The Lament of Autumn - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Intense Flames Reach the Heavens, A Kind Mother Becomes a Memory; Melting Frost, Children Finally End Their Bonds

Pingjun possessed a spirited, masculine ambition in her character, and in everything she did, she was extremely earnest and clear-headed. She managed the small flower shop with such excellence that even Jiang Xueting would sometimes tease her, saying she had already developed the demeanor of a true little proprietress.

That afternoon, just as Pingjun returned from delivering a few pots of flowers, she saw a small motorcar parked outside the shop. Upon walking in, she indeed found Jiang Xueting waiting for her. He was chatting with Mrs. Ye, and on the table sat walnut shortbread from the time-honored "Daoxiangchun" bakery, as well as the traditional Jinling delicacy, five-colored cakes. As soon as Mrs. Ye saw Ye Pingjun return, she smiled and said, "Ping'er, you've returned just in time. Xueting says he wants to take you for a spring excursion in the mountains."

Pingjun walked forward, picked up a piece of cake to eat, and laughed, "The sun is almost setting; what kind of excursion is that? I’m not going." Mrs. Ye then said, "Xueting is so busy right now, yet he still thinks of taking you out to play. Why are you being so difficult?"

Jiang Xueting smiled at Pingjun from the side, "Don't be lazy. Aunt is a devout Buddhist, so let’s go up the mountain to pay our respects to Guanyin, shall we?" Seeing she couldn't refuse, Pingjun gave a small smile and said, "Alright then."

Jiang Xueting had been promoted all the way up under the guidance of the elder Mr. Mou. At present, he served as the Minister of Propaganda for the Jinling Government and was a key member of the party, holding a position of significant influence. Naturally, he traveled everywhere with guards escorting his car. This time, however, he had brought Ye Pingjun out without any attendants. He drove the car himself to take Pingjun to the Guanyin Pavilion in the suburbs, where he parked the car at the foot of the mountain. The two of them followed the stone steps up. Looking around, the mountain trees were withered, and gusts of mountain wind blew. Although it was early spring, the grass was still bare. After walking a few steps, Jiang Xueting said, "It’s so cold today, and I see you’ve been busy all day. Why don't we hire a sedan chair to go up?"

Ye Pingjun smiled, "We’ve come to worship Guanyin; if we ride a sedan chair, there’s no sincerity in it. Besides, I used to be able to walk up step by step, so why wouldn’t I be able to now?" Jiang Xueting smiled, stepped forward to assist her, and said, "I’m just afraid you’ll be tired."

As the two of them walked up the stone steps hand in hand, they saw the distant sunset about to disappear behind the mountain, casting a vast, dusky glow. By this time, pilgrims had almost completely vanished. Ye Pingjun laughed, "I told you to come earlier. Now look, by the time we walk up, the temple doors will be closed, and we’ll have to head back down looking dejected."

Jiang Xueting smiled, "Even if the temple doors are closed, once the temple sees you have arrived, they will surely open them."

Pingjun asked suspiciously, "How so?"

Jiang Xueting looked at her, smiling as he said, "Because you look like Guanyin."

This comment made Pingjun chuckle. She raised both hands in a helpless gesture, "According to you, I look like Guanyin, but you don’t look like the Buddha Tathagata, so only I could enter the Guanyin Pavilion, while you would be left outside."

Jiang Xueting laughed, "If I can’t get in, then I’ll just wait honestly on this stone path for you to come out." No sooner had he finished speaking than Pingjun’s body swayed; she had stepped on a patch of moss on the stone steps and nearly slipped. Jiang Xueting hurriedly grabbed her. Seeing she was steady, he said, "You’ve had this problem since you were little—always prone to falling while walking. The stone steps are so hard; a fall would be enough to make you suffer."

Seeing that Xueting was actually more nervous than she was, she smiled and pulled her hand back. The two of them continued walking up the mountain, only to find the temple gate had not yet been closed. They stood in the main hall of the Guanyin Pavilion, lighting candles and inserting incense, then knelt on the prayer mats together. Pingjun had only bowed once when she heard Jiang Xueting, beside her, chanting: "Guanyin Bodhisattva, please protect us. I vow to join in a marriage of a hundred years with Pingjun, and in this life and this world, I will never fail her."

Pingjun forgot to bow further, instead turning to look at Jiang Xueting, who had his hands pressed together in pious prayer. Jiang Xueting bowed three times before rising, turning to smile slightly at the stunned Pingjun, and reaching out to take her hand. Pingjun instinctively tried to dodge, only to feel something cool drop into her palm—a gold ring, glistening with a bright, yellow light. She raised her head, and he looked at her with a smile and said:

"Pingjun, let’s get married."

Pingjun stared blankly at Jiang Xueting, her heart suddenly feeling empty, as calm as a pool of stagnant water. She could feel the edges of the ring pricking her palm slightly, and that subtle sting brought her back to reality. She realized that Jiang Xueting had been watching her the whole time; his clear, heroic eyes were filled with such expectation, as if she had already agreed.

His voice was filled with both guilt and determination. He said, "Because my status is special now, we cannot announce our marriage in the newspapers, and we cannot sign a marriage contract. Furthermore, I fear for your safety. In a few days, I will buy you a house in Luzhou, registered in your name. You and Aunt can live in Luzhou, and I will come to visit you whenever I have time."

Seeing Pingjun’s dazed expression, he knew his reasoning was truly weak, so he added in a remedial attempt, "With this ring as our token of love, do you still not trust me? From today on, you are my wife, and I am your husband."

Pingjun suddenly said in a low voice, "Husband?" A flash of absent-mindedness crossed her eyes. Seeing this, Jiang Xueting panicked, fearing she wouldn’t agree. Casting all caution to the wind, he extended his right hand in an oath-taking gesture and declared firmly, "Pingjun, even if I, Jiang Xueting, betray the whole world, I will never betray you. If I ever break this promise, may I die a horrible death! And may I have no peace even in the afterlife!"

She finally heard his words clearly, and a sudden panic surged in her heart. She hurriedly said, "In the presence of the Bodhisattva, do not make such an oath!"

Jiang Xueting was also startled and instinctively turned to look at the high-seated Guanyin statue. He saw the face of the Buddha, who saves all living beings, partially obscured by the swirling incense smoke, and he couldn't help but shudder. Yet, seeing her care for him this way, he felt a surge of joy. He couldn't help but hold her hand and whisper, "Pingjun, you treat me so well, I am truly happy."

Pingjun, however, kept her head down, her delicate side profile filled with a gentle expression. No matter how ardent he was, she only said softly, "You fool, don’t say such silly things in the future."

By evening, a pale yellow moon hung in the sky. Jiang Xueting drove Pingjun all the way to the entrance of the flower shop before leaving. Pingjun walked into the shop and saw her mother sitting in a rattan chair by the window resting. Seeing Pingjun return, she waved her over, saying, "You've been out playing for so long, come over and sit for a while."

Pingjun walked over, poured two cups of tea, placed one beside Mrs. Ye, and sat in a rattan chair to the side with her own. After taking a sip, Mrs. Ye smiled, "What scenery did you see today?" Pingjun lowered her head slightly and slowly placed her tea cup on the table, saying, "Mom, look." She took out the ring, along with the box, and placed them in the center of the table. Mrs. Ye turned, took one look, and remained silent for a long time.

Pingjun kept her head down, her face maintaining a faint expression. Her long eyelashes drooped slightly, and her lips were pursed. She untied the handkerchief from her button and twisted it silently between her fingers. After a long while, Mrs. Ye whispered, "Ping'er, Xueting has changed."

Pingjun turned back, "It’s not his fault; I was the one who changed first."

Mrs. Ye asked, "Then, do you still want to be with him..." Pingjun didn’t even hesitate; she just shook her head and said, "Mom, I don’t want to. I don’t want anything right now. He forced this ring on me today; I will return it to him tomorrow." Mrs. Ye nodded and smiled, "Good, Mom will listen to you." Seeing Pingjun let out a soft sigh of relief, appearing as if a great burden had been lifted, she herself felt much lighter. She added, "Tomorrow is Liyuan’s birthday; she wants you to go." Pingjun nodded, "I will go tomorrow evening."

Mrs. Ye nodded and rose to go into the inner room to rest. After watching her mother leave, Pingjun sat alone in the flower shop. Only then did she lower her head, take a sparkling object from her pocket, and place it on a handkerchief in her palm, handling the small item so carefully, so cautiously.

When she left Fengtai, she hadn't brought anything with her, save for this small white jade tiger.

The jade tiger lay quietly in her palm. She stroked it with her finger, feeling the smooth, greasy texture. She stared at the jade tiger, lost in thought, without making a sound for a long time. Her shadow was cast faintly against the wall, and the two pots of green bamboo in the window swayed in the night breeze. Her state of silent reverie was sorrowful beyond measure. Only Mrs. Ye, who had intended to come out and tell her to rest, saw her like this. Thinking of her daughter, who had only just turned twenty, she wondered how she could be so burdened, as if she were a flower about to fade, her happiness for a lifetime already ended. Overcome by grief, Mrs. Ye couldn’t help but let two lines of tears fall.

The next morning, Ye Pingjun carried a potted miniature spring plum blossom landscape to a newly opened antique shop at the front end of the street. The weather that day was somewhat gloomy, with a few snowflakes drifting down. On both sides of the street were small stalls selling fruits, rice cakes, and mung bean milk. She carried the landscape in both hands for a few steps before suddenly stopping and glancing to the side. She saw a handsome man in a Western suit holding a camera, taking her picture. When he realized she had noticed him, he calmly put the camera away, smiled at her in a friendly manner, and appeared quite refined. He blurted out, "How do you do!" After saying it, he was startled himself. He tapped his own head, fearing Pingjun wouldn't understand, and hurriedly changed his smile, "Hello."

Although Pingjun was not proficient in English, she had not forgotten what she learned in school. The man’s smile was open and bright, so she didn’t say anything and turned to continue walking. Suddenly, she heard the man say, "Careful!" He pulled her to the side just as a car with guards standing on all four footrests zoomed past her, moving extremely fast. Pingjun’s heart was suspended in sudden terror, and the plum blossom landscape in her hands fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Seeing this, the man said repeatedly, "What a pity, what a pity." He hurriedly crouched down to clean up the landscape, his movements actually faster than Pingjun’s, "It’s all my fault for being so rash, destroying such a good pot of flowers." Pingjun’s face was pale, having just recovered from the shock. Seeing him like this, she hurriedly said, "Sir, this is not your fault; you did it to help me."

The young man saw that the flowers were ruined and took out his wallet. As he flipped through banknotes, he said, "How much for this landscape? I will buy it to compensate you." Pingjun was stunned, "Really, there is no need."

She was about to turn and leave when she suddenly saw the car that had nearly hit her pull up in front of a nearby jewelry store. The guards on the footrests stepped down with their rifles on their backs and stood on either side of the shop. As the car door opened, a man stepped out first and turned around to take the hand of another beautiful, fashionable woman. The woman giggled, "We agreed to go to the movies, why are we here?"

He smiled, "The diamond rings here are excellent. I invite you to come and see."

The woman raised her head, a smile lingering on her lips, "I don’t want to look." He held her hand and said tenderly and considerately, "That won't do. If you don't come in person, how can I know the size?"

The sky grew gloomier, and the wind began to pick up. Pingjun felt as if the cold had soaked through her, making her very bones ache. The young man in front of her saw her face turning paler and asked hurriedly, "Miss, what is wrong?"

Pingjun shook her head and whispered, "It’s nothing, I want to go home." The man saw her face looked so unwell and wanted to hail a rickshaw from the roadside to send her home, but Pingjun said, "I won’t take a rickshaw."

She walked along the side of the street. When she passed the jewelry store, she heard the woman’s voice from inside, "I don’t want this diamond. The color looks so stingy. Jiang Xueting, come and see if this one is good?"

Pingjun kept her head down and slowly walked away.

In the afternoon, as Pingjun was sitting in the flower shop, the sound of a car echoed from outside. Moments later, a shadow flashed, and Jiang Xueting walked in, covered in cold air. He shook the snow off his overcoat as he walked, laughing, "It’s really cold outside, such a big wind."

She was sitting by a small stove cooking rice cakes. Hearing him speak, she smiled faintly and said, "Then come over and warm yourself by the fire. I’m boiling some rice cakes; I’ll serve you a bowl once they’re ready."

He also smelled the aroma of the cooking rice cakes and laughed, "Great, I am just hungry. You must serve me a little more later." He pulled a stool over to sit beside her and reached out to warm his hands over the stove, smiling, "I came to tell you some good news. I sent someone to find a good house in Luzhou, and we will go see it in a day or two."

She smiled, "My mother and I are living here just fine, why would we want to go to Luzhou?"

Jiang Xueting was startled. He looked at Pingjun and turned to smile, "You’re being naughty again. We made our promises before Guanyin; you can’t go back on your word."

Pingjun looked at the rice cakes in the pot. The fire was a bit high, and the rice cakes were tossing up and down in the soup like fish in boiling water. The heat brushed against her face, stinging her eyes with warmth. She stirred the soup with a spoon and suddenly laughed softly, "When are you and the second young lady of the Tao family getting married?"

The space beside her suddenly fell silent.

The fire in the stove roared, and the wind blew outside the window, keeping the room warm. After a long time, the surroundings were terrifyingly quiet. His expression was indescribably complex, looking absolutely awful. He finally said, "Soon, at the end of next month."

The fire in the stove roared, and the wind blew outside the window, keeping the room warm. After a long time, the surroundings were terrifyingly quiet. His expression was indescribably complex, looking absolutely awful. He finally said, "Soon, at the end of next month."

She smiled lightly, "Oh, then congratulations."

She took the ring he had given her from her pocket and placed it, along with the box, into his hand. She didn't say anything else, just turned to get a bowl to serve him the cooked rice cakes. Her face was extremely calm. She looked up and smiled at him, "Do you want some chili?" Jiang Xueting looked at her, suddenly stood up from in front of the stove. His handsome face actually showed a faint greenish-white pallor. He stood there in silence for a long time, finally sneering, "What right do you have to treat me this way?"

Ye Pingjun was slightly stunned, "What do you mean by that?"

Jiang Xueting simply raised his chin and smiled thinly, "You know exactly what I mean in your heart!"

She answered indifferently, "I don’t know."

Jiang Xueting hummed, his face showing a haughty expression, "Then let me make it clear to you! I don’t mind that you were greedy for vanity and followed Yu Changxuan. Even with your ruined body, I still wanted you. What else do you want from me?!"

Her body trembled.

It was as if a giant ice nail had been driven straight down from the top of her head, pinning her firmly in place. She stared in shock at the sneering Jiang Xueting and gasped, "What did you say?"

Seeing her sudden loss of composure, Jiang Xueting felt as if he had seized a handle on her. Such a reversal of fortune made him uncontrollably smug. He said indifferently, "You don’t need to pretend to be noble in front of me! I knew about that matter long ago. I don’t care what your reasons were back then; it is already a favor to you that I don’t mind it now. Yet, you want to put on airs in front of me? Since you were willing to be kept by Yu Changxuan, what is the difference in being kept by me?"

Ye Pingjun’s heart sank sharply, and the corners of her mouth trembled. The injustice that instantly invaded her very internal organs was so great that she couldn’t utter a single word. Seeing her like this, Jiang Xueting continued, "You don’t need to rush to explain yourself to me, either. That day at 'Jiang’s', didn’t the owner say that you were the young mistress of the Yu family and that you were pregnant with Yu Changxuan’s child? Do you think I’m a fool?"

In the blink of an eye, she was both furious and angry, her hands trembling. A completely different thought suddenly rose in her mind, and a bone-chilling coldness sprouted along her spine. She blurted out, "You were upstairs at that time?"

Jiang Xueting said coldly, "Of course. I was upstairs and heard every word clearly."

Her whole body shivered, her face turned paper-white, "At that time, there was only one military policeman downstairs, while you and your companions were upstairs. You listened from upstairs as that man tortured the child in my belly, and you remained indifferent?"

Jiang Xueting replied indignantly, "That wasn’t my child, why should I care?!"

That single sentence was enough.

She felt a numbness spreading through her hands. He stood before her, triumphant and righteous, complaining that she had betrayed him, acting so magnanimous in wanting her back, yet never imagining she would be so unappreciative. Her ears were ringing, and her body felt waves of coldness. That child slowly flowing out of her body... it was as if a knife had been driven deep into her heart, yet she was powerless. The heart-wrenching, lung-tearing pain was something she would never forget for as long as she lived.

She stood up, her lips trembling, "Get out!"

Jiang Xueting pointed at her abruptly and said decisively, "Ye Pingjun, don’t you regret this!"

His roar actually made her feel like laughing. She said, "Why would I regret it?!"

Jiang Xueting laughed and decided to be cruel and finish it off, "Do you really think this is still the Yu family’s world? Just you wait. I will never stay beneath others; I will surely make a name for myself. Now that Yu Changxuan doesn’t want you anymore, what are you acting so high and mighty for?! Since you rejected me today, if you ever want me to have you in the future, it will be impossible."

Ye Pingjun suddenly threw her hands up, pushing the entire row of flower stands onto the ground with a "crash." It was a chaotic mess of overturned flowers. Even Jiang Xueting was startled enough by her decisive action to take a step back.

She had used so much strength that her hands couldn't stop shaking. In the end, she was angry, she was hateful, and her chest felt a stabbing pain like a knife wound. She was breathless, yet she clearly uttered one sentence: "Jiang Xueting, I wish you step-by-step success. Now, get out of my sight!"

In the evening, when Mrs. Ye returned from outside, the flower shop had already been tidied up, but the flower stand that used to be in the center of the shop was gone. Mrs. Ye was slightly puzzled and called into the back room, "Ping’er." In a moment, she saw Ye Pingjun walk out of the back room, looking clean and groomed. She said to Mrs. Ye, "Mom, I’m going to the Bai mansion."

Mrs. Ye knew it was Bai Liyuan’s birthday, so she nodded and smiled, "Once you go, Liyuan will definitely keep you there. You’ve been working too hard lately, so go and have a good time."

Ye Pingjun nodded. Mrs. Ye looked at her in her pink cotton dress with embroidered collar, covered by an overcoat, and wearing satin crescent shoes, feeling she was still too plain. She said, "It’s a birthday, it’s a happy occasion; you should dress up a little more festively." She took some flower shears, cut a small pomegranate flower from a nearby pomegranate plant, and tucked it into Ye Pingjun’s hair. She carefully smoothed her hair and smiled, "There, go on."

Ye Pingjun gave a small smile, then stepped out of the shop. At the door, she hailed a rickshaw. Watching Mrs. Ye standing at the shop entrance, she instructed, "Mom, I’m going."

Mrs. Ye nodded. The rickshaw driver pulled the cart, running fast. As they were nearing the turn to the West Gate alley, Ye Pingjun looked out from the rickshaw and saw her mother still standing at the entrance of the flower shop, watching her from afar. Behind her mother, that pomegranate flower was strikingly red, like fire and clouds.

Bai Liyuan’s home was a large mansion in the French Concession, surrounded by black iron railings. As soon as Ye Pingjun walked in, she saw the room was filled with classmates from Mingde Girls’ School. It turned out that Bai Liyuan had only invited classmates to this birthday party, not even allowing her own parents to attend.

Bai Liyuan was wearing an apricot-red silk floral cheongsam with a butterfly collar and draped with a bright Indian fringe shawl, looking very lively. Seeing Pingjun, she giggled and ran over to pull Pingjun to sit in front of the sofa. A Bai family servant brought two cups of coffee, and Bai Liyuan chattered with Pingjun for several moments before suddenly saying, "Pingjun, have you seen Jiang Xueting?"

Pingjun smiled and shook her head slowly. Bai Liyuan was straight-spoken, "You mustn't see him again. He is different from before. Relying on the Mou family's influence, he has become an important figure in the government. I have heard that he and the second young lady of the Tao family have been getting along very well. A few days ago, I even saw them eating in a Western restaurant. They were even saying that Miss Tao doesn't like red roses, so he specifically sent a waiter to buy yellow roses. That fawning look... I didn't dare tell you, fearing you would be heartbroken."

Pingjun picked up the cup of coffee, took a slow sip, and set the cup down slowly. She looked at Bai Liyuan, who was watching her with concern, and smiled slightly, "How could I be so easily heartbroken?"

Bai Liyuan laughed, "Exactly. I knew you were a very strong person who knows how to hold on and let go." As they were talking, they heard a clear, bright laugh from the side, "So the birthday girl is hiding here."

Bai Liyuan turned her head and immediately smiled, "Brother Xie." She took Pingjun’s hand and stood up, introducing her gigglingly, "Pingjun, let me introduce you. This is the eldest son of my father’s old friend, Uncle Xie Yun—Xie Zaohua."

Pingjun looked at Xie Zaohua, who was dressed in a Western suit, and was stunned. At the same time, Xie Zaohua also let out an "eh" and blurted out with a laugh, "I recognize you."

Pingjun also laughed, "I recognize you too."

Bai Liyuan was astonished, "What are you two saying?" Xie Zaohua turned his head and laughed, "When I went out this morning, I accidentally knocked over a pot of Miss Ye’s small spring plum blossoms. I didn't expect 'enemies to meet on a narrow road' and run into you here again."

Bai Liyuan let out a snort of laughter, "What a coincidence, truly not enemies, not converging." Pingjun knew Bai Liyuan had no filter, so she tugged on her, "Don’t talk nonsense. What enemies? If it weren't for Mr. Xie, I’m afraid I would have been hit by a car. I should say Mr. Xie is my benefactor."

Xie Zaohua’s gaze lingered on Pingjun’s face for a moment before he smiled slightly, "I wouldn't dare be called a benefactor. However, although this is the first time Miss Ye and I have met formally, Liyuan has spoken of you often. We are, at the very least, half-friends."

Bai Liyuan at the side stuck out her tongue, "Brother Xie’s words have sold me out again. Forget it, I can’t take off this 'big mouth' hat, I’ll just accept my fate." The remark made both Xie Zaohua and Pingjun laugh. The three of them sat down and talked. Xie Zaohua had just returned from studying medicine abroad and told Pingjun and Liyuan about foreign customs. He was humorous, making Pingjun laugh, and Liyuan was laughing until she was doubled over.

Suddenly, a high-pitched, excited shout came from outside the hall, "Great victory! Great victory! Our army has had a great victory!"

The three of them looked over simultaneously. A young girl who had just rushed in from outside, her overcoat still on, stood in the center of the hall. She was scattering a stack of newspapers, still smelling of fresh ink, all over the room while shouting excitedly: "The newspapers just printed! A great victory at the front! Our government’s Central Army has successfully broken through! The Xiao army’s Legion Commander, Jiang Songren, defected to Yu Changxuan on the battlefield! The Xibei railway line has been occupied by our army! The Xiao army has retreated to guard Xiangping Pass, making a desperate struggle, but it is nothing more than a death throe!"

This explosive headline news was always cause for great public satisfaction. The hall was instantly abuzz, and someone said loudly, "The Fifth Young Master of the Yu family has been suppressed by the Xiao army for more than half a year. This time, he can finally raise his head in pride!"

Bai Liyuan was also happy. She stood up and ran to the orchestra at the side. Her father doted on his only daughter and had specifically invited a Russian band from the Xiangxi Hotel to perform at home. Bai Liyuan said a few words to the band leader in Russian. The band leader nodded, raised his baton, and played the "Ode to Joy."

The melody of the "Ode to Joy" was originally extremely cheerful. As this group of innocent, lively students sang along arm-in-arm, it became even more boisterous. Then, a "swish" sound came from upstairs as colorful paper flowers drifted down from the sky like snowflakes, flying everywhere. The atmosphere reached a peak. Liyuan called back happily, "Pingjun!"

Pingjun responded "Hey," turned her head from the side of the sofa, looked at the joyful Bai Liyuan, and waved at her with a faint smile. Surrounded by the boisterous celebration, only she was a special point of stillness in the热闹. Xie Zaohua gazed at her for a moment and smiled slightly, "Liyuan said you were her very good friend, and I thought you would have the same personality, but I never expected you to be so different."

Pingjun smiled, "Liyuan is a lively person."

Xie Zaohua laughed, "Miss Ye is a quiet person." Pingjun looked down at the coffee cup in her hand, and after a while, she smiled softly, "I really wish I could be as simply happy as she is."

Seeing her hesitate to speak, Xie Zaohua said with a gentle smile, "You don’t have to envy her. Different people have different virtues. I actually greatly admire quiet young ladies like Miss Ye."

Pingjun looked up and saw the overflowing warmth in Xie Zaohua’s eyes. She was slightly stunned, lowered her head, and gazed silently at the coffee in her cup without saying another word.

In the evening, Bai Liyuan naturally wanted to keep Pingjun to stay at her home. Because the evening had been rowdy, everyone was tired. After talking with Liyuan, Pingjun agreed with her to visit the Qin River together the next day before returning to the guest room to rest. She checked the grandfather clock; it was around one o’clock in the morning. Pingjun felt tired and lay in bed, her eyes heavy. Just as she was drifting off, she was suddenly jolted awake by a heart-pounding sensation. She heard chaotic footsteps outside the door and someone shouting, "Miss Ye, Miss Ye, open the door quickly."

Pingjun heard them calling her and hurriedly threw on some clothes, got out of bed, and went to open the door. Her footsteps were unsteady, and she nearly fell. When she opened the door, she saw the corridor was brightly lit. There were more than just one or two people outside; even Bai Liyuan’s parents were there. As soon as Bai Liyuan’s father saw Pingjun, he said immediately, "Miss Ye, your home has suffered a disaster. A fire broke out suddenly in the middle of the night. The fire brigade arrived too late, and your mother has unfortunately... perished in the sea of flames."

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck from a clear sky!

Pingjun’s soul instantly flew away, her face turned ash-gray, and she gasped, "Mom..." She pushed past the people and ran out. Unexpectedly, she hadn't run more than a few steps when her feet stepped onto the carpeted stairs. She missed her step, and her weak body spun like a top. The world turned upside down, and she tumbled down...

It was just at noon when the car drove all the way and stopped in front of the black-lacquered gate of a small courtyard. The driver hurriedly got out to help Bai Liyuan, who had just stepped out of the car, with her bags. Bai Liyuan didn't need his help, only saying, "Drive the car ahead and wait for me; don’t park it here, blocking others’ path."

The driver hurried to move the car. Bai Liyuan carried the things to push open the courtyard gate herself. As soon as she pushed the door, she saw Xie Zaohua under the eaves, his Western suit off, sleeves rolled up, crouching in front of a small kerosene stove, fanning it continuously with a palm-leaf fan. Choking coughs came out continuously, and the whole courtyard was filled with the bitter smell of traditional Chinese medicine.

Bai Liyuan was slightly startled, then smiled slightly, "Brother Xie arrived earlier than I did, and you’re working so hard. Where is Pingjun?"

Xie Zaohua had grown up abroad since he was a child and studied Western medicine, so he had never decocted traditional Chinese medicine. When he looked up, his face was already covered in smoke. Seeing Bai Liyuan, he treated her like a savior, "Little Sister Bai, you’ve arrived at the perfect time. Miss Ye has a very high fever and is lying inside the room. You should go take a look."

When Bai Liyuan heard this, she didn't care about anything else and hurried into the room. She saw that in the outer room facing the door, a spirit tablet had been set up for Mrs. Ye. Bai Liyuan felt a sense of sorrow in her heart, and then she heard Ye Pingjun’s coughing from the inner room. Bai Liyuan said anxiously, "Pingjun, how are you?"

She lifted the curtain and walked in, finding Ye Pingjun lying diagonally on the bed, her face pale and her lips colorless. She was still wearing white, which made her look even more haggard and weary. Liyuan walked up and placed her hand on Pingjun’s forehead, couldn't help but gasp, "Pingjun, you are so sick, you must go to the hospital."

Pingjun shook her head slowly and said in a low voice, "Brother Xie said the same thing just now, but I think it’s not needed. I bought the medicine; I’ll just brew it and eat it." Seeing her like this, Bai Liyuan held her hand, her own eyes reddening. Ye Pingjun took a soft breath, lifted her eyes to look at Bai Liyuan, and instead comforted her softly, "I’m fine, don’t worry about me."

Just as they were talking, they suddenly heard Xie Zaohua’s voice outside, "Who are you people? How dare you trespass into a private residence like this?!"

A boorish voice said, "Mr. Xie, I recognize you. I advise you to stay away. The people from our police station aren't used to those who drink 'foreign ink' like you. Tell this family to bring out their household register; we want to take a look."

When Pingjun heard this, she struggled to climb out of bed. Liyuan held her down, "Don’t move, I’ll go out and see." Pingjun shook her head, "Don’t provoke these people; I’ll just get the household register for them to see." Liyuan helped her take it from the drawer, and they walked out. Sure enough, they saw several policemen standing in the courtyard.

Xie Zaohua turned to see Bai Liyuan helping Ye Pingjun out and hurriedly stepped forward, "Miss Ye..." Ye Pingjun handed the household register to Xie Zaohua and said softly, "Please trouble yourself to let them see it; don’t argue with them." Xie Zaohua took the register to show the policemen.

Who would have thought that the leading policeman took the register, glanced at it, and then looked up at Ye Pingjun. Suddenly, he tore the register into several pieces with a "swish" and pointed at Ye Pingjun, "Do you think I’m blind? This household register is fake. Where did you riotous people come from? Get out of Jinling immediately!"

His actions angered Xie Zaohua to the point of exploding, and he retorted angrily, "What are you doing? Whether it's true or false is just based on your one-sided word. Is there no law here?"

The man laughed, "Law?! We, the police station, are the law." He looked at Ye Pingjun again and said indifferently, "Miss Ye, pack your things and leave Jinling. Our brothers will come to take a look again this afternoon. If you’re still here, we will personally help you move."

Ye Pingjun watched as the group of people walked away, shouting and brawling. She was so angry that she felt dizzy and slumped in her chair, unable to speak. Bai Liyuan was even angrier, "These people are clearly coming to bully you. Pingjun, don’t mind them; I’ll go back and ask my father for help."

Xie Zaohua said, "It’s better not to disturb Uncle Bai yet. I have some friends in the police department; let me go find them first. Liyuan, you stay here and take care of Miss Ye." Bai Liyuan thought this was a good idea and nodded. Xie Zaohua took his Western suit jacket and hat and hurried out the door.

Bai Liyuan kept company with the haggard Ye Pingjun. By noon, Xie Zaohua had not returned. Bai Liyuan said she would go out and make a phone call to check. Before she had been gone long, the sound of a car came from outside the courtyard. Several guards with rifles pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in. Closely following them was Jiang Xueting.

Pingjun had already slowly stood up from her chair. Jiang Xueting walked directly to the front of the spirit hall and knelt on the ground without a word, kowtowing three times. He had no parents since childhood, and his brother and sister-in-law did not tolerate him. Mrs. Ye had treated him like her own mother, providing him with much care and nurturing.

Pingjun walked to the spirit altar to return the gesture. Jiang Xueting looked at Ye Pingjun’s haggard appearance and said after a long time, "I was in Yuzhou when Aunt was buried, so I didn't come."

Pingjun stood to the side and said politely, "It doesn't matter. With Liyuan and her friends helping me, everything was arranged properly." Jiang Xueting nodded and shifted his gaze to Mrs. Ye’s spirit tablet, saying indifferently, "Then pack your things; I will take you to Yunzhou right now."

Pingjun was slightly stunned: "What do you mean by this? Were those policemen sent by you?"

Jiang Xueting said, "What policemen?" His confusion was definitely not an act. Pingjun looked at him and turned her head away. She had been exhausted lately, and now she felt dizzy. She just whispered, "I said I’m not going to Yunzhou, please leave."

Jiang Xueting said, "Whether you go to Yunzhou or not is not for you to decide!"

Pingjun slowly raised her head and looked at him. He was clearly full of spirit now, even having a trace of pride and self-satisfaction between his eyebrows. She looked at the guards standing in the courtyard. The spirit hall was silent, and three sticks of incense burned before Mrs. Ye’s tablet, the wisp of smoke winding between her and him.

Ye Pingjun’s gaze was calm, "Minister Jiang, if you still remember our past friendship, permit me to climb high and call you 'older brother.' If you don’t... then once you walk out this door, the ties between the Ye family and you are at an end."

Jiang Xueting suddenly roared, "Less of that talk, you must come with me today!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he heard Bai Liyuan’s stunned voice from outside the door, "Pingjun." Pingjun turned her head and saw that the guards had already blocked the worried-looking Bai Liyuan outside. Bai Liyuan shouted angrily at Jiang Xueting, "Jiang Xueting, I have come to take Pingjun to my home. If you dare touch her, our Bai family will never forgive you."

Jiang Xueting just gave a faint, cold snort, completely unmoved by Bai Liyuan’s words. He looked sternly and coldly at Ye Pingjun, "Don’t think I can’t do anything to you!"

Ye Pingjun lowered her eyes, turned indifferently, and retreated behind the spirit altar. Jiang Xueting’s expression was extremely ugly, and he stepped forward to grab her without further ado. Unexpectedly, Ye Pingjun suddenly turned around, her eyes extremely bright, having already held Mrs. Ye’s spirit tablet before her.

Jiang Xueting stood there, frozen as if doused with cold water.

Ye Pingjun, dressed in mourning clothes, held Mrs. Ye’s tablet in both hands and gazed at Jiang Xueting with eyes as bright as snow, saying clearly, word for word: "Jiang Xueting, think about how my mother treated you! How dare you force me like this?!"

Ye Pingjun saw Jiang Xueting standing there rigidly, with a hesitant expression on his face. She had long understood his character, so she said indifferently, "Jiang Xueting, let me give you a piece of advice."

Jiang Xueting said stiffly, "Speak."

Ye Pingjun endured her headache and said slowly, "I know your wedding date with the Tao family’s second young lady is approaching. The Tao family’s status will certainly be of great benefit to your official career. The Tao family is a large clan in Jinling, and they must be paying extreme attention to your words and actions right now. You must not act impulsively because of a woman like me and ruin your own future."

These words hit Jiang Xueting precisely where it hurt. He was even more irritated in his heart, but he still retorted coldly, "I don’t need you to worry about my future!"

Ye Pingjun withdrew her gaze and walked silently past Jiang Xueting, holding the tablet toward Bai Liyuan outside the gate. The small courtyard was extremely quiet. Listening to her footsteps fading into the distance, Jiang Xueting had a gloomy face, his breathing becoming increasingly rapid. He clenched his hands tightly, feeling as if his heart had been cruelly gouged out.

Standing outside the door, the accompanying adjutant, Xue Zhiqi, saw Jiang Xueting’s face turned blue, looking as if he were about to throw a major tantrum. He stepped forward to persuade him in a low voice, "Mr. Jiang, the Tao family is watching so closely... that woman... it is better to just let it go. One's future is the most important thing."

No sooner had he spoken than he felt a pain in his chest. Jiang Xueting pushed him aside. In the blink of an eye, Jiang Xueting drew his pistol from his holster, raised his hand, and aimed it at Ye Pingjun, who had already walked into the courtyard. Bloodshots burst into his clear eyes as he gritted his teeth and shouted, "I know you’re going to find him!"

His sudden, crazy action frightened everyone in the courtyard. Bai Liyuan, blocked outside, trembled all over in terror and screamed, "Pingjun!"

Ye Pingjun turned her head, the black muzzle of the gun aimed at her from afar. Her gaze fell on Jiang Xueting’s suddenly furious face. He held the gun, his arm trembling, his chest heaving violently. The wind blowing through the courtyard lifted the corners of her mourning clothes, and the budding branches of the old locust tree swayed silently above his head.

A peaceful expression filled Pingjun’s eyes. She gazed at him as if he were a complete stranger.

She said softly, "If I go to find him, are you going to shoot me dead?"

"Bang." A gunshot rang out.

Ye Pingjun’s shadow was reflected on the blue stone floor of the courtyard. He had shot at her shadow, but she remained facing him, her thin back straight.

Jiang Xueting was completely desperate, knowing everything was over.

His voice was stiff, "Ye Pingjun, from this day on, we have no further connection."

Ye Pingjun turned her head and walked out of the courtyard gate.

Bai Liyuan stepped forward and grabbed her hand. She lowered her head and left the place with Bai Liyuan. When the two of them reached the entrance of the alley, a military car was parked there. Bai Liyuan’s heart was beating fast, and she said in a panic, "This isn't our family’s car, where is our car?"

As she was looking around, she suddenly felt her arm go heavy. When she turned her head in astonishment, Pingjun, who was holding the tablet, had already weakly slid down her arm and fainted on the ground, pale-faced.

It was a time of warlord infighting, an eventful autumn. The nation’s two major separatist forces, the Central Government in Jinling in the South and the Xiao warlord faction in the North, had been confronting each other for many years. Because Marshal Xiao of the North had entered the pass from outside the pass, brave and skilled in battle, and his eldest son, Xiao Beichen, was tricky and cunning in his use of troops, the Jinling government had never been able to gain any advantage, only dividing rule with the Xiao faction along the Xi River. However, in this battle in early spring, Legion Commander Jiang Songren of the Xiao army had defected to the Yu army on the battlefield. The Yu army turned defeat into victory, surviving through a desperate situation, trapping the Xiao army’s Young Marshal, Xiao Beichen, and an entire brigade of troops at Xiangping Pass, while wiping out more than 10,000 men from the first and second echelons of the Xiao family army. The Southern Jinling government finally raised its head in pride. The Fifth Young Master of the Yu family, a scion of royalty, turned the world upside down and became famous in one battle. From then on, he commanded troops and governed, his prestige shaking the nation.

This northern campaign had lasted for more than half a year. The Yu army seized the main railway artery, filling the Xibei area with smoke and corpses in the trenches. It naturally shocked the world and received great attention. Mr. Terry’s secretary from the United States, Shen Yanqing, came forward, running between the North and the South, striving to promote peace talks.

That morning, inside the command post of the Yu army’s central line, half of the wall was covered with a strategic map marked with military force symbols. By the window sat a pot of pleasant jade begonias, spitting out green fragrance. The Secretary-General of the Confidential Room, Wang Ji, stood opposite the desk, clearly reading a letter Shen Yanqing had written specifically to Yu Changxuan.

To the Honorable Army Commander Yu:

The battle at Xiangping Pass has made the Fifth Young Master’s name famous throughout the country. However, behind every success lie mountains of bones. Seeing the suffering of the people, the exhaustion of the nation’s wealth, and the throwing away of soldiers’ lives, at a time of foreign enemies and external threats, with the Japanese tigers watching and our great mountains and rivers being slaughtered by foreigners—what is the benefit of this North-South civil war?

...

Shen has some sound advice to offer. Although the Yu army has the upper hand, there are "three reasons why the Xiao army cannot be annihilated"!

Reason one: The Xiao Young Marshal’s ruthlessness in using troops is known to all. If he decides to go down with you, both sides will suffer. The Yu army will not only fail to gain any benefit, but will inevitably suffer great loss of strength. If the Yu army loses more than half, what will the Jinling Yu family rely on to contend with the three great families?

Reason two: Although Jiang Songren has defected to the Yu army, his heart is unpredictable. Jiang is the teacher who taught the Xiao Young Marshal, and the Xiao Young Marshal treats him very well. Even the Honorable Seat in Jinling might not easily trust whether his defection is sincere. Now, General Jiang is stationed outside Xiangping Pass. If he remembers old sentiments during a decisive battle and turns his sword around—alas! Xiangping Pass will become the place where the Yu army is destroyed.

Reason three: The two sons of the Yu family both perished one after another at the hands of the Japanese army. The hatred between the Yu army and the Japanese is irreconcilable. However, Jinling’s Mou, Tao, and Chu families are all pro-Japanese factions. They have always feared the Yu army; it is truly a North-South division. Only when the Yu army and the Xiao army are evenly matched will the Mou, Tao, and Chu families not dare to act lightly. The Fifth Young Master’s success in this battle is due to the right time, the right place, and the right people. Allow Shen to say, it is truly lucky. But if you act with the impetuosity of youth and annihilate the Xiao army in one go, I fear the day of your triumphant return will be the day the three Jinling combine to destroy the Yu family!

When the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked; when the bird is gone, the bow is put away—who doesn’t know this, who doesn’t understand? The Fifth Young Master knows the stakes. If you listen to Shen’s words and pursue North-South peace negotiations, then the world will be peaceful, the people’s hearts will return, and the Fifth Young Master’s achievements will be for all eternity.

...

Shen’s words are from the bottom of his heart, without any selfish desire, offered in all sincerity. Respectfully wishing you peace.

After reading this letter, the words were extremely earnest, and each sentence hit the crux of the situation. Yu Changxuan stood facing the window, the collar tabs on his iron-gray military uniform glittering dazzlingly. He took out a long, thin matchstick and scratched it gently against the phosphorus surface. A "hiss" was heard, and a cluster of ghostly blue flames rose from his fingertips. He looked at the flames, smiled, and said, "Uncle Gu, what do you think?"

Yu army high advisor Gu Yigang was smoking a cigarette, his shrewd, calculating face obscured by the smoke. He said, "This Shen Yanqing is truly extraordinary. The three things the Honorable Seat worries about day and night have all been hit upon by him, one by one." He paused, looked at Yu Changxuan’s straight back, and added with a smile, "The Army Commander is now wise and decisive, unlike in the past. The Honorable Seat says that whether to fight or not depends on your decision."

Yu Changxuan lowered his eyes slightly and said, "The reason I won this battle is entirely due to my father and the uncles’ help. But since I’ve finally blocked Xiao Beichen at Xiangping Pass, if I let him go now, that man is full of cunning tricks; I fear I will never have another chance to catch him!"

He was just deep in thought there. The flame kept burning, until it burned to Yu Changxuan’s fingers. Yu Changxuan frowned and poked the matchstick with the flame into the flower soil. A "hiss" sound followed, and only faint white smoke drifted silently out of the cracks in the soil.

Gu Yigang slowly said, "The Honorable Seat truly underestimated the strength of the Mou and Tao families. A single slip, and these two great clans have grown too big. I fear that the Yu army’s formidable enemy is no longer the Xiao faction of the North. Army Commander, allow this old man to say, external enemies can be resisted, but internal fighting is hard to defend against."

Yu Changxuan understood the meaning of Gu Yigang’s words and finally turned his head, threw away the box of matches, and smiled faintly, "Forget it. Uncle Gu understands after all. The time is not yet right; there is no benefit in the Yu army advancing further. I think we should do this favor."

Gu Yigang smiled, "Let’s do it as the Army Commander said." After this plan was decided, Yu Changxuan was just about to call the Secretary-General to draft the telegram when he heard a knock on the door outside the office. Feng Tianjun, who was standing to the side, went to open the door. Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao walked in behind Feng Tianjun, stood at attention, and said, "Army Commander, Director Gu will arrive tomorrow."

As soon as Yu Changxuan heard this, his expression froze slightly. He took the letter from Wu Zuoxiao’s hand, opened it, and read it slowly.

The further north one went, the colder it became.

The train rumbled along. The light in the first-class compartment never went out all night. By early morning, a thin, light snow had fallen outside the window, making the weather even colder. However, it was still warm in the compartment. Just after the nurse had given Ye Pingjun an injection, she heard someone open the compartment door. The nurse turned her head, "Director Gu."

Gu Ruitong walked over to look at Ye Pingjun, who was lying on the bed. Seeing she was still asleep and her complexion was not very good, he turned to the nurse and asked, "We have to take a car for a stretch after getting off the train. Will her body be able to take it?" The nurse replied, "She just received an injection; it shouldn't be a problem." Gu Ruitong nodded, and the nurse took the medicine tray and walked out.

It was already early morning, and the sky gradually began to show some light, looking like a pale blue gold-powdered paper. The boundless plain scenery flashed quickly across the train window. Ye Pingjun was fast asleep in a daze. Gu Ruitong pulled over a chair and sat to the side. He watched her quietly, and a glimmer of pity couldn't help but well up in his eyes. After finishing all the arrangements for her mother’s funeral, this woman had finally burned herself out, like a withered flower that could no longer support itself and collapsed.

She lay there weakly, her hair stuck slightly to her temples in a bit of a mess. Gu Ruitong slowly extended his hand, wanting to help her tuck the messy hair behind her ears, but at the very instant before his hand touched her skin, he paused in mid-air. He looked at her sleeping face, his fingers slowly curling, and he withdrew his hand slowly.

A guard’s voice came from outside the door, "Director Gu, the train is entering the station."

Xiangping Pass was currently occupied by the Yu Army’s Ninth Army, with guards standing in great numbers and security along the route. In the compartment, the nurse had already dressed Ye Pingjun in a plain-colored cloud-patterned velvet cloak, including the hood. Gu Ruitong saw that Ye Pingjun was still unconscious, her high fever not yet subsided. He lowered his head and called out "Miss Ye" a few times. She barely opened her eyes, her breathing burning hot, and she opened her mouth but couldn't speak. Gu Ruitong said softly, "Miss Ye, please bear with me."

He bent down and picked her up horizontally. Guards naturally followed behind them. On both sides of the railway stood soldiers with live ammunition. Because it was an extraordinary wartime, there was even a guard captain holding a machine gun on alert. As soon as Gu Ruitong got off the train, he heard "Salute!" The guards on both sides of the railway saluted with their guns in a disciplined military manner. A bulletproof car was already waiting there. The guard opened the back car door, and Gu Ruitong lowered his head and carried Ye Pingjun into the car before getting in himself. The bulletproof car then started and drove all the way to the Yu army’s central line command post at Xiangping Pass.

Because Ye Pingjun had received an injection on the train, the medicine took effect, and she had some sensation. She felt she was lying in the car. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a layer of crystalline frost on the car window, piece by piece. The car was driving extremely fast. Her mind was in total chaos; the whole journey had been in a daze, and now that she had finally regained some clarity, she felt a sense of helplessness and panic. She said laboriously, "Where... are we going?"

Gu Ruitong was sitting on the backward-facing seat. Hearing her voice, he said in a low voice, "Miss Ye, I am taking you to see the Fifth Young Master."

Pingjun’s eyes were filled with tears, and she choked, "He..."

Gu Ruitong said slowly, "The Fifth Young Master has never forgotten Miss Ye. If it weren't for the war, he would have come to find you personally long ago. Now that the Fifth Young Master knows that Miss Ye is suffering from the pain of losing her mother, he ordered me to bring you here no matter what."

Ye Pingjun’s body shuddered slightly. She raised her eyes to look at Gu Ruitong, tears flowing down in lines. She always thought about his resentment toward her; she thought he would never forgive her, but when Gu Ruitong spoke of him, her heart beat fast. She braced herself to sit up, but couldn't even catch her breath.

The car hadn't traveled long when the driver said, "Director Gu, there is a checkpoint ahead."

Gu Ruitong turned his head to look ahead and said, "Stop the car." The car stopped on the roadside. Seeing Ye Pingjun had already woken up, Gu Ruitong said, "Miss Ye, can you walk?" Ye Pingjun nodded laboriously. Gu Ruitong smiled slightly, "Good, the Fifth Young Master is here to pick you up."

The sky was already broad daylight. A thin layer of snow lay on the ground, and high trees stood on both sides of the road, their branches bare. A cold wind blew. Adjutants Wu Zuoxiao and Feng Tianjun, dutifully leading a large team of Yu army guards with live ammunition, stood on one side of the checkpoint. Yu Changxuan, wearing a wide military overcoat, stood in the middle of the road, looking at the bulletproof car that was gradually coming to a stop.

He saw Gu Ruitong helping her out of the car. Her footsteps were so soft she could barely stand. The cold wind blew, her hair scattered in the wind, and her thin body in the plain cloak was as fragile as a withered leaf falling in the wind. He never expected that when he saw her again, she would have become so heartbreakingly thin. His breathing couldn't help but quicken, and the deep, unforgettable yearning that he had been suppressing in his heart turned into turbulent emotions that surged as soon as he saw her. His whole heart was about to jump out of his chest.

It was her!

Yu Changxuan ran toward Ye Pingjun. Ye Pingjun stood unsteadily, the wind blowing her hair into a mess. Looking at the figure running toward her in the snow, her chest felt as if it were surrounded by warm water, and warm liquid welled up from her eyes. Yu Changxuan had already run in front of Ye Pingjun. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms. The wide military overcoat covered her thin body in the blink of an eye. She was in his arms, the warmth of his body surrounding her. She kept shivering, tears flowing uncontrollably down, her lips trembling, yet she couldn't speak a word. He said, "I know everything."

Her tears flowed even more fiercely. The pain of losing her mother, which had caused her so much distress, assaulted her again. Her legs wouldn't stand, and she slumped downward. He used his overcoat to wrap her tightly in his arms, extending his arms to hug her tightly as if comforting a wronged child, and said firmly, "Pingjun, you don’t need to go anywhere, just follow me."

Her whole body was soft. She slowly closed her eyes and lowered her head, tears dropping onto his chest one by one. Beside her ear was the sound of the wind, scraping against the withered grass revealed in the snow, swaying and drifting. The whole world was white, lonely, and cold, yet it was warm only in his arms, and he was the only one she could rely on.

In the evening, in the central line office, because frontline military matters could never be delayed, Yu Changxuan handled several frontline military reports in succession and gave immediate instructions for the confidential room secretary to telegraph several important orders. He saw an attendant bring in dinner. Yu Changxuan had been busy all afternoon, but now he didn't want to eat anything. He waved his hand to let the secretaries and advisors who had been busy with him all afternoon go out to eat, then said to Wu Zuoxiao at the side, "Let Director Gu come in."

Wu Zuoxiao went out and brought Gu Ruitong in after a while. Wu Zuoxiao went out again and closed the office door as he went. Yu Changxuan sat there and said, "Was the fire at the Ye family an act of man or an accident?"

Gu Ruitong said, "I told Miss Ye it was an accident."

Yu Changxuan looked at Gu Ruitong, "Who did it?" Gu Ruitong remained silent, a look of difficulty even appearing on his face. Seeing his expression, Yu Changxuan couldn't help but hum and say, "Is it possible some important person wanted to make things difficult for a common woman like her? The Mou family? The Chu family? Or the Tao family? Or perhaps the Dragon Owl Gang from Xinping Island ran to Jinling to stir up trouble? No matter who it is, I will have them—"

Gu Ruitong blurted out, "Army Commander!"

Yu Changxuan raised his eyes. Under his jet-black hair, his eyes revealed a sharp brilliance. His face was cold, and his handsome face had a sharp, chiseled look that had never been seen before. He sat there, staring at the hesitant Gu Ruitong, and asked word by word: "Tell me clearly, who did it?"

Ye Pingjun woke up from her sleep again in a daze. It was already dark.

She turned her head on the pillow and saw several nurses in white standing by the bed. A nurse saw her open her eyes, bent down, and smiled at her, "Miss Ye, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

Pingjun shook her head. The nurse reached out and pressed on her head, then turned to another nurse and said, "Still a bit of a fever. Measure Miss Ye’s temperature and blood pressure again; I’m going to call Medical Officer Dai to take a look." Ye Pingjun watched the nurses walking back and forth before her like a lantern. A nurse stepped forward to take her temperature. Pingjun lay on the pillow and asked softly, "Where is this?"

The nurse smiled, "This is the central line command post."

Pingjun took a soft breath, and a layer of fine sweat broke out on her forehead again. Struggling, she still wanted to ask one more thing. The nurse had seen with her own eyes during the day that the Army Commander had carried this woman back, and remembered clearly how thoughtful and attentive he had been. It was obvious how much the Army Commander cared for this woman, so she smiled again, "This is Army Commander Yu’s room."

When Ye Pingjun heard this, her heart suddenly relaxed, and she instantly felt at ease. Her lips slowly curled upward, revealing a faint smile. She lay on the bed and closed her eyes. The nurse at the side asked, "Miss Ye, what do you need?"

Pingjun shook her head slowly. Her sweat-dampened temple hair stuck to her forehead. Her fever hadn't completely receded, but her tense nerves had finally relaxed. She just closed her eyes and said exhaustedly, "It’s nothing, I’m just too tired, I want to sleep for a while longer."

When Yu Changxuan came, she had not yet woken up.

Only a small desk lamp was on in the room, which was slightly dim. Seeing him walk in, several nurses hurriedly stood up, and just as they were about to greet him, Yu Changxuan gestured for them to be quiet. The nurses were sharp; they watched Yu Changxuan walk to Pingjun’s bedside and all retreated.

Yu Changxuan leaned down to look at the sleeping Pingjun, seeing she was sleeping extremely peacefully. He was extremely familiar with her sleeping appearance. She was still lying slightly on her side, her right hand by the pillow, her fingers curled gently toward the palm. He held her hand in his. Her hand was very soft and warm, supple, and her delicate fingers seemed as if they would shatter at a touch. He pressed her hand against his face. Her palm pressed warmly against his skin, like the softest touch of an infant. He whispered in the faintest voice, "Pingjun."

She was fast asleep in a daze and "un-ed" in her dreams. Her eyelids were very heavy and wouldn't open. He lowered his head slowly, buried his face beside Pingjun’s cheek, and kissed her gently. The yellow light in the room shone, reflecting the antique purple sandalwood furniture, ebony lattice, and white walls, casting mottled shadows. Only he kept his head deeply bowed, his face immersed in the shadows, so even the expression on his face was hidden.

When Pingjun woke up again, it was already the next morning. Her fever had completely receded, but her forehead was still beaded with fine sweat. Her whole body felt warm. Only then did she discover she was being held in someone’s arms. She raised her eyes to look at him. He was still asleep, his heroic eyebrows still filled with a weary color. His coat was not taken off, the collar tabs on his military uniform were radiant and dazzling, and the buttons on his sleeves pressed hard against her shoulder.

Meeting again like this felt as if a lifetime had passed.

She moved lightly. Because he had been in the army since childhood, he was very alert and woke up right after. Seeing her open her eyes and watch him without saying a word, he laughed, "I ended up getting up later than you." She still didn't speak, just lay there quietly watching him. After being watched by her for a long time, he smiled, "Why? Do you not recognize me anymore?"

Pingjun extended her finger, paused gently on his thick, black eyebrows, and slowly traced them down, one point after another, until she touched his high, straight nose, "I recognize you."

After she finished this sentence, the corners of her eyes turned red. He asked, "What’s wrong with you?" Pingjun’s eyelashes moved silently, and tears flowed down. She choked, "I don’t have a mother anymore."

Yu Changxuan’s gaze paused slightly. He reached out to pull her tightly into his arms and whispered, "You have me now. I will be good to you for the rest of my life." His voice was low and gentle. The two of them had gone through so much, twists and turns, and now they were finally together peacefully. And all the past events were nowhere near as important as the warmth of this moment.

Pingjun just looked at him and said softly, "Do you not blame me anymore?"

He knew what she was asking, but just smiled slightly, leaned to her ear, and said softly, "I really missed you. Let me hold you."

He extended his arms to hold her. Pingjun’s eyes felt a rush of warmth, and she let out a silent sob, only to hear him say a half-teasing sentence, "As long as the green hills remain, I don’t need to worry about firewood. You have to give birth to another one to compensate me."

Pingjun immediately blushed and pushed him hard. Yu Changxuan took the opportunity to press lightly on her forehead with his hand and laughed, "The fever has finally receded. I still have to handle some military matters in a moment. You should just lie still today and don’t move. It’s not like Jinling here; it snowed a little yesterday, and it’s very cold outside."

She nodded, pointed outside, and said, "It snowed." Following the direction of her finger, Yu Changxuan turned his head to look out the window and laughed, "That’s not snow, it’s the pear blossoms planted in the courtyard." She looked carefully and saw it was indeed a few snow-white petals blown onto the window by the wind.

Yu Changxuan saw her looking on in a daze and noticed the small lamp by the bed was still on; it had been lit all night. Now that it was daytime, it didn't have the same brightness as it did at night. The bedroom was quiet. Seeing this scene, he suddenly laughed softly, "I actually thought of a line of poetry I learned when I was a child: 'Just when the lamp is lit, the rain beats against the pear blossoms and the deep door is closed.'"

She turned back to him, "Do you still remember the poetry you learned when you were a child?" Yu Changxuan laughed, "I originally didn't remember; who likes this slow-moving stuff? Later, I was beaten thirty times on the palm by my father, so I remembered it." Thinking of his childhood, he smiled again, "My grandfather was still alive at the time and felt very sorry for me when he saw my father beating me. He would tap the floor with his cane and scold my father, saying it was enough for us Yu family members to remember the eight characters 'Wrap the corpse in horsehide, liver and brain smeared on the ground.' Why remember pear blossoms and closed doors? Are you trying to pass the imperial examination?!"

His remark made Pingjun’s heart beat with fear. She hurriedly covered his mouth, "Amitabha, alright, alright, you should just remember the line 'Rain beats against pear blossoms and the deep door is closed'." He laughed, leaned forward to kiss her palm. She blushed, but he leaned forward again to kiss her neck. She was teased by him until she was blushing all over and shrunk into the quilt, "Stop messing around, don’t you still have military matters to handle? Hurry up and leave."

Yu Changxuan saw her complexion was much better than yesterday and knew she must have been extremely sad with her heart tied in knots for the past few months. Now that it was rare to see a smile on her face, and it was a reunion after a long separation, he was unwilling to let her go. He even laughed and reached for her quilt, "It’s so cold outside, I’ll lie down for a while longer."

Pingjun pushed him away. Yu Changxuan smiled again, "I also remember another line. This one is good; it didn't get me beaten on the palm by my father. I took a glance and remembered it." Pingjun asked strangely, "Which one?" He laughed, "Spring nights are short, so the sun rises high; from then on, the emperor does not attend the morning court." Pingjun blushed and said softly, "Phooey, you... really... you can't spit out ivory." After saying this, he pounced forward and pulled the blushing Pingjun, along with the quilt, into his arms. Just as they were laughing, a knock on the door came from outside. Wu Zuoxiao’s voice came in, "Army Commander, Division Commander Yang is here, waiting in the operations room."

Yu Changxuan was extremely depressed. He lay on his back on the bed helplessly, staring at the ceiling, not saying a word for a long time. Seeing him like this, Pingjun said, "Hurry up and get up." Yu Changxuan said, "Do you think if I don’t make a sound, he might just leave?" Pingjun couldn't help but laugh, pushing him hard, "Hurry up and go, hurry up and go, don’t mess around here with me."

Outside came several more knocks on the door. Yu Changxuan shouted at the door with annoyance, "I heard you, why keep knocking!"

Wu Zuoxiao replied righteously from outside the door, "I was just afraid the Army Commander would pretend not to hear! It’s not like you haven't done it before!"

Pingjun looked down and laughed. Yu Changxuan could only stand up from the bed, go to the washroom to freshen up, and walk out after a short while. Seeing Pingjun leaning against the head of the bed, he said, "Then I’m leaving. I’ll come back to see you tonight. If you need anything, there is an attendant officer outside; just call if you need anything."

Pingjun nodded. He walked all the way out. Just after the bedroom door closed, his voice came across, clearly in a bad temper, "Knock, knock, knock! I’ll chop off your fingers later!" Wu Zuoxiao laughed and replied with something, but it couldn't be heard clearly.

Pingjun leaned against the head of the bed, listening to his voice fading away. She turned to look out the window and saw those few pear trees in the courtyard, their branches heavy with flowers. There was still a thin layer of snow piled on the branches, truly white brocade drifting with fragrance, and pearly blossoms piled with snow.

Pingjun stared blankly at the pear tree. After a long while, she gave a faint smile.