The maid pulled up the bed curtains.

The young master on the bed wore a loosely wrapped white inner robe, exposing his chest, which was wrapped in thick cotton bandages.

Although the cotton cloth no longer seeped blood, Steward Cai’s heart stopped each time he saw it.

The young master had run himself through with a sword.

It had missed his heart by just one inch.

He had been outside at the time and hadn’t witnessed the scene with his own eyes. When he heard about it, his heart felt as though it had been pierced through.

Too dangerous.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but mutter about it again.

“I know my own limits,” Xie Yanfang said with a smile, raising his hand to gently press his chest. “I don’t want to die, so I won’t die.”

Steward Cai looked at his thin, pale, bloodless face. Although he hadn’t died, his vital energy was greatly damaged. He could only be conscious for half a shichen each day, would never leave his bed for the rest of his life, couldn’t be exposed to wind or light. What difference was there between this and death?

“Of course there’s a difference,” Xie Yanfang said, lifting his hand slightly.

Steward Cai hurried to gently support him into a sitting position, then took the jade hairpin from the bedside to pin up his waterfall of black hair.

“There’s nothing much to see in this world anyway. Without looking, I still know how things change. For me, half a shichen is enough,” Xie Yanfang continued, smiling at Steward Cai. “But if I were dead, that wouldn’t do.”

At this, he paused.

“At least not now. I’ll wait a bit longer, until A’Yu and Yanlai are both smooth sailing.”

He looked at his own palm.

“At that time, even if I die, this world will still be as I wish it.”

Steward Cai held up a medicine bowl to feed him, saying, “Are you truly handing over the Xie family to Xie Yanlai? He deeply hates the Xie clan. Even if you give him supreme honor, he won’t let go of his hatred.”

“He doesn’t need to let it go,” Xie Yanfang said. “He hates the current Xie family, so let him create a Xie family he likes. Either way, it’s still the Xie family.”

Steward Cai said, “I understand what you mean, my lord. Don’t treat him as a person, treat him as a tool. As long as he’s useful.” At this, his expression was still resentful. But a tool should stay where a tool belongs, not suddenly transform and boss people around. All of this was because—

“That lowly servant Chu Zhao actually dared to try to kill you, my lord.”

He knew this young woman wasn’t as gentle as she appeared on the surface—power-hungry and ruthless. He also knew both sides would tear their masks off sooner or later, but he hadn’t expected it so soon, nor that she would make the first move.

After he finished this sentence, the room fell quiet.

Xie Yanfang didn’t speak but instead took the medicine bowl from his hands and drank down the last half bowl.

After finishing, he smacked his lips, as if somewhat unsatisfied, until he saw Steward Cai’s gaze.

“Is my lord no longer saying he’s happy?” Steward Cai snorted. “No longer praising her?”

In the past, whenever Chu Zhao was mentioned, Xie Yanfang would always smile and praise her.

Who would have thought she was an ungrateful dog!

Xie Yanfang smiled. “I still need to praise her. She did very well trying to kill me—even better than I imagined.”

In the past, seeing people and events unfold as he predicted and wished always made him very happy.

At this, his smile faded.

“But this time I’m not happy.”

Yes, although Chu Zhao was defeated and fled, she had forced the young master to mutilate himself. This was a great setback. Though the young master was magnanimous, he wouldn’t be happy about everything.

Steward Cai sighed and brought over a dish of candied fruit, gently coaxing, “The medicine is very bitter. Eat something sweet.”

The young master had suffered.

From childhood to now, the young master had never suffered like this.

Xie Yanfang didn’t refuse. He reached out to pick up a piece and put it in his mouth. Actually, he could no longer taste bitter or sweet.

“You don’t need to worry about Yanlai at all. Let him cause trouble as he pleases,” he said. “He’s willing to stay not for wealth and honor, nor to occupy the Xie clan. He’s only doing it for Chu Zhao. This realm—if Chu Zhao can’t have it, and I can’t have it, it will fall into others’ hands.”

To eliminate future troubles for Chu Zhao and protect her life’s work and loved ones, Xie Yanlai wouldn’t trust anyone but himself.

So at that time, he had decisively turned himself into a cripple to make sure Xie Yanlai couldn’t leave.

If Xie Yanlai couldn’t leave—he looked at his palm and gently closed it—Chu Zhao, even if your person left, your heart can’t escape.

In this world, no one could do as they pleased.

Xie Yanfang lowered his gaze. “As long as this realm is watched over, the Xie family will be fine. So there’s no need to worry about what trouble he causes.”

Steward Cai responded in agreement, then said, “Let me tell you about recent matters, my lord.”

Xie Yanfang reclined and listened to Steward Cai speak. Most of the time, he hummed once to indicate he understood and didn’t say much. At some point, even the hums could no longer be heard. Steward Cai looked up and saw that Xie Yanfang had already closed his eyes.

“My lord?” he called softly.

Xie Yanfang didn’t respond.

The young master’s waking time had ended. Steward Cai’s expression was mournful. He gently helped Xie Yanfang lie down, removed the jade hairpin, covered him with the blanket, and lowered the bed curtains.

The dim lamp flickered in silence.

…

…

In the main quarters of the Xie residence, lamps blazed brightly.

“The young master has returned.”

“Young master, quickly drink some hot tea.”

“Young master, this servant will wipe your hands.”

Maids clustered around Xie Yanlai, helping him remove his outer robe, wiping his hands, cleansing his face. After he washed up, a late-night meal was quickly brought. Xie Yanlai sat on the couch by the window while maids added dishes and rice for him.

“These are all things you love to eat, young master.”

“The food at home suits your taste better, doesn’t it?”

Earlier, Xie Yanlai had been listening with a smile, but hearing this sentence, he put down his bowl and chopsticks. “You may all withdraw,” he said.

The maids froze. One of them wanted to joke around as before, but seeing Xie Yanlai’s expression, she didn’t dare speak.

They stopped their giggling and withdrew.

“Why did you mention that the food at home suits his taste?” one maid whispered reproachfully.

That maid looked uneasy. “I only wanted to say that the young master worked hard at social engagements outside.” She was somewhat aggrieved. “The young master is very particular about food. In the past, he always said he couldn’t get used to eating outside.”

Another maid sighed softly. “In the past, he couldn’t get used to it because he had nowhere to go—it was the same everywhere. Now, the young master has a place he wants to go, so his tastes have changed.”

“The young master hasn’t just changed his tastes. Although he smiles, he no longer jokes with us,” another maid murmured.

The Yanlai young master they knew had disappeared.

The maids’ soft whispers soon dispersed, and both inside and outside the room returned to quiet.

Xie Yanlai sat at the desk, eating his meal with concentration.

Someone quietly walked in. “My lord,” he said.

Xie Yanlai glanced at this man dressed as a guard. This was a guard from his courtyard, though he didn’t particularly care who was who.

The man hurriedly said, “Zhang Gu sent me.”

Hearing this name, Xie Yanlai picked up his wine cup and asked, “What is it?”

The man said, “Zhang Gu told me to inform you, my lord, that Miss A’Fu is well and has arrived home safely. Zhong Changrong has also been sent there. Everyone is safe and sound.”

Xie Yanlai hummed in acknowledgment.

Having delivered his message, the man quietly withdrew as instructed. Just as he reached the door, Xie Yanlai called him back.

“Tell Zhang Gu not to inquire about them anymore,” Xie Yanlai said.

The man froze, then quickly responded in agreement and withdrew.

Xie Yanlai drank the wine in one gulp, a smile appearing on his face. The smile spread from the depths of his eyes, making them shine brilliantly.

“I told you your fate was good, but you wouldn’t believe me,” he said, reaching up to touch his chin. “Had to bite me.”

He made hissing sounds, as if the wound still hurt.

…

…

It seemed that in the blink of an eye, the autumn wind had turned into a bitter wind.

The northwest wind first swept up withered grass, then the withered grass turned into snow pellets.

Chu Zhao stood under the eaves, removing her hood, tilting her head up as if trying to see clearly whether it was actually snowing.

“Hey hey, what are you doing?” Xiao Man’s voice came from the side. “Put your hood back on.”

Chu Zhao looked over and saw Xiao Man emerge from the kitchen, holding a basket in her arms, glaring at her.

“Don’t be naughty. If you catch a chill from the wind, you’ll have to drink pot after pot of bitter medicine,” Xiao Man said. “And when you beg me to dump the medicine, I won’t help you!”

Chu Zhao smiled and obediently put her hood back on.

Whether the hood was too big or her face too small, once she put it on, it covered her whole face, leaving only a pair of blinking eyes visible. The cloak she wore was very thick, but wrapped around her body, she still looked very frail, as if the next moment the wind would blow her away.

Xiao Man looked at her while holding the basket. Whether leading troops in battle or dealing with officials at court, even when she was exhausted and thin, she had never been this frail.

The poison had harmed her body, and that incident had hurt her spirit.

“It’s time to eat. Come inside quickly,” she said loudly, walking toward the house with the basket. “I made the lamb stew you wanted. If you don’t eat more, I won’t let it go.”

Chu Zhao called out loudly, “I’ll eat two big bowls!”

As she said this, noise came from the neighboring courtyard. A group of children of all sizes poured out from a room, like chickens and ducks released from a coop.

“Class is over!” Chu Zhao perked up and waved enthusiastically. “Come eat at my house!”

The children looked over. Some were shy, some hesitant, some shouted loudly, “Thank you, Sister A’Fu!” “We won’t eat!” Then they ran off in a noisy clamor.

Chu Zhao watched them leave with a smile. From the corner of her eye, she saw someone else emerge.

“Teacher Zhu Er,” she said with a smile. “Would you like to come eat at my house? We have lamb stew.”

Deng Yi glanced at her. “No need. I have some at home too.”

Chu Zhao wanted to say something more, but Xiao Man called impatiently from inside, “Come in quickly.” So she smiled at Deng Yi and turned to walk inside. She heard Deng Yi’s servant also run out to call Deng Yi to eat. Having heard her invitation, the servant seemed very happy.

“Miss A’Fu is so nice, always inviting us to eat. Not like that A’Jiu, who only comes to steal food from our house.”

Deng Yi glared at him and stopped him. “Say less.” Then he looked toward the girl.

The girl seemed not to have heard. She stepped over the threshold and disappeared from view.