Li Mu was blocked outside the gate, standing by the roadside. When he saw Xiao Yongjia’s figure gradually appearing in his line of sight, he quickly stepped forward to greet her, addressing her as mother-in-law and paying his respects.

Xiao Yongjia stopped and nodded, saying “Follow me.”

She walked to a pavilion by the river and stopped, gazing at Li Mu for a moment before slowly saying: “I know why you’ve come. A’Mi has been back for several days now, and I can see that she misses you greatly…”

During these days when Luoshen was taken away, Li Mu kept himself busy during the day, his attention occupied by affairs, leaving no time for much thought. But when night fell and he lay alone, with one person missing from his pillow, only then—having tasted the marrow—did he truly understand the suffering of longing.

Closing his eyes, all he could see was her every frown and smile, her gentle voice, her fragrant warm skin. He also remembered that moment before parting when she desperately hugged his waist with her arms, looking up with tearful eyes and saying she didn’t want to leave—such a childish gesture that made it even harder for him to let her go.

Tomorrow he would have to set out on his journey. He truly missed her. Though he knew he was unwelcome, tonight he still couldn’t help but come by boat.

Li Mu’s eyes revealed a trace of excitement, but just as he was about to speak, Xiao Yongjia continued: “Her father told me the reason he brought her back. He says you’re wildly ambitious with a rebellious nature. If everyone were like you, the country would never have peace.”

“I ask you, is there even half a sentence of untruth in his words?”

The tender look in Li Mu’s eyes vanished.

After a moment of silence, he said: “Li Mu would also wish to be a peaceful citizen, but the Central Plains have fallen, barbarian bandits run rampant. The Northern Expedition to pacify the rebels—we fight to the death without rest. In such chaotic times, without thunderous measures, nothing can be accomplished. If this disappoints mother-in-law, it is Li Mu’s fault.”

Xiao Yongjia slowly nodded.

“I had originally hoped her father was being overly suspicious. It seems it’s really true…”

She looked at Li Mu, her eyes gradually showing a trace of sadness.

“No one can save this world. My Xiao family cannot do it. The aristocratic clans also cannot do it. My husband tried before. Don’t think he’s now timid and detestable—when he was young, whether in courage, spirit, or fighting on horseback, he wasn’t much inferior to you, and he even had the great families as his shield.”

“But even such a man as he lost.”

“Li Mu, I know you’re a capable person, and I respect your heroic spirit. But I don’t believe that you alone can raise the dead and restore flesh to bones. Moreover, the path you’ve chosen today is destined to be a road of no return.”

“I was born into the imperial family and raised in the palace. I’ve seen too much of the struggles between imperial houses and aristocratic clans, between clans themselves, fighting for profit by any means necessary, revealing their ugly faces, even becoming enemies of each other. But if someone wants to replace them or stand out alone, they’ll band together to attack that person. Gao Qiao’s defeat back then was precisely due to this. What you face is even more like towering mountains and vast seas—wanting to overcome it alone is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Even if Gao Qiao tolerates you, other aristocratic families won’t remain unmoved. Even if they were fighting like dogs before, they’ll definitely join hands to deal with you. Even if you had three heads and six arms with heavenly power, how could you oppose the entire world?”

“If this appointment as Governor of Yi Cheng comes from His Majesty’s orders, I can go refuse it for you. No one knows better than I how His Majesty has high ambitions but low ability, weak and incompetent. In earlier years, capable officials from humble backgrounds died because of His Majesty’s ambitions, becoming scapegoats. Why must you repeat their mistakes today?”

“If this journey is something you yourself seek, I hope you’ll be even more cautious. With your heroic talents, even without being the Gao family’s son-in-law, your rapid rise in status is just a matter of time. Why must you exhaust yourself in hopeless endeavors, wasting your years?”

She paused, gazing intently at Li Mu and emphasizing her words.

“Li Mu, I greatly admire you. You’ve helped me, and I’m very grateful. But as a mother, I don’t want A’Mi to spend her life bound to a hero destined for wandering, or even heading toward a dead end. I hope you understand.”

“If you reconsider, I’ll let A’Mi return with you tonight. I can also guarantee that such things won’t happen again in the future. Otherwise, even if I let you two meet tonight, it would only add to A’Mi’s troubles. Why bother with such a pointless gesture?”

“What do you say?”

Xiao Yongjia finished speaking.

Li Mu had remained silent throughout, his figure dim, seeming to merge with the dark river surface shrouded in mist behind him.

After a long silence, he said: “It was Li Mu who was rash. I hadn’t considered these things for A’Mi before. In the future, if Li Mu is fortunate enough to survive and fulfill his life’s aspirations, whatever A’Mi needs, I will surely provide without fail.”

He bowed deeply to Xiao Yongjia, straightened up, cast one last glance at the grand residence in the distance where she lived, shrouded in nighttime shadows, then turned and left.

His steps were initially heavy and slow, gradually quickening, faster and faster, until he finally disappeared at the end of the boardwalk leading to the ferry.

…

Luoshen inadvertently learned the news from a servant girl and hastily wrapped her clothes before running out of the house, rushing to the ferry.

The boat had already left. The ferry was silent, with only dark waves surging and river mist vast and endless.

She suddenly stopped by the river’s edge.

A’Ju, panting heavily, caught up and put clothes on her shoulders. Worried she would be heartbroken and cry again, A’Ju hurriedly embraced her, coaxing her to return. But to her surprise, she saw that Luoshen wasn’t crying—instead, she suddenly turned around.

The clothes on her shoulders slid to the ground with her movement.

By the time A’Ju reacted, she had already rushed out more than ten steps away.

Luoshen clenched her fists tightly and rushed to her mother’s quarters in one breath. Without even knocking, under the startled gazes of several servant women outside the door, she raised her hand to push it open and stepped inside with one foot.

Both parents were there.

Xiao Yongjia was sitting under the lamp, one hand supporting her forehead, brows tightly knitted, as if lost in troubled thoughts.

Gao Qiao was beside her, his gaze falling on her profile, gradually becoming absent-minded as well. Suddenly hearing a “clang” from the doorway, he turned his head and was startled to see it was his daughter who had burst in, her face flushed, eyes wide with rage, looking furious. He couldn’t help but be alarmed and called out “A’Mi.”

“Father! Mother! Li Mu came tonight? If he came, he must have been looking for me! Why didn’t you let him see me?”

Gao Qiao was stunned. Looking at his daughter with reddened eyes, he subconsciously wanted to hide the truth and hurriedly said: “A’Mi, don’t listen to people talking nonsense…”

“Father! You’re still lying to me! Do you think I’m still a three-year-old child?”

Luoshen was furious and couldn’t contain herself again.

“Originally, it was you who married me into the Li family! Now you brought me back without explanation! Bringing me back is one thing, but when Li Mu came to see me tonight, why didn’t you let me meet him? He is my husband!”

Her gaze swept over the parents before her.

“I have my own feet! I’m going back right now!”

She turned around and started to run.

Gao Qiao hurriedly chased after her.

“A’Mi!”

Xiao Yongjia suddenly called out from behind her.

“Stop there. Mother will tell you the reason why I won’t let him see you again!”

Luoshen stopped in her tracks.

“A’Ling!” Gao Qiao turned his head, wanting to stop her.

“A’Mi has grown up. It’s impossible to hide it from her forever. It’s good for her to know.”

She walked to Luoshen’s side, reached out to hold her daughter’s hand, brought her back around, and gazed into her face for a moment.

“A’Mi, Li Mu is a heroic leader, but he’s also wildly ambitious with treacherous intentions.”

“How can your father tolerate him?”

“As for mother, if he refuses to prioritize you, how can mother let you accompany a tiger on its path, walking toward a dead end?”

…

Luoshen was completely stunned, falling into a state of shock, heartbreak, anger, and disbelief.

A breath caught in her chest, nearly bursting her heart.

For a moment she couldn’t breathe, standing rigidly motionless, her eyes red but unable to shed a single tear.

“A’Mi! Don’t be like this! If you’re sad, just cry it out!”

Her mother embraced her, stroking her back, her anxious voice constantly ringing in her ears.

After a long while, that breath trapped in Luoshen’s chest finally released.

Her eyes were wide open, but her gaze had lost focus, passing blankly over the faces of her parents who were looking at her with worry and fear.

“Father, Mother, I want to be alone for a while. Please don’t bother me…”

She murmured this and slowly turned around, walking outside.

…

Luoshen had never imagined it.

During their previous time together, there had been no opportunity for her to know.

Behind Li Mu’s gentle and brave exterior, there was actually hidden such fierce and ruthless ambition.

If that night’s exchange between him and her father was true, then her father calling him treacherous with rebellious intentions, even calling him a rebellious minister and traitorous subject, was not at all excessive.

Even if his original intention was for the Northern Expedition.

In the court’s eyes, a rebellious minister was a rebellious minister—there was no room for excuse.

Her mother was the Eldest Princess of Dayu.

Her father was a pillar of the court.

How could the daughter of such a family become the wife of a rebellious minister?

This principle was crystal clear to Luoshen without anyone needing to explain it.

And that account conveyed by her mother—though she had tried to phrase it as gently as possible—still broke Luoshen’s heart beyond repair.

Faced with the choice her mother had given him, Li Mu had actually abandoned her and simply left like that.

In her room, on her bed, Luoshen used the bed curtains to completely hide herself, and for three whole days, she didn’t get up.

She didn’t want to see anyone, nor did she want anyone to see her.

She washed her face with tears, crying herself to sleep, waking up to cry again, until she was too exhausted for tears and just wanted to sleep forever.

If only she could wake up and return to the day before her marriage, how wonderful that would be.

If she had known it would end like this, no matter what, she wouldn’t have listened to the arrangements and married him that day.

She began to hate that man named Li Mu.

As for her father and mother, she wasn’t without resentment toward them either.

But several days later, when she finally got out of bed and saw how her father and mother looked, she couldn’t help but redden her eyes again.

Her mother’s eyes were red and swollen, with tear stains still visible.

Her father’s eyes were sunken, his expression haggard, his temples seeming to have suddenly grown several more grey hairs.

Luoshen wanted to be willful once more and continue resenting them, but another voice in her heart told her:

Whether it was her father or mother, what they had done—even though it made her sad, upset, and angry—they indeed had their own helpless circumstances.

They loved her.

If her life were in danger, her father and mother would definitely be the first to stand out, willing to exchange their own lives for her safety.

This was beyond question.

She should understand them.

The real culprit was that man who had forcibly married her initially, disturbed her heart, and now abandoned her.

Fortunately, now that she had escaped, it wasn’t too late.

Let him leave. She would treat it as a dream.

In the end, Luoshen consoled herself this way.

…

Days passed one by one.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed since Li Mu left.

The season had also entered late spring, the third month.

On the third day of the third month in the sixteenth year of Xingping, the Southern Dynasty was at peace. Grass grew and orioles flew, spring breezes were gentle—it was the perfect time for sightseeing and enjoying life while one could.

The annual Winding Water Floating Cups gathering was held at Leyou Garden.

On this day, the most prominent aristocratic families of Jiankang—the Gaos, Xus, Lus, and Zhus—along with the second-tier families attached to them, their proteges and disciples, all gathered at Leyou Garden north of Tai City.

Nominally called Winding Water Floating Cups, a refined spring celebration, it was actually a secret display and competition of family prestige and power among Jiankang’s aristocratic circles.

This year’s structure, compared to last year, hadn’t changed much—still the Gao, Xu, and Lu families as the greatest powers. But compared to last year, there were obviously some differences.

The Gao family remained supreme. Though they had suffered shame last year due to the marriage alliance with a humble family, their foundation was deep. Moreover, after Li Mu’s victory at Ba Commandery became famous throughout the realm, the Gao family’s true strength couldn’t possibly be greatly affected by this marriage alliance. However, with the Lu family, it was indeed difficult to maintain even surface harmony.

In comparison, the Xu family was full of high spirits. Especially recently, as rumors secretly circulated about Emperor Xingping’s poor health and Gao Qiao’s intention to retire, Xu Mi, as the Crown Prince’s maternal uncle, became the next person who might replace Gao Qiao in many people’s eyes. His status rose like the tide, and today he was surrounded by stars, with laughter never ceasing—this was inevitable.

In such an occasion, Gao Qiao needed to appear, and the Gao family’s young men naturally accompanied him.

Separated by a wall, the western garden of Leyou Garden, with its peach blossoms and flowing water, was where the women played and purified themselves.

A few days earlier, Lu Xiurong had sent Luoshen a letter, inviting her to go together that day, saying she hadn’t seen her for a long time and missed her.

Former close friends from their maiden days had gradually grown distant.

Whenever Luoshen thought of this, she felt melancholy. Since Lu Xiurong had taken the initiative to invite her, even if she had no mood for it, she wouldn’t refuse.

During this past month, Xiao Yongjia had been even more worried about her daughter’s depression and lack of joy. She had originally wanted to let her daughter go out to refresh her spirits, so taking this opportunity, she personally escorted her daughter there on this day.

Luoshen sat in the ox cart and arrived at Leyou Garden.

Outside the garden, the road wide enough for four or five ox carts to travel side by side was now filled with fragrant carriages and jade sedans, with servants like clouds.

The Eldest Princess’s cart, under countless envious gazes, went directly through the main gate and stopped at the walkway leading to the western garden.

Xiao Yongjia personally helped her daughter put on her veil.

Luoshen followed her mother down from the cart, changed to a sedan chair, and surrounded by attendants, entered the western garden and arrived at a pavilion named “Flying Feather.”

This place belonged to Xiao Yongjia’s private property, so there were no idle outsiders. Though they could hear sounds of laughter and play from not far beyond the wall, the surroundings were screened by flowers and trees and very quiet.

Luoshen had arranged to meet Lu Xiurong here.

Lu Xiurong had arrived earlier than her and was already waiting.

Not having seen her good friend for some time, their sudden reunion lifted Luoshen’s spirits that had been low for many days, and she showed a smile on her face.

After exchanging a few words, Lu Xiurong also smiled and paid respects to Xiao Yongjia.

Seeing her daughter finally smile, Xiao Yongjia also breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing the two should have private matters to discuss and it wasn’t convenient for her to stay nearby, she instructed the servants to attend them well and then left.

Luoshen and Lu Xiurong sat by the window.

Luoshen had vaguely heard that Lu Xiurong’s husband had some talent but was naturally dissolute, so after meeting, she didn’t dare ask about her marriage.

Perhaps understanding each other, Lu Xiurong also didn’t mention anything about Luoshen’s marriage.

She only sighed, saying Luoshen had grown thin, and reminisced about the joyful scenes from years past when the two had come here together.

After talking for a while, she took Luoshen’s hand, and the two went outside to the peach blossom brook. They took silk handkerchiefs to cushion themselves on the stones by the stream and sat down together, watching the clear stream water carrying pink peach blossom petals slowly pass through the wall and flow toward the eastern garden opposite.

For a moment, they both fell quiet, neither speaking.

“A’Mi, I still remember how years ago, right here, you were at the head of the stream, elder brother at the tail, separated by the wall, one with flute, one with qin, playing together the Eastern Wind Melody…”

“In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed…”

Suddenly, Lu Xiurong sighed and said melancholically.

Luoshen hugged her knees motionlessly, her gaze falling on a few peach blossom petals on the water surface, lost in thought for a moment, then smiled slightly: “It’s been a long time since we had news of Elder Brother Lu. He went to Jiao Province last year—how is he now?”

Lu Xiurong fell silent.

Luoshen turned to look at her.

Lu Xiurong slowly turned her head, looking at Luoshen and said: “A’Mi, to tell you the truth, I asked you out today precisely because I want your help. May I ask you for one favor?”

Luoshen was startled, then nodded.

Lu Xiurong hesitated, then said: “After elder brother’s defeat at the Double Ninth competition that day, my father was very angry. He severely scolded him, saying he brought shame to the Lu family, and elder brother knelt in the ancestral hall. Later, to avoid gossip, father arranged for elder brother to go to Jiao Province as governor, originally planning to have him return after some time.”

“Starting last year, father arranged marriage prospects for elder brother, but elder brother refused them all. Father flew into a rage and sent messages several times, angrily scolding elder brother for being unfilial, saying if he didn’t comply, he’d stay there forever and never be allowed to return…”

She looked at Luoshen.

“A’Mi, I know why elder brother is unwilling to accept marriage arrangements. He still can’t let you go in his heart. He was originally extremely filial to father—such defiance is something I’ve never seen before in my life. I’m extremely worried.”

“Originally, if it were just this, I wouldn’t have come to you. But after elder brother went to Jiao Province, he also contracted tropical fever, and his illness hasn’t improved. I privately asked family members sent by mother to check on him—they said that there, he’s now very despondent, so ill he’s practically wasting away…”

Her eyes reddened.

“I know I shouldn’t come to trouble you. But I can’t think of anyone else I could turn to for help besides you…”

She tightly grasped Luoshen’s hand.

“I beg you, for the sake of past friendship, could you write a letter to my elder brother, advising him to let go of past matters soon, not to be so defiant toward father, and to take better care of his health? I’m truly worried! I don’t want elder brother to really die in such a place for the rest of his life because of past events.”

“Now, probably only your advice would elder brother listen to.”

Luoshen’s mind was in complete chaos.

She hadn’t expected that her past relationship with Lu Jianzhi would still have continuing effects in the Lu family even now.

She hadn’t expected that Lu Jianzhi would be in such a state now.

“A’Mi, please, help me!”

She shed tears.

Luoshen hesitated, then slowly nodded.

She had always been concerned about Lu Jianzhi.

Regardless of why he had become so despondent.

Even just for the sake of their past friendship as kindred spirits, she couldn’t bear to ignore it.

She pondered for a moment and said: “A’Rong, I’ll compose a musical score and trouble you to pass it to elder brother for me. When he sees the score, he should understand my feelings.”

Luoshen was skilled in music, and Lu Jianzhi also understood elegant music. In the past, whenever she composed new pieces, the first person she would have them sent to for appreciation was always him. Lu Jianzhi had never misunderstood the meaning of her compositions, and sometimes would even polish them for her.

Now they had each embarked on different paths.

In this lifetime, from the moment Lu Jianzhi lost to Li Mu in that Double Ninth competition, their fate together had ended.

Luoshen understood this clearly.

She would still worry about him and hope in her heart that everything would go well for him, but if she truly had to put it in writing, she found herself at a loss, not knowing where to begin.

Better to use music to express her words.

A kindred spirit like him would surely understand her feelings.

She hoped that from now on, he could pull himself together and become what the Lu family heir should be.

Lu Xiurong was initially startled, then understood, showing gratitude and saying through tears: “A’Mi, thank you so much!”

Luoshen reached out to wipe the tears from her face and smiled: “Don’t cry anymore. When I’ve composed the musical score, I’ll have someone send it to you.”

Lu Xiurong thanked her repeatedly. Afraid of being seen here by Lu family members, she sat for a little while longer, then hurriedly took leave with her people.

Luoshen understood her difficulty and didn’t insist she stay. She personally got up to see her off from the pavilion, watching her figure disappear before slowly turning back. Walking along the garden path while thinking about what had just been said, her heart heavy with thoughts, she returned to the streamside. Lost in thought for a moment, she closed her eyes to contemplate, just beginning to compose the musical score in her mind, when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. Opening her eyes and turning around, she saw Qiongshu approaching with a strange expression, hesitant to speak when she drew near.

“What is it?”

Luoshen asked her.

Qiongshu hesitated, then said: “Miss, people from the Shen family of Jingkou have come. They just found their way here, saying they want to thank you.”

Luoshen was confused at first, not remembering who they were. After thinking again, she suddenly realized and finally remembered.

Last year when she first married into Jingkou, she had encountered the matter of Jiang Tao’s wife Lady Shen’s natal family. At that time, feeling indignant, she had stepped forward to help Lady Shen discipline her natal family brothers. Finally, to give Lady Shen face, she had promised that this year at the Winding Water Floating Cups gathering, she would have the Gao family send an invitation to the Shen family.

Shortly after that incident, Luoshen had written to her elder brother mentioning this matter.

Gao Yin always fulfilled his sister’s every request. So by now, Luoshen had completely forgotten about that casual remark she had made last year, but hadn’t expected that the Shen family members had really come here because of her one sentence.

Even more unexpectedly, they had actually sought her out to thank her.

Qiongshu said the visitor was Lady Shen’s elder sister-in-law, Lady He, who was waiting outside at this moment.

Luoshen had no mood now to meet some Lady He from Jingkou, and immediately refused: “Tell them I’m not available. Have someone show her around, then send her away.”

Qiongshu agreed and turned to leave.

Luoshen watched her retreating figure, lost in thought for a moment, but then suddenly called her back.

“Bring her in!”

Unable to resist some ineffable emotion surging in her heart after all, she hesitated again and again before finally speaking.