Outside the Zhao family’s ceremonial gate, a long bamboo canopy had been erected. The Zhao family had set up a continuous banquet, declaring it would last for ten days. The news of the Zhao family obtaining the Brocade Banner had set the entire Sandaoyan village abuzz, with everyone sharing in their glory.

When the swift horses brought the news from the city, firecrackers erupted in front of the ceremonial gate and continued well into the night.

Separated by just one street, the banquet tables nearly reached the Ji family’s doorstep. The Ji family’s gates remained tightly shut, but the bustling noise still penetrated through, somewhat unsettling the mother and her two children as they ate their evening meal.

A month ago, the Ji family had hoped for the Zhao family to win the Brocade Banner, anticipating a double celebration with Ji Yingying’s marriage. Now, a month later, they only wished that the Zhao family would consider the Brocade Banner’s honor and leave the two families without further entanglement, each in peace.

Madam Ji set down her bamboo chopsticks, casting a worried glance at her daughter.

Three days ago, Ji Yingying had been unable to eat, consumed by despair. Today, after watching the brocade competition, Madam Ji had been anxious, but seeing her return seemingly unaffected made her even more concerned.

Ji Yingying ladled a bowl of bamboo fungus chicken soup and placed it before her mother, somewhat resignedly saying, “Mother, why won’t you believe me? I’ve said that Second Young Master Zhao and I are now strangers to each other. His family wouldn’t let him make decisions anyway. What’s the point of me clinging to him? Though my heart aches, I can still think clearly. Nurse Tian’s soup smells wonderful, please have another bowl.”

She served bowls for her brother and herself. The bamboo fungus was crisp, and the chicken soup was rich and fragrant. She sipped it slowly, comfortable like a sun-basking cat, squinting her eyes.

Madam Ji hesitated before speaking, “Yingying, I heard that Fifth Miss Niu is already eighteen. The Niu family is anxious and will have her married before the new year. She knows about your childhood friendship with Second Young Master Zhao. Sandaoyan is so small, and our family is just a street away from the Zhao family. You’ll run into each other constantly…”

She was truly worried. No outsiders knew how bad the marks on Fifth Miss Niu’s face were. What if on the wedding day, when the veil was lifted and she proved ugly, Zhao Xiuyuan would turn back to pursue Yingying in anger? Even if Fifth Miss Niu was generous, she was still a woman. How would they handle it if she took out her frustrations on Yingying?

Ji Yingying, thinking of Fifth Miss Niu’s attitude toward choosing a husband, wasn’t worried about her. She was more concerned about Zhao Xiuyuan.

Zhao Xiuyuan had just finished weaving the competition brocade at the Treasure Collection Pavilion and probably didn’t know about Fifth Miss Niu’s appearance. He was pitiful; his family was keeping it from him. Perhaps the Zhao family had only seen Fifth Miss Niu with her face veiled.

Today she had made things clear. Yet Zhao Xiuyuan had grown resentful, leaving in anger. When he sees Fifth Miss Niu with her marked face, how could he calmly accept such a wife?

But this was his own choice. Though reluctant, he had accepted this marriage. She could only understand and forgive him, but they could no longer be together. Even if he was troubled and sad, she could no longer comfort him.

Years of sentiment swirled in Ji Yingying’s mind. She couldn’t completely sever such emotional ties, only push them deep into her heart, using duty, filial piety, and reason to form a thick stone slab to firmly suppress these confused feelings. She would wait for them to gradually dissolve in time, dripping away clean.

Unwilling to worry her mother and brother, she excused herself, claiming fatigue, and retreated to her small courtyard.

“Once she’s married, she’ll gradually forget about Second Young Master Zhao. It’s best to arrange her marriage now and have her wed after the new year. Currently, Second Young Master Zhu and Young Master Sheng are the most suitable candidates. Better not to consider Second Young Master Zhu though, his family is in Sandaoyan, and he’s rather simple-minded. Young Master Sheng would be better. If betrothed to him, sister would move to Yizhou City, away from Zhao Xiuyuan, yet not too far from home,” Ji Yaoting said this aloud but felt extremely uncomfortable inside. It was bad enough that Zhao Xiuyuan was marrying another, but now his sister had to rush into marriage because of him. This was a lifetime decision – why should Ji Yingying have to hurry into marriage?

Madam Ji shared his thoughts. She sighed, “Yingying is sensible. When she says she won’t pursue him, she won’t. But how can her heart not ache? Arranging her marriage now and rushing her to wed in spring would be too unfair to her. Let me think about it more.”

As the night deepened, the voices and firecrackers in front of the Zhao family gate gradually diminished until finally falling silent.

Suddenly, numerous lamps lit up in the Zhao family’s Vine Garden, illuminating a two-story building brilliantly.

“Young Master, should we add a lamp to every room?” Zhao An carefully asked.

All the eave lanterns and indoor lamps and candles were lit, yet Zhao Xiuyuan still found them insufficient. He didn’t answer but slowly climbed the stairs.

The second-floor reception hall was lit with four lamps and six candlesticks. He walked to the window and pushed it open with a bang, positioning himself in the lamplight.

The Ji family’s courtyard ahead had already extinguished their lights, and in the darkness, only the successive roof ridges were visible in the night.

“I don’t believe you can’t see me. That night I dared not light the lamps, fearing your resentment and sadness. Why did I consider your feelings? Ji Yingying, now it’s your turn to hide in the darkness watching me. Heh.”

Zhao Xiuyuan moved to sit by the window, casually lifting a white porcelain wine pot to his lips.

He was drinking Jiannanchun, a specialty spirit from Mianzhu. A rich, intense alcohol vapor gradually rose from his stomach.

“May I stay drunk forever and never wake,” he muttered, unsure whether he felt hatred, resentment, or loss toward Ji Yingying. His various emotions intertwined, making Zhao Xiuyuan want nothing but drunkenness tonight. “You gave that brocade handkerchief to him. Yingying, are you still the Ji Yingying I knew? It’s useless, I won’t let you go.”

He threw back his head and laughed. His gaze drifted outward, where the eaves curved up like a crescent moon, with a small stone beast crouching above. He stared at that stone beast, a slight smile touching his lips: “You can’t go anywhere.”

“Miss, they’ve lit so many lamps over there!” Xiang’er ran to tell Ji Yingying as if discovering a treasure.

What’s the use of lighting so many lamps? Since you can’t make your own decisions, why did you come to pursue me? You agreed to marry Fifth Miss Niu for the Zhao family’s sake, I will never light lamps in response to you again.

Ji Yingying slapped down her wooden comb and gave her reflection in the mirror a mocking smile: “I want to be alone. You needn’t keep watch tonight, go back to your room to sleep.”

How had the young miss stopped watching the lights in that small building after just one night? Xiang’er belatedly realized Ji Yingying was unhappy. She said with a fallen face, “Miss, it was my loose tongue, let me attend to you…”

“Enough. Don’t look in that direction anymore. My fate with Second Young Master Zhao is over. I’m not upset with you, I just want some quiet. Go to sleep,” Ji Yingying interrupted her, urging Xiang’er out the door.

Ying’er pulled Xiang’er away, looking back to see Ji Yingying had already bolted the door and extinguished the candles. She spat toward the Vine Garden and cursed in a low voice: “Not marrying our miss, putting on such a display – surely he doesn’t think he can coax our miss into being a concubine?”

Xiang’er pouted and argued, “Just last night the miss was still hoping for lights in that building.”

Ying’er pulled her into the room and said softly, “You’re just simple-minded. How is yesterday the same as today? Just remember, our miss isn’t on good terms with him anymore. Go to sleep now, the miss won’t call for us tonight. She must be heartbroken all alone.”

She then quietly told Xiang’er about everything that had happened that day.

“Remember, don’t mention the Zhao family’s young master in front of the miss anymore,” Ying’er finished, then blew out the lamp and lowered the bed curtains to sleep.

Seeing the lights go out in the side room, a figure silently dropped down from a tree and headed toward Ji Yingying’s bedchamber.