Luo Huaimeng shook her head firmly. “That simply won’t do. You are now the treasure of our entire family — the most important person to protect. This matter is not for you to decide. It’s for me to decide.”

Yan Qing knew this was Luo Huaimeng’s kindness, and so she nodded obediently. “Everything is at Mother’s discretion.”

Luo Huaimeng kept turning the prayer beads in her hands, beaming so broadly she could not close her mouth. “This is truly wonderful, truly wonderful. Now I can only hope Xingzhi comes back quickly — he’s about to be a father.”

Hearing these words, Yan Qing’s gaze upon her belly became even more tender.

Imagining how this baby, once born, would call him Father — imagining how he would be flustered yet pretend to be calm — she felt that such a scene would be exceptionally worth looking forward to.

“Tonics must not be taken carelessly,” Doctor Zhang reminded them. “Supplements that are too nourishing can easily cause a miscarriage, and are not good for the expectant mother herself. Also, it has not yet been two months — this is the most unstable period. Be very careful to avoid any falls or bumps.”

Luo Huaimeng was an experienced woman and naturally understood all of this.

Doctor Zhang gave a few more instructions, then shouldered his medical bag and departed.

“Mother.” After Luo Huaimeng had settled somewhat from the height of her joy, Yan Qing waited a moment before saying, “It would be best not to let this matter leak out yet.”

Luo Huaimeng gradually regained her composure as well after her joy subsided. Hearing these words, she sat down in the chair in front of Yan Qing.

“You are right. The political situation is unstable now — who knows how many people are watching us with predatory eyes. At a time like this, it’s best not to let too many people know.”

As for Doctor Zhang — there was no need to say anything. He had never been one to gossip. And everyone else in this room was family — they would not let the news leak out either.

“You’ve thought of everything.” Luo Huaimeng said with a sigh. “You have to worry about things outside and worry about things inside — you’ve really had it hard.”

“Don’t worry, Mother. Things outside won’t be in turmoil much longer,” Yan Qing reassured her. “It will be resolved soon.”

Yan Qing’s words turned out to be correct.

Before long, another incident stirred up quite a commotion in Shun Cheng.

The people who had been smashing up restaurants and establishments were suddenly countered and beaten by a group of others.

These people claimed to be Shi Guang’s supporters, and they came to blows with those described as “Shi Ting’s supporters.” Moreover, they were spreading information everywhere, saying that Shi Guang was heaven’s chosen son, destined to inherit the Commander’s seat.

The two sides refused to yield to each other, and for a time the situation erupted into chaos and disorder.

Later, word spread further that both groups were actually from gangs — gangs that had chosen to support different masters, and were thus coming to blows over this matter.

Originally, everyone had believed that those trying to suppress public opinion were Shi Ting’s people. Now that this other group had appeared, the tide of opinion immediately shifted again.

What had begun as a political power struggle had by this point evolved into a gang conflict.

“You all say the Commander’s accident was caused by the Young Commander — but why don’t you think about it? Isn’t this just the Second Young Master deliberately dumping blame on the Young Commander? Framing and slandering others is something the Second Young Master has done plenty of. The Commander has already grown estranged from him as father and son — and if he wants to become Young Commander, the only way is to ruin the Young Commander’s reputation first. After all, the Young Commander’s prestige among the common people is extraordinarily high.”

“Now that I think about it, something did seem off. The Young Commander has devoted himself all these years to developing the military and police division, maintaining the security and stability of Shun Cheng — how could he possibly allow a gang of hooligans to go around smashing and looting every day?”

“When all is said and done, someone is trying to blacken the Young Commander’s name — and anyone with half a brain can figure out who that is.”

When Yan Qing heard the news Di Huai brought in, she knew the tide of public opinion outside had already shifted somewhat. The populace’s attention had also been diverted.

From the initial suspicion, doubt, and anger to the current ambiguity — with no one willing to draw a hasty conclusion — and with the previous group now held in check, the smashing and destruction had gradually faded into silence. Shun Cheng seemed to have returned to a brief peace.

But this appearance of peace did not last long before another dark cloud descended over Shun Cheng’s sky.

~~~

In the back courtyard of the Shi family home, Ling Ai was reading with Yan Qing.

Since marrying into the household, she had read through nearly all the medical books in the Shi family’s study. Not only that — she had followed Yan Qing in learning forensic medicine as well, spending almost every day immersed in study. Only in this way could she keep her mind calm and avoid thinking about the person named Zheng Yun.

He was the wound in her heart — she dared not touch it, dared not even think of it. Whenever something triggered her emotions, it was a pain that pierced straight to the bone.

She knew he was working very hard now, but that his authority within the military and police division was also growing higher and higher.

She knew he was now capable of standing entirely on his own — even with Shi Ting absent, he could shoulder the full burden.

She knew that people who met him addressed him as Director Zheng, and that although he still wore the same cold expression, he had grown even more warm-hearted than before…

She knew all of this — all of it, every last detail — yet she both wanted to know and didn’t want to know. Because the more she knew, the heavier her longing for him became. She felt she would spend this entire lifetime unable to escape a person named Zheng Yun — even if one day he married and had children, she would grow old in missing him.

Her heart had room for only him. There would never be space for anyone else.

“And you still say you can let go?” A familiar voice sounded above her head.

Ling Ai snapped back to reality and looked up to find Yan Qing smiling at her with a knowing look.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ling Ai turned her head away, somewhat flustered.

Yan Qing picked up the piece of paper in front of her and waved it. “Look at what you’ve written on here.”

Ling Ai looked carefully and only then realized the paper was filled densely with one person’s name, written over and over. Her face immediately turned bright red. She snatched the paper back, muttering, “You and your sharp eyes.”

Yan Qing sat down beside her and smiled. “I know exactly what’s going on in your head — I can tell without even looking.”

Ling Ai touched her own slightly burning cheeks. “What are you doing out here? Be careful of your health.”

“I’m not an endangered species — I can’t even go out anymore.”

“By the way, how is Shi Ting doing?”

Mentioning Shi Ting, Yan Qing couldn’t help but shake her head. “Communications there are poor. The news comes through in bits and pieces, and there’s still no clear information on the specific situation. We can only hope the Commander is safe and well.”

“I hope the Commander can get through this difficulty as well. Otherwise Shun Cheng would truly face upheaval. And if fighting breaks out, it would be the common people who suffer. Besides…” Ling Ai looked at her with worry. “I don’t want Shi Ting to be defeated either — after all, now it’s not just the two of you. There’s also a little baby.”

Yan Qing’s gaze turned tender as she said, “Precisely because of the baby, everything will be alright for certain. I think he must be a little lucky star.”

“This is the dietary plan I’ve prepared for you.” Ling Ai handed Yan Qing a small notebook. “I was the one who prepared my father’s diet plan too — I’m something of an expert in this area.”

Yan Qing opened the notebook. Inside, line after line, from breakfast to dinner to snacks, everything was written out in meticulous detail.

Looking at the familiar handwriting, her eyes could not help growing warm. “Thank you so much, Ling Ai.”

“What’s there to thank? I only did what little I could.” Ling Ai’s gaze landed playfully on Yan Qing’s belly. “When the little one comes out, have him call me godmother.”

“Being a godmother requires giving gifts, you know.”

“Hey, are you looking down on me? I have plenty of money.” Ling Ai patted her own pocket.

Yan Qing laughed.

She looked at the good friend before her, and felt endless emotion in her heart. If they had not gone through all of these things, she would still be the person she used to be.

If the child were born and called Ling Ai godmother and Zheng Yun godfather — how wonderful a thing that would have been.

But unfortunately, there were no “if”s.

Just as the two were talking, Di Huai suddenly came running over in a hurry.

Di Huai was always steady and composed. The look of panic on his face at this moment meant that something major had certainly happened.

“Miss.” Di Huai didn’t even knock — he simply lifted the heavy padded cotton curtain and walked straight in. “Miss, something terrible has happened. The Commander — the Commander, he… has passed away.”

“What?” Yan Qing rose to her feet in agitation. “Where did this news come from?”

“The news came from Chang Sheng Bridge. The Commander was gravely wounded and did not survive.” Di Huai’s expression was grave. “The news is spreading on its own without restraint — within no time, all of Xin Guo will know.”

“And Shi Ting? Is there any news?”

“The Young Commander is transporting the Commander’s remains back to Shun Cheng.”

“Understood.” Yan Qing let out a deep sigh and turned to Ling Ai. “And here was exactly what we feared.”

Ling Ai was frantic too. “What do we do now?”

“First go to Mother’s. With the Commander gone, we must begin making arrangements for the funeral. As for the rest…” The rest would have to wait for Shi Ting to return before any plans could be made.

But would Shi Guang so easily allow Shi Ting to return to Shun Cheng?

Yan Qing and Ling Ai immediately made their way to Luo Huaimeng’s courtyard. Luo Huaimeng was embroidering something, and when she saw the two of them walk in together, she keenly sensed that something was wrong.

“It’s freezing cold outside — don’t catch a chill.” Luo Huaimeng had the maid bring over small soft chairs. “Come sit quickly. I’ll have someone go brew some ginseng tea.”

“Mother.” Yan Qing knew that if she went to help, Luo Huaimeng would only worry more — so she did not insist, and instead let Jing Zhi and Murong go to assist Ling Ai.

“Mother.” Yan Qing instead took the Second Mistress’s hand in hers. “I have a piece of news to tell you. Please steady yourself first.”

“Has something happened to Xingzhi?” Luo Huaimeng immediately grew tense.

“No.”

“Then it’s fine.” Luo Huaimeng patted her chest to calm herself, then looked at Yan Qing with sudden disbelief, her voice carrying a noticeable tremor. “Is it… is it the Commander?”

Yan Qing gave a slight nod.

“The Commander, he… he’s gone?”

“That’s what the news outside is saying. But I haven’t been able to reach Shi Ting yet. However, if the news were false, it would not have spread from Chang Sheng Bridge.”

With Shi Ting’s capabilities, he would absolutely not allow inaccurate news to spread rapidly. The fact that the news was spreading so quickly could only mean one thing — the Commander had most likely died from his severe wounds.

Or perhaps…

Yan Qing did not dare to speculate further.