After Jia Fu finished arranging the room, night had fallen. Hearing footsteps at the door, she turned her head to see Pei You’an entering. She happily went to greet him, helping him remove his outer garments and bringing over medicine that she had timed perfectly to cool. She watched him drink it down, then gently rubbed his chest with her small hand, complaining, “Old Ding said you’ve been coughing for quite some time. You treat illnesses for horses, so why don’t you treat your own?”

Pei You’an said, “I have been taking medicine…”

“You’ve been taking it, yet your cough keeps getting worse?”

Remembering the sight of his painful expression from coughing last night, Jia Fu became increasingly irritated.

“And another thing! You’ve been here not just one or two days, but for so long, yet a room that could be fixed in half a day, you simply don’t bother with! And there’s more! When I arrived last night, there wasn’t even a hint of warmth in the room, it was no different from falling into an ice hole…”

Pei You’an changed the subject: “You arranged the room? My Fuer is so capable, your husband is truly pleased.”

Jia Fu frowned: “I’m talking about something serious!”

Pei You’an smiled: “My words are equally serious!”

Jia Fu pummeled him with her fists, and Pei You’an allowed her to do so, simply holding her and laughing softly.

Jia Fu gave him a sidelong glance, pushed him away, and ignored him, going to open the door herself to call for water.

In this timber yard, besides seven or eight old soldiers, there was also a local woman, the wife of the old soldier Ding who had opened the door for Jia Fu last night. She was very strong, and aside from cooking, she handled other miscellaneous tasks. Today, upon first seeing Jia Fu, she regarded her as a heavenly being, constantly addressing her as “madam” this and “madam” that. Seeing that Tan Xiang and Mu Xiang were also obviously young girls, she insisted on doing all the heavy and rough work herself. When she saw Pei You’an bring in a bathtub, knowing it was for his wife to bathe in, she heated snow water by evening and was now waiting to deliver it. Hearing the call, she brought the water in with the maids, filling the bathtub halfway. The couple then squeezed into it together, enjoying a snow water bath. Afterward, her skin had a faint pinkish glow, and with a loose robe covering her to her ankles, she sat by the stove, warming her freshly washed, wet hair.

Pei You’an sat behind the table, continuing to organize his account books, though from time to time, he would look up at that graceful, delicate figure.

Gradually, her long hair began to dry. Pei You’an stood up, came behind her, took the comb from her hand, and helped her comb her hair.

Jia Fu, feeling lazy and content, squinted her eyes and leaned sideways in his embrace like a cat being stroked, so comfortable that she was almost falling asleep. Suddenly, she heard him say by her ear, “Fuer, Yang Yun told me everything, how much hardship you endured to come here, yet at my place, I don’t even have a decent room for you.”

Jia Fu opened her eyes and turned her head to see him gazing at her, his eyes full of remorse. She immediately shook her head: “I don’t find it difficult at all. This place is very nice!”

Pei You’an smiled slightly, lovingly stroking her glossy long hair, his gaze even more tender, and said softly, “I was thinking, once this winter passes and spring comes with warmer weather, I’ll have Yang Yun escort you back to Quanzhou. Don’t worry, from today on, I will definitely take good care of myself and not make you worry about me anymore…”

Jia Fu, who had been smiling, gradually froze, looking at him: “Cousin, what did you say?”

“Fuer, I understand your feelings for me. I’ll be fine, but this place is truly not suitable for you to stay long term. I don’t want you to suffer hardships with me…”

“What did you just say? Say it again.” Jia Fu’s small face slowly fell.

“When spring comes and it gets warmer, I was thinking of having Yang Yun escort you back to Quanzhou first…”

Jia Fu was silent for a moment, then gave him a faint smile: “Send me back to Quanzhou for what? So I can marry someone else, is that it?”

Pei You’an paused, not responding.

Jia Fu stared at him, her face gradually showing a cold smile. Suddenly, she pushed him away forcefully and nodded: “You want me to leave, right? If that’s the case, there’s no need to wait until spring warms up. I’ll tell Yang Yun to prepare a carriage for me right now, and I’ll leave tonight! So I won’t stay here and be in your way!” With that, she stood up, went to the door, loudly unlatched it, and stuck her head out to call for someone.

Her sudden change in demeanor left Pei You’an seemingly stunned at first. Only then did he react, rushing after her in one stride, dragging her back, closing the door, and anxiously explaining: “Fuer, listen to me explain, it’s not what you think. I just don’t want you to suffer hardships with me here…”

Jia Fu’s eyes had already reddened, and she struggled fiercely like a fish trapped in a fishing net, but he held her tight and wouldn’t let go. She couldn’t break free, and in her frustration, she lowered her head and bit his wrist.

Pei You’an winced in pain with a hiss, and his grip loosened. Jia Fu seized the opportunity to break free, turned around, and ran to one of the boxes that had been moved in earlier and placed against the wall. She flung one open, and surprisingly, most of the box was filled with books. She haphazardly grabbed a stack from inside and threw them at him, saying coldly: “These are books I specially selected for you from your old study before I left. I can’t be bothered to take them back. If you think they’re acceptable, keep them. If you find me meddlesome, feel free to tear them up or burn them—it’s no concern of mine!” As she spoke, tears began streaming down her face.

Pei You’an was hit in the face by the books, which then fell to the ground, but he remained motionless, staring blankly at Jia Fu. Seeing her tears, he finally seemed to come to his senses, quickly stepped forward, and embraced her.

Jia Fu struggled again with all her might, but he held her tightly. Jia Fu opened her mouth again, this time biting his shoulder. Not only did he not let go, but he held her even tighter. They remained deadlocked for a moment until Jia Fu finally lost her strength, released her bite, and her body went limp.

Pei You’an picked her up and carried her to the bed.

“Fuer… it’s my fault… if you’re still angry, you can bite me again…”

Pei You’an continuously kissed her, kissing away the tears that welled up in her eyes, his voice extremely anxious.

“Pei You’an, you just said you know my feelings for you. What do you know of my heart? Do you know why I would travel thousands of miles to be here with you? If I were afraid of hardship, I wouldn’t have come! I know that you married me reluctantly, and in your heart, you never truly considered me your wife! You never tell me anything! Even before, with matters that could have cost you your head, you kept me completely in the dark! Did you think I was a fool, that you could arrange the rest of my life for me, thinking you didn’t owe me anything, and then just leave a shabby letter to dismiss me? It’s my fault for overreaching, thinking that by following you here, you would understand my feelings for you, and from then on truly be devoted to me, treating me as your wife. It seems I was just deluding myself! Fine, now I see you clearly; you’ve always been this kind of person! This is for the best. I’ll go back, we’ll part ways, you live your life, and I’ll marry someone else—it’s not like there aren’t others who would have me…”

She cried pitifully, sobbing to the point where she could barely speak, her body trembling slightly.

Pei You’an gazed at her, the corners of his eyes slowly reddening. Suddenly, he covered her mouth, kissing her forcefully. At first, Jia Fu still struggled, pounding his shoulders and back, but gradually she stopped, closing her eyes and silently shedding tears.

Pei You’an finally released her, breathing slightly heavily: “Fuer, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have had such thoughts. Will you stay?”

Jia Fu opened her eyes, her gaze teary: “Didn’t you want me to leave? Why do you want me to stay now?”

“I don’t want you to go.”

His eyes were red-rimmed, his gaze fixed unwavering on her: “When I saw you suddenly appear last night, I thought I was dreaming… I don’t know how long I’ll be in this situation, and I couldn’t bear to have you suffer with me here. I know I was wrong. Fuer, will you stay?”

“I want you with me.”

“If one day you truly abandoned me to marry another, I think life would hold no more joy for me…”

He said slowly, in a soft voice.

Jia Fu gradually stopped crying, staring at him. Suddenly, she pushed him away again, sat up, slipped on a pair of shoes, and went straight to the box. After rummaging for a while, she pulled out a letter, brought it back, and tossed it to him: “Lord Pei, your literary talents are exceptional, and this letter is well-written. Read it to me again, and I won’t hold it against you.”