Shi Guang said, “Xie Yan has a lot of business ventures, doesn’t he? Have someone cause him some trouble — keep him busy for a while so he doesn’t have the energy to meddle in all these messy affairs.”

Zuo Liang replied, “Understood.”

“Also, how is the search for that household coming along?”

“We already have some leads. I think they’ll surface any day now. Once we find that family, Second Young Master’s great ambitions can be achieved.” Zuo Liang spoke with full confidence. “Second Young Master need not worry — the earlier matter was handled airtight. No one has traced it back to me.”

“That seventh brother of mine is truly a great nuisance.” Shi Guang sneered. “But he won’t be laughing for much longer. With Prince Wenren’s support, why should we fear being unable to secure the position of Young Marshal?”

“Second Young Master, when do you plan to marry Huicun’s daughter?”

“The sooner the better — ideally while Prince Wenren is still here, so we can hold the wedding during his visit.”

“Once Huicun’s daughter marries the Second Young Master, Huicun will have no choice but to stand on the same side as you. Any attempt to sit on the fence will be impossible.”

“Precisely. With Huicun and Prince Wenren’s backing, the Marshal will sooner or later have to compromise. Shi Ting won’t hold that Young Marshal position for long.”

Shi Guang smiled. “Go ahead and arrange the wedding as soon as possible. Since I’m marrying Huicun’s daughter, the ceremony must naturally be grand enough for everyone to know about it — the scale absolutely cannot be small. This is about showing face to the Di Kingdom, and also letting people see that Shi Guang’s prospects have not run dry, so that those who are still hesitating will come to their senses sooner rather than later.”

“Second Young Master has thought this through thoroughly. I’ll see to it immediately.”

“Wait.” Shi Guang called Zuo Liang back. “Leave the wedding arrangements to Er Yitai. She manages the household, doesn’t she? Then let her manage it properly.”

Zuo Liang smiled knowingly. It was obvious that Shi Guang was doing this deliberately to give Er Yitai a hard time.

When Er Yitai learned of Shi Guang’s wedding plans, she went straight to Tao Lan Garden. Yan Qing was there with Murong and the others, sewing items for the New Year.

“Mother.” When Yan Qing saw Luo Huaimeng enter, she quickly set down what she was holding. “Why have you come yourself? If there’s anything, just send someone to let me know — I’ll come to you. It’s freezing outside, what if you catch a chill?”

Er Yitai stepped forward and took Yan Qing’s hand, sitting down beside her with a troubled expression. “The Marshal just had someone notify me to prepare for Shi Guang’s wedding.”

Yan Qing’s heart sank. She had already heard about this from Shi Ting. She had thought there was still time, that things could yet be turned around — but she hadn’t expected Shi Guang to be unwilling to wait even a moment. He wanted to cook the raw rice into cooked rice as quickly as possible so he could rest easy.

He had to cling tightly to backers like Prince Wenren and Huicun.

“Qingqing, I know Ling’ai is your close friend. What are your thoughts on this? Will you really let her marry Shi Guang?”

Yan Qing shook her head. “This was the Marshal’s decision, and it concerns the relationship between the Di Kingdom and Xin Guo, with Prince Wenren personally presiding over the matter. Shi Ting already had an argument with the Marshal over it, but in the end nothing could be changed.”

“Xing Yi argued with the Marshal?” Luo Huaimeng’s heart clenched with anxiety upon hearing this. “How could he argue with the Marshal? He’s being far too impulsive.”

Though Shi Ting had become the Young Marshal, his foundations were not yet stable. As long as Shi Guang remained, the position could change hands at any moment. At a time like this, the only path was to please the Marshal, not to defy his wishes.

For both Shi Ting and Shi Guang, the outcome lay entirely in the Marshal’s single decision.

“Zheng Yun is Shi Ting’s capable subordinate and also like a brother to him — so he couldn’t stand by and watch Zheng Yun and Ling’ai be separated. He wanted to argue on their behalf, but…” Yan Qing shook her head. “The Marshal is not yet willing to offend the Di Kingdom’s imperial family, nor does he want to fall out with Di Kingdom. Prince Wenren’s appearance has not only helped Shi Guang escape a dangerous situation, it has given him a fresh grip on the initiative in his fight for the Young Marshal position.”

“Has the Marshal taken his anger out on Xing Yi?”

“The Marshal is not an unreasonable or bullying man. What’s more, he has always kept in mind what Shi Guang did before. He knows who is loyal and who is treacherous, who truly cares for him — the Marshal is well aware of all of this in his own heart. Even if Shi Ting argued with him, it was only a moment of anger. He won’t truly blame him.”

“That’s a relief.” Luo Huaimeng let out a long breath. “Xing Yi worked so hard to reach this position. For an unloved illegitimate son to have come this far is truly not easy. I cannot watch something he worked so hard to obtain slip away again. Xing Yi is magnanimous — even as the Young Marshal, he would never drive Guang to his death. But Shi Guang is different. Once he takes power, there will be no place in Bei Di for you or me.”

Yan Qing gently patted the back of Luo Huaimeng’s hand. “Mother, rest easy. The Marshal has not blamed Shi Ting — he even summoned him just now to discuss affairs. It’s just that Shi Guang and Ling’ai’s wedding can no longer be changed.”

“Alas, poor Ling’ai, that child. Such a wonderful girl, and she must marry someone like Shi Guang.” Luo Huaimeng sighed. “Don’t be too upset either. Everyone has their own fate. This is her fate. Since she herself has accepted it, no one else can change it.”

Luo Huaimeng’s words struck at the heart of the matter. Even if Shi Ting had gone to the Marshal to protest and the Marshal had reluctantly agreed, Ling’ai herself would still insist on marrying Shi Guang. Even the Marshal could do nothing about that.

Ling’ai’s mind was now made up, because she knew that if she didn’t marry Shi Guang, the one who would lose his life in the end would be Huicun. She could not sacrifice Huicun’s life for her own happiness.

Leaving Zheng Yun would mean nothing more than a lonely life — but Huicun was different. He was trading his life for her future.

Her future didn’t matter. All she wanted was for him to be safe and sound.

As for Zheng Yun, all she could say was: I’m sorry. Whatever she owed him in this life, if there was another life, she would repay it a hundredfold.

“Miss Ai-ko.” Qingpu’s voice came from outside the door. “Master Nagase wishes to see you.”

Ling’ai set down the doll in her hands and said quietly, “Let him in.”

After a moment, the door was pushed open. Nagase saw Ling’ai sitting at the head of the bed, her beautiful face wearing an expression of complete indifference and mockery. A pang of pain shot through him, and his tone softened somewhat.

“Ling’ai.”

“What is it?” There was not a trace of warmth in Ling’ai’s gaze.

“Ling’ai, I know you hate me. But I hope you understand — I truly had no choice in doing this. I like you. My dream since childhood has been to marry you. For things to have developed to this point, I too am helpless. You must believe me — I am more heartbroken than anyone…”

“Enough.” Ling’ai interrupted Nagase with a cold laugh. “Don’t say such high-sounding things to me. Do you think I’ll still believe you? Nagase, I only want to know — how is my father right now? If I marry Shi Guang, will he appear safe and unharmed?”

“Rest assured — Huicun is doing very well right now. He will naturally appear when the two of you wed.”

“If my father suffers even the slightest harm, I will fight you all to the death.” Ling’ai said coldly. “You think that making me marry Shi Guang gives you control over my father. But you should also consider that this is a double-edged sword. If my father is harmed in any way, I don’t mind taking all of you down with me.”

The flash of ferocity in Ling’ai’s eyes greatly startled Nagase. When had the girl he remembered stopped being who she used to be? She had her endearing moments, her clever moments — and when everything she cherished was threatened, she also had moments of ruthless determination.

Nagase sighed. “Shi Guang won’t mistreat you — he promised me as much. If he dares bully you, I’ll be the first to settle accounts with him.”

Ling’ai said nothing, only smiled coldly.

Unable to bear her attitude any longer, Nagase said with effort, “The wedding is set for next week. Qingpu and I will make the preparations. You just wait in peace for your wedding day. If there’s anything you need, have someone tell me — I’ll handle it for you.”

“No need.” Ling’ai looked away. “Please leave.”

Nagase took one long, deep look at her, then finally turned and walked away.

Once the door closed, the composure Ling’ai had forced herself to maintain instantly collapsed. She couldn’t help picking up the doll again, pulling it tightly into her arms.

Since the wedding date had been set, Ling’ai had not stepped outside. Only Qingpu came each day to go over with her the various matters and things to note for the wedding ceremony — and she, distracted and inattentive, let most of it go in one ear and out the other.

Qingpu was merely going through the motions anyway. Whether Ling’ai was listening or paying attention was of no concern to him.

As far as he was concerned, Huicun’s life mattered most — but Miss Ai-ko’s happiness mattered too. He could only watch helplessly, powerless to do anything.

After Qingpu left, Ling’ai fed the gift list that had been delivered to her into the kerosene lamp. Only when she saw it catch fire did she drop it on the floor. The smell of burning paper was somewhat acrid. She watched the flames dance before her eyes, until at last they became a heap of dead ash.

Just like her love with Zheng Yun — blazing with unmatched intensity at the start, yet ending in complete silence, until scattered by the wind and vanished without a trace.

Ling’ai stared in a daze at that pile of paper ash, not even noticing the sounds that had arisen nearby — until those sounds grew louder and louder, jolting her back to awareness.

The sound was coming from the direction of the window, as though someone outside was tapping on the window frame.

She walked over, but did not open the latch. Instead she asked through the window, “Who is it?”

Outside was a pitch of darkness. As her words faded, a figure stepped in front of the window — and through the glass, those deep, soulful eyes gazed intently at her.

Ling’ai startled, instinctively covering her mouth.

“Ling’ai.” Zheng Yun stood before the window, grief visible in his gaze. He called her name once — just once — and after that, no other words came.

Ling’ai looked at him, tears streaming silently down her face.

Zheng Yun reached out his hand, fingertips resting lightly against the glass, as if he wanted to wipe away her tears from across that single pane.

She saw his eyes redden, a single tear rolling down from them. That tear was like a small bomb, detonating in her heart, blasting it into a landscape of ruin, unrecognizable.

She couldn’t help reaching out her own hand too, her fingertips touching his through the glass — even through that cold, transparent barrier, she could feel his warmth, his heartbeat, the sincerity of his heart toward her.

The two of them gazed at each other just like that, forgetting that this was the bitter depths of winter, forgetting that this was a world of ice and snow, forgetting that this was a thousand mountains and ten thousand miles across which they could never again meet.