it was A Qiu.
‘Sir, you’re really early today,’ he said, before Jingting could ask, ‘Lao Wu was telling a story, and there was nothing going on in the back hall, so everyone gathered in front of the door.’
Jingting looked at the shed not far to the right, where the lights were bright and a number of long-term workers were gathered. On the wooden table next to them were piles of melon seeds, white wine, and boiled peanuts. These long-term workers had worked hard all year, and it was rare for them to have such a leisurely time to gather together and spend this important holiday in their own way.
Sitting in the central bamboo chair is the gardener Lao Wu. He was originally an unsuccessful scholar who finally managed to find a job as a gardener at the Mu residence. However, he always regarded himself as a scholar and had the arrogance of a poor scholar.
“After Yang Guang received the report, he was so scared that his soul flew out of his body. He looked around, asked, ’My dear ministers, the bandits are blocking the road, what should we do? …’ The old Wu, holding a rosewood book board, stared with wide eyes, his neck veins bulging, really engrossed in the story.
Jing Ting couldn’t help but pull the corners of his mouth, took out the only silver note from his bosom, and without looking at the denomination, directly handed it to A Qiu, saying, ’Go buy some rice wine and peanuts again, let’s all have fun, and don’t bother serving in the back hall.’
A Qiu was a little surprised, and immediately reacted, saying, ‘Thank you, Second Master, and thank you, Mr. Fang.’
Hao Tian laughed and said, ‘I didn’t give the red envelope either, so why thank me?’
‘This…haha,’ A Qiu scratched the back of his head, ‘Second Master, I can’t speak, so I just wish you good luck, every success, an early birth of a son, and two children a year, three in two years…’
‘That’s enough.’ Jingting waved his hand impatiently, and Aqiu ran back to the shack with a silly grin on his face, saying something inside. When Jingting and the others passed by, many of the long-term workers stuck their heads out to pay their respects and say thank you.
‘Go ahead and laugh, don’t hold it in,’ Jingting said with a stern face as he turned into an empty corridor and glared at Hao Tian, who was pursing his lips. He knew that Hao Tian must have been secretly amused by A Qiu’s words.
Hao Tian really laughed out of ignorance, saying, ’Your family’s servants are really very considerate.’

‘You’re back, Master?‘ Belle was wearing a new red cotton jacket and was bouncing in front of the bedroom door, holding a large lantern in her hand, trying to hang it on the door frame. She only greeted Jingting politely when she saw him.
’Can you reach it?’ Before she could see anyone, she heard the soft voice of an oriole coming from the room. Then, Yixuan walked out of the room holding a black carved round wooden stool. She was surprised to see Haotian for a moment.
This was the first time he had seen Yixuan, so Hao Tian was not surprised. Jingting naturally would not force his wife to bring her out to show people. However, Yixuan did overturn his previous imagination. She stood quietly by the door, beautiful and refined, gentle and graceful. At first, he was a little surprised, but then he regained his composure, nodded and smiled at him. Her attitude was elegant but not aloof, humble but not servile.
Why did she have to be such a beautiful and peaceful woman?
Her beauty made Jingting lose even the target of his resentment.
Jingting strode up and took the lantern from Belle’s hands, hanging it on the door with ease.
‘This is my friend, Fang Haotian,’ he said to Yixuan, and then to Haotian, ‘Fu Cha Yixuan.’
Yi Xuan had heard Jingzhi mention Hao Tian before and knew that he was Jingzhi’s closest friend. Naturally, she felt a little closer to him, so she asked, ‘Mr. Fang is going to stay here, right?’
Hao Tian nodded, ‘Thank you for your trouble.’
‘Not at all. I’ll ask Belle to add another bed and quilt to the study.’
“Another?’
Hao Tian looked at Jing Ting with surprise. So they not only did not consummate their marriage, they were practically two unrelated people?
‘Mr. Fang, I’m not sure if one quilt is enough… Mr. Fang?’
‘Huh?’ Hao Tian withdrew his gaze and only then realised her question. ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter. I’m not sure if I can sleep tonight. I used to stay up late to keep the New Year’s Eve vigil.’
‘One quilt is enough,‘ Jingting answered for him, urging Hao Tian to leave quickly.
For some reason, when he saw Hao Tian’s questioning gaze, he would feel so uncomfortable.

’It’s time to set off the fireworks!‘ After finishing the New Year’s Eve dinner, Jingtang immediately exclaimed impatiently.
’Yes, yes, let’s go.’ Jingzhi and Jingzhe followed suit, each grabbing one of Jingtang’s hands, and the three of them bounced around the dinner table.
‘Jingting, you guys go and have some fun too. Haotian, just treat this place as your home and don’t be shy, go on, go set off the fireworks.‘
’Yes, auntie,‘ Haotian replied respectfully, while Jingting helplessly got up. His mother really did treat them like children.
’Jingwei, you go and have some fun too.‘
’Huh? I don’t need to.’ Jingwei, who was always so mature, shook his head in surprise, and his younger brothers all laughed.
Yixuan noticed the hopeful light in Yutong’s eyes and held out her hand to her: ‘Let’s go, watch the fireworks with your aunt.’
‘Okay,’ Yutong jumped off the stool and snuggled up to Yixuan.
The group of young people then walked excitedly to the back yard of the Mu family, where there was a spacious open space. Traces of the heavy snow from the previous year were still visible on the ground, and there was no tall tree nearby to provide cover, making it just the right place to set off fireworks.
‘It’s great to see them so young,‘ Mu Jihong sighed at the receding backs of the group.
’So shall we follow them?’ Mu Chen asked sideways.
Jihong laughed, patting his wife’s shoulder, ’Let’s not make things difficult for ourselves.’
The seventh wife on the side frowned with disdain and a wave of resentment washed over her. After the storm, Yixuan’s position in the Mu family not only did not waver, but the younger generation felt more sympathy and care for her. As for herself, she spent every day locked in her room ‘nurturing her baby’, and her figure grew plumper and plumper.
After a while, a figure flashed back into the hall, and it darted behind Mu Chen’s back and tugged the corner of a young maid’s clothing.
‘Qin Yun, let’s go together,‘ he whispered in her ear.
Qin Yun bit her lip and twisted the corner of her clothes, hesitating for a long time before following Jingzhi shyly. No one should notice her “unauthorised absence” tonight.

’So pretty! It’s colourful!’ Jingtang exclaimed. ’Fourth Brother is amazing!’
‘Of course, this is called the ‘Rainbow of the Night’!‘ Jingzhe turned back proudly and smiled at everyone, looking just like a circus performer in a Western theatre.
’Watch this!’ Jingzhi was not to be outdone, rushing up to light a bundle of “fireworks”. The fireworks bloomed in the sky, truly as white and bright as silver flowers. ’Pinzhen, come over here quickly, I’ll show you how to set them off.’
‘No!‘ Zhenyun covered her ears and kept backing away, but Jingzhi held her waist, so she had no choice but to get close to the dangerous fireworks. She stamped her feet repeatedly, “Let go of me, Third Young Master, let go!”
Jingting and Haotian stood far away, hunched over their arms, watching. They were really too old to hang out with kids.
’You really are obedient. You do whatever my mother tells you to do,’ Jingting said.
‘It’s the last night of the year, why ruin the old man’s mood?’ Hao Tian still smiled gently, “Besides, how can you miss such a beautiful sight?”
Jing Ting noticed the difference in his tone and followed the gaze to see Yi Xuan in the midst of the brilliant fireworks.
Dressed in a bright red cotton cheongsam with white velvet trim, she looked like a fairy who had fallen to earth. Yutong and Jingtang were scared by the flames and kept hiding behind her. She was holding a white square of silk and covering her ears. Although she was scared, she pretended to be calm and protect the children beside her like a mother. Her face in the firelight was as beautiful as a mountain flower, and her infrequent smile was stunning.
When he came back from this shock, Hao Tian was still staring intently.
‘Have you had enough?’ Jing Ting asked.
‘Such a beautiful sight, it’s not too much to appreciate for a while, is it?’
‘She’s my wife after all,’ Jing Ting said with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.
‘It’s not real,’ Hao Tian said with a smile.
Jing Ting’s body couldn’t help but stiffen.
It’s not real.
They are not really husband and wife.
With a loud bang, another burst of fireworks shot up into the sky, blooming recklessly in the purple-black night, but the colours of the fireworks suddenly became a little blinding.

From the first to the fifth day of the Chinese New Year, everyone curled up at home, like lazy cats.
The dockyards and foreign trading companies all stopped work, giving people the opportunity to enjoy these rare few days of leisure over the year.
‘I’ve really bothered you for too long this time. I hope I didn’t crowd you at night,‘ Hao Tian asked.
’If you know you’re bothering me, why don’t you just leave?‘ Jing Ting stretched out and teased him.
’Right, I was planning to discuss this with you. I want to leave the day after tomorrow. I… I have to go out.‘ Hao Tian looked down and tied his shoelace, covering his unnatural expression.
’Where are you going?’ Jing Ting got up and asked casually.
‘Er…it’s not a big deal, just…a walk.’ He paused, but fortunately, Jingting didn’t notice his hesitation. He just pushed open the wooden door to the study and walked into the quiet courtyard, breathing in the fresh morning air.
The western courtyard never had flowers, but ever since they got married, there was always a light fragrance in the whole courtyard. He didn’t know what the fragrance was, but he felt that it was the scent of day lilies, which made people forget their worries when they smelled it. Jingting closed his eyes in the courtyard, a little intoxicated. This fragrance should also have been brought by her, and he himself unexpectedly did not reject this foreign scent.
‘Are you going out for a stroll today?’ Hao Tian, who was tidying his clothes, also walked out of the study.
‘Sure.‘ He glanced at the closed bedroom door on the east side and walked out side by side with Hao Tian.

’Cinnabar Fei said she wouldn’t be back until the Lantern Festival,‘ Hao Tian said indifferently.
Jing Ting’s sword-shaped eyebrows trembled slightly, but all he said was, “Well, it should be the start of the semester when she returns.”
’How about going to Shunfeng Bookstore?‘ Hao Tian changed the subject, burying the past deeply.

’Sure.’
‘The bookstore is over here,‘ Hao Tian asked, touching Jing Ting, puzzled. “Do you really want to buy a piano?”
It was the second time he had been at a piano shop, and the way he was lost in thought didn’t look like he was just daydreaming.
’No way. Where are you getting that from?‘
’It’s not a bad thing.’ Hao Tian frowned, even more confused as to why he was so nervous. ’But I always thought you only knew how to play the flute.’
‘I do know how to suck cock. But I don’t have the leisurely mood I used to have.‘
After spending half a day in the bookstore, they each picked a few books they liked and headed back.
’This book…is it about the Russian Revolution?’ Hao Tian pulled a book out of Jing Ting’s arms.
‘Well, when we were in Beiping, I had a discussion with Lao Huang and the others about the revolution. I found it quite enlightening, but unfortunately no one has yet analysed the situation specifically. This book I bought is just a simple introduction.‘
’A few of my friends have read it too, and they all said it was very enlightening.‘
’You might as well have a look too. Personally, I think it’s currently the most vibrant idea out there.‘
’I don’t know what to read anymore. The only thing that’s convincing is still Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People.’
‘Unfortunately, the National Protection Movement ended in failure, but fortunately, Sun Yat-sen still has confidence.‘
’But it will be difficult to have another great revolution like the Xinhai Revolution.‘
’Yes, the current situation is like a temporary equilibrium in a state of chaos. I think there will be a breakthrough soon,‘ Jingting said, with a determined gleam in his eyes.
’I look forward to that day.’ Hao Tian’s words suddenly stopped, ’Look over there…’
Jingting also stopped in his tracks and looked over. He saw Yixuan leading Yutong in the opposite direction towards the Mu residence. From time to time, Yutong would look up at Yixuan and smile, and Yixuan would lovingly rub the top of Yutong’s head. They looked like two sisters.
They were the youngest and most dazzling flowers in the Mu family. Although they both bloomed with difficulty and kept a low profile, they were still eye-catching.
They should be going to pay their respects to their sister-in-law, Jingting thought.
He knew that Yixuan was not a meddlesome person and was quite adept at the ways of the world. Apart from her friction with Seventh Sister, she got along extremely well with everyone in the Mu household. People often praised his wife in front of him, and he always just laughed it off. Of course, he was not honoured to have married such a good ‘wife’, and in private, he often wondered why. Other women often had to put on airs to show their high and mighty nature, but Yixuan always responded to the world with an open heart, as if she was deliberately suppressing her transcendent temperament.
However, no matter what, she survived very well and did not need him to worry about her. It was only with Yutong that she went well beyond the boundaries of what she should do.
‘In fact, your niece is quite like your wife,‘ commented Haotian.
’You noticed that too?‘ he asked, a little surprised.
’I was just saying. But anyone can see that your wife really likes that little girl and takes good care of her.‘
’If she has time to do that, she should take care of herself first,’ said Jingting indifferently, and continued walking only after watching the two of them enter the Mu residence.
Chapter 6 (Part 1)
The seventh year of the Republic of China.
The spring of this year came particularly late. March had passed, and the weather was still cold.
On the 25th of March, Cao Rulin, the Minister Resident in Japan, exchanged the draft of the Sino-Japanese Joint Military Agreement for the Defence of the Enemy with the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs. This caused dissatisfaction among a large number of students studying in Japan, and also caused a wave of discussion among students in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.
‘Jingting…‘ Haotian hurried into the printing office.
Jingting waved the fourth volume of “New Youth” that had been sent from Beiping: “Come and look, ”New Youth’ has switched to using vernacular and new punctuation marks.‘
’Really? That’s great.’ He was obviously not as excited as Jingting. ’I received a letter from Lao Huang saying that the situation in Beiping is tense. College students are greatly dissatisfied with the draft of the Sino-Japanese Mutual Defense Agreement and may stage a protest.’
Jingting’s face also grew grave. After a moment of thought, he said, ‘There’s no way to know the specific situation in Beiping at the moment. There’s no point worrying. Let’s just wait and see what happens.’
‘Hm,’ Hao Tian let out a small sigh of relief after hearing Jingting’s words and sat down next to him.
‘Something else?’ Jingting looked up. He could tell Hao Tian was hesitating, ‘Just say it.’
“Cui Fei has already returned to school, and their student association also plans to hold an event to protest the draft.’
‘I know.’ He put down the magazine in his hands, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Hao Tian. At the beginning of the semester, Jin Fei had written him a few text messages. He had always been puzzled. They were obviously in the same city, but they had to communicate through letters. The letters were about their recent lives, and the words revealed a sense of distance. The opinions on the draft were like work reports.
Jinfei usually stayed at school, rarely helping out at the bookstore, printing office, or newspaper office anymore. Even if she did go, she always missed the time when Jingting was there. If they happened to run into each other, they would only chat about trivial things. Although her expressions, words, and smile seemed no different from the past, there was an indescribable strangeness between the two of them.
A gap, alienation, strangeness…
These are the only words that can describe their current relationship. Something that has passed cannot be returned. When he let go of Jinfei’s hand at the hospital, he knew that something had gone forever, but he didn’t know what it was at the time.
‘Er… I’m courting Jinfei,’ Hao Tian finally said.
The air was still for a moment, and the strong shock was still in the words, but the usual calmness was still there: ‘When did this happen?’
“During the Lantern Festival.’
‘So you were saying you were going out at the time was to go to Zhenjiang to find her.‘
’Yes, I was going to pick her up and bring her back to Nanjing.‘
’So did she…‘ Jingting paused and asked with difficulty, “accept?”
’She only agreed to it today.’ Hao Tian gazed at Jingting’s cheeks, the lines of which were even more cold and hard than before, ’the three of us have been friends for many years, so about this matter… I thought I should be the first to inform you.’
‘So now… I know.‘ Jingting got up, picked up the trench coat hanging on the back of the chair, and walked out.
’Where are you going?‘
’Home.‘
’You will bless us, won’t you?‘ Haotian turned his head to look at the defiant figure standing in the doorway. The afterglow of the sunset shone on him, and he looked like a silhouette inlaid in the door frame.
’Of course.’
Hao Tian watched him walk away, and couldn’t help but think of the silhouette of his back as it was reflected in the snow when he left Fuxilan Hospital. It was always as proud and untamed as a distant mountain, as if he could bear any pressure.
It was late at night, and Jingting rarely came home this late.
Yixuan once again reached for the oil lamp.
Shouldn’t it be put out? It was past her bedtime.
Should she extinguish it? With just the two lanterns by the study door, she was always worried that he would be cold and feel lonely when he came home.
‘Young lady, aren’t you going to rest yet?’ Belle yawned, a little embarrassed by the sudden sound.
‘Ah, I’m going to sleep.’ In her haste, she had extinguished the lamp in her hand.
She remembered that last time he came home very late, and as a result, there were two bloodstains on his forehead.
She had no idea how it had happened. Was he still working in a dangerous job? The servants at the house said he only did some paperwork, so how could he have been beaten up?
Later, she learned from Jingzhi that he had been detained and questioned by the police for forcibly printing a magazine from Beiping, and he had scratched his forehead during the confrontation.
It must be because of his bad temper, his refusal to lower his arrogant head, and his unpleasant mouth.
What was the reason this time?
She knew she shouldn’t meddle in other people’s business, and she knew their relationship was limited to nodding at each other when they met and sharing a meal together at the same table, but she couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Perhaps subconsciously, she still considered herself the second wife of the Mu family, and he was destined to be the name associated with her.
Suddenly, she heard stumbling footsteps outside the door. She immediately sat up, threw a coat over her shoulders, and ran out.
What a strong smell of alcohol!
The person in front of her, stumbling as he walked, could in no way be linked to the always calm and composed Mu Jingting. Yi Xuan froze for a moment at the door, and just as he was about to lean again, she stepped forward to support him, and then with great effort, dragged him back to the study.
He was very tall and strong, and the fragile her was almost crushed by him. After finally getting him onto the bed, Yi Xuan was already panting with exhaustion.
She didn’t want to wake Belle, not to mention the fact that the girl always slept so soundly that even a thunderclap couldn’t wake her.
She went to the side room and drew a basin of warm water, carefully wiping the sweat from his face.
It was still the first time she had seen him up close.
Every morning, she would just wring out the towel and hand it to him, waiting for him to finish wiping before taking it back and leaving with the water. She had never had the chance to take a good look at his face.
He was indeed handsome. From the women in the Mu family, she could tell about his charm. From his forehead to his eyebrows, to his eyes, nose and lips, there was no flaw. The calmness and unruliness in his bones might be even more attractive to women.
‘Sigh,’ he murmured, turning over, and she was so scared that she dropped the towel into the water.
‘Don’t go,’ she heard him call. Yi Xuan hesitated, unsure whether she should approach him at this moment, and whether she would have the courage to leave after doing so. But the pain in his words was so strong that she could not help but approach the bed and take his hand.
Her heart beat uneasily.
The hands were broad and warm, with clear lines on the palms. When she had been troubled by Seventh Mistress, it was these same hands that had given her care and strength.
What was wrong with her?
Why did she feel like her whole body had been electrified?
Why did these hands give her a sense of peace?
Even Zongyang had never given her such a feeling.
‘Cinnabar Fei…’ However, she finally heard his mumbling and her heart instantly felt cold.
So it was true.
She had ultimately prevented the happiness he could have had.
She subconsciously tried to pull her hand back, but he refused to let go no matter what.
Yixuan paused, then stubbornly, pulled her hand out and turned away.

Jingting struggled to get up, but found that his head was splitting. The quilt was still warm, and he had changed into brand new clothes. The ginger soup on the bedside table was steaming.
He pressed his hands against his temples and tried to remember what had happened last night, but he couldn’t recall anything.
‘Auntie Wu…’ he called out several times, but there was no answer. Finally, he called out, ‘Belle.’
After a while, Belle came running and stopped in the doorway.
‘What are you standing there for?’
‘My young mistress said that without your permission, I’m not allowed to go into the study,’ she replied seriously.
Jingting smiled helplessly, knowing that this loyal maid had a lot of grievances against him, so he said, ‘The ginger soup has already been brought in, so you must have already assumed that I have given my permission, right?’
Bai stuck out her tongue and forgot about this, so she reluctantly walked over and said, ‘What are you asking, sir?’
“Help me get a basin of water.’
‘Oh.‘ She was about to run away, but was stopped.
’What time is it?‘
’Past noon.‘
’Then good morning—‘
’My lady told your honour that the young master had an important matter to attend to this morning and had to leave early. Please forgive him.‘
’And where is your lady?‘
’Over at Beiyuan.’
Jingting was puzzled, wondering when Yixuan and Jingzhi had become so familiar. Belle saw through his doubts and said, ‘The third young master doesn’t do well in geography, so he went to my lady to get some tutoring!’
Jingting was even more confused. Tutoring? Yixuan? He was about to ask again when he noticed that the little girl had already gone to fetch water for him, her braid swinging.

Beiyuan was bustling with activity.
Jingzhi had never had any resistance to his cousin, especially after discovering that she was actually good at geography, which he was terrible at. His admiration for her was like a raging river that could not be stopped.
It was also a coincidence that day, when he had wanted to ask his second brother about the release of ‘New Youth’, he didn’t find him, but found his second sister-in-law sorting through a large pile of discarded newspapers in the house.
He stopped outside the door and saw that she was sorting the newspapers into different categories, her movements more familiar and deft than those of the newspaper staff. Global Times, Xinxing News, News, Nanjing Daily… She lined up the newspapers one by one, occasionally catching up with the content of one or two, without noticing someone behind her.
‘Heh,’ she suddenly let out a light laugh.
Leaning against the door frame, he curiously asked, ‘What’s so funny?’
‘It says here that the monkeys in Malaysia have red fur.‘
’What’s so funny about that?‘
’I think it’s referring to orangutans. Malaysia and Indonesia are full of these animals because of the climate in the South Seas…‘ She suddenly stopped talking and turned back to him, looking at him in surprise.
’Sister-in-law, I didn’t realise you were so knowledgeable.”
She had already suppressed the smile on her face and said lightly, ’It’s not that I’m knowledgeable, I just recognise a few characters.’
‘Your brother manages a major newspaper office, but you can start a small one at home,’ he said as he walked into the room.
Yi Xuan felt a little embarrassed. ’No, it’s just that your brother rarely reads the newspapers, so I wanted to tidy them up and take them to the kitchen to use as firewood. They’re just in the way when they’re lying around the house.’
Jingzhi shrugged indifferently. She was clearly a book lover, but she pretended not to care. She remembered that on weekdays, she played cards and watched operas with other women, and it seemed that she was as vulgar as everyone else. Now that she thought about it, it seemed like she was doing it on purpose.
‘Does your second brother know that you have the interest to read the newspaper?’
Yixuan remained silent.
‘Your second brother appreciates the kind of independent and progressive new era women,’ Jingzhi stared at her and noticed the slight tremor in her hand.
‘Really?‘ she replied calmly, but her heart ached a little. A woman of the new era was an image she could never attain. She came from a declining dynasty and had witnessed the collapse of a dynasty. Even if she were given more courage, she could not leap forward and blend into the trend of the new era.
’Why don’t I tell him to order a few newspapers for you too, so you don’t always have to read the old ones he throws away?’
‘Jingzhi, don’t—you don’t want to—‘ She was flustered, but didn’t know what to say.
’Don’t tell my second brother what I saw?‘ He gave a sly smile, “That’s easy, as long as you promise me one thing.”
’What?‘ She asked helplessly.
’Since you know geography, you can be my geography teacher, I’m terrible at it.‘
’Don’t mention the word teacher, if there’s something you don’t understand, we can discuss it together.’ She answered helplessly.

‘Third brother, hurry up!‘ Jing Tang called out discontentedly.
The person in the acacia tree poked his head out and made a face.
’Heh heh heh heh…‘ Yutong couldn’t stop laughing as she held Yi Xuan’s clothes corner with both hands, hiding her face inside the plain corner.
’Still laughing? Stop laughing! What’s so funny about me helping you pick acacia flowers?’
‘Uncle, your movements are so ugly, like a big monkey.‘ Mu Jia’s little Xiaoyutong is really honest and cute.
’Jingzhi, be careful.’ Although Yixuan was also infected with their happy mood, she was always a little uneasy. Jingzhi’s real name was to invite her to tutoring, but in less than half an hour she was tutoring up a tree. Maybe she should blame her. She was distracted all afternoon. Maybe Jingzhi had long since seen through her absent-mindedness and deliberately teased her to cheer her up.
‘Get out of the way, I’m coming down.”
Jingzhi exaggeratedly took a jumping stance and jumped from the branches more than a person tall. She didn’t stand firmly on her feet and stumbled a few steps backwards, and Yixuan subconsciously held him from behind.
With the other hand, she supported her palm, looked up and saw those familiar black eyes. She panicked and quickly let go of her hand. Without paying attention, she let Jingzhi fall face-first to the ground.
‘Ouch…‘ Jingzhi was about to scream in an exaggerated manner, but when she saw the two faces in front of her with different expressions, she couldn’t help but hold back her voice.
’Are you that afraid of me?’ Jingting frowned in displeasure.
When he saw the joyous scene inside the Beiyuan gate, he couldn’t help but smile outside the gate. All the children liked her and were willing to get close to her because she was beautiful beyond compare, and because she was as charitable as a deity.
But why did she look so frightened when he was only helping her hold Shizuka up?
‘Of course… no,’ she hastily denied, but her eyes averted.
Shizuka struggled to her feet, steadied herself, and then led a group of children, all limping, into the back room, leaving the two of them alone in the clearing.
‘Why are you here?’ she asked.
‘Just passing by,’ he said, irritated.
“Oh,’
She began to tighten the silk handkerchief in her hands again. As usual, no matter what a difficult situation she was in, she always tried to maintain a calm and composed appearance, but the silk handkerchief in her hands was being tightened little by little. He believed that one day she would tear the handkerchief, so he sighed and said, ‘I came to see you.’
‘What for?’ she asked nervously, her whole body trembling.
‘Nothing,’ he said, ‘thank you for taking care of me last night, and…the ginger soup.’
‘You’re welcome. Belle made the ginger soup.’
‘Really?’ He moved closer and looked straight at her. He had long since noticed that the atmosphere was wrong, but he couldn’t say what was wrong. He had thought that they had already established a tacit understanding, but today she had started to distance herself again. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her distancing herself, it was just that he wasn’t used to the established harmony shrinking back in the direction of the past. More importantly, he couldn’t figure out where the problem was. “Without your instruction, I don’t think she would have made the soup for me anyway.” This was the truth. Belle didn’t like him in the first place.
‘After all, we’re not strangers, and it’s only natural to care.’ She was suddenly a little surprised when she heard herself say this. How could she have quoted what he had said, and how could she have remembered it so clearly?
He was also a little surprised. The way she spoke sounded very much like…she was sulking.
So they both turned their faces away and returned to the West Courtyard in silence.

‘Young Master and Young Mistress…’ Suwen dashed into the courtyard.
Yixuan put down the book she hadn’t looked at for a long time and walked towards the bedroom door. Jingting was also walking towards the study door, and their gazes met. She looked away again in panic.
Suwen stood awkwardly in the middle of the courtyard, not knowing which way to go. She looked at the two people who were also looking at her, and said breathlessly, ‘Master and Madam, please go to the front hall. The third young master is injured.’
Yixuan was shocked, and the white silk scarf in her hand fell to the ground.
Jingzhi was injured?
But was it because of the heavy fall just now?
Chapter 6 (Part 2)
The main hall of the Mu family was filled with people, all of them looking grave. Yi Xuan followed Jing Ting into the ancestral hall, feeling a sense of foreboding.
The old master was not there. Mu Jihong was sitting in the middle of the hall, his face displeased. Mu Chen was sitting next to him, giving Yi Xuan a look that slightly hinted at resentment. Second Master Mu Jichou was frowning on the side, and Mu Weishi was not there. Seventh Master Mu Jiyuan was still in a carefree manner, while Mu Linshi was fixing her own fingernails with a pair of small golden scissors, occasionally giving Yi Xuan a look that smacked of schadenfreude.
There was not a sound in the ancestral hall. Yi Xuan suddenly saw a little person shrink behind a wooden pillar. It turned out to be Jing Tang. Looking at his flashing eyes and ashamed expression, Yi Xuan already guessed most of it.
‘Xuan’er, you give everyone an explanation yourself. How was Jingzhi injured?’ Mu Chen’s wife spoke first, and everyone’s attention was focused on her.
Yi Xuan was stunned and didn’t know how to narrate.
‘Jingtang said that you took them to climb a tree and made Jinzhi fall. Is that true?‘
She nodded without offering an explanation.
Mu Chenxi shook her head with a sigh of disappointment.
’You used to spend every afternoon copying scriptures with the old master, but why did you suddenly go to Beiyuan today?’ Mu Jihong asked.
She hung her head, unconsciously clenching her lips, feeling even more embarrassed.
‘Hey…’ Mu Jihong sighed, too. He had always thought that his daughter-in-law was the most obedient and clever, but who knew that she would still get into trouble. She was now acting as if she had done something wrong, and he could not take her side. “You should have been aware of the Mu family rules from the first day you entered the house. Now that you have been punished, do you have any complaints?”
She immediately shook her head.
At this point, Mu Jichou spoke slowly, ‘Brother, this is between the children, so just find out what happened. As for punishment—I think we can let it go.’
‘Thank you, Uncle, for your kindness. This is indeed my daughter-in-law’s fault, and she is willing to accept the punishment.’
Everyone’s attention once again focused on Yi Xuan. Mu Jichou had come forward, obviously wanting to give the eldest son’s family face. Everyone couldn’t help but think their own thoughts when Yi Xuan refused like this.
Mu Jihong and his wife were relieved to see that she was sensible and willing to accept punishment, upholding the authority of the eldest son’s family. Mu Jichou thought that Yi Xuan, a young woman, was so devoted to her husband’s family that she didn’t accept his kindness, and it seemed that the eldest son’s family was really united. Mu Lin’s wife stopped what she was doing and stared at Yi Xuan for a long time, thinking that she could never do something like that. She understood that she was looking out for the family’s best interests and didn’t want to cause trouble for the family, but still, the punishment was not fun at all. For some reason, she felt a little sorry for her.
Then everyone said some inoffensive things, reminding everyone not to let something like this happen again, and they gradually dispersed.
Yixuan was left alone in the main hall, kneeling in punishment. A cold wind blew, and she suddenly thought of her husband, the man named Mu Jingting. He had not said a word the whole time, and had actually left the ancestral hall with everyone else.
Her heart suddenly felt a little cold. She didn’t expect anything from him, but she was ultimately his nominal wife. Why didn’t he say a word, help her explain, plead for her, or even give her a little comfort?
He just left.
He just left.

The ancestral hall was very cold at midnight. A crescent moon shone in through the window, casting a pale, miserable light. Yi Xuan knelt on the ground, motionless, her legs numb.
‘Second sister…’ A very soft voice came, and then someone tiptoed into the side room.
In the moonlight, she recognised the person as Jing Tang. She pulled a gentle smile and waved her hand, waiting for the child to come closer to her.
‘Second sister-in-law, I quietly took steamed buns for you,’ he said, a little awkwardly, taking out a well-hidden blue pocket from behind his back, which contained two steaming buns.
‘I’m not hungry,‘ she said with a smile, petting his little head. She knew what he was thinking. He was just a child, and must be feeling uneasy about betraying her.
’Second sister-in-law, are you angry with me?’ Jingtang suddenly had red circles under his eyes, and he said anxiously, ’Don’t be angry with me, I didn’t mean it. It was my mother who told me to say that. My mother said that my brother was seriously injured, and we must find out who caused the trouble. If I don’t tell the truth, then it will be considered as if I caused the trouble.’
‘Second sister-in-law doesn’t blame you,‘ she said with a smile, “you didn’t do anything wrong, you just told the truth.”
’I’m wrong, I’m wrong, if it wasn’t me, why is second sister-in-law being punished here?‘
’Second sister-in-law is being punished because she did something wrong.”
Jing Tang ran into her arms and sobbed, ’Brother scolded me, he called me a traitor and said I wasn’t a man.’
Yi Xuan hugged him tightly and suddenly felt a sense of warmth. On this cold night, she also needed a hug.
‘How is your brother Jingzhi?’
‘The doctor said he broke his tailbone and needs to rest.’
‘Oh, then he can’t play with you for a while.’
‘My brother said he won’t play with me anymore,’ Jing Tang suddenly started to sob again, ‘he said I’m not a man!’
Yi Xuan found it funny. Children are like that. They say one thing and then change their minds. They are obsessed with the question of whether they are men or not. ‘Jing Tang, listen to what your sister-in-law says: only those who are brave enough to tell the truth are men.’
‘My brother says I’m a traitor.’
Yi Xuan laughed again: ‘That doesn’t count this time. Then your sister-in-law asks you: if it was you who felled Jingzhi, would you tell people that it was your sister-in-law’s fault?’
Jing Tang left her embrace, looked up with a frown, thought for a long time in distress, and then said firmly, ‘No.’
Yixuan helped him dry his tears. She knew the child’s character. He must have made a big decision just now, wrestling with the cowardly self inside him for a long time before giving such an answer, and once he had answered, it must be true.
‘There was another time when your brother got into trouble…’ Jingtang snuggled back into her embrace and began to tell her little story.

It was not until dawn that Belle ran into the ancestral hall. As soon as she saw Yixuan, her eyes, which were already as red as peaches due to the swelling, immediately turned red again.
‘Your Highness, Your Highness, how could this happen? How could they punish you like this?’ Bei’er’s eyes were red with tears. “Your Highness, you are a precious life. How could you ever have been wronged in the Prince Qing’s household? His Lordship and the Princess said they would treat you well, so why do they have to put you through such suffering? I will go and speak to the Prince and Princess right away. I will write to them.”
Yi Xuan shook her head. ’Don’t be silly. I deserve this. I was wrong.’
‘No, you’re wrong, Your Highness,‘ said Bei’er, wiping away her tears.
’Silly girl, it’s because you suffered so little in the past that you have to repay it all now.‘
’Your Highness, what are you talking about? I don’t understand,’ said Bei’er, shaking her head and looking puzzled. ’Never mind, let’s hurry back. Liu Ma insisted on keeping me locked up in the West Courtyard all night, saying that she couldn’t come in until morning to fetch you. It’s almost time for breakfast, so we still have time to go back to our rooms and rest. It’s all Master’s fault, I wonder where he’s gone, he hasn’t come back all night…‘
He didn’t go back all night?
Yi Xuan suddenly felt a little puzzled.
’Hurry up, Princess.‘
’Belle, you take Young Master back to his room first, so that Second Mistress won’t worry.’
Yixuan helped the child in her arms, who was fast asleep, up. Belle looked troubled. ‘He’s so heavy, I can’t carry him.’
‘You can’t carry a ten-year-old?’ Yixuan said reproachfully.
Belle pursed her lips and carried Jingtang on her back. ‘He’s really heavy like a little pig. Your Highness, wait for me, I’ll be right back.’
‘I know.’ After watching Belle walk away, she tried to stand up from the ground. Her legs were numb and her knees hurt. After trying several times, she failed. With her head down and her hands supporting her weight, she saw a few pea-sized water droplets fall on the ground, which then evaporated, leaving a round, deep mark in the dark soil.
Why was she crying? Perhaps it was because she hated herself for being so useless, for being unable to do even such a simple thing as stand up.
An inexplicable sadness overwhelmed her, and her shoulders began to tremble.
‘So you can cry after all?’ A familiar, clear voice sounded from behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. He had chosen this moment to appear, taking in the full picture of her helplessness and embarrassment.
She tried to regain control, but the tears just flowed even more. She didn’t know when he had turned to face her, so she leaned against his right shoulder and let the tears flow freely. He didn’t move a muscle, but put his arm around her shoulders in a gesture of affection.
She didn’t know how long it had been, but she stopped crying and looked up at him. She saw many colours in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before: pain, regret, pity, confusion…
She still chose to avert her head first.
Jingting got up and helped her to her feet, allowing her to slowly adjust to the feeling of her knees touching the ground. She thought he just wanted to help her stand up, but the next second, he had already picked her up and carried her out of the ancestral hall.
‘Aunt…’ Belle, who had hurried back, couldn’t help but widen her eyes at the sight. She knew better than to say the word ‘master’ out loud, though.

Her hand circled his neck, feeling the warm breath he exhaled, and his broad chest, with its heartbeat so confident and powerful. She longed to give in to herself and sink in this breath for a moment, and she didn’t want to be like that night, when she had to pull her hand away.
Jingting carried her back to her room and carefully placed her on the bed.
She was silent, just like a poor, powerless little rabbit, whose life and death were at his mercy.
He looked at her, then pulled the quilt up for her. She kept her eyes closed, her eyelashes quivering slightly, showing the restlessness inside her. Under his burning gaze, she finally seemed unable to hold on any longer, so she turned her side to the wall and fell asleep.
It was time for him to leave, to help her solve the problem of greeting the emperor. Jingting parted a strand of hair that had fallen on her cheek, walked out of the room, and gently closed the door behind him.
It was already April, and the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of acacia. He tried to calm his heart, but he still couldn’t calm his pounding heart. It seemed that there was still the soft touch from earlier on his arms. She was very light, as light as a feather, as if he could only hold on tightly so that the feather would not disappear from his arms.
From the moment they entered the ancestral hall, his eyes never left her, watching her flustered response to the accusations, her meek acceptance of the blame, and her stubborn acceptance of the punishment.
At that time, he actually hoped that she would give him a glance, even if it was just a glance, to let him know that she needed him and was willing to rely on him. But she didn’t. Her slender back was straight, as if she wasn’t afraid of any storm. Of course, he also knew that what she did was the wisest choice—in the environment she was in, under everyone’s scrutiny, and in the possible jealous designs of others. So he had to remain silent, not showing the slightest concern, while also wanting to see what her limit of endurance really was.
She knelt in the main hall, so he secretly found a corner to keep her company, so that no one would know. He watched her in the moonlight, lost in thought, watching her comfort the little Jingtang, watching her take Jingtang in her arms and fall asleep together, watching Belle fight for her, watching her try to stand up, and then—watching her cry.
Her tears seemed like a small stream, a very cold stream, carving a path through his heart.
As he walked with her back to Xiyuan, he had a feeling that they were like a real couple, walking back to their own home.
And she needed him.
He was very sure that Fu Cha Yixuan was more than just a name to him.
She began to capture his attention.
She captured his emotions.
She captured his heart.
Chapter 7 (Part 1)
‘Stop it,’ said Zhenyun, overwhelmed, as she took the pears Jingzhi kept throwing at her.
‘They’re all for you, so just take them,’ said Jingzhi, amused by the situation, especially by Zhenyun’s flawless response. ‘I already have mountains of fruit in my room. Why don’t I just give it all to you and you can open a fruit shop? You can be the boss and I’ll be the employee.’
‘Young master, young mistress.‘ Looking at the pair at the door, Zhenyun straightened up and put the basket of crystal pears she was carrying down.
’Who wants to be the shop assistant?’ Jingting’s clear voice carried a hint of teasing.
Jingzhi didn’t answer, just put his hands behind his head and grinned.
‘Have you recovered from your injury?‘ Yi Xuan asked with concern.
’Of course. My bones are strong, and I’ll be able to walk around again in a few days,‘ Jingzhi said, while twisting his body. “Ouch!” He accidentally got hit on the shoulder.
’Get well soon and hurry back to school, you’ve fallen behind with your studies.‘
’It’s okay, I have a good teacher helping me with my studies, what’s there to worry about?’ Jingzhi looked at Jingting and then at Yi Xuan, smiling proudly.
‘But there have been a lot of big events, and if you stay here every day, you won’t get any news.‘
’What big events?‘ Jingzhi immediately sat up from the bed, asking anxiously, “Tell me, tell me.”
’On the fourth of May, Mr. Sun Zhongshan resigned from the extraordinary National Assembly.‘
’What?”
Jingzhi and Jingting began discussing current affairs, while Yixuan and Zhenyun peeled pears.
‘Second young lady, these crystal pears look really good. Do they grow in the north too?‘
’They do,’ Yi Xuan replied to Zhen Yun, but her attention was drawn to Jing Ting’s conversation, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She liked the way he looked when he talked, confident but not arrogant, impressive but never sensational.
He had a natural leadership quality that made people want to admire, trust and follow him.
The four of them chatted and laughed for a while, and Jingting accompanied Yixuan as they said their goodbyes.

Zhenyun took the peeled pear and brought it to Jingzhi’s mouth. Jingzhi frowned and said, ‘It’s so big, how can I eat it all? Let’s share it.’
Zhenyun shook her head and said shyly, ‘They say that pears are meant to be shared, not divided.’
‘Okay, give it to me.‘ Jingzhi took the pear, but happiness blossomed in his heart. His pillow cloud hid everything in her heart, but her heart was clear: the pears would not be separated, and neither would they.
Pillow cloud looked out the door, her gaze lingering on the two people leaving: “Young master and young mistress really look good together.”
’And what about us?’ Jingzhi took her hand, which she was about to withdraw, and pulled her close to him.
Suddenly, a blush rose on Zhen Yun’s face. ‘Third Young Master, let go of me quickly. It’s not good if someone sees us like this.’
Zhen Zhi hesitated for a moment, and Zhen Yun immediately broke free of his restraint, standing far away and patting her messy clothes.
Zhen Zhi watched her fidgeting and uneasy, shaking his head helplessly, and said in an unheard voice, ‘When will you stop avoiding me?’
Someone knocked on the door, and a maid gave a sign to Zhenyun. Zhenyun ran out and whispered a few words with her, then turned back and said, ‘The First Mistress is looking for me. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Hm,’ he answered, his burning gaze locked on the running figure, his mouth lifting.
From the day she entered the house, he had been certain—in this life, he would be hers.

‘Chen, take these flowers down,’ said Mu Chen. She was looking at the begonias that had just been delivered to the house as a gift from Nanjing’s wealthy merchant Duan Jin. Duan Jin was a distant relative of Duan Qirui, although so distant that they could hardly be considered related, but they were still related to the prime minister, and since he had a large business in Nanjing, he had always maintained a good relationship with the Mu family.
Turning back, she saw Zhenyun, so she reached out and asked her to help her back to the couch.
‘My lady, do you need something from Zhenyun?”
Mu Chenxi looked at her for a while before saying, ’Zhenyun, there are some things I didn’t intend to say, but since you are a member of my household, I have to tell you. Recently, you have often been away from me, and I understand that it is because Jingzhi is ill and you have been taking care of her. Although I am old, I am not as confused as you think. I can see that you and Jingzhi are close. But this closeness is good, but it should be done with some measure. The third son is the second wife’s child, and everyone can see how much the second master values him. You have been with me for many years, and I know that you are good-natured and likeable. I always thought that in another year or two, I would find an honest family for you to marry into, and never let you suffer…’
‘My lady, please don’t send me away. I only want to serve you for the rest of my life, and have no other thoughts.’ Zhanyun immediately threw herself on the ground and hurriedly defended herself.
Mu Chenxi sighed and continued, ’Every woman, whether she is a master or a servant, only hopes to find a good home for herself in this life. I will not delay your future. I truly mean what I said about finding you a good husband. You must understand. As for the third son, don’t think too much about it, and avoid anything that might cause trouble.‘
’My lady, my lady…‘ Pinyin hung her head and sobbed, unable to say a word.
’Get up, I’m just giving you a reminder today.‘ Mu Chenxi reached out to pull her up. Looking at this face with tears streaming down it, she sighed again, “It’s just your fate.”
’My lady…’
‘Alright…‘ Mu Chenxi waved her off, “Tomorrow, Master Duan and his fourth wife have invited me to the Duan residence to watch a play. You tell Suwen that you two will accompany me tomorrow. All of you should dress appropriately, so as not to lose the family’s status.”

’Don’t look, they won’t be back so early.’ Yi Xuan didn’t look up, just staring at the chessboard, and she knew that Jingzhi’s eyes drifted to the door again.
‘Really, why did you take Pinyin to the opera? She doesn’t even like it.‘
’If you lose a few more games seriously, they’ll be back.‘
’Who said I lost…‘ Just as she was about to deny it, she realised that she had indeed lost. She had been distracted all afternoon, so she simply pushed the chessboard aside. “No more, no more. If I’d known that your chess skills were not much worse than Er’s, I would never have let you come and play with me.”
’It’s just that you weren’t paying attention.’
‘By the way,’ Jingzhi asked as she watched her smiling as she tidied up the chess pieces, “how are things between you and Erge now?”
She froze for a moment, then said, “Nothing much has changed.”
After that storm, everything returned to calm. They were still only husband and wife in name, and he had not made any overtures. However, recently, his attitude had puzzled her. He clearly seemed to have forgotten the past, but he often looked at her with strange eyes, no, probing her.
His gaze always inadvertently reveals tenderness. Many times, she thought she was just imagining things, but illusions don’t keep recurring. This tenderness makes her feel like she’s fallen into a quagmire, and even though she knows he’s a deep pit that will draw you in, she can’t help but let herself linger around him.
She knows she shouldn’t, since there’s always been another her.
He once said that he could only give her a title, so of course the affection and substance of a husband and wife would be given to others. But what is the tenderness in his eyes, and where has the ice between them gone?
She has already left the initially safe riverbank, but no one is willing to ferry her to the other safe shore. So, will she escape unscathed in these turbulent waves, or will she perish at the bottom?
‘In fact, you still don’t understand Er Ge,’ Jing Zhi said.
‘Huh?‘ Yi Xuan looked up in surprise, but all she saw was his cunning smile.

It was already dusk when they returned to the West Courtyard. Jing Ting was already sitting in the black carved wooden chair in the bedroom, resting with his eyes closed. Yi Xuan walked softly into the room, but she still startled him.
’Just back from the North Courtyard?‘ Jing Ting opened his eyes and surveyed her, his face full of worry.
’Yes.‘
’Any news from there?’
‘No.‘ She was puzzled by his words and asked warily, “But what happened?”
Jingting got up from his seat, walked over to the round table and sat down next to her: “Mom just came back from the Duan residence and said that Master Duan wants to form an alliance with our family.”
’What does that mean?‘ She straightened up, feeling an ominous foreboding.
’Duan Jin has his eye on one of our maids.’
‘Who?‘
’He didn’t specify, just that it was the maid who accompanied him to the opera today.‘
’Zhenyun?‘ Yixuan exclaimed.
’Or Suwen.”

The two in the courtyard were at a loss for words, when Jingzhi stumbled into the courtyard.
‘Brother, you have to help me!‘ Jingzhi rushed into the room, flustered, and before he could stop himself, he stumbled and fell onto the round table. He clapped his hands on the table, making a loud noise. Yixuan hurriedly got up and supported him, who was unsteady on his feet.
’Don’t worry. Everyone will help you,’ she reassured him.
‘What should we do? What should we do now?’ Jing was so anxious that she stamped her feet. “That old man is already in his sixties, and his concubines have married him six times. Now he wants to marry a seventh concubine. Do you know that the fifth and sixth concubines both died within three years of entering the house, not only because of the old man’s despotic ways, but also because of the jealousy and torment of the fourth concubine of the Duan family.”
Jing Ting remained silent, waiting for him to vent his emotions.
‘What should I do, Second Brother? What should I do?‘ Jingzhi sat down on the chair in a helpless manner, put his hands on his head, and muttered in pain.
’I was against this arranged marriage from the start,’ he said, and then saw Yi Xuan’s jade fingers tremble slightly. He paused before continuing, ’Not to mention that this concubinage should have been abolished long ago.’
‘Er, you will help me, won’t you?‘ Jingzhi looked up, her eyes full of hope and panic.
Jingting nodded firmly. Since he could no longer control his own destiny, he must now do his utmost to protect Jingzhi’s happiness.
’Er, you tell Big Mother to send Suwen to the Duan family,‘ Jingzhi suddenly looked up, as if she had seized the last ray of hope.
’Jingzhi, what did you say?’ Jingting frowned and asked.
‘I said send Suwen to the Duan residence.‘
Jingting looked at him for a long time, frowning, and gave him a disapproving look: “Everyone is equal, Suwen and Zhenyun are the same, they should not be deprived of their happiness.”
’But if you have to choose between the two, it has to be Suwen.‘
’You are being selfish.’
‘If one day you fall in love with someone, you will be just as selfish.”
Jingting was stunned, looking at Jingzhi. It felt like someone had punched him in the heart, and he couldn’t recover for a long time. If he were facing the same dilemma today, would he say such selfish things? If so, who would he be doing it for?
His eyes suddenly wandered, and then he met a pair of clear and beautiful eyes.
Who would he be doing it for?

Heaven seemed to be favouring Jingzhi, or Mu Chen was intentionally or unintentionally favouring him. When Suwen learned of her doom, she wept bitter tears. Her cries and tears moved everyone who saw and heard them.
‘My lady, please save me—’ Suwen clung to Mu Chen’s legs, begging for a way to survive.
Mu Chen’s could only sigh with her, there was nothing she could do. She was also an accomplice, having ruined the life of an innocent woman, but what choice did she have?
Suwen moved to Jingwei’s side on her knees: ‘Young master, please, if there is anything I have done to displease you, I will change in the future. For the sake of the young miss, please save me.’
Jingwei’s face, which had always been calm and unruffled, showed signs of pity, but when he looked at the faces of Mu Chen and Mu Jihong, the words he wanted to say were swallowed back down.
Yutong still didn’t understand the ways of the world, and just cried beside her, clutching her father’s clothes and shaking with sobs.
This was only an incident in the eldest house, and the second and third houses had not been involved.
Suwen finally moved to Yi Xuan’s side and cried, ‘Second young lady, you are kind to all the servants. You must save Suwen. Suwen still has parents and siblings at home, and Suwen doesn’t want to be tortured to death by that old master. You can make Suwen work like a horse, I’m willing to do anything, I just beg you to save me once.’
Yixuan was shaken by her hands, and a strong sense of bitterness and helplessness welled up in her heart. Jingting had not returned yet, and she even suspected that this sentence had been deliberately chosen at a time when he was not at home. Jingting had already fiercely opposed it once, but the result was just a quarrel with Mu Jihong that ended in discord. That day, he even stayed at the newspaper office overnight and did not return.
A Qiu had been gone for a long time, why hadn’t he returned yet? Apart from him, who else could save Suwen?
As if she had thought of something, she suddenly fell to her knees and said to her parents-in-law, ‘Please forgive Suwen, parents.’
Hearing her voice echoing through the hall, she couldn’t even believe it was her own voice. She forgot how to protect herself and the various relationships she had worked so hard to cultivate. She just wanted to save this poor victim—to do what needed to be done while he was away.
Jing couldn’t help but kneel down as well: ‘Suwen has served me and Yutong for many years. Please help us call off this marriage. If Master Duan really wants to take a concubine, we’ll find a way…we’ll find a way.’
Yutong also knelt down: ‘Grandpa…Grandma…save Sister Suwen.’
Mu Jihong flew into a rage: ‘You idiots, get up! Do you take me for a sinner? I saved her, but who will save our family? Do you think Duan’s relatives are easy to offend? If we offend him, we will have to sacrifice dozens of lives in the Mu family. All for a girl? Since when has a girl’s life become so precious? Am I not even capable of giving a girl away?’
Mu Jihong’s hands trembled uncontrollably, and the veins on his neck stood out, showing that he was clearly furious. He rested his hands on the table, suddenly threw the bronze incense burner on the dark wood table, swung his hands high, and viciously slammed it down on Suwen again: ‘Useless girl!’
Everyone in the hall couldn’t help but exclaim: With that kind of force, Suwen must be bleeding from her head!
However, Su Wen was unharmed – before anyone could react, Yixuan had pounced on Su Wen and allowed the heavy incense burner to hit her spine.

‘Stop!’ Jingting, who had just arrived at the door, was shocked by the scene in front of her.
What was she doing?
Using that frail body to catch the forceful incense burner?
His heartbeat suddenly stopped, and even his breathing followed suit. Then, a sea of anger washed over him. He rushed forward, grabbed Mu Jihong by the shoulders, and glared at his father.
Mu Jihong was stunned and remorseful for half a moment, but then he was angered by Jing Ting, whose eyes were full of rage.
He had never seen Jing Ting’s gloomy and resentful eyes like this before.
It was as if the censer would be thrown at him the next second.
The original trace of remorse was overcome by an inexplicable emotion. This son was more threatening than he had imagined. He never knew how to obey, and time and again defied his authority.
Why?
What had he done wrong?
Everything was for the sake of the family.
Although, it was done in a way he disapproved of.
Mu Jihong also raised his eyes defiantly, betting that his son would not dare to violate his authority any further.
There was a wordless standoff.
‘Jingting…’ A soft voice came from behind him, but Jingting trembled all over. This was the first time she had called him by name, even though he had told her on their wedding night that she could call him by his first name. But now, this was the first time he had heard her call him by his first name.
He understood what she wanted him to do.
His hands involuntarily loosened, and he tried hard to suppress his anger.
‘This girl, I’m marrying her,‘ Mu Jihong said.
’I’m stopping this marriage,‘ Mu Jingting also fought back without fear.
He turned around, picked up Yixuan, and ran towards Xiyuan.
’Jingting,‘ she called out to him again, making his heart ache softly, “you have to promise me that you won’t hate father.”
’I promise,’ he said anxiously, fearing that she would be uneasy in any way.
‘That’s good.‘ She tried to smile, but a mouthful of blood spurted out.
The blood sprayed on his chest, like a blazing inferno, like a setting sun swaying in despair.
His vision became hazy, and the whole world was left with only one colour that made him feel lonely and suffocated—
red.
Chapter 7 (Part 2)
’It’s internal injury, but it’s not serious,’ the doctor said, putting away his medical kit.
How could it not be serious? It was a bronze incense burner, and it was full of force. Jingting frowned, his face full of disbelief.
‘The young master really cares about the young lady,’ the doctor said, taking the prescription and handing it to the attendant, Aqiu, and smiling, ‘the young lady is really blessed. But you can rest assured, I have been practicing medicine for many years, and I have some experience. This injury has not damaged any vital points, and as long as you recuperate properly, you should recover quickly.’
‘Axiu, show the guest out,’ he said without looking up, his gaze fixed on the sleeping figure on the bed.
He had not expected her to be so brave.
Just as he had not expected her to be able to read and write and know astronomy and geography.
He took the hand by the bed, the golden finger corsage still dazzling as ever. He suddenly remembered holding Jinfei’s hand at the French Hospital, a powerless promise and the pain of letting go, but now, it was a kind of possession.
His heart ached inexplicably.
Watching her blood bloom on his chest, he experienced an unprecedented fear.
Fear that she would be hurt.
Fear that she would die.
Fear that he would not have enough time to tell her how he felt.
How much of his heart had this woman taken up, and when had this occupation begun?
He no longer just wanted to understand her.
His fingers suddenly stopped on the golden finger ring, and then gently removed the finger ring. Looking at the short knuckle and the abnormal tender red fingertip, he lowered his head and placed a kiss on the broken end.
For a long time.

The deliberately suppressed human voices came from outside the door, and his mood became irritable. He hoped that the noise would disappear as soon as possible, but the voices, although low, never stopped.
‘…Miss Belle, please be a good person and go in and report that Master Fang says this matter is not trivial.‘
’You’re good at finding ways to get scolded, and you think of me for this? Why wasn’t I included when you usually get the benefits?‘
Suddenly, the door behind him was flung open, and both men at the door looked surprised.
’Second…second master, Master Fang says he absolutely must see you today.‘
’No.’
‘But…‘
’I said I won’t see anyone. Is that so hard to understand?‘ He raised his eyebrows.
’Master Fang said that human lives are at stake. What happened…’ A Xiu noticed the look on the man’s face and his voice unconsciously dropped an octave, ’I am the only one to blame.’
Jingting impatiently closed the door and walked quickly to the arched doorway in the western courtyard. He addressed the person outside the door and said, ‘I told you not to try to convince me. Isn’t there anyone else in such a large newspaper office who can go to Beiping to provide support?’
‘The newspaper office has been sealed,’ Hao Tian calmly looked him in the eye and said coldly.
In fact, he was not the only one who was upset, Mu Jingting was even more confused. This person who had always regarded the revolutionary cause as his top priority, why would he now shirk his important responsibilities without reason? Going to Beiping to help Huang Li might not be something that only he could do, but the question was, what was troubling this revolutionary who had always been firm and unyielding, with no distractions? I’m afraid he himself is not even aware that he is not only a mainstay of the revolution, but also the soul of the entire newspaper office and study. He is their spiritual leader.
Jingting paused for a moment, thinking, and his tone returned to a calm, ‘When did this happen?’
‘Just now,’ Hao Tian also paused for a moment, ‘follow me.’
‘Okay, I’ll follow you.’ He knew he could not turn back, because if he did, he would never be able to return to his normal self. He could never leave again, so he had no choice but to walk away.
The two dark figures disappeared into the heavy night.

She tried hard to lift her heavy eyelids, and could vaguely distinguish the people in front of her: Mu Jihong, who looked guilty, Mu Chen, who was sitting on the bed, Mu Jingwei, who was standing next to Yutong, holding her hand, Jingzhi, Jingtang, and Belle… There was no one else in the room.
Her eyelids dropped again without her realising.
It was still the dream that was so memorable.
When she was ten years old, there was a big banquet at the Prince Qing’s mansion to celebrate Fu Cha Zai Huan’s 40th birthday.
The resplendent hall was packed with dignitaries dressed in brocade, and the hall was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and the flashing of jewellery. Then, she was dressed in a pink floral cheongsam, her hair combed into a delicate bun, and she was hugging her beloved Tianquan as she played her best music in the centre of the hall. Yiting, who is good at socialising, danced to the music. Zongyang, dressed in a long, black brocade robe, stood by the red pillars in the hall, looking at her with the most doting gaze.
Everyone in the hall was beaming with joy, and the light from the luminous cups reflected off the dazzling lights on the ceiling. The gates of the Prince Qing’s mansion shut out all the chaos outside, and for a while they forgot about the turbulent current affairs, the humiliating treaties, and the imminent danger of the Qing dynasty.
She sang and she laughed, that was the real Yixuan Fu Cha.
A noble flower untouched by the dust of the world.
A flower that had already passed away.

A few days later, Yixuan had recovered from her illness. She was sitting on the bed, watching Belle happily bring her some ginseng soup. She put down the book in her hands and asked, ‘What makes you so happy?’
‘Your Highness, you don’t know—’
‘Why are you calling me Your Highness again?’ she wondered.
‘Hey, back then, the master didn’t like us and forbade me to call you that. Now that he’s treating you well, what’s the harm in me calling you that occasionally?’
“What nonsense are you talking about?’
‘I’m not talking nonsense. You don’t know, Princess, but for the past two days, since you’ve been ill, your husband has been staying at the Western Courtyard.‘
’The Western Courtyard is his home, so what’s so strange about that?‘
’He stayed at the Western Courtyard because of you, Princess. I was boiling medicine, and he was watching over me. When you fell asleep, he sat on the wooden chair beside you. There, that’s the wooden chair.”
Yixuan buried her head and took a sip of the ginseng soup, trying to hide her confusion.
‘Don’t you believe me yet, Princess?‘ Belle looked at her anxiously and said, “When you were unconscious, the young master stayed by your side the whole time and wouldn’t let me in. Then there was an incident at the newspaper office and he had to leave. I could see his eyes clearly, they were full of bloodshot circles!”
Yixuan froze, and after a long while she said, “In that case, don’t mention this to anyone else, understand?”
’Mm-hmm,’ Belle nodded vigorously, then stepped back.
So, none of it was a dream?
When she was unconscious, the hands that held her so tightly, the source of all her warmth and strength, belonged to him? He hadn’t abandoned her, but had had to leave?
What had happened to him?
And what had happened to her?
She still vividly remembered the sight of him drunk on another woman.
“I hope you understand that the only thing I can give you is the title of wife.’
She remembered those words very clearly.
Then he, too, should not have forgotten them.

In the middle of summer in June, the lotus pond at the Mu residence was indeed a magnificent sight. The tightly packed lotuses were blooming in competition, their beauty not of this world, like the enchanting colours of a fairyland, showing off the best of summer.
Yixuan stood alone on the long embankment that extended to the centre of the pond, looking at the slender flowers all around her, but feeling sick to her stomach.
A young body had been buried in the lotus pond.
A woman like a flower had chosen this as her final resting place.
Suwen had thrown herself into the lake because no one could protect her.
Yixuan still remembers when she had just recovered from a serious illness, Suwen came to visit her at Xiyuan wearing a light green dress, the day before the wedding.
‘I hate everything here,’ the gentle woman suddenly gnashed her teeth, ‘including you.’
Yixuan was not surprised, but looked at her gently, full of pity.
‘I know I have a hard life, so I hate the sky, the earth, my parents, and even the Duan family and the entire Mu family.’ Suwen half-squatted in front of her, looked at her, and continued, ’You and the second young master are trying to help me, but I know very well that he is only helping me because he is righteous, not because of me; and you, it’s only because you feel sympathy, not for me as a person; and in the end, everything you do is useless, useless, and I am still the only one suffering. Do you know what I hate about you? I hate your good fortune. You have had everything since birth. I know you know how to behave, and you don’t fight for anything in this house. That’s because you already have everything, and you don’t need to fight for it, because people will naturally give it to you. Do you think I’m right?’
‘Yes,‘ Yi Xuan replied in a calm voice.
’So I hate it. Every day from now on, I will curse, curse the surname Duan, curse the master and mistress, curse the eldest and third sons, curse Zhenyun…’ Suwen held back her tears, ran away, and at the door, suddenly turned around and said, ’But I won’t curse you.’

Suwen, wake up and curse me,‘ Yixuan cried out in her heart, and two more lines of tears appeared on her cheeks.
A sad rain began to fall on the lotus pond, but soon an umbrella appeared overhead.
’It’s raining,’ he said.
She turned back to him, her face once again covered in tears, just as it had been on their first morning after their wedding.
He just looked at her, his gaze gentle as water, as if he wanted to surround her with his gaze and give her all his strength. This was the tenderness she had always wanted, but at the moment, for some reason, she could not feel the slightest warmth.
Just as ten years ago, the day they were expelled from the Prince Qing’s mansion, when Zongyang took her hand and Ama embraced her tightly in his arms, she also felt no warmth at all.
‘You’re all wet,’ she said, pushing the oiled paper umbrella over to his side.
‘It’s fine,’ he said, pushing the oiled paper umbrella over to his side. He was wearing a long white silk gown today, which he never liked to wear in plain white, but it set off his tall figure, his ethereal and handsome appearance. The rain hit the half of his shirt that was exposed outside the umbrella, leaving a dark mark on the white shirt.
Perhaps the dark mark was too dazzling, and for the first time, she was stubborn and pushed the umbrella over to his side again. Her eyes, however, became confused and cast elsewhere.
He felt a little strange, but he couldn’t say what was strange. After a long time, he said, ‘Jingzhi wants to elope with Pinyin tonight.’

They had to escape, otherwise Pinyin would have to marry Suwen instead.
They had been planning for a long time and had used a lot of effort.
Jingting had invited his colleagues from the newspaper to help with the necessary funds and supplies. The destination was a small town in Zhenjiang, where Jinfei’s relatives were responsible for arranging accommodation and Jingzhi’s work. Haotian contacted the ship leaving the port through the Vinal Church and it was leaving at 10 o’clock that night.
In the afternoon, Jingting and Jingzhi left first under the pretext of going to the study.
In the evening, Yixuan took Zhenyun to the pier under the pretext of going to the opera to meet up.
Yi Xuan was a little nervous, but her mood was also full of excitement. This was the first time she had taken such a risk, something she had never thought of doing before. And this experience was brought to her by him.
At around eight o’clock, she took Zhen Yun out the door. They didn’t bring any baggage, and she was sure her expression looked natural.
As they passed by the lotus pond, the sky suddenly started to drizzle again.
‘Second young lady, wait a moment. I want to look at this place again.‘ Zhenyun’s gaze rested on the lotus pond, her expression unusually desolate.
’Hm. Then wait for me, I’ll go back and get an umbrella.‘ Yixuan turned back, and after taking a few steps, she suddenly had an ominous feeling in her heart, so she gave up the plan to get an umbrella and walked back to Zhenyun’s side.
’Let’s go.’
‘Yes.’ Zhenyun obediently nodded, just as she had done in the past. Before leaving, she looked back at the splendid lotus pond, a fleeting smile on her face.

It was evening, and it was raining, but Yixuan felt that there were more people in the street market than usual. The sky was grey and dark, a heavy night sky, with the occasional muffled thunder like a black curse or a hidden conspiracy.
Someone is following them! They are fast, and so are their pursuers; they are slow, and so are their pursuers. Yi Xuan turns around and sees a familiar figure flash past, like one of the Mu family’s servants.
‘Let’s go,’ she says, grabbing Qiang Yun’s hand and pushing her way through the crowd.
Behind them, the sound of footsteps can be heard.
‘Damn it, don’t let them get away!’
‘Go after them, go after them!’
“Over there, over there!’
Yixuan pulled Zhenyun and ran as hard as she could.
She wanted to help Zhenyun, just as she had helped Suwen.
They had to succeed, for Zhenyun’s sake and for their own uncertain future.
That was her only belief.
However, the wooden clogs on her feet and the narrow dress were a hindrance. They held her back, preventing her from running faster, and even
she fell to the ground in a dishevelled state!
‘Zhenyun, don’t worry about me, just run.’ Yixuan let go of Zhenyun’s hand and pushed her forward.
However, Zhenyun stopped in her tracks, slowly walked back to her side, and crouched down to silently look at her.
‘Zhenyun, you go quickly. Listen to me. Go find Jingzhi and the others. You go quickly…’ She shouted with all her strength, but Zhenyun still crouched beside her, as if she didn’t understand what she was saying. She looked at her and cried, then smiled strangely at her.
The group of strong men finally caught up. No one paid any attention to her, and they just grabbed Zhenyun’s hair fiercely: ’You little bitch, you want to run? It’s not that easy!’
‘Zhenyun – why didn’t you go? Why?’ Yixuan cried out in despair. At that moment, she saw Zhenyun turn around and slowly say to her, “Second young lady, you tell the third young master not to wait for me. In this life, I can never repay his love for me.”
The noise around her became very faint and distant.
She sat on the ground, motionless, letting the tears fall with the rain.

It was almost ten o’clock at the pier, and a group of people were impatient, especially a young man in his twenties who kept pacing back and forth.
The sea breeze was cool, but it could not reduce the high temperature in the entire city of Nanjing, nor could it reduce the anxiety in their hearts.
‘Erge, what should we do?’ The young man was full of anxiety.
‘Wait a little longer.’
‘Will it fail?’ A female voice sounded, and the other three looked at her with an unpleasant expression on their faces.
After a long while, Jingzhi also said with a sigh, ‘Yes, it might have failed.’
‘Don’t panic, I’ll go and check the situation.’
Jingting was about to walk out of the dock when he saw a familiar figure walking over.
Drizzle was falling, and she was walking alone in the rain, like a fallen leaf. Her skirt was dirty, her hair was messy, and her eyes were vacant, as if she couldn’t find a place to rest.
Jingting ran to her side and asked anxiously, ‘What’s wrong with you? What happened?’
Yixuan turned her eyes towards him, but he noticed for the first time that her eyes looked so strange that he couldn’t help but let go of her hands.
Jingzhi came from behind and kept shaking Yixuan’s shoulders, ‘Where’s Zhenyun? Where is Zhenyun? Why are you alone? Where is Zhenyun? Where is she?’
She replied to Jingzhi, but her eyes were always looking at Jingting: ‘Pillow Cloud was captured and taken back. We failed.’
‘How is this possible?’ Jinfei walked from afar, with Haotian by her side, ‘Not a single word has leaked out, so how could she have been captured and taken back?’
‘Jinfei——’ Haotian shouted, stopping her with a look.
Jinfei!
What a familiar name!
It turns out that she has always kept this name close to her heart.
Yi Xuan turned her head and saw her.
A beautiful and refined woman, with shoulder-length short hair that was soft and obedient, which was the most popular hairstyle among female students nowadays, a new style of shirt in a light yellow colour, a pair of dark grey plaid trousers, and a pair of black long boots on the soles of her feet.
Such a dashing and heroic figure!
A faint smile curled the corner of her mouth, and then she fainted in the rain.
Chapter 8 (Part 1)
‘Are you feeling better?’ Jingting helped her up from the bed.
‘Is it day or night?’ she asked.
‘Day,’ he said, pulling a pillow behind her so that she could sit comfortably.
‘I slept for a day?’
‘Two days.’
‘Oh,’ she said, and then stopped talking.
He sat on the edge of her bed, just a few feet away, but it felt like a world away.
Something had changed, something was missing.
Although he could never know what had happened that night, his heart was restless, even as she slept, as if something precious was about to be lost.
She didn’t say a word, her face was a little more rosy than when she was asleep, but her expression was still haggard and weak. Her eyes were unfocused, looking at him, but thinking about a world that was beyond his reach.
‘Can you tell me what happened that night?’ Jing Ting Si Cheng thought for a long time before making up his mind to ask.
Yi Xuan shook her head, her face showing a detached look.
‘The concubine thing has been cancelled.‘ He watched her carefully and noticed that her body had trembled slightly. “In fact, Duan Qirui is not greedy, doesn’t gamble, and doesn’t like sex. He heard that some distant relatives were taking advantage of his name and running amok in Nanjing, and he was quite dissatisfied. Duan Jin was busy dealing with the explanations, so he temporarily put the concubine thing aside…”
’Did you ever run away like this back then?’ Yi Xuan inexplicably interrupted him.
‘?‘ Jingting looked at her, puzzled by her meaning, “Why are you suddenly…”
’I’m just asking if you are.‘ She looked a little impatient.
’Yes,‘ he was still willing to be honest, “but…”
’Go back to the study, I want to sleep some more.‘ A faint smile once again outlined the corner of her mouth.
’Don’t be like this, don’t sleep anymore.‘
’I want to sleep.’ Her eyes were calm, but her hands firmly tugged the bedding away from his.
‘Okay,’ he said, and got up and left.

In the evening, she woke up, but she didn’t want to get up, so she forced herself to go back to sleep.
In the morning, she woke up again and went back to sleep.
At noon, she knew someone was calling her, but she didn’t want to get up. She knew she had slept until her head hurt, but she still didn’t want to get up.
But the person lifted her thin silk quilt, “Get up!” She was pulled up from the bed roughly.
‘Let go of me!‘ She struggled in vain.
’Put on your coat!‘
’No!’ She turned her head to one side.
Jingting pulled a silk shawl and wrapped it around her carelessly, then carried her into the empty courtyard and stood with her in the midday sun.
The sunlight was so blinding, it was white and dazzling. She covered her eyes with her hands, but he took them away.
‘What do you want?‘ she shouted angrily.
’I want you to see the world clearly.”
She looked at him with some resentment and said, “I don’t want to see.”
He sighed and said, “Do you think you have harmed Zhenyun? Let’s go, I will take you there and let you see everything clearly.”

Zhenyun has now been arranged to live in a side room in Beiyuan.
This is unavoidable.
Only occasionally, when Jingzhi is there, can she be in her right mind.
Yixuan was half-carried and half-pushed by Jingting into Beiyuan. Looking at the luxuriant acacia tree in the centre of the courtyard, she could not imagine that the happy scene from a few months ago was now like a world apart.
Zhenyun was sitting in a rocking chair, basking quietly in the sun on the veranda. When she saw Yixuan walk in, she forced a smile.
“Er, if you two want to talk, hurry up. It’s hard for her to be awake for a while, I’m afraid she…’
‘Don’t worry, it won’t take long. Only Zhenyun can save your sister-in-law now.‘
’You’re using one patient to save another.‘
’You should understand very well—about my selfishness.‘
Jingting helped Yixuan and sat down on the stone bench next to Zhenyun.

’Second Mrs. Lin, you don’t look well.’
Yixuan tried to force a smile, but she couldn’t help but cry. She took Pillow Cloud’s hand and whispered, ‘I’ve caused you harm.’
Pillow Cloud shook her head: ‘No, don’t say that. It’s not your fault. Don’t you believe me? It really isn’t your fault. Do you know who let the cat out of the bag? It was me. I told them to notify them.’
Yixuan looked up at her, incredulous, not sure whether she was awake or in a daze.
“It’s not that I don’t want to go, but I can’t. It’s my fate. I know that the young master is good to me. I knew it from the start. He loves me, and I love him. But I know that I’m not good enough for him. I shouldn’t have been so foolish as to hope to marry into such a high family. I just wanted to stay by your side, so that I could always look after the young master. Later, Madam said that I would marry one day and that she would arrange for me to marry into a good family, and that would already be the best life for me. I know Madam’s heart and that she is only looking out for my best interests, so I just want to stay here for as many years as I can, just to be able to keep watching him for a little longer.”
Jingzhi buried his head in his hands and leaned back against the stone pillar of the veranda, so that no one could see his face or the tears on it. Yixuan also lowered her head and wept, knowing that these words would never have been spoken when Zhenyun was perfectly normal.
‘When Master Duan came to propose marriage, I was terrified. I was terrified that I would be the one chosen. The third young master said that would never happen and that he would protect me forever, but I was still afraid. Later, when I found out it was Suwen, I still didn’t believe it. Suwen came to see me and she called me shameless…‘
’That’s enough, Zhenyun, stop for now,’ Jingzhi walked over to her and tried to pull her away. But Zhen Zhi gently pushed her away and stubbornly continued, ‘She called me cheap and said I seduced Third Master. If the Second Mistress and Third Master hadn’t been hiding their own selfish motives, I would have been the one to become his concubine. She kept on and on, and I couldn’t say anything back. In fact, she was right. I did benefit from Third Master. I owe Suwen. I’m not afraid of her cursing me. If this is how she can forgive me, I don’t feel wronged at all.’
She paused, her expression showing a little confusion and doubt: ‘But why did she run away and throw herself into the lake? I can’t understand it. In the morning she was fine, not speaking to me, and in the afternoon she… After she died, she came to me every night, walked up to my bedside and said to me, “Zhenyun, I will curse you forever.”’
‘Zhenyun, don’t be like this, this is all in your imagination,’ Jingzhi said hoarsely.
‘The day I ran away, I passed by the lotus pond and I saw her again. She was smiling at me among the lotuses. She said, ‘Where are you going? I’m dead, why aren’t you? Where are you going? You should stay and do the things I didn’t do. …I can’t escape anymore. I know she’ll always follow me, follow me and Third Young Master. She was right. The things she didn’t do are left to me, and I’m supposed to do them. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t follow me. Leave me alone. Please leave me alone…”
Pillow Cloud suddenly turned up the volume, her eyes wide and vacant as she cried out in terror.
Yi Xuan stood up, stepped back, and watched Jing Zhi go up to hug her and comfort her. Feeling that she could no longer stay for even half a moment, she hurriedly fled Beiyuan.

Back at the West Courtyard, Yi Xuan remained silent. She walked over to the dressing table and slowly combed her long hair, just as serene and content as when she first arrived at the Mu family. Jing Ting watched from afar as the wooden comb glided through her silky long hair, and suddenly he longed to touch the silky hair.
She looked back, and there was still something in her eyes that he couldn’t read.
‘Jingting,’ she suddenly resumed her once gentle tone, but the words she spoke took him by surprise, “have you ever thought that one day you will divorce me?”
He took a breath, not understanding what she was thinking. ’Don’t you understand? The matter of Zhenyun was an accident, and it had nothing to do with you. Even Jingzhi has accepted it, so why can’t you?’
‘Have you never blamed me?’ she asked. ’You know, if it wasn’t me who took Qinyun away that day, but… but someone else, maybe they would have already left. Even if Qinyun was delirious, they would have been safe and sound in Zhenjiang.’
Jingting sighed and walked up behind her, looking directly into her beautiful face in the mirror: ‘Now, whether they are in Nanjing or Zhenjiang, it makes no difference.’ After a pause, he added, ‘And, whether anyone else is capable of taking away Zhenyun, I don’t know. But you must believe one thing: I have never thought of blaming you.’
She lowered her head and played with the hair that was wrapped around the wooden comb, and continued, ‘In fact, I never had high hopes for Jingzhi and Zhanyun. Because I, like everyone else in my family, had such vulgar thoughts, I thought it was fate. Zhanyun was a maid, so what did she know? She was different from Jingzhi. Maybe Jingzhi didn’t mind now, but that gap would always be there. If she had eloped with him today and been an educated person, she would have succeeded long ago.’
‘What are you trying to say?‘
’What I’m trying to say is that just like you and me, there is a gap between us. In the past, neither you nor I realised this, so we both had unrealistic fantasies that we could change things between us after all.
He was momentarily stunned, not expecting her to lay bare their relationship: ‘There is a gap between us? What exactly do you mean by a gap? I don’t believe that the feelings in the past were all false, nor would I consider it just a fantasy.’
‘You think you know me, but you’ve only seen one side of me.’ She suddenly stood up and took off her gold finger rings, revealing the stump. ’Look closely, this is the real me. Have you ever imagined that I would have such an ugly side, constantly reminding myself that I’m a strange disaster?’
After saying this, she ran to the wardrobe and pulled out all the imperial clothing inside, throwing it behind her: ‘This is also me, the real me. My world has never been anything but the bottom of a well. I only know the etiquette of the Qing Dynasty, and I will only be a pampered princess.’
Then she went to the bookcase she had brought from her family home and tipped all the books onto the floor. They were all about the Four Books, the Five Classics and the Rules for Women. ‘This is also me, the real me! You have to see clearly that these are all the old morals and old ideas that you have condemned in words and in writing, but they are all the rules and the foundation of my life.’
Jing Ting remained silent as she let out her emotions. After a while, he said, ‘Why do you have to disparage yourself like this? You are obviously not like this. Even if you are, my resistance is only directed at the old system that created all this.’
“But I am a product of it. There are many women like me. If it were normal, I don’t think you would even look at them, and you would be full of compassion and contempt. But I accidentally met you, and you accidentally got to know me, so your thoughts have changed a little. But the contempt in your heart will not disappear because of this…’
‘Why are you so stubbornly drawing conclusions about me? How well do you really know me?‘
’Not very well, but well enough. You never understand what I’m talking about. What I’m trying to say is that you and I are from two different worlds. I can’t enter your world, and you shouldn’t try to enter mine.‘
Jingting shook his head. He found himself in a state of confusion, unable to communicate with her.
’If you still don’t want this marriage, I can help you.’
He finally snapped, ‘What do you want! After you have disrupted other people’s lives and thoughts, you just walk away? You want to let go, is that it? Well, I’ll tell you, I won’t let you go, never!’
It seemed as if they had returned to the beginning of their marriage, strangers to each other, separated and alienated.
Jingting remembered the period after Cinfay returned from Zhenjiang, when they were also estranged and distant, but at that time he did not feel it so strongly. He got drunk once, just once. But now he doesn’t get drunk, but lives every day as if it were not real.
The storm over the concubine has subsided, but the wounds left behind will never heal.
There is an additional vengeful spirit in the lotus pond.
There is an additional crazy and foolish woman in Beiyuan.
Nothing from the past will ever return.
The Mu Mansion is still prosperous, but also still fragile.
He had long predicted that all this prosperity was an illusion that would soon be reduced to ashes with the revolution, but now, for no reason, many strange emotions have arisen in his heart, and he does not want to witness the decay of this prosperity.
He is reluctant to do so.

Back at the Western Courtyard, Jingting went to his bedroom as usual to rest for a while. Yixuan always kept pastries on hand these days, and they would chat over tea. But the feeling of once having a tacit understanding would never return.
Sometimes he would recall listening to her play the guqin at the Prince Qing’s mansion, running back to the Western Courtyard with her as punishment, seeing her being hit by a cane, and guarding over her as she slept. It seemed like none of that had really happened.
She is still the same gentle woman, still the same woman who is worldly-wise. But the past her, he had been close to, and the present her, he may never be able to approach.
What exactly has changed everything? He never figured it out.
‘Master, you’re back?’
Jingting looked back at Bei, and felt that her resistance to him was much less than when she first arrived. ‘Well, where is your lady?’
‘She must be at the seventh wife’s place. I heard that the seventh wife gave birth to a daughter.‘
’Really? I have another cousin,’ he said to himself.
Chapter 8 (Part 2)
October 15th, the day of Jingying’s full moon.
When Jingting arrived at the main hall, he found that he was the last one there.
The hall was packed with people, and even the usually reclusive Grandpa Mu was pushed out.
Jingying is the only female in the generation of Jingwei.
Now that Jingzhi has recovered some of his vitality, he is no longer as mischievous and talkative as before. Seeing Jingting enter the room, he invited him to walk aside and discuss the current situation.
‘After the failure of the protection of the law movement, many comrades have lost confidence,’ Jingyi said, while drawing circles on the ground with the tip of his brand new leather shoes.
“This is only temporary, and there will soon be new revolutionary forces.’
‘Feng Guozhang resigned, Duan Qirui is also acting mysteriously, and now Xu Shichang has come to power in the midst of a storm. I don’t know if he can control the situation.‘
’Xu Shichang advocates peace talks between the north and the south, so I think the domestic situation will temporarily ease. The worst thing right now is that the Japanese invaders are constantly increasing their troops in northern Manchuria. There are already more than 60,000 Japanese troops stationed in the northern part of the three eastern provinces. That’s what’s worrying.‘
’Erge, do you really think the revolution will one day triumph?’
‘Of course,‘ Jingting replied, but his gaze was on Yi Xuan, who was holding Yutong’s hand while they both played with the month-old Jingying. It had been a long time since he had seen her smile so freely, and the corner of his mouth lifted involuntarily.
’Erge—‘
’Hm?’
‘In fact, you and your sister-in-law should have gotten together a long time ago, but you didn’t take hold of the opportunity. Even so, I believe there will be a good day for you two. Unlike me and Zhenyun, I often wonder if I was wrong. If I hadn’t been with her at the time, she would never have ended up like this. She should still be living a peaceful life.’
Jingting shook his head: ‘I don’t see it that way. Zhenyun’s situation is already much better now. You and she, at least your hearts are together. Even if there are problems, you are always on the same side. The hardest thing is not being able to see each other’s hearts.’
‘Do you think your sister-in-law’s heart is not with you?’

The banquet continued until late at night.
Jingting walked back to Xiyuan with Yixuan. The autumn breeze blew in their faces. At this time last year, he and she had not yet unmasked.
‘You seem very happy today.‘
’Yes,‘ Yi Xuan touched her face and could still feel the warmth on it, “and I’ve had a few drinks.”
’Auntie Qi used to have a grudge against you, but now she’s very easygoing. I can see that Jingying also likes to be close to you.‘
’She’s happy to be a mother, so naturally she’s more open-minded. Those things from the past don’t really matter, and it’s easy to forget.’
‘Is it really easy to forget?’ Jingting looked at her, implying something.
Yixuan stopped and looked at him tenderly, “Jingting, I know what you want to say, but as I said, we can’t come from the same world because there are some things I can’t let go of.”
He also turned his head and said, “I just want you to answer me, have we ever come close? You know what I mean.”
She nodded without thinking, ’Yes. We were very close.’
He let out a sigh of relief and nodded, ‘That’s good, at least I know I’m not wrong about my feelings.’
Yi Xuan shook her head slightly, ‘I feel so tired.’
‘Yi Xuan, I believe that no two people are born destined to be a perfect match. There must be a lot of friction before they can truly become one.’
‘But if, by that time, neither of us is the same person we were before, what’s the point?’
“Why do you insist that we can’t be a perfect match? I don’t understand at all, what is it that you want?’
‘The problem is me, I’m not ready. In the past, I always liked to light a lamp in your house, hoping that the light could bring you warmth. Now I understand that I was naive back then. If I can’t even warm myself, how can I warm others?‘
’I can wait.‘
’Maybe it’s not a matter of time.‘
’I don’t mind.’
‘Jingting…‘ Yi Xuan was a little choked up. Looking carefully into his eyes, she noticed that the defiant colour of the past had faded considerably, and there was more of something called tenderness. He had ultimately changed. She wanted to reach out and touch his face, but after struggling for a long time, she still couldn’t do it. She had to hide her tears and walk into her bedroom, closing the door tightly in front of him.

’Jingting, you see, the title is well-written, isn’t it?’ Hao Tian walked over and handed Jing Ting a stack of manuscripts, which were special reports on the victory of World War I.
‘Well, the end of World War I was also a great encouragement to us.’ Jing Ting casually flipped through the manuscripts in front of him, and suddenly a name caught his attention.
’…Feng Jinde was imprisoned for corruption, and his wife hanged herself…’
‘What are you reading?’ Hao Tian noticed Jing Ting’s unusual behaviour and, after glancing at the news in his hands, explained, “Now Feng Guozhang has been pushed out of power by Xu Shichang. Although he still nominally controls the 15th and 16th divisions of the Beiyang Army, his relatives and the like have inevitably been implicated. This is how the fighting between warlords is like. Those small people can only be used as scapegoats…”
Feng Jinde, Feng Jinde…Jing Ting just felt that the name was so familiar, but he couldn’t think of it.
‘Can you finish for the day?‘ A crisp voice rang out, and the lithe figure of Jinfei floated in.
Jingting picked up the manuscript in front of him, got up and handed it to the editor Li beside him.
Hao Tian’s face beamed with a warm smile: “You’re done for the day?”
’We finished a long time ago. We said we’d have hot pot together tonight, you haven’t forgotten, have you?’
‘Of course we haven’t forgotten. We’ll be done in a minute. We’re rushing to get these news stories out in the morning.‘
’It’s still busy here. Jingting, hurry up too.‘
’Hm,’ Jingting replied, picking up his trench coat from the seat and putting it on with a cool, casual gesture, not noticing the way the people around him were looking at him.

The three of them walked together into the streets of Nanjing. It was late autumn again, but there was a little more desolation than the previous year.
‘Wait for me for a moment, my hair is a mess, I need to find somewhere to fix it.‘
When Jinfei had gone for a while, Haotian laughed, “Women are just full of problems.”
Jingting couldn’t help but tease, “I think you like it.”
’She said she’ll come to our newspaper office for an internship next spring. Do you have any objections?’
‘Why would I have a problem with that?‘ Jingting turned up the collar of his trench coat, “It’s just that time flies, and Cinfay is already a senior.”
’Well, but I still often think about how she looked in high school. At that time, she was like a perfect angel, and this uneasy situation was not at all compatible. I always wanted to protect her and give her a world without smoke and gunfire, without unrest. But she is also so strong and stubborn, as if she doesn’t need my protection at all.’
Jing Ting chuckled, ‘You shouldn’t say these sweet things to me.’
Hao Tian came back to his senses and laughed, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I suddenly remembered all this.’
‘The most important thing is to cherish the present.’
‘I know,’ Hao Tian nodded, ‘You know, I mentioned marriage to her the other day. I don’t want to wait any longer, I’ll be twenty-seven next spring, I want to marry her as soon as she graduates, but she hasn’t agreed yet.’
“Maybe it’s a bit too soon.’
‘Rush? We’ve known each other for six years, which feels like a lifetime to me. I’m also a year older than you, and I don’t want to be alone when your kids call me uncle.‘
’Hao Tian, you’re… strange today.‘
’Jing Ting, you should understand me. There are some things I’m still not sure about.’
Jingting looked into his eyes and saw the light shining straight from them. He wasn’t ignorant of what Hao Tian meant, so he asked lightly, ‘You also said that you have six years. What else is uncertain?’
‘But these six years don’t just belong to her and me.’
‘I only remember that Yixuan just came to Nanjing this time last year.’ Jingting turned his back and spoke in a flat but firm tone, ‘I, Mu Jingting, will only have one wife in my life, Fu Cha Yixuan.’
After saying that, he walked on alone.
‘What are you two talking about?’ Jinfei ran over.
Jingting slowed down, waiting for the two of them to catch up. Jinfei put her arm around Hao Tian’s arm, and Hao Tian placed his hand on top of hers. Jingting looked up at the two of them, so close, and realised that his heart no longer felt any emotion.
He couldn’t remember when that had stopped, and it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he knew exactly where his heart belonged.

They walked into a small hotpot restaurant and sat down at a small round table. There were only a few people in the restaurant, and the sound of the hot soup boiling could be heard clearly.
‘We haven’t had a meal together in a long time,’ said Jinfei, taking off her pink cotton scarf, rubbing her hands together, and then holding it to her mouth to blow air through it. ‘It seems to be particularly cold this year.’
‘If it’s cold, put on the scarf first, and it’s not too late to take it off when it gets warm,’ Hao Tian said, then picked up the scarf and went to wrap it around her.
Jin Fei was a little surprised by Hao Tian’s intimacy, and immediately lowered her head, stiff and still, for fear that if she wasn’t careful, her forehead would touch Hao Tian’s lips.
Jing Ting lowered his eyes and pretended not to see, naturally filling the three of them with tea.
‘I’ll do it myself,’ said Jin Fei, suddenly pulling her scarf around her neck. She turned her face away with some embarrassment, and Hao Tian’s hand paused in mid-air for a moment.
The next thing the three of them knew, they were all drinking tea in silence.
When Jingting looked up, he caught her gaze for a moment, and she quickly looked away, but he was lost in thought. Jinfei’s grey woolen trench coat made her pink skin look crystal clear, and her hair had been replaced with the most popular small wavy curls of the day, giving her a more mature charm than before, but also an inexplicable melancholy temperament.
She tilted her head towards the window, suddenly reaching out to write on the frosted glass. Where her fingertips had passed, a few drops of water slid off, like the melting of a wax candle, like tears rushing out. He vaguely recognised it as the character ‘non’, the name she liked but was not destined to have.
It was not meant to be.
After the hotpot was served, the three of them continued to eat in silence. Finally, as they were finishing their meal, Hao Tian called out, ‘Jinfei…’
‘Huh?’ She looked up.
‘Jingting is here, so he can be my witness. Jinfei, will you marry me?’
The other two were both surprised.
‘No…why…Hao Tian…‘ Jin Fei said, embarrassed, “why bring this up again?” She glanced at Jing Ting secretly, and saw that his expression had returned to normal.
’Jin Fei, you know I’ve had these thoughts for a long time. I don’t need you to marry me right away, I can wait until you graduate. I just want a promise from you, you know, it’s very important to me.’
Jinfei turned her head away and looked at Jingting intentionally or unintentionally: ‘Hao Tian, don’t be like this, it’s too abrupt.’
The situation was slightly awkward. Jingting circled his finger around the rim of the teacup, feeling like an unnecessary bystander. ‘I still have things to do, I’ll go first.’ He finished the last sip of tea and put down the teacup, ‘I’ll pay the bill today.’
‘Jingting, stay a little longer?’ Hao Tian looked at him without saying a word.
‘No need. Yixuan will be bored at home alone.’ He picked up his trench coat and left.
When he reached the counter, a familiar, clear voice sounded behind him: ’Okay, I promise.’

Jingting walked quickly through the long corridors towards the Listening to the Pines Pavilion where Grandpa Mu lived. He didn’t usually come here, so the surroundings felt a little unfamiliar. The old man’s health was getting worse every day, and he might not wake up one morning. He had once been the powerful Viceroy of Liangjiang, but now he was like a withered tree.
Jingting looked at the cold moon in the sky and let out a long sigh. Tonight, he felt particularly lonely.
He quickened his pace and walked into the ancestral hall of the Ting Song Xuan. He knew that Yixuan was still there.
Sure enough, he saw the two people under the dim oil lamp at a glance.
Old Master Mu was lying on a recliner, his head tilted back, as if he were asleep. His mouth was slightly open, and saliva was dripping from the corner of his lips. He was covered with a thick quilt. Yi Xuan was sitting on a small table nearby, copying scriptures with her head bowed in the dim light.
Jingting had long since become familiar with her routine: in the morning, she went to the accounting department to sort through the books, and occasionally she played mahjong with the other women. In the afternoon, she either came to accompany the old master in copying scriptures, or was invited by the younger generations of the other households to be their teacher or playmate.
He looked at her beautiful body, wearing only a thin white cloak, and wondered how she could keep warm.
He walked behind her, and the handwriting that came into view was as delicate and pleasing to the eye as she was.
‘You’re back?‘ she asked softly, without turning around.
’Mm,‘ Jingting said, taking off his trench coat and draping it over her. “How many chapters did you copy today?”
’Not many. Grandpa was very talkative today, so I spent the whole afternoon listening to him,’ she whispered.
Jingting sat down on the floor too, and pulled the Diamond Sutra off the table. ’How many times have you copied it?’
Yixuan laughed and said, ‘I’m afraid it’s the fourth or fifth time. But every time I copy it, I feel differently.’
‘Don’t copy it anymore,’ he said, taking the brush from her hand and helping her put it down. ‘You’re already clear-minded enough, and if you keep copying it, I’m afraid you’ll really fall into the monkhood.’
“But these scriptures are really inspiring, and maybe in the future I can also save all living beings.’
‘If you want to save all living beings, you should save me first.’ He felt her body tremble, and knew that she was not at peace again. He had to pull over a piece of rice paper and say, “Usually you write so much for other people, why don’t you write one for me today?”
Yixuan laughed lightly, picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, and wrote a few small, neat characters: “Autumn wind and autumn rain are saddening.”
He was taken aback, and then he heard her ask, ’Shouldn’t you also give me something in return?’
He didn’t say anything, just leaned closer to the table, buried his head in his writing, and after a long time, handed her a stack of paper sideways.
Yixuan couldn’t help but read it out loud: ‘Although the day lily is a small flower, its solitary beauty can lift itself up. In the midst of the scattered leaves, it has a heart that is one by one.’
Turning to the next page, he saw: ‘The day lily is more gentlemanly than the gentleman, and the poet has a reason for his feelings. One should only pity its elegant appearance, not necessarily understand its forgetfulness. The snow-covered lawn is small, and the breeze makes the mossy walls look secluded. Don’t say it’s too late to bloom, it’s still better than chrysanthemums in autumn.‘
Then another page, and again: “Walking to find the grass, forgetfulness is bound to grow. Daylilies bloom to nourish the soul, green leaves are just like a cage. The colour is like immortal dew, the fragrance is like a young girl’s style. It still grows under the eaves of the hall, Cao Zhi was a literary hero.”
…
Daylilies, all of them are the grass of forgetfulness.
’Where did you read all this?’
Jing Ting did not answer, reached over and took her shoulders in his hands. She let him hold her hand, and neither of them spoke anymore, just nestled against each other and listened to each other’s heartbeat.
‘Ahem…’ The old gentleman’s cough broke the silence in the room, and the two of them got up together to take care of it.
‘Jing Wei… you’re here?’ Grandpa Mu looked at his grandson for a long time before slowly asking.
“I’m Jing Ting, Grandpa, look carefully,’
The old man tilted his head back to the centre, opened his eyes wide, and carefully identified him for a long time before nodding: ‘Oh…it’s Jingting…you’re off school?’
Neither of them offered an explanation, and they accompanied the old man as he muttered, following the fragments of his broken memory with broken words.

When it got late, he took her hand and paced back to the West Courtyard.
‘Do you remember what tomorrow is?’ he suddenly asked.
‘Mm,‘ she nodded.
’That’s good,’ he sighed with relief, “from now on, you have to remember.”
How could she forget?
A year ago on that day, all she could see was red.
From the inn to the Mu family; from the lobby to the bridal chamber, her world was just a blaze of red, so dazzling and suffocating.
Until someone pulled her out of this world of red.
The first person she saw was him.
Mu Jingting,
her husband.
Chapter 9 (Part 1)
Jingting walked into Xiyuan and saw Belle standing in the doorway of the bedroom, holding a tray of food.
‘Miss, can you open the door? Would you like some food?’
There was no sound coming from inside the room.
“Your Highness, please open the door.’
‘What happened?’ A calm voice sounded behind her. Belle turned around, looking about to burst into tears. “I don’t know, I don’t know what happened either. This morning, Your Highness was fine, but at noon, she just sat there in silence. I asked her a few questions, but she wouldn’t speak. Then she kicked me out and closed the door.”
Jingting frowned, took the meal and said, “You go downstairs first, I’ll persuade her.”
There was silence in the room, as if no one was there.
‘Yixuan, open the door.’ Knowing that this would have no effect, he added, “Open the door and let me take a look. As long as I’m sure you’re fine, I won’t bother you. If you don’t open the door, I’ll find a way in.”
The sound of her skirt rustling could be heard for a while, and then the door opened. Yixuan lowered her head and looked down, looking no different than usual.
But he knew that something had happened.
Even if she didn’t cry or laugh, and had no expression, he could feel that she was different.
He carried the food into the room, placed it on the table, and pretended to look around casually, but didn’t notice any special signs.
Yixuan walked away, sat down on the wooden chair with her back to him, and said, ‘You’ve already taken a look, so you can go.’
Naturally, he kept his word and replied, ‘Okay.’ As he left, he glanced at the newspaper spread out on the table. There was a damp spot on the paper, and the news story beneath it was familiar to him:
‘…Feng Jinde was imprisoned for corruption, and his wife hanged herself…’
He walked out and gently closed the door. If he guessed correctly, the person in the house must have become depressed again.
Since he knew that she liked to read the newspaper, he would bring home the newspaper he had read at the newspaper office every day, usually not the newspaper of the day, but a few days later in the evening, so that she would not notice his deliberate actions.
He was distressed by his memory for the first time. That name…it was clearly very familiar, as if he was just a little short of remembering it, but it was just a little short.

Jingting returned to the study alone, and Belle then brought him his dinner.
He picked up his chopsticks and suddenly asked, ‘Belle, have you heard of Feng Jinde?’
‘Feng Jinde? Isn’t that the eldest master? He’s also a well-known figure in Beiping.’
The eldest master, Fu Cha Yiting’s husband.
He suddenly understood.
Jingting really didn’t have any impression of Fu Cha Yiting, and he didn’t have any obvious likes or dislikes. He didn’t like the arrogant air about Yiting, but subconsciously he didn’t dislike her either, because he knew that Yixuan cherished this sisterly friendship.
Just as Jingwei and Jingzhi were in his heart, they were brothers who could not be separated in this life.
What else could he do?
He walked to the wall, took down the long flute that had not been touched for a long time, and stroked the cool purple jade flute with his fingers. He tried to play ‘Autumn Wind Song’.
At first, the tune was a little rusty, and the song was not one he was familiar with, but gradually, he found the familiar rhythm in his memory, and the sound of the flute was smooth and clear, as if it were expressing the emotions of the song in a most eloquent way: ‘The autumn wind is clear, the autumn moon is bright, the fallen leaves gather and scatter, the jackdaws rest and are startled. When will we meet again? This moment, this night, is so hard to bear.’

Yixuan was lying on the small round table. She was tired, tired of crying, and tired of thinking. She just felt like she was in a dream.
In the dream, there was a fairy playing a soul-stirring tune on the xiao. The melodious and tranquil sound soothed her lonely soul. Listening carefully, she realised that the tune was her favourite Autumn Wind Song.
Her heart no longer felt as suffocating as before. Everything became very calm.
The sound of the xiao surrounded her, as if it were playing just for her.
She propped herself up and slowly calmed her emotions, following the sound of the flute and softly singing along: ‘The autumn wind is clear, the autumn moon is bright, the fallen leaves gather and scatter, the jackdaws rest and are startled. When will we meet again? It is hard to bear this emotion on this night.’

As her emotions grew calmer and her thoughts became clearer, Yixuan began to be able to discern the direction of the sound source.
Could it be him?
Her breathing suddenly became rapid, and she flung open the door, racing to the study in the north of the house and pushing open the door recklessly. Sure enough, the familiar figure stood alone in front of the window, quietly playing the flute with great concentration.
She stood still by the door, allowing her breasts to rise and fall with her strong breathing. After a while, she was able to speak with a steady breath: ‘You like playing the flute?’
‘Not really.‘ She only wants to play for you, he added with his eyes. After a pause, he hung the long flute back on the wall with a light heart and turned to her. She looked up, her dark eyes like a pool full of water, and if just one more drop of water were to fall, it would overflow.
’My sister is dead,‘ she said.
’I know,”
she said, throwing herself into the wide embrace in front of her, as if this embrace had been waiting for her for a thousand years, from the previous life to the present life.
Waiting.
Waiting for her.
Waiting for a thousand years.

February of the eighth year of the Republic of China.
During this period, newspapers and printing houses were busy.
New Youth, volume 5, number 5, published Li Dazhao’s ‘The Common People’s Victory’ and ‘The Victory of Bolshevism’. These two articles were like strong winds that immediately reached every corner of China and the hearts of every aspiring person.
At the same time, the strike movement of Shanghai workers intensified, with workers at the No. 2 Shanghai Cotton Mill, the British American Tobacco Company and the Japanese-owned Nichibank Spinning Company going on strike one after the other within a few months. This trend affected Nanjing, and the entire city was in a state of panic.

‘Madam, it’s bad news, it’s really bad news!’ Ah Qiong rushed into the accounts department.
The accounting department was not normally open to servants, so it was easy to tell that something important had happened.
‘What is it? Take your time and tell me!’ Mu Chen’s wife walked into the hall, and Yi Xuan and Mu Lin’s wife got up as well.
‘The military police have sealed off Dongda Street… They say that the workers there are causing trouble and there are communists among them, communists from Shanghai… When I went to fetch the young master, the street was already sealed off… The young master must still be at the newspaper office. I heard that… I heard that he was arrested and taken to the police station!’
Mu Chen’s took two steps back, accidentally knocking over the teacup on the table with her hand. The tea immediately left a large dark brown stain on her cheongsam with red peonies on a white background. Yi Xuan hurriedly came forward to help her up, only to hear Mu Chen’s voice tremble as she asked, ‘Where is the eldest and second eldest masters?’
‘The masters are both at the dockyard. They said they were going to accompany the commander of the Beiyang Navy from Shanghai today.’
“Where is Jingwei?’
‘The eldest young master…the eldest young master is also in trouble. There are also military police asking questions at the foreign firm on West Street.‘
Mu Chenyi pushed Yi Xuan away and paced back and forth anxiously, “Prepare the sedan chair, prepare the sedan chair, follow me to the police station.”
’Yes, madam.”
Mu Chenyi was about to walk out the door when she suddenly stumbled and then pressed her temple before collapsing onto the wooden chair behind her. She looked in pain, and everyone became anxious again.
‘Mother, let me go. I will definitely bring Jingting back,’ Yi Xuan suddenly walked up to her and knelt down, saying firmly.
Mu Chenxi looked at her for a moment, and only nodded after a long while: ’Go ahead. Remember to bail Jingting out. He is my son and your only husband.’

As she hurriedly boarded the sedan chair, Yi Xuan noticed that her palms were sweating. Her heart was pounding, as she had never dealt with such matters on her own before, but she was not afraid. Because she had him in her heart, he was guiding her somewhere, giving her courage back and making her eager to do a better job.
She was going for him. This belief made her feel proud.
Sitting in the sedan chair, she could only hear the occasional loud footsteps outside, with a hint of panic, all running in the opposite direction.
Suddenly, the sedan chair came to a sudden stop, and she subconsciously reached out to stop herself from hitting her head on the inertia.
‘What’s wrong?’ She lifted the curtain and asked Ah Qiu beside her.
‘There’s… someone stopping the sedan chair.’
‘?’
She had to get out of the sedan chair and face the person in front of her.
In the cold wind, the man was well-dressed in a suit, with a commanding presence and a slightly rugged silhouette that did not look like he was of Han ethnicity. He stood in the middle of the road, a black luxury sedan parked next to him. When he saw Yixuan, a broad smile appeared on his handsome face: ‘Xuan, I’ve finally waited for you.’
Yixuan’s eyes widened, and she took two steps forward in a daze.
It was like a dream.
Was it really him who had returned?
‘Is it really you?‘ she asked, her voice trembling.
’It’s me, Suo Zongyang.”
Suo Zongyang. This Manchu man, who, like her, had royal blood and had experienced the rise and fall of the family with her, stirred up all the buried memories, causing fragments of the past to flash before her eyes like falling flowers.
He had taken her young self on a horse and galloped across the grasslands.
He taught her to recite poetry in the plum blossom grove of the Prince Qing’s residence.
He played a passionate duet with her on the zither and xiao in the Yuhua Pavilion.
In the study, he taught her about history and the future, and he taught her about the Hundred Days’ Reform and the Three Principles of the People.
This carefree young man, on a swinging swing, beneath a blood-red sunset, in an endless stream, in the lush tall grass, beamed at her and said, “Xuan’er, be my bride.”
He had been her dream, symbolising the innocent years before the country fell and the family died.
Before she knew it, she was in tears.

‘Second…second young lady,’ Ah Qiu was stunned, not knowing whether to speak up or not. Her heart was racing, “Second young master…”
Yi Xuan suddenly woke up, suppressing the emotions within her, shaking her head and taking a few steps forward, ’Zongyang, I have urgent business to attend to. I’ll come find you in a few days.’
‘A few days?‘ He rushed up quickly, grabbed her wrist and looked at her with burning eyes. “Do you know that I have never stopped thinking about you in Japan, every moment? If I had been a little impulsive, I would have rushed back to you. And you? Have you ever thought about me? Now I’m right in front of you, and you still want to wait a few days before seeing me? Can you bear it?”
’Brother Zongyang,’ she felt at a loss for words, ’but I really have something to do. I have to rush to save someone.’
‘Then save me first.‘ His gaze darkened, and a cold light shone through. “After being away from you for so long, I can’t believe that I’m still alive.”
’No, I really have to go.’ Yi Xuan found that the pressure on her wrist was getting heavier and heavier, and she couldn’t help but try to pull away. Suddenly, she gasped, ’What is this? How come there’s such a long scar?’
On the back of Zongyang’s right hand, a raised red scar like an earthworm was clearly visible, extending to the neck of the hand.
‘Long?’ He sneered, ‘This isn’t long.’
He pushed aside the long sleeve of his right hand, and saw that the scar continued for a full foot.
‘How?’ A feeling of heartache struck violently, and Yixuan looked at him blankly, unable to make out what she was thinking.
‘If you want to know, just come with me.’ He stepped forward again and took her hand again. “Save me first, or save someone else first, you choose.”
She was confused, and couldn’t help but be dragged into the black car by Zong Yang.
‘Second young lady, second young lady…’ A Xiu chased after the car for a while, but it just kept driving further and further away. Looking at the rising dust, she couldn’t help stamping her feet, “What’s going on? Has she been possessed? Second young master…second young master…what should I do?”
Chapter 9 (Part 2)
Inside the police station
‘Jingting, are you okay?‘ Jinfei walked into the cell and quickly ran to the dark corner. Jingting was sitting there, with some withered straw piled behind him, and shocking dark red spots scattered on the straw. There were whip marks of all sizes on his face and shoulders, but he remained silent and tough. The awe-inspiring aura emanating from his body made the jailers’ dogs dare not approach him easily.
‘It’s fine. The comrades in Shanghai have already escaped,‘ Jing Ting said lightly, straightening up and gently wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
’What about you? Look at yourself, you’re covered in injuries, and you say it’s fine.‘ She was so emotional that tears fell from her eyes.
’It really is fine,’ he sighed.
He remembered that Cinnabar rarely cried, and the last time she had done so was a long time ago, when it seemed as if it was for his marriage. He patted her shoulder gently and comforted her patiently, ‘Don’t cry, don’t cry.’
Cinnabar suddenly threw herself into his arms and sobbed uncontrollably, ‘Why are you always like this? You’re always getting hurt, and you always make me worry.’
Jingting was surprised by her actions and for a moment forgot how he should react.
‘Do you know how worried I was? The other employees had all dispersed, and you were the only one still there. I was afraid that they would treat you as the ringleader of the rebels. Why is it that you are always in danger? Every time, I would think to myself, will you not come back? If you don’t come back, what should I do? I often think, if you really don’t come back, I will also…‘
Jingting was shocked, and pushed her away, saying, “Cenfei, don’t be like this.”
’Why not?’
‘You are Hao Tian’s wife-to-be, and the person you should worry about and follow is him.‘
’Heh,’ Jin Fei sneered, “why did I become Hao Tian’s fiancee? Wasn’t it because you pushed him to do it?”
He was speechless.
‘You said that you would not let anyone dictate your marriage. You once spoke out against this system, but you willingly became a puppet yourself. Do you think that whatever you do is your own business? Have you ever thought about me? I know that there is no commitment between us, but you cannot completely erase our past. You left and pushed me to Hao Tian. Do you think that this is what I want?’
‘Cenfei, it is your right to choose who you want to be with, and I never intended to interfere.‘
’I regret it, I regret my own arrogance. When you went to visit your family, I wanted to go to Beiping to find you several times, but I didn’t have the courage, and I couldn’t let go of my pride. But every day I dreamt that you would turn back halfway, that you would regret it and that you would still care about me. But this dream never came true.’
‘Cinnabar, you’re tired today, that’s why you’re imagining things. If it were Haotian who was in danger today, I think you’d be even more worried.‘
’You guys always like to make assumptions like this, but these assumptions simply don’t exist, so how can I compare? The only thing I know for sure is how I feel right now.’
‘Cenfei, I believe you can’t compare. Have you ever thought about it? In the past, the three of us had a hard time, and it was hard to maintain the balance. I don’t know how you felt, but I felt very tired. At that time, you must have compared in your heart, but you didn’t choose, and instead continued to maintain this difficult situation. Have you thought about the reason? Because you can’t compare the results, you can’t choose. I took the initiative to abstain, and you suddenly woke up, thinking that what you lost was the best. I think whoever you marry, you will feel the same way.”
Cui Fei didn’t have time to speak, as a guard walked over and looked Jingting up and down. ’Mu Jingting, right? The paperwork is all done, go on your way, and stay out of trouble in the future.’

Jingting walked quickly out of the police station.
‘Jingting, Jingting, wait for me.’
He didn’t dare to stop, afraid of hearing anything more from her. He had let go of the past and didn’t want to reopen it. Jinfei ran after him, but she couldn’t catch up with the tall figure in front of her.
“In fact, I knew I’d lost a long time ago.’
Jing Ting froze, hearing the voice coming from behind him.
“I used to hate that woman. I despised her countless times in my heart, imagining how she was mindless and uneducated, and imagining that you would eventually regret giving me up. Until that time when I saw her at the pier, I had to admit that she had conquered me. She may just be a woman who grew up under the old system, but she is very strong. Her temperament matches yours. You are one of the most courageous and determined people among us, but I often feel that you are also one of the loneliest among us. Even with Hao Tian and me by your side, it seems that your heart has never been free from loneliness. Hao Tian once said that after knowing you for twenty years, he still feels that he doesn’t understand you. I understand what he is talking about, because I feel the same way. I think that if there is someone in this world who can make you feel warm and stop you from being lonely, then that person must be her.’
Jingting did not turn around, but he felt the person behind him had already turned around and walked away in the opposite direction.
There were surging emotions in his heart, but he always suppressed them.
Some emotions were beautiful, but they should not belong to him. Then the best way to respond was to let go.
Thinking about the little woman at home who worried and cared for him, he quickened his pace.

Shuiyue Pavilion, a small Japanese-style teahouse.
Yixuan sat down at a table on the street with Zongyang. Watching Zongyang take off his boots and walk naturally on the floor in just white cotton socks, she felt a little strange. After finally sitting down with her legs folded, she noticed Zongyang’s burning gaze fixed on her: ‘How long have we been apart?’
‘Almost another year and a half,‘ Yi Xuan nodded, feeling that the vicissitudes of life are unpredictable. She said, “My sister is dead.”
’I heard about it. At that time, I was still in Japan.’ He casually drank some tea. A Japanese woman in a kimono came over to perform tea art for them.
After waiting for the woman to leave, Yi Xuan lowered her voice and said, ’Fortunately, you’re back now. You know, the Japanese invasion of China is becoming more and more arrogant, and I’m really afraid that you’ll stay there forever.’
‘You’re worried about me?‘
’Yes,‘ Yi Xuan nodded, “What have you been doing since you returned to China?”
’I’ve just settled in Beiping, and I came to Nanjing to find you.”
Yi Xuan twisted her head out the window and replied, ’Oh. Last year, Dr. Sun’s movement to protect the constitution failed again, and you were right in your predictions. But now there are new ideas. I’ve read Li Dazhao’s ‘The Common People’s Victory’ and ‘The Victory of Bolshevism’. I think they are more inspiring than Kang and Liang’s reformist ideas or Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People. And there is the successful example of the Russian October Revolution. So, what you said at the time wasn’t entirely right. I think there is always hope for China.‘
’Xuan, you’re different from before.‘
’Me? What about me?’
‘In the past, when I told you about the Hundred Days‘ Reform and the Three Principles of the People, you just listened to me without ever saying what you thought. I thought you didn’t like hearing about it.’
‘I was young then and really didn’t understand much,’ Yi Xuan laughed to herself.
‘But now you sound like a revolutionary.’
“How could that be? That’s not true. You were the one who taught me about these new ideas. You’ll always be my teacher.’
‘Teacher? You know I stopped believing in all that a long time ago.‘
Watching the familiar cold light flash in his eyes, she became a little anxious. “I know, you once lost confidence, but look at you now, with new ideas and new strength. And you’re back, aren’t you.”
’Do you really believe in all that Bolshevik nonsense? I think it’s just empty talk, not worth mentioning.’
Yixuan was surprised and felt that the tacit understanding they once had had suddenly disappeared.
‘Don’t say such depressing things.’
‘Oh, that’s good,’ said Yixuan, taking a sip of tea, ‘so do you have a job now?’
‘I’m in Beiping, working with Director-General Cao Rulin.’ He beamed with pride.
‘Cao Rulin? Isn’t he pro-Japanese?’ Yixuan swallowed a piece of tea leaf without warning.
Zongyang gave a inscrutable expression and a sneer curled the corner of his mouth: ‘These days, which official in Beiping isn’t pro-Japanese? What’s wrong with that? Peace talks are much better than war, aren’t they? In the past, we were killing our own people, and after all that trouble, what was the point of the revolution? Now there are warlords everywhere, and in fact it doesn’t matter who’s in power, the important thing is to do the right thing for yourself.’
Yixuan watched him light a cigarette on the other side, and the person behind the smoke was hard to see clearly.
‘Xuan, come with me, come back to Beiping with me.’
Yixuan was shocked and shook her head, saying, ‘Brother Zongyang, when I left, I had already made up my mind that I would grow old in the Mu family. This was the wish of my mother and father.’
‘That was a year ago. At that time, I had no power or influence. I could not guarantee the future of the Qing family’s princely house, and I could not protect you. But now it’s different. I’m back. With my power today, I can guarantee that no one in Beiping will dare to touch the Qing family’s princely house.‘
’Zongyang, I’m very happy that you’re back, and I’m even happier to see that you’re more resilient than before. But there are many things that cannot be turned back.’
‘Why can’t you turn back?’ He reached out and grabbed Yi Xuan’s wrist. “I know you have feelings for me, otherwise why haven’t you consummated your marriage with that Mu yet? I understand your feelings.”
Yi Xuan looked at him in disbelief. She didn’t expect him to say such words, and for a long time she didn’t react. She was stunned and glanced out the window, but she was shocked to see a familiar figure in the middle of the street.
He was wearing only a tattered shirt, and the body underneath it was covered in whip marks. His messy hair hid his bloodshot eyes, and there was a sinister smile on his face, despite the bloodstains around his mouth.
A smile full of contempt, anger, loathing, and disdain.
Did he hear it all? Did he hear it all?
No. Yixuan wanted to get up and explain, but the heroic figure had disappeared in an instant.
‘Yixuan, Yixuan, come with me, come back to Beiping, come back to Japan!’ Zongyang still wouldn’t let her go.
She drew her hand back and slapped him, borrowing strength from nowhere.
“Marrying into the Nanjing family was my own choice, and I have never regretted it. A year ago, I was extremely disappointed in you, and now I am completely desperate.’

The Xiyuan was pitch black. Belle was not there; perhaps she had gone to Beiyuan to listen to Jingzhi’s storytelling. The entire courtyard was incredibly quiet, quiet like the ruins of a long-abandoned building, as if spiders were everywhere spinning their webs.
But she knew he was there, because she could hear his breathing. Without thinking, she groped her way to the study door by the light of the moon. She stopped short, but found she did not have the courage to go in.
Did he really misunderstand? Would he give her a chance to explain? And could she explain clearly?
‘Since you’re here, why don’t you come in?’ A ghostly voice sounded, so cold that it made people want to cry.
Yixuan didn’t know how the door was opened, or maybe he didn’t close it at all.
‘Jing…Jingting.’
There was a moment of silence.
‘I have something I want to say.’
“Go ahead.’
Following the cold voice, Yixuan saw a silhouette in the wooden chair by the window sill. The dark light outlined a static silhouette, like a weathered sand sculpture, lifeless.
She held her breath before slowly speaking: ‘In the afternoon, Qiu and I were going to the police station to pick you up, and halfway…’
‘That’s not what I want to hear!’ The figure pounced at her like a wild wolf, pushing her against the wall. ‘You’ve been waiting for him!’
‘Listen to me…‘
’No wonder,‘ he said, leaning his full weight against her, his hot breath on her face. “All you want is the status of husband and wife!”
’He and I, we…’ She noticed that he looked even more dishevelled than before – his tattered shirt open, dark brown whip marks on his bare chest, his messy hair flailing about like a ghost. This was a side of him she had never seen before, a side she was completely unfamiliar with.
‘You said you couldn’t warm yourself, and I didn’t understand before. So can you warm him?’ An uncontrollable emotion surged through him, and his hand slowly moved to her chest. “Is he the only one you can warm?” As soon as he finished speaking, he had already ripped open her heavy coat.
‘I didn’t mean that.’ Yi Xuan was a little panicked, and subconsciously tried to push him away with her hands, but he restrained her with one hand. “What are you doing?” she shouted in alarm and desperation, “let go of me.”
Let go?
How could he let go? Finally, she knew what her lack of attachments, worries, desires, and ambitions were all about! So that’s how it is, it’s really like that!
His lips suddenly blocked hers, swallowing her unspoken words. When he aggressively lifted her lips, she tasted the strong bloody taste between his lips and teeth.
‘You wouldn’t consummate the marriage for him, I’ll show you how for him!’ he said in a muffled voice, and then roughly placed kisses on her face, neck, and chest.
She heard the sound of silk tearing, and felt the heat of his lips and the intensity of the kiss.
It was more intense than fire.
‘Jingting…’ She twisted her body as hard as she could to try to get out from under him, but it only aroused his uncontrollable desire. His naked body was as hot as a furnace, burning every inch of her delicate skin. He invaded and plundered her more roughly, in a desperate gesture.
Yes, desperate.
This realisation made her involuntarily stop resisting, but as she hesitated, she noticed that he was gradually withdrawing as well.
He struggled to get off her, trying to calm his breathing, but the strength in his hands had not completely subsided.
After a long time, he stopped panting heavily, straightened up, and held her chin up with his hand, so that she could see into his bloodshot eyes. There was a flash of fire-like pain in those eyes, and then the spark died out, leaving only an icy chill.
He said coldly, ‘Want to leave with him?’
‘I…‘ In the moonlight, she could only see his eyes and hear his bewitching words, and suddenly she could no longer speak.
’Okay, I’ll let you go,’ he said slowly, rising from her.
What did he mean?
Could it be that this time, the one who wanted to let go was him?
He picked up the clothes scattered nearby and threw them at her, then turned and walked towards the door, only leaving behind three short words in the cold night: ’Just go.’
‘Jingting…‘ she called hoarsely.
’I always thought that the gap you were referring to was because you couldn’t understand me, but now I know I was wrong. It was me who couldn’t understand the other person, and it was me who couldn’t enter your world.”

(The end of this chapter)
Chapter 10 (Part 1)
Grandpa Mu passed away in April, with no warning.
Everyone felt a little sad. After finally surviving the winter, who knew that he would pass away at the time of the first spring flowers.
The Mu family held a grand funeral, despite the already unsettling situation.
After all, he had been the once-powerful Viceroy of the Two Rivers.
Yixuan followed a group of women in kneeling at the altar, her eyes still searching for a familiar figure.
It had been two days, and she hadn’t seen him for two days.
He had moved to the Weishu Zhai the day of the breakup, and less than three days later, the news of the sudden death of Grandpa Mu came.
To everyone’s surprise, although Grandpa Mu had been confused for many years, he was unexpectedly lucid before his death. He remembered everything and everyone clearly, as if he had never been confused.
‘Jingting, you must take good care of Yixuan. She is a good girl.’
“Yixuan, all the scriptures you copied for me must be burned for me in the future. I like your handwriting best.’
Everyone was affected by his last words, and with the turbulent situation of the times, they all felt an indescribable bitterness in their hearts.
Because of the funeral, everything between them was sealed up and temporarily put aside. He also did not mention the divorce again.
‘Yixuan,’ just as she was holding a scroll of mourning couplets and walking into the main hall, she was suddenly stopped by Mu Chen. ‘Where on earth has Jingting gone?’
Yixuan froze, not knowing how to respond.
Recently, Mu Chen had been dissatisfied with her. Although she had not personally questioned her about the problems between her and Jingting, there had been a slight change in attitude. As a smart and sensitive person, how could she not notice?
After all, she was in the wrong. She had let her husband stay out all day, and the gossip was already everywhere.
‘It’s almost time for the funeral, where are we going to find someone?‘ The words were careless, but the implied blame was embarrassing. Yixuan desperately tugged at the silk in her hands, but all she could do was smile bitterly: there was no one else who could help her out of this embarrassing situation.
’I’m here,’ the voice slowly said, as calm and composed as usual.
Mu Chen’s gaze softened a little, but she still muttered, ’The older you get, the less sense you have.’
Her heart also temporarily relaxed a little.

It was a chilly spring day, and the weather was particularly bleak on the day of the funeral. The sky was grey and desolate, and occasionally vultures could be seen circling overhead, emitting piercing cries.
He stood beside her in the funeral procession, and they did not speak to one another.
He had lost weight, she thought. But it seemed that his injuries had completely healed, and someone must have been by his side taking good care of him.
She thought as she walked along, and suddenly stepped on a stone, about to fall, but someone held her slender arm. The hands that held her arm were still as broad and strong as before, and she could feel the scorching heat through her thin clothes.
When she stood firm, the hand quickly released. She glanced back, and his face still had an expression of calm, as if nothing had happened just now.
What a strange fate. After all that turning and twisting, they were still standing at the starting point, unable to advance or retreat.
When everyone began to weep and kneel, Yixuan was still standing alone in the centre of the crowd, dumbfounded. It wasn’t until the officiating lama glared at her in displeasure that she reacted, and followed everyone else in prostrating herself to the ground.
Someone was howling and writhing on the ground, but the person under the spring could never hear it again.
Life is just a dream, no matter how carefree you are when you are alive, after death, you will be left with the same loneliness and desolation.
You can’t take anything with you, you can’t leave anything behind.

The funeral was over, and they returned to the West Garden by different routes. This time, he came to the bedroom to talk to her.
Belle carefully poured tea while observing the expressions of the two from time to time.
‘The situation has been tense recently. I’ll continue to stay at the Consolation Study. If there’s anything, you can ask Ah Qiu to come and notify me.‘
’Hmm.‘ Now that he no longer came home, her source of information was all thanks to Jingzhi occasionally bringing back newspapers, and her understanding of the situation was even more delayed than before.
’As for what I said about writing a divorce paper—”
Her eyelids suddenly twitched, and she unconsciously tightened her handkerchief a little more.
‘I’m sorry… I just promised Grandpa that I would take care of you, so I can’t let you leave the Mu family for now. But I won’t interfere with how you interact with other people.”
So that’s what it was about. He won’t interfere. He won’t interfere…

May 4th, 8th year of the Republic of China.
When the news of the failure of the Paris Peace Conference reached China, more than 3,000 Beijing students gathered in Tiananmen Square, chanting slogans such as ‘Fight for national rights abroad, and expose the national traitors at home’, ‘Refuse to sign the peace treaty’, ‘Repeal the Twenty-One Demands’, and ‘Return Qingdao to China’. The students first went to Dongjiaominxiang Lane, and then to Zhaojialou Hutong, where they held a demonstration. On the same day, Cao Rulin’s residence in Zhaojialou was set on fire, and Zhang Zongxiang was beaten. The Beijing government sent troops and police to suppress the demonstration, and arrested 32 students.

The next morning, while Yi Xuan was still asleep, he vaguely heard some noise in the courtyard. He hadn’t returned home for several days, and the normally quiet Xiyuan suddenly made noise, so something big must have happened. Thinking about this, The next morning, while Yi Xuan was still asleep, she vaguely heard some noisy sounds in the courtyard. He hadn’t returned for many days, and Xiyuan had always been peaceful, so the sudden sound at this moment made her think that something major must have happened. Thinking this, Yi Xuan put on her coat and walked out of the bedroom, only to find the study door wide open. After hesitating for a while, she tiptoed to the door of the study, only to find Jing Ting and Hao Tian inside, busily packing back and forth.
‘Be careful this time. I think the student movement will continue… If Lao Huang and the others are really arrested, you should meet up with Lao Zeng immediately. He’s in Tianjin.‘
’Of course I know that,‘ the familiar voice said.
’I know you have more experience than I do. It’s just that this time…‘
’Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.‘
’Once you’ve finished, you’ll come back to Nanjing immediately, right?”
There was a moment of silence before the voice continued: ’…if that’s possible.’
His tone was full of uncertainty. Why was he uncertain? Yi Xuan was about to step into the room when Hao Tian saw her outside the door and couldn’t help but say, ‘Yi Xuan…’
Jing Ting finally looked up and looked over here, staring at her in a daze.
That gaze had not been made contact for a long time.
‘I’ll wait for you outside,’ Hao Tian said.
“Hm,’

After Hao Tian had walked away, Yixuan entered the study. Watching him neatly pack his clothes, she felt a pang of pain in her heart. Apart from the last time he visited his family, this was the first time she had seen him go on a long journey, and it was to a place that was a hundred times more dangerous than here. A certain dark feeling suddenly surged in her heart. She walked lightly over to him and picked up the last piece of spring clothing on the bed for him, folding it carefully and slowly into a ball.
“Did you hear what we were saying just now?’
‘Yes,’ she nodded.
He straightened up from the bed and looked at her deeply, as if hesitating, before saying after a long while, “Do you know that Tsao Ru-lin has collapsed? If you have any relatives following him, pay more attention to the news in the newspapers recently.”
She was speechless and could only silently hand him the shirt.
He was still misunderstanding her, and she would never find the opportunity to explain.
“I’ll visit your mother and father sometime. If there’s anything you want to send them or if there’s anything you want to tell them, it’s not too late.’
‘You…tell them to take care.‘
’This movement mainly affects Beijing and Shanghai. I think Nanjing should be safe for the time being. Usually stay at home, and don’t go out unless necessary. If something happens, go find someone to talk to, don’t try to handle it on your own. If you need Hao Tian’s help, you can find him at this address.‘ He handed her a small piece of paper.
’Don’t say…it’s like you’re never coming back.’
Jingting paused, gazing at her one last time. He no longer looked as indifferent as he had the day before. There seemed to be a thousand things he wanted to say in his eyes, but in the end he said nothing.
‘Take care of yourself,’ he said at last, withdrawing his gaze and walking past her with his luggage.
‘You will come back, won’t you?’ Yi Xuan turned to him and asked earnestly.
His footsteps paused slightly, but he did not give her any answer.
No answer.
She stood still, leaning against the doorframe, feeling as if all the strength in her body had been sucked out.
Has he gone? Has he really gone? Is this the end of everything that happened between them, and will they never see each other again?

White Horse let out a long neigh, and Haotian took over Jingting’s luggage, and the two of them jumped onto the carriage together.
“Not many people have been going to Beiping recently, so the train shouldn’t be too crowded,’
Jing Ting nodded: ‘Of course, no one wants to risk their lives.’
‘Have you told your parents?’
‘Well, they just think I’m going to Hangzhou on business.’
‘Be careful.’
‘When did you become so indecisive?’ Jing Ting couldn’t help but smile softly.
‘I just feel that this time is different from before,’ Hao Tian said slowly with a serious expression.
“Are you worried that this mission is too dangerous?’
‘No, I mean you. In the past, you never had this kind of expression when you did something. You were carefree and indifferent, not worried about any danger at all, as if death wasn’t a scary thing. But now, I know you have concerns.‘
’Really?’ He was slightly startled.
Yes, he used to fear nothing and could give up anything. His heart could roam freely. But if she came into his life, his heart would become unfree.
However, she never needed his care, never. On the contrary, he was only a burden to her.
And now, is this really the end?
A parting is like a final farewell.

Today is the third day since Jingting left.
The entire Mu family is now at rest. Several foreign trading companies and shipyards have stopped working, and the silk and tea shops only open occasionally to make a little money. Yi Xuan no longer needs to go to the accounting office every day, so she spends the whole day in the West Courtyard, occasionally going to the North Courtyard to see Jingzhi and Zhenyun, or fetching Yutong to teach her to read and write.
Life passes by uneventfully. But Xin is always restless.
Every night, she could not sleep peacefully. She always dreamed of him being injured in the middle of the night, ragged and covered in whip marks, just as he was that day.

That night, she suddenly heard someone knocking on the door, very softly but continuously.
Someone was knocking on the door of the study. Yixuan was finally able to identify the direction of the sound.
Who could it be? Who would be looking for Jingting at this hour?
Hao Tian? He knows perfectly well that Jingting is not here.
She was a little scared, and wanted to answer the door, but was worried that the person might not be a friend. But if she didn’t answer, what if the person was a friend of Jingting’s, or had news about Jingting, and she would have to miss out?
After a little hesitation, she paced to the door, and peeped through a small crack to look into the study.
The burly figure looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite make it out. The fear in her heart finally subsided a little, so she straightened her clothes and opened the door.
‘Who is it?’ she called out tentatively.
The man seemed more on guard than she was, and didn’t reply. They looked at each other for a long time, finally making out each other’s features in the moonlight.
‘Brother Huang?’
“Oh, you’re… Jingting’s wife?’
She ran over to him, anxiously asking, ‘Where is Jingting? Did he come back with you?’
‘Jingting? I came here to find him.’
She looked at him in surprise, ‘Have you been safe? Jingting was worried about your safety and went to Beiping three days ago.’
Huang Li thought for a while: ‘Are they worried that I’m one of the 32 students arrested? No, although we were involved in the action, we were not arrested. All the students arrested in Beiping have been released today, which shows that the student movement has had some effect. I am considering joining forces with Jingting and the others, who have gathered some influence here, and joining the student movement in Shanghai.’
“What about him? Can he know that you’ve already come to Nanjing?’
‘Don’t worry, we still have comrades over there. If Jingting learns that I’ve returned, he’ll turn back immediately.‘
As they talked, there was a commotion in the front courtyard.
’Oh no, I may have caused trouble,’ Huang Li frowned. “I came through the back alley and ran into a group of patrol soldiers. I thought I’d lost them!”
Upon hearing this, Yixuan glanced at the wall. ’You climbed over the wall into Xiyuan?’
Seeing him nod, Yi Xuan thought for a moment and said, ‘Then they will definitely search the West Courtyard. You come with me.’

She decisively led Huang Li through several paths into the East Courtyard, and when they reached the wall of the East Courtyard, she said to him, ‘You go out from here. This is the closest to Yao Family Lane, and the Weishuzhai is at No. 19 Yao Family Lane. Once you get there, you will be able to find Mr. Haotian.’
Huang Li hesitated a little: ‘If you go back on your own, you will definitely encounter the patrolmen. How will you explain to them?’
‘I will naturally find a way to deal with them, so you should go quickly.’
Huang Li looked at the tall parapet and was a little unsure. Just now, he had also used a pile of bricks and tiles outside the wall to help him climb in. While he was hesitating, he saw Yi Xuan half-squatting against the wall, patting her right shoulder at him and saying, ‘Hurry!’
Huang Li could not hide his surprise, but the determined look in the eyes of this weak woman in front of him made him unable to think much. He stepped onto her shoulders and then successfully climbed over the wall.
Yi Xuan let out a long sigh of relief, straightened up, and turned around, but she couldn’t help but gasp.
At some point, there was an additional figure in the centre of the Dongyuan courtyard, standing alone in the moonlight:
Mu Jingwei.

(End of Chapter) Chapter 10 (Part 2)
With the cold moonlight, Yixuan carefully examined the tall figure not far away, which strongly resembled Jingting. His features were indistinct, but the air of vicissitude and desolation emanating from him was very strong.
‘You really have a way to deal with those patrolmen?’ His voice was low and steady, and there was no discernible rise or fall in it. Yixuan was a little taken aback. They rarely talked normally, but in this special environment alone, it was as if they had known each other for a long time.
‘Let’s go,’ he said, looking at her with a gentle but firm gaze.
Without waiting for her reply, he walked at a moderate pace towards the path that led from the east garden to the west garden. Yi Xuan hesitated for a moment, but eventually followed in his footsteps. His pace was steady, unlike Jingting’s swift and decisive walk. Yi Xuan kept her head down the whole way, only seeing the hem of his clothes brushing against the green grass on both sides of the path, as if it had picked up some dew. Along the way, she could smell the faint fragrance of flowers. Yi Xuan suddenly remembered the blooming flowers in the East Courtyard. He turned out to be a flower lover, she thought to herself.

The West Courtyard was brightly lit and noisy. Sure enough, there were six or seven patrolmen surrounding the courtyard, Mu Jihong wearing a coat and accompanying them, and a few servants on night watch, such as A Qiu, waiting with lanterns in the distance. Bei was surrounded in the middle and questioned, but she stammered and couldn’t say anything.
‘Miss…’ As soon as she saw Yixuan, Bei shouted in surprise, ‘You’re back.’
The others turned around and saw Yi Xuan and Jingwei standing side by side in the corner. The courtyard suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked at them curiously. Yi Xuan was only wearing a thin moonlight-coloured shirt in a hurry, and Jingwei was only wearing a light grey silk shirt.
Why were they together? What were they doing together?
The air seemed to have come to a standstill, and everyone had their own suspicions. An ambiguous atmosphere was spreading.
Jingwei ignored the stares of the crowd and said to Mu Jihong, ‘Just now, Yutong felt unwell, so please ask your brother and sister-in-law to go over and help take care of her. What happened here?’
Mu Jihong did not look at him, nor did he pursue anything else, but only said to the patrol captain with a serious expression, ‘You can rest assured, how could the noble Mu family harbour rebels?’
The patrol captain walked up to Yixuan, his gaze like a sharp arrow, and looked straight at her and said, ‘Just now, did you see anyone suspicious?’
Yixuan looked him straight in the eye, thought carefully, and then shook her head: ‘No. I’ve been taking care of Yutong in the East Courtyard, and I didn’t notice any noise.’
The patrol captain walked back and forth in the West Courtyard without saying a word. He came to the door of Yixuan’s bedroom, stopped, peered inside for a while, and finally bowed to Mu Jihong: ‘I’m sorry, Lord Mu, for the trouble.’
‘Captain Zhao, you don’t need to be polite…’ Mu Jihong said indifferently, and saw the group out of the West Courtyard.
A-qiu spat at the back of the patrolman, ‘A dog relies on the strength of its master.’ Then the servants gradually dispersed, and the Xiyuan finally returned to its original peace, while the sky gradually turned light purple.
‘Miss, hurry back to your room and rest,’ Belle ran over to help, ‘Is the young miss seriously ill? It was so dangerous going to the Dongyuan so late in the dark, why didn’t you call me?’
Seeing Belle’s innocent expression, Yixuan could only feel amused. However, as she felt relieved, she suddenly remembered to thank Jingwei for his help just now, but she found that he had already left with the crowd without noticing.
What a strange person.
Yixuan walked back to her room and only then did she feel an unbearable pain in her right shoulder.

Since Huang Li arrived in Nanjing, Yi Xuan had often gone to Weishuzhai to sit and hope to hear news of Jing Ting from there. The words he had told her not to go out on the street when he left had been ignored.
On 8 May, the Beijing government once again issued an order to suppress the student movement, and Beijing had become a place of unrest.
On 9 May, Nanjing held a conference to commemorate the national humiliation, and Huang Li, Fang Haotian and Jin Fei all participated.
On the 11th of May, the Shanghai Student Federation was established, with Huang Li and Qi Fenghe as co-organisers.
On the 19th of May, students from 18 schools in Beijing went on strike again.
On the 23rd of May, the Beijing Police Department closed down a number of newspapers and magazines.
On the 25th of May, the 20th day after Jingting left, there was still no news.
Mu Jihong and Mu Chenxi were both getting anxious. Thinking about the turbulent situation in the country, they began to suspect that his trip to Hangzhou was just an excuse. However, Yi Xuan often explained to them, which somewhat relieved their minds.
On May 30, they received a telegram from Hangzhou, the content of which was very simple: ‘My son is well, don’t worry.’
However, Wushuzhai did not receive a word from him.
This was obviously not a telegram from Jingting. There was no reason for him to return from Beijing to Hangzhou and not even knock on the door, but if the person who sent the telegram from Hangzhou was entrusted by him, they should have been in contact with Haotian and the others. However, she did not find anyone like that.
In mid-June, they received a letter from Hangzhou saying that he would need more time to sort out the affairs of the newspaper office. The letter was in his own handwriting, and the content was unprecedentedly detailed. It expressed concern about all matters at home, described in detail his life in Hangzhou, and was vague about the date of his return, but the tone was reassuring.
Mu Jihong and his wife were finally relieved when they read the letter.
However, Yixuan felt that, given his usual character, he would never have written such a warm letter. This abnormality was even more disturbing.
Where was he? What was he doing?
The Comforting Books Studio could not possibly be unaware of his current situation.
It could only be that… they were hiding it from her.
She was determined to find out the truth from Haotian.

“The situation in Beijing is tense, and communication is inconvenient. We can only learn about his situation from elsewhere.’
‘Our activities have always been kept secret, and it is not convenient to say too much about specific plans.‘
’A letter from Hangzhou? We are not very sure about that.‘
…
In short, there was no useful information at all. Yixuan didn’t believe Hao Tian, but she didn’t want to force him. Hao Tian didn’t want to tell her, perhaps because he didn’t want to tell her.
’Yixuan, you don’t need to worry too much. It’s better not to hear anything, at least he is still safe,’ Hao Tian finally said.
She couldn’t press him for more.

‘This is really hard on her,’ Huang Li sighed, staring at Yi Xuan’s receding back.

‘You seem to have a good impression of her,’ Hao Tian said with interest, adjusting his glasses.
‘Yes, she is one of the few women I admire.‘ Huang Li did not hide his thoughts at all. “When I heard the news that Jingting got married, I had a prejudice against her. I didn’t have a deep impression when I first met her in Beiping, but the past few days together have completely changed my opinion of her.”
’She really is different from ordinary women.’
‘So I’ve been thinking, we’ve been keeping it from her, maybe we shouldn’t.‘
’But it was mainly Jingting’s idea.‘
’I don’t know what Jingting thinks about family matters, but I’m not surprised that he stayed in Beijing. With his personality, once he gets involved in work in Beijing, he definitely won’t be able to stop. You can’t imagine the revolutionary atmosphere if you haven’t experienced it. It’s a completely different world from Nanjing.’
‘Jingting went north to ensure your safety and that of several other comrades. He also wanted to liaise with underground newspapers there with you to create our own propaganda base. The situation was urgent in May, and all we could think about was your safety. We never expected you to come to Nanjing. He is not familiar with affairs there, and I think he should return to Nanjing first and make plans.‘
’He is the kind of person who wants to go in when things get difficult.’
‘Now your jobs have switched with his, I don’t know when he will be able to come back.‘
’I want to go to Beiping to take over from him as soon as the work in the south is finished. In fact, Jingting can tell Yixuan some things about his work as appropriate. I trust her.’
‘Not having any news makes people worry, but the more you know, the more you may worry,’ Hao Tian replied, and this was exactly what Jingting had said in his last letter.

On a summer afternoon, Yixuan was relaxing in the Smoky Rain Pavilion, a small stone pavilion by the lotus pond, just off the path between the Eastern and Western Gardens. It offers a great view in all directions, and it also shields you from the sun, making it a great place to escape the summer heat. Yixuan leaned against the red balustrade by the side of the pavilion, holding a copy of Nalan’s poems in one hand and waving a fan with the other. Belle was carefully brewing Erquan Yinhua tea on the stone table in the centre of the pavilion, while osmanthus cakes looked deliciously sweet on the side.
‘Oh no, oh no…‘ Cui Ping, the new maid in the Dongyuan, ran out of the courtyard in a panic, shattering the rare tranquility.
’What’s wrong?’ Yixuan put her book aside and stood up.
Bai quickly ran down the stone steps and stopped Cui Ping, saying, ’Cui Ping, what’s wrong? Why are you so panicked?’
Cui Ping covered her chest and said breathlessly, ‘Young Miss, Young Miss, I don’t know what’s wrong with her. Suddenly she’s very short of breath and can’t catch her breath…’
Yixuan paused for a moment and commanded, ‘Cui Ping, you go quickly and inform the senior wife, asking her to quickly send for the doctor to come to Dongyuan. Belle, you go to the second concubine’s room and borrow some opium, then go to Dongyuan to find me.’
Yixuan hurriedly ran into the East Garden and saw Yutong’s small body curled up by the flower bed in the middle of the courtyard. Her face was pale, her hands were clutching at her collar, and she was panting continuously. The various irises in the flower bed were in full bloom.
‘Yutong, Yutong…’ As she called out, Yutong opened her eyes slightly. Yixuan immediately carried her to the back room, unbuttoned her collar, opened all the windows to let in some air, and then gently pressed and rubbed her tiantu and danzhong pressure points.
‘Miss, here’s the tobacco!’ Belle hurriedly ran into the back room, and Yixuan took the big tobacco and gave Yutong a couple of puffs. After a while, Yutong finally returned to normal breathing, and her face gradually turned rosy. At this moment, Mu Chen’s wife arrived at Dongyuan with the doctor to give Yutong a thorough diagnosis and treatment.

After the doctor left, Belle was still shaken and asked Yi Xuan, gripping her arm, ‘That was terrifying. What kind of illness is it, young miss?’
‘The ancient books call it asthma, caused by external evil influences and a blockage of the lung chi. If a child experiences shortness of breath and suffocation and is not treated in time, it can be fatal.’ At this, Yi Xuan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly and a worried look appeared on her face.
‘Luckily, you’re here!‘ Belle smiled proudly.
Yixuan asked, “Have you informed the young master?”
’Cuiping is following the doctor to get medicine, and I think Aqiu has gone. But even if he goes, it’s useless. Now that the condition has stabilised, the young master is afraid that he won’t come back.’
Seeing that Yixuan was silent, Bei’er continued, ‘The eldest madam only glanced at him and left, very cold. The young miss is really pitiful…’
Bei’er suddenly stopped, and Yixuan looked up and saw Jingwei standing by the door. Looking at the person’s ashen face, Bei’er stuck out her tongue and walked away with her head bowed.

‘Did you know that Yutong has asthma?’ Yixuan asked Jingwei as she got up from the bed.
Jingwei did not answer, but walked closer to the bed and looked at her sleeping daughter. Yutong’s complexion had improved, but her forehead was damp, and a few strands of hair stuck to her small face, also soaked with sweat.
“Asthma is a chronic illness, and there is no reason for you not to know. Now that spring and summer are transitioning, many people are suffering from pollen-induced illness. If you had known that Yutong had this stubborn illness, you should have avoided the flowers…’
‘Thank you,‘ he interrupted coldly as he turned around.
Yi Xuan paused for a moment, and then added after a short pause, “You have irises all over the garden – you should get rid of them.”
’You need not meddle in other people’s business,’ he suddenly said in a raised voice.
Yi Xuan was shocked by his words, and noticed that the expressionless face of the prop was now filled with anger.
He was angry.
A person who is thought to have no temper flared up just because of this sentence. There must be a reason for this, a reason she doesn’t know.
Yixuan suddenly felt quite embarrassed. She had never wanted to pry into other people’s privacy, but she was annoyed that Jingwei was so rude and unwilling to consider Yutong’s feelings. Could it be as others said, that he hated his wife and therefore hated her daughter? Or did he believe the nonsense about Yutong’s father being a kefu like everyone else?
She couldn’t think of anything to say in response, until she blushed, then left Dongyuan somewhat angrily. Chapter 11 (Part 1)
In the afternoon, as usual, Yixuan was reading and cooling off in the Rain and Mist Pavilion. She was wearing a plain white cheongsam with ruffled sleeves and her hair was tied into a neat bun at the back of her head, looking both lively and cool. The summer sun shone through the lush branches and scattered golden rays on the ground. Outside the pavilion, the lotus pond was another beautiful scene from the Jiangnan region, and the wind from the water carried a hint of coolness.
As she turned the pages of her book, she suddenly felt someone walking past in the distance. She looked up and saw that it was Jingwei coming out of Dongyuan. At this moment, he should be going to the foreign trading company to take care of business, Yixuan thought. For some reason, the argument they had last time came back to her, so she immediately returned her gaze to the book.
Jingwei stopped there, opened his mouth, and tried to say something, but in the end, he just walked past with his head bowed.
Turning her head towards the lotus pond, Suwen’s face seemed to appear before her eyes again. Yi Xuan felt a little disappointed, put the book aside, and walked over to the stone table and sat down. ‘Belle, do you remember the story of the eldest wife? Tell me about it.’
‘Huh?’ Belle was eating osmanthus cake and wiped her mouth at the moment, ‘How would I know about this past event? I just heard that the eldest master was not good to the eldest wife.’
‘Why was he unkind to her?‘ Yi Xuan pursued. Jingwei could not have been as unhappy as Jingting with her arranged marriage, could she?
’I don’t know. I heard Suwen and the others say that the eldest lady was very nice. She came from a noble family and was one of the most beautiful women in Yangzhou. And she wasn’t just good-looking, she was always so gentle with people. She never got angry with the servants when they made mistakes, as if she didn’t know what anger was.’
In that case, she is somewhat similar to Jingwei. Yixuan turned her jade bracelet around in her hands, pondering.
‘The eldest young lady is also extremely filial to the master and mistress. She always does a good job of whatever they ask her to do, and is never sloppy, so the master and mistress are very satisfied with her.’
‘In that case, she is much more competent than I.’
‘Why do you think that, young lady?’ Belle was impatient. ‘You and the eldest young lady are different.’
Yixuan smiled and said, ‘What else have you heard? Tell me everything.’
‘Young lady, why are you asking about this today? You never like to hear it,’ Bei’er looked puzzled and tried to think hard. ‘Everyone says that the eldest master is also a good-natured person who has never had a temper, but he is especially bad to the eldest young lady, who is such a gentle person, and is even worse than to a servant. The young mistress is obedient to him, but he is always fussy. Whenever he encounters the slightest mistake, he flies into a rage with the young mistress. They all say that the young mistress dares not speak much in front of him, nor dares she walk too far, she is so miserable.‘
’You also said last time that…he has a woman on the side?’
Bai nodded affirmatively: ‘Yes, the eldest young master found a courtesan not long after his marriage. After the eldest young lady passed away, he stayed at the woman’s place every day, never returning home, and he wouldn’t see anyone who called on him. The eldest young lady went to him with the young miss, but he wouldn’t even look at her, saying that he didn’t want the child. Tell me, what kind of father is there in the world like that? …Miss, don’t you agree? Don’t you? …Miss?’
‘Huh?’ Yi Xuan suddenly woke up, ‘Oh.’
Is he really like that? I always feel that something is wrong, but I can’t see what it is. Looking back at the lotus pond, a strong wind blew across the surface of the water, causing the green leaves to roll in waves. However, the lotus flowers stood tall and proud, still blooming alone.
What kind of woman is she really?

In the afternoon, Yixuan went to Weishu Zhai as usual to sit for a while. She no longer forced Haotian, nor did she expect to find out anything, but she was also very satisfied just to hear Haotian repeat that Jingting might be safe.
There weren’t many people on the street, but there was a crowd of onlookers in front of them, and it seemed like there was an argument. Yixuan curiously walked up and saw two military police pushing and shoving a burly man.
“Who are you?’
‘Show me your ID!‘
’Where are your accomplices?‘
…
She recognised the man in the middle and pushed her way through the crowd to the centre.
’Husband, I’ve been waiting for you for ages. What are you doing here?”
Hearing Yi Xuan’s voice, the three people in the argument all looked surprised, especially Huang Li, who seemed even more surprised than the two military police.
‘Brothers…what’s this?‘ Yi Xuan walked up to the military police and pretended to be puzzled.
’What did you call him? Is he your husband?‘ He looked at her suspiciously.
’Yes,‘ Yi Xuan naturally put her arm around Huang Li’s and pretended to pout, “I told you to buy the tickets, why are you here?”
’Buy tickets? What tickets?’ The military police tapped his baton and asked incredulously.
‘My husband and I were going to watch a movie. He bought the tickets and I bought some pastries to go in together. Look, the pastries are still warm. But he hasn’t shown up after waiting for a long time.‘
’If you were going to the movies, why were you sneaking around? You saw us and ran away. Why did you run?”
Huang Li obviously understood what had happened, and immediately put on a smile: ’My dear brothers, I’m just a coward, aren’t I? I’ve always been afraid of people in police uniforms.’
‘Yes, the current situation is chaotic, and everyone is living in fear, afraid of being framed for something they didn’t do one day.‘
The military police were a little more convinced: “If you’re just here to watch the show, then hurry up and go. Go on, go.”
’Thank you very much.”
Seeing the military police walk away and the crowd disperse, Yixuan let go of her hand.
Huang Li looked at her, not knowing what to say to express his gratitude. He was already deeply impressed by this woman, and in the end, he just said, ‘You saved me again, and I will owe you this favour.’
Yixuan nodded and smiled faintly, her light green jade earrings swaying charmingly. ‘Then you can owe it for now, but one day, you will have to repay it,’
Huang Li felt that her smile was so charming that it made him lose his focus for a moment: how did she want him to repay this favour?

In the evening, bright lights were lit in the courtyard, and under the lights, the two heads gathered together, filling the room with warmth.
‘Auntie Er, I want to be like you in the future.’
“Like me how?’
‘I don’t know anymore.‘ Yutong lowered her head and practised her calligraphy on the paper, “I just know that you are good.”
Yixuan smiled and lovingly stroked Yutong’s head: “Yutong, have you been coughing lately?”
’No, no. I listened to you and I don’t usually stay in the garden anymore.‘
’That’s good.’
‘But why can’t I go near the flowers? Daddy planted such beautiful irises.‘
Yixuan didn’t know how to explain, so she said, “Actually, those flowers should have been removed. You are prettier and more important than the flowers.”
’That’s not possible. Daddy would definitely not be willing to do that.‘
’Why?‘
’Because mommy likes irises.”
Yixuan took the pen from Yutong’s hand and held up her little face: ’Who told you that?’
‘Grandma said so.”
Yixuan was stunned, feeling that she had suddenly understood a lot.
She could understand a man’s heart, and she also knew how much Jingwei missed his deceased wife, but why did everyone say that he didn’t love her? How could he not love her!
Everything was just an appearance.
No one saw the truth beneath the appearance.
Even he, Mu Jingwei, included.

The moon was bright and the stars sparse. The entire Mu residence was quiet. The faint, sweet fragrance of irises drifted through the night air. Yi Xuan escorted Yutong to the gate of the Eastern Courtyard and leaned over to ask her, ‘Go on in. Remember what your auntie taught you?’
‘Yutong remembers. Say goodnight to Daddy before going to bed.’
‘Mm,’ she gave her a look of appreciation, ‘Go.’
She watched Yutong run into the courtyard, and she remained at the entrance to the east courtyard for a while.
‘Aren’t you going to come in and have a seat?’ The deep voice came from behind her again.
‘You always like to appear behind people,’ Yi Xuan slowly turned around.
‘Or you could say that you are always ahead of me,’ Jingwei walked up to her, her expression much more relaxed than usual.
Yi Xuan just smiled.
“Women like you who don’t meddle are rare,’
‘How do you know I’m not nosy?‘
’If it were anyone else, they would have already come to pry from me.‘
’You’re wrong. I’m waiting for you to tell me.‘
’You seem to have a better tongue than Jingting,‘ Jingwei laughed.
’You also seem to be less taciturn than you appear,‘ she laughed back.
’In fact, you should have guessed my story a long time ago.’
Yixuan was silent for a while, not sure whether to continue. She was worried that she was meddling, but she couldn’t help but want to confirm her thoughts.
‘What? No thoughts?’
‘I think you must love her very much, to an extent that you yourself can’t imagine. This garden full of irises is your thoughts for her. Even if Yutong has asthma, you don’t care, you only care about these flowers, because these flowers are like her incarnation.’
“But at the same time, I also hate her very much.’
‘Why?‘
’She’s too much like me.”
There was a sudden silence, in which one could hear the wind whimpering.

Jingwei walked out of Dongyuan and headed for the Misty Rain Pavilion, where Yixuan often went. Yixuan followed him without thinking. They sat down on the stone bench in the pavilion. Yixuan noticed that in the moonlight, he didn’t look as depressed and awkward as usual.
‘It’s been eight years since she left me.‘ Jingwei’s gaze drifted into the distance, a little lost, as if he were trying to peer through the light and shadows before him and see into the past. “From the first moment I saw her, I fell in love with her. I knew she was the one, the person I wanted to spend my life with. But the closer I got to her, the more I realised that we were alike. So I hated her, because I hated myself.”
’Why?’
‘I’m weak. I don’t know how to refuse, I don’t know how to fight back. I do whatever others tell me to do, like a puppet. Biyan is just like a carbon copy of me. The gentleness and kindness that others praise is actually just a weakness and incompetence at the core. I gradually don’t want to see her because seeing her is like seeing myself. Every move she makes reminds me that I am just like that, weak and incompetent.’
‘A person who can see themselves so clearly is not really weak.”
His mouth curled up slightly, not saying anything. ’So I got into this predicament. I obviously love her, but I’m afraid to see her; I avoid her, but I miss her all the same. I have a mistress, as you’ve probably heard, but when I’m with her, I just miss her even more. I’m going crazy from this life.’
‘She loves you very much too.‘
’Yes, she is always patient with my mood swings. Whenever I come home drunk, she always takes good care of me. She knows I don’t want to see her, so she leaves every time I wake up. She keeps the lights on for me even when I don’t come home. When I do come home, she always wants to serve me without asking any questions. This makes me feel even more guilty and at a loss. I know I owe her a lot.’
‘What happened next?‘
’Then she got pregnant with Yutong, and our relationship improved. I treated her better than before, and I stayed at home more often. That period was the happiest time of our lives. She loved irises, so I asked people to collect all kinds of irises, no matter how rare or expensive. I even had a gardener build a flower bed, where she said she would play with our child one day. Oh, how ridiculous, I thought everything was within reach. But then Yutong was born, and she died of a haemorrhage.‘
’So you can’t face Yutong and think she is the one responsible for her mother’s death.’
‘Yes. I would rather not have this child than lose Bi Yao. I indulged myself by staying at the restaurant, partying every night, trying to forget everything about her.‘
’Even when my mother took Yutong to invite you home, you refused.‘
’I have already lost her. Without her, I can no longer call this place home.‘
’This is not fair to Yutong.‘
’Have I ever been fair to her?’
‘But nostalgia is useless. What you should really do is pass on this love to Yutong.‘
’I’m trying.‘ He looked determined, which was rare.
Yixuan nodded in trust: “That’s how it is with everything. You only realise you’ve lost it when you want to cherish it.”
’It’s best if you can understand this. The reason I’m telling you all this is that I hope you and Jingting won’t follow in my footsteps. You can trust me. Jingting loves you just as much as I loved Bi Yao.’
Yixuan trembled all over, and her heart fluttered.
‘It’s true. Jingting is my younger brother. I watched him grow up. He’s brave, capable, and confident, but he rarely pays attention to his own heart, and he doesn’t know how to love. The only thing he cares about is the rise and fall of the country,’ Jingwei continued, ‘but ever since you came along, he’s been different. You’re already a part of him. If you don’t want your relationship to end, you should try to change.’
‘I will,‘ she firmly replied to him, and also strengthened her own resolve. Suddenly remembering something, she pursued, “Do you perhaps know Jingting’s recent situation?”
’If he says he’s busy working in Hangzhou, even Aqiu won’t be able to hide it. I have many friends in Beijing, from all walks of life. Jingting and the others are now working on revolutionary work in Beijing. You must know that it is much more difficult to run an underground newspaper there than in Nanjing.”
Chapter 11 (Part 2)
October, 1919, Beijing.
‘Don’t run! Stop!’
There was no moonlight that night. Jingting ran frantically down the silent street, his shadow stretched long by the yellow street lamps.
This was the second time in four months that he had encountered such a situation.
The last time, they had rescued some arrested students, but it had been a failure, and they themselves had almost been arrested by the warlord.
This time, word of their secret meeting had leaked out, and in order to get the other comrades out of trouble, he took the lead in running out, intending to distract a group of military police.
Finally rushing out of Ping’an Street, he alertly turned into a narrow alley.
‘Stop, stop!’
‘Stop or I’ll shoot!’
He jumped nimbly onto an unraised wall, and as the gunfire sounded, he safely fell to the other side of the wall.
At the moment he fell to the ground, he felt a sharp stabbing pain in his left chest. He subconsciously touched it, but pulled out a jade butterfly of emerald green, which emitted a faint glow in the moonlight. It was only then that he realised with surprise that since the night of his marriage, this butterfly had never left his side.

Jingting returned safely to 67 Dakuangmu Hutong. Tired, he lay down on the large wooden bed, staring at the ceiling covered in newspaper, his mind wandering.
The jade butterfly was still in his hand, so warm, because it had always stayed closest to his heart, feeling the heat of his heart.
After a long silence, a long sigh sounded in the room.
Then, with a slight annoyance, he went to extinguish the oil lamp. Then he returned to the bed, lit a foreign cigarette, and sat quietly with his back against the wall.
Occasionally, the cold moonlight was reflected in the darkness of the room. His fingers were long and elegant, and the way he held the cigarette was decadent and heartbreaking.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tasted loneliness and isolation alone, in the most dangerous places.
But this time was different.
His heart was filled with the pain of coming and going, of being full and then empty, of gaining and then losing.
How could this huge void in his heart be filled? How could he forget the beautiful face that kept appearing?
Could he only numb his nerves night after night in the midst of the smoke, or could he put himself in life-and-death situations again and again so that he would have no time to think about other problems?

Another night, the Fengqi Luo Cabaret started to get noisy.
Every evening, the place starts to get busy. Champagne, beautiful women, and all the filth and obscenity are hidden beneath the prosperous appearance.
The strange and colourful lights flicker rhythmically, and where they shine through, there is a little mottled light in the darkness.
He wore a grey suit today and had combed his hair deliberately, looking dignified and imposing. As soon as he entered the dance hall, the heavily made-up old crow immediately smiled and came over: ‘Mr. He, you’re here again today?’
He is obviously a regular here.
‘You’re here to see Yanran, aren’t you?’ The old woman looked at him as he looked around, and she understood what he was thinking. “Just wait a moment, I’ll go get her for you.”
He nodded, casually squeezed the woman’s fat waist, and threw her a faint smile. Looking at the woman’s smiling and slightly angry expression, it was not difficult to imagine his unique charm.
Only after the woman had twisted her waist and walked away did a sneer appear at the corner of his mouth. For just a moment, he resumed his cynical image, sat down in a familiar corner, and looked at the ridiculous faces of the people around him.

A pair of hands hooked around his neck. Smelling the familiar scent, he knew she was here.
He reached out and grasped the pale wrist, and with a gentle pull, she fell into his arms.

‘You’re here?’ she smiled sweetly.
Today she had worn light makeup, with lightly drawn eyebrows and a touch of blush, but her lips had been deliberately and carefully outlined, giving them an alluring curve.
He adjusted his position so that she could sit slanted on his lap, while her slender hands remained wrapped around his neck.
‘Did you miss me?’ she asked, reaching up to tease his hair while looking him in the eye.
‘Of course,’ he said with a slight smile, ‘that’s why I’m here.’
‘Don’t lie, I don’t believe you.‘ She smiled seductively and casually tugged at his brown tie.
’What would it take to make you believe me?‘ He flashed a rare smile and took her bare shoulder in one hand.
’What do you think?’ Her long eyelashes lifted, and she deliberately looked away, her curly hair just in front of his eyes.
He grabbed a strand of hair, put it to his nose, and then kissed it, ’Why don’t you teach me?’
Her hand wandered up from the tip of his tie, touched his Adam’s apple, then stroked his chin. Her face suddenly froze in a sly smile: ‘Your beard has grown a lot again.’
His smile also stiffened a little. Staring into her translucent eyes, his thoughts momentarily came to a halt, but only for a moment.
‘Do you believe me now?’ His mouth curled up slightly, then he kissed her long neck sharply.
That was her erogenous zone, and due to the sudden tickling, she subconsciously wanted to hide, twisting her body in his arms. However, he became even more unrestrained, and the sound of the two of them fighting could not help but get louder.
The people next to them couldn’t help but look at them, and many of them wore ambiguous smiles.
She tried to push his mouth away, and he reached out and held down that delicate hand, then brought it under his control in the palm of his hand.
A small piece of paper was passed into his hands.
They smiled at each other.
She was still nestled in his arms, her head buried in his chest, and whispered, ‘The other day, you were being chased again, weren’t you?’
‘Mm,’ he let her nestle in his arms, and gently ruffled her hair with one hand.
‘You should cut your beard,’ she finally looked up and said seriously.
‘Don’t you like it?’ he still didn’t take it seriously.
‘Yes, I like you no matter what you look like.‘ Her tone was still flirty, but her words were hard to distinguish between truth and fiction.
He couldn’t tell either.
’I’m leaving,‘ he said, finally straightening her hair.
’Mm,’ she said, her expression a little bleak. It seemed like she had to make a big decision before she left his embrace.

He stood up and carefully arranged his clothes. The old crow saw that he was leaving and immediately came swaying over with a drink in his hand: ‘Oh, Mr He, are you leaving so soon?’
‘Why, don’t you want to stay?’
‘What kind of joke is this?’ she laughed mockingly, ‘It’s our Yanran who doesn’t want you to go. Every time you say you’re coming, she turns down other customers and waits for you attentively. If you don’t come, she’ll be waiting every day.’
Yan Ran, as if coy, tugged at the hem of her dress, but she was only getting more excited: ‘Mr He, you must come often. You are the most knowledgeable and considerate of all our full house guests.’
He took a foreign bill from his breast pocket and inserted it into her bosom: ‘Keep the change.’
A big smile immediately blossomed on her rosy face: ‘Oh…ah, you’re leaving…Yan Ran, see Mr He out.’
Yan Ran picked up the shawl on the seat, naturally took his hand, held it close to her body, and walked outside together.
Suddenly, she noticed that his body was a little stiff, and his footsteps suddenly stopped.
Following his burning gaze, she saw a woman standing at the entrance to the ballroom. The woman carefully leaned against the side of the door, and as people came and went, they opened the black door curtain. She stood there quietly, but her gaze always fell on him.

An expression never seen before appeared on his face. He was always known for his cold rationality, but at the moment, all his emotions were written on his face:
excitement, longing, love, doubt…
All kinds of things, intertwined into a fiery gaze.
He pushed away Yanran’s hand and walked straight towards the door. Everything around him seemed to be non-existent, and the only thing in his world was her, waiting for him ahead.
The two of them looked at each other for a long time, as if they wanted to communicate all their feelings with their eyes.
It was like a dream.
Jing Ting really suspected that this was a dream, just like every night over the past few months, her every expression was so real, but it disappeared every morning.
‘You’re here?’ He walked up to her, unable to predict that he could still have such a calm voice.
‘Mm,’ Yi Xuan lowered her head, hiding her expression.
They couldn’t find anything to say.
Suddenly someone rashly lifted the black curtain at the door, and Yi Xuan lost her balance and stumbled forward.
He immediately caught her, holding her weak arms firmly with both hands. After she had regained her balance, he let go immediately, only her breathing became a little laboured.
‘Let’s go,’ he said after a long while.
‘Okay,’ she obediently followed behind him.
Just as every day in the past, obediently.

They walked out of the dark and noisy dance hall and slowly walked along the streets of Beijing, letting the yellowish street lamps lengthen their shadows. Who could have guessed that this scene had also appeared when they returned to Beijing to visit relatives, but it had been two years since then.
Jingting didn’t ask her why she had come, and Yixuan didn’t explain either. No one dared to break the silence first.
The rickshaw’s bell rang, and he subconsciously pulled her closer to him. When the rickshaw had gone, he let her go to the inside of the street.
‘Your parents are very worried about you. They take out the letter from Hangzhou and read it several times every day.’ She finally spoke, her voice as gentle as usual, but with a few more threads of maturity and determination.
Her parents are worried? Did she come thousands of miles away just to be a good daughter-in-law for the Mu family?
Yixuan frowned, realising that she had chosen a poor start, but it would temporarily make things less awkward between them.
‘Jingzhi has already graduated, but Qinyun’s illness has not yet healed. Jingzhi plans to take her to Guangzhou for treatment. He says that there are many church hospitals there, and the foreigners are very knowledgeable about this disease. However, Second Uncle is very angry and refuses to agree no matter what… When I left, Jingying’s birthday was almost here. She is very well-behaved. Seventh Uncle now takes care of the family a lot and rarely goes out with his old friends. Seventh Aunt is now much more at ease than before, but she looks a bit older than before.’
She couldn’t help but talk about everything at home. She didn’t understand why, she just wanted to talk to him, no matter what she said, she wanted to say it to him. Jingting didn’t reply, but his expression was very concerned.
“My eldest brother promised to send Yutong to school. I took her to Weishuzhai when I had time. As soon as she saw the books there, she couldn’t put them down. Haotian often taught her some principles, and she always understood quickly…’
She kept talking until they turned into the Da Cangmu alley and stopped.
They walked quietly.
‘I don’t have anything with her,’ he suddenly blurted out as they were about to reach home.
‘Oh,’ she replied after a long pause, but she felt a sense of relief.

Mr. and Mrs. Huang Li were already waiting for him in the courtyard.
Because there were so many people, the small courtyard finally didn’t seem so deserted.
Jingting noticed that they had brought a lot of luggage, not only the Huang Lis’, but also hers—two full suitcases.
In the evening, Yixuan and Huang Li’s wife went to the hut to rest early. Jingting and Huang Li just had a drink and a chat in the hut where they met two years ago.
‘I never thought you could drink so much now. You never used to be able to drink like this,’ Huang Li said, taking a close look at his brother in front of him and noticing that the cold contours of his face were even deeper than before. He knew that revolutionary work was a crucible that could temper people into steel. Jingting was a few more mature and capable than he had been back then.
He didn’t know in the past that he would be such a good drinker, but after coming to Beijing a few months ago, he became obsessed with this thing and often drank alone until dawn.
‘I didn’t think you’d bring her here,‘ Jingting whispered, avoiding his words.
Huang Li suddenly changed his expression: “Jingting, do you know what a good wife you’ve married. I don’t know what your plans are, and although our work is confidential, I don’t think you should hide things from her like this. She’s worried about you too much these past few months.”
’Since when have you been so highly critical of her?’ he asked, seemingly innocently.
‘After you left, she came to the study every day asking for news of you, but Hao-tian and I dared not reveal a thing. You could hide it from your parents, and you could ask Hao-tian to send letters from Hangzhou on your behalf, but you never thought about her. At first, she thought something had happened to you in Beijing. Hao-tian obeyed your orders and didn’t say anything, but he couldn’t bear to see her like that, so he told her that you were safe. You were heartless enough not to send her a single word of greeting.’
‘I wrote,’ he suddenly interrupted, ’in the family letter.’
Huang Li was furious: ‘Which sentence? “I hope my wife won’t worry, I’ll do my best to share the household chores. ”? It was because of this sentence that she was willing to take on all the responsibilities for you. I was almost caught by the military police when I first arrived in Nanjing, and she helped me escape. Do you know how much weight a woman’s shoulders can bear? I know now, because that day I was able to climb over the wall on her shoulders. She did all that for you.’
He was shocked. He had long known that she would do something stupid again. Not only did she carry the incense burner, she also carried the weight of another person. His heart began to feel heavy again, and he couldn’t bear to imagine the scene.
‘If this isn’t enough to make you feel guilty, then take a good look at the letters here.’ Huang Li suddenly pulled a stack of letters out of the suitcase and threw them in front of her. ‘You sent two letters and one telegram in five months. And here, one every half month. Go ahead and count them yourself.’
Letters? The letters she sent?
‘…Hao Tian found them when he went to Hangzhou. He used the address by accident and received a reply from her. She knew you weren’t there, but…well, you can read them yourself.’
Huang Li picked up the bottle of wine and walked over to the bed, where he fell asleep.
He stared at the letters in front of him for a long time before making up his mind to open them and uncover the old stories that had been trying to be forgotten.

Epilogue
When Yi Xuan woke up, it was already bright outside and the house was quiet. She looked around, confused at first and not knowing where she was. Then she thought about it and realised that she was in early winter Beijing.
As she was getting up to brush her hair, Jing Ting came in carrying a new quilt. Looking at her in her plain clothes, he gave her a warm smile: ‘You must be really tired. I’ve never seen you sleep so soundly.’
The two of them suddenly drew close to each other. Yi Xuan gathered a loose strand of hair at the side of her face and asked, ‘You slept outside last night?’
Jing Ting knew she had misunderstood again and explained, ‘I had some business to discuss with Lao Huang last night,’ and then spread out the brand new bedding. ‘It was just that one bed last night, so it must have been cold, right?’
Yixuan shook her head: ‘How could that be? You’ve always been content with just one quilt, and you don’t mind the cold. How could I possibly feel cold?’
‘You’re a woman, and your constitution is different. I’m used to being content with less, but the weather in Beijing really isn’t comparable to that in Nanjing.’ Seeing Yixuan smile, he suddenly remembered that Beijing was her hometown, and couldn’t help smiling back, a smile that contained a hint of sweetness.
“Well, Brother Huang and the others…’
‘Oh, they’ve arrived in Beijing and are naturally busy rushing back to the countryside to visit their parents and two children.‘
’So, Mrs Huang, you already have two children.‘ Yi Xuan replied, her expression a little absent-minded.
’They’ve been married for many years.’ Jing Ting opened the cupboard and put her suitcase from yesterday in, “Let’s go have breakfast together.”

It was very cold, with pedestrians on the street wrapped up in heavy clothing, a fog in the sky, and the cold wind blowing wantonly.
Jingting reached out and took Yi Xuan’s hand, half-embracing her in his arms. It was all so natural. The two of them locked eyes, knowing that all misunderstandings and gaps were in the past, and that everything was understood without words.
They sat down in a small teahouse, and Jingting ordered some soy milk and fried dough sticks and a few kinds of special dim sum. Watching him get along so well with the waiter, Yixuan could not help but think that he must be a regular here. In the past, every morning, he must have come here to eat, but at that time, he was alone, so how lonely he must have been. From now on, she didn’t want to see him lonely anymore.
“Do you want to go back to the Prince Qing’s mansion and take a look?’
Yixuan frowned and shook her head, ‘No. Going there now will only make them worry more.’
‘I know it’s because of me. After things here have settled down, before we go back to Nanjing, we’ll go home and visit.’ Seeing her raise her eyes, her expression was pained, he couldn’t help but take her hand again, ‘Trust me, I promise you, I’ll let you go back to your parents’ home to visit without worry.’
Yixuan held out the other hand and covered the back of his hand: ‘I naturally trust you. I’m not in a hurry, I just don’t know how things are at home.’
‘Don’t worry, they’re all well.’ Seeing her look of doubt, he became a little shy, ‘Well, after coming to Beijing, I often went to see them, but I never entered the house.’
Yixuan said nothing, but a faint joy swept through her heart.

The next day, Yixuan got up and sat in front of the simple dressing table, brushing her long hair while smiling foolishly.
She looked back at the few red flowers on the white bed sheet and her face flushed again. She had finally become his true wife. No matter what would happen in the future, whether they would be together forever, she would have no more regrets. Because she believed that he truly loved her, otherwise he would not have been so passionate and gentle. From the day she first arrived in Nanjing to the moment she returned to Beijing, even though she had been hurt, suffered and endured, it was nothing compared to the warm and fulfilling feelings she was experiencing at that moment. It was a kind of peace that comes from finding refuge in the soul.
After breakfast, Yixuan began to busy herself with household chores. She was dressed in ordinary cotton clothes and trousers, and looked like an ordinary woman in an ordinary alley. She was washing clothes and tidying the room, heavy tasks that she was not good at, but she did them willingly.
Occasionally, when she daydreams for a while, she wonders if the greatest happiness would be to stay in this small space forever, living the most ordinary and most common life.
But then she shakes her head repeatedly: they all have families and responsibilities, so how can they just look after themselves and have a good time?
As she is pouring the washing water into the gutter in front of the door, Sister Huang rushes in from the door: ‘Yixuan…’
Yixuan wiped her hands, which were still wet from the laundry, on her apron and said, ‘What is it?’
Auntie Huang shook her head, but her expression was grave. ‘Jingting won’t be able to come back in the next few days, so you should pack your things. You may have to leave Beijing at any time.’
“Why is it so urgent? Has something happened?’
‘Nothing. They’re just going to be doing something big soon, and Jingting told me to tell you that he’ll leave Beijing as soon as it’s over.‘
’It must be dangerous work.’ She stood still, lost in thought, and didn’t even notice Huang Daxia walking away. The water on her hands kept dripping.
Why is even the sweetness of being together so fleeting? Why does even a moment of peace disappear so quickly?

The next few days were sleepless again. She slept in her clothes every night and never slept peacefully. She was always worried that he was in danger again, and she always felt that he would suddenly come knocking on the door or that she would suddenly hear news about him.
Finally, in the early morning of the fourth day, there was a knock at the door. When she opened the door, Huang Daisao only said a few simple words: ‘Have you packed your luggage? Follow me immediately.’
Yixuan nodded. The two suitcases had already been packed neatly, and there were hardly any furnishings left in the house. She could leave immediately if necessary. Huang Daisao looked at the situation in the house and even tore down the few yellowed newspapers stuck on the wall. The whole house was empty and appeared to have been abandoned for a long time.
‘We’re leaving right now!’ she said decisively to Yixuan.
Yixuan, however, grabbed her sleeve and asked not what had happened or where they were going, but simply, “Is he okay?”
Mrs. Huang looked back, her eyes full of worry. “The operation has leaked news. I don’t know if they can get out of this… I’m not even sure about Lao Huang’s safety…”
Yixuan stopped asking questions and just walked quickly with her.
After walking for an unknown length of time, they arrived at the door of a church. The one who opened the door was a white-haired British priest, whom Huang Daxia called Father John. They talked for a while, and Huang Daxia introduced Yi Xuan to him.
‘……He is Jingting’s wife…’
She then turned to Yi Xuan and said, ‘Jingting once said that if the operation was exposed, he would bring you here. If he could escape, he would go with you. Here are the tickets for the boat leaving at noon. If he doesn’t come by noon, you’ll leave Beijing with the priest on the boat.‘
Yixuan unconsciously clutched the two boat tickets in her hands, unable to move or speak.
’I’ll go and find out more news, I’ll go now!”
The priest walked up behind her and said gently, “My child, come in with me.”
Yixuan obeyed him and walked with him into the small church.
The church was empty, except for the flickering light of the white candles. The solemn atmosphere made her heart suddenly clear. Yi Xuan suddenly looked up and saw a statue. She knew it was a statue of the Virgin Mary. Her expression was so holy and peaceful, as if she was giving all living things love, tolerance and protection.
Yi Xuan asked, ‘Can the Virgin Mary really hear the prayers of mortals? Will she really bless people?’
Father John put his luggage aside and said, ‘The Virgin Mary is in everyone’s heart. If you pray with all your heart, she will give you strength.’
Yixuan nodded and said, ‘Thank you.’ Then she sat on a brown bench, folded her hands and prayed for Jingting and their unknown future.
Everything that had happened in the past suddenly reappeared before her eyes, and her mood suddenly calmed down. The suffering of the past was no longer worth dwelling on. She only wished for a future, a bright and open future.

When she opened her eyes again, it was almost noon. Yi Xuan looked at the Western clock beside her, and saw that the seconds were moving non-stop.
She wanted to stop time, to freeze it at that moment, so that he would have enough time to come.
‘Let’s go to the pier, my child,’ the priest said, appearing behind her.
“No, I won’t go without him,’
‘My child, don’t be so stubborn. He entrusted you to me, and I must get you out safely. Come with me.‘
’No, I can’t. Maybe he’s on his way, and maybe if I just wait one more second…”
The priest shook his head: “Why be so stubborn…”
While they were arguing, the church door suddenly opened. Yixuan turned her head, but the light of hope in her eyes went out when she saw the person who had come. It was Huang Daxiang again: ’Jingting and the others have been arrested. Yixuan, you should leave Beijing first.’
Yixuan’s eyes widened, her expression sad. ‘No, I will never leave.’ Then she pushed the two of them aside and ran outside. ‘I want to stay here and save him.’
When Yixuan pushed open the wooden door of the Prince Qing’s mansion, Zai Huan and He Zhe were both extremely surprised. What was even more surprising was that the next second Yixuan had already thrown herself to her knees on the ground: ‘Amma, your daughter is unfilial, but only you can save me.’

Inside the dark prison cell, the lights are dim. Several guards pace back and forth, their black batons like snakes with fangs, glaring at every restless prisoner.
‘Clang…’ The sound of metal echoes, very loud.
Someone has come in.
Sure enough, the prison guard who guarded the door led someone in. After whispering a few words to the guard, the man opened a prison cell door and said, ‘Hold on tight, there’s not much time.’
The man lying in the corner of the cell desperately shook his head, trying to regain his composure. He had already suffered greatly in prison, and his face and body were covered with whip marks. The dark brown blood stains covered his handsome face, except for his eyes, which were shining brightly and still revealed a determined light. He raised his eyes to take in the person visiting him. He could only see that the person was wearing a long black gown, but the gown obviously did not fit him, and it hung loosely on his body. He was wearing a black bowler hat, which was a little larger than his head and was pulled down to cover his eyes. He was standing in the backlight, and his face was covered by the dark shadows. Jingting carefully identified him, but he could not make out his features clearly.
He stood in front of him for a long, long time. Jingting’s eyes suddenly flashed with disbelief, and he pounced on him and grabbed him: ‘It’s you!’
The man took off his hat, and Jingting was just able to see the still plain and beautiful face.
‘It’s you, it’s really you!’
‘It’s me. It’s me.’ Yi Xuan’s cheeks slid down two lines of clear tears, her lips trembled, and she couldn’t say a word.
Jingting felt a dull pain in his heart, and couldn’t help but seize her two cherry lips, releasing all his love and concern in that fiery kiss, as if after a kiss would be a permanent farewell.
After separating their lips, both of them were slightly out of breath. Jingting suddenly pushed her away and shouted, ‘Why aren’t you leaving? I told them to send you away, why aren’t you leaving!’
Yixuan shook her head quietly, ‘Where would you let me go? Why don’t you understand that I only want to be where you are. Whether it’s the north or the south, I only want to follow you. Don’t you understand?”
Jing Ting said helplessly, “Why do you always…”
Before he could finish, Yixuan threw herself into his arms. “Don’t say anymore, you know I will never leave.”
Jing Ting rested his chin on her head and ran his hands repeatedly through her dark hair, as if he were attached to the fragrance and warmth there.
‘You finally believe it, don’t you? Marrying me was a mistake. Originally, I shouldn’t have married you in the first place.‘
’Even if it was a mistake, it was my most beautiful mistake. You have to believe that everything you gave me was the best.‘
’No regrets?‘ he asked softly.
’No,‘ Yi Xuan shook her head vigorously.
’Even if you will become a widow in the future?‘
’Even if I become a widow, I only want to be your widow.’
Jing Ting finally let out a long sigh and said, ‘Why are you so stupid?’
Yixuan didn’t say anything, she just rested her head on his chest and felt the strong and powerful heartbeat. She suddenly felt something hard under her head, so she felt around through the thin shirt for a while, ‘What is this?’
Jing Ting smiled and slowly took out the half jade butterfly. The luster exuded by the butterfly was clear and soft, making it look lifelike. Yixuan couldn’t help smiling either, and took out the other half of the butterfly from her bosom. Jingting looked at her in amazement as she put the two halves of the jade together, and it immediately became a complete butterfly. It had absorbed the essence of a thousand years, and at the moment it was as if it was about to take flight, flawless.
The two of them gazed at the butterfly together, as if time had come to a standstill, and they were the only ones left in the world, along with that strange butterfly.
‘Unfortunately, we are destined to not be together until old age in this life,’ Jingting sighed.
‘Then in the next life,’ Yi Xuan replied, unconcerned.
‘Your father arranged for you to be admitted?‘
’Yes.‘
’If… it works…‘ Jingting suddenly stopped, as if he didn’t dare to give himself too much hope.
’What does it matter? Whether we live or die, we are together, and that is enough.’ Yi Xuan’s voice gradually became lower, as if she was going to fall asleep in his arms.
The sky outside the window gradually lightened, and a new day was about to begin.

Five days later, there was a fire in the prison cell on Dongjie Street in Beijing.
It was said that the fire was fierce, the sky and earth turned into a furnace, and the flames lit up the entire Dongcheng District like daylight.
Chaos reigned in the prison cell. Some said they had personally seen someone escape from the prison, others said that all the prisoners had been burned alive, and still others said that they had seen a pair of butterflies fluttering in the flames and transforming into smoke.