Luoshen had just entered the room when Li Mu followed her inside—since their marriage, this was the first time such a scene had occurred.

It was unprecedented.

A’Ju had been about to help the young mistress remove her makeup and change clothes, but seeing Li Mu enter and looking at her like that, while the young mistress sat at the dressing table as if no one else was there, removing the hair ornaments from her coiffure, she hesitated for a moment. Finally, not daring to openly disobey, she signaled the maids with her eyes, and several people left the room.

The door was closed. Li Mu came to stand behind Luoshen, watching her raise both arms, her slender white hands removing a golden phoenix hairpin adorned with hanging pearls that was slanted at her temple.

The wide sleeves embroidered with an intricate persimmon calyx pattern slid down with her arm-raising motion, bunching at her elbows. Her two snow-white lotus arms, usually concealed, were now exposed, smooth and gleaming. Her wrists wore two delicate gold wire bracelets that fit snugly against her jade-like wrists, gently swaying with her movements, her skin radiating brilliance.

Li Mu raised his gaze and said to Luoshen’s reflection in the mirror: “Today I promised to fetch you at the hour of shen, but I was late. I truly broke my word. Please don’t blame me…”

“It doesn’t matter. Didn’t you send someone to tell us? Besides, A’Ting and I didn’t wait for you.”

She interrupted him, speaking indifferently, successfully pulling out the heavy hairpin and casually tossing it onto the table surface.

The pearl strings collided with a clattering sound.

Li Mu paused.

“Also, about Second Sister-in-law Jiang’s matter today, I heard about it on the road. Fortunately you happened to pass by at the time. I thank you on behalf of Second Brother Jiang…”

“That’s even more unnecessary!”

Luoshen interrupted him again, stood up from the dressing table, and turned to face him.

“I merely said a few words—it was nothing more than a small favor. Moreover, helping Second Sister-in-law Jiang wasn’t done to earn your thanks.”

She kept her small face slightly tense, her tone still light and dismissive.

Li Mu fell silent, gazing at the young woman before him.

He naturally knew she was deliberately challenging him.

But in his heart, he felt no displeasure at being affronted.

Not even the slightest bit.

Recalling the moment just now when his mother had scolded him while she watched coldly from the side, only coming forward to speak for him at the very end in pretense, a faint trace of subtle pleasure actually arose in the depths of his heart.

Such a feeling was extremely delicate, almost impossible to grasp, yet truly present—whether in his previous life or this one, in his memories that actually contained only iron and blood with little else worth recounting, this was unprecedented.

Like a thin stream flowing slowly through his iron-hard heart, even diluting the dark memories full of blood and hatred of someone who had died a tragic death once before.

He couldn’t help but recall many years ago, when she before him was still a little girl, she had also “said a few words” like this, saving the young man in that scene.

Vivid as if it were yesterday.

So many years had passed, and she before him was no longer the woman from his previous life’s final memories—the one who had made his heart flutter, whom he had hated, whom he had even contemplated killing to accompany him to the yellow springs, but whom he had ultimately spared in the end.

The current her seemed still like the one from his childhood memories, without much change.

Still so kind, and… carrying a trace of childishness that he actually didn’t quite know how to handle.

Compared to such a her, Li Mu suddenly felt that his current self was so old—not in body, but in heart.

He had already seen through everything, while she was like the dawn just rising.

He hesitated, about to change the subject to ease this slightly awkward atmosphere…

“A’Ju, I want to bathe and change clothes! After being out all day, I’m covered in sweat—it’s quite disgusting!”

She called out toward the door, her voice sweet and delicate. After calling out, as if unintentionally, she glanced at him again and watched him forcibly turn his face away.

“Very well, you change clothes then. I’ll go out first…”

The man seemed somewhat uninterested, murmuring a sentence before leaving the room under the watchful eyes of A’Ju and the maids and servants who entered at her call.

As soon as he left, Luoshen couldn’t maintain her stern expression. The corners of her lips turned up as she threw herself onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow and giggling softly.

From when Li Mu first sought her hand in marriage until today, over these several months, this was the first time A’Ju had seen the young mistress smile again.

And smiling so charmingly.

A’Ju felt bewildered but also very happy.

When the young mistress was happy, she was even happier.

She stayed by her side, watching her lie there laughing secretly. When the laughter gradually stopped, she asked about the reason.

Luoshen turned over, lying on the pillow with her flushed face looking up, biting her lip and shaking her head, refusing to say.

But the various anger, dissatisfaction, and grievances that had accumulated in her heart over these months seemed to diminish considerably due to her complete victory over Li Mu just now.

Even the bed beneath her, which she originally found very uncomfortable to sleep on, now didn’t feel so hard when she lay on it.

“Young mistress?”

A’Ju stared in amazement.

“I want to bathe.”

She climbed up from the bed and affectionately embraced A’Ju, the dimple at the corner of her mouth appearing and disappearing, utterly charming.

…

Deep into the night, the area around the City God Temple quieted down.

In the depths of the alleys, only the occasional sounds of night watchmen walking the streets and striking their wooden clappers reached the ears of sleeping people, adding to the lonely chill of this deep autumn night.

Shen Shi was still working by candlelight, hurrying to finish a garment in her hands.

Li Mu’s mother had come to her house two days ago to quietly give her some money, which Shen Shi had politely declined. She still used the money from pawning to buy the fabric she had chosen.

Her needlework was already excellent, and this garment made for her elderly mother was infused with all her guilt and devotion toward her mother.

Tomorrow was her mother’s sixtieth birthday. Though the time was somewhat rushed, the stitches from her fingertips were fine and even, without the slightest flaw.

Light footsteps sounded in the room. She looked up to see her husband approaching with a candlestick in his hand, placing it before her.

The two candlesticks side by side made the firelight much brighter.

“Husband, have you finished your work? Just go to sleep. I’ll be done in a moment.”

Shen Shi continued her needlework, smiling at her husband.

“There’s no need to waste wax burning two candles. My eyesight is good, I can see.”

She glanced at the candlestick before her and added.

Jiangtao draped a garment over her shoulders.

“A’Nu, it’s my fault for being incompetent. You’ve been married to me for many years, and not only have I failed to let you enjoy a single day of comfort, but you’ve had to endure such humiliation…”

Shen Shi looked up, seeing her husband’s gaze filled with guilt as he looked at her. She smiled, set down her needle and thread, and said gently: “What are you saying? My husband treats me so well, and we have such well-behaved children by our side. What grievance do I have?”

His wife’s understanding nature made this man, full of learning but with nowhere to apply it in life, feel even more guilty. He sat beside his wife and said: “Don’t worry about money. I just finished two more essays. After taking on a few more, next month when I’ve saved enough money, I should be able to redeem your jewelry.”

Jiangtao excelled at parallel prose, with precise parallelism and gorgeous diction. His reputation was gradually spreading, and many scholarly family sons who wanted to use essays to gain recognition from contemporary famous scholars came to purchase writings from him. He also used ghostwriting to earn money to supplement household expenses.

“Husband has worked hard. Go to sleep early.”

Shen Shi urged him.

Jiangtao said: “I’ll keep you company. Tomorrow I’ll also accompany you back, lest you suffer more scolding from your brothers. I’ll go plead with them to see if they’ll let you see your mother.”

Shen Shi was lost in thought for a moment, then smiled and shook her head: “I know my husband is considerate, but it’s not necessary. I’ve already arranged with an old servant in the family—she’ll secretly deliver the clothes to my mother for me. I know my brothers well; no matter what, they won’t let me go in to see Mother. You don’t need to go either, to avoid unnecessary humiliation.”

Jiangtao suppressed the sense of powerless desolation rising in his heart, pondered for a moment, and said: “A’Nu, there’s something I want to tell you. The Northern Dynasty is now in complete chaos. The Xianbei Murong Xitu plotted to assassinate the Xia Emperor and usurp the throne, but failed. He’s gathered his old troops and rebelled to Liaoxi. The Xiongnu have made a comeback. The Governor of Liangzhou has also taken the opportunity to declare himself emperor. The Central Plains are in chaos again, and the region north of the river probably won’t remain peaceful either. I expect refugees will soon flee south in large numbers again, inevitably affecting Jingkou. In the coming days, if you have no business, try to go out as little as possible to avoid being caught up in trouble.”

Shen Shi frowned: “Why must there be war again… When will this fighting finally end…”

She sighed deeply.

“A’Nu, if your husband should someday fortunately achieve some small merit in this chaotic world, I will certainly not fail you.”

Jiangtao’s eyes flickered slightly as he held his wife in his arms and spoke to her in a low voice.

…

In recent days, news had begun circulating in Jingkou that Northern Xia was in grave danger.

Barbarians fighting barbarians, Han fighting barbarians, and also Han fighting Han.

In the east, west, south, and north of the Central Plains, seemingly overnight, several self-proclaimed kings and even emperors had emerged.

In any case, everywhere in the north seemed to have started fighting.

Refugees fleeing from the north had also suddenly increased in recent days, with crowds gathering at the ferry crossing all day long.

The people of Jingkou, accustomed to seeing the blood and tears of displaced persons, couldn’t help but feel fortunate for the peace the Southern Dynasty had managed to steal, though no one knew how long such peace could last.

Li Mu was apparently busy working with the government to settle these newly arrived refugees, and as usual was nowhere to be seen during the day.

After midday, Luoshen had nothing to do and couldn’t sleep, so she again accompanied Lu Shi, listening to her humming spinning wheel and reading an idle book she had brought with her to pass the long afternoon. Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the courtyard. Looking up, she saw A’Ting run in with an angry expression.

“What’s happened?”

Lu Shi had keen hearing. Though she couldn’t see, she heard the anger in the footsteps, stopped her work, and turned to ask.

“Mother, sister-in-law, I’m so angry!”

A’Ting was panting heavily.

“Just now Second Sister-in-law Jiang’s brothers sent people to cause trouble again, breaking their door, and little Niuniu and her brother were both scared to tears!”

Lu Shi exclaimed in alarm, anxiously standing up and feeling for her walking stick: “Quick, let’s go see!”

Luoshen immediately supported Lu Shi and went with A’Ting to the nearby Jiang residence.

Jiangtao was not home—only Shen Shi and the two children were there. The Shen family people had already left. The doorway and courtyard were filled with neighbors, all wearing angry expressions and discussing among themselves. Seeing Lu Shi and Luoshen arrive, they quickly made way.

Luoshen helped Lu Shi inside and saw the broken door, torn silk garments scattered on the ground, and Shen Shi comforting two children who were crying in terror. She immediately guessed the reason.

Upon inquiry, it was indeed as she thought: Shen Shi’s secret delivery of clothes to her elderly mother through an intermediary had still been discovered by her brothers. In their fury, they had immediately sent malicious servants to cause this scene, leaving behind harsh words before departing.

Lu Shi struck the ground with her walking stick, both angry and helpless: “How can there be such brothers in this world! This is too much!”

She had Luoshen and A’Ting first take the two children back to her own home while she comforted Shen Shi.

Luoshen went straight outside, called A’Ju over, and gave her some quiet instructions.

A’Ju was startled, looked at the broken door of the Jiang house, and hesitated.

“Just do as I’ve instructed!”

Luoshen emphasized her tone.

A’Ju shivered, responded with “yes,” and hurried away.

Only then did Luoshen exhale, turn around, take each child by the hand, and say gently: “Stop crying. Let’s go to Auntie’s place first—Auntie has delicious treats there.”