◎She said, “I’m very afraid something will happen to you.”◎

Nanny Qian was elated. But she also had concerns: “Your mother doesn’t know about this, does she?”

Lan Shanjun shook her head, “She doesn’t know. If she knew, she’d surely be angry.”

Nanny Qian was torn. When matchmaking, she’d been all enthusiasm, but now that there was hope of success, she noticed the difficulties in this match.

Lan Shanjun: “That’s why I came to ask you to inquire first. If Minister Yu also has feelings, why not ask Old Madam to take charge? If Old Madam makes the match, Mother won’t have much to say.”

Nanny Qian nodded repeatedly: “Don’t worry, I’ll handle this.”

Given Yu Qingwu’s manner, clearly his heart had stirred. Previously when Shanjun hadn’t spoken, he’d refused, and Nanny Qian couldn’t bring it up again. But now that Shanjun had spoken, if he refused again, he’d truly regret it for life.

Perhaps Yu Qingwu in a few years would still refuse, but now at only twenty-one, at the age when emotions ran high—which young person could bear such regret?

They feared regret even more than the elderly!

But when she hadn’t succeeded, she thought they’d be good together. Now she worried they might not be happy.

Nanny Qian hesitated: “Your mother wanting to arrange a high match for you isn’t actually wrong. Shanjun, you’re still too young. I’m afraid you’ll regret it later.”

Lan Shanjun said gently: “I know my own mind.”

She paused, then said: “A few days ago Huihui told me Mother had come to Old Madam’s place.”

Nanny Qian nodded, then asked with slight regret: “Your mother didn’t tell you?”

Lan Shanjun shook her head, “She thought Old Madam would tell me.”

In the end neither told her—it was Huihui who mentioned it.

Nanny Qian had selfish motives and didn’t dare tell the truth, stammering: “We were wrong about this. We should have told you that day.”

But Lan Shanjun smiled and shook her head, “Whether told or not, I wouldn’t have been willing.”

She said: “High nobility is certainly good, but I grew up in the countryside. How would I know how to do what noble family women do? Moreover, you know my background.”

“Before the New Year, I attended a banquet at Marquis Boyuan’s residence. Mother encountered Duke Qingguo’s wife, and her words were full of references to pigs—clearly she knew my background. That shows it’s not difficult to investigate.”

Speaking of this, she smiled: “I’m not ashamed of my past, but there’s a saying—marriage should be between matched doors and households. I think it’s very true. I’m sixteen years behind their expectations for a daughter-in-law, and Duke Zhenguo’s residence is sixteen years behind in status compared to them. Being so, why try to make up the difference? Better to live more freely.”

These words carried great wisdom. Nanny Qian understood this principle because of her age, but hearing Lan Shanjun say it, she felt pity: “You’ve been through hardship.”

Lan Shanjun smiled: “Setting aside all that, I deeply admire Minister Yu. Watching him these days, I thought—living with him should be quite good.”

Nanny Qian held her hand: “Since you think this way, I’m reassured.”

Lan Shanjun was grateful to her: “Please help me ask. Ask for me first—whether he agrees or not, I want to see him.”

Nanny Qian promised everything: “You’re still here today, so I can’t ask. Besides, it’s getting late—you should return home.”

“After you leave, I’ll speak with him properly.”

Lan Shanjun went to take leave of Old Madam Shou, “I’ll come visit you again another day.”

Old Madam Shou nodded with a smile. Seeing Nanny Qian’s triumphant manner and knowing her well, she guessed what had happened and said: “Qingwu, help escort her out.”

Yu Qingwu had been staying at Old Madam Shou’s residence these past days helping with tasks.

The old lady was now like a startled bird—knowing Yu Qingwu had met the Imperial Grand Prince, she was terrified and insisted he stay.

The two walked side by side. Night had fallen. Yu Qingwu held a round lantern to light the way.

Madam Zhao wanted to hold it herself, but he wouldn’t let her. Lan Shanjun had Madam Zhao and the maids step back, saying softly: “Minister Yu, you have something to say?”

Yu Qingwu nodded and instructed quietly: “Miss Shanjun, don’t concern yourself with anything—protect yourself first.”

He paused, then added: “Whether regarding this matter or other matters, you must protect yourself first.”

These words actually overstepped propriety somewhat. He feared making her angry, but unexpectedly she nodded and also instructed him: “You must do the same. Our days are still long—don’t be rash, don’t rush.”

Because of her phrase “our days,” after she left Yu Qingwu remained happy.

Nanny Qian had been waiting in the corridor, speaking affectedly: “Minister Yu.”

Yu Qingwu walked over obediently: “Nanny Qian.”

Nanny Qian: “Happy, aren’t you?”

Yu Qingwu didn’t dare say.

Nanny Qian tucked her hands: “Minister Yu, I have something to tell you.”

But Yu Qingwu recalled the look between Lan Shanjun and Nanny Qian when they walked away—clearly they had something to discuss.

He grew nervous: “What matter?”

Nanny Qian said slowly: “Miss Shanjun’s marriage.”

Yu Qingwu’s breathing stopped: “Marriage?”

Nanny Qian deliberately kept him in suspense, holding back without continuing. She needed him to panic, to remember this moment’s fear, lest he not cherish it later.

When his face had turned deathly pale, she finally cupped her hands: “The marriage between you and Miss Shanjun.”

Yu Qingwu’s eyes slowly lifted.

Nanny Qian said proudly: “Today I couldn’t help mentioning it to Miss Shanjun again. I held no hope, but she actually nodded, saying she admires your character.”

Having said this, she waited for Yu Qingwu to raise his eyebrows and lift the corners of his mouth.

But he truly disappointed her.

She saw his eyes drop instead, his eyebrows and mouth not moving at all. Then he said softly: “With my whole body incomplete, I dare not mislead a good woman.”

—

Nanny Qian was so angry she smashed Old Madam Shou’s feather duster at home.

Feathers flew everywhere.

Old Madam Shou sat far away. Nanny Qian didn’t understand: “What is he thinking?”

She said: “Before Wu Qingchuan decided not to marry, he’d seen everything—brothels and music halls, where hadn’t he been? But Qingwu hasn’t—”

She sighed repeatedly: “I thought he couldn’t resist, but he’s something else—”

She imitated him, pinching her voice: “With my whole body incomplete, I dare not mislead a good woman.”

In her excitement, more feathers fell.

Old Madam Shou laughed: “Forget it, stop fussing. If he’s unwilling, then he’s unwilling.”

Nanny Qian was dissatisfied: “You were supportive at first—why are you just watching now?”

Old Madam Shou said: “Didn’t you notice?”

Nanny Qian: “Notice what?”

Old Madam Shou: “That child Shanjun—when she looks at Qingwu, there’s no trace of romantic affection.”

Nanny Qian: “Huh? But she said she admires Qingwu’s character…”

Old Madam Shou: “She didn’t lie either.”

“It’s just that admiration is admiration, romantic love is romantic love.”

Nanny Qian was surprised: “Then why did she tell me this?”

Old Madam Shou spread her hands: “I don’t know, but regarding the children’s affairs, I still say—we’d better not interfere too much.”

Hearing this, Nanny Qian fell silent. After a long while, she finally nodded: “These children nowadays…”

The next day, Yu Qingwu expected to be scolded again, but saw Nanny Qian pass by him and even smile: “Young Master Yu, off to work?”

Yu Qingwu was flattered. But after Nanny Qian left, standing in place, he felt somehow disappointed.

That disappointment instantly swept through his entire body. It took him a while to recover.

He could only force a smile, then stride outside.

Nanny Qian personally visited Lan Shanjun to tell her about this.

She said: “He’s stubborn as a mule, thinking himself unworthy of you.”

Lan Shanjun wasn’t surprised. She smiled: “How can that be? Please, Nanny, let me meet with him.”

Nanny Qian’s heart sank halfway. She sighed repeatedly.

Ordinary young ladies who admired men and were rejected like this would be sad, would cry, would feel regret—but never react like Shanjun. This was her first time encountering such a young lady.

Of course, it was also her first time encountering a man like Yu Qingwu.

She said: “Then I’ll go ask him.”

But for several days she couldn’t find him—he no longer returned to the Shou residence either.

Nanny Qian could only tell the visiting Lan Shanjun: “Wonder if he’s avoiding you!”

Lan Shanjun didn’t think so. But if someone wanted to avoid you, it was truly too easy. She’d come for several days, and Nanny Qian kept shaking her head. Lan Shanjun could only say: “It’s fine. I’ll wait until he’s free.”

As it turned out, she waited another half month, and the spring examinations passed.

In Luoyang, firecrackers went off daily—some celebrating, others crying and threatening to jump in the river.

Amid all this noise, Yu Qingwu went to work as usual, doing the same tasks. The only difference was he asked colleagues: “Where are houses cheaper?”

His colleague looked at him curiously: “I heard you’re living at Old Madam Shou’s place, and Minister Wu bought you a house too. You’re buying more?”

Yu Qingwu looked around and said quietly: “Previously, I bought a house in Cuyu Lane for only eighty taels. Less than two months have passed, and it’s risen to eighty-five taels.”

He extended his hand: “I keep feeling this is remarkable.”

His colleague naturally knew Luoyang houses had been appreciating, but this dramatically? He gasped: “Really?”

Yu Qingwu: “Really. That area is remote, yet renting isn’t cheap. This time, students without much money taking the capital examinations mostly stayed there. Rising tide lifts all boats—prices went up.”

He said: “But the southern district is still too far—appreciation is less. The eastern district must appreciate more. I just haven’t been in Luoyang long and don’t know where houses are cheaper in the east.”

His colleague also came from a poor family. Hearing this, he said: “I don’t know much either, but shall we go ask around the various wards together?”

Yu Qingwu smiled: “That would be most appreciated.”

His colleague felt very satisfied, finding him personable. Yu Qingwu didn’t need to ask him about such matters, but he did, showing he didn’t disdain his humble origins. Being frugal and calculating—clearly living practically—invisibly gave them common ground.

He said: “The cheapest are corner properties, but not all corner houses are bad—after all, this is Luoyang. If we buy to rent out, there’ll be considerable monthly income.”

Yu Qingwu nodded repeatedly. They set a date, spent three days searching, and bought a house in Yangliu Lane. On the fourth day, Lin Ji died.

Yu Qingwu sat in his room, his body turning cold.

Too fast.

He closed his eyes, slowly exhaling turbid air, once again sensing the power of authority.

—

Eastern Palace.

The Imperial Grand Prince’s health was poor—he coughed several more times. Suppressing the sound, he got up to drink water in the outer room. One gulp went down wrong, triggering earth-shaking coughs. The Grand Princess Consort came stomping over: “You definitely didn’t sleep! If you’d slept enough, you wouldn’t cough!”

This had been his problem since childhood.

The Imperial Grand Prince said quietly: “Yuanniang, forgive me.”

This time the Grand Princess Consort was determined to get to the bottom of it: “Has something happened?”

The last time he coughed like this was four years ago.

The Imperial Grand Prince held her hand: “No.”

The Grand Princess Consort flew into a rage: “Then don’t cough like this and worry me!”

The Imperial Grand Prince smiled tenderly: “Actually it’s really nothing. Just… this is the first time I’ve accomplished something major, and I’m quite happy.”

The Grand Princess Consort: “Then why are you still so troubled?”

The Imperial Grand Prince touched his face: “Am I? I feel quite happy.”

The Grand Princess Consort sighed, reached out to cup his face, then gently pressed her index finger on his brow to smooth it: “Here—all wrinkled.”

The Imperial Grand Prince smiled: “I’m worried for someone else.”

He’d done the preliminary work, eliminating Lin Ji for Yu Qingwu. Yu Qingwu would handle what followed, also clearing some of Prince Qi’s support for him.

But while the former was easy for him, the latter would be difficult for Yu Qingwu. He patted his wife’s head: “Actually, Wu Qingchuan isn’t entirely useless.”

The Grand Princess Consort: “Hmm?”

The Imperial Grand Prince said softly: “At least he raised someone very much like Father and Great-Uncle.”

—

When Lan Shanjun learned of Lin Ji’s death—accidentally killed by Prince Wei’s heir in Yangliu Lane—her first thought was that Yu Qingwu did this. Her heart pounded. His avoidance these past days now made sense.

She hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly!

She shot up, her whole body trembling, saying to Madam Zhao: “Quick, we’re going to the Shou residence.”

Zhu Shi and Huihui had just reached the courtyard gate when they saw her walk straight past. Zhu Shi frowned: “What now? I was just going to discuss household management with her.”

Huihui: “Looks like she’s going to Old Madam Shou’s.”

Zhu Shi: “Again?”

At first she’d wanted her to go, but now that she went frequently, Zhu Shi felt displeased.

She complained: “Who exactly is her mother!”

“She didn’t even greet us just now, did she?”

Huihui: “Sixth Sister is preoccupied. Stop asking so many questions.”

Zhu Shi sighed repeatedly: “I truly can’t control her!”

She said: “I only hope Old Madam Shou arranges a good match for her, otherwise how can I be at ease?”

Lan Shanjun truly hadn’t seen them earlier.

Her heart and mind were full of Yu Qingwu. She hadn’t been like this in so long—single-minded, able to hold only one thing.

She didn’t understand her current feelings.

Fear? Anxiety?

But her heart’s words couldn’t lie. What she thought most was: He did it.

He did it.

He’d walked ahead, opening a good path for her. He showed her that things could change, that seemingly difficult matters could be accomplished.

They could change.

Dismounting the carriage, she hurried along, through winding corridors, past artificial hills, finally standing at the highest point of the arched bridge to see him digging on the opposite side.

He bent over, swinging the hoe seriously, strike after strike.

But today he finally seemed to have loosened his tense muscles, making his whole body appear vigorous. Late spring sunlight fell on him like water flowing over his body, making his entire person seem to float.

He obviously saw Lan Shanjun too.

Head lowered, he first saw the reflection in the water beneath the arched bridge.

Today was windless. On the water’s surface, she appeared travel-worn, as if coming from afar—but specifically coming for him.

His heart couldn’t help but rejoice.

But at this moment, he couldn’t say, “Thank you for coming for me.”

Some words, once spoken, inevitably hurt both parties. Better not to give anyone ideas.

He could only straighten up, lift his head and say: “Miss Shanjun, you’ve come.”

He felt this phrase was too bland.

He finally spoke again: “I was waiting for you.”

Hearing this, Lan Shanjun lifted her skirt and quickly walked to his side, looking up at him.

Without her asking, Yu Qingwu knew what she wanted to know.

He smiled: “Yes.”

One word made Lan Shanjun’s eyes redden.

An inexplicable emotion made her heart unbearably sour. Unable to tell if it was guilt, hope, or excitement, she lowered her head: “I was very afraid—”

She said: “I was very afraid something would happen to you.”

“That something would happen because of my words.”

She finally discovered she wasn’t fearless. Just as when helping herself lie, she’d say she felt guilty over a dying woman’s final words that became an obsession—she was actually terrified of harming people.

Yu Qingwu smiled: “It won’t happen.”

He said: “If not for your words, I don’t know when I would have acted.”

His eyes bright, he told her: “I’ve been waiting nearly five years.”

In these four or five years, he’d suffered daily torment, not daring to forget that Yingying lived only thirteen years, that Elder Brother had said to be a hundred-year magistrate.

The Imperial Grand Prince asked if he was afraid: “Just killing Lin Ji alone is useless—we must use this to topple Marquis Boyuan.”

“But this requires using you as bait. You could lose your life at any moment. Are you afraid?”

How could Yu Qingwu be afraid?

He’d been waiting for this day.

He told the Imperial Grand Prince: “I heard a saying before but never understood it. Today I suddenly understand.”

The Imperial Grand Prince asked gently: “What saying?”

Yu Qingwu: “All people must die; since ancient times, none avoid death.”

He said: “If I can die for this, I’m willing.”

For some reason, the Imperial Grand Prince suddenly looked at him and said: “Yu Qingwu, you already carry the bearing of predecessors.”

But now, seeing Lan Shanjun, Yu Qingwu felt certain he’d survive.

The Imperial Grand Prince really didn’t know how to speak.

How could he lose his life?

Lan Shanjun’s voice was low: “What happens next?”

Yu Qingwu: “Days ago I went to Yangliu Lane to buy property. He died there, and I have a well-known grudge with Lin Ji. Marquis Boyuan will naturally come interrogate me.”

Speaking of this, he smiled at her: “But he has no evidence. Prince Wei’s heir killed him. He can only torture me severely.”

He was Wu Qingchuan’s disciple, someone the Imperial Grand Prince had vouched for before His Majesty. At a time when His Majesty increasingly reminisced about the Late Crown Prince, if Marquis Boyuan did this, what would His Majesty think?

He said: “The Imperial Grand Prince wants to test if my blade is sharp.”

For an instant, Lan Shanjun didn’t know what to say, yet also knew what she should say.

She said earnestly: “Then I’ll wait for your return.”

“When you return, I have something else I want to tell you.”

Yu Qingwu knew what she wanted to say.

He thought he could refuse her now.

But he couldn’t open his mouth.

Miss Shanjun had shown him such deep loyalty and righteousness. She was already suffering enough—if he refused her again, he was terrified she might cry outright.

He heard himself say: “Alright then, let’s talk when I return.”