At the end of July in the second year of Xiyou, a sudden drizzle rustled down.

“Miss Ni, isn’t your family’s medical clinic busy? Why are you up in the mountains picking cicada shells by yourself?”

Without an umbrella and too lazy to take shelter from the rain, an herb gatherer encountered a young woman on the mountain path. Upon seeing her face, the elderly woman with graying temples smiled with crinkled eyes.

“The medical workers are helping out, so I’m stealing a day off to come pick some in the mountains for fun.” Ni Su carried a medicine basket on her back, though it didn’t contain many cicada shells.

“This rain isn’t heavy, just fine threads—it doesn’t really matter.” The herb gatherer wasn’t meeting her for the first time. Ni Su used to come to this area often to learn about herbs from them, so she could be considered a child these country folk had watched grow up. Now they treated her with natural warmth, walking alongside her and sharing the dry rations they’d brought.

Ni Su couldn’t refuse and accepted half a flatbread, eating it with pickled vegetables under the shade of a tree together with the old herb gatherer.

“When your father was alive, he often came to our countryside to provide free medical consultations—he was a living Buddha. We herb gatherers were all willing to sell our medicinal materials to your family’s pharmacy. But that second uncle of yours is no good. Not only does he refuse to provide free consultations, he charges high consultation fees and pays low prices when buying herbs. If you hadn’t come back, he would have ruined your family’s reputation… ” The old woman chattered on, getting more animated as she spoke, even spitting in contempt. “Now he’s sitting in prison—it’s his just deserts!”

When Ni Su returned to Que County a year ago, the plaque personally bestowed by the Emperor reading “Skillful Hands, Benevolent Heart” arrived just a few days later. Ni Su reopened old grievances and took her second uncle Ni Zong to court. In the end, the county magistrate sentenced Ni Zong to three years of exile based on the fact that he had bribed mountain bandits to harm his own niece, though the attempt failed.

“Please rest assured, our family’s pharmacy—whatever prices my father charged when he was alive, those are still the prices now. When we buy your medicinal materials, we absolutely won’t underpay.”

Ni Su said with a smile.

The old woman grasped her hand. “Who doesn’t know of Miss Ni’s goodness now? In our village, there are several women who developed conditions after childbirth but are too embarrassed to speak of it. I know of a few. I wonder if you…”

Ni Su used her sleeve to shield the woman from the rain. Hearing this, she said earnestly, “You just ask them. If they have financial difficulties, they needn’t worry. Most people in your village gather herbs, so they can use the herbs they collect to offset the consultation fees. Please do urge them to come for treatment. They absolutely mustn’t endure it—illness only gets worse when delayed and won’t heal on its own.”

The old woman smiled warmly. “I understand. I’ll tell them when I get back.”

Ni Su worried that if the rain continued, the old woman might slip if she wasn’t careful, so she kept her company. The two picked cicada shells together in the woods for a while. Their baskets weren’t full, but they didn’t plan to linger in the mountains.

Ni Su supported the old woman as they descended the mountain path. She used her sleeve to shield the old woman from the rain, making the woman feel somewhat embarrassed. “Miss Ni, I’m a mountain person, used to rough conditions. You don’t need to take such care of me.”

“I’m still young. Even if you are a mountain person, you must look after your health and not fall ill.”

Ni Su said.

The drizzle continued endlessly, occasionally making crisp sounds as it fell into the grass and trees beside the path. The sky was blue-gray, with mist stretching into the distance like an ink wash landscape painting.

As they walked, she paused slightly.

“Miss Ni, what’s wrong?”

The old woman turned to ask her.

“It’s nothing.”

Ni Su shook her head. “Let’s keep going.”

The old woman suspected nothing. With one hand on her bamboo staff and one hand holding Ni Su’s arm, they walked forward. She didn’t notice the tall, mist-pale figure beside Ni Su.

Wearing a pale blue round-collared robe, his hair bound neatly and pinned with a white jade bamboo joint hairpin, his face was pallid, his features cold and clear.

His slender fingers gripped his sleeve, silently holding it over Ni Su’s head.

Ni Su quietly turned her face, meeting his gaze directly, but said nothing—only curved her lips upward.

After descending the mountain, Ni Su parted ways with the old woman. She led Shuangge out from temporary lodging at a farmer’s house, then pulled down the hand of the person beside her. “Today I originally wanted to play with you in the mountains, but the rain made it impossible.”

“Coming again next time will be the same.”

On the wide mountain path empty of people, Xu Hexue helped Ni Su onto the horse’s back, then stepped into the stirrup himself and swung up, grasping the reins.

“Don’t cover it anymore. It’s just light rain—I won’t get sick.”

Seeing him untying the conical hat from the saddle, Ni Su suddenly grasped his wrist. “Let’s just go home like this.”

Xu Hexue had no choice but to withdraw his hand. With a nudge to the horse’s belly, Shuangge immediately stepped forward with a light, quick gait.

“Shuangge seems to need a bath.”

Ni Su touched Shuangge’s mane, which was spotted with some mud. She raised her face. Not far ahead was a cluster of reed flowers, and beyond the reeds lay a lake.

The drizzle lightly dotted the lake surface, creating swirls.

“Xu Ziling, let’s wash it there, shall we?” Ni Su’s interest suddenly sparked as she pointed to the lake.

Xu Hexue hummed in agreement, pulling the reins to make Shuangge run. The rain threads slanted across their faces in the cool breeze. Ni Su tilted her head back and saw his chin.

The sound of Shuangge’s hoofbeats stopped. Xu Hexue spoke: “A’Xi…”

Without warning, she suddenly kissed his chin. Xu Hexue’s eyelashes moved slightly, his words stopping abruptly. He looked down, meeting her moist, fair, smiling face.

Xu Hexue couldn’t help but smile along with her, his eyes curving slightly.

He truly loved her closeness.

“Come down.”

He lightly kissed her slightly damp temple hair, dismounted, and reached up with both arms toward her.

Ni Su tumbled into his embrace, and he caught her steadily, lowering her down. The two led Shuangge to the shallower shore of the lake. Shuangge’s hooves stepped into the water, making clear, tinkling sounds.

Ni Su paid no mind to her shoes and socks, simply standing in the water, scooping up water to splash onto Shuangge, then very seriously washing its silver-gray mane.

Shuangge seemed quite pleased, breathing continuously. Ni Su heard Xu Hexue say: “A’Xi, stand back a bit.”

But it was too late. Shuangge shook its wet mane, and water droplets pelted her face and body.

Ni Su wiped her face and looked up. Xu Hexue waded through the water to stand before her. He used his sleeve to wipe her face. “It’s like Xuanxing—when bathing, it likes to play tricks on people.”

This was Ni Su’s first time bathing Shuangge, so naturally she didn’t know these things.

Behind Xu Hexue, Shuangge swished its dripping wet tail. In the rippling water, its body glistened with moisture as it tilted its head, watching them.

Ni Su immediately scooped up more water and splashed it at Shuangge.

Shuangge shook its wet head and made a cheerful sound.

Ni Su laughed, forgetting her own bedraggled state, and pulled Xu Hexue along to help wash the mud spots off its body.

Shuangge’s coat became snow-white and clean, its silver-gray mane gleaming with a soft luster in the light. Both Xu Hexue and Ni Su’s clothes were soaked through. He held the horse with one hand and pulled Ni Su to the shore with the other.

Rain and mist filled the air. The reed flowers rustled.

Two people and one horse observed the rain from within the reeds.

“With today’s rain, the school under construction will probably have to stop work.”

Ni Su said.

“Qingqiong is still watching over there. When we return, we’ll take advantage of this rain to treat the workers to a meal tonight.” Xu Hexue turned his face to look at her.

Ni Su stroked Shuangge’s head. Hearing this, she met his gaze. “You’ll cook?”

“Yes, I’ll cook.”

He said.

“Good. Qingqiong and I will both help you.”

Ni Su swayed their clasped hands back and forth.

“Let’s go back quickly. If we don’t change out of these wet clothes, you’ll definitely get sick.”

As he spoke, Xu Hexue helped her onto the horse’s back. But unexpectedly, from her elevated position, her hands suddenly cupped his face. “In the end, are you the medical worker or am I the medical worker?”

Wind stirred the reed flowers with a rustling motion. Xu Hexue’s eyes were clear and transparent: “You are.”

He suddenly grasped her wrists, cool temperature enveloping them. Ni Su was only briefly dazed before he was already behind her, holding the reins. He still hadn’t released her. “But you’ve never been good at taking care of yourself.”

“When we get home, you’re not to do anything. Bathe, change clothes, then sleep in the room for a while.”

He instructed gently.

“What about you? What will you do?”

Ni Su leaned against him.

“I haven’t yet organized the medical cases from your free consultations yesterday. I also thought of a formation diagram last night that I want to write down when we return.” Xu Hexue’s voice was crisp and cool.

Practicing medicine wasn’t easy; for a woman to practice medicine was even harder. Ni Su had long prepared herself to dedicate her life to this calling, to spend her lifetime writing a medical text on gynecology. And the lonely soul accompanying her—because the matter of the thirty thousand heroic souls was resolved, even if he only used martial force, the Netherworld would not permit him to kill people in the mortal world.

He couldn’t return to the battlefield, couldn’t personally recover the thirteen provinces with his own hands.

But having set down his sword, he picked up the brush again.

She would write medical texts; he would write military treatises. This was the second half of life they had agreed upon together.

She would heal the sick and save lives; he would bring about peace.

She would gain a wrinkle; he would gain one too.

“When I initially took back the medical clinic from my second uncle, I vowed in court to guard the Ni family business unto death and never to marry.” Ni Su tilted her face up. “But I only said I wouldn’t marry out—I never said I wouldn’t take a husband who marries in. In another year, when my period of mourning for Young Master Ni passes, I’ll publicly invite you to join my household.”

“Xu Ziling, are you willing to marry into my family?”

“Yes, I’m willing.”

“To cook for me, write up medical cases, and never find me annoying for your whole life?”

“I won’t.”

“Do we have enough paper? When we go home, should we buy some more?”

“I already went out to buy some yesterday.”

The sound of rain rustled. Mist thickened over the mountains and fields.

Ni Su nestled in his embrace and suddenly said softly, “How wonderful, Xu Ziling.”

He didn’t hear clearly and lowered his head closer to her. “What?”

“I said, you can go out on your own, can go anywhere you want, no longer troubled by restrictions. I’m no longer the shackle that binds you.”

Everyone in the world who had heard the phrase “Green Cliffs have snow, and I bear it” was his soul-summoner.

Wherever there were people, he could move freely.

“You were never a shackle. Staying by your side every step of the way fills my heart with joy.”

Xu Hexue looked up. The sky was blue-green. “A’Xi, when the weather clears and there’s wind, let’s fly kites again.”