Fleeting fireworks, like flowers and brocade.

Clusters of purples and reds bloomed from the distant horizon, casting brilliant flowing tassels toward the mortal world.

His figure was hidden in the flickering flames, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, light and shadow overlapping, his expression unclear.

Only the silk handkerchief before her eyes was visible.

That handkerchief was pale moon-white, with silver thread outlining patterns that upon closer inspection revealed a majestic, imposing eagle. The hand holding the handkerchief had distinct knuckles, long and clean, nothing like the murderous aura when gripping a blade moments before.

Lu Tong didn’t take his handkerchief.

When no response came after a long wait, Pei Yunying turned his head, glanced at her, and stuffed the handkerchief into Lu Tong’s hands.

“Take it, Doctor Lu. I have no interest in deceiving you.”

Lu Tong lowered her head.

Her wounded finger touched the soft fabric, and fresh blood mixed with muddy dirt immediately stained the entire handkerchief. The soaring eagle was crumpled into a ball, instantly becoming wretched and wrinkled, looking somewhat pitiful.

In the hazy night of light and shadow, Pei Yunying half-knelt down, picking up the scattered porcelain fragments from the broken jars.

“What are you doing?” Lu Tong’s eyes showed wariness.

“Doctor Lu,” he reminded, “your current expression makes it seem like I was the one who just tried to kill and silence you.”

Lu Tong was momentarily speechless.

The porcelain fragments were picked up piece by piece by Pei Yunying and carefully set aside. He then reached out to gather the yellow mud on the ground. The mud was scattered everywhere, mixed together, impossible to distinguish which jar was which.

After picking for a while, his expression gradually grew solemn. After a moment, he said: “I’m sorry.”

Lu Tong said nothing.

She couldn’t openly set up a memorial shrine with spirit tablets to avoid revealing her identity, so she could only travel thousands of miles to bring this grave soil and river water back to the medical hall for worship. Without tablets or tombs, using the white-robed Guanyin statue as cover, she offered incense, oil, and candles daily, making sacrifices during festivals and holidays.

This was all she could do.

But now, everything lay shattered on the ground, turned to nothing.

A young man’s voice came from beside her: “If you need it, I’ll help you find more.”

Find more?

He spoke so calmly, so naturally, that Lu Tong couldn’t help but look up at him.

The young man still half-knelt on the ground, his robes touching the muddy water and getting stained, but he didn’t mind. That handsome profile was lit by the fireworks outside the window, blurred and gentle. When he lowered his head to gather the broken mud, his long lashes drooped slightly, his expression extraordinarily serious.

He was like a blade—a powerful and beautiful blade—but at certain moments, one might forget that sharpness, bewitched by the flowing radiance of silver steel.

Lu Tong lowered her eyes, quietly hiding the poison powder in her sleeve, and asked: “What exactly does the Commander want to do?”

She didn’t understand Pei Yunying’s sudden friendliness. The time was too short for her to determine how much of that “I’m sorry” was false and how much was sincere.

She didn’t understand what this person before her really wanted to do.

Pei Yunying picked up the last piece of yellow earth, placing it in a small piece of white porcelain that hadn’t completely shattered, then stood up.

The lamp wick, oblivious to the turmoil, continued burning quietly. He looked at Lu Tong, his tone casual with a hint of nonchalance: “Regarding the Lu family matter, I’ll pretend I know nothing.”

Lu Tong’s heart stirred.

Was he… not going to pursue it?

Lu Tong stared at him: “I thought the Commander came tonight to interrogate me.”

He had clearly come prepared. Lu Tong could see very clearly that when he held that name list and questioned her, the coldness and chill emanating from him was no illusion.

He was simply like a constable come to arrest her.

Pei Yunying smiled, reaching out to push open the flower window in front of the table. The colorful light and shadow of the fireworks grew larger, illuminating the small room with flowing brilliance.

He looked at the brilliant fireworks in the distant sky and said: “I was going to, but isn’t tonight New Year’s Eve?”

Lu Tong was stunned.

“Arresting people on New Year’s Eve…” He turned his head, smiling as he looked at Lu Tong: “I’m not that heartless.”

Lu Tong looked at him, trying to discern the truth or falsehood in his words.

As if seeing the doubt in her heart, Pei Yunying glanced at her: “Don’t trust me?”

“No.”

“Really not?” He tilted his head: “You won’t secretly write my name on paper again, will you?”

Lu Tong: “…”

To be fair, it wasn’t that she had no trust in Pei Yunying, but there really wasn’t much. Human hearts were fickle. Perhaps Pei Yunying had suddenly felt compassion in some moment just now, but as Commander of the Palace Guard and heir of Duke Zhaoning, he might change his mind after calming down.

“Don’t get any wrong ideas. Even if you could really kill me, as long as you’re stained with my blood, Zhizi would discover it immediately when she comes. Not to mention burying me in the courtyard.” His tone was relaxed, as if he wasn’t talking about murder and burial, but hiding some snacks. He bent down to pick up the paper page covered with names that had been blown to the ground by the sword wind.

The thin scroll was like a light falling leaf, flying into the flame blooming on the oil lamp, black marks instantly turning to ash.

“You really won’t turn this over to the Court of Judicial Review?” He suggested once more.

Lu Tong’s heart, which had relaxed slightly, immediately tightened again. She said coldly: “No.”

“I don’t want to hear their hypocritical apologies.”

The justice obtained through current laws was truly insignificant. Death sentences could become life sentences, life sentences gradually became no sentence. Even if the truth came to light, Lu Tong absolutely didn’t believe the Grand Tutor’s Manor would let Qi Yutai pay life for life. It would just be some superficial, painless punishment, compensating her with some silver, perhaps even crying crocodile tears at her door with fake sincere repentance.

Truly disgusting.

Pei Yunying looked at her thoughtfully.

Lu Tong stood amid the devastation, her dress stained with much mud, her braid disheveled from their earlier struggle. She simply removed the silk ribbon, letting her full head of black hair cascade down like a waterfall, making her shoulders appear even more frail.

A delicate woman wanting to deal with the lofty Grand Tutor’s son in the imperial city was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

But Lu Tong was by no means as fragile as she appeared on the surface. Many had died by her hand. Just like in the room earlier, when she leaned close and whispered sweetly, her autumn waves flowing with intelligence—if not for that moment of danger instinct that made him draw his blade, who knows, he might really have become fresh fertilizer under that plum tree by now.

He completely believed that “Pei Yunying” appeared on that paper because once he obstructed her path of revenge, he would become her next enemy. Like Liu Kun, like Fan Zhenglian, like Ke Chengxing, eliminated by her without a trace.

She was definitely not weak.

Pei Yunying suddenly said: “Third Miss Lu.”

This form of address made Lu Tong start: “What?”

“I was never here tonight, and you never saw me.” He looked away toward the window, his tone seeming to hide some warning: “In the future, I won’t protect you.”

This was drawing clear boundaries, hinting that if she were exposed during her revenge, Pei Yunying wouldn’t show mercy for old friendship’s sake.

Lu Tong smiled faintly: “I’m already very grateful that the Commander can take this step back.”

These words weren’t lies.

She had thought that tonight, one of them would surely die, or rather, perhaps both would die. But this way, when Yin Zheng sobered up tomorrow and pushed open the door to see this New Year massacre, she would probably faint from shock. And with Renxin Medical Hall bearing the reputation of a haunted house, Du Changqing’s ancestral business that had finally been rebuilt would probably plummet again.

Thinking of these irrelevant matters, she found it quite absurd and couldn’t help but smile.

The scattered fireworks outside illuminated her face, and that smile was quite moving.

Pei Yunying also saw that smile.

He looked at her deeply, “You…” He wanted to say something but changed his mind, finally lowering his eyes with an ambiguous tone: “Never mind, handle it yourself.”

Lu Tong turned around to see he had already sheathed his sword and walked out the door.

Lu Tong was stunned for a moment. Looking down, she suddenly noticed she was still clutching the silk handkerchief Pei Yunying had given her. The silver eagle was crumpled into a wrinkled ball, blood blooming into red flowers that dyed the eagle’s wings red.

She was about to call out to Pei Yunying to return the handkerchief when she saw the person who had just reached the courtyard pause, as if remembering something, turn around and walk back.

Lu Tong instinctively gripped the poison powder in her sleeve.

Could it be that in these few steps, Pei Yunying had changed his mind again? Men’s hearts were like needles at the bottom of the sea. The nobility’s compassion couldn’t be trusted—how could it compare to his own future prospects?

If he approached, she would blind his eyes with poison while he was off guard, then kill him.

Pei Yunying stopped in front of her.

Lu Tong was alert.

His sandalwood-colored robes were coated with brilliance from the colorful flames outside the window. His features were also illuminated with flowing radiance, unfathomable and silent as he looked at her.

After a moment, he took out a wooden box from his chest and placed it on the table.

The sandalwood box was only palm-sized, made very delicately. The lid was carved with a beautiful image of Magu offering longevity.

Lu Tong didn’t know what this was and looked up at him questioningly.

Pei Yunying rubbed his forehead, reminding her: “It’s past midnight, New Year’s Day.”

Lu Tong was somewhat confused, not understanding what he meant.

Pei Yunying looked at her for a while, sighed as if finally accepting the fact that she really hadn’t remembered, tossed the wooden box into her arms, and suddenly smiled.

“It’s New Year’s Day.” He emphasized once more, “Third Miss Lu, a birthday gift.”

…

The fireworks continued.

On West Street’s old city wall, the gray and weathered brick wall was lit up in brilliant colors by the overhead flames. When Pei Yunying left the medical hall, the celebration at Dechun Stage hadn’t stopped.

Occasional sounds of children’s laughter drifted from the distance. Dechun Stage’s fireworks would burn until late at night. Common people rarely had chances to see such spectacular sights, so they had to enjoy it thoroughly today.

West Street was deserted. Boots stepped on thin snow, making soft rustling sounds, crisp like salt grains, not sticky like yellow mud.

Grave soil soaked by river water, filled with the scent of incense and candles.

Pei Yunying’s footsteps stopped.

In a small alley not far ahead, someone leaned against the wall, looking up at the fireworks from Dechun Stage in the distance. Hearing movement, this person straightened up and turned around, revealing a stern face.

“What are you doing here?” Pei Yunying asked Xiao Zhufeng, walking toward him.

“Didn’t you go to Renxin Medical Hall to arrest someone?” Xiao Zhufeng looked behind him. The long street was empty except for shadows stretched long under the lights in the snowy ground.

“Where is she?”

Pei Yunying was silent.

Xiao Zhufeng also knew about Qing Feng’s trip to Changwu County. Lu Tong’s identity and relationship with the Grand Tutor’s Manor were no secret to Xiao Zhufeng.

“Couldn’t bring yourself to do it?” The man nodded understandingly and was about to pass by him: “I’ll go.”

A hand grabbed his arm.

“Stop.”

Xiao Zhufeng turned back.

Pei Yunying looked up: “Her wanting to deal with the Grand Tutor’s Manor has nothing to do with us.”

“The Qi family is useful now. Leaving her will cause trouble.”

“What trouble can a female physician cause?”

Xiao Zhufeng frowned: “Why exactly didn’t you act?”

Brilliant fireworks illuminated Shengjing’s night sky. Looking up into the distance, one could faintly see a corner of Dechun Stage’s building eaves in the northwest. The young man lowered his head and smiled noncommittally.

“Debts of gratitude must be repaid, right? She saved my sister’s and Bao Zhu’s lives.”

“Is it an emotional debt or a debt of gratitude?”

Pei Yunying clicked his tongue: “Am I the type to be overwhelmed by beauty?”

“You just praised her beauty,” Xiao Zhufeng accused flatly.

Pei Yunying: “…”

Xiao Zhufeng’s expression was very sour: “His Highness is at a critical juncture now. If the teacher finds out…”

Pei Yunying looked at him with a smile: “Good brother?”

Xiao Zhufeng stared at him for a while, stepped past him, coldly dropping only one sentence: “I’ll only cover for you this once.”

“Thanks.”

His voice became light again.

Xiao Zhufeng left, leaving only Pei Yunying in the alley again.

The sound of fireworks continued, with faint laughter and celebration drifting on the wind. The smile gradually faded from the young man’s face, his expression becoming calm as he leaned against the cold stone wall of the alley, looking up at the distant night sky.

Those brilliant colors exploded from the center of the night sky, transforming into countless twinkling stars, their splendor fleeting, like that warm, crystalline drop that fell on the woman’s hand.

Quickly swallowed by darkness.

He remembered the narrow medical hall, the shattered Guanyin statue all over the floor, the scattered offering fruits and candles, grave soil and river water, blood and name lists.

The woman sat in the darkness, head raised, letting the blood drip from her fingers bit by bit.

“I’ll tell you what justice means. Qi Yutai killed my sister, I kill Qi Yutai—a life for a life. That’s called justice.”

“I don’t need help. I can find justice myself.”

She was clearly a woman who killed without batting an eye, her hands stained with blood and her heart full of schemes. He knew very well she was by no means as fragile and helpless as she appeared, yet at that moment, he still felt an untimely compassion for her.

Chaotic images seemed to float in his mind.

Whose voice echoed in the empty ancestral hall—young, grief-stricken, accompanied by barely suppressed rage and fury.

“Without the Pei family, without the title of heir to Duke Zhaoning, I can still get revenge.”

The young man said coldly: “The future is long. We’ll see.”

Pei Yunying closed his eyes.

All chaos and noise instantly faded away. Before him was a cold, lonely street covered in white jade snow.

The cold wind remained biting, while the fireworks on the horizon were warm and brilliant. On this bright New Year’s Day, some closed their doors and huddled by the fire, some lay cold in ancient temples, some enjoyed family reunions, some remained alone.

Pei Yunying quietly watched the night sky.

Those dazzling silver flowers reflected in his pupils, shattering into countless bright stars in his eyes.

Under the same long flames in Shengjing, people’s joy and sorrow were never the same.

Just like at that midnight moment, countless households celebrated the instant brilliance beautiful as a rain of stars, while he was moved by a single tear amid the grave soil scattered everywhere.

Baozhu: Where’s my gold hairpin? Where did my big gold hairpin go?!