After New Year’s Eve, once the firecrackers had finished, Renxin Clinic reopened its doors. While other shops on West Street remained closed for rest, the clinic couldn’t afford to. During the first month of the year, someone in every household might catch a cold or fever and need to visit the clinic for treatment and medicine. However, there were far fewer patients than usual, leaving the shop rather quiet.

Yin Zheng woke up on the second morning after getting drunk on New Year’s Eve. When she entered Lu Tong’s room, she discovered the White Guanyin statue that had been placed on the small Buddhist altar was missing. When she asked Lu Tong about it, Lu Tong only said it had broken, which immediately caused her considerable anxiety.

“For no reason at all, the Guanyin statue broke on New Year’s Eve—that’s a bad omen. Who knows what disaster it might have warded off? Miss, you should come with me to the temple later to burn some incense and bring back a new Guanyin statue.”

When Du Changqing heard Yin Zheng’s words, he immediately turned around in his chair to look at Lu Tong: “That’s right, and while you’re there, pay respects to the God of Literature. The spring examinations are next month—let him clear the path for you.”

“What’s the point of praying to gods?” Miao Liangfang said disdainfully. “Back in my day, I didn’t pray to any Buddha, and I still made a name for myself, outperforming all those useless young masters from the Imperial Medical Bureau.”

“Yes, and that’s why you got kicked out.”

“…”

“Old Miao, people should still maintain a sense of reverence,” Du Changqing gently advised.

Acheng muttered: “Says the one who stole the released fish to grill and eat…”

“Shut up.”

Lu Tong listened to their banter while reviewing the medical texts Miao Liangfang had organized for her. With the spring examinations looming, she studied even harder than before during these days when the clinic had few patients.

Yin Zheng took the washed handkerchief to dry in the courtyard, but soon returned through the felt curtain to ask Lu Tong: “Miss, I don’t remember seeing this handkerchief before?”

Lu Tong looked up and couldn’t help but pause.

In Yin Zheng’s hand was a moon-white silk handkerchief with an embroidered eagle pattern, magnificent and imposing, though it still bore a faint pink tinge from the bloodstains that couldn’t be completely washed out.

It was the handkerchief Pei Yunying had given her that New Year’s Eve night.

Yin Zheng examined the handkerchief in her hands: “The fabric feels quite fine, but… I don’t remember buying this before?”

All clothing and handkerchief purchases for the household were managed by Yin Zheng. Lu Tong thought to herself that after that day, she had washed the handkerchief, originally intending to find an opportunity to return it to Pei Yunying. However, when he didn’t appear again, she forgot to hide it away, and Yin Zheng found it and took it to wash with the other items.

Du Changqing had sharp eyes and looked at it suspiciously: “Why does it look like a man’s style?”

This kind of sharp, bold pattern was more commonly used by men.

Lu Tong lifted her teacup and took a sip, saying calmly: “It was a thank-you gift from Miss Pei.”

“Oh.” Yin Zheng suddenly understood.

Lu Tong regularly prepared medicine for Baozhu, and when Pei Yushu’s servants came to collect it, they would bring thank-you gifts along with the consultation fee. Nothing too precious—just some bright fabric or delicate pastries and such.

“What a shame,” Yin Zheng stroked the handkerchief, somewhat regretfully. “The fabric is good, and the color is elegant, but the embroidery is too harsh, and it’s stained. Otherwise, we could have made it into silk flowers for you to wear.”

Lu Tong almost choked on her tea.

If she were to wear silk flowers made from Pei Yunying’s handkerchief in her hair, who knows what he would think of her if he saw it?

Hearing this, Du Changqing glanced at Lu Tong: “Speaking of which, Doctor Lu, I give you your monthly salary on time, you should get yourself some accessories. Don’t just wear those cheap flowers and grasses in your hair. It’s after New Year’s and you’re still so plain, dressed like you’re in mourning—people might think someone died at our clinic.”

“The Lantern Festival is these days, until the eighteenth night when they take down the lanterns. They’re selling moth ornaments and snow willows everywhere—why don’t you buy some to wear in your hair? To be honest, I’m tired of seeing those few flowers you always wear in your hair, even if you’re not tired of them.”

Lu Tong hadn’t taken his words to heart, but she paused when she heard the word “moth.”

Moth ornaments…

In the box in her bedroom drawer still lay a pair of golden moth hairpins.

Lu Tong still couldn’t understand why Pei Yunying had turned back that night to give her a pair of golden moth hairpins, calling them a “birthday gift.” Of course, she wouldn’t be presumptuous enough to think that Pei Yunying had bought them specifically for her. Most likely, he had bought them to give to some young lady but changed his mind at the last moment and passed them to her instead.

Perhaps he had felt sorry for her, inspiring a slight, meaningless hint of pity in this privileged young master.

As Lu Tong was thinking this, she heard Acheng’s excited shout: “Why don’t we all go to the lantern festival tonight! Doctor Lu came to the capital last spring when the Lantern Festival was already over. This year we can catch it—let’s go see the festivities together!”

At his suggestion, anticipation immediately appeared in Yin Zheng’s eyes, and she quietly nudged Miao Liangfang’s arm.

“Uh… right,” Miao Liangfang immediately caught on, “Little Lu studies hard in the clinic every day, she should go out for some fresh air and relaxation.” These words were sincere—Miao Liangfang had also gone through the spring examinations, and though he had worked hard in his day, compared to Lu Tong now, he felt like a mere novice before a master. Every day when he left for home, Lu Tong was studying hard, and when he arrived at the clinic in the morning, she was still at it. Yin Zheng had secretly told him that Lu Tong studied until after midnight every night, and Miao Liangfang himself worried that if Lu Tong continued like this, her health might fail before she even reached the spring examinations.

Staying alive was the priority.

“Old Miao is right,” Du Changqing strongly agreed. “That Scholar Wu from the Fresh Fish Shop even sent someone with a message for you, telling you not to keep yourself locked up at home studying all day. Come on, I’m deciding the owner—let’s all go see the lanterns at Jingde Gate!”

Though he said this, Du Changqing discreetly observed Lu Tong’s expression, and the others in the room also secretly glanced at her.

Lu Tong stroked the pages of the book before her.

Indeed, she hadn’t left the clinic since New Year’s Day.

She had no interest in lanterns, but…

Not far away, Acheng was leaning on the counter, half his head visible wearing a tiger-head cap, his eyes eagerly watching her.

Lu Tong withdrew her gaze, closed her book, and said: “I’ll go.”

…

On the fifteenth day of the first month, the Lantern Festival, every household lit lanterns.

The Liang Dynasty had long maintained the tradition of “observing lanterns during the three yuan festivals.”

The three Yuan festivals for lantern viewing were: the Upper Yuan Festival on the fifteenth of the first month, the Middle Yuan Festival on the fifteenth of the seventh month, and the Lower Yuan Festival on the fifteenth of the tenth month. Besides viewing lanterns, common people would also eat yuan xiao dumplings, solve lantern riddles, set off fireworks, and make offerings to household gods to celebrate the festival.

The Duke Zhaoning’s mansion was also lively tonight.

At the head of the main hall sat a man wearing a crow-black round-collared robe. Though middle-aged, he possessed a handsome and elegant appearance, his features refined and cultured, instantly inspiring goodwill in others.

This man was Duke Zhaoning, Pei Di.

The woman sitting beside him was beautiful, with a gentle demeanor. She held a three or four-year-old boy in her arms while talking and smiling with the seated man.

“My lord, there’s a lantern festival at Jingde Gate tonight. Shall we take Rui’er to see the lanterns later?”

The speaker was the Duchess of Zhaoning, Jiang Wan.

Besides his wife, Duke Zhaoning had taken three concubines in total. Among the three concubines, only Concubine Mei had borne him a son—Pei Yunxiao, who was one year younger than Pei Yunying.

Duke Zhaoning’s heir Pei Yunying and his elder sister Pei Yushu were born to the previous duchess. After her death, Pei Di married Jiang Wan, who later gave birth to the legitimate son Pei Yunrui, now only four years old.

Before Pei Di could answer, Pei Yunrui in Jiang Wan’s arms burst out: “Call Big Brother! We have to ask Big Brother to come with us!”

Jiang Wan was startled and quickly pinched her young son, while Concubine Mei on the side burst out laughing.

“Third Young Master, the heir is very busy every day, how could he have time to view lanterns? Your Second Brother is free though—why not ask him to come along?”

Concubine Mei was beautiful and charming, originally a beauty given to Duke Zhaoning by a colleague. Because of this connection, Concubine Mei was respected in the household, and having given birth to Pei Yunxiao, her status was much higher than the other two concubines.

Pei Yunxiao was twenty this year and had inherited much of Pei Di’s handsome features. His temperament was also very refined and cultured, often earning praise.

Under the same roof, sons of similar age and equally outstanding were inevitably compared.

Especially when one has a delicate relationship with the family.

Pei Yunxiao seemed not to hear Concubine Mei’s words and continued eating with his chopsticks. Pei Yushu, sitting beside Jiang Wan, frowned at the comment, her glance toward Concubine Mei carrying a hint of anger.

Everyone knew about the significant tension between Pei Yunying and his father Pei Di. During the first month, ancestral worship and incense offerings were required, so Pei Yunying had to return to the Pei family ancestral hall to offer incense to his mother—a rare visit home. But most of the time, he was on duty in the palace, and aside from offering incense to his mother, he never voluntarily set foot in the Pei household.

Pei Yushu didn’t want to return either, so she tried to stay with Baozhu in the courtyard where she had lived before marriage. If not for Pei Di requesting everyone to dine together on this fifteenth night, she wouldn’t have come to witness this vexing scene of familial harmony.

Pei Di didn’t speak, only giving Concubine Mei a faint look. She started, then fell silent, lowering her head and not daring to speak further.

Pei Yushu felt an inexplicable sense of suffocation and, after eating barely anything, said, “I’ll go check on Baozhu,” and left the banquet.

Only when she stepped out of the hall did the cold wind on the long corridor blow against her face, seeming to disperse some of the stifling atmosphere from the banquet.

“My lady,” Fangzi said softly, “in the future, if unnecessary, you needn’t dine with them.”

Even her maid could see through the hidden agendas of the Pei family members, let alone others.

Sighing, Pei Yushu said, “It’s fine, we’ll be leaving in a few days anyway.”

She was a married daughter, and even before her marriage, from the moment Jiang Wan entered the household, there had been no place for her in the Pei family. Even after her divorce from the Prince of Wen County, she hadn’t returned home but lived in a residence bought by Pei Yunying.

A divorced woman establishing her household instead of returning to her maiden home was unprecedented in the capital. But with so many unconventional things happening, this was hardly worth noting, especially since the residence was next to Pei Yunying’s, making it convenient for her to visit him.

If not for offering incense to their mother, she wouldn’t have come back at all.

As she was thinking this, Fangzi looked ahead and called out, “Young Master!”

Pei Yushu looked up to see Pei Yunying walking toward them from the other end of the corridor.

“Why are you back?” Pei Yushu was both surprised and delighted. “Weren’t you supposed to be on duty today?”

“Night shift duty. I’m free now, came back to offer incense to Mother.”

Pei Yushu smiled, “Perfect, I’ll go with you.”

The ancestral hall was in the last room at the end of the long corridor. Outside the door, new decorative papers and peach wood charms had been replaced, while inside, candles and incense burned brightly before the ancestral tablets of the Pei family.

Pei Yushu and Pei Yunying entered the hall. Finding it empty, Pei Yushu took some incense and was about to start paying respects from the right, when she turned to see Pei Yunying already lighting incense and walking directly to their mother’s tablet.

He had no intention of paying respects to anyone but their mother.

Pei Yushu’s lips moved slightly, wanting to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

Pei Yunying stood before his mother’s tablet, bowing and offering incense. His expression was calm, and he spoke no formal words of respect, quietly placing the incense in front of his mother’s shrine. Then he stepped back two paces, looking at the hazy tablet veiled in blue smoke, showing his usual smile.

“Mother,” he said with a smile, “Happy New Year.”

Watching his actions, Pei Yushu couldn’t help but feel her heartache. She quickly turned away, waiting until she had composed herself before joining Pei Yunying in offering incense.

The main hall’s brocade curtains hung high, and after standing a while longer, the siblings slowly walked out.

Pei Yunying asked, “How long do you plan to stay here with Baozhu?”

“We’ll leave in two days.”

Pei Yunying said nothing.

She smiled, “Don’t worry, Baozhu and I stay in my old courtyard, no one bothers us, it’s peaceful. As for you if you’re unhappy, don’t come back. Regarding Mother…” she looked back at the ancestral hall, “I’ll speak to her on your behalf.”

Just as she finished speaking, someone approached from ahead. It was already evening, and the sky growing dark. The person stopped before Pei Yushu and her brother, wearing a scholarly robe, his expression gentle. The lantern hanging beneath the corridor eaves illuminated half his shadow, casting his originally handsome features in a somewhat cold light.

Pei Yushu hurriedly said, “Father.”

Pei Di nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Pei Yunying beside her.

“Coming home without saying a word?”

His tone was naturally gentle, like a father scolding a son who came home late, his words full of concern.

Pei Yunying remained silent.

“Ying!” Pei Yushu was extremely nervous.

Everyone in the capital knew of the strained relationship between Duke Zhaoning Pei Di and his heir Pei Yunying. Outsiders only said that Pei Yunying was rebellious in his youth, repeatedly defying his birth father, while Duke Zhaoning was of such a gentle and tolerant nature that he allowed his eldest legitimate son to act willfully.

Only Pei Yushu knew the truth was not so simple.

“Sister,” Pei Yunying smiled at her, “Baozhu is waiting for you in the room, you should go back.”

“You—”

She was still worried, but Pei Yunying’s gaze was insistent. After a moment’s standoff, Pei Yushu yielded, forcing down her unease and giving Pei Yunying a cautioning look before reluctantly leaving.

The elaborate hibiscus tassel lanterns hanging from the eaves cast their brilliant light on the people below. The young man stood tall like a fledgling eagle, the middle-aged man deep as a wolf or tiger. Though father and son were bound by blood, they were divided into light and shadow by the pattern of a palace lantern at their feet.

A clear division.

As the wind gradually rose, Pei Di spoke, his voice gentle as always: “I heard the Qi family approached you.”

The young man smiled without speaking.

“The Qi family belongs to the Crown Prince.”

Pei Yunying made an “oh” sound, saying with an ambiguous smile: “But I don’t plan to board that ship.”

Pei Di said nothing, silently looking at the person before him. The young man was very tall, now a head taller than himself when standing. When he smiled, there was a small dimple at the corner of his mouth, inherited from his mother. But his gaze was sharp, carrying the same cold gleam as the silver sword at his waist.

It seemed that unknowingly, perhaps in some unnoticed night, the boy who once followed his father’s footsteps to see the lanterns had grown up.

Pei Di stared at him for a long time before speaking: “The Pei family stands with the Crown Prince.”

“So?” the young man said with a faint smile. “My actions harm the Pei family’s interests—what does the great Lord Pei intend to do?”

Pei Di remained silent.

“Perhaps kill your son with poison in the name of righteousness…”

He stepped forward, bending slightly to lower his voice near the man’s ear: “Just like when you poisoned my horse back then.”

Pei Di’s gaze flickered; Pei Yunying had already straightened up.

He looked at Pei Di, his gaze as distant as if looking at a stranger, his tone perfectly calm.

“If there’s nothing else, I won’t disturb my lord’s family enjoyment.”

With those words, he stepped past the man before him and strode away.

The palace lantern swayed in the night breeze, its decorative tassels like colorful flowers beneath.

As Pei Yunying rounded the corridor, Qiongying, who had been sent by Pei Yushu to inquire, asked: “Where is the young master going?”

The young man paused slightly, glancing at the brightly blooming colored tassels under the lantern eaves, smiling carelessly.

“It’s the fifteenth today, the Lantern Festival is lively.”

“Suddenly feel like going to see the lanterns at Jingde Gate.”