“The Crossing the Yangtze Campaign lasted 42 days, capturing major cities like Nanjing, Shanghai, and Wuhan, as well as the entire territories of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, most of Zhejiang province, and parts of Jiangxi, Hubei, and Fujian provinces. This created important conditions for the subsequent liberation of the entire East China region and the advance toward South and Southwest China.”

The evening sunlight shone on the courtyard, with fiery clouds burning red at the horizon, casting a crimson glow across the ground. Even the old banyan tree was bathed in a layer of red light.

It was already June, and the weather was getting hotter. Even though this house was adjacent to Jialing Lake, it was still difficult to dispel the day’s heat.

“Alright, my throat is parched from all this talking. You children are always pestering the Young Miss.”

Mei Xiang came out carrying a blue-and-white porcelain basin, wearing a cool, comfortable dress with sleeves rolled up to her arms. As she walked, she called out, “Ice-cold sour plum soup! Who wants some?”

Upon hearing this, Jing Jing immediately clapped her hands joyfully and jumped up, exclaiming, “Oh! We have sour plum soup to drink!” She quickly ran to the kitchen to help bring bowls and spoons.

“Young Miss, I chilled it with ice blocks from the cellar. It’s very refreshing; please try some.”

After leaving Tang Capital, Chu Qiao no longer lets Mei Xiang call her “Master.” She originally wanted them to address each other as sisters, but Mei Xiang refused, so she reluctantly accepted the somewhat awkward title of “Young Miss.”

The evening sunlight was exceptionally warm. Chu Qiao didn’t mind the heat as much as Mei Xiang and the others did. Compared to the summers of the twenty-first century, this was at most like spring or autumn. Nevertheless, Mei Xiang’s sour plum soup was indeed a delicacy not to be missed.

“Sister, wasn’t there something called airplanes in that place? Why didn’t they just fly across? Why did they have to use small boats to cross the river?”

A butterfly flew by, circling the clivia in the small garden. Chu Qiao sat under the banyan tree wearing a light blue floral jacket with a cream-colored skirt, looking simple and relaxed. While drinking her soup, she said, “Duo Ji, explain it to Ping An.”

Duo Ji frowned in thought, then put down his bowl and said in a very mature manner, “I think that airplanes must have been rare and precious things. Marshal Jiang had the support of Western powers and had an air force. Marshal Mao, without foreign support and constantly at war, had no fixed major cities as bases. Normally, his military equipment was underdeveloped, so he probably didn’t have airplanes or his air force.”

Chu Qiao drank down a mouthful of the sour plum soup, feeling a refreshing coolness penetrate her heart and lungs. She smiled and said, “Duo Ji is quite right. The social productivity at that time was underdeveloped, and Marshal Mao didn’t have his own air force. This was one important reason for the significant casualties suffered in the early stages of the war.”

Ping An suddenly shook his head and exclaimed, “Sister, this China you speak of sounds incredible, just like a mythical story! They could fly in the sky and had cannons that could destroy a house with one shot. If they came to attack us in Xi Meng, they might only need to deploy one artillery regiment to defeat us all. Neither the Great Xia Iron Army nor the Yan Bei Black Hawk Army would be a match for them.”

“Sister already said it’s just a story,” Jing Jing’s little mouth was bright red as she drank her soup and said, “How could there be such frightening things in this world?”

Chu Qiao remained silent, merely smiling quietly. Mei Xiang poured her another bowl, but she couldn’t drink anymore. She just held it in her hands, enjoying the cool sensation spreading from her fingertips throughout her body.

“That’s not necessarily true.”

Duo Ji shook his head, appearing somewhat puzzled as he said, “Three hundred years ago, we in Xi Meng had no large ships, and there were no naval battles in our coastal territories. But now, our merchant fleets can sail to distant foreign countries. And regarding iron tools, five hundred years ago, our ancestors were still fighting with bronze weapons, and swords were very fragile. How could people back then have imagined that today we would be able to forge three-foot-long iron swords? Not to mention paper and textiles—people used to carve on stone and make book scrolls with bamboo slips, and used animal hides for clothing. But now? So, technology continuously develops. Perhaps after several hundred or thousand years, there really will be airplanes that can fly in the sky and cannons that can destroy a house in an instant. Who knows?”

Hearing this, Chu Qiao was immediately delighted and looked at Duo Ji with admiration, smiling as she said, “Duo Ji thinks more deeply than the rest.”

Although Duo Ji usually behaved like a little adult, when facing Chu Qiao, he became somewhat shy. He scratched the back of his head, grinning awkwardly, and said, “Young Miss, there are a few points I’m confused about.”

Chu Qiao looked at him with interest: “Tell me.”

“First, I think the principle of those cannons is similar to the firebombs you made in Yan Bei years ago, and also similar to the firecrackers we buy in the market. I wonder if there’s any relationship between them?”

Chu Qiao felt increasingly pleased. She nodded and smiled, “Duo Ji is very attentive. Indeed, there are commonalities. Firecrackers are the most basic form of gunpowder devices, and firebombs are similar, though they use the force of exploding ice shards to increase their power. To reach the level of cannons would require more advanced and precise technology. With the current iron-forging technology, it would be very difficult to achieve.”

Ping An and Jing Jing listened as if they understood, nodding along even though they didn’t comprehend. Duo Ji, however, thought silently for a while, then frowned and said, “The weapons Young Miss describes don’t seem like made-up stories. They should all follow logical principles, though I can’t quite understand how they work right now.”

He frowned, looking like a little old man with a world of troubles.

Suddenly he asked, “Young Miss, yesterday you asked us to think about the reasons for Marshal Jiang’s failure and Marshal Mao’s success. I’ve thought of some reasons, but I don’t know if they’re correct?”

Chu Qiao encouraged him: “Tell me what you think.”

Duo Ji thought silently for a long time, seeming very hesitant. After gathering his courage, he finally said, “I believe the main reason for Marshal Mao’s victory lies in the support of the people.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ping An immediately objected, “No, no, I think Marshal Jiang was just too foolish. His subordinates all had their agendas, and his many troops were fragmented. In the end, they all betrayed him, otherwise he wouldn’t have lost.”

Chu Qiao turned to look at Ping An and quietly asked, “Have you thought about why Marshal Jiang’s subordinates betrayed him?”

“Because,” Ping An hesitated slightly. He initially wanted to say Marshal Jiang was too foolish, but then realized that wasn’t quite right. After mumbling for a while, he said, “Because Marshal Mao’s forces grew stronger, and they became afraid, so they betrayed him.”

“But why did Marshal Mao’s forces grow stronger? Remember, at the beginning of the war, the disparity in their numbers and military equipment was enormous.”

Ping An was immediately at a loss for words. He scratched his head for a long time but couldn’t come up with a reason.

Duo Ji continued from the side, “I think Marshal Mao did several things very wisely.”

He analyzed very seriously: “Marshal Mao’s battle strategy was extremely clever. In the early stages of the war, he abandoned the cities and moved into rural areas, implementing land reform and distributing land to the common people. By doing this, the people naturally supported him and hoped he would become emperor. They all came to join his army, so his forces grew while Marshal Jiang’s diminished. Even though his weapons and equipment were inferior, with more people came greater strength, and over time, he naturally gained the advantage. Moreover, Marshal Mao’s army maintained strict discipline, never harming civilians, and remained united with a common purpose. In contrast, Marshal Jiang’s subordinates represented the corrupt officials, had poor military discipline, ruled chaotically, fought for power among themselves, and were disloyal. Such an army might have some advantage in the early stages of war due to advanced equipment and numbers, but as the war progressed, they were bound to fail eventually.”

After finishing, Duo Ji noticed Chu Qiao hadn’t spoken and became worried, thinking he might have said something wrong. He quickly added, “I believe the confrontation between these two armies was a clash of ideologies and forces—one representing the aristocratic official class, the other the common people’s class, just like the conflict between the Da Tong Guild and His Majesty the Yan King.”

As soon as he said this, he realized he had misspoken. Mei Xiang, who had been peeling lotus seeds, immediately turned her head to give him a warning glance.

However, Ping An hadn’t caught on and continued, “Then why did Mr. Wu and the others lose?”

Chu Qiao looked at Duo Ji, somewhat dazed. She had always known this child was intelligent, but she hadn’t expected him to be so insightful—she had merely told him a story, yet he could immediately see through to the essence of the war. She nodded in surprise and said to Duo Ji, “Although not comprehensive, the fact that you could pinpoint this aspect so accurately is already quite remarkable.”

She showed no concern about Duo Ji’s mention of Yan Xun and instead earnestly explained, “Various tactics and battle philosophies must align with the circumstances and productivity of their time. The Da Tong Guild was not comparable to Marshal Mao’s military regime. Da Tong lacked firm leadership organization, comprehensive internal systems, clear political ideology, and superior military skills and war strategies. Moreover, Yan Bei differs from Huaxia. Not only is productivity low, but it has not experienced a complete invasion by foreign powers. Its internal political and social systems have not completely collapsed and still operate under the original social structure. Furthermore, the people lack enlightenment, don’t understand the concept of revolution, and don’t know how to stand up against the oppression above them. Naturally, they wouldn’t fully support the army. Duo Ji spoke well—the war in the story, on the surface, was a battle for leadership, but in reality, it was a clash of ideologies. In Yan Bei, the concept of freedom hadn’t even reached the ears of the common people, so how could Da Tong leverage the people’s power against the Yan King? Therefore, the outcome of failure was predetermined.”

The three nodded repeatedly, though Jing Jing and Ping An probably didn’t understand what she was saying at all.

Duo Ji thought carefully for a long time, seemingly trying to memorize everything Chu Qiao had said. After a while, he suddenly looked dejected and said with a downcast face, “Young Miss, from what you’re saying, that kind of system is completely unsuitable for our current society?”

“Yes.”

“Then everything I’ve been thinking about is just an illusion.”

Seeing the child’s dejection, Chu Qiao smiled gently and said kindly, “Not entirely. The transmission of ideas doesn’t happen overnight. Everything needs a guide. Today, you might not be able to mobilize everyone in the world to accomplish this with you, but you can try to influence some people, gradually spreading these ideas like sparks that, one day, will grow into a prairie fire.”

Duo Ji was slightly stunned, then suddenly asked, “Young Miss, could what you’ve said be written into a book?”

Chu Qiao smiled and patted the child’s head, saying, “This child can be taught.”

Duo Ji cheered happily, a rare childlike gesture for him. He excitedly said, “I understand now. A thorough revolution uses ideology as its medium. Revolution needs a theoretical ground. For society to progress, it first needs people who can transmit ideas.”

Mei Xiang came forward and handed him a bowl of sour plum soup, frowning as she said, “Look how excited you are, all sweaty. Stop worrying about transmitting ideas for now and drink my soup first. If it gets warm, all my efforts will be wasted.”

Everyone laughed at this remark. Duo Ji’s handsome face flushed slightly as he sat down sheepishly.

The sky gradually darkened, and Chu Qiao returned to her room. After the children played for a while longer, they also went to bed.

It started drizzling in the night. Chu Qiao leaned by the window, watching the continuous rain threads outside. She noticed that the light in Duo Ji’s room was still on and couldn’t help but smile.

In the blink of an eye, a year and a half had passed.

After leaving Tang Capital that day, they hadn’t gone far before being caught up by these children who also lived at Mi He Residence. With no alternative, she had to take them along.

Because she had children with her, Chu Qiao abandoned her dream of wandering and instead settled in a relatively quiet, scenic small town in southern Bian Tang. The climate here was mild, life was peaceful, and because it was close to Bian Tang’s imperial tomb at Mei Mountain, security had always been good with few bandits.

Moreover, this place was the hometown of Bian Tang’s great scholar, Master Shen Mo Bai. The Shen family’s ancestral home was also here, so the academic atmosphere was very rich. Often, students preparing for the imperial examinations would come to visit Master Shen and tour the mountains and historical sites of this small town.

Over time, the town came to be known as Scholar City.

After arriving with the group, Chu Qiao bought a lakeside inn to run.

First, to avoid drawing attention—after all, a single woman with a maid and three children living idly would be quite conspicuous. Second, she truly wanted to find something to do; it would be boring to simply eat and sleep all day.

Although she hadn’t come to make money, due to Chu Qiao’s novel management system and excellent hygiene standards, plus the advantageous location, this “Scholar’s Inn” gradually gained a reputation locally. Travelers to the area would make it their first choice, and during the spring and autumn examination periods, it was always fully booked, with business flourishing.

Time flew by. One morning while combing her hair, Chu Qiao suddenly discovered a strand of silver at her temple. Mei Xiang grumbled that it was because she didn’t eat or sleep properly. Chu Qiao smiled faintly, but turning her head, she noticed several silver strands on the other side as well.

This body was aging unstoppably. Although she was only twenty-one, years of traveling and fighting, repeatedly drifting in ice and snow, and the hardships suffered in her youth had prematurely afflicted her young body with many ailments. Those old injuries would ache to the bone during rainy weather, her knees and other joints felt as if filled with snow, always cold. Fine crow’s feet had appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her energy was deteriorating; even slight exertion would leave her exhausted and sleepy.

She had become a medicine pot as if every part of her body had problems. Colds and fevers visited her almost monthly. Many times, lying in bed, enduring the torment of illness, she would doubt whether this body was still hers. She felt like a tattered puppet about to fall apart.

Fortunately, life had finally become peaceful. No more bloody wars, no more cruel deaths, no more mysterious and unpredictable schemes. Her heart had finally calmed, like a lake, undisturbed by ripples.

In this past year and more, she rarely inquired about the outside situation. But because she ran an inn with people coming and going, and because the children were interested, she would still hear various kinds of news.

For instance, the marriage between the Fourth Young Master of the Zhuge family and the Princess Imperial of Huai Song. It was said that after returning to Great Xia, Zhuge Yue readily agreed to this marriage. However, just as the Great Xia officials were celebrating, the young Master Zhuge presented a marriage certificate, declaring that he already had a legitimate wife in Qinghai. Adhering to the ancestral precept of never abandoning a wife who had shared hardship, the Nalanran Princess Imperial could only be a concubine if she married him, with the possibility of becoming a secondary wife if she bore children.

This truly caused a huge commotion. The Huai Song envoy was instantly furious, but this event that would have caused massive waves in Xi Meng settled peacefully under Zhuge Yue’s skillful political maneuvering, sinking like a stone into the water without even raising a bubble.

Then there was the news of Seventh Prince Zhao Che returning from the northern frontier with the full support of Grand Marshal Zhuge, bringing back more than 500,000 elite northern cavalry and expanding the vast territories at the border, quelling frontier rebellions. He coordinated closely with Zhuge Yue, supporting each other, breaking Zhao Yang’s political monopoly and establishing an equal footing in the Great Xia court.

Life in Yan Bei wasn’t going so well. Bian Tang had closed the southern waterways, cutting off economic exchanges between Yan Bei and Huai Song. Yet Yan Bei could not temporarily wage war against Bian Tang again, as the two-pronged attack from Qinghai and Great Xia was already causing Yan Bei considerable distress.

Fortunately, Zhao Yang was currently busy competing for power with Zhao Che, so the military investment at Yan Ming Pass was far less than before. In the past year and a half, there had only been one large-scale attack campaign, but after staying at Long Yin Pass for just two days, they sounded the retreat—a performative display full of empty gestures.

The situation was unpredictable and complex.

Zhao Yang surely understood that without the threat of Yan Bei, Zhuge Yue’s Qinghai army would directly cross Long Yin Pass and march into the Great Xia capital. At that time, his southwestern army alone would be unable to contend with both Zhao Che and Zhuge Yue.

So, to some extent, he had become an ally of Yan Xun.

The ways of the world were truly unfathomable.

However, what the scholars and poets most enthusiastically discussed was Yan Bei King Yan Xun’s extravagant wedding.

During the New Year a year ago, Yan Xun held a grand wedding at Shuo Fang Palace, taking eighteen daughters of important ministers as consorts all at once, conducting major construction at the back of Shuo Fang Palace to expand the harem. The wedding feast lasted for eighteen days, with people from all over Yan Bei taking turns to visit Shuo Fang to pay homage—an unprecedented spectacle that left people in awe.

On the second day after the wedding, the Nada Palace on Sunset Mountain was finally completed. Those fortunate enough to visit Yan Bei and see that palace would describe the marvel they witnessed hundreds of times. Scholars and poets wrote volumes of poetry and prose praising the beauty of that palace.

It was said that the Nada Palace on Sunset Mountain was built in mid-air, embedded into the cliff face. It featured hot spring fountains that flowed upward, colorful gardens floating in the air, rivers of fragrant wine that could be smelled from ten miles away, and golden carvings and silver walls as dazzling as the sun. It was a building that seemed like a divine miracle; even the Jinwu Palace of Bian Tang with its thousand-year history could not compare in the slightest.

Everyone in the world knew that this palace was once built by the Yan King for his beloved, General Xiuli. However, since the general and the Yan King had their falling out at Huo Lei Yuan four years ago, this legendary woman—who had risen from slavery and repeatedly caused the Yan King of Yan Bei, the Military Minister of Great Xia, and the Grand Emperor of Bian Tang to launch wars between the three countries—had completely vanished, withdrawing from Xi Meng’s political landscape.

Some said she had married into the Bian Tang royal family, changing her name to accompany the Grand Emperor of Bian Tang. Others said she was the wife that Zhuge Yue, the Military Minister of Great Xia, had claimed, and was currently still leading troops in Qinghai. Still, others said she had returned to Yan Bei and now lived in that magnificent Nada Palace.

However, all these rumors were mere speculation. No one would know that the legendary woman was now running a small inn in a small town in southern Bian Tang, taking walks by Jialing Lake morning and evening, and passing time chatting with old men playing chess.

Life had suddenly become simple. There were many things she no longer wished to think about, but sometimes she would still recall the story she had told the young man many years ago in that dilapidated courtyard.

“The king built a sky pavilion for the woman he loved. It had hot spring fountains that flowed upward, colorful gardens floating in the air, rivers of fragrant wine that could be smelled from ten miles away, and golden carvings and silver walls as dazzling as the sun. That sky garden eventually became a world-renowned heritage site, symbolizing the king’s unchanging love for his beloved.”

Half a lifetime had drifted by. Some stayed, and some passed through. Some forgot their origins, while others couldn’t find their way forward. Even if there was occasionally a trace of reminiscence in memories, how could it recover the friendship that had already been lost?

Rain struck the banana leaves outside the window, marking another sleepless night.

Chu Qiao finally fell asleep at dawn and woke up when the sun was already high. Mei Xiang was now the inn’s manager and always busy. Old Mrs. Wu, who usually cooked and cleaned, was absent today as her son was getting married.

Opening the window, she saw a clear, bright day with a blue sky without a trace of clouds. Two orioles perched on the banyan tree in the courtyard, chirping.

Chu Qiao wore a moon-white cross-collared blouse and a light purple floral long skirt. Her hair was loosely pinned up, giving her a fresh and elegant appearance. As she opened the door, she saw Duo Ji sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, bent over writing something. Jing Jing sat beside him, fanning herself, struggling to stay awake with her eyes barely open. Ping An, as usual, was not at home, who knew where he had gone off to play?

Duo Ji was now eighteen years old, tall and handsome. He didn’t look like someone from the Yan Bei grasslands but rather like a scholarly young man from the south, steeped in literary tradition. In this era, he was already of an age to marry and have children.

Jing Jing was now fifteen years old. The little girl’s heart was as clear as day, following behind him all day like a little shadow.

“Sister!”

Hearing the sound, Jing Jing immediately opened her eyes and called out happily.

“Young Miss is awake.”

Duo Ji stood up, quickly putting away the things on the stone table, stepping back somewhat embarrassedly.

Chu Qiao knew what he was doing but didn’t expose him. She simply walked over and straightened his slightly disheveled collar, frowning as she said, “Scholarship isn’t accomplished in a day or two. What time did you sleep last night, and yet you’re up so early today?”

Duo Ji was a bit embarrassed. The eighteen-year-old young man lowered his head like a child, with dark circles under his eyes making him look like a giant panda from lack of sleep.

“Exactly!”

Jing Jing followed with her complaint: “Every day he just sits here writing and writing, never taking me out to play.”

“Jing Jing! Duo Ji!”

Ping An called out as he rushed into the courtyard. Seeing Chu Qiao, his face lit up with joy as he said, “Sister, today is the Lotus Festival. It’s so lively outside! The lotuses at Spring Lotus Pond all bloomed overnight. Don’t you want to go see them?”

Upon hearing this, Jing Jing immediately brightened up, her face full of excitement. But when she turned to look at Duo Ji, she saw that he didn’t seem very interested, obviously not keen on going.

Seeing this, Chu Qiao smiled lightly and said, “Alright, let’s go join in the festivities.”

Hearing this, Duo Ji frowned and said, “The streets must be very crowded, and Young Miss’s health is not good.”

“Duo Ji! Sister rarely wants to go out for some fresh air, don’t spoil the mood.”

Jing Jing pushed his arm, pouting as she spoke.

Duo Ji reluctantly said, “Then Young Miss, please wait a moment. I’ll change my clothes and go with you.”

Jing Jing and Ping An happily clapped their hands together, still like two children who hadn’t grown up.

The four of them soon left the house. Duo Ji changed into a moon-white scholar’s robe, looking handsome and elegant, quite dashing.

He held a bamboo umbrella over Chu Qiao’s head to shield her from the sun, and the two of them walking together looked like figures from a painting. Jing Jing carried a small basket containing cold tea and pastries, like a little maid.

She frowned as she looked at Duo Ji and Chu Qiao, then suddenly said loudly, “Sister, I’m not going to wear double buns anymore.”

The group was walking when they suddenly heard her say this, and they all paused in surprise.

“Double buns make me look like a child. I’m already fifteen, and I should grow up.”

Chu Qiao couldn’t help but smile, knowing exactly what was on her mind. She smiled gently and said, “Indeed, Jing Jing has grown up and is ready for marriage.”

Ping An turned back and made a ‘pei’ sound, rubbing his face with his index finger, saying, “Shameless.”

The two children immediately started quarreling, running ahead frenetically.

It was the perfect season, and all the lotus flowers in Spring Lotus Pond had bloomed, creating a scene of pink, white, and emerald green. As the breeze passed, a subtle fragrance drifted through the air, sweet and intoxicating. Miles of lotus flowers reflected in the blue sky and clear water, with misty pavilions and faint red shadows, creating a beautiful expanse of blue waves.

Chu Qiao was in an exceptionally good mood today and decided to rent a boat. Jing Jing and Ping An were delighted to agree, and Duo Ji didn’t want to dampen Chu Qiao’s spirits. The four boarded the boat, and Duo Ji stood at the stern, pushing hard. The small boat gradually left the shore, heading into the lotus leaves that stretched as far as the eye could see.

The flowing water swayed gently. Jing Jing sat at the bow, happily parting the lotus leaves with her hands. Where the small boat passed, duckweed scattered, then closed again after the boat had gone. The clear water rippled softly, and the group’s scattered conversations drifted into the breeze, sweeping past tingling earlobes along with fluttering strands of hair.

Ping An gathered lotus pods by the handful. Although he didn’t particularly like lotus seeds, he busied himself as if collecting treasure. Before long, the boat was full of green lotus pods.

Chu Qiao’s mood lightened. Taking a deep breath, she felt the impurities in her lungs expelled with her exhale, and her body felt somewhat lighter.

“Ah! There’s a fish!”

Jing Jing suddenly called out excitedly. Ping An quickly leaned over to look. With a splash, a red koi leaped out of the water, arcing through the air and splashing water on all their faces.

Duo Ji turned back, watching the two playing and laughing at the bow, and smiled slightly. He gently rowed the boat, his tall figure reflected in the lake water, his clothes billowing, wide sleeves fluttering, his demeanor relaxed—already the image of a graceful young gentleman.

Chu Qiao looked at him and smiled warmly.

They had all grown up; only she still treated them like children.

“Duo Ji, you’ve been away for almost two years now. Don’t you want to go back home for a visit?”

Duo Ji was slightly startled by her question, then smiled somewhat unnaturally and said, “Perhaps in a little while.”

Chu Qiao nodded thoughtfully and said, “That’s true. With the complex border conflicts now, traveling is indeed inconvenient.”

“Yes,” Duo Ji nodded and said, “There’s no fighting in the interior of Yan Bei. My parents have lived at the foot of Huihui Mountain for decades, always safe and sound, so I’m not worried about them. But Young Miss is living here with Ping An and the others alone. If I were to leave as well, how could I be at ease?”

Chu Qiao was taken aback and couldn’t help but smile, “What are you so concerned about regarding us?”

Duo Ji shook his head, not explaining the reason, only murmuring, “I just can’t be at ease.”

“Haha, I got it!”

Suddenly, Jing Jing laughed joyfully, picking a pink lotus flower with a full bloom and standing up, turning to Chu Qiao and saying, “Sister, isn’t it beautiful?”

As she spoke, she started to run toward them.

Chu Qiao was startled and quickly called out, “Jing Jing, be careful!”

But as soon as the words left her mouth, the small boat tilted sharply.

“Jing Jing, sit down!”

Ping An shouted, and the boat rocked even more violently. Jing Jing cried out in panic. At this moment, the boat suddenly tipped to one side. Duo Ji immediately let go of the oar and lunged toward Chu Qiao, grabbing her firmly. On the other side, there was a splash, and Jing Jing finally fell into the lake.

“Boom!”

Snow-white water splashed up, and Ping An immediately jumped into the lake after her, grabbing Jing Jing in one go.

“Ping An, swim over here.”

Duo Ji extended his hand, and together with Ping An, they pulled the pale-faced Jing Jing back onto the boat. The little girl was frightened white, shivering as she leaned into Chu Qiao’s embrace, biting her lip and unable to recover for a long while.

“So stupid!”

Ping An scolded.

Hearing this, Jing Jing’s lips quivered, and she began to cry.

“Ping An, enough.”

Duo Ji reprimanded him, “Jing Jing is still young.”

Chu Qiao patted Jing Jing’s back and smiled, saying, “Silly girl, don’t you know how to swim? Why are you crying?”

Jing Jing was stunned by her words, even forgetting to cry. After a moment, she suddenly smiled sheepishly and said, “I forgot.”

Ping An couldn’t bear it and shouted, “So stupid, so stupid!”

Fortunately, summer clothes were thin, and after rowing around the lake for a while, they were almost dry. However, after this commotion, everyone had lost interest. They went ashore and decided to head home.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they reached the shore, five or six thuggish-looking men in their twenties suddenly approached. As they passed by Chu Qiao, one of them suddenly grew bold and reached out to touch her cheek.

With Chu Qiao’s skills, how could she easily allow him to succeed? Her body deftly shifted, causing the man to grasp at empty air.

“Oh?” The man was wearing a pink and white scholar’s robe, but his tone was extremely flirtatious. He smiled at the others and said, “This young lady is quite slippery!”

Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

Chu Qiao slightly frowned, then saw Jing Jing suddenly step forward, angrily saying, “Shameless! Are you looking for death?”

The man hadn’t noticed Jing Jing before, but now seeing a younger girl jump out, he was even more delighted. He laughed loudly and said, “This one’s complexion is not bad either. Although she’s a bit young, she’s still quite fresh.”

“Sister?”

Ping An’s face was red with anger as he turned to look at her.

Chu Qiao sighed helplessly and said in a stern voice, “Be careful, don’t make a scene.”

Ping An immediately cheered and, before the men opposite could react, pounced like a little tiger.

With a “crack,” intense pain hit the young man, who flew backward like a sandbag, his chest heavily struck.

Seeing her brother take action, Jing Jing threw away the small basket in her hand and also charged forward. There were more than ten guards and servants behind the men, who rushed forward when they saw their masters being attacked. Jing Jing spun around with a sweeping kick, knocking down two people. She grabbed the arms of one man, locked them, then performed a shoulder throw. When the arm dislocated, a scream like a slaughtered pig rang out.

Ping An kicked one man in the waist, leaped up with a hiking step, and locked his legs around another man’s chin. With a crack, the man flew up and fell to the ground like a dead dog.

More and more people gathered. Jing Jing, fighting for the first time, gradually became overwhelmed. Fortunately, Ping An’s movements were agile and unstoppable, kicking and charging through. In a short while, five or six people had fallen and lost the ability to fight.

At this moment, someone noticed Chu Qiao and Duo Ji standing to the side observing the battle and sneakily approached, hoping to take advantage. However, before they could get close, a blur suddenly flashed before their eyes!

Strike! Lock! Grip the wrist!

Duo Ji stood quietly in place, his clothes fluttering, not even changing his stance. The sound of breaking bones suddenly rang out. With a pull and a push of the wrist, the strong man immediately crumpled to the ground, his hand bones bent at an odd angle, letting out a heart-wrenching scream.

“Ya!”

A delicate shout rang out as Jing Jing executed a perfect airborne sidekick. A man who was attacking Ping An was kicked squarely, immediately stumbling and falling to the ground, unable to get up again.

As the last man fell, more than a dozen people lay sprawled across the small street, none able to get up unharmed.

Jing Jing proudly dusted off her hands, snorting, “Serves you right! Let this be a lesson—see if you dare to do bad things again.”

The watching crowd immediately burst into approving cheers. Ping An was extremely proud, but when he turned, he saw that Chu Qiao had already left with Duo Ji. He quickly pulled Jing Jing and followed.

People looked at the departing figures, leaving behind a wave of admiration.

Under the willows by the lake shore, a young gentleman in his mid-twenties, dressed in a moon-white robe, quietly gazed in the direction they had gone, his gaze distant, lingering for a long time.

Upon returning home, they found Mei Xiang standing at the door, anxiously looking around. Seeing the four of them, she immediately ran up, muttering a long stream of nagging.

Duo Ji animatedly reported their day’s exploits to her, frightening Mei Xiang so much that her pretty face turned alternately white and red, as she cried out that Ping An and Jing Jing were nothing but trouble-makers.

Dinner consisted of four dishes and a soup, both meat and vegetables. The group sat around together. With Mrs. Wu absent, Mei Xiang rarely cooked. Chu Qiao was forced to eat an extra bowl of rice before they would let her be.

In the evening, they sat under the tree to enjoy the cool air. Chu Qiao was tired today and listened inattentively, not joining in the conversation.

Mei Xiang, while embroidering, said, “There was a curious thing today. Old Flower Lady from East Street came to me as a matchmaker, saying she wanted to arrange a match with the only son of Mr. Song from the private school in South City. I refused outright.”

Hearing this, Jing Jing immediately laughed and said, “Haha, a toad wanting to eat swan meat! What kind of family are they to dare set their sights on Sister?”

Mei Xiang looked up at her curiously and said, “When did I say they were seeking to marry the Young Miss?”

“Ah? Could it be they had their eye on Sister Mei?”

Mei Xiang reached out and tapped Jing Jing’s head, saying, “Silly child, they were interested in you, coming to arrange a match for you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Jing Jing’s face immediately turned red. She quickly spat, “Bastards! Next time I meet Mr. Song’s son, I’ll break his legs!”

“It’s not bad that someone wants you; stop being so pretentious.”

Ping An was eating an apple, mumbling.

But Mei Xiang shook her head and said, “Actually, Mr. Song’s son is quite good. He has academic credentials and is usually refined and cultured. I heard he will take the major examination this autumn. But it’s not right for him to want to marry Jing Jing. Duo Ji is already eighteen this year. When Jing Jing reaches the coming-of-age ceremony next year, they should also prepare for their wedding.”

With these words, everyone was stunned. Jing Jing’s face grew even redder, but she just kept her head down without refuting as she had earlier.

Duo Ji, however, frowned slightly, saying somewhat uncomfortably, “Sister Mei, who said Jing Jing and I are to be married?”

Mei Xiang’s eyebrows knitted together as she said, “Does that even need to be said? Who doesn’t know?”

Duo Ji stood up, his expression displeased, and said, “I didn’t know.”

With that, he turned and went back to his room.

Everyone was stunned and didn’t know what to say, even Ping An standing with his mouth agape.

Jing Jing’s eyes turned red, and she suddenly stood up and ran to her room.

“Did I… did I say something wrong?”

Mei Xiang was dumbfounded and quickly got up to go to Jing Jing’s room.

“Sister, what’s going on?”

Chu Qiao opened her eyes, looking calmly at the empty courtyard without saying a word.

The night breeze was warm, and the cicadas’ calls rang out, making one’s heart troubled.

In the evening, someone gently knocked on Chu Qiao’s door. Chu Qiao hadn’t been sleeping, so she put on her clothes and opened the door to find Jing Jing standing there with a tear-stained face.

Seeing Chu Qiao, the little girl suddenly burst into tears and threw herself into Chu Qiao’s arms, deeply heartbroken.

Chu Qiao pulled her into the room and comforted her for a while, but Jing Jing continued to cry without speaking. After about an hour, she finally stopped, though still sobbing intermittently.

“Alright, don’t cry anymore. Duo Ji was just joking.”

Jing Jing stood up, wiping her tears and shaking her head, “It wasn’t a joke.”

Chu Qiao naturally understood but couldn’t bear to hurt her feelings and continued to comfort her, “Don’t overthink it.”

“I know.”

Jing Jing lowered her head and murmured, “Duo Ji doesn’t like me. The person Duo Ji likes is Sister.”

Chu Qiao was startled and frowned, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’m not talking nonsense.” Jing Jing raised her head, her small face barely the size of a palm, looking very pitiful. She stubbornly said, “I saw Duo Ji secretly drawing Sister’s portrait, hidden under his pillow.”

Chu Qiao’s frown deepened, and she remained silent for a long time.

“But I also know that Sister doesn’t like Duo Ji. The person Sister likes is the one who gave Sister the jade pendant.”

The little girl finished speaking, wiped away her tears, and walked out of the room. The moon outside the window was large and round, shining through the window, casting a bright white light.

A snow-white jade pendant lay quietly by the pillow, brilliantly radiant and smooth as jade.

It was a sleepless night. The next day, someone knocked on the gate of the small courtyard. A blue-robed page boy stood respectfully at the door, politely saying, “Is anyone home? My master requests to see you.”