The Lament of Autumn - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Coercion Through Affection, A Thought Exchanges for a Loved One; Indecision When Decisive Action is Needed, Two Hearts Become Severed

In the morning, the fragrance of locust trees permeated the courtyard. An old man selling five-spice dried bean curd carried his shoulder pole, walking from street to street. The calls of "Five-spice... bean curd..." drifted leisurely and distantly from the alleyway. From time to time, early-rising women would open their doors to buy some bean curd as a side dish for breakfast. Just as Mrs. Ye stepped out of the house, she saw Mother Zhao carrying a basin to head out, so she remarked, "Old dame, off to buy bean curd?"

Mother Zhao turned back to respond, then looked at Mrs. Ye, and then glanced at the inner room. "Miss..." Mrs. Ye laughed, "It’s nothing, she told me everything when she got back. It really was her classmate Bai Liyuan yesterday; that child is truly mischievous, deliberately staging that scene to scare us."

Mother Zhao quickly nodded, "As long as everything is fine, as long as everything is fine." She carried the basin to open the courtyard gate. The moment she opened it, she felt a heaviness at her feet; it turned out someone was sitting against the door. When she opened it, the person tumbled in with the momentum. Mother Zhao was first startled and let out an "Ouch," but when she looked closely, it was actually Jiang Xueting.

Mother Zhao cried out, "Hey, it’s Young Master Jiang! Mrs. Ye, come quickly and look, what is the meaning of this?" Jiang Xueting had been sleeping outside the gate for the entire night. Mother Zhao’s shout woke him up. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Mother Zhao and Mrs. Ye looking at him in astonishment. He hurriedly stood up, only then feeling his limbs numb and his body ice-cold. Mrs. Ye saw his state and knew it must have been Pingjun who had lost her temper with him; she hadn’t expected him to stay outside all night, so she hurriedly said, "Xueting, come into the house quickly, look at all the cold air on you."

Just as she finished speaking, she heard Ye Pingjun’s voice from the inner room, "Mom, don't let him in!"

Mrs. Ye turned back to look at the room, "You are being naughty again. Xueting has been freezing outside all night, why not let him come in? Why do you have such a big temper?"

Ye Pingjun did not talk back to her mother; she only walked out of the room, glanced at Jiang Xueting, and said coldly, "You’ve come to the wrong door, haven’t you? Our home is very dirty; it is no place for a clean young master like you to stay."

Jiang Xueting looked at Ye Pingjun, but ultimately said nothing. Mrs. Ye, watching them, knew that the matter between them had to be resolved by themselves, so she said to Mother Zhao, "Old dame, I will go with you to buy some bean curd." Mother Zhao nodded in agreement. Mrs. Ye took the opportunity to nudge Jiang Xueting into the courtyard, then closed the gate and followed Mother Zhao out.

Only the two of them remained in the courtyard. Ye Pingjun turned and walked into the house. Jiang Xueting walked forward a few steps until he was under the locust tree directly facing the door, where he stood, watching Ye Pingjun inside the house. Ye Pingjun washed her face and combed her hair inside. After finishing, she came out to pour the water. Seeing that he was still standing under the locust tree, she said, "Move aside."

Jiang Xueting said, "I know you are not that kind of person. I was just acting in the heat of the moment and talking nonsense last night."

Ye Pingjun placed the washbasin down with a "clang" and said coldly, "Young Master Jiang, make yourself clear. Exactly what kind of person am I not?"

Jiang Xueting looked at her and said, "I know you are not a vain person." Having frozen outside all night, his voice sounded a bit raspy as he spoke. Ye Pingjun glanced at him and saw that his fingers were cold to the point of turning white. She couldn't help but soften, yet she still said, "I am touched by your generosity in coming personally to clear my name. I thank you for it."

Her voice was somewhat airy, almost choked with sobs. Jiang Xueting saw her eyes were red and knew he had caused her great grievance, making him feel even more wretched inside. He said, "Pingjun, it is my fault. I was suspicious and paranoid. Please forgive me this once; I will never have such a problem again."

Ye Pingjun rubbed her eyes, holding back her tears. She walked silently to the stone table nearby and sat down with her back to him. After a long while, she finally spoke: "Jiang Xueting, let me ask you, why do you believe whatever people tell you?! When I was bullied by those with ill intentions, you didn't protect me, but instead fell for their provocation and took your anger out on me! Since you suspected me so much, if I were ever truly in trouble, could I still count on you?"

Jiang Xueting was struck dumb, not knowing how to answer her.

Ye Pingjun heard the silence behind her and knew he had nothing to say, so she continued, "Let me ask you one more thing: since you were so righteous last night, why are you standing here now, lowering yourself? Why are you so determined that you cannot compare to the Fifth Young Master of the Yu family? If a man is indecisive and cowardly like you in everything, what kind of future can there be?!"

Jiang Xueting was completely speechless. Having lost both his parents when he was young and living in his brother and sister-in-law's home, his character was naturally cautious and obedient, yet he often felt he could do nothing right. Mrs. Ye had been close friends with Jiang Xueting’s mother and had sworn sisterhood. After Jiang’s mother passed away, Mrs. Ye, feeling sorry for Jiang Xueting losing his mother at a young age, took great care of him as if he were her own son. When he was young, he even ate and lived with Pingjun, so it could be said that he grew up in the Ye household. Yet, his temperament was exactly as Ye Pingjun described: indecisive, cowardly, and insecure!

Jiang Xueting stood under the locust tree and saw Ye Pingjun with her head slightly bowed, her shoulders trembling gently. He lowered his gaze slightly, walked up, and whispered, "Don't cry, I was wrong." Ye Pingjun tried to push him away, but instead found her hand held by him. His fingers were long and slender, and as he gripped her hand, Ye Pingjun could not help but cry. She still sobbed, "Why are your hands so cold?"

Jiang Xueting whispered, "I stayed outside all night, it's from the cold."

Ye Pingjun’s heart immediately softened, and she could say no more. Watching him bow his head in apology, she could no longer vent the deep-seated grievances in her heart. She only gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, fine, let's just say I owed you this in my previous life. Who knows, I might even die by your hand one day."

Jiang Xueting laughed, "If you die, I won't live either, or perhaps I'll just go up the mountain and become a monk." Ye Pingjun wiped away her tears and couldn't help but laugh, "Stop talking nonsense here, with your talk of death and monks. Do you think you're still Jia Baoyu?" Seeing her smile, Jiang Xueting finally breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly added, "Even if I were Jia Baoyu, with your personality, you couldn't be Lin Daiyu."

The two were engaged in this back-and-forth when they heard the courtyard gate creak. It was Mother Zhao returning with the bean curd. Ye Pingjun hurriedly tried to pull her hand from Jiang Xueting’s, but Jiang Xueting refused to let go. Mother Zhao saw this and immediately said happily, "This is good! Just a moment ago you were fighting like a pair of angry chickens, how is it that now a hawk has caught a kite's foot, and both are locked together?"

Ye Pingjun stood up from the stone table, embarrassed, and glanced behind Mother Zhao. Mother Zhao, walking toward her own room, laughed, "Your mother is right behind. I'll just act as if I saw nothing. I won't say a word, I won't say a word." Just as she was saying this, Mrs. Ye walked in and laughed, "Are you two finished arguing yet? If you’re done, come inside and eat."

Jiang Xueting agreed, "We're done, and I’m just starving."

Ye Pingjun turned back, glared at Jiang Xueting with a playful scolding, and said, "You really are shameless; you haven't even washed your face and you want to eat. And to think you're a young master." Jiang Xueting looked around and saw a basin of water for washing his face placed on the steps beside the house. He walked up to wash, but Ye Pingjun hurriedly said, "That’s my wash water, I haven't poured it out yet."

Jiang Xueting said, "It’s fine, I’ll just use your water for a couple of splashes." Seeing him start washing, Ye Pingjun said nothing more and went into the house to fetch soap and a towel for him. Jiang Xueting didn't use the soap, just took the towel to wipe his face, then turned back to see Pingjun picking up a few fallen flowers by the hosta bushes. He walked over, smelled his freshly washed hands in front of her, and laughed, "Smells so good."

Ye Pingjun’s face turned red instantly. She looked up and saw his grinning expression, so she threw the hosta petals she had just picked at him, though she couldn't help but smile herself. This dispute between the two childhood sweethearts was resolved in this exchange of smiles and petals.

After Jiang Xueting finished breakfast at Pingjun’s house, he said that since he hadn't returned home all night, he had to rush back, otherwise his eldest brother would be unhappy. Mrs. Ye laughed, "Then I will clear the table and bowls. Ping-er, you go and send Xueting off." Ye Pingjun was busy tidying up at the table; she turned back and said, "He comes and goes in our house every day, I’m not going to see him off."

Jiang Xueting leaned against the door and smiled, "Who said I wanted you to send me home? I’ll come to pick you up after school tonight, okay?" Hearing this, Pingjun pursed her lips and smiled, revealing a sense of playfulness, "Then I won't be able to grant your wish. My classmate Aiyun is holding a birthday party today, and I’m going to her house after school, so I don't have time to bother with you."

Jiang Xueting laughed, "Then I’ll be the one to bother with you, that should be fine!"

Pingjun blushed, turned around, stepped over the threshold, and walked out. She looked back to see that Jiang Xueting had already followed. She stepped forward to push open the courtyard gate and said to Jiang Xueting, "You go now."

Jiang Xueting walked out of the courtyard gate with a grin. He turned to see Ye Pingjun standing with her feet on the threshold, covering her lips with a playful smile. The knee-length skirt she was wearing swayed gently in the morning breeze. She was wearing a beautiful gauze scarf today, and the scarf fluttered in the wind, making her face look as clear and beautiful as jade and snow.

Jiang Xueting laughed, "I have to report to the Nanming Military Academy tomorrow, so I’m afraid I won't be able to come see you. Let me take you to worship Buddha at the Guanyin Pavilion on the mountain the day after tomorrow, okay?" Pingjun couldn't help but wonder, "Why are you suddenly going there?" Jiang Xueting’s refined face actually turned red, and he smiled slightly, "When we get there, I have something to tell you. Remember to wait for me to come find you."

Pingjun smiled softly, "Okay, I will wait for you to come find me.”

Only then did Jiang Xueting turn and walk away. Pingjun watched him gradually get further away. Even when he was far off, he didn't forget to turn back and wave vigorously at her. She rested her hand on the courtyard gate, smiling as she watched him walk. The gauze scarf wrapped around her neck danced in the wind, and from afar, she looked just like an elegant beauty in a painting, incredibly beautiful.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon, Fengtai was quiet. A drizzle fell, tapping against the trumpet creeper leaves on the wall with a pitter-patter sound. Yu Changxuan was still in the study looking at some case files, but his mind was wandering. His gaze rested on the page, but he didn't turn it for a long time. Then he heard someone knocking at the door, which only made him feel more irritated. He shouted toward the outside, "What are you making noise for?!"

Gu Ruitong’s voice came from outside the door, "Fifth Young Master, there is a call from the official residence. The Commander-in-Chief has returned, and the Madame wants you to go back immediately."

As soon as Yu Changxuan heard his father had returned, he hurriedly stood up, took his coat from the rack, and pushed the door open. Gu Ruitong had been waiting outside holding a raincoat. Seeing him come out, he said, "The car is already prepared and waiting outside."

Yu Changxuan took the raincoat and walked downstairs, buttoning it as he walked. Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao and others were waiting outside of Fengtai. Yu Changxuan got into the car, and seeing the car turn to head toward Nanhai Road—which was taking a long detour—he asked, "Why aren't we taking the short cut?"

Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao replied, "Fifth Young Master, there is a student demonstration on that road. They are calling for Chu Wenfu to step down and for Old Master Mou to come out of retirement; it’s a real scene. They’ve smashed several shops selling Japanese goods, and the military police have all been deployed, so we can't go that way."

Yu Changxuan understood immediately. This must have been caused by the confrontation between the north and south of the Yangtze River. Nowadays, the calls in the country to resist Japanese aggression were growing louder, but the central government was using all its firepower to deal with the Xiao warlords in the north, which naturally fueled public resentment.

Yu Changxuan leaned his head back against the car seat, closed his eyes, and laughed, "Chu Wenfu is hypocritical, the Tao family only cares about making money peacefully, and while Old Master Mou is indeed virtuous and respected, it’s a pity he lacks the ability to wield a gun and conquer the world." He paused and added, "My father came back because of this, didn't he?"

Gu Ruitong, sitting in the opposite seat, heard this and replied, "I am not quite sure, but my father, the Minister of the Army Zhang, and Director He of the Pacification Office are all over there right now."

Yu Changxuan still kept his eyes closed, his distinct, open features appearing extremely calm. No one knew what he was thinking. After a long while, he suddenly laughed and teased, "That's great, the three of them plus my father, they make a perfect poker game!"

By the time the car reached the Yu residence, it was evening. Yu Changxuan didn't dare to be too noisy. He walked through the corridors toward the flower hall. It was brightly lit, and Mrs. Yu was drinking her nightly health-restoring soy milk. Yu Changxuan wanted to retreat, but as he turned, he almost bumped into someone. It was Qixuan, holding piano sheet music, obviously having just run out of the music room. She looked at him excitedly, "Fifth Brother, I saw your car from the music room and thought I’d run over to ask you one thing. Father is back—are you afraid?"

Yu Changxuan said, "You little thing, talking nonsense. What would I be afraid of? I’ve been very well-behaved lately; I haven't done anything to make Father’s eyes turn blue!"

Qixuan gave a dismissive "Tch," not believing him at all, "You’ve been hanging out with Li Boren all day lately, can he teach you to do anything good?!" Yu Changxuan was about to go upstairs to see his father, and hearing her still picking fights, he casually gave Qixuan’s hair a light tug, "Go practice your piano!"

Qixuan hadn't expected this. Feeling the pain, she immediately shouted unyieldingly, "Mother, look at Fifth Brother!" Mrs. Yu, sitting inside, heard this and hurriedly put down her bowl of soy milk, "Is Changxuan here? When did he arrive? It’s raining so hard outside, did you get wet?" Qixuan was not happy with her mother’s reaction and pouted, "Fifth Brother pulled my hair again!"

Mrs. Yu walked out of the flower hall and watched Yu Changxuan go upstairs, knowing he was going to see Yu Zhongquan. She turned to Qixuan and said, "Wasn't it just a tug? Why get so angry? And you too, why are you always provoking your Fifth Brother? Since your father is back, just behave yourselves!"

That evening, because Yu Zhongquan had returned, Mrs. Yu specially ordered the kitchen to prepare a feast. Except for the Fourth Miss, Yingxuan, who was studying abroad, it could be considered a reunion dinner. Mrs. Yu saw Yu Zhongquan coaxing Jinxuan’s child, Zening, with great patience, and smiled, "Look, our grandson is already this big. I wonder when our Yu family will have a lovely grandson of our own?"

As soon as these words fell, everyone at the table looked at Yu Changxuan sitting on the other side. Yu Changxuan was eating some phoenix-tail shrimp and naturally heard his mother’s remark, but he looked up and laughed, "Why is everyone looking at me?" Minru laughed, "If we don't look at you, who should we look at? Stop pretending you don't understand Mother’s meaning."

Mrs. Yu said, "Do you have a sweetheart or not? Which official’s daughter is it? If you truly like someone, settle it quickly!"

Yu Changxuan said, "I really haven't taken a fancy to any official’s daughter."

Qixuan laughed, "I know two, one is Sister Daiti, and one is the Second Miss of the Tao family. I just don't know which one Fifth Brother likes?" When Mrs. Yu heard this, she became interested and immediately smiled, "I think both are fine. Which one do you like? I’ll go speak for you, I guarantee it will happen." She looked at Minru next to her, "I actually like Daiti better; she seems like a sensible and understanding child at first glance."

Minru laughed, "Since Mother has said so, I won't be modest. My cousin is a top-notch person, a graduate of an American high-level women’s college, and my uncle is a priest of the Supervisory Commission—a man of great virtue and prestige who places high importance on Daiti’s education. Ordinary women simply can't compare to her."

Mrs. Yu nodded, looking very satisfied, but she heard Jinxuan beside her laugh, "This is great. If Daiti really becomes the Fifth Brother’s wife, I’m afraid our family will have to worship two gods." Qixuan asked curiously, "What two gods?"

Jinxuan laughed, "Need you ask? Mother believes in Buddha, and Daiti believes in Christianity. In our house, wouldn't we have to worship both a Guanyin and a Jesus? I just don't know if these two gods will clash."

Minru smiled slightly and said, "Second Sister, you really think of everything. I admire you."

Mrs. Yu took a piece of roast duck, chewed it carefully, and smiled, "I heard the Second Miss of the Tao family is also going abroad, and I don't know when she will return. I think that child is also quite good."

Yu Changxuan had listened to their back-and-forth for quite a while, so he put down his chopsticks and laughed, "Mother, if you are in such a hurry, how about I marry you a daughter-in-law from Chang'an Alley, what do you think?"

Mrs. Yu hurriedly said, "Chang'an Alley? What kind of place is that?"

The eldest sister-in-law Minru looked at Yu Changxuan and laughed, "Fifth Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Chang'an Alley is a slum."

Mrs. Yu frowned immediately when she heard this, "Why are you saying such things? With our family’s status, if we married a girl from Chang'an Alley, wouldn't it become a joke?"

Yu Changxuan said indifferently, "If it’s a matter of mutual affection, why would it be a joke? It might be that she doesn't even fancy me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Yu Zhongquan, who had been silent for a long time, look up at Yu Changxuan and say only one sentence: "Marriage is a major life event, not child’s play. Don't speak such irrelevant things in the future."

Seeing that his father had spoken, Yu Changxuan lowered his head and said nothing more, just putting down his chopsticks. Mrs. Yu saw he had stopped eating and said, "What’s the matter with you? You’ve only had a few bites and you’re putting down the chopsticks." Yu Changxuan rinsed his mouth with the cup brought by the maid, then laughed, "I wasn't hungry to begin with, a few bites are enough."

Yu Changxuan stood up and went to the flower hall. There was a green gauze-covered floor lamp lit inside. He sat on a green velvet sofa, casually took a cigarette from a case, and put it in his mouth. He took a long, thin matchstick from a box and struck it on the phosphorus, but it didn't light. He struck it again, and it went crooked. An attendant nearby saw this and hurriedly produced his own match, lit it, and cupped his hand around the flame to bring it to Yu Changxuan. Yu Changxuan, however, was no longer in the mood to smoke. He waved his hand, and the attendant retreated. He just held the unlit cigarette in his mouth and stared off in one direction.

Clusters of potted plants, which Mrs. Yu usually took care of, surrounded the sofa. Among them was a white hosta blooming perfectly. Seeing the slender, crystal-clear, and elegant flowers, Yu Changxuan reached out unconsciously and stroked the petals. The petals trembled lightly in his palm, and with a slight movement of his fingers, the white flower fell silently into his hand, making his palm tingle.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat!

He was always thinking of her. He knew it was impossible, but he couldn't control himself. It was as if he were spellbound. His whole mind was filled with her smiling expression. Her figure was the most beautiful scene under the moon, her moon-white skirt trailing through the night like pear blossoms in full bloom.

The moonlight poured down, frost-white, like mercury spilled on the ground, making the street shine as brightly as a mirror. After participating in her classmate’s birthday party, Pingjun hired a rickshaw to go home. After paying the driver and turning to push the courtyard door open, she saw something under the jujube tree, shining brightly in the moonlight. She walked over to take a look, and it was the second hair stick Jiang Xueting had given her, stuck in a crack in the stone and broken in two. She bent down to pick up the broken stick, pursed her lips, and felt quite unhappy. Suddenly, she heard a polite and courteous voice from the darkness, "Miss Ye."

Pingjun was startled and turned around in a hurry. She saw a tall man bowing respectfully toward her, "Miss Ye, I am the Fifth Young Master’s adjutant, Wu Zuoxiao. Our Fifth Young Master invites you to come with us."

When Pingjun heard this, her face changed color. She turned around to push the courtyard gate, but heard Wu Zuoxiao smiling behind her, "Miss Ye, please be a bit more careful. It is so late, and disturbing Mrs. Ye would not be good, and our Fifth Young Master would feel badly about it."

Pingjun’s hand remained on the door panel, and she said hatefully, "Are you forcing me?"

Wu Zuoxiao smiled with extreme politeness, "Miss Ye, that is a strong word. The Fifth Young Master specially instructed us to invite Miss Ye with the utmost courtesy. If we dared to bully Miss Ye, I fear the Fifth Young Master would not forgive us!"

Pingjun turned back; Wu Zuoxiao’s face was full of smiles, his arm raised, signaling toward the entrance of the alley. She followed the direction he pointed and saw a car parked in the open space bathed in moonlight, with other attendants in plain clothes standing around it, all looking silent and indifferent.

Wu Zuoxiao personally opened the car door for Pingjun. Just as Pingjun sat in, the door "slammed" shut, sounding like a sudden gunshot in the quiet night. He sat in the car, turned his head to look at Pingjun, his face frosted with coldness. She was both angry and hateful, a wave of anger burning her face bright red, and she demanded, "What exactly do you want to do?"

Yu Changxuan looked at her and said slowly, "If I could give you everything you want, would you be willing to follow me?"

Pingjun was stunned for a moment, and looking into his burning eyes, she felt suddenly flustered and instinctively replied, "I am going to marry my boyfriend!"

His face changed abruptly, he stared fixedly at Ye Pingjun, and suddenly became angry, "Don't think I can't live without you!"

She retorted immediately, "I never thought so!"

He was struck dumb by her response, the anger in his eyes like two small flames that had suddenly ignited. Pingjun’s heart palpitated. He leaned forward, grabbed her, and pulled her into his arms. Ye Pingjun lifted her head in fright, his eyes shining like electricity, and his voice was sharp, "Ye Pingjun, you listen to me carefully. I, Yu Changxuan, will not marry you, but I want you!"

She looked into his black pupils, her gaze showing a glint of sharpness. He stared at her steadily, his heart beating extremely fast, his breathing becoming increasingly rapid. In that instant, he felt a bit dazed, as if he didn't know what to do with her. She became frightened by his gaze, and coupled with their proximity—they were so close they could feel each other’s breathing—she panicked and said, "You are bullying me too much!"

His anger had not subsided, "You act this way time and again, don't think I have a good temper!"

She was so angered by his unreasonable behavior that she could barely speak, and after a long while, she finally said, "Yu Changxuan, who is the one acting this way time and again?! What right do you have to warn me like this? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you—do you understand?!"

He was struck dumb by her again, his black pupils turning cold, and he said indignantly, "Stop being so sharp-tongued with me here. I don't care about what you do or don't want; I only know that you are constantly晃晃in my mind, it’s going to make me..."

He was only halfway through his sentence when she tried to struggle out of his arms with a pale face, but he refused to let go. Pingjun pressed her hands hard against his chest, but it was already too late. He looked blankly at her rosy lips and suddenly thought of a honey peach he had eaten when he was young; the tip of the peach had the same slight reddish hue, and he had carefully sucked on it, the sweet peach juice spreading between his teeth...

He heard her emit a panicked whimper, but he could no longer control himself and kissed her lips. Her lips were soft and moist, stirring a fire within his body. He wanted to possess everything she had, looting her recklessly. In the midst of that regardless, almost crazy sucking, he suddenly felt a sharp pain on his lips, and his tongue tasted the sweet scent of blood.

She had bitten him!

He finally lifted his head, but still grabbed her tightly. Her eyes were filled with anger, hating him for being so unreasonable. She raised her hand to slap him, but her hand stopped abruptly just as it was about to touch his cheek. He looked at her, and she glared at him with hatred, but she was truly afraid of provoking him, thinking of swallowing this grievance to escape unscathed.

Ye Pingjun endured the full cavity of anger and said coldly, "Let me go!"

Just as she was about to move back, she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder, and she was pressed down onto the opposite seat by him, her head hitting the backrest, which hurt so much she almost shed tears. He reached out and pinched her chin, gritting his teeth, "Ye Pingjun!" She was terrified, and saw a dark flicker of fire in his black pupils, his slightly hurried breathing scattering into the air that seemed to have heated up. He said hatefully, "You make me so uneasy, don't think you can be at peace either."

Her eyes flashed with anger, "Yu Changxuan, you are despicable and shameless!"

He sneered, "Since that’s the case, then I don't mind being even more despicable and shameless for you to see!"

He lowered his head and seized her lips again, kissing her deeply with a heat like a branding iron, almost drowning her breath. She was like a drowning person, letting out a desperate cry and pushing him with all her might. He wanted to crush her entirely. In that wonderful feeling, it was he who sank first. He couldn't control himself from being immersed in this tenderness, almost brutally tearing open her clothes. Buttons flew off and rolled into the cracks under the car seat. The gauze scarf wrapped around her neck also fell off. He greedily wanted more... more...

Just at this moment, there was a sudden, sharp pain in his shoulder!

Yu Changxuan frowned, pulled back, and looked at his left shoulder. Bright red blood was gushing out. He turned his head and saw Ye Pingjun holding a white broken hair stick pointed at him. The tip of the stick was bright red—it was his blood!

Ye Pingjun just gritted her lips and said nothing, her hair disheveled, her face white as snow. He held his shoulder, but the blood flowed through his fingers, unable to be stopped. Yu Changxuan looked at Ye Pingjun defending herself and laughed coldly, "Do you think this stick can kill me?!"

His tone was so contemptuous it was almost reckless. Ye Pingjun didn't say a word, swiftly turned the stick around, raised her head, and pointed the sharp end directly at her own throat. Yu Changxuan hadn't expected her to be so decisive. His body froze, and he blurted out, "You dare?!"

Ye Pingjun’s clear gaze shot out a bright light, revealing a cold, determined resolve that would rather be shattered than remain whole. Her breathing was tense and rapid, her fingers gripping the broken stick tightly, and her voice was as cold as ice and snow.

"I dare!"

There was a howling wind outside the window. The trumpet creeper leaves of Fengtai climbed half the wall, and the bright, eye-catching flowers trembled lightly in the wind, faintly casting a winding flower shadow on the window. Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao walked to the warm pavilion outside the bedroom and heard the old Doctor Dai muttering there: "Calling this a knife wound? This is clearly a hole, it almost hit the tendons and bones. Fifth Young Master, which woman did you fall into the hands of?"

Doctor Dai was sprinkling medicine on Yu Changxuan’s shoulder, and a nurse was cutting gauze nearby. Doctor Dai took the ointment and "slapped" it onto Yu Changxuan’s wound. Yu Changxuan winced in pain, his eyebrows twisting together, "Uncle Dai, can’t you be a little lighter? If you use any more force, you’ll dismantle my arm!"

Doctor Dai was a senior doctor with credentials and could be considered to have watched Yu Changxuan grow up. After finishing the medicine, he glared at Yu Changxuan and said, "Back then, when your father was shot in the shoulder, there was no anesthesia, and he still forced me to gouge out the bullet with a knife. What is this compared to that? If you are a man of the Yu family, don't cry out in pain!"

Yu Changxuan didn't forget to put on a playful smile, "Uncle Dai, men of the Yu family are human too. I didn't just pop out of a crack in a rock with a natural copper skin and iron bones!" Doctor Dai truly felt he was beyond saving, and took the tweezers nearby to smash at Yu Changxuan’s head. Yu Changxuan tilted his head and dodged it, still laughing. Doctor Dai picked up the medical kit and led the nurse out, muttering as he went, "Don't get water on the wound. I’ll come check tomorrow."

Yu Changxuan watched Doctor Dai walk out, and seeing his trusted adjutant Wu Zuoxiao still standing there, he asked, "What are you doing up here, you brat?"

Wu Zuoxiao immediately gave a military salute and said solemnly, "Report, the brothers asked me to ask the Fifth Young Master one thing: since you’ve been wounded, it shows how fierce the battle was and how hard the Fifth Young Master has worked. So, the result... were you successful or not?"

Yu Changxuan didn't say a word, picked up a patterned bowl from the shelf with his right hand, and threw it at Wu Zuoxiao. Wu Zuoxiao had already anticipated this move, laughed, opened the door, and hid outside. The bowl "clanged" against the door. Wu Zuoxiao, not fearing death, pushed the door open again, "Fifth Young Master, such a big temper—you didn't succeed, did you?"

Yu Changxuan said, "Get out!"

Wu Zuoxiao immediately closed the door and rolled away laughing. Yu Changxuan sat on the sofa in the warm pavilion and slightly shook his left arm, gasping in pain, feeling even more irritated. The phone rang, adding fuel to the fire. He locked his brows tightly, grabbed the receiver, "Who is it?"

Only to hear Li Boren’s laughter from the other end, "Fifth Young Master, what a big temper!"

Yu Changxuan said impatiently, "Stop the nonsense!"

Li Boren laughed, "I came specially to tell you, my brothers caught a Japanese spy. Do you want to come see for yourself?"

Yu Changxuan said, "Since when did Eldest Brother interfere in the affairs of the Special Service Office? Besides, you catching a spy has nothing to do with me. I’m busy."

Li Boren laughed, "I went to such lengths entirely to fulfill the Fifth Young Master’s wishes. To tell you the truth, this kid is surnamed Jiang, returned from studying in Japan. He is none other than Miss Ye’s sweetheart. Now that he has fallen into my hands, what to do—live or die—is all up to a word from you."

Yu Changxuan was stunned for a moment, his gaze as bright as electricity in an instant, "What do you mean by this? Is he really a spy?"

Li Boren said, "Whether he is or not, isn't that just a word from us? I’ve sent the kid surnamed Jiang directly to the prison of the secret service agency. Those people there are ruthless. Fifth Young Master knows that, too. Once you enter the secret service agency’s prison, how many people can come out alive?"

The subsequent words did not need to be heard; he understood it naturally. This was definitely arranged by Li Boren. It wasn't that he hadn't had such thoughts, but there was always a feeling of hesitation in his heart. However, having reached this point, she had actually told him that she was going to marry someone else. So, what other choice did he have left?!

His gaze swept lightly to the side, and he saw a soft, pale pink gauze scarf placed on the side of his discarded military coat. It was the one she had dropped in the car in her panic. He reached out and grabbed the scarf. The scarf was light and airy, and seemed to hold the remaining warmth of her skin. His heart skipped a beat involuntarily. He stood there dazed for a long time before slowly closing his palm.

Could it be that he really had to be so generous, watching her pair up with this kid surnamed Jiang?!

Yu Changxuan held the receiver for a long time, lowered his eyes, and didn't expect that at that moment, his heart would actually beat so violently. He just tried to steady his voice, "Make arrangements. If Ye Pingjun wants to go to the prison to visit that kid, don't stop her. Let her go!"

Another day passed. In the evening, the wind picked up slightly, adding a chill to the air. Mrs. Li had just walked outside the guest room when she saw a maid coming out of it with a tray, the food on the tray untouched. Mrs. Li said, "Is Miss Ye still not awake?" The maid shook her head. Mrs. Li waved her away and looked up to see Li Boren coming upstairs. She beckoned him over, and when he reached her, she said hatefully, "You really are ruthless. You made me take her there—that’s not a prison, it’s a living hell! With ghosts wailing and wolves howling, I was almost scared to death."

Li Boren laughed, "It’s my fault for making you lose your beautiful composure. How is your sister?" Mrs. Li said, "How could she be? The moment she got there, her tears wouldn't stop, and before she had taken a few steps, she saw people covered in blood everywhere... she fainted on the spot."

Li Boren saw Mrs. Li’s face was pale and laughed again, "You hadn't even gone inside yet; inside is even worse. Let me tell you, the dogs there never need feeding."

This remark made Mrs. Li’s heart jump, and she heard a "thump" from the guest room. Hearing the sound, Mrs. Li hurriedly pushed the door open to see Ye Pingjun had fallen off the bed, her face covered in tears, as if she were about to pass out, gasping for breath on the floor. Mrs. Li hurriedly went over, "Sister Pingjun, what’s the matter with you? Hurry and go lie on the bed."

Pingjun reached out a hand and gripped Mrs. Li’s wrist tightly, while looking at Li Boren, her tears rolling down. Trembling, she said through trembling lips, "You want to force me to death, I know, you want to force me to death..."

Her tear-filled gaze shone with sharp hatred, which made Li Boren unable to stay calm either. He suddenly said angrily, "What kind of talk is this? You begged at our door, and we kindly helped you. Do you still complain that we aren't working hard enough? Let me tell you the truth: if you don't go and beg the right person yourself, and continue to procrastinate here, I’m afraid Jiang Xueting’s limbs will already be in a dog’s stomach!"

That sentence scared Ye Pingjun until she was almost lifeless. She just threw her head back, two rows of tears falling, and she almost fainted on the spot. Li Boren flicked his sleeve and left, leaving Mrs. Li to comfort her with words of consolation. She personally helped Pingjun sit in front of a hollow-carved, gold-powdered vanity table, opened the embossed ivory makeup box with her own hands, took out a fine-toothed comb to comb her hair, and comforted her in a soft, slow voice:

"Sister, you are a clever person. Not to mention anything else, just look at the twenty-one provinces south of the Xishui River—is there anything the Fifth Young Master wants that he can't get? He is a child favored by heaven, and the fact that he has taken a fancy to you means you have a good fate. For you to constantly resist like this, isn't this looking for trouble for yourself? You’ve even implicated your brother. Now that you can't run away, you might as well just dedicate four or five years of your youth to follow him. In a few years, when he lets you go, you will still be young, and he won't mistreat you in terms of money. In fact, if you calculate this account carefully, you aren't losing anything."

These words were watertight. Ye Pingjun sat there, motionless as a stone sculpture. Mrs. Li took out a handkerchief and wiped her face, smiling, "If you want to blame someone, blame sister Pingjun for such an outstanding appearance. If I were a man, I would have snatched you away too." She paused and added, "Tonight, Boren has invited him over. You see, you should accompany him then; don't pull such a long face. If you make the Fifth Young Master unhappy, I don't know how much more your sweetheart will have to suffer."

Ye Pingjun sat there, listened to everything Mrs. Li said, and slowly closed her eyes, watching two rows of tears roll down from her eyelashes. She didn't know how many tears she had shed these past few days. At this moment, she only felt her cheeks stung painfully by the tears. She knew her face looked a wreck from crying, so she held down the pain and sadness boiling in her heart, and spoke quietly, "Mrs. Li, please lend me some powder, I will wipe it off."

Ye Pingjun sat there, listened to everything Mrs. Li said, and slowly closed her eyes, watching two rows of tears roll down from her eyelashes. She didn't know how many tears she had shed these past few days. At this moment, she only felt her cheeks stung painfully by the tears. She knew her face looked a wreck from crying, so she held down the pain and sadness boiling in her heart, and spoke quietly, "Mrs. Li, please lend me some powder, I will wipe it off."

Mrs. Li was immediately overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Good, good, I knew sister you were extremely clever and quick to understand. Don't just apply powder; wearing some rouge would be even better. You wait, I have some makeup from abroad that hasn't been opened yet, I’ll go get it for you to use."

She stood up happily and went out to fetch her cosmetics. She saw Li Boren still waiting at the foot of the stairs, so she walked down, poked Li Boren on the forehead, and said, "You really are a piece of work. To curry favor with the Fifth Young Master, you thought of such a damaging trick to sell someone else’s girl. Forget it, don't watch anymore, I’ve already persuaded her."

Li Boren couldn't help but laugh, "I knew that if you took action, nothing couldn't be done. Watch, one day this world will belong to the Yu family. If I become the Fifth Young Master’s trusted confidant, there will be plenty of benefits for us in the future." These words made Mrs. Li laugh too, "Look at how smug you are. Why don't you go invite the Fifth Young Master over tonight?"

Li Boren felt infinite joy in his heart and went to make the call. By eight or nine o'clock in the evening, servants reported that the Fifth Young Master had arrived. Li Boren hurriedly greeted him at the main gate, laughing, "The Fifth Young Master is a busy man, but you’ve finally arrived."

Yu Changxuan looked at Li Boren’s beaming face but said nothing. Li Boren laughed again, "Now everything is ready, all we are waiting for is the Fifth Young Master."

Yu Changxuan handed his military cap to the guards behind him and said indifferently, "Where is the person?"

Li Boren hurriedly beckoned an old servant and said, "Take the Fifth Young Master to the annex." The old servant walked over. Yu Changxuan signaled for his guards to retreat, followed the old servant to the annex, passed through two moon gates, and arrived at the entrance of the Li family annex. The old servant stopped there. Yu Changxuan lowered his eyes and walked along the veranda inside.

The veranda was surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees. Shadows of clouds from the night sky flashed past. Moonlight shone down, layered upon layered, and shadows of flowers swayed all over the ground. The veranda wound its way, passing through several deep courtyards. The sound of falling flowers was rustling, filling the quiet paths. The moonlight night was silent, with only the fragrance of flowers floating in the air. It was truly a scene of sparse shadows spreading across the clear water and dark fragrance floating in the evening moonlight. He couldn't help but be excited, and an inexplicable voice rose in his heart. He was going to see her. The long road only made that intense emotion grow deeper. In this situation, this scene, this heart—even if it were for a lifetime, he would never forget it; he would never forget it forever.

On both sides of the stone steps of the annex hall, there was a pear tree and a weeping willow, shaded by green fruit and thick with branches and leaves. The hall was lit, and a painting was hanging on the side wall, which was Liu Yuxi’s "Yangliu Branch Poem." In the center stood a glass screen decorated with four-season patterns of hibiscus, golden chrysanthemums, plum blossoms, etc. She was sitting on a small sofa inside, only her figure reflected on the screen window, gracefully, like a pear blossom under the moon or a begonia in the wind and dew.

Yu Changxuan could clearly feel his heart beating faster, and even his breathing became uncontrollable and hurried. He walked around the screen. The carpet on the floor was an inch thick, soft and soundless to walk on. On a sandalwood shelf beside the sofa, a pair of double-red painted candles were placed, reflecting the beautiful and charming scene in the hall.

She heard the sound of him walking in and looked up to see him. He also saw her, sitting there, struggling to hold on, her clear face devoid of any color, but her dark eyes had faint, lingering moisture.

Yu Changxuan’s heart skipped a beat, and he whispered, "Don't cry."

Ye Pingjun bit her lips, holding back hot tears, looked up at him, and seemed to use all her strength to support herself, "If I don't cry, will you let me go?"

Yu Changxuan gazed at her face, "No."

She slowly turned her head away. The white pearl stick in her hair revealed a coolness like thin frost. Her fan-like eyelashes fell silently, and she gave a bitter, tearful smile, "It’s useless to cry. I know. I’ve been bullied to this point by you today. Since I can’t hide, it’s my fate. I accept it."

Yu Changxuan looked at her. Under the red painted candles, her figure was like a dream as gentle as water. Such threads of emotion coiled into his bones little by little, but the feeling of sinking was so real and intense. He said, "Of all the weak water in the world, I will only take one scoop to drink."

Her shoulders shook slightly, and she slowly turned to look at him. His black eyes were filled with deep affection, "Ye Pingjun, whether you like it or not, I just like you."

The night grew deeper, and the moon hung high in the sky. Mrs. Ye was still in the house when she heard the sound of a car outside the main gate. She hurried out of the room and heard a creak of the gate; Ye Pingjun had already walked in and was closing the door. She hurriedly said, "What did Mr. and Mrs. Li say? How is Xueting? His brother came by this afternoon, saying Xueting wanted to find someone called Mr. Mou to help... oh, Pingjun, I’m worried to death. You have to tell me something."

Ye Pingjun simply didn't speak, walked all the way into the inner room. Mrs. Ye, anxious, followed quickly, only to see Ye Pingjun open the drawer in front of the desk, rummaging for something. After searching for a long time without finding what she wanted, she looked up and asked her, "Mom, where is my red velvet ribbon for my hair?"

When Mrs. Ye heard this, she became a little angry, "You child, why don't you know the urgency of the matter? I’m asking you about Xueting, and you’re looking for a red velvet ribbon. In the middle of the night, do you still need to tie your hair?!" Seeing her mother angry, Ye Pingjun didn't say much, just bowed her head and rummaged. Mrs. Ye saw the small roll of red velvet ribbon placed in the corner of the drawer, but Ye Pingjun couldn't see it. She said, "It’s right beside your hand, why can't you see it?"

Ye Pingjun finally found the roll of red velvet ribbon. She stood in front of the desk, loosened her hair, and combed it earnestly. Regardless of Mrs. Ye’s repeated inquiries about Jiang Xueting, she did not answer, only took the red velvet ribbon, tied up a small wisp of her black hair, and bound it circle by circle with great patience. Mrs. Ye was even more angry and said furiously, "Ping-er, can Xueting come back safely? Tell me something!"

Just as she finished, she saw Ye Pingjun pick up the scissors nearby, "snap," and cut off the wisp of hair bound by the red velvet ribbon. This act startled Mrs. Ye, and she exclaimed, "Ping-er, what are you doing?" She lunged over, grabbed her hand holding the scissors, and snatched them away in a panic.

Ye Pingjun no longer moved, only gripped the cut wisp of hair and smiled silently. The smile frozen on the corner of her lips was weak and pale. She looked up at the window, her eyes filled with a vast, distant color, and said softly, "Mom, Xueting will come back safely."

She said this, but hot tears "plop" fell from her eyes, dropping onto the wisp of hair in her hand, slowly seeping into the gaps of the black hair. Seeing this, Mrs. Ye trembled, "Ping-er, what exactly happened?"

She just shook her head.

Watching the silver moonlight spill over the entire small courtyard, everything was quiet. Only when the wind blew did the leaves of the white hosta in the corner of the wall shake lightly, along with the big locust tree in the courtyard, whose emerald green leaves made a rustling sound, wave after wave, sounding just like human footsteps.

She remembered when she was seven or eight years old, he lived at her home. She would sit under the locust tree all day, threading small beads she collected from everywhere, wanting to make a bead necklace to wear. He would sneak up behind her and cover her eyes with his hands. She would call out directly, "Xueting." He would release his hands with a giggle and take something out of his pocket—it was a grass-woven cricket cage. He held the cricket cage up, and they both put their ears to it, hearing the cricket inside chirping incessantly. They looked at each other and laughed excitedly. He said, "Pingjun, let’s go to the meadow and catch another one, and then we can watch two crickets fight." She would clap her hands and shout in agreement, and they would run out of the courtyard holding hands. The summer sunshine was so good, shining on the small beads under the locust tree until they sparkled. Jiang Xueting led her everywhere to be naughty, and she only knew how to follow him and play, having long since forgotten about the bead threading.

She gripped the wisp of cut hair and looked at the moonlit courtyard, feeling as if her heart were splitting apart, hurting to death.

She thought Jiang Xueting would surely hate her, hate her for being so heartless. But in three years, she would surely be able to endure it, and one day, there would be such a day, she would have a chance to tell him all this personally—that she did it all for him. And when that time came, he would surely forgive her.

He would understand.

She told herself this in her heart.

In the blink of an eye, it was autumn. For some reason, the north of the Yangtze River occupied by the Xiao army became chaotic, inexplicably completely blocked, and even the transportation lines along the way were suddenly controlled. Chu Wenfu, then Chairman of the Executive Yuan of the Central Government, said this was a good opportunity and immediately increased troops on the western front, attacking several times in succession. The war situation suddenly became tight. Yu Zhongquan arranged for Gu Yigang and Zhang Xiaoxian, two veteran figures in the Yu army, to support and guide Yu Changxuan. Although Yu Changxuan did not go to the battlefield in person, he had a clear understanding of the front-line strategic arrangements.

One evening, Yu Changxuan returned by car from the Ministry of the Army. Gu Ruitong saw that Yu Changxuan’s expression was extremely ugly, and saw him flick the holster on his belt open and closed, the sound of the metal buckle on the holster clattering in the carriage. After a long while, he said indifferently, "With my father’s guidance from above, and two uncles, Gu and Zhang, supporting me on the side, what am I? Just a golden puppet put there to look good."

Gu Ruitong was stunned, knowing Yu Changxuan’s dissatisfaction. Because it involved his father, he couldn't say much and only said, "The Commander-in-Chief is the Fifth Young Master’s father; whatever he does, it must be for the Fifth Young Master’s sake."

Yu Changxuan snorted, kicked his leather military boot against the opposite seat, and said, "My old father wants to make me a Zhao Kuo who talks about war on paper, what else can I say!"

Gu Ruitong kept silent. Then he heard Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao sitting in front say, "Fifth Young Master, the junction is ahead. Are we going back to the official residence today or to Fengtai? Where should I turn?"

Yu Changxuan’s pupils shrank silently. Looking at the autumn scenery outside the window, he said, "Back to the official residence." The car turned right. After driving for a short while, Yu Changxuan had been silent for a long time, watching the autumn scenery outside, but said again, "Turn back, go to Fengtai."

The car turned back to Fengtai. As soon as the car entered Fengtai, it was met with brilliant red leaves reflecting everywhere. The early autumn weather was slightly refreshing and chilly, and the ground was covered with a layer of crisp fallen leaves. Naturally, some servants were tidying up there. Yu Changxuan entered the living room and heard the maid Qiuluo laughing, "Fifth Young Master is back."

Qiuluo was leading some maids to tidy up things in the hall. Seeing Yu Changxuan, she walked up with a smile and affectionately reached out to take Yu Changxuan’s military cap, but Yu Changxuan tilted his head slightly, dodging her hand. He took off his military cap and handed it to Gu Ruitong behind him. Qiuluo was stunned, her eyeballs turned, but she quickly laughed again, "The old lady came this afternoon. If the Fifth Young Master had come back one step earlier, maybe you could have run into her."

Yu Changxuan lifted his eyes to look upstairs, said nothing, and followed to go upstairs. The carpet in the upstairs hallway was as soft as cotton. He walked slowly until he reached a room at the end of the hallway, reached out and knocked a few times, but no one answered. He lowered his hand and pushed the door to go straight in.

The bedroom was quiet, the blinds were open, letting in a cool breeze, and colorful sunset light shone in. The brocade curtains dragged all the way to the carpet, embroidered with "Fortune" knots in gold thread, which also swayed gently with the wind. The sandalwood bed was covered with a soft quilt, and one side of the pillowcase embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks was draped with soft tassels.

He walked forward lightly and saw four or five crystal-clear beads scattered on the carpet. He lowered his head and picked them up one by one. Walking forward a few more steps, he saw her sitting on the carpet by the side of the bed, threading beads with a needle and thread, threading them one by one, looking very earnest and careful. Her head was slightly lowered, and some fine, short hair was drooping by her forehead, brushing against her cheeks, moving faintly. That movement felt like a small feather brushing across his heart, making it itch.

She lifted her head slightly in the golden sunset, her eyes showing a clear, calm light. Using her long, slender, soft, and white fingers, she pulled the thin thread gently, and a crystal-clear pearl slid down the thread, connecting with the small string of beads just threaded, making a crisp sound of collision.

He walked up to her, leaned over, reached out with his fingers to tuck the hair by her temple behind her ear, and said softly, "The hair here seems much shorter than the back." Ye Pingjun was completely focused on threading that string of beads, her eyes not moving at all, and she gave a light "Mhm."

He walked up to her, leaned over, reached out with his fingers to tuck the hair by her temple behind her ear, and said softly, "The hair here seems much shorter than the back." Ye Pingjun was completely focused on threading that string of beads, her eyes not moving at all, and she gave a light "Mhm."

He still gripped those beads in his hand and said, "I heard your mother came by this afternoon."

Ye Pingjun lowered her head, picking up the scattered beads one by one, "My mother came to see me and talked to me for the whole afternoon. She also said the new place you arranged for her is quite good." Seeing her tone was much more relaxed than usual, he laughed, "That’s good. You should talk to people more often. Don't you have a classmate named Bai Liyuan? You can invite her to visit you at home."

Her action of threading beads paused silently. Her mouth twitched, looking like a bitter smile, "Home?" She turned to look at him, her gaze very flat and quiet, as if she were looking at someone completely unrelated. Where did she still have a home? She had been uprooted from her original world. He had cut off all her paths of retreat—so fast, so quickly. From the moment she moved into Fengtai, she didn't dare to think about everything in the past anymore.

Yu Changxuan felt completely drained of confidence by her gaze. He turned his head and saw the wardrobe opposite still filled with silk and satin, while she was still wearing the casual clothes she had originally brought from home. He lowered his eyes and said, "I bought you so many clothes, why don't you wear them?"

She kept her head down and didn't speak.

Yu Changxuan laughed again, "If you don't like these clothes, go buy them yourself. You haven't spent a cent of the money I gave you. There’s no need to save for me. Just let Mrs. Li accompany you to the department store, buy whatever you want, and let her accompany you out to play. There are so many fun places in Jinling, what’s the point of staying cooped up in the room all day like this?"

Ye Pingjun said indifferently, "I don't need her company!"

Yu Changxuan paused in his tone, and after a long while said, "You don't have to hate them so much." Ye Pingjun looked up at him, her eyes extremely clear, and lifted the corners of her mouth in a mocking smile, "Do you want me to be grateful to them?" After hearing this, Yu Changxuan threw the few beads he was holding in front of her and said indifferently, "Since that’s the case, then hate me along with them!"

He threw down the beads and walked out of the bedroom. As soon as he went downstairs, Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao walked up and said, "Fifth Young Master, Li Boren is here, waiting in the living room."

Yu Changxuan nodded, knowing that Li Boren wanted to get his nephew into the military supply department during this time, and he had already finished the matter. Li Boren’s visit must have been to express his gratitude. He went to the living room, pushed the door open, and Li Boren had already stood up. Seeing Yu Changxuan’s expression, he smiled, "Fifth Young Master, what’s the matter? You have hidden a beauty in a golden house here and finally got what you wanted, why are you still looking so unhappy?"

Yu Changxuan was in a bad mood. He walked to the sofa on the side and sat down, saying indifferently, "What 'got what I wanted'? Stop talking nonsense!"

Li Boren was stunned, and after a while, laughed meaningfully, "The Fifth Young Master really is a person who cherishes beauty. After such a long time, could it be that the Fifth Young Master has actually acted as a polite gentleman?"

Yu Changxuan took a cigarette out of his case but didn't light it, just held it in his hand. His handsome brows were filled with irritation as he said, "I feel flustered the moment I see her, let alone anything else. For these few months, I haven't even dared to touch her fingers. It’s not that she’s afraid of me; it’s actually me who’s afraid of her."

After saying this, Li Boren was even more astonished. He looked at Yu Changxuan for a while, and saw his brows were twisted together. Li Boren laughed, "Fifth Young Master, don't blame me for saying one more word, you are a person meant to do great things. Just be satisfied with this emotional affair; don't get truly involved, or you’ll be playing with fire."

Yu Changxuan just sat there without speaking.

Seeing that his brows still wouldn't unfurl, Li Boren stepped forward and smiled, "I see you’ve been busy enough lately. A new dancer named Bai Lu has come to the Xiangxi Hotel, and she is simply stunning. Tonight, let’s go play, what do you think?" Yu Changxuan took out his lighter and lit the cigarette in his hand, then "slapped" it onto the coffee table and shook his head, "Where did you come up with this bad idea? Father is watching me. If I go to that kind of place again, isn't that just walking straight into the barrel of a gun?"

Li Boren was a natural expert at playing. Seeing Yu Changxuan so annoyed, how could he let go of this opportunity to show his abilities and curry favor? He stepped forward and smiled, "Otherwise, let’s go to my house. The film star Shi Manman is my wife’s foster sister. A phone call can invite her over. It just so happens we can make a poker game. I’ll let Shi Manman be the Fifth Young Master’s next-door partner at the table, and the rest is up to the Fifth Young Master."

Yu Changxuan looked at Li Boren’s desperate attempt to please and laughed, "If you let me be the partner of your wife, then I’ll go."

Li Boren immediately said, "If the Fifth Young Master really prefers my wife to Shi Manman, I have no opinion, as it saves my wife from having to rack her brains to recognize sisters for the Fifth Young Master everywhere. Think of how much trouble this saves."

When Yu Changxuan heard this, he stood up, raised a foot, and kicked Li Boren, laughing and scolding, "Look at your wretched behavior! Forget about being a counselor; you should just go be a pimp!"

The two made their arrangements and walked out of the study. Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao was already waiting there. Yu Changxuan looked up and saw a little maid holding an enamel tray coming down from upstairs, the food on it untouched. He stopped the little maid and said, "Why didn't she eat?" The little maid said, "Miss Ye said she had no appetite and didn't want to eat, and she’s sleeping now."

Yu Changxuan’s footsteps paused, and he glanced upstairs. Li Boren saw this and immediately laughed, "Is the Fifth Young Master feeling sorry for her again?" Yu Changxuan turned back, glanced at Li Boren, and seeing Li Boren full of smiles, he turned his face and said, "You have more and more to say!" After speaking, he walked out of the hall, and Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao and others followed immediately.

By the time it was night, there was a heavy downpour outside, adding a chill to the autumn. Pingjun was sleeping in a daze when she heard the sound of a door. Her heart was suddenly alert, and in that split second, she twisted open the bedside lamp and sat up, holding the quilt, looking at the bedroom door with a bright and vigilant gaze. She saw the head maid, Qiuluo, standing there with a bowl of something on an enamel tray, smiling, "Miss Ye, drink a bowl of ginseng soup before you sleep."

Ye Pingjun finally relaxed significantly and said, "I’m not drinking that." Qiuluo seemed to not have heard her at all, walking to the bed on her own, "This stuff is best for the body. Miss Ye didn't even eat dinner, drink some ginseng soup to sleep well."

Ye Pingjun saw her acting this way and reached out to receive the bowl of ginseng soup. Qiuluo looked at Pingjun, and seeing her clutching the quilt and still dressed, she smiled meaningfully, "Miss Ye is dressed so neatly. Can you sleep comfortably like this?" Ye Pingjun didn't answer, took a sip of the ginseng soup, frowned, and said, "Too bitter, is there sugar?"

Qiuluo immediately laughed, "Miss Ye doesn't know? Adding sugar to this ginseng soup, I’m afraid it won't have such good medicinal effects. I forgot, this thing is still considered precious, I’m afraid Miss Ye hasn't even seen it, let alone eaten it."

Ye Pingjun looked up at Qiuluo quietly. Qiuluo was also smiling, and her face actually carried a trace of triumph. Ye Pingjun placed the bowl of ginseng soup back on her tray and said indifferently, "Go add some sugar!"

Qiuluo said, "Didn't I just tell Miss Ye? Adding sugar to this stuff will render it ineffective."

This time, Ye Pingjun didn't even look at Qiuluo, just turned to pick up a box of crystal-clear small beads she had placed by the bed, picked up the needle and thread, and continued threading beads, never paying any more attention to Qiuluo. Qiuluo had actually asked for a snub and her face fell on the spot. She turned and walked out of the bedroom, and all the way down the stairs, she gave a cold hum at the top of the stairs, "So it turns out she’s a one for tantrums. What’s so great about her? Sooner or later, I’ll show you."

The other little maids were tidying up the flower racks and, seeing Qiuluo’s angry look, asked, "Sister Qiuluo, who are you talking about?"

Qiuluo sneered and simply raised her voice, "Who else could it be? The real master doesn't even order me around like that. This is great, what is she? What kind of miss? She’s just a girl from a poor family. Relying on looking a bit good, she really thinks she’s a phoenix!"

After she said these words, all the little maids knew who she was talking about and didn't dare to join the conversation, so they each walked away. Qiuluo was still complaining angrily when the door to the guard room was suddenly pushed open. Gu Ruitong walked out with a file, looked at Qiuluo, and said, "What are you making noise for?"

Qiuluo was startled and panicked, "Officer Gu."

Gu Ruitong saw her holding a tray and smelled that bitter ginseng smell, so he couldn't help but say coldly, "Nonsense! It’s so late, what are you doing sending a bowl of ginseng soup up?!" Qiuluo didn't dare to speak anymore, just replied, and hurried to the kitchen. Gu Ruitong斥dismissed Qiuluo, looked upstairs, and heard it was quiet. He lowered his head and turned into the guard room.

Late at night, the rain poured down even harder. The sky was pitch black, but the Li mansion was as bright as day. Li Boren ran down from the stairs and caught up with Yu Changxuan, who was putting on a raincoat at the main gate, "We’ve only played a few rounds of cards, why are you leaving? You’ve just left Miss Shi there—Fifth Young Master, you’ve broken her heart this time."

Yu Changxuan said, "Sorry, Eldest Brother, I’m exhausted, I have to go back to rest." Li Boren said, "It’s raining so hard outside, don't go back, just stay at our place for the night." After he finished speaking, he smiled obsequiously and leaned toward Yu Changxuan’s ear to talk. Yu Changxuan was very annoyed by this manner and turned his head slightly to dodge Li Boren, showing an impatient look, "If you have something to say, say it."

Li Boren smiled, "It just so happens that Miss Shi is still here. I’ll make arrangements for the Fifth Young Master; wouldn't that be perfect?"

Yu Changxuan left him with a "No need," turned around, and walked into the rain. Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao led the guards to follow. The rain was tremendous, and the sound of the rain was everywhere. Even the water on the ground was a foot or two deep. After getting into the car, the whole group was soaking wet. Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao said to the driver, "Back to Fengtai," but heard Yu Changxuan in the back seat ask, "Which place did you arrange for Ye Pingjun’s mother?"

This matter was handled by Wu Zuoxiao, so he hurriedly said, "It’s in a house in Dongshan Bridge. I also arranged for two maids to go over to serve Mrs. Ye, and I also arranged for a gatekeeper."

Yu Changxuan gave an "Mhm" and said, "Let’s go take a look."

The car headed straight to Dongshan Bridge. The whole street was full of water, looking like a dangerous shoal of rushing current, surging toward the low-lying parts of the street. The sky was pitch black, with only the bright light from the car’s headlights. After driving for quite a while, they arrived at the Dongshan Bridge house. Wu Zuoxiao said, "The rain is too big, Fifth Young Master, sit in the car, I’ll go call Mrs. Ye out!"

Yu Changxuan was about to get off when he heard this sentence and immediately turned back to scold, "What kind of nonsense are you talking about! How can there be such a logic!"

That sentence left Wu Zuoxiao not daring to open his mouth again. He hurriedly got out of the car to hold an umbrella for Yu Changxuan. Other guards went up to knock on the door. It took half a day before there was an answer. The one who came out was the old man who kept the gate. Seeing this scene, he was so scared he didn't dare to move. Yu Changxuan had already walked in and saw the lights in the east wing were already on. A maid opened the door, and Yu Changxuan walked to the outer room. Hearing sounds from the inner room, he said, "Mrs. Ye, no need to get up. I’ll ask one thing and leave."

The sound in the inner room stopped.

Yu Changxuan stood in the outer room, raindrops rolling down the raincoat draped over his body with a pitter-patter sound. The rain outside grew heavier, pouring down from the eaves like a waterfall. Yu Changxuan wiped the rainwater off his face and remained silent for a long while before slowly saying, "What does she like to eat?"

There was still no sound from the inner room. For a time, both the inner and outer rooms were plunged into silence, with only the sound of the pouring rain outside. After a long, long time, long enough for the rainwater on Yu Changxuan’s raincoat to have finished dripping, he heard a light sigh from the inner room—it was precisely Mrs. Ye’s helpless, tragic sigh.

The night grew deeper. Because of the scene Qiuluo had caused, Ye Pingjun couldn't fall asleep for a while, so she leaned on the bed and continued threading beads. She always threaded a string and then scattered it, only to re-thread it again. Repeating this, busy with it, she could think about nothing, as if she were letting herself go, forgetting to hurt. Perhaps, these three years would pass by slowly like this.

The sound of the rain outside the window became tighter, which only set off the quietness of Fengtai. In this silence, she heard a creak of the door. Ye Pingjun was concentrating on threading the thread into a small bead and, thinking it was Qiuluo returning to deliver the ginseng soup, said casually, "Put it on the table."

The footsteps at the door paused, but there was no sound. After a moment, she heard him laugh, "How did you know I brought you something?"

Her finger trembled, and the small bead in her hand fell into the box of beads. She didn't look up, but pulled the half-covered quilt directly to her chest, shrunk her whole body back hard, just hugging the head of the bed. She looked up at him again, her gaze as vigilant as a small animal chased by a hunter.

He looked at her series of actions and saw that she was still dressed neatly in tight outer clothes. He stared at her for a moment, walked forward a few steps, sat slowly on the purple velvet sofa, lowered his head slightly, and placed the item in his hand on the coffee table. In this silence, which was like a standoff, he still looked at the coffee table with his head down and suddenly laughed, "Your pillow doesn't have a knife hidden under it, does it?"

Ye Pingjun kept her mouth shut and didn't speak.

Yu Changxuan glanced at her and, seeing her indifferent appearance, simply stood up, "slapped" to undo the outer belt tied around his body, and then unbuckled the buttons of his military coat. After unbuttoning one or two, he saw Ye Pingjun staring at him, her face changing. He wanted to walk forward one more step, and Ye Pingjun jumped off the bed in a panic, "What are you doing?"

Yu Changxuan laughed, "What do you think?"

Seeing him standing by the door, Ye Pingjun knew she absolutely couldn't run out. No matter how calm a person she was, in such a situation, she was at a loss. Instinctively, she grabbed a flower vase nearby and raised her hands in a motion to smash it. He sneered, pointed at the vase she was using for defense, and said indifferently, "Put it down for me!"

Ye Pingjun’s lips moved, her gaze scattered in panic. Yu Changxuan threw the military belt onto the bed and looked at the nervous Ye Pingjun again, "Don't forget your status."

That sentence blocked all of Ye Pingjun’s paths of retreat. What was her status? She was a canary he kept in a cage; there was bound to be such a day sooner or later. What else could she do? Ye Pingjun’s clear eyes gradually revealed a desperate light, and she stood there stiffly like wood. He, however, had already reached out to take the vase from her hand, then gripped her right wrist. She instinctively tried to pull back, but he pulled her over in one tug.

Ye Pingjun’s eyes instantly moistened, and she whimpered in fear, "No..." His movements paused for a moment, but a moment later he laughed indifferently. In the panic, she was pulled to the sofa by him and sat down. He also sat beside her, took the item he had just brought back, and opened it. It was a bamboo steamer of chicken-juice soup dumplings, still steaming hot. He pushed the basket of dumplings in front of her and said, "Bought it while I was at it, taste and see."

Ye Pingjun stared blankly at the steaming chicken-juice soup dumplings in front of her, unable to speak for a long time. Yu Changxuan looked at her, extremely naturally stretched out his arm to wrap it around her shoulder, pulled her into his arms, felt the instant stiffness and resistance of her back, but still leaned to her ear and whispered with a low laugh, "I was just trying to scare you earlier. If you don't pay attention to me again, I’ll scare you like that in the future."

She finally turned to look at him, seeing his black eyes full of gentle laughter. Her heart trembled involuntarily. She panicked and turned back, "I’m not eating." His shoulders relaxed—it was him letting her go. He had already stood up and said, "Eat, then sleep, I’m leaving."

After he finished, he walked out. She remained sitting stiffly on the sofa, dazed. Her palms were wet; she was clutching cold sweat in her hands, and fine sweat had even seeped out on her forehead. The rain outside the window had diminished a lot, and raindrops fell from the eaves drop by drop, like a water clock telling time, but it was slow—drip... drip... She slowly pulled her feet in, sat on the sofa hugging her knees, curled herself up tightly, and couldn't help but tremble, her heart beating even more violently.

The next morning, Mrs. Li arrived at Fengtai in her own car. The gatekeeper reported it. Pingjun was sitting in the hall and hadn't yet had time to go upstairs. She saw Mrs. Li wearing a white brocade cheongsam with hidden floral patterns. As soon as she entered the door, she wiped the sweat off the tip of her nose with a snow-blue silk handkerchief and looked at Pingjun with a smile, "Good sister, it’s been so long, I’ve missed you to death."

Pingjun sat on the purple velvet sofa, glanced at Mrs. Li, and Mrs. Li walked over full of smiles, sat on the side affectionately, placed Pingjun’s hand in her own, examined her in detail, and smiled slightly, "Outside everyone says the Fifth Young Master dotes on his sister like the apple of his eye. It’s really true; sister, your complexion is better than before, and you are becoming more and more beautiful."

Pingjun pulled her hand back silently. Mrs. Li’s eyes turned, and she remained smiling, "Sister, you’ve climbed a high branch now, living a life like an immortal. Shouldn't you record this achievement for us?" Pingjun looked at Mrs. Li, her eyes clear and distinct, and said clearly, "Is that so? Then I really must record this achievement for you."

Mrs. Li was stunned, and saw the coldness in Pingjun’s eyes like ice. She hadn't expected this. After a moment of silence, she smiled again and said, "That’s exactly right. Think about the last time Xueting was caught in prison—if it hadn't been for our Boren navigating the channels and protecting him, he wouldn't have come out so easily. But now that he’s been released, he has a criminal record at the Special Service Office. I’m just afraid that one day, if Boren isn't careful, he’ll get caught again. That would be bad."

Pingjun looked at Mrs. Li, her lips pursed. Mrs. Li remained calm and smiling, turned her head to look out the window, and laughed, "Everyone says the Yu family has many private residences, but only this Fengtai is the most beautiful. Look at this scenery—besides the Yu family in Jinling, which family has such flair?"

Just as Mrs. Li finished speaking, a cinnamon-colored canary landed on a pine branch outside the window and chirped happily. Mrs. Li said, "Oh, what a beautiful canary." Pingjun also looked out the window, a gentle light appearing in her eyes, "That’s a canary." Seeing that Pingjun liked the bird, Mrs. Li laughed, "Looking at sister, you really like this canary."

Pingjun didn't want to say much more and just nodded. Mrs. Li talked about some everyday things, nothing more than asking what she liked to play, whether she liked to watch movies or eat Western food, and Pingjun just nodded to brush her off. Close to noon, Mrs. Li left with a smile.

A maid walked over and said, "Miss Ye, it’s time for lunch." Pingjun just shook her head, stood up, and went upstairs. She pushed open the door to her bedroom, and saw several windows in the bedroom were open. Outside the window was a tall tree of unknown name, blooming with fiery red flowers, one bunch after another, very lively. The fragrant wind wafted in, blowing the books placed on the coffee table in front of the sofa until they rustled. She walked up and straightened the books. Because the carpet was extremely soft, she took the opportunity to sit on the carpet and picked up a round fan on the side, holding it quietly.

When Yu Changxuan returned, it was a little after two o'clock in the afternoon. He went upstairs all the way and pushed open the bedroom door, but it was empty in front of him; he didn't see her. His heart tightened, and he turned to look, only to see her sitting on the carpet, leaning her head against the coffee table next to her, actually asleep.

He softened his footsteps and walked over, placing his military cap and the item in his hand aside. She was leaning on the coffee table with the round fan, and the apricot-yellow fan tassel hung softly from her forehead. A wind blew gently from outside the window. She was wearing a white dress with yellow polka dots, her wide sleeves swaying in the wind, revealing a piece of snow-white and slender arm. It was as if a faint fragrance emitted from her sleeves, making him feel a sense of longing, as if drunk and melting.

The apricot-yellow fan tassel was blown by the wind, the soft tassels swaying beside her snow-white cheeks, setting off her face even more like dew on peach blossoms or smoke on apricot flowers. He held his breath, reached out and touched her soft cheeks gently, and slowly lifted her warm cheeks into his hands. His palms had gun calluses worn from practicing shooting for many years. Feeling uncomfortable in her sleep, she frowned slightly and opened her eyes.

As soon as she woke up, she realized their posture and that her cheeks were held in his hands. She was so scared she pulled back. However, this instinctive avoidance move made him suddenly feel a burst of irritation. He reached out and grabbed her shoulder, pulling her in front of him. He used great force, and she frowned, unable to help but say, "Let go, it hurts."

Only then did he recover his senses, and seeing her face change, he hurriedly loosened his grip. She retreated, and Yu Changxuan looked at her, remained silent for a long time, then smiled slightly, "Look what I brought you."

He brought over the item he had placed aside earlier, and it was actually a birdcage, with a yellow canary inside, wearing a golden chain on its foot, pecking rice and drinking water inside the cage. Yu Changxuan laughed, "I know you like this canary. I specially got it for you. It has many fun tricks. I’ll let it perform for us in a while, I guarantee it will amuse you."

Pingjun looked at the bird in the cage and shook her head, "I don't want it."

Yu Changxuan said, "Don't you like this canary?"

Pingjun said indifferently, "Is it worthy of such a good name? Only those flying outside are canaries; the ones locked in cages are just gold-threaded birds."

Yu Changxuan’s hand holding the cage paused, lifted his eyes to look at her calm expression, and then looked at the canary in the cage. Thinking that this gesture of his was rather like using a needle to stab people, he lost all interest. He put the cage down, held his temper, and laughed, "I have nothing to do tonight, how about I take you to see a movie?"

Pingjun said, "I don't like it."

Yu Changxuan looked at her again, "Then I’ll take you to eat Western food?" Pingjun lowered her head, reached out and slowly pulled the apricot-yellow tassel on the round fan, saying silently, "I don't like that."

The room became silent, and only the wind still blew in from outside the window, blowing the leaves of the orchid placed in front of the window until they shook wildly. The smile on his face gradually faded, and he only gazed at her. After a long while, he said with extreme calmness, "Don't want this, don't like that—I really have indulged you too much, actually raising such a big temper in you."

She kept her head down, her lips pursed, and the apricot-yellow tassel slipped softly from between her fingers.

He stared at her steadily, his gaze revealing a burning, oppressive power, "No one has ever dared to treat me like this! I’ve endured you nagging my temperament time and again, aren't you satisfied yet?!"

Pingjun looked up at him but wanted to turn her head away again. He truly hated her avoidance, reached out, and forcibly turned her face over, his breathing slightly rapid, "Ye Pingjun, you..." He was only halfway through his sentence, but was so hateful he couldn't go on, only pressingly staring at her clear eyes. His gaze was burning hot, as if sparks were about to splash out.

She raised her face slightly, and a clear finger mark was actually pinched on her chin by him. Without a word, he suddenly stood up, lifted the birdcage on the coffee table, and threw it toward the floor in a fit of rage, "Fine, your temper is big, you do whatever you want, I don't care about you anymore!"

The birdcage landed on the carpet and rolled away. The canary was frightened, spreading its wings and flapping inside the cage, staring with its red eyes and screaming.

She turned her head, "Don't go mad!"

He looked at her indifferent expression and gritted his teeth, "You had better not force me to go mad!"

There was a knock at the door, and Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao said from outside, "Fifth Young Master, the Madame called and said to ask you to go to the official residence."

Yu Changxuan’s gaze still lingered on Ye Pingjun. She just sat there without saying a word. He only felt as if a hard, cold piece of iron had sunk into his heart, rubbing against him hard. When it came down to it, it was all because of her. He really had gone mad, actually letting her grind him down like this.

He finally hardened his heart, picked up his military cap, turned around, and walked out.

It was late autumn, but it was also a troublesome autumn for the central government in Jinling. The warlord melee was becoming increasingly serious. Chu Wenfu, Chairman of the Executive Yuan of the central government, incorrectly estimated the situation and sent troops to the Xiao Army during the slight chaos in the north, indeed gaining some advantages and seizing two railway main lines. Who knew that in the past month, they would encounter a fierce counterattack from the Xiao Army? Seeing that the Xiao Army had actually crossed the Xishui River, Chu Wenfu couldn't sit still anymore and hurriedly invited Chairman of the Military Commission Yu Zhongquan to come out of retirement, only then blocking the Xiao Army. However, this made Chu Wenfu even more obedient to Yu Zhongquan.

In this situation, Jiang Xueting, editor-in-chief of the "Name Newspaper," the most influential political newspaper in the country, criticized the central government’s constitution as being in name only, the government as a puppet, and the distorted political model of ruling the party by the military. He even fearlessly wrote a satirical poem, pointing directly at the Yu and Chu families joining forces and insisting on civil war instead of resisting Japan. It went: Fishermen farm the fields without casting nets, fish forks hoe the land without stabbing sharks, whose Chu Chu little daughter, wishes to be someone else’s dodder flower. The way of heaven is not clear and the human heart is ancient, watching how long you can be rampant!

This morning, after the routine meeting at the Yu official residence ended, Yu Zhongquan kept the two primary figures of the Yu Army, Gu Yigang and Zhang Xiaoxian, to discuss military affairs. Yu Changxuan remained in the office to listen. He saw them debating offense and defense in front of the strategic map for a long time. Gu Yigang laughed, "The Commander-in-Chief is still the most formidable after all—no one could have expected this move!"

Zhang Xiaoxian also laughed, "It seems the Commander-in-Chief is determined to take the life of the Xiao young marshal this time!"

Yu Changxuan saw these uncles laughing and talking in riddles, and saw his father turn his head to look at him with a smile, actually saying, "Changxuan, you don't have to be anxious. Within this year, I will definitely let you go to the battlefield to make a great contribution."

Yu Changxuan looked at the strategic map and saw that the focus of firepower on the map was actually at Xiangping Pass. He was thinking about how his father was going to arrange this battle. Gu Yigang, who was drinking tea on the side, already laughed, "I understand. Good steel should be used on the blade. It seems the Commander-in-Chief is going to use this move to achieve success for the Fifth Young Master."

Yu Zhongquan just smiled indifferently, "I do have this intention, but if you are to be a commander at such a young age, you must have the support of both of you."

Yu Changxuan was still young and impetuous, and couldn't restrain himself, stepping forward, "Father, I don't need any support, just let me go and compete with Xiao Beichen myself!"

Hearing this, Yu Zhongquan was immediately displeased, "What an ignorant thing! You want to compete with that fellow surnamed Xiao now? Can what you learned in military academy deal with Xiao Beichen’s extensive battlefield experience?! A house eagle actually wants to fight a wild eagle! I fear you don't have that much ability yet!"

Yu Changxuan couldn't help it and replied directly, "Since Father says so, it means my ability is not enough, so why let me be a commander? I have no merit and will not accept anyone else’s salary!"

Yu Zhongquan had been showing anger, but hearing this from Yu Changxuan, he did not vent his anger, just threw the force identifier in his hand onto the table with a "slap" and said only one sentence, "Bastard, get out!" Seeing his father’s vague attitude, Yu Changxuan was still somewhat unwilling, but since he had spoken to this point, it was already at the extreme and he could not rebel further, so he had to retreat.

Gu Yigang, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of the Army, watched Yu Changxuan walk out, and seeing Yu Zhongquan’s displeased expression, hurriedly laughed, "I didn't expect Changxuan, this kid, to have such arrogance. He truly does not fail the style of his big brother back then."

Zhang Xiaoxian also nodded, "Changxuan was watched by me and old Gu as he grew up. His personality is most similar to the big brother’s. After being tempered on the battlefield with real knives and guns for a few years, he will definitely make a difference. Big brother, rest assured, Changxuan will not go wrong!"

Yu Zhongquan looked at the sand table and sighed for a long time, "You also know that now our Yu family only has this one seedling left. I cannot afford not to be careful. Fortunately, he also has blood and guts, which also gives me some comfort. If he were truly an A Dou who could not be helped up, I would have stopped caring about him long ago."

Yu Changxuan walked out of Yu Zhongquan’s study and went downstairs. He saw Second Sister Jinxuan’s child, seven-year-old Kuang Zening, running out of the north hall wobblingly. As soon as he saw Yu Changxuan, he stood still, looked up, and called out in a milky voice, "Little Uncle." Finally, he put his chubby little hands behind his back and solemnly added, "Little Auntie is inside talking bad about Little Uncle, I didn't say anything."

Yu Changxuan was amused by Zening’s act of reporting and couldn't help but laugh, calling toward the north hall, "Qixuan, you stand there and don't move." He walked in all the way, only to see a card table set up in the north hall, with eldest sister-in-law Minru having pulled Second Sister Jinxuan, Sixth Sister Qixuan, and Jun Daiti to play cards. Seeing Yu Changxuan walk in, Qixuan immediately pushed the cards in front of her and mischievously stuck out her tongue, "Oh no, the debt collector is here, I’m not playing." After she finished, she jumped up from the chair and flew out with a flutter.

Seeing Jun Daiti here, Yu Changxuan wanted to retreat, but Minru smiled slightly, stood up to block him, "Fifth Brother, where are you running? We finally set up a card game, and you’ve burdened us with a vacancy. You should at least come up and play a few rounds; otherwise, where are we going to find someone at this time?"

Yu Changxuan pointed upstairs and laughed, "Big sister-in-law is killing me, Father is upstairs."

Minru laughed, "It’s just a few rounds to relieve fatigue and boredom. If Father blames you, I’ll tell him." She pushed Yu Changxuan into her original seat, just right for Yu Changxuan and Jun Daiti to be next-door partners, sat in the vacancy Qixuan had left, and beckoned to the maid Ruizhu on the side, instructing her to wash the newly bought loquats and bring them over.

Yu Changxuan lifted his eyes slightly, and saw Jun Daiti wearing a long cheongsam of pale yellow brocade silk with gold thread, wearing a smooth, clean, and lustrous bracelet on her wrist, with a handkerchief wrapped around the bracelet. She sat there with her head down, only worrying about the cards in her hand, her face involuntarily revealing some tension, which he swept into his eyes. Minru laughed, "We must agree first, I have rules for playing cards here, no secret private deals allowed."

Jinxuan laughed, "Then this is impossible to play. Not to mention anything else, how much has big sister-in-law won from me right now? I was hoping big sister-in-law could let me off, why are you being so impartial now?"

Minru laughed, "Don't complain. We play cards to draw points for snacks. If I win yours, I’ll buy snacks to sweeten your mouth, little sister-in-law. If Daiti wins, she will treat Fifth Brother to a Western meal."

Daiti sat with her head down, the ginkgo pendants beside her ears swaying wildly. Yu Changxuan coughed, reached out and shuffled the cards on the table, and played again. After playing two rounds, Minru had sharp eyes and had already seen Daiti’s cards clearly. At this moment, she threw out a two-tube, looking at Jun Daiti and smiling, obviously letting her win. Who knew that Jun Daiti was sitting there, not knowing what she was thinking? Watching this two-tube be won by Jinxuan, she was still in a daze there, which showed how flustered this heart was.

Just as they were playing, they heard Qixuan’s voice outside, talking to Zening at the entrance of the hall, "Zening, who else is in the north hall?" Zening ran into the hall, stood in front of the card table, and shouted outside, "Here are Big Aunt and Mama, and Little Uncle and Little Uncle’s girlfriend Daiti..."

Yu Changxuan’s face darkened instantly, his anger flared, and he threw the cards in his hand with a "slap," displeased, "What nonsense are you saying! Who taught you this?!"

The sentence scared Zening into silence immediately, his mouth drooping to cry. Second Sister Jinxuan stood up, pulled Zening over, and laughed, "Fifth brother, don't get angry. He is young, where would he know what girlfriend means? It must be that he heard other people’s words and learned them randomly." Then she turned to Daiti, "The child is ignorant and offended Daiti sister, really sorry, please don't get angry."

Jun Daiti gripped a card tightly, sat there with a red face, and bit her lips tightly. Seeing this situation, Minru pushed Daiti and laughed to smooth things over, "It’s just the child talking nonsense. Our Daiti sister isn't angry at all. It’s not like Fifth Brother, being so ignorant, an ugly scene whenever someone says something!"

Yu Changxuan said to Minru, "Big sister-in-law’s instruction is correct, it is my fault." Just as they were saying this, Mrs. Yu walked in holding a volume of "The Lotus Sutra" with light commentary, followed by Qixuan. Mrs. Yu said as she walked, "I asked you to help me copy the scripture, but look at you, just greedy for play. You haven't even copied one page in three or four days."

Qixuan pouted, "Dull and tasteless stuff, I don't have the patience to copy it." Mrs. Yu looked up and saw that the four people at the card table actually had different expressions, so she said, "What’s the matter?"

Yu Changxuan said, "It was my bad word that made sister-in-law unhappy." This was treating Jun Daiti as invisible. Jun Daiti couldn't bear it anymore, and tears fell immediately. She stood up and pointed at Yu Changxuan, "Yu Changxuan, you bully people like this. I know you have the Tao family’s Second Miss now, and you’re turning around to insult me. Do you really think I can't live without you? Since that’s the case, let’s make a clean break." She wiped her tears, turned, and ran out. Minru called out "Daiti, what are you doing?" and immediately followed.

This sequence of events stunned Mrs. Yu. First, she watched Jun Daiti run away, and then she turned back to see Yu Changxuan sitting there, looking completely unmoved. She was naturally on her son’s side, so she said, "This Daiti, she looked okay when she was young, as if she knew etiquette. Now that she’s grown up, really... she’s still a miss from a prominent family, and she doesn't even know this rule? Crying in someone else’s house like this, what is it?"

Yu Changxuan didn't say more, just gave Jinxuan a look, stood up, and went out. He stood in the flower-filled veranda, looking at the scenery and waiting. Sure enough, not long after, he heard the clacking of leather shoes. It was Jinxuan who came out, pulled Yu Changxuan, and laughed, "What’s the matter with you lately? You used to be very good to Daiti, why are you ignoring her more and more now?"

Yu Changxuan laughed, "This is all for Second Sister. If I really married Jun Daiti, both Jun sisters would enter our family. Once those two collude, if Father and Mother were still there, it would be okay, but if Father and Mother were not there, I fear Second Sister’s future life would not be easy."

Jinxuan looked Yu Changxuan up and down and laughed, "What do you mean? Don't tell me that scene just now was for me to watch? I feel like your words today are full of ambushes." Yu Changxuan laughed, "I just want to stand on Second Sister’s side and absolutely not have any connection with Jun Daiti. Second Sister, you have to help me with a favor, will you?"

Jinxuan smiled, "Every time you open your mouth it’s never a good thing. Tell me."

Yu Changxuan said, "I want to follow Father to the western front to inspect the military defense. I will be away for more than half a month. If you have time, go to Fengtai to play." He paused, walked to Jinxuan’s ear, and whispered a few words. Jinxuan was stunned first, then whispered, "You are truly mad. If Father knows about this, that would be terrible."

Yu Changxuan said indifferently, "Know it then. If it really makes a scene, I’ll just legitimize her." These words made Jinxuan hit him lightly on the head, gritting her teeth, "This is even more mad talk. Where on earth did this fox spirit come from to confuse you like this?"

Yu Changxuan immediately refuted, "She is not, and she didn't confuse me. It is me... who is confused by her." He paused and whispered another sentence, "Anyway, I don't care anymore. I just like her."

Seeing him like this, Jinxuan could only say cautiously, "This matter looks bad to me. You think it through yourself. What kind of family is our Yu family, and what kind of status do you have? You have no possibility with her at all, why waste this effort? I advise you to put her down as soon as possible."

Hearing Jinxuan’s words, Yu Changxuan knew the stakes involved, but lowered his eyes slightly, an indescribable light appearing in his pupils. After a long while, he finally said silently, "If it could be that simple, I would. But now, I just can't let her go!"

Because Yu Changxuan accompanied Yu Zhongquan to inspect the military defense on the western front, he hadn't come to Fengtai for a long time. Ye Pingjun finally felt a little relieved. During the day, she would walk out of the bedroom and often sit in the living room for a while. In the living room was a flower-carved screen decorated with colored glass in hibiscus and peony patterns. Beside the screen was a thick green velvet sofa, and on a small table nearby was a phonograph, blossoming like a trumpet flower. Ye Pingjun sat on the sofa, sometimes picking up a film magazine to read. She had learned a little English in school, so she could understand some English introductions in the magazine.

This day she was curled up on the sofa reading the magazine. Feeling tired, she picked up the tea on the side to drink, but when it hit her lips, it was ice-cold, and only then did she know she had been sitting for a long time and the tea had gone cold. Just as she saw a little maid come in, she said, "Excuse me, this tea is cold, please change it for a cup for me."

The little maid laughed and agreed, ran over to change the tea, and heard someone outside the living room, "Ni-ni, you are really getting lazier and lazier. You are just a maid, do you think you are a miss, not going to the kitchen to scrub the bowls?" Ni-ni turned back, saw Qiuluo walk in, hurriedly withdrew her hand, looked at Pingjun with embarrassment, and left sullenly.

Qiuluo walked up and smiled at Ye Pingjun sitting on the sofa, "Miss Ye, look at us, we are so busy we can't move our hands. Just make do, drinking cold tea to quench your thirst isn't better?"

Ye Pingjun slowly turned the page of the magazine in her hand and said nothing. Qiuluo was still unsatisfied and laughed, "I heard that poor people soak straw hat circles for tea. This cold tea is much better than that taste, isn't it?" This was simply bullying. Ye Pingjun’s fingers paused on the magazine page, her lips pursed, and she actually held it in.

Qiuluo lifted her head and gave a triumphant smile. Suddenly, she heard a sound of footsteps outside; it was Ni-ni running back again. She entered the living room and said, "The Second Miss is here."

Qiuluo was startled first, then the smile on her face bloomed like a flower. She hurried to welcome her. Ye Pingjun stood up from the sofa and saw a woman of about thirty walking in, wearing an apple-green rhinestone cheongsam, draped with a black wool cape, radiating charm and grace. As soon as she walked in, ignoring the beaming Qiuluo, her gaze was sharply cast directly onto Ye Pingjun, and in the blink of an eye, she looked Ye Pingjun up and down from head to toe.

Ye Pingjun felt that her gaze had a sharp taste, as if she could see through a person’s heart at a glance. She couldn't help but feel a bit shy and instinctively tucked her hands behind her back, but then found this action too childish and panicked to loosen them. Just because of this small action, she heard the woman laugh, "Truly a good appearance, it’s not in vain that our Old Five has been missing you in his mouth and heart all day."

Jinxuan was such a person; with just one glance, she had weighed Pingjun in her heart, thinking that she was such a clean little girl, truly not a fox spirit character. No wonder Changxuan kept her in his heart. Seeing her like this, she was not a person who would play tricks. Whether to let her go or let her stay, both would be easy to handle. Thinking of this, Jinxuan relaxed slightly, reached out to pull Pingjun’s hand with a smile, "If I’m not mistaken, you must be sister Pingjun, right?"

Pingjun nodded, and heard Jinxuan say affectionately, "I am Changxuan’s Second Sister. I haven't heard less about you from Changxuan’s mouth on weekdays, and I’ve been wanting to come and see you for a long time." Pingjun looked at Jinxuan’s smiling face and said politely, "Miss Yu."

Jinxuan was even more stunned, and laughed meaningfully, "This title is wrong. You should call me Second Sister."

Pingjun remained silent. Seeing Pingjun’s quiet appearance, Jinxuan saw even more that she was someone without ambition. Looking at her again wearing a pink satin robe, standing there pitifully, her heart really added a few parts of love to her. She laughed, "Changxuan has gone to the western front to inspect military defense with Father. He is worried that you will be lonely staying in Fengtai alone, so he specially asked me to come accompany you. Come, today I will take you to browse the department store and buy some good things."

Pingjun originally wanted to refuse, but seeing the Second Miss’s affectionate appearance, and the fact that she had come personally to take her out to play, her refusal could not come out, so she had to agree. She went upstairs to change clothes and followed Jinxuan out of Fengtai. Jinxuan took Pingjun to a foreign firm first, where most of them sold foreign goods. She actually openly picked a diamond brooch for Pingjun. Pingjun couldn't refuse and had to accept it. Then she was pulled by Jinxuan to order a few clothes, and went to the department store to buy a lot of things. Naturally, the servants who followed carried big bags and small bags. Finally, around three o'clock in the afternoon, they went to eat at Green Willow Residence, which was quite famous in Jinling.

The private room at Green Willow Residence naturally had attentive service, and things were well-prepared. The waiter added tea for Pingjun and bowed to send over hot towels. She heard Jinxuan, who was sitting on the side, suddenly say, "Why is this newspaper placed here? It’s irritating." Pingjun saw Jinxuan throw a newspaper on the table casually. She just glanced at the newspaper, and in that instant, her heart beat like a war drum, and she couldn't help but tremble.

Jinxuan drank tea while pointing to a photo in the newspaper, "Sister, look, this is the editor-in-chief of the 'Name Newspaper,' Jiang Xueting. He’s truly not a piece of work. Relying on his bit of talent, he writes messy things all day to attack our Yu family. If it weren't for the Fifth Brother having said in advance that he wouldn't care about him, someone would have come forward for our Yu family and taken care of him long ago!"

Ye Pingjun was still flustered, but her gaze seemed to be stuck on the photo in the newspaper, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move it away. The photo in the newspaper was him, still as high-spirited, with a smile on his lips. She remembered it so clearly, so carefully. For a time, her thoughts were in chaos, one thought after another hitting like waves, making her tremble involuntarily. He was the editor-in-chief of the "Name Newspaper" now. Was he doing well? What did he think of her sudden disappearance? Did he... remember her? Or... hate her for leaving without saying goodbye...

Her heart was flustered, she only felt her mouth dry, and whispered, "He... perhaps is not just targeting the Yu family."

Jinxuan sneered, "You are right. Besides the Mou family, he really scolds everyone. Just watch, to be so arrogant and ignorant at such a young age, our Yu family is too lazy to move against him, but one day someone else will take his life!"

Ye Pingjun felt cold sweat on her back, and couldn't even sit still. Just then, the private room door opened, and it was a waiter from Green Willow Residence bringing the first dish, which was a pot of God Duck, followed by beauty liver, squirrel fish, and other Jinling famous dishes. Jinxuan laughed and put a pair of dishes into the plate in front of Pingjun, "Sister Pingjun, stop daydreaming. I think you are still too thin, eat something first."

Pingjun was afraid that Jinxuan would see any flaws, so she hurriedly lowered her head to eat, feeling her eye sockets swell. She forced herself to endure the pain that felt like her heart was being grasped, but unfortunately, this famous Jinling dish, famous all over the world, tasted like nothing in her mouth.

It wasn't until evening that Jinxuan sent Pingjun back before taking the car home. Pingjun asked the servant who followed her to send all the things she bought to the bedroom. Her heart was tangled and uncomfortable. Without knowing it, she walked into the back courtyard, and saw that the garden was lush with plants, flowers red and willows green, and golden carp swimming freely in the small pond. She walked a few steps and suddenly saw a large cluster of emerald-green hostas, and the soil under the roots was also fresh and loose, obviously just planted and divided. Pingjun couldn't help but be startled, followed the hosta clusters to walk forward, and saw several attendants standing in the flower bushes to cultivate the soil. Guard Chief Gu Ruitong stood on the side, and only after hearing her footsteps did he turn his head.

Pingjun was stunned and stood there.

Seeing her, Gu Ruitong said, "Miss Ye, when the Fifth Young Master left, he specially instructed us to plant this cluster of hostas, saying that Miss Ye would surely like them."

Pingjun looked at those hosta bushes and lowered her head gently, "How did he know I liked them?"

Gu Ruitong said, "The Fifth Young Master specially went to Dongshan Bridge to ask Miss Ye’s mother."

Pingjun stood silently.

The white hosta was planted against the wall, stretching into a large patch. The golden sunset shone over, turning the original tender green leaves into golden yellow. Pingjun stood by the hostas, in elegant clothes, as if she were a small flower blooming in the leaves.

Suddenly, she heard a sentence from behind, "I said I couldn't find Miss Ye everywhere, so it turns out you are here." The voice was extremely light and sluggish. Pingjun turned her head and saw the big maid Qiuluo wearing a bright red shirt, leaning against the side of the moon gate, standing in the wind, looking at her and Gu Ruitong, her chin slightly raised.

When she said "you," she emphasized the tone slightly. After speaking, she bit her lips and lifted her head, still in a grinning appearance.

Ye Pingjun ignored her completely, passed through the moon gate, and went straight back to the room. She saw the things she bought during the day were all placed on the small coffee table in the bedroom. She sat silently on the sofa, with a dazed expression on her face. Without knowing how much time had passed, she slowly took out a newspaper from a bag, which was the "Name Newspaper," which she had secretly brought back when Jinxuan wasn't paying attention.

She looked at the newspaper page for a long time, her soft fingers stopping silently on his photo, and the new-style vernacular poem he was advocating under his column:

Love Thread Notes—

You left, leaving like a gust of wind, traceless.

In memory, there is still your smiling figure at the door, and the dancing gauze scarf, lingering in my long dream.

The jujube tree at the door is still there, I, holding a strand of your fragrant black hair, waiting in the empty courtyard.

Ye Pingjun placed the newspaper on the coffee table slowly. She sat there gazing at the newspaper in a daze, lost in thought, to the point that she couldn't even hear Qiuluo’s footsteps coming in to deliver tea.