Setting off firecrackers was always children’s favorite activity. The bright red firecrackers hung from trees, crackling and booming thunderously, making the children both frightened and excited as they clapped their hands with joy.

Zhao Yao didn’t actually like setting off firecrackers, but since Second Brother had come, she had to come too. She planned to pretend to be scared when the firecrackers went off, hiding behind Second Brother, and it would be even better if she could grab his hand. Though her plan was good, who could have predicted that before the firecrackers were even set off, Qi Le would run over to talk with her? While responding to him, she was pushed farther and farther from Qi Ying by the children, making her very anxious. As a result, when the firecrackers went off, she still hadn’t gotten close to Qi Ying. Even more hateful was that she wasn’t even scared yet, but Qi Le got frightened and pulled her to hide behind her, even knocking off the flower ornament from her hair. This made her absolutely furious.

Zhao Yao was truly angry and remained sullen even when they returned inside to keep vigil with everyone else. Qi Le knew he had offended his sister and felt somewhat embarrassed. Holding her trampled flower ornament in his hand with an apologetic smile, he couldn’t make too much commotion since many people were sitting in the hall, so he quietly apologized: “Good sister, please don’t be angry anymore. I’ll compensate you with a flower ornament tomorrow—or ten? Ten would be fine too!”

Zhao Yao glared at him, thinking that she wasn’t angry about some broken flower ornament, but about losing an opportunity to get close to her Second Brother. How could Qi Le compensate for that! The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Just as she was about to scold him, she saw Old Madam Qi entering the room supported by Yao Shi.

The room had no lamps lit, only a few candles burning. Though many relatives had come to the Qi family tonight, the more distant ones were keeping vigil in other rooms. This room contained only close family members—no more than ten people in total.

Old Madam Qi was advanced in age and her health hadn’t been good these past few years. By rights, she should have rested early, but tonight her spirits were good and she was in high spirits, so she came to keep vigil with the younger generation.

Old Madam Qi took Hui’er from Qi Yun’s arms. The little child was already getting sleepy, her eyes half-closed and head nodding. This appearance was also extremely endearing, winning the old lady’s full affection. After holding her for a while, she returned the child to her eldest grandson’s wife, Qi Yun’s wife Han Ruohui, saying: “Quickly coax the child to sleep first—look at her pitiful little state.”

Lady Han took the child, respectfully acknowledged, greeted Qi Yun, and went downstairs first carrying Hui’er.

Old Madam Qi looked around and, seeing Qi Ying sitting in a corner, beckoned to him: “Jingchen, come sit beside grandmother.”

Qi Ying stood up and walked to the old lady’s side as instructed. Seeing that the old lady was in high spirits, Qi Zhang and Yao Shi didn’t want to disturb her. They exchanged glances and made space for Qi Ying. The old lady pulled him to sit down.

Old Madam Qi looked emotional, holding her second grandson’s hand: “How quickly time passes. I still feel like I can see Jingyuan’s childhood appearance before my eyes, yet in the blink of an eye, he already has children.”

Everyone echoed her sentiments. The old lady patted Qi Ying’s hand and said: “After your elder brother, it will be your turn—Jingchen, you should also start a family.”

Hearing these words, Zhao Yao sitting in the hall unconsciously glanced at her mother Zhao Qishi, then secretly straightened her back. Qi Le, sitting beside her, muttered in confusion, “Why are you sitting so straight?” and received another glare from Zhao Yao.

Qi Ying had no particular reaction to these words, nodding calmly and answering: “It’s entirely up to the elders to decide.”

Old Madam Qi was very pleased to hear this and thought for a moment, then said earnestly: “I’m not being selfish, but the Fu family has indeed produced several girls who would match you well. In my opinion, the most outstanding of this generation is that girl Rong’er. In terms of character and appearance, she’s first-rate, and since you grew up together, your bond is naturally deeper. I’m thinking that after the New Year, you two could visit each other more often…”

Hearing this, Zhao Yao’s expression changed, and Zhao Qishi also frowned slightly, calculating in her heart: Rong’er? Was this referring to Fu Rong, the legitimate daughter of the Fu family? Old Madam Qi was a daughter of the Fu family, so Fu Rong would be the old lady’s great-niece. Did the old lady intend for her to marry Qi Ying?

Zhao Qishi felt gloomy: If so, then what about Yao’er…

Qi Ying listened silently. The old lady sighed again: “Actually, if the Shen family hadn’t met with disaster, I had originally considered asking for their daughter to match with you, but who could have predicted…”

These words stirred emotions among those present, each feeling their own sighs and melancholy: The Shen family had been extremely wealthy and powerful, at their peak capable of rivaling the Qi family, yet they were destroyed overnight. Most of the clan’s sons and grandsons were beheaded, while women and children were exiled to the borderlands. A hundred-year aristocratic family collapsed with a thunderous crash—how could this not make people beat their chests and sigh?

Qi Ying’s phoenix eyes lowered. Whether he was thinking of some matter or person, his expression showed a brief fluctuation, but quickly calmed down as he remained silent. Seeing his mother become emotional, Qi Zhang knew she was thinking of Old Madam Shen, who had died of a heart attack when the Shen family met disaster. They had been old sisters for half their lives, and Old Madam Qi had been heartbroken when she heard this news.

Qi Zhang comforted his mother: “These are all past matters. From now on, our Qi family will walk steadily with each step. Mother, please don’t worry anymore.”

Hearing these words, Old Madam Qi continued sighing, then even shed tears. She blamed herself for adding gloom on New Year’s Eve, but couldn’t stop her tears. Later, she even had trouble breathing. Everyone in the room was thrown into chaos. Qi Zhang and Yao Shi surrounded the old lady on both sides, while Qi Yun quickly called for household servants to find a doctor. Worried about his mother’s health, Qi Zhang simply didn’t care about keeping vigil anymore. He first instructed Qi Yun to manage the situation well, then helped Old Madam Qi into the inner room together with Yao Shi.

Qi Yun dealt with the relatives in the room while worrying about his grandmother. After waiting left and right without seeing the servant he had sent to find a doctor return with news, he couldn’t help becoming anxious. At this time, Qi Ying walked to his side and said: “On New Year’s Eve, doctors are probably hard to find. Elder brother, why don’t I go personally?”

Qi Yun first shook his head, then heard Qi Ying persuade: “Grandmother’s health is important. I’m just making a trip—it’s nothing.”

Qi Yun wavered, thought it over, and finally nodded, saying to Qi Ying: “Then go quickly and return quickly. Be careful on the road.”

Qi Ying nodded and turned to leave the room. Passing through courtyards and halls, when he walked through the central courtyard, he saw Bai Song still standing in the same place unmoved, with his eyebrows faintly white and seemingly covered with a thin layer of frost. Bai Song also saw Qi Ying and looked up at him, not knowing how to react for a moment. Qi Ying walked quickly past him, dropping a sentence as they crossed paths: “Why aren’t you leaving yet?”

Bai Song was stunned. In the blink of an eye, he saw Qi Ying had walked far away. Only then did he come to his senses, his eyes brightening as he limped to catch up.

Upon leaving the mansion gates, Qi Ying had household servants bring out two horses. The two mounted their horses, the steeds neighing loudly as they galloped urgently toward Qingji Mountain through the myriad lights and firecracker sounds of New Year’s Eve night.

At Fenghe Courtyard.

The night was desolate, with snow still piled in the garden.

In Shen Xiling’s side room, candles flickered, making her sickly face appear especially pale. The doctor from before still hadn’t left. Although the hour he had agreed upon with Bai Song had long passed, Liuzi absolutely refused to let him go and was now crouched at the threshold of the side room keeping watch, leaving the doctor truly helpless.

He had resigned himself to fate, knowing that tonight he probably had no chance to return home to keep vigil with his family. So he simply boiled another dose of medicine, still steaming hot, and used a small spoon to feed it into Shen Xiling’s mouth. Unfortunately, the situation remained the same—however much he fed in, she vomited out the same amount.

The doctor sighed and muttered to himself: “You child are also ill-fated. At such a young age, you’ve lost your will to live. Could it be that you have some inner demon…”

Halfway through his muttering, he suddenly heard Liuzi behind him exclaim “Young Master,” then heard someone entering the room. When the doctor turned around, he saw the travel-worn Qi Ying and Bai Song. He didn’t know that the young master with phoenix eyes before him was the renowned Qi Jingchen of legend—he only understood that he was the person in charge here. So he put down the medicine bowl and rose to pay his respects. Qi Ying helped him up with a gesture, his gaze already moving to Shen Xiling on the bed, saying to the doctor: “Doctor, no need for excessive courtesy. How is her condition?”

The doctor cupped his hands and hesitated for a moment. Looking at Qi Ying’s expression, he saw it was calm as water with no discernible joy or anger, so he could only answer truthfully: “Cold qi has entered her body, and she’s very ill. This is also due to excessive toil and worrying. Currently, ginseng slices are being used to sustain her life. If she can be made to take medicine, she might still be saved. If not, then I’m afraid…”

The doctor didn’t continue, but his meaning was clear.

Bai Song stood behind Qi Ying and the doctor, unable to see Shen Xiling or Qi Ying’s expression after the doctor said these words. He could only see the stern lines of his profile from behind, unable to fathom what he was planning at this moment. There was a moment of silence in the room. After a while, Bai Song heard Qi Ying say to the doctor: “Thank you for your trouble. I understand.”

The doctor cupped his hands again. Qi Ying asked: “I wonder if the doctor could spare time to make another trip to the Qi Mansion for a consultation? For such laborious effort, the Qi family will naturally provide generous compensation.”

The doctor was stunned upon hearing this. What kind of high-ranking family was the Qi clan? If not for tonight being New Year’s Eve with special circumstances, it probably wouldn’t be his turn to enter the mansion for consultation. This was a godsend—how could he refuse? The doctor immediately bowed deeply and repeatedly agreed.

Qi Ying nodded and politely said “Thank you for your trouble,” then turned back to Bai Song: “You escort the doctor over.”

Bai Song was startled. He looked at Shen Xiling on the bed, then at Qi Ying, silently nodded, and walked out of the room with the doctor. Liuzi was still at the door, watching the young master stand by that little girl’s bedside. After a while, he personally picked up the medicine bowl and sat on her bed, looking up toward Liuzi. Liuzi’s whole body trembled as he immediately lowered his head, then heard the young master instruct: “The room is getting cold. Go change the charcoal brazier for her.”

Upon hearing this, Liuzi immediately agreed, lowered his head and withdrew. When closing the door, he dimly saw the young master embrace the orphaned girl in his arms. He dared not look further and gently closed the door.

On the bed, Qi Ying helped Shen Xiling sit up, letting her lean against him as he held the medicine bowl, embracing her from behind. When she was in his arms, Qi Ying felt even more acutely how thin she was—shockingly thin, with delicate wrists that seemed like they would break with just a little force. Her breathing was also weak, as if it might stop at any moment.

Holding her, he suddenly thought of his younger siblings at home, such as Yao’er and Hui’er. They were all girls, but unlike Shen Xiling, they had all grown up under their parents’ protection, never experiencing any hardships in their lives. No matter when or where, they always had parents and elder brothers standing in front of them, shielding them from wind and rain. But Shen Xiling was different—she was her father’s illegitimate daughter who could never see the light of day, never enjoying any wealth or peace. Now with both parents deceased, she had to travel thousands of li alone to bury them together, fulfilling their lifelong wish. Tonight was New Year’s Eve—the Qi family children were listening to opera in the flower hall and setting off firecrackers in the courtyard, yet she lay alone in a stranger’s courtyard without a single relative by her side.

He saw chilblains on her hands, along with some thin calluses—they were hands accustomed to doing work. He remembered tonight when he handed the red envelope to Zhao Yao, the hands she extended to receive it were painted with cardamom, delicate and fair without a single scar. But Shen Xiling’s were like this.

Qi Ying sighed, lowered his eyes, used a spoon to scoop up the medicinal liquid and slowly brought it to her lips, saying softly: “Come, drink the medicine.”

Shen Xiling’s brows furrowed painfully, as if trapped in a nightmare. After the medicinal liquid was fed in, it flowed out along the corners of her mouth. She kept coughing and gasping heavily. Qi Ying frowned tightly, using one hand to protect the medicine bowl from being knocked over while the other gently patted her shoulder. A sentence suddenly escaped his lips: “It’s alright, everything’s fine now.”

These words stunned even himself—as if he hadn’t expected to so rashly speak what resembled a promise. He was silent for a while, looking at Shen Xiling’s gaunt face, sighed deeply, then his expression changed slightly, faintly revealing a look of relief.

He recalled how Shen Qian had addressed his daughter in prison, hesitated for a moment, then leaned close to Shen Xiling’s ear and said softly: “…Wenwen, it’s alright now.”

Shen Xiling had a dream.

In the dream, she returned to her childhood, to that small courtyard where she and her mother had lived for many years. Father wasn’t there, and mother was still ill. Suddenly, the wooden gate of the small courtyard was kicked open, and a large group of people dressed as household guards rushed in. Behind them was a fierce-looking noble lady—she later learned this was father’s wife.

That noble lady called mother a “slut” and called Shen Xiling a “little whore.” She didn’t quite understand what these words meant at the time, only knowing they were bad words, because mother’s eyes showed anger and grief upon hearing them. Those household guards smashed her and mother’s home. That noble lady dragged mother from her sickbed, beating her, kicking her, and verbally abusing her. Shen Xiling kept crying, wanting to rush over to save mother, but was restrained by the guards. She bit one guard’s hand and, taking advantage of his cry of pain, ran toward mother, pushed the noble lady away, and embraced mother.

Of course, they suffered even more beatings and scolding because of this.

When those people left, both mother and she were covered in wounds. Mother sat in the debris holding her tightly, constantly saying “Wenwen, I’m sorry.” Shen Xiling didn’t know why mother was apologizing—she only felt afraid and sad, wanting to cry loudly but fearing this would make mother even sadder, so she kept holding it in.

She was very good at this—suppressing sadness and sorrow, sensitively gauging mother’s emotions, then forcing a smile.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when father came.

Father was a gentle yet strong person. The father Shen Xiling had seen before was always gentle and calm, but that day he cried. He held mother and her, apologizing over and over like mother. The three of them embraced together, and seeing both parents cry, Shen Xiling finally dared to shed tears.

Her father held her and said: “Wenwen, it’s alright now.”

Shen Xiling looked up at father and suddenly found he was very far from her. Mother stood beside him, also very far away. Her familiar small courtyard disappeared, and a long bridge appeared before her. Her parents were at that end of the bridge while she was at this end. She ran onto the bridge, desperately running toward her parents, calling out loudly, but couldn’t get even a step closer. She couldn’t see her parents’ faces clearly. Thick fog began to spread around the bridge, and everything started becoming blurred.

Finally, her parents disappeared, leaving only her alone at this end of the bridge.

Shen Xiling’s sadness, helplessness, and pain suddenly overwhelmed her. The suffering she had carefully hidden suddenly engulfed her. She knelt on the ground crying desperately, calling for father and mother, but no one answered.

Thick fog surrounded her. She began to see nothing, even began to feel nothing of herself. She seemed to be constantly falling, dropping from heights continuously downward. She was afraid, she struggled, but it was useless.

Then she saw a hand reaching toward her from deep in the clouds and mist.

She saw the clouds and mist recede as heavy snow suddenly began to fall everywhere. In the overwhelming flying snow, she heard faint bronze bell sounds and the rumbling of carriage wheels crossing long streets. She saw a blurred figure in the heavy snow, walking closer and closer until standing before her, bending down with warm breath lingering by her ear, saying to her:

“Wenwen, it’s alright now.”

For some reason, tears suddenly streamed down Shen Xiling’s face.

The little girl in his arms twisted her body painfully. Qi Ying lowered his head and saw tears covering her face. Seeing her struggling to reach out as if to touch something, he instinctively grasped her hand.

His palm was large and warm. Shen Xiling’s hand was small and cold, completely enveloped in his palm. She seemed to finally find something to depend on, calming down and no longer crying or struggling. Qi Ying seized the opportunity, bringing the medicine bowl to her lips and softly coaxing: “Be good and drink the medicine…”

The medicinal liquid fed into her mouth finally wasn’t vomited out. Qi Ying breathed a sigh of relief and realized he had actually broken into a sweat.

After feeding the entire bowl of medicine, Qi Ying helped Shen Xiling lie down. He tucked in her blanket, thinking to get up and leave, but his hand was pulled by hers. Actually, at that time, she wasn’t pulling him with much force—he could have easily withdrawn his hand. But when he applied a little force, the little girl frowned and whimpered as if about to cry.

Qi Ying sighed, remembering the first time he saw her. At that time, she had fallen awkwardly at the city gate, holding her mother in her arms, surrounded by soldiers at the gate. When he got out of his carriage, he saw her vacant gaze with deathly stillness in her eyes, but even then she hadn’t cried. Until he brought her out of the city, until they talked together in the snowy forest, she never cried. Half a month later when Bai Song brought her back and she knelt in Wangshi asking where her father’s remains were, even then she didn’t cry. But now, just because he was about to withdraw his hand, she was going to cry.

He had thought she was such a strong little girl, but it turned out she had just been suppressing her grief all along.

Qi Ying felt somewhat deceived, yet also felt more pity for her. When Shen Qian had said in Tingwei Prison that he could maintain an upright heart, he had been dismissive. He knew what a cold and indifferent person he really was—capable of ruthlessly eliminating political enemies in court, capable of being duplicitous with seemingly close friends, even capable of watching his own family with cold eyes. At that time, he thought Shen Qian had misjudged him, but it turned out he wasn’t wrong: he indeed would show compassion toward some people and some matters—compassion that surprised even himself.

Qi Ying looked toward the sky outside the window and heard the night watch being struck—it was already the third watch of the zi hour. He looked again at Shen Xiling, whose breathing had gradually stabilized after taking the medicine, sighed, and ultimately didn’t break free from her hand. He sat quietly by her bedside until Liuzi came in carrying a charcoal brazier.

As soon as Liuzi entered the room, he saw the young master holding that little girl’s hand while sitting by her bed. He inexplicably felt his entrance was somewhat ill-timed. Just as he was about to withdraw first, he heard the young master call him in, so he could only steel himself to enter carrying the charcoal brazier.

The young master’s expression was calm. While touching Shen Xiling’s forehead with the back of his hand, he instructed: “Place the charcoal brazier closer to her, then fetch a thicker quilt for her.”

Liuzi nodded in acknowledgment, then heard the young master say: “Find a maidservant to care for her—find one who’s careful.”

Liuzi was startled, seeing the young master gently withdraw his hand from that little girl’s grasp. The little girl seemed to frown and murmur a few words in her sleep. Though she probably succumbed to the medicine’s effects and fell into deep sleep, Liuzi sensed the young master seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Liuzi asked: “Is the young master still leaving?”

Qi Ying gave a light acknowledgment, casually tucking Shen Xiling’s blanket up a bit more.

Tonight was New Year’s Eve vigil, and his leaving the mansion was already improper. If father discovered he had delayed for these hours, it would be hard to explain, let alone tomorrow morning when he still had to enter the palace—he definitely couldn’t spend the night here.

After settling Shen Xiling properly, Qi Ying extinguished the candle for her and walked toward the door. Upon exiting, he saw the bright moonlight illuminating this Fenghe Courtyard with frost-white ground. Liuzi followed behind Qi Ying and heard the young master say: “She won’t have an easy night. Have someone watch her constantly. If anything seems wrong, come find me. If nothing’s wrong, wait until dawn to find another doctor to examine her.”

Liuzi respectfully acknowledged, then watched the young master leave with hurried steps.

After the young master left, Liuzi couldn’t help but turn back, peering through the gap in the door at Shen Xiling, who was now sleeping deeply in the room. He thought to himself how strange this was—he didn’t understand why when he had gone to find the young master during the day, he still had the attitude that even if this person died it wouldn’t concern him, yet how had he changed like this after just half a day? Coming once wasn’t enough—judging from what he’d just said, if this little girl had any more troubles during the night, the young master was prepared to come again?

Then why had the young master scolded him during the day! And spoken so decisively saying “If that’s the case, then find a doctor to see her. Why come to me”—what was that all about!

Liuzi scratched his head, feeling wronged.