Early summer brought flourishing grass and joyful birds taking flight. In the blink of an eye, it was again the season when mugwort leaves and rice dumplings filled the air with fragrance. Only this year’s Dragon Boat Festival was different from previous years. After successive upheavals in the marquis manor – not only had the two concubines and the princess died one after another, but the younger generation had also grown increasingly distant. Though the servants dared not speak openly, they inevitably sighed privately that this year’s Dragon Boat Festival would likely see even the family banquet appear quite desolate.

Yuanxi was unaware of the servants’ concerns. She was leaning against a tree reading a medical text, enjoying the gentle breeze and several plates of honeyed fruits. Since completely healing Xiao Du’s injury, she had developed even greater enthusiasm for studying medicine. Some time ago, she had specifically sought out Imperial Physician Zuo as her teacher and borrowed many pharmacology books from him. When she gained insights from her reading, she would practice on Xiao Du, though of course she later compensated this practice subject in certain ways.

Thinking of these things made her blush slightly, so she quickly focused intently on the book pages. At this moment, she felt An’he, who was fanning her from behind, seem to move, so without turning her head she said: “If you’re tired, stop fanning and go rest yourself.”

But An’he didn’t answer her. Instead, she scooped a spoonful of cherry ice cream from the porcelain dish beside them and fed it into her mouth. Yuanxi’s mouth was stuffed full, and she couldn’t help but smile as she looked toward her: “Why have you become so well-behaved today?” But her gaze met a handsome, smiling face instead. She immediately felt delighted, put down the book in her hands, and said: “You’re back.”

Xiao Du sat down beside her and took the silk fan to continue fanning her. Yuanxi found his appearance quite amusing and quickly said: “Stop fanning – if people see this, they’ll laugh.”

But Xiao Du was unconcerned: “I’m doting on my own wife – who would dare laugh at me?”

Yuanxi swallowed the ice cream, feeling the cool, sweet taste penetrate straight to her heart. She then scooped up a spoonful to feed Xiao Du: “Try this – it’s both icy and sweet, very delicious.”

Xiao Du reached out to support her hand, then suddenly turned the spoon around and fed it back into Yuanxi’s mouth. Yuanxi opened her mouth obediently without understanding why, then his lips pressed against hers. His tongue gradually explored inward to capture the sweetness in her mouth, entangling and licking passionately until the sweetness overflowed outward and they could no longer distinguish whose mouth it was in.

Yuanxi closed her eyes dizzily, feeling as if she had drunk strong wine, her whole body heating up. Her ears filled with the gentle chirping of insects and birds, surrounded by floral fragrance. The two kissed so intently they were reluctant to part for a long time. At this moment, footsteps approached from far to near. Xiao Du cursed silently in his heart but had to reluctantly release her lips, pulling the disheveled Yuanxi behind him to shield her. Then a young servant walked over. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Xiao Du glaring at him with fierce eyes, couldn’t help but shiver, and quickly lowered his head: “The master has ordered that the marquis should come to his courtyard for dinner tonight.”

Xiao Du was somewhat surprised. Since the princess’s death, the old marquis had spent each day in his courtyard tending flowers and practicing calligraphy, rarely seeing people except for important matters. Why would he suddenly call him for dinner? After thinking, he asked: “Who else did the master call?”

The servant dared not raise his head as he replied: “Also Second Young Master and Third Miss.”

Xiao Du’s expression darkened. Since the betrothal gift incident, he had barely spoken to Xuan’er. He waved for the servant to leave first. Yuanxi had already understood and emerged from behind him: “You and Xuan’er are at such odds now – father-in-law probably wants to find an opportunity for you to reconcile. When you go later, talk with her properly and don’t lose your temper.”

Xiao Du sighed softly and grasped her hand: “Won’t you come with me?”

Yuanxi smiled and gripped his hand in return: “My going wouldn’t help you with anything. This knot will have to be untied by you yourself sooner or later.”

By evening, Old Marquis’s Windlotus Courtyard had already set out a table of food and wine. Xiao Du arrived somewhat late. Upon entering, he found Xiao Qing and Xiao Zhixuan already seated at the table, but sitting coldly without any conversation between them. Seeing him enter, both raised their heads to dryly call “Big Brother,” both looking somewhat uncomfortable.

Xiao Du couldn’t help but smile bitterly in his heart – from what point had their sibling relationships deteriorated to such a state? He lifted his robes and sat down, saying to Xiao Yunjing who had been sitting silently in the seat of honor: “I wonder why father called us here today – what is the matter?”

Xiao Yunjing glanced at him coldly: “Must there be a matter to call you here? You are my children – can’t you come accompany me for a meal without some business?”

These words made everyone feel somewhat guilty. Xiao Yunjing had the servants fill everyone’s wine cups, then dismissed all the servants to stand guard outside. Only then did he lift his sleeves and raise his cup: “Don’t be constrained today – just treat it as accompanying your father for food and drink. Whatever unhappiness you have in your hearts, speak it all out here.”

Seeing the others still somewhat confused, he sighed and drained his cup in one gulp, his face showing regret: “It’s all my fault before – I didn’t care for you properly. This family becoming what it is now is entirely my fault alone.” Seeing the other three about to object, he raised his hand to signal them to be quiet. His gaze slowly moved over each person as he continued: “Actually, you are all my children, each one flesh of my heart. Seeing you become like this with each other – how could my heart feel good?” By the end, his throat already carried hints of choking emotion.

At this point, Xiao Zhixuan had already begun crying. She threw her arms around Xiao Yunjing’s arm: “No, father has been very good to us. It’s Xuan’er who’s bad – Xuan’er did many wrong things before…” As she recalled many past events, she felt increasingly upset and cried breathlessly.

Xiao Yunjing gently stroked the top of her head: “You did nothing wrong – it’s father’s fault. Father placed too many burdens on your big brother, only knew how to scold Qing’er, and was too indulgent with you… Forgive father – I don’t know how to be a good father.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhixuan cried even harder. Xiao Du also felt his eyes grow somewhat moist. He raised his head and drained the wine in his hand, the burning wine surging in his chest, finally releasing all the depression that had been buried for so long. At this moment, he glanced at Xiao Qing beside him, who was continuously drinking alone, his face full of loneliness and gloom. His heart stirred – hadn’t Second Brother’s current state been caused by them as well? So he lifted the wine pot to fill Xiao Qing’s cup, then raised his own cup toward him: “Zichen, Big Brother did many wrong things before and never considered your feelings. Please forgive Big Brother.”

Xiao Qing looked at him in disbelief, his hands trembling slightly, but said nothing – only drained the wine in his cup.

After a while, the old marquis seemed unable to handle the wine and stood up: “I’m old and useless. You drink slowly – I’ll go back to my room to rest first.”

Xiao Du quickly stood to help him inside, but the old marquis just waved his hand: “You accompany your brother and sister for a good talk.” His originally bleary drunken eyes suddenly gathered a glimmer of light as he stared at Xiao Du slowly: “No matter what happens, you are all my children.” Xiao Du was struck as if by lightning, his chest growing warm. Regardless of whether the old marquis had kept him originally out of promise or duty, he had raised and trained him as if he were his own biological child. Without him, how could he have grown to become who he was today?

While he was in a daze, the old marquis had already swayed unsteadily into his room. Xiao Du slowly sat down. The table fell silent again, the three each lost in their own thoughts, only silently drinking and eating, not knowing what to say to break this deadlock.

At this moment, Xiao Zhixuan suddenly put down her jade chopsticks and said with a smile to Xiao Qing: “Second Brother, do you remember things from when we were little?”

Xiao Qing was stunned, then heard Xiao Zhixuan continue: “Back then Big Brother was studying in the palace. Every time he came back, he would bring some rare things from the palace. You always said he favored me and would fight with me for them every time. Once he brought back pastries tributed by foreign nations. You ate them all when I wasn’t there, but you got sick from eating too much and spent several days squatting in the latrine, afraid to come out.”

Thinking of his childhood embarrassment, Xiao Qing couldn’t help but lower his head and laugh. Xiao Zhixuan propped her cheek and looked at him, her voice suddenly somewhat melancholy: “Second Brother, I haven’t seen you smile in a long time.”

Meeting her gaze, Xiao Qing’s heart filled with indescribable emotions, and his smile gradually faded. At this moment, Xiao Du also curved his lips: “When you were little, each of you was quite troublesome. Once you insisted I take you to the back mountain to release sky lanterns. Little sister kept causing trouble, making the lantern fall down after flying only halfway, nearly burning down someone’s entire mountain.”

Recalling that day’s panicked flight through the mountains, everyone couldn’t help but laugh. Later they spoke of many other childhood stories, and the atmosphere at the table finally warmed up. After three rounds of wine, everyone was somewhat drunk. Xiao Zhixuan patted her flushed cheeks and hooked Xiao Du’s arm, acting coquettishly: “Big Brother, let’s go release sky lanterns again!”

Xiao Du found this amusing: “In the middle of the night, where would we find sky lanterns?”

Xiao Zhixuan seemed in very good spirits, tilting her head and laughing continuously: “I know Aunt Zhang and the others just made a batch yesterday, preparing to release them on Dragon Boat Festival evening. We can steal them out and release them in the back courtyard.”

So the group’s playful mood was aroused. Led by Xiao Du, they climbed walls and crossed courtyards, stole a sky lantern from the servants’ quarters, then ran to the back courtyard to sit in a circle, preparing to release it to the sky. Xiao Zhixuan unfolded the paper in her hands and was about to write her wish when Xiao Qing snatched it away: “With your few strokes of calligraphy, aren’t you afraid people will laugh if you write on it?” Xiao Zhixuan pouted angrily: “Your calligraphy is good? What did the teacher used to say about you: ‘This child cannot be taught.'” She imitated the old teacher’s manner of standing with hands behind his back, stroking his beard. Xiao Qing found it funny but unconvinced: “If you think my writing is poor, why did you ask me to help you copy books back then?”

The two argued and fought over it like this. Xiao Du leaned against a large stone, laughing as he watched. In a trance, it seemed like they had returned to childhood when the siblings were intimate and carefree, playing and fighting without any barriers between them.

Finally Xiao Zhixuan seized the paper and brush, quickly wrote a line of characters, then Xiao Du stood up and held the lantern cover high. Xiao Zhixuan and Xiao Qing together lit the candle. The warm firelight reflected their somewhat excited faces as it slowly rose with hope until it illuminated the pitch-black night sky. Xiao Zhixuan looked up, jumping and leaping with joy, shouting: “It’s up, it’s up!”

Xiao Du and Xiao Qing stood shoulder to shoulder, watching Xiao Zhixuan laughing and shouting under the lantern swaying in the night sky, both unconsciously smiling. At this moment, Xiao Qing suddenly said in an extremely soft voice: “Big Brother, actually I’ve always admired you.”

Xiao Du was stunned and turned to look at him. Xiao Qing showed a self-mocking smile: “When I was little, I always thought Big Brother was the most capable person in the world and always wanted to become someone like you. But others laughed at me, saying you were just a lowly-born bastard son – what qualifications did you have to be mentioned in the same breath as the marquis manor’s heir?” He lifted the wine pot in his hand and poured it into his mouth, his expression growing somewhat dim: “Later you went to the frontier. I was both proud of you and couldn’t help worrying, afraid you wouldn’t come back. Later you won victory and returned to the capital, receiving rewards and being enfeoffed as marquis – how glorious that was, yet you had no time to spare me even a glance. Only then did I understand that perhaps the one qualified to be your brother was someone like the Crown Prince, not me at all.”

Xiao Du’s heart ached, and he quickly said: “How could that be? You are my second brother – no one can replace you.”

Xiao Qing shook his head, tears already in his eyes: “Later I became increasingly unwilling to accept it. We’re both father’s sons – why should you soar to the clouds while I get trampled underfoot? Whether it was father, Xuan’er, or even the servants in the manor – they all only had eyes for you. What about me? What am I?” Then my stepmother told me that everything you possessed should have been mine. She said the princess was problematic and that she would fight for what I deserved someday. So I began to hate you more and more, feeling you had stolen everything from me.”

Xiao Du gripped his shoulder, saying guiltily: “I’m sorry…” His throat was dry, and he couldn’t say the rest.

Xiao Qing smiled and closed his eyes: “Not until after stepmother died, watching you take poison, get injured, and negotiate with them time and again, did I understand how much you had done for this family.” He suddenly took out an account book from his chest and handed it to Xiao Du: “During stepmother’s years managing the household, she indeed embezzled quite a bit of silver. Part went to uncle, and part was used to purchase many properties for me outside. These should have belonged to the marquis manor – now I’m returning them to you.”

Xiao Du gripped the account book tightly, feeling the thin booklet weighed a thousand pounds. He sighed: “You should keep these yourself. If something happens to the marquis manor, you’ll still have some wealth to go out and live an ordinary life.”

But Xiao Qing turned to him. Though very drunk, his gaze was incredibly clear as he said word by word: “Big Brother, this is all our family’s home. This family shouldn’t be supported by you alone.”

Xiao Du’s body shook, then his eyes grew warm. At this moment, Xiao Zhixuan suddenly jumped over and grabbed both their arms: “Big Brother, Second Brother, let’s release more lanterns!” The two smiled helplessly at each other. Where their gazes met, those injuries, resentments, and misunderstandings that had festered for years simply dissolved away. They were family – no one could separate them anymore.

In the end, Xiao Qing drank himself into a stupor. Xiao Du had to carry him back to his room and have Wang Shiqin take good care of him. He and Xiao Zhixuan had also drunk quite a bit, so they walked slowly back under the night breeze to clear their heads. After walking for a while, Xiao Zhixuan suddenly spoke: “I heard everything you and Second Brother said just now.”

Xiao Du sighed: “Big Brother is useless – I couldn’t let you all grow up peacefully and happily.”

But Xiao Zhixuan shook her head, tears appearing in her eyes: “You’ve done enough, but we’re not children anymore either. We also have our own responsibilities.”

Xiao Du turned to stare at her and suddenly understood: “This is why you want to marry Xia Qing.”

Xiao Zhixuan lowered her head: “He told me that as long as I marry him, he’ll help us.”

Xiao Du grew somewhat agitated, interrupting: “That man is full of schemes and extremely cunning – you actually believe what he says? Moreover, I would never sacrifice my family members to get his help.”

But Xiao Zhixuan said firmly: “I’m not sacrificing myself, and I trust him!” She looked up at Xiao Du: “Big Brother, actually, I’m not as naive and pure as you all think. Xia Qing told me many things about his past – how he depended on his birth mother, how he compromised and yielded to return to the Xia family, how he endured cold looks and grew up dependent on others. All of this, I understand.”

Looking at Xiao Zhixuan’s melancholy expression, Xiao Du suddenly understood. Xuan’er, like Xia Qing, had a mother of questionable status and an unspeakable past. How much of her former innocence and simplicity was natural disposition, and how much was deliberately performed to please himself and father? Thinking of this, his heart ached – he had never truly understood this sister of his.

Xiao Zhixuan patted her own cheeks and continued: “But I’m luckier than him – he never had a father and brothers who loved and tolerated him like I do, so he hates the Xia family. He has military authority and the emperor’s trust – he can help us and preserve the marquis manor. And I can stay by his side, watching over him and accompanying him through all this.”

She looked up at Xiao Du, choking up: “Big Brother, Xuan’er has grown up and has things she must do, responsibilities she wants to bear. Can you let Xuan’er go do them?”

Xiao Du felt his chest surge with indescribable emotions, so he embraced her: “Fine. If he mistreats you, just come back – this will always be your home.”

A month later, the marriage between the Xiao and Xia families spread throughout the capital. Red decorations stretched for ten li through the streets, bustling with crowds. Xiao Zhixuan sat in her sedan chair wearing bright red wedding robes, listening to the gongs and drums outside the window, the ceremonial music playing in unison. She slowly took out an ink stick from her chest, her ears seeming to hear that person’s elegant voice again: “Third Miss, one should be like this ink – requiring fineness and smoothness, gentleness and composure. I shall give you this Huizhou ink as a meeting gift between us as teacher and student.”

She gently placed the ink stick against her chest, closed her eyes and murmured: “Teacher Luo, Xuan’er is getting married.”