Those earth-shaking explosions made all of Li Du Mansion tremble through the night.

Curious citizens peeked out from window cracks and doorways, wanting to know what had happened.

The Qi soldiers stationed in the city panicked in this sudden turn of events. Having lost their commander, they ran toward the riverbank like headless flies, trying to figure out what had occurred. From the dark alleys emerged the Yucheng Army that had long been lying in wait. The two sides fought in the city, but the Qi people’s morale had already plummeted. Before long, they were beaten into discarding their armor and fleeing in disarray.

Dawn gradually broke, and the sounds of fighting seemed to subside. This had been a night of terror for the common people, who dared not venture out to confirm the situation outside. Then, from somewhere unknown, came uplifting shouts.

“The Qi people have been driven away!”

“The Qi people have been driven away!”

Lights in the humble houses lit up like swimming dragons, and bold citizens had already stepped out of their homes. There was no martial law, no intimidating weapons—only the spring breeze wandering through empty streets.

Then more and more people poured onto the streets, cheering and shouting without restraint. Sweeping away months of living in constant fear, they finally held their heads high. The supposedly invincible Qi people had actually been defeated in Li Du Mansion. They didn’t know where the heroes who had turned the tide were, but they cheered from their hearts for all the warriors.

Prince Ling’an was openly welcomed from the Buddhist hall in the back mountains of the Xie family residence to the government office. Once the ships heading south were arranged, he could depart for Jinling.

On the streets filled with singing and dancing, Zhang Yuehui sat alone on stone steps where the lights were dim, waiting for his subordinates to come fetch him.

Nanyi had been brought back to Wangxue Manor by Xie Sui’an’s loud calls and would surely be well cared for.

Xie Queshan’s identity could no longer be hidden—he was destined to become a great hero.

His gaze wandered aimlessly. Across from him, the once-glorious Huachao Pavilion had become a pitch-black ruin, with several torn colored silks fluttering weakly.

Zhang Yuehui didn’t feel downhearted—he was accustomed to loss. He had thought he was numb enough, but at this moment… he actually felt somewhat happy.

He didn’t even know what he was happy about. Everyone else had profited handsomely, while only he carried a body full of vengeful debts.

But when that firelight illuminated the sky, it was still… quite satisfying.

From beginning to end, he had never believed that the weak citizens of Li Du Mansion, or the makeshift troupe hastily assembled by the Bingzhu Department, could shake the Qi people.

In this world, if one could repay grievances when wronged, he wouldn’t have lived these years in such a twisted manner. He was always very pessimistic about the situation, but unexpectedly, this time they had actually succeeded.

He thought it was pretty good—everything was pretty good, just that it had nothing to do with him.

“Boss.”

A call pulled his thoughts back. Luo Ci had finally found Zhang Yuehui.

Zhang Yuehui looked up at him, smiled, revealing a simple smile, and said: “Let’s go.”

Luo Ci helped Zhang Yuehui up: “Boss, where to?”

Zhang Yuehui didn’t answer. With unsteady steps, he left against the flow of the crowd’s light.

Wangxue Manor was like New Year’s Day. The female servants had started busily and joyfully preparing a family feast since early morning.

Tomorrow Xie Sui’an would depart with Prince Ling’an for Jinling, so Madam Gantang wanted to properly hold a farewell banquet for her, which was of course also everyone’s celebration feast.

While his second sister was busy, Xie Queshan lingered outside Nanyi’s courtyard door, hesitating repeatedly. He wanted to wait for a time when there was no one in her room to see her, but could never find a good opportunity.

He could only catch the doctor coming out and indirectly ask about Nanyi’s condition.

Nanyi’s injuries were severe, and her body was badly depleted—she needed proper rest and recovery.

When Xie Queshan heard about her encirclement and killing of Yajiu, he was both frightened and amazed at her capability to handle things alone. He didn’t know when his judgment of her had gradually begun to err, always thinking he needed to push her away, as if only this could keep her safe. Clearly before this, he had believed she could find a way out of various dangerous situations.

People can understand things clearly but not necessarily act clearly.

He knew what he had done to her on the ship was despicable. If he had died, there wouldn’t be such considerations now. When people go to their deaths, they can’t think about the future—once and for all, everything turns to dust. But surviving the catastrophe and living on, he was extracted from the generous righteousness of great causes to directly face his own tangled private concerns.

Although many past obstacles had disappeared, he also owed Zhang Yuehui a great debt. Nanyi had clearly promised to leave with Zhang Yuehui, so they…

Thinking of this, Xie Queshan felt somewhat at a loss.

While he was hesitating, Xie Sui’an came carrying a medicine bowl to enter Nanyi’s Zheyue Pavilion, and the two ran into each other head-on in the corridor.

Somehow, both their expressions looked very busy, yet neither knew what to say.

Just as Xie Queshan was about to greet him, Xie Sui’an pretended not to see him and brushed past his shoulder into the courtyard.

Xie Queshan awkwardly touched his nose and sighed deeply in his heart.

He even felt that when he was being the villain, their attitudes toward each other had been simpler. Now it was good—entangled and impossible to sort out. Outside was jubilant celebration, but behind closed doors he felt ashamed.

Xie Queshan wasn’t the only one at a loss—Nanyi was too.

After a good sleep and a satisfying meal, her vitality gradually returned bit by bit, and she began to have the energy to think about matters at hand. She was no longer the young mistress of Wangxue Manor—she was just temporarily staying here and would have to leave someday. She had promised Zhang Yuehui; she couldn’t be someone who burned bridges after crossing them, even if her heart was concerned with another person.

But strangely, Zhang Yuehui hadn’t come to find her or ask her to fulfill her promise.

After their long separation and reunion, Xie Queshan also hadn’t come to see her. At first she waited with her heart beating like a drum, thinking of him made even her nose tingle with emotion, and her mind constantly rehearsed how to face him when they met, what the first words should be, whether they would have to say goodbye again. Later that tremulous feeling turned to exasperation, and she cursed him inwardly for still not coming.

Her head ached from thinking—things seemed a bit complicated.

When Little Six came to bring her medicine, she gulped it all down, wanting only to sleep again.

The medicine had calming effects. Before long Nanyi fell asleep. She didn’t notice that Little Six’s expression was somewhat strange, as if he was sulking or lost in thought.

After a while, Madam Gantang tiptoed to call Little Six out, specifically taking her outside for earnest instructions.

“During tonight’s family feast, you can’t give your third brother cold looks. He’s had such a hard time these years—you must understand him.”

Xie Sui’an was also stubborn. As soon as she heard her second sister say these things, she immediately protested loudly.

“These are all your own guesses, Second Sister. Did he admit it? Why should I forgive him!”

“You’re going to Jinling, and who knows when our family will gather again. Can’t you just be happy for one evening?”

“No!” Xie Sui’an curtly dropped these words and walked away with a turn of her head. “Some people can never be happy with us again.”

Madam Gantang helplessly watched Little Six’s retreating figure. Between them still lay Pang Zixu, who had already been buried. Even with such a great victory that made everyone happy, some sorrows stubbornly hid in the hearts of survivors, impossible to erase.

Since Little Six couldn’t be reasoned with, perhaps she should go persuade Third Brother to bear with it tonight? Just pretend not to see her sour face… Just as she was thinking this, a servant reported that the family head had gone out in the afternoon and still hadn’t returned.

Madam Gantang sighed repeatedly. With Third Brother’s personality of keeping everything bottled up inside, would he avoid the family feast entirely to spare everyone discomfort?

…

At this moment, Xie Queshan was leisurely riding his horse through the mountains, as if looking for something yet not searching very seriously. Later he tied his horse at a pavilion halfway up the mountain and stood in the pavilion gazing at the winding mountain path.

Song Muchuan caught up from behind. He had originally gone to Wangxue Manor to find Xie Queshan but was told he had left the city, so he followed the direction of his departure.

Truthfully, he was very afraid Xie Chao’en had some world-weary thoughts. Seeing him safe and sound here, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Why did you come here alone?”

“Boss Zhang left without a word. I originally wanted to see him off, but didn’t catch even a glimpse of him.”

Xie Queshan answered somewhat guiltily. This might just be his excuse—he knew Zhang Yuehui would never have a touching farewell with him, nor did he have such thoughts. He just didn’t want to stay at Wangxue Manor.

Though he had been home for quite some time, at this moment he felt a strand of that awkwardness of being more timid when closer to home.

But Song Muchuan took it seriously, and his face also showed a trace of guilt: “Boss Zhang is truly an unsung hero. I didn’t even have time to thank him in person.”

“If you think so, it suits his intentions perfectly.”

Xie Queshan chuckled, and Song Muchuan heard the implied mockery in it.

“Why do you say that?”

“Whatever he does, regardless of whether his intentions are good or bad, he just likes making everyone uncomfortable.”

Zhang Yuehui’s graceful departure, leaving no words behind, seemed like magnanimously letting go, but it made everyone else feel like criminals no matter what they did, only able to move forward carrying guilt toward him.

Unspoken words were like thorns.

Xie Queshan was crystal clear about Zhang Yuehui’s little tricks, but could only endure this thorn.

He would forever be in debt to Zhang Yuehui.

So what about Nanyi? Would she be unable to bear this guilt and follow in his departing footsteps?

“You have something on your mind?” Song Muchuan saw the heavy worries on Xie Queshan’s face.

“I don’t.” Xie Queshan immediately denied it stubbornly.

After a pause, still feeling stifled inside, he euphemistically confided: “I have a friend…”

“When did you acquire another friend?” Song Muchuan asked in surprise.

“Just an acquaintance,” Xie Queshan answered evasively. “He has a woman he admires, but that woman… might have a marriage contract with someone else.”

“Might?” Song Muchuan found this description somewhat strange.

“Might have, I suppose. But my friend still wants to stay with her… would this make him seem like a treacherous person?”

Song Muchuan thoughtfully remained silent for a long while, then spoke with words that became inexplicably bitter: “Has your… friend asked this woman’s opinion?”

“…My friend might… not be naturally good at talking about love.”

“So he’s never asked?”

Xie Queshan became more dejected as he spoke: “His family background is also somewhat complicated. In short… no matter how you look at it, he doesn’t seem like a good match for the woman.”

Song Muchuan smiled, lowering his eyes to hide the loneliness in them: “For people who love each other in this world, the most important thing is only mutual affection.”

Xie Queshan pondered for a long time, feeling as if he had grasped a thread of understanding, yet remained muddled. Someone who had been clever his whole life became like a confused fool when it truly came time to honestly face himself.

Just then, He Ping’s distant calls broke the silence between the two men.

“Young Master… Young Master! Something’s happened to Sixth Miss Xie!”

Xie Queshan suddenly snapped back to attention, his whole body trembling.