The maid pulled back the bed curtains.

The young master reclining in bed wore a loosely draped white undergarment, revealing his chest wrapped in thick cotton bandages.

Although the bandages no longer seeped blood, Steward Cai’s heart still skipped a beat whenever he saw them.

The young master had been run through with a sword.

Just an inch away from his heart.

Steward Cai had been outside and hadn’t witnessed the scene firsthand, but when he heard about it, his heart felt as though it had been pierced.

It was too dangerous.

Even now, he couldn’t help thinking this again.

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

Steward Cai looked at his thin, pale, bloodless face. Though he hadn’t died, his vital energy was severely damaged. He could only stay conscious for half an hour each day, would be bedridden for life, unable to face wind or light. How was this any different from death?

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

Steward Cai hurriedly helped him sit up against the pillows, then took a jade hairpin from the bedside to gather up his flowing black hair that cascaded like a waterfall.

“There’s nothing much worth seeing in this world anyway. Without seeing, I still know how things change. Half an hour is enough for me,” Xie Yanfang continued, smiling at Steward Cai. “But death would not do.”

He paused for a moment.

“At least not now. Wait a while longer, until A-Yu and Yanlai are both faring well.”

He looked at his palm.

“By then, even if I die, the world will still be as I wish it to be.”

Steward Cai picked up the medicine bowl and fed him, saying: “Are you leaving the Xie family to Xie Yanlai? He deeply hates the Xie clan. Even if you give him supreme honor, he won’t resolve his hatred.”

“I don’t need him to resolve it,” Xie Yanfang said. “He hates the current Xie family, so let him create a Xie family he likes. No matter what, it’s still the Xie family.”

Steward Cai said, “I understand your meaning. Don’t treat him as a person, but as a tool. As long as he’s useful, that’s enough.” At this point, his expression turned resentful. “But a tool should stay where a tool belongs, not suddenly transform and start ordering people around. All this is because—”

“That slut Chu Zhao dared to try killing the Young Master.”

He knew this young woman wasn’t as fragile as she appeared, that she was power-hungry and vicious. He also knew both sides would eventually turn against each other, but he hadn’t expected it so soon, nor that she would make the first move.

After he spoke these words, the room fell silent.

Xie Yanfang didn’t respond, but took the medicine bowl from his hands and drank the remaining half bowl.

After finishing, he licked his lips, as if savoring it, until he noticed Steward Cai’s gaze.

“Is the Young Master not pleased anymore?” Steward Cai snorted. “Not praising her anymore?”

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

Who would have thought she was an ungrateful wretch!

Xie Yanfang smiled: “I still praise her. Her attempt to kill me was well done, even better than I imagined.”

In the past, when people and events unfolded as he had predicted and desired, he would be very pleased.

At this point, his smile faded.

“But this time, I’m not happy.”

Indeed, although Chu Zhao had been defeated and fled, she had forced the Young Master to harm himself. This was a significant setback. Despite the Young Master’s magnanimity, he couldn’t be happy about everything.

Steward Cai sighed, bringing over a plate of preserved fruits, and gently urged: “The medicine is bitter. Have something sweet.”

The Young Master had suffered.

The Young Master had never suffered like this from childhood to adulthood.

Xie Yanfang didn’t refuse, taking a piece and putting it in his mouth. In truth, he could no longer taste bitterness or sweetness.

“Don’t mind Yanlai at all. Let him do as he pleases,” he said. “His willingness to stay isn’t for wealth and glory, nor to take over the Xie clan. It’s all for Chu Zhao. This empire—Chu Zhao can’t have it, I can’t have it, so it would fall into others’ hands.”

To resolve future troubles for Chu Zhao and protect her loved ones and her life’s work, Xie Yanlai trusted no one but himself.

So at that moment, he decisively turned himself into a cripple, ensuring that Xie Yanlai couldn’t leave.

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

In this world, no one can have everything their way.

Xie Yanfang lowered his eyes and said: “As long as the empire is secured, the Xie clan will be fine. So there’s no need to worry about his actions.”

Steward Cai acknowledged with a “yes,” then said: “Let me tell the Young Master about recent events.”

Xie Yanfang reclined and listened to Steward Cai talk, mostly responding with a simple “mm” to indicate understanding, without saying much. At some point, even the “mm” was no longer heard. Steward Cai looked up to see that Xie Yanfang had closed his eyes.

“Young Master?” he called softly.

Xie Yanfang didn’t respond.

The Young Master’s conscious time had ended. With a sorrowful expression, Steward Cai gently helped Xie Yanfang lie down, removed the jade hairpin, tucked in the blanket, and lowered the bed curtains.

The dim lamp flickered, silent and still.

……

……

In the main chamber of the Xie residence, the lamps burned brightly.

“The Young Master has returned.”

“Young Master, have some hot tea quickly.”

“Young Master, let this servant wipe your hands.”

Maids gathered around Xie Yanlai, removing his outer robe, wiping his hands, and washing his face. After he freshened up, a late-night meal was promptly served. Xie Yanlai sat on a couch by the window while the maids added dishes and rice.

“These are all the Young Master’s favorites.”

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

Xie Yanlai had been smiling and listening, but upon hearing this, he put down his chopsticks and said: “You may all leave.”

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

They ceased their laughter and withdrew.

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

That maid looked uneasy: “I just wanted to say the Young Master has had a hard time with social engagements outside.” She also felt somewhat wronged. “The Young Master is very picky about food. In the past, he always said he couldn’t get used to eating elsewhere.”

Another maid sighed softly: “In the past, he couldn’t get used to it because he had nowhere to go. Everywhere was the same to him. But now, the Young Master has found a place he wants to be, so his tastes have changed.”

“It’s not just his taste that’s changed. Though he wears a smile, he doesn’t joke with us anymore,” another maid murmured.

The Yanlai Young Master they knew was gone.

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

Xie Yanlai sat at the table, focusing on his meal.

Someone quietly entered and said: “Young Master.”

Xie Yanlai glanced at this man dressed as a guard. He was one of the guards in his courtyard, though Xie Yanlai didn’t care who was who.

The man quickly said: “Zhang Gu sent me.”

Hearing this name, Xie Yanlai picked up his wine cup and asked: “What’s the matter?”

The man said: “Zhang Gu asked me to tell the Young Master that Miss A-Fu is doing well and has arrived home. Zhong Changrong has also been sent there. Everyone is safe and sound.”

Xie Yanlai responded with a sound of acknowledgment.

Having delivered his message as instructed, the man quietly began to withdraw. 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 was momentarily surprised, then quickly responded affirmatively and left.

Xie Yanlai drained his wine in one gulp, a smile spreading across his face, emanating from his eyes, making them sparkle brilliantly.

“I told you that you have good fortune, but you wouldn’t believe it,” he said, reaching up to touch his chin. “Had to bite me.”

He hissed a couple of times, as if the wound still hurt.

……

……

It seemed that in the blink of an eye, the autumn winds had turned to winter chill.

The cold winds from the northwest first whirled dried grass around, and then the dried grass transformed into snow particles.

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

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

Chu Zhao looked over to see Xiao Man coming out of the kitchen, carrying a basket, glaring at her.

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

Chu Zhao smiled and obediently put her hood back on.

Whether the hood was too large or her face too small, once on, it covered most of her face, leaving only a pair of blinking eyes visible. Though the cloak she wore was thick, wrapped around her body, she still looked frail, as if the next gust of wind might blow her away.

Xiao Man looked at her while holding the basket. Previously, whether leading troops into battle or dealing with officials at court, although she would become tired and thin, she had never appeared this frail.

The poison had damaged her body, and that incident had wounded her spirit.

“It’s time to eat. Come inside quickly,” she said loudly, carrying the basket and marching towards the house. “I’ve made the stewed lamb you wanted. If you don’t eat a lot, I won’t let you off.”

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

As she spoke, there came a commotion from the neighboring courtyard. A group of children, large and small, poured out of a room like chickens and ducks released from a cage.

“Class is over,” Chu Zhao perked up, enthusiastically waving. “Come to my house for dinner!”

The children looked over. Some were shy, some hesitant, and some shouted, “Thank you, Sister A-Fu!” “We’re not eating!” Then they noisily ran off.

Chu Zhao watched them with a smile, noticing from the corner of her eye that someone else had emerged.

“Teacher Zhu,” she smiled. “Would you like to come to my house for dinner? We have stewed lamb.”

Deng Yi glanced at her and said: “No need. We have food at home too.”

Chu Zhao was about to say something more when Xiao Man impatiently called from inside, “Come in quickly!” So she smiled at Deng Yi, turned, and walked inside. She heard Deng Yi’s servant also running out to call him for dinner, having heard her invitation, and the servant seemed quite pleased.

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

Deng Yi glared at him, ordering: “Say less.” Then he looked at the girl.

The girl seemed not to have heard, stepping over the threshold and disappearing from view.