The Lament of Autumn - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Falling Glow Spreads on Stone Steps, Love Between Youths Grows; Moonlight Accompanies High Veranda, A Beauty Reveals Her Vows

Ever since her mother recovered from illness, Ye Pingjun returned to Mingde Girls' School to resume her classes. She also entrusted Bai Liyuan to return the gold bracelet that Mrs. Li had gifted her. The Ye family’s living expenses had always been managed by Pingjun; she had been calculating that once autumn arrived, the tenant farmers would pay some land rent, and if she took on some tutoring work, she might be able to pay back at least a portion of the nearly four hundred dollars in hospital fees covered by Yu Changxuan, which would finally set her mind at ease.

This morning, being Sunday, there were no classes at school. Because Mrs. Ye had just recovered from such a severe illness, she wanted to go to the Guanyin Pavilion on the mountain to fulfill a vow. Seeing that her mother was still physically weak, Ye Pingjun suggested she would go in her mother’s stead that afternoon. She spent the morning finishing her homework in the outer room, and only then took the watering can to tend to the few clusters of hostas by the wall. It was currently the blooming season for the hostas, and as she watched the slender, snow-white flowers, pure as jade and unstained by dust, Ye Pingjun—dressed in a moon-white long gown, her hair styled in small double buns, her appearance clear-eyed and delicate—stood amidst the gentle breeze, looking as ethereal as an immortal. Mother Zhao, who lived in the same courtyard, had been sitting in front of her own door picking rice; she ended up staring at Pingjun for a long while before letting out a sigh. "Young lady, it’s a pity that with a face as lovely as yours, like a flower, you weren't born with the fate of a rich young miss."

Pingjun turned back and smiled faintly. "Flowers come in many varieties. Those that are delicate and precious have the fate of a young miss, naturally tended to by others. Someone like me is naturally like these hostas—blooming wherever they happen to land, growing wherever they are placed. This is quite fine, too."

Mother Zhao laughed. "The girl is truly well-read and has more insight than us folks. When you go to the Guanyin Temple to burn incense and fulfill your vow, please bring a stick for me as well."

Ye Pingjun smiled and agreed. That afternoon, she carried some incense and candles and went up the mountain to pay her respects. She walked up the mountain along the long stone steps; the path was lined with lush trees and wild flowers everywhere, and a natural, delicate fragrance floated in the air. Upon entering the temple gates, Pingjun followed her mother’s instructions, lighting candles and inserting incense before the Buddha, then knelt on the prayer mat to kowtow. When she stood up and walked out, she saw an old man by the door who had set up a table to draw lots and tell fortunes, but he had had no customers. After a moment’s thought, she walked up and said, "Old sir, I would like to draw a lot!"

The old man brought over the bamboo tube. Pingjun took it in her hands and felt it was heavy. She laughed, "It’s so heavy." The old man smiled, "These are people’s life fortunes inside; a whole lifetime of events—how could it not be heavy?"

These words made Pingjun feel somewhat cautious. She shook the tube vigorously and drew a lot. The title on the lot read: "Wind Whirls the Leaves in the Forest." She did not show it to the old man but glanced at it herself. It read:

Affection, since ancient times, leaves only empty regrets,
Good dreams, by their nature, are the easiest to wake from.
A beauty of an era, a thousand lines of tears,
Fragrance remains, lotus withered, on the jade mat of autumn.

Ye Pingjun stared at the lot, silent for a long time. The old man, seeing her standing there in a daze, called out, "Young lady, let me see it; I will interpret it for you." Ye Pingjun, however, slowly placed the lot back into the tube and said with a smile, "I forgot what my mother said—children shouldn't easily have these things interpreted. Never mind, I won’t interpret it."

She placed the fortune-telling fee on the old man’s table, turned around, and walked down the stone steps. The stone path spread out layer by layer, surrounded by the rustling sound of wind blowing through the treetops. In the evening glow, golden sunset clouds spilled across the entire path. Ye Pingjun walked forward slowly, and before she knew it, she brushed shoulders with someone. Yet, that brief moment felt like a spark of flint, a flash of light striking her mind. Her breath hitched, and she already turned her head—

There he stood, smiling. That handsome face was even more refined and elegant than it had been four years ago. Behind him were the swaying green leaves of the mountain, layer upon layer of lushness, and he looked like a precious plant or jade tree, standing there on the stone steps. Such dash and unconventional spirit could hardly be described with the phrase "flamboyant spirit."

Four years of separation, and this reunion was so sudden and unexpected. Ye Pingjun glanced at him, her thoughts instantly chaotic, her face flushing crimson. In her panic, she actually turned to flee down the stone steps. He hurried forward to pull her back, laughing, "Why are you running? I’m not a tiger!"

His long, slender fingers gripped her hand, radiating warmth, which made her entire face burn even hotter. She became angry out of shame and annoyance, "Jiang Xueting, I don’t recognize you."

Jiang Xueting immediately laughed, "That is self-contradictory. If you don’t recognize me, how do you know my name is Jiang Xueting?"

Ye Pingjun’s face was already completely red. Hearing him speak like that, she looked up at him and said, "You lied to me. You clearly said in your letter that you wouldn't be back until August..." Jiang Xueting looked at her eyes, which were beginning to redden, and smiled, "I missed you too much; is it not allowed for me to come back a month early?"

Ye Pingjun shook off his hand and walked down the mountain. After a few steps, she asked, "When... when did you get off the boat?"

Jiang Xueting followed her, saying, "I arrived this morning and went to your house this afternoon. Auntie said you had gone to pray, so I hurried here to find you. And you, upon seeing me, you turn and run."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he saw Ye Pingjun suddenly stop. She pressed her lips together tightly, said nothing, and stopped walking downward. She just lowered her head, leaning against a tree beside the stone steps, and covered her chest with her hand. After a long while, she took a deep breath, looked up at Jiang Xueting, and smiled, "No, I can't talk to you anymore; my heart is beating too hard!"

Seeing that the hand she used to cover her chest was also trembling slightly, Jiang Xueting could tell she was deeply moved. He stood quietly by her side, accompanying her to listen to the sound of the mountain wind. The two stood in silence for a long time, watching her gradually calm down. Jiang Xueting then said with a smile, "Pingjun, let me tell you some good news: in a while, I will be joining the South Ming Military Academy as a school affairs commissioner."

Ye Pingjun turned to look at him, seeing the pride and ambition on his face. He could hardly contain himself, continuing eloquently, "I joined the Patriotic Society while in Fusang and even became the minister of the Council Department. You know the Mou family, right? The highly respected Elder Mou is my teacher from Fusang. He is truly someone I admire greatly, and it was he who recommended me for the South Ming Military Academy."

Ye Pingjun saw that the moment they met, he talked about this, and his spirited and confident demeanor showed that this matter occupied a significant weight in his heart. She smiled faintly and said, "I don’t really understand these things you speak of, but since you say Elder Mou is a good man, he must be a very good person indeed."

Jiang Xueting nodded, taking the opportunity to reach out and tuck back a stray lock of hair from Pingjun’s temple. Having grown up together, their bond was profound—a couple that were childhood sweethearts. Such an action was the most natural thing in the world. He let his fingers linger for a moment on Pingjun’s hair, smiling, "It turns out you don't always keep your word, either."

Pingjun asked, "What do you mean?"

Jiang Xueting said, "Who was it that wrote in their letter to me, saying they would carefully wear the jade hairpin I sent? If you are going to break your word, I have letters at home as evidence." Seeing him ask, Pingjun found it hard to hide, so she admitted the truth, "I wasn't careful while walking a while back and lost the jade hairpin."

Jiang Xueting responded with a smile, "Lost is lost. I’ll buy you another one in a few days." He took her hand and led her down the stone steps. "Let’s go back. Auntie said she would make osmanthus cake for me. The thing I’ve missed most during these years abroad is the osmanthus cake your mother makes."

They walked down the mountain together when Jiang Xueting suddenly said, "Wait for me here for a moment."

Pingjun was startled to see Jiang Xueting walk toward a young boy selling pears by a basket at the foot of the mountain. He lowered his head to hand the child some money, and in the blink of an eye, he was pushing a bicycle over. He smiled at Pingjun, "Let’s go. I’ll give you a ride. Do you want to sit in front or behind?"

Pingjun pursed her lips and smiled, walking toward the back of the bike rack. However, he turned the bicycle, tilted it sideways, held the handlebars with one hand, and, relying on the length of his arms, sat on the back seat himself, blocking her. His eyes glowed brilliantly. "The back seat is not for sitting!"

She turned to walk away, so he followed behind, pushing the bicycle and laughing, "Little girl, do you want a ride? Do you want a ride?" Annoyed by his chatter, she turned back and scolded, "You are so thick-skinned!" He pushed the bike in front of her and conceded with a smile, "Fine, I’ll let you sit on the back, all right?"

Jiang Xueting took a windmill out of the bicycle basket and handed it to her. As he cycled and carried her, he rode quite fast. She gripped the hem of his clothes tightly with one hand, and with the other, she held the windmill up high. The windmill spun with a whirring sound right before her eyes. The corners of her lips curled into a joyful smile, brightened by the sun, and her bangs were blown into a mess by the wind. He intentionally swerved the handlebars, causing the bike to sway violently. Frightened, she cried out "Ah!" and wrapped one arm around his waist, only to rush to let go immediately after.

He grabbed the handlebars with one hand and reached out with the other to press down on her hand, which was trying to shrink back. Because he had let go of one side, the bicycle started wobbling. Terrified, she screamed, "Don't let go!"

A faint smile played on his lips as he whispered, "Then, you don't let go, either."

Twilight was approaching. On one side was an old courtyard wall, with large, lush green vines crawling over half the surface, a deep, vibrant green. A car was parked at the mouth of the alley, with tall attendants standing outside. The surroundings were silent; the girl’s laughter and the whirring sound of the spinning windmill had long since passed.

Yu Changxuan sat inside the car, silently staring at the red velvet box in his hand. Inside the box was a string of sparkling bright pearls, made even more beautiful by the velvet lining.

When he picked this pearl strand at the foreign firm, he thought that if she wore this, she would surely be incredibly beautiful.

Suddenly, a clattering sound came from the back seat of the car. The chief guard, Gu Ruitong, turned his head and saw the pearl strand had come apart, the crystalline pearls scattering and rolling into the cracks under the car seat. Gu Ruitong looked at Yu Changxuan’s expression, said nothing for a long while, and turned his head back.

Yu Changxuan sat by the window, his brows furrowed tightly. The box was scented with sandalwood, so even though the pearls had scattered, a delicate, sweet fragrance slowly permeated the air, lingering around his breath like a haunting dream that he could not drive away, leaving him deeply unsettled.

Jiang Xueting led Pingjun all the way back to the crowded courtyard. As soon as they entered, they smelled the sweet aroma of osmanthus cake. A plate of red and white osmanthus cake was arranged on the table. Jiang Xueting reached for one, but Pingjun hurriedly stopped him, laughing, "You glutton, wash your hands first."

Jiang Xueting went off to wash his hands happily. Mrs. Ye walked out from the inner room and said, "Ping’er, Xueting brought back quite a lot of things for you this time. I’ve put them all in your room; go take a look."

Ye Pingjun nodded in agreement. Jiang Xueting, having finished washing his hands, came over to eat the osmanthus cake on the table, not even using chopsticks, devouring several in a row. Mrs. Ye laughed, "You’ve been out for four years, but you really haven't changed a bit. You loved eating this when you were young, and who knew you’d still love it now that you’ve grown up. Don't eat so fast. Ping’er, go pour him some tea!"

Jiang Xueting’s hands were covered in the sweet scent of the osmanthus cake; he looked up and smiled, "Only Auntie’s cooking makes this taste good. I don’t even look at what others make." Ye Pingjun brought over a cup of tea, placed it in front of Jiang Xueting, and smiled, "Stop your oily, smooth-talking flattery toward my mother."

Mrs. Ye looked at this young pair—they were truly talented and beautiful, a perfect match. She was very happy, and a smile hung on her face, which looked slightly healthier. "Ping’er, I’m going out to buy some vegetables. Xueting, can you stay for dinner tonight?"

Jiang Xueting agreed immediately. Once Mrs. Ye went out, Pingjun sat in a chair on the other side of the table, smiling as she watched Jiang Xueting eat for a long while. She also picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, put it in her mouth, and ate slowly. Thinking for a moment, she said, "You just returned to the country today; shouldn't you go back to your brother and sister-in-law’s house for dinner? What if they get upset?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xueting replied indifferently, "It’s fine. They don't care about me; they’d be happier if I didn't go back."

He looked at the half-eaten osmanthus cake in Pingjun’s hand, reached out, grabbed her wrist, and leaned forward to take a bite. Pingjun’s face turned bright red in an instant, and she tried to pull her hand back. In this tug-of-war, the door was pushed open, and it was their neighbor, Mother Zhao, who walked in. Seeing this scene, she immediately cried, "Oh my—" Mother Zhao covered her eyes with one hand, while the other hand kept waving. "What’s this? It’s nothing! I just came to check, eat, eat."

As Mother Zhao hobbled out on her bound feet, Ye Pingjun’s entire face turned deep red. When she looked up and saw Jiang Xueting still laughing, she got so angry she picked up the half-piece of osmanthus cake and threw it at him. Jiang Xueting caught it squarely and laughed as he ate it. The door opened again, and it was Mrs. Ye returning from the end of the street with some small side dishes.

As midsummer arrived, the weather gradually grew hot. To avoid the increasingly heated Chu-Mou party struggle within the central government, Yu Zhongquan used poor health as an excuse to go to a summer villa of the Yu family, the Fenghua Manor. This departure granted Yu Changxuan great freedom. He simply stopped going to the Ministry of the Army and ignored both Tao Ziyi and Jun Daiti, spending his days merely practicing shooting and riding horses on the drill grounds.

It was afternoon, and the sun was blazing fiercely in the sky. Yu Changxuan and Li Boran had just returned from practicing shooting at the drill grounds. With nothing to do, he dragged two staff officers from the Ninth Army to play mahjong in a small parlor of the Yu Mansion. After playing several rounds with clattering sounds, the money pile in front of Yu Changxuan grew steadily. Yu Changxuan knew that Li Boran and the others were intentionally letting him win, which he actually found the most annoying, making him feel even more bored.

Li Boran saw Yu Changxuan’s expression was indifferent; he was just holding a Seven of Dots, tapping it against the table with a clack-clack sound, and smiled, "What’s wrong, Fifth Young Master? Are you so listless—is there some difficult military matter?"

Yu Changxuan couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids; he smiled faintly, "What difficult military matter could I have? My father handles everything. Even if I were the Jiaqing Emperor ascending the throne, wouldn't there still be a Retired Emperor standing behind the dragon seat?"

Immediately, a colleague offered obsequious flattery, "Fifth Young Master, why say that? You are young and accomplished..." Yu Changxuan hummed, interrupting the man, "I don't deserve such praise. I only rely on my father’s influence. Being a staff officer in the Ministry of the Army at twenty-four—I fear the spine behind my back is being poked until it’s bent."

Someone at the table laughed, "Fifth Young Master doesn't need to be so self-deprecating. Everything is prepared; we are just waiting for the right moment. Once you return from the battlefield with a resounding military achievement, naturally, those people will be silenced."

The constant stream of flattery made him even more irritable. Yu Changxuan tossed the Seven of Dots in his hand into the pile of tiles on the table, his face somewhat displeased. "Are we playing or not? So much nonsense!" Seeing Yu Changxuan’s temper was so fiery today, Li Boran feared that anything he said would be unsatisfactory, so he quickly said, "Exactly, why the dawdling? I’m still waiting to win back my losses; let’s go another round!"

He reached out and shuffled the tiles on the table, but unexpectedly, Yu Changxuan stood up and walked toward the outside of the parlor without saying a word. Gu Ruitong and Wu Zuoxiao were both startled. Gu Ruitong hurriedly led the guards to follow. Li Boran grabbed Wu Zuoxiao and said, "Adjutant Wu, what exactly happened? The Fifth Young Master is so angry; give us brothers a hint."

Wu Zuoxiao turned his head, his face bitter. "Isn't it all because of that Miss Ye? She has repeatedly slighted the Fifth Young Master’s dignity. The Fifth Young Master has been in a terrible mood lately; when he flares up, none of us will have a good time. I advise you brothers not to walk into the line of fire; head back quickly."

Only then did Li Boran understand. He chuckled, "Is that all? And here I thought it was thunder and fire, like he had eaten gunpowder, but it turns out he’s lovesick. So, our Fifth Young Master hasn't been able to conquer Miss Ye’s position—no wonder his temper is so hot."

Seeing Li Boran speak with such triumphant laughter, Wu Zuoxiao asked, "Looking at Adjutant Li, could you have some good ideas?"

Li Boran laughed, "It’s not like there are no ideas."

Wu Zuoxiao’s eyes lit up as if he had found a savior. "Truly, only Adjutant Li can think of such wicked and foolproof schemes." No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Boran kicked him in the calf. The surrounding officers laughed heartily; they were used to such banter. Wu Zuoxiao added, "Hurry up and suggest one, so us brothers don't keep getting punished alongside the Fifth Young Master!"

Li Boran said slowly, "Just rest assured, Adjutant Wu; this matter is on me. Who does our Fifth Young Master think he is! The person he wants—there’s no way he can’t get his hands on her!"

That day, when school just let out at Mingde Girls' School, Ye Pingjun was packing her schoolbag, preparing to go home, when she saw Bai Liyuan walk up with a grin, holding a box seat ticket, calling out incessantly, "Pingjun, look, look! A play ticket for the Yuchun Garden! My cousin-in-law was flaunting it in front of me yesterday, and I snatched it away. Let’s go watch a play tonight. It’s the last performance of The Jade Hairpin by Mei Jianqiu from the Northern New Peking Opera coming to our Jinling."

The fame of the famous Peking Opera actor Mei Jianqiu was immense, and The Jade Hairpin had been publicized in the newspapers for a long time. Although Ye Pingjun had long wanted to see it, she pushed the ticket away and said apologetically, "Xueting is coming to my house tonight, so I can't go." Bai Liyuan’s face fell in disappointment. She lowered her head and looked at the ticket for a moment before suddenly looking up and smiling, "Then this is even better. I’ll give this box seat ticket to you; you and Jiang Xueting can go watch it, and I won’t go."

She stuffed the ticket into Ye Pingjun’s hand. Ye Pingjun hurriedly pushed it away, "No, this ticket is very expensive, and besides, there’s no reason for us two to go while you don’t. I don’t want it."

Bai Liyuan stuffed the ticket into Pingjun’s schoolbag and giggled, "Don't be polite with me. I’ll ask my father to take me to the movie theater. On second thought, you watching the play with Jiang Xueting will definitely be more interesting than watching it with me. I won't go and be a little lightbulb for you two." Her words made Ye Pingjun blush crimson. Pingjun picked up a book from the side to hit her, but Bai Liyuan cried "Ouch!" and turned to run out of the classroom, giggling.

Ye Pingjun brought the box seat ticket home and saw that Jiang Xueting had already arrived, sitting under a locust tree in the courtyard with Mrs. Ye, keeping cool. On the small table were several kinds of dried fruits, a portion of spiced beans, and an even more refreshing plate of grapes. Their neighbor, Mother Zhao, was also there, sitting along with them, mending something. It was a picture of peace and tranquility. Sitting opposite the main gate, Mother Zhao was the first to see Pingjun enter and laughed, "The girl is home early today."

Pingjun responded. Seeing Jiang Xueting smiling at her, she pursed her lips in a smile but ignored him, walking over to sit beside Mrs. Ye. She took out the box seat ticket and placed it openly on the table. "This is a box seat ticket Liyuan gave me. Let’s all go to Yuchun Garden tonight to watch the Peking Opera."

Mother Zhao, who was there sewing, ran her needle through her hair and laughed, "An old woman like me can only listen to some folk songs; I can't watch this Peking Opera, and I wouldn't understand it."

Mrs. Ye picked up the ticket and glanced at it. "So it’s The Jade Hairpin." Beside her, Jiang Xueting said, "This is a famous play; in Sichuan opera, it’s even called Fate of Two Generations." Mother Zhao, upon hearing this, was puzzled, " Fate of Two Generations? Why give it such a name? Can a person live two lifetimes?"

Ye Pingjun was eating grapes and listening to Mother Zhao, thinking it was quite fun. She pondered and said, "Perhaps it talks about the ways of the world. I personally think that the saying of ‘one life’ isn't necessarily about birth, old age, sickness, and death. Anyone who experiences a person and goes through a series of events can count as one life."

Mother Zhao added, "There’s such a saying? Then if that’s the case, if the girl is together with us three, can she say she has lived three lives?" Jiang Xueting, who was to the side, said, "I understand this. Only after knowing someone and understanding someone does it count as one life." As he spoke, he looked at Ye Pingjun’s brows and eyes and smiled slightly. Pingjun lowered her head to eat grapes, her lips also pursed in a smile.

Mrs. Ye put the ticket down on the table and smiled, "I’ve had a headache these past few days and can't go to such a lively place. You and Xueting go and watch it; just come back early." This was exactly what Jiang Xueting had hoped for. He agreed repeatedly and couldn't stop smiling. Seeing him lose his composure, Ye Pingjun glared at Jiang Xueting and scolded, "What are you laughing at? Go by yourself." She stood up, her face flushed, and turned to go into the room to put away her schoolbag. In the blink of an eye, she saw Jiang Xueting follow her in. The blush on her face hadn't faded. She turned away, feeling a slight tremor in her hair bun. She reached out to take it off and look—it was a pure, flawless white jade hairpin. The top was shaped like an elegant hosta flower; the whole body was stark white, and the tail was slightly pointed.

Seeing her holding the jade hairpin in a daze, Jiang Xueting laughed, "This one is better than the last one; don't lose it again."

Ye Pingjun said with regret, "No matter how good it is, it’s not the one from before." Jiang Xueting felt somewhat bothered by this sentence, but he still smiled, "Regardless of which one it is, it’s one I gave you anyway."

Ye Pingjun held the hairpin, nodded slightly, and smiled. Jiang Xueting took the jade hairpin and slowly inserted it into her hair. Watching the black hair and the jade hairpin, which made Ye Pingjun’s face look even more refined and elegant, Jiang Xueting smiled and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "You are much more beautiful than that hosta flower."

Ye Pingjun shyly turned her body away, her back toward him. When she looked up, she saw the hosta flowers blooming in the courtyard, a large, lush green cluster that dazzled the eyes. The slender white flowers bloomed with a delicate fragrance, truly like jade hairpins inserted into a girl’s hair. As a breeze blew, the long stalks supported the leaves, and the jade buds were slender and long—truly as graceful as green clouds. It was a beautiful sight.

That night, Jiang Xueting stayed at the Ye house for dinner and then went to Yuchun Garden with Ye Pingjun to watch the play. As they entered the box on the upper floor together, they saw the large, three-sided connected stage below. In front of the stage was a row of choice seats; wealthy families who didn't want to sit in the upper boxes naturally sat in those seats. The play hadn't started yet. Pingjun sat in the box and swept a glance below, and she saw Mrs. Li sitting in the choice seats below. Looking to the side, it was Li Boran, and next to Li Boran, there was an empty seat.

Jiang Xueting was drinking tea when he heard a "clatter." He turned his head and saw that Ye Pingjun had knocked over the spiced beans on the table, spilling them all over the floor. He couldn't help but laugh, "Why are you so careless? If Auntie were here, she would definitely say you’re clumsy."

Ye Pingjun forced a smile, "It was my oversight. Xueting, I don’t want to watch this play. Let’s go." Jiang Xueting was slightly surprised, and seeing her face gradually turning red, he assumed it was because the box was too hot, so he said, "If you’re hot, I’ll go out and buy some soda." After finishing, he stood up to buy the soda. Just then, Mrs. Li looked up toward the upper floor. Panicked, Ye Pingjun turned back and called out, "Xueting." But he had already walked out.

Ye Pingjun’s heart was in even greater turmoil. She thought she would just leave once Xueting came back. She saw Mrs. Li below smiling and saying something to Li Boran beside her. Li Boran smiled and waved over two close guards, giving them a few instructions. The two guards nodded and turned to walk out of the theater.

The play on the stage was just about to start, and after the gongs and drums had sounded for a while, several guards surrounded Yu Changxuan as he approached. Li Boran had already stood up and smiled, "Fifth Young Master, you are truly hard to invite. I made three or four calls to the Ministry of the Army before I could invite you to favor us with your presence."

Yu Changxuan sat in the empty seat next to Li Boran and said, "Big Brother isn't unaware that I don't have much interest in this Peking Opera. Why call me over for no reason?" He was saying this when he saw a Li family servant bring over a set of iron-red-enamel ruyi-pattern teacups. The porcelain was thin, and the glaze was translucent. Yu Changxuan picked one up to examine it in his palm and laughed, "This must be official kiln porcelain from the Daoguang era, right? To bring such an antique just to watch a play—such extravagance. How much military funding has Big Brother embezzled this year?"

Mrs. Li hurriedly said, "Fifth Young Master, don't talk nonsense. This was part of my dowry brought to the Li family. It was specifically to entertain you, fearing you might think the teacups in the theater were unclean, that I specially asked my subordinates to bring it over. You say the word ‘embezzled’ so easily—if your father finds out, what will happen to our Boran?!"

Yu Changxuan laughed. A subordinate walked up and brewed some high-quality Pu’er tea. Yu Changxuan lifted the teacup and said, "Big Brother also knows I don't like to drink tea and watch plays. I will leave after drinking this cup of yours." Li Boran smiled meaningfully, "Who asked you to come and watch the play? What I called you here to watch is the person you think about all day."

Yu Changxuan was still holding the teacup; he lifted his eyes to glance at Li Boran. Li Boran gestured toward the box seat on the upper floor. Yu Changxuan looked up and saw Ye Pingjun sitting alone in the box. He lowered his eyes silently, took a slow sip of tea, put the teacup back on the table, and said nothing more, turning his head to watch the play.

Mrs. Li and Li Boran exchanged a smile. Mrs. Li immediately said obsequiously to Yu Changxuan, "Fifth Young Master, do you want to go up yourself? Or should I call her down?"

Yu Changxuan kept his gaze on the stage, watching the red-faced and white-faced actors singing in a high-pitched manner, as if he had become entranced. After a long while, he said indifferently, "Why should I go up!”

Mrs. Li laughed, "All right, then I’ll be a good person to the end and go invite our little sister Pingjun down." She stood up, smiled toward the upper box, and beckoned smilingly to Ye Pingjun. The guards standing behind her had already gone upstairs to invite Ye Pingjun.

There were naturally many people selling snacks and candies outside Yuchun Garden. Jiang Xueting remembered that Pingjun had eaten very little for dinner because she was in such a hurry to watch the play. Seeing some steaming glutinous rice lotus roots that looked very sweet and appetizing, he asked the vendor to wrap a portion in a lotus leaf. He was just taking out money when he heard a voice from behind, "I don't know what Miss Ye is quarreling about with the Fifth Young Master again. A while back they were sweet and inseparable, but now it’s better—they don't even sit together to watch a play, ignoring each other from top to bottom, with Mrs. Li having to mediate in the middle."

Another voice said mockingly, "I think Miss Ye is ungrateful. Relying on the fact that the Fifth Young Master has spent some effort on her, she’s acting a bit haughty. If Mrs. Li didn't consider that Miss Ye is her cousin Miss Bai’s classmate, she wouldn't bother with such matters. Does our Fifth Young Master lack women?!"

Jiang Xueting turned around to see two guards standing not far behind him, their guns slung over their shoulders, smoking and puffing, talking non-stop. Jiang Xueting was just watching when he felt a heat in his hands. He turned to see the vendor who had sold him the lotus root placing it wrapped in the lotus leaf into his hands. He stood dazed for a long time, but suddenly tossed the lotus root away, said, "I don't want it," and turned to walk into the theater. He had only walked a few steps up the stairs when he saw Ye Pingjun standing in front of the choice seats facing the stage, with a smiling woman beside her, holding her hand and talking to her affectionately.

Watching the prosperity and grandeur on the stage, the music of the strings and flutes in his ears turned into a piercing noise in the blink of an eye. Jiang Xueting’s body paused, and he stood frozen on the stairs.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Li was still holding Pingjun’s hand, talking intimately, saying, "It’s a pity that when you came to my house last time, you knew how to call me ‘sister.’ In such a short time, you’ve forgotten me and your brother-in-law and don't come to visit." Ye Pingjun smiled, "Schoolwork is heavy."

Mrs. Li held Pingjun’s hand and laughed, "People always say that if things are meant to be, you can't avoid them. Isn't this an encounter in the theater? Quickly, come meet your brother-in-law and the Fifth Young Master." She pushed Pingjun forward. Pingjun nodded to Li Boran and smiled, "Brother-in-law." Li Boran leaned over in his seat with a smile. Pingjun then turned to Yu Changxuan and said, "Fifth Young Master." Who knew that Yu Changxuan acted as if he hadn't heard her, turned his head, and said something indifferently to the attendant beside him, looking completely as if he didn't care to look at her.

Mrs. Li and Li Boran were stunned. Li Boran hurriedly stood up, gave up his seat, and smiled, "Little sister Pingjun, sit down and watch the play for a while." Mrs. Li attempted to push Pingjun into the seat next to Yu Changxuan, but Pingjun shook her hand off, turned to Mrs. Li, and smiled, "I came with my boyfriend; he must be looking everywhere for me by now. I won't disturb your play. I’m going now."

The smile on Li Boran’s face froze. Mrs. Li was still staring at Yu Changxuan, dazed. Ye Pingjun had already walked away from her side and went straight out the main gate of the theater. As soon as she stepped out, a burst of cool air blew in her face, and she felt a little more at ease. She immediately busied herself looking for Jiang Xueting. Seeing people coming and going, there was no sign of him. She didn't dare to go back in to look for him and was just feeling lost when she heard a voice from behind, "Why did you come out?"

Ye Pingjun turned around and saw Jiang Xueting walking out. She stepped up quickly, rubbed her temples, and acted as if she were in discomfort. "It’s suffocating inside. I have a terrible headache. Let’s go back."

Jiang Xueting looked at her and said, "You didn't even have time for dinner because you wanted to watch the play, and now you want to leave just as it’s started. Your temper is truly becoming more and more eccentric." Seeing his words were strange, Pingjun hurriedly said, "I really have a headache. If you want to watch it, I’ll accompany you back in."

Jiang Xueting smiled, "I’ll see you home." He reached out to flag down a rickshaw, helped Pingjun onto it, sat down himself, and said to the rickshaw puller, "13 Chang'an Alley, Shuangde Road." The rickshaw puller took off running. It was a night with a slightly cool breeze, and the two sat on the rickshaw. Jiang Xueting reached out to hold Pingjun’s hand and smiled, "Why are you so cold?"

Pingjun said, "It must have been too hot in the theater, and I got a bit sweaty. Once I came out and the wind blew, naturally I felt cold."

Jiang Xueting smiled faintly, lowering his head to look at her white, crystal-clear small hands. Seeing her fingernails were trimmed cleanly and faintly tinted with a red glow, he said, "I remember when we were kids, you would always nag me to climb walls to steal balsams from other people’s houses for you to dye your nails. You must have been seven then? At such a young age, you already knew how to love beauty, making me fall off the wall and get a huge bump on the back of my head that has never really gone away."

Pingjun laughed, "Has it gone away now?"

Jiang Xueting extended Pingjun’s hand to the back of his own head and revealed a mischievous smile, "Touch it yourself and see if it’s gone." Pingjun pulled her hand back with some effort, glared at him with a smile, and said, "Sit properly. You try to blame everything on me. My mother said back then that you were naturally rebellious—it wasn't a bump from a fall."

Jiang Xueting smiled and whispered, "Even if I’m rebellious, it’s for you that I’m rebellious. You want to clear yourself of it? No way!" Pingjun felt her face burning under his gaze, so she lowered her head and recited with a smile, "You really are getting more and more unreasonable."

Just then, the rickshaw arrived at her front door. No sooner had the carriage stopped than Pingjun got off. She heard footsteps behind her and turned back to see Jiang Xueting also getting off. Pingjun smiled, "It’s so late and you still haven't gone back. Be careful your brother doesn't flare up—it’ll be terrible."

Jiang Xueting didn't speak but stood there. Pingjun stood under the jujube tree at her front door, smiling as she watched him. Jiang Xueting stepped forward and stood in front of her. The moonlight shone slantingly, and his face began to turn slightly red. After a long while, he said a bit stutteringly, "These four years in Fusang... I thought of you every day, missed you. I kept writing to you, and you... wrote to me..."

Ye Pingjun couldn't help but chuckle, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Jiang Xueting’s face turned even redder. After a while, he finally gathered his courage, grabbed Pingjun’s hand, and said, "Pingjun, I... can I kiss you?"

This sentence made Pingjun blush even more, and she hurriedly tried to pull her hand back. Who knew that at this moment his strength was surprisingly great, and he lowered his head to lean in toward her, his voice still trembling, "Pingjun, I... I..." Although the two had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, this was their first close contact. Ye Pingjun felt even more timid. In the blink of an eye, his hot breath had already brushed against her face, and she subconsciously dodged, "Jiang Xueting, what are you doing..." Just then, with a "splash," a basin of cold water was poured over them, drenching Jiang Xueting completely.

This was exactly fire meeting cold ice; in the blink of an eye, it turned into nothing. Both of them were stunned for a moment. They turned their heads and saw Mother Zhao standing at the doorway, holding a water basin, also dumbfounded. Looking at these two, her face turned pale. It took her a long time to stutter, "This... what is this—how did this happen? Running into you again! You two didn't even make a sound. It was pitch black, and I just came out to pour a basin of water, just pour a basin of water!"

Mother Zhao left this behind and turned to hide in the courtyard. From afar, one could still hear her muttering, "What a sin, this old woman is really committing a sin!"

Ye Pingjun looked up at the dripping wet Jiang Xueting, couldn't help but chuckle, and turned to run into her own courtyard. She pressed her hands against the double doors, wanting to close them, but saw Jiang Xueting still frozen under the jujube tree, his face covered in sparkling water droplets. She opened the door just a crack, her dark eyes bright, the corners of her lips curled, and she whispered to him with a gentle smile, "Dummy, hurry back, you’ll catch a cold."

Jiang Xueting finally regained his senses, hurriedly replied, and looked at her again. Ye Pingjun lowered her head, her cheeks covered in a blush, and ignored him. She closed the door and turned back to see Mrs. Ye shaking a fan under the locust tree, smilingly watching her. Pingjun felt even more shy and whispered, "Mom, I’m back." Mrs. Ye laughed, "Why are you back so early? Was the play good?"

Pingjun said, "Yes, it was quite good." Mrs. Ye laughed and said, "Come, tell me about it." Pingjun answered, and then couldn't help but turn to take another look, but she saw only a tall enclosing wall and the jujube tree that grew higher than the wall. She didn't know if he had left or not. Her lips curled into a playful smile as she walked over to the stone table and sat down. Seeing tea on the table, she felt thirsty and poured a cup to drink, only to hear Mrs. Ye urging, "I’m still waiting for you to tell me about the play. Hurry up and speak."

Pingjun hadn't watched the play and couldn't answer for a moment, so she prevaricated, "It’s all the same old thing—it tells of a husband who doesn't trust his wife, but after experiencing some things, they return to each other."

Mrs. Ye didn't quite understand and, shaking her fan, said slowly, "Could it be that the man was fickle and fell in love with another woman?" Pingjun said, "That didn't happen in the play, but there are too many fickle men in this world—abandoning the old for the new, so why is there a need to watch it in a play?"

She said it distractedly, subconsciously looking toward the direction of the wall again, only thinking about whether Jiang Xueting had left or not. Hearing a few cat meows, she suspected it was Jiang Xueting playing a trick there. Unexpectantly, this small girl’s thoughts were hanging on her face without her knowing. Mrs. Ye saw it and laughed, "Is Xueting still standing outside?"

Pingjun was suddenly embarrassed, hurriedly changing the subject, "He left long ago. Mom, my hand is very itchy; help me scratch it." She extended her snow-white wrist onto Mrs. Ye’s knee, looking all smiles. Mrs. Ye laughed and tapped Pingjun’s head affectionately with the fan, whispering, "You child, how old are you and you’re still acting like a baby? Go take a look—if Xueting is still standing outside, let him in. He’s always coming in and out—what’s happened today? Why are you acting crazy again?"

Pingjun felt even more guilty. She stood up, face red, and said, "I wasn't acting crazy with him. If you want me to look, then I’ll go look." She walked to the door, opened the double doors, and glanced outside. She saw that under the jujube tree it was empty, with only tree shadows on the ground cast by the moonlight. She felt slightly disappointed, but she still walked down the stone steps and stood in the middle of the road. Looking up, she saw a little kitten jump from the branches of the jujube tree onto the wall to the side, stepping on the tiles of the wall, and going away with a "meow..."

Pingjun turned to head back to the courtyard, but her eyes caught a car parked in the darkness of the alley ahead. She was startled, looked closely, and heard a car door open—an exceptionally loud sound in this night alley. Yu Changxuan had already stepped out of the car, standing in the open space watching her.

Ye Pingjun looked up and met his gaze directly; her heart jumped violently. Across this distance, she could still feel the two deep lines of sight shooting directly from his eyes. She was suddenly terrified, and in her panic, she turned her back, actually freezing there. He wanted to walk up, but saw her turn around and run back into the courtyard with unsteady steps, as if dodging some flood or wild beast. The double doors were clumsily closed by her, making a "clanging" sound.

The moonlight was like water, the ground filled with tree shadows, and the night alley was so quiet that only the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves remained.

Yu Changxuan stood there, motionless.

Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao saw the situation, hesitated for a long while, and then pushed the car door open to get out. The cool night wind blew in waves. He looked at Yu Changxuan’s expression and couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated, trying his best to express himself tactfully, "Fifth Young Master, if we go back too late, I’m afraid the Lady will be worried."

Yu Changxuan was truly filled with resentment. Without a word, he gave the car body a heavy kick—sharp and heavy—that even made Wu Zuoxiao tremble. He knew this was Yu Changxuan’s old habit of venting his rage, but this kick against the hard car made even Wu Zuoxiao’s face turn pale.

After Yu Changxuan finished that kick, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, but for a long time, no sound came out. Wu Zuoxiao watched Yu Changxuan be silent for that long, his eyes rotating in a wide circle from Yu Changxuan’s foot, still landing on Yu Changxuan’s face. In the end, he was brave enough to ask, "Fifth Young Master, does it hurt?"

Yu Changxuan finally couldn't hold on and bent over, his head leaning against the car beside him, saying muffledly, "Get out of here!"

The night was very deep, yet the Yu mansion was still filled with bright lights. Butler Zhou Tai had arranged for people to bring over freshly made rock-sugar pear juice, placing it in the parlor for people to take. Jun Daiti had also come, and she and Qixuan were clattering away, playing with a nine-ring puzzle. Minru and Jinxuan were fiddling with new flower patterns they had just cut on the side. Qixuan suddenly said, "Sister Daiti, you got it wrong. I finally managed to dismantle one piece, and with you doing it like this, haven't all my efforts gone to waste?"

The look of distraction on Daiti’s face was already apparent. After being scolded by Qixuan, she put down the nine-ring puzzle and said, "I’m not playing anymore. With all this clatter, my head hurts." Qixuan said, "Then why don't we go upstairs to Second Sister’s room and play some small games? How about that?" Daiti saw that they were heading upstairs, so she picked up the nine-ring puzzle again and said softly, "Let’s sit a while longer; after a while, I’ll go home."

Minru smiled slightly, looked outside the parlor, and said, "It’s really strange today. How come it’s so late and the Fifth Brother hasn't come back yet?" Jinxuan picked up an embroidery hoop, poked a few stitches, and smiled casually, "I suppose he’s gone dancing with the Tao sisters again. Fifth Brother isn't someone who can stay idle; the First Sister-in-law has seen it too. Fifth Brother and the Tao family’s second girl have been interacting very closely lately."

Daiti remained silent, sitting there, but her complexion changed, turning somewhat red. Minru said nonchalantly to Jinxuan, "I did see it, but our father and Minister Tao’s political views are quite at odds. Looking at the pair of Fifth Brother and the second Miss Tao, I’m afraid it won't last long."

They were just saying this when they heard a flurry of footsteps outside. Jun Daiti immediately turned her head to look at the parlor door, but it was Mrs. Yu who walked in from outside, followed by several people from the security office. Daiti turned her head back and silently threw the nine-ring puzzle aside. They heard Mrs. Yu saying as she walked, "Everything was fine—why did he run off to Fengtai? That place has always been a bit windy and very cold. What kind of demon has possessed him now?"

The attendant officer replied in detail, "Fifth Young Master says that there have been a lot of affairs at the Ministry of the Army these days, and his staying in the mansion to work has disturbed you, so he went to Fengtai. He will return once he finishes his work."

Mrs. Yu sat on the sofa, and after hearing these few sentences, she couldn't help but laugh and say, "It’s hard for him to have such filial piety; it shows my worrying over him hasn't been in vain." She thought for a moment and added, "Then take a few cooks and servants over, and also take Qiuluo. This girl has been serving him, so she’s quite dedicated. Also, let..."

Before Mrs. Yu finished speaking, she heard Qixuan laughing, "And bring two pounds of rock sugar, a pound of bird’s nest, and everything—ginseng, deer antler, crab, shrimp legs, rose dew—bring them all. Once Father comes back, give Fifth Brother another whipping—that will be complete."

This sentence had a great allusion; except for Jun Daiti, even the eldest sister-in-law Minru, who had married in later, knew it and couldn't help laughing, saying, "Our little sister is really getting more and more daring for her age. Calm down!" Jinxuan also laughed, "You little six, you aren't big, but you know quite a lot."

As it turned out, the Yu family had been a family of generals and commanders since their ancestors—a noble clan, incredibly prominent. Almost all Yu men were born to be generals. Yu Changxuan was sent by his father to the South Ming Military Academy for training before he was ten. Mrs. Yu had always felt very sorry for this youngest son and spent her days sending precious medicinal materials and tonics to the military academy, even bringing family cooks to set up a small kitchen outside his dormitory to specifically serve Yu Changxuan. For a time, the name of the Yu family’s Fifth Young Master echoed throughout the South Ming Military Academy. When Father Yu returned from the battlefield and heard about this, he rushed to South Ming in a rage. When he walked into the small kitchen and saw that they were stewing rock-sugar bird’s nest porridge inside, Father Yu was so angry his eyes became bloodshot, and he hauled Yu Changxuan to the mansion and gave him a harsh whipping. Mrs. Yu was even punished and sent to the Yu family’s private villa, Fenghua Manor, to reflect on her actions for a month before the matter was settled.

At the moment, what Qixuan was talking about was this distant event, for which she was poked in the forehead by an amused Mrs. Yu. Additionally, Butler Zhou Tai walked in and led the attendant officer to arrange the things Mrs. Yu had just ordered. The attendant officer left the Yu mansion and went straight to Fengtai to report the orders.

Fengtai was another private villa of the Yu family, located below Yuxia Mountain in Jinling. Because most of the trees on the mountain were maple, in late autumn, red leaves flew everywhere, painting the forest in layers of color, hence the name Fengtai. This day was Gu Ruitong’s turn on duty. Just as dawn was breaking, he had taken a nap in the guard chief’s office when he heard a "bang" of a gunshot. Startled, he jumped up from his seat and rushed out the door in a few steps. An attendant officer said, "It’s in the backyard!" Gu Ruitong didn't say a word, led the guards to charge toward the backyard, and saw several guards who had arrived early standing there, while in the middle of the courtyard stood a man, straight as a rod—it was Yu Changxuan.

Gu Ruitong was startled, "Fifth Young Master!"

Yu Changxuan only held his arm straight, holding his handgun, aiming forward. Gu Ruitong waved his hand, letting those guards withdraw, and walked forward, smiling, "A gunshot early in the morning—Fifth Young Master, you aren't practicing shooting, you’re practicing our brothers’ courage."

Yu Changxuan didn't speak; his eyes were deep, like a pool of lake water. Gu Ruitong saw his expression was extremely ugly and, knowing his temper, stepped to the side. Suddenly he heard Yu Changxuan say coldly, "What does she count as? Does she think I’m going to beg for her favor again and again?"

Gu Ruitong was startled, and he saw Yu Changxuan lift his hand and fire another shot, hitting the bullseye dead-on. This gunshot was exceptionally piercing in the quiet early morning, startling the birds resting in the trees, making them fly about in a flurry. Gu Ruitong took a step forward, "Fifth Young Master, there are fragrant grasses everywhere in the world."

Yu Changxuan’s face was gloomy. He aimed at the bullseye for a long time without saying a word, then suddenly put away his sidearm, turned around, and left, throwing back only one cold sentence: "I don't believe I can't do anything to her!"

That morning, before the sun had fully risen, it cast its pale yellow light obliquely into the courtyard. The courtyard was filled with the fragrance of locust flowers. Pingjun had just finished washing her face, combed her hair into double round buns, and was carrying a washbasin to pour water at the roots of the locust tree when she saw Mother Zhao from across the way come out to pick vegetables. Remembering what happened last night, she blushed first and walked quickly into the room, almost bumping into her mother who was walking out. Mrs. Ye said, "What’s wrong? So reckless."

Pingjun smiled faintly, went into the room to get her blue cloth schoolbag, straightened her skirt, and just walked out the door when she heard Mother Zhao greeting her with a smile, "Young lady, off to school?"

Pingjun hurriedly responded, not daring to look at Mother Zhao’s smiling expression, and heard her mother say, "Be careful on the road, don't get distracted and neglect your schoolwork." She replied, "I know," and went to open the main gate. Just as she pushed open one door, she froze instantly. A car was parked in front of her house, with several guards standing beside it, and Gu Ruitong was standing to the side smoking. Upon hearing the door sound, he raised his head.

The smile on Pingjun’s face solidified instantly. Gu Ruitong saw Ye Pingjun, threw the cigarette in his hand onto the ground, stomped it out with his foot, looked up, and said indifferently, "Miss Ye, come with us."

Ye Pingjun looked at Gu Ruitong, silently bit her lip, and let go. After a long while, she said, "Brother Gu, I know you’re a good person. Can you let me go this one time?"

The expression on Gu Ruitong’s face seemed to freeze, showing a cold detachment. The attendant officer next to him had already opened the car door. Gu Ruitong stood at attention, lowered his head, and made a gesture with his hand for her to "please," saying dutifully, "Miss Ye, get in."

Seeing him act like this, Ye Pingjun immediately said angrily, "It’s broad daylight—I don't believe that if I don't go, you’d dare to snatch a person!"

Gu Ruitong didn't even respond, only saying indifferently, "Miss Ye, please get in!"

As they were in this stalemate, the main gate opened, and Mrs. Ye and Mother Zhao heard the noise and walked out. Seeing this situation, their faces turned pale. Mrs. Ye grabbed Pingjun’s hand and hid her behind her. Pingjun saw her mother’s hands were trembling. She knew that she definitely had to get through today’s ordeal, but her mother had just recovered from a severe illness and could not withstand a shock. Calculating clearly in her heart, she whispered to Mrs. Ye, "Mom, don't panic; I’m just going to a friend’s house."

Mrs. Ye was so frightened she had lost her composure, her voice trembling, "Ping’er..."

Pingjun said nothing else, walked to Gu Ruitong’s front, lowered her head slightly, and got into the car. Gu Ruitong slammed the car door shut, walked to the front of the car, and got into the front seat. Four other guards stood on the running boards on the sides of the car to escort her, and they drove off all the way.

Because Fengtai was under Yuxia Mountain, it was a bit windy, and even in this summer, the mansion still felt somewhat cold. The courtyard was exceptionally clean, planted with pine, cypress, and maple trees, which spread out in large, lush shade. There were some thousand-leaf pomegranates placed by the small pond, with small fish swimming self-contentedly under the large, sprawling leaves.

Gu Ruitong was in the duty room, having just drunk a few sips of tea, when he heard a sound from the door upstairs. He walked out and saw the Director of the Political Department of the Ministry of the Army walking down. It seemed their official business had been completed. He then went upstairs to Yu Changxuan’s office. The door was left ajar; he called out "Fifth Young Master" and pushed it open.

Yu Changxuan was holding a file and reading it. Seeing Gu Ruitong walk in, he casually threw the file onto the table and laughed, "Look, another dragon and tiger battle. A large portion of the new students admitted to South Ming this term are from the Mou family. It seems the old Mou man is going to have a fight with Chu Wenfu."

Gu Ruitong said, "I just saw the Director of the Political Department’s expression wasn't very good. It seems the Fifth Young Master didn't do as he wished."

Yu Changxuan smiled and pulled a cigarette from a cigarette box on the side. That smile carried a touch of proud flamboyance and complacency, "I’m most annoyed by this Director of the Political Department—he’s whining all day like a little mama! I just won't give him this face, making him neither able to go up nor down."

Gu Ruitong said, "I fear that insulting his dignity and letting the Commander know..." The "Commander" he spoke of was Yu Changxuan’s father, Yu Zhongquan. Yu Changxuan took the cigarette into his mouth, took out a lighter to light it, and the smoke curled up. He looked at Gu Ruitong, a faint smile on his refined face, "Brother Gu, can you guess what my father is thinking?"

Gu Ruitong couldn't say. Yu Changxuan smiled, pulled out his sidearm from the holster, the muzzle facing down, and slowly slid it over the national map on the desktop. The pitch-black muzzle stopped at the boundary of Xishui and South Huai Mountain—this was the dividing line between the Jiangbei Xiao family and the central government ruled by the four major families in the south.

Yu Changxuan looked at the map, held the cigarette between the fingers of his left hand, gripped the sidearm with his right hand, and the muzzle slowly stopped on the sphere of influence of the Jiangbei Xiao warlords. However, at this moment, that expanse of beautiful rivers and mountains was under his muzzle. Yu Changxuan looked up and smiled indifferently, "Brother Gu, let me tell you one thing: my father once said to your father that only here can it be considered an enemy, which must be eliminated. The rest are just garbage; let them make trouble!"

The Yu and Gu families had been life-and-death friends for two generations. Gu Ruitong had also heard this from his father, but hearing it again from Yu Changxuan’s mouth today, such ambition and hegemony were still chilling. Gu Ruitong steadied his mind and saw Yu Changxuan smoking there, silently looking at the maple leaves all over the mountain outside the window. Gu Ruitong lowered his head and said, "Fifth Young Master, that Miss Ye has been waiting in the parlor for the whole morning."

Yu Changxuan turned his head and said indifferently, "Then let her continue waiting!" He threw the cigarette butt into an ashtray on the side, walked over to get the horsewhip hanging on the wall, and turned around, smiling, "Minister Chen of the Ministry of National Defense gave me a good horse. I’m going to tame the horse on the drill ground this afternoon. Let’s go, I’ll take you to widen your horizons along the way!"

Gu Ruitong saw Yu Changxuan’s high spirits and hesitated, "But Miss Ye is still..." Before he could finish, Yu Changxuan turned his head, "Why all the nonsense!" Gu Ruitong hurriedly stopped talking, followed Yu Changxuan, and walked out. With a few additional adjutants and attendant officers, the group left Fengtai and went straight to the drill ground.

It was around ten o’clock in the morning, and the Jiang residence was very quiet. Jiang Xueting’s eldest brother, Jiang Xueyong, had gone to the money shop early to get busy. Since returning from Fusang, Jiang Xueting had been living in the small study in the backyard. At this moment, he had only read a few pages of a book in the study, feeling a bit bored. The time was still too early, and it wasn't appropriate to go to the Ye residence, so he looked out the window a few times. In the courtyard was a lush osmanthus tree, its leaves layered one upon another, shading a large area of tree shadows, and several slender-waisted bees were buzzing as they flew among the leaves.

Jiang Xueting looked at the scenery in a daze for a while, then suddenly smiled faintly, and the image of Ye Pingjun couldn't help but appear in his mind. He loved her in his heart, so naturally, he thought of her every moment. Just as he was thinking this, he saw an old maid walk into the courtyard, calling toward the window of the study, "Young Master Jiang, the Lady asks you to go to the front."

Xueting heard it was his sister-in-law calling, hurriedly replied, packed up the books on the table, and walked to the front hall. He heard a burst of laughter coming from the living room and heard his sister-in-law saying repeatedly, "Adjutant Li and Mrs. Li have truly saved us. If you hadn't told me this news today, our Xueyong would have suffered a great loss. Just yesterday, he was saying he wanted to move a large sum of money to the Central Bank to buy gold, saying it was a great, highly profitable thing."

Sitting on one side of the living room sofa was Li Boran’s wife, wearing a persimmon-red gold-sprinkled cheongsam, very charming and amorous. At this moment, she was acting incredibly close to Mrs. Jiang, "It’s fortunate I came to inform you early. You haven't bought it yet. Think about it: the government, in order to withdraw currency, dumped public gold, and it was at such a low price—where in the world could such cheap things exist? There are naturally some minor complications involved—the so-called gold bonds—if the government doesn't recognize them in the end, it’s just a pile of waste paper. Your Xueyong and our Boran are friends, and now there is this extra layer of relationship with the Fifth Young Master. Yesterday Boran came back and told me that I was afraid Xueyong would suffer a loss, so I told him to rush over and inform you. Isn't this ‘wealth and sex’ just a trap for people?"

Jiang Xueting stood at the door of the hall, seeing his sister-in-law full of gratitude toward Mrs. Li, and the sincerity in Mrs. Li’s brows was as if she were revealing her whole heart. Just as he was stunned, Mrs. Jiang saw him, revealing a rare look of a smile, and said to Jiang Xueting, "Xueting, that good little sister you know has really helped our family a lot."

Mrs. Jiang had always been cold to Jiang Xueting, but now she was suddenly this kind. Jiang Xueting was even more astonished, "What little sister?" Mrs. Jiang hurriedly gave Jiang Xueting a wink, laughed, "Who else could it be? Isn't it Pingjun? Pingjun really has a blessed fate, and we’ve even caught some of her luck." Mrs. Li then turned to glance at Jiang Xueting, smiling affectionately, "This must be Pingjun’s brother, Mr. Jiang, right?"

Jiang Xueting said with annoyance, "How did I become her brother?"

Mrs. Li laughed, "I heard Pingjun nagging about you—such a brother, who studied politics and law abroad in Fusang, and upon returning, entered the South Ming Military Academy as a school affairs commissioner. Truly a young talent. I’ve long wanted to meet you. You are also lucky to have such a little sister."

Jiang Xueting felt as if he were in the clouds, and he saw his sister-in-law laughing, "According to what you said, the matter between the Fifth Young Master and Pingjun is all but decided?" Mrs. Li leaned over to Mrs. Jiang, her lips pursed in a smile, and whispered, "That’s right. Let me give you a hint, Mrs. Jiang: you and the Yu family are almost going to be in-laws. The Fifth Young Master treats Pingjun so well that it’s simply... holding her in his palm for fear she might drop. Even if Pingjun acts a little temperamental, the Fifth Young Master will coax her in a thousand ways. Not to mention anything else, a while back, Pingjun’s mother was so sick, wasn't it our Fifth Young Master who sent people to send her to the hospital? In daily life, silks, satins, food, and drink—the Fifth Young Master has been attentive to everything."

Mrs. Li’s whispering was loud enough for Jiang Xueting to hear clearly. She paused, then turned her head and smiled meaningfully at Jiang Xueting, "Let me add one more thing: Young Master Jiang, just by being the Fifth Young Master’s brother-in-law, are you afraid you won't have good things in the future? Just wait and see."

Jiang Xueting suddenly understood. He looked at the smiling Mrs. Li, and his head felt light and his feet heavy. A buzzing sound rang in his ears, and he felt lost and at a loss for what to do. He actually turned and walked out, not even listening to his sister-in-law’s continuous calls, and left without looking back.

Jiang Xueting walked out of the Jiang residence in such a daze, his ears filled with all those words Mrs. Li had said, which churned inside him, making him feel as uncomfortable as if the sea were overturning and the river breaking its dikes. He tried to piece together what he had seen and heard these past few days, and it really was convincing. He felt that inexplicable aura surging up. He was a bit suspicious by nature, a character who had been prone to wild imagination and tying himself in knots since childhood. Now, the more he thought, the truer it seemed, and the more he thought, the angrier he became. Less than an hour into his walk, he didn't need others to bother inserting rumors; he himself could fully understand the phrase "Gold is the most heartless thing; it changes the hearts of all the daughters in the world."

He walked unconsciously to the bustling street and saw a luxurious car parked on the side of the road. A little maid was holding a bouquet of flowers and sending it through the car window. From inside the car window came a woman’s displeased voice, "What is this coarse flower? I told you to buy some yellow roses—who told you to buy this kind of weird, strange thing?"

The little maid said, "There are no more yellow roses, Second Young Miss. These flowers are also very beautiful; they are hydrangeas."

Tao Ziyi reached out from the car window, pinched a round hydrangea flower, tossed it aside, and said, "I don't care what kind of flower it is; I just want yellow roses. Go buy them for me." The flower hit Jiang Xueting squarely. Jiang Xueting was dazed and reached out to catch the hydrangea. Looking over in astonishment, Tao Ziyi snorted, "Bastard brat, what are you looking at? Are you looking for death?" After saying this, she raised her head and said to the driver in front, "Drive."

The small car drove away rapidly. Jiang Xueting hadn't put his mind on that car; he just stood on the roadside, a touch of sadness showing in his clear eyes. A rickshaw passed in front of him, the bell on the carriage making a clanking sound, and the rickshaw puller shouted at him, "Sir, do you want a ride?"

But he could hear nothing. His expression was vacant, and his mind was a mess. Unconsciously, he crushed the cluster of hydrangeas in his hand and scattered them at his feet. After a long while, he slightly tilted his head and looked at the clear, blue sky, his face displaying a tragic color, and he let out a long sigh.

In the afternoon, the sunlight shifted and shone on the other side. The reception room on the third floor was a bit cold. The window was half-open, and in the distance was the Yuxia Mountain, which looked like lush green mountains, with the sound of the wind blowing like the rising and falling of the tide.

The reception room was very quiet, with only the grandfather clock leaning against the wall, its hands moving second by second, making a ticking sound.

The food on the table had long since gone cold. Ye Pingjun sat on the sofa, her soles feeling numb and her hands cold. From time to time, the sound of guards walking back and forth would come from outside the door. She turned to look out the window and saw the blue sky outside was blindingly bright. She remembered when she was very, very small, it was also such a beautiful day. Jiang Xueting carried a bamboo pole and took her to catch cicadas, catch crickets, and even mix mud to block ant holes. At that time, they attended a private school together, and because they were playful, they were late for school. Jiang Xueting would take her to climb over the school wall. By the wall was a lush pomegranate tree, which shaded half the wall, and the brilliant pomegranate flowers were dazzling, like a tree of blooming flames. She sat on the wall, one hand covering her eyes, the other gripping the tiles on the wall tightly, but she just didn't dare to jump down. Jiang Xueting, who had already climbed over, stood at the bottom of the wall and beckoned to her, "Pingjun, Pingjun, don't be afraid. I’ll catch you, jump down."

She slowly removed the hand covering her eyes and looked down at Jiang Xueting under the wall. He was wearing a clean long gown, looking innocent and childish, stretching his arms, looking up and shouting at her, "It’s okay, it’s okay, I’ll catch you, jump quickly."

She was also a naughty one, so she gathered her courage and called out crisply, "Xueting, you have to catch me." She closed her eyes, made up her mind, and jumped down. The wind blew past her ears—it turned out that this jump, in that moment of time, seemed as if she had fallen for such a long, long time... her whole heart was suspended, as if she had stepped into a void, falling directly into an unfathomable black hole...

The door suddenly made a sound, followed by footsteps. The cold Ye Pingjun suddenly woke up from her dream, lifted her head from the sofa, and saw the night sky was already pitch black outside the window. The light in the reception room had been turned on, and Gu Ruitong was standing at the door leading several guards. Gu Ruitong looked at Pingjun and said politely, "Miss Ye, the Fifth Young Master says he doesn't want to see you; please go back."

When she walked out of Fengtai, the night was silent. Fengtai was so large, and a guard was leading her out. He was standing on the terrace on the third floor, watching her, but she didn't know. The lights in the courtyard were turned on, and the pines, cypresses, and maple trees cast long shadows on the cobblestone-paved roads. Her moon-white gown swayed gently in the night wind, and the surrounding scenery was bathed in the night, looking a bit dim, but she remained radiant, like a flying butterfly.

He held a cup of freshly brewed orchid tea in his hand, quietly watching her from afar while slowly lifting his hand to bring the teacup to his lips and drinking it slowly. The fragrance of the tea was enchanting. Her figure finally disappeared, and the path became empty, leaving only mottled tree shadows.

His heart also became empty in an instant, suspended there, up and down. Her figure was engraved in his mind, her every frown and smile, a gentle turn, or a faint glance back...

He stood there for a long time without moving.

It was in the deep of the night, with a pale golden moon hanging in the sky. Because the residents around Chang'an Alley were all ordinary people, it was even quieter at this hour. The military vehicle stopped slowly. Just as Ye Pingjun was about to get off, Gu Ruitong had already opened the car door for her from outside. Pingjun got off the car and walked toward her house. Gu Ruitong got back into the car, and the car drove out of Chang'an Alley quickly.

Hearing the sound of the car fading away, Ye Pingjun felt as if she had lost all her strength in an instant, her head immediately feeling light and her feet heavy. She reached out and held onto the jujube tree to the side, and her wildly beating heart slowly calmed down. She heard footsteps coming from ahead. She had been worried all day, and her nerves were still taut. In a panic, she looked up, but it was Jiang Xueting.

Pingjun breathed a slight sigh of relief, "Xueting..."

He said indifferently, "What were you doing?"

Hearing the coldness in his tone, Ye Pingjun felt her heart sink. She didn't know how to answer him for a moment. Jiang Xueting had waited for her at the door all day, watching her get off the military vehicle with his own eyes. Coupled with her expression at this moment, he was even more resentful. He began to speak incessantly, with a coldness like frost and rain, "You don't need to find words to prevaricate me; I know everything. It’s truly hard for the Fifth Young Master to be so attentive—car rides, silks and pastries, not a single one missing. Even watching a play, you were exchanging glances from top to bottom. I’ve already become a brother-in-law, and I hear there will be many, many benefits in the future. I’ll thank the little sister here first. When you become the Fifth Young Master’s wife in the future, don't forget to promote me!"

Ye Pingjun’s face was pale. Seeing his angry appearance, she knew he had misunderstood. Her eyes were clear, "Who told you these things?!" Jiang Xueting laughed coldly on the spot, "Do I need others to tell me? I have eyes to see for myself!"

Pingjun had been with him since she was small and knew his personality well. Instead of getting entangled in unclear explanations, it was better to cut the Gordian knot. She pulled the jade hairpin from her hair, reached out, and handed it to him, saying neither humble nor arrogant, "I don't know where you heard these things, but if you believe me, don't be so angry—listen to my explanation properly. If you don't believe me, take this jade hairpin and from now on pretend you don't know me!"

Hearing her clear words, Jiang Xueting felt a bit anxious in his heart, but he didn't want to be lower than her in momentum or lose his face. He supported himself and said coldly, "What do I want with something that’s already dirty?"

Ye Pingjun looked at Jiang Xueting and said word for word, "It’s not dirty!"

Jiang Xueting never expected her to be so self-righteous and couldn't help but clench his fists tightly. Anger rushed to his head in waves, and he said coldly, "Only when the person is clean is the thing clean!"

That sentence was simply meant to gouge out her heart. Ye Pingjun only looked at him; in an instant, tears filled her eyes. Although she was very strong on weekdays, she was still a little girl after all. At this moment, she couldn't help but choke up, "What did you say!"

Jiang Xueting hummed. The anger in his chest was almost going to consume him. He loved her so much, and she was actually so vain. He had been stubborn and obstinate since he was small; things he had set his mind on were hard to change. At this moment, he turned his head and said bitterly, "Only when the person is clean is the thing clean. If the person is not clean! How clean could this thing be?"

The sorrow in Ye Pingjun’s heart was simply overwhelming. Her hands and feet were cold, yet she still stood straight. Her gaze was clear and cold; she simply didn't bother to explain another word. Since he didn't believe her like this, what was the use of saying more? She was also proud and arrogant; how could she allow him to suspect and humiliate her like this? She grabbed the jade hairpin on the spot and threw it fiercely in his direction, saying with tears, "Jiang Xueting, take back your jade hairpin!"

The jade hairpin hit his body and bounced back, falling into a dark corner with a "clatter." He cared for her after all, so he hurriedly turned his head to look at her. He saw that under the moonlight, her pale face was covered in tears, and her body was shaking uncontrollably in the night wind. He couldn't bear it in his heart and wanted to step forward, but she pushed him away, ran into her courtyard, and without even looking at him, closed the door.

The night was dead silent, with only the jujube tree making a rustling sound in the cold night. The streetlights shone dimly, making one feel drowsy. Jiang Xueting stood on the stone steps for a long time, watching the tightly closed courtyard gate silently, but his heart felt empty.

He looked anxiously at the closed courtyard gate. For some reason, his heart began to beat fast. Her tearful, resolute appearance settled in his mind. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and the thoughts that rushed in were like a ball of tangled hemp. He whispered a single word: "Pingjun…”