After New Year’s Day following New Year’s Eve, Renxin Medical Hall reopened after setting off firecrackers.

While other shops on West Street closed for rest, the medical hall couldn’t. During the first month, when people in various households had headaches and fevers, they still needed to come to the medical hall for treatment and medicine. However, there were indeed far fewer patients than usual, making the shop quite leisurely.

The morning after Yin Zheng woke up from her drunken stupor on New Year’s Eve, when she entered Lu Tong’s room, she discovered that the white-robed Guanyin statue that had been placed in the small Buddhist cabinet was gone. When she asked Lu Tong about it, Lu Tong simply said it had broken, which made her quite uneasy for a while.

“For no reason at all, the Guanyin statue broke on New Year’s Eve night—that’s a bad omen. It probably blocked some disaster. Later, Miss, you should come with me to the temple to burn some incense and bring back a new Guanyin statue.”

When Du Changqing heard Yin Zheng’s words, he immediately grabbed his chair and turned around to look at Lu Tong: “Right, go worship Wenchang Jun too. For next month’s spring examinations, let Wenchang Jun give you some help.”

“What’s the point of worshipping any gods,” Miao Liangfang scoffed. “Back in my day, I didn’t worship any Buddha and still achieved brilliant success, surpassing those useless young masters from the Imperial Medical Bureau.”

“Exactly, which is why you were kicked out.”

“…”

“Old Miao, people must have a sense of reverence,” Du Changqing advised earnestly.

A’Cheng muttered: “Saying this as if it wasn’t the master who secretly grilled the released fish to eat…”

“Shut up.”

Lu Tong listened to their banter while flipping through the medical texts Miao Liangfang had organized for her. With the spring examinations approaching, she had been studying even more diligently than before during these days when the medical hall had few patients.

Yin Zheng took the washed handkerchiefs to dry in the courtyard. Soon after, she lifted the felt curtain and came back in, asking Lu Tong: “Miss, this handkerchief seems unfamiliar—I don’t think I’ve seen it before?”

Lu Tong looked up and couldn’t help but pause.

Yin Zheng held a moon-white silk handkerchief with magnificent and imposing eagle embroidery. However, because it had been stained with blood before and couldn’t be completely cleaned, it still retained a faint pinkish tint.

It was the handkerchief Pei Yunying had given her that New Year’s Eve night.

Yin Zheng examined the handkerchief in her hands: “The fabric feels quite good, but… I don’t remember buying this before?”

All clothing and handkerchief purchases in the house were left to Yin Zheng’s discretion. Lu Tong thought to herself that after that day, she had washed the handkerchief, originally intending to find an opportunity to return it to Pei Yunying. However, since Pei Yunying hadn’t appeared again, she had forgotten to hide the handkerchief properly, and it was discovered by Yin Zheng, who took it to wash with the others.

Du Changqing had sharp eyes and looked at it suspiciously: “Why does it look like a men’s style?”

Such sharp, cold patterns were typically used more by men.

Lu Tong picked up the tea cup on the table, took a sip, and said without changing expression: “It was a thank-you gift sent by Miss Pei before.”

“Oh.” Yin Zheng suddenly understood.

Lu Tong periodically prepared medicines for Bao Zhu. When Pei Yunshu’s servants came to collect the medicines, besides the medical fees, they would also bring other thank-you gifts. Nothing too expensive—some colorful fabrics, some exquisite pastries, and the like.

“What a pity,” Yin Zheng touched the handkerchief with some regret. “Good fabric and elegant color, but the embroidery is too cold and harsh, and it’s stained. Otherwise, it would be perfect to embroider into silk flowers for Miss.”

Lu Tong nearly choked on her tea.

If she really made Pei Yunying’s handkerchief into silk flowers to wear by her temples, she wondered what he would think if he saw it.

Upon hearing this, Du Changqing glanced at Lu Tong: “Speaking of which, Doctor Lu, I pay you monthly wages on time. You should also get yourself some jewelry. Don’t just wear those worthless flowers and grass on your head. It’s New Year and you’re still so plain, dressed like you’re in mourning. People who don’t know might think someone died in our medical hall.”

“These days there’s the Lantern Festival, and the lanterns won’t be taken down until the eighteenth night. Everywhere they’re selling moth ornaments and snow willows—you should go buy some to put in your hair. To be honest, those few flowers stuck on your head, even if you’re not tired of them, I’m tired of looking at them.”

Lu Tong hadn’t taken his words to heart, but she paused when she heard the word “moth.”

Moth…

In the box in her bedroom drawer, there still lay a pair of golden moths.

Lu Tong still couldn’t understand what Pei Yunying meant that night when he returned halfway to give her a pair of golden moths, calling them a “birthday gift.” Of course, she wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to think that Pei Yunying had specially bought them for her. Most likely he had bought them to give to some young lady but changed his mind at the last moment, passing them to her instead.

Perhaps seeing her pitiful state had stirred some slight, meaningless compassion in this noble young master.

Lu Tong was thinking when she heard A’Cheng’s excited shout: “Why don’t we all go to the lantern festival tonight! Doctor Lu came to the capital last spring when the lantern festival was already over. This year we’re just in time—let’s all go see the excitement!”

At his suggestion, Yin Zheng’s eyes immediately showed some anticipation, and she quietly nudged Miao Liangfang’s arm.

“Uh… not bad,” Miao Liangfang immediately understood. “Little Lu studies in the medical hall every day. She should go out for some fresh air and relaxation.” He spoke sincerely. Having taken the spring examinations himself, Miao Liangfang had worked hard in his day, but compared to Lu Tong now, he still felt like a small witch meeting a great witch. Every day when he left for home, Lu Tong was studying hard. When he arrived at the medical hall in the morning, Lu Tong was still working hard. Yin Zheng had secretly told him that Lu Tong studied until after midnight every night before sleeping. Miao Liangfang was worried that if Lu Tong continued like this, her health might collapse before the spring examinations even arrived.

Preserving life was most important.

“Old Miao is right,” Du Changqing agreed wholeheartedly. “That Scholar Wu from Fresh Fish Row even sent word telling you not to shut yourself up at home studying all day. Come, today your master makes the decision—let’s all go to Jingde Gate to see the lanterns!”

Though he said this, Du Changqing discreetly observed Lu Tong’s expression, and the others in the room also secretly watched her.

Lu Tong fingered the book pages before her.

Since New Year’s Day, she indeed hadn’t left the medical hall.

She actually had no interest in lanterns, but…

Not far away, A’Cheng lay on the table counter, showing half his head wearing a tiger cap, his eyes looking at her earnestly.

Lu Tong withdrew her gaze, closed her book, and said: “I’ll go.”

…

On the fifteenth day of the first month, Lantern Festival, every household lit lanterns.

The Liang Dynasty had always had the custom of “viewing lanterns at the three yuan festivals.”

Viewing lanterns at the three yuan festivals meant lantern festivals on the fifteenth of the first month (Shangyuan), the fifteenth of the seventh month (Zhongyuan), and the fifteenth of the tenth month (Xiayuan). Besides viewing lanterns, people would also eat yuanxiao, guess lantern riddles, set off fireworks, and make sacrificial offerings to doors and households to celebrate the festival.

Duke Zhaoning’s mansion was also lively tonight.

The man sitting above the feast hall wore a crow-blue round-collar long robe. Though middle-aged, he was handsome and elegant, with scholarly refinement in his features that immediately inspired goodwill.

This man was Duke Zhaoning, Pei Di.

The woman sitting beside him was beautiful and gentle, holding a three or four-year-old boy in her arms, smiling as she spoke with the man.

“My lord, tonight there’s a lantern festival at Jingde Gate. Later, shall we take Ruier to see the lanterns?”

The speaker was Duke Zhaoning’s wife, Jiang Wan.

Besides his wife, Duke Zhaoning Pei Di had taken three concubines in total. Among the three concubines, only Concubine Mei had borne him a son—Pei Yunxiao, who was one year younger than Pei Yunying.

The heir Pei Yunying and his sister Pei Yunshu were born to Pei Di’s first wife. After his first wife died, Pei Di married Jiang Wan, who later gave birth to the legitimate son Pei Yunrui, now only four years old.

Before Pei Di could answer, Pei Yunrui in Jiang Wan’s arms began shouting: “Call eldest brother! We must call eldest brother to go with us!”

Jiang Wan was startled and quickly pinched her young son. Meanwhile, Concubine Mei beside them heard this and laughed with a “puchi” sound.

“Third young master, the heir is very busy every day. How would he have time to see lanterns? Your second brother is free though—why not call him to go together?”

Concubine Mei was charming and beautiful, originally a beauty given to Duke Zhaoning by a colleague. Because of this connection, Concubine Mei was respected in the mansion, and having given birth to Pei Yunxiao, her status was much higher than the other two concubines.

Pei Yunxiao was now twenty, also handsome, inheriting most of Pei Di’s good looks. His temperament was also gentle and refined, often earning praise.

Under the same roof, sons of similar age and equal excellence were inevitably compared.

Especially when one of them had a delicate relationship with the family.

Pei Yunxiao seemed not to hear Concubine Mei’s words and continued eating with his chopsticks. Pei Yunshu, sitting beside Jiang Wan, frowned upon hearing this and looked at Concubine Mei with some anger.

Everyone knew that the relationship between Pei Yunying and Pei Di was strained. During the first month, ancestral sacrifices required lighting incense, so Pei Yunying had to return to the Pei family ancestral hall to burn incense for his mother, making this a rare visit home. But most of the time he was on duty at the palace. Besides burning incense for his mother, he never voluntarily set foot in the Pei family home.

Pei Yunshu didn’t want to come back either, so she tried to stay with Bao Zhu in the courtyard where she had lived before marriage. If not for Pei Di insisting they all dine together tonight on the fifteenth, she wouldn’t have come to watch this nauseating display of family harmony.

Pei Di said nothing, only giving Concubine Mei a light glance. Concubine Mei was startled, then fell silent and lowered her head, not daring to speak further.

Pei Yunshu felt inexplicably irritated, hastily ate some food and said: “I’m going to check on Bao Zhu,” before leaving the feast.

After leaving the hall, the cold wind from the corridor hit her face, seeming to dispel some of the stuffiness from the feast.

“Madam,” Fang Zi said softly, “in the future, if it’s not necessary, you really don’t need to dine with them.”

Even her personal maid could see the scheming nature of this Pei family, let alone others.

Sighing, Pei Yunshu said: “It’s fine. I’ll be leaving in a few days anyway.”

She was a married daughter, and moreover, since Jiang Wan entered the household even before her marriage, there had been no place for her in the Pei family. Now, after her divorce from Prince Wen, she hadn’t returned to her parental home but lived in a mansion Pei Yunying had bought.

A divorced woman not returning to her parental home but establishing her own household was unprecedented in Shengjing. However, with so many unconventional things happening, this wasn’t particularly noteworthy. Besides, the mansion was adjacent to Pei Yunying’s, making it convenient for her to visit him.

If not for burning incense for their mother, she wouldn’t have come back.

While thinking, Fang Zi looked ahead and called: “Young master!”

Pei Yunshu looked up to see Pei Yunying walking toward them from the other end of the corridor.

“Why did you come back?” Pei Yunshu was both surprised and delighted. “Didn’t you say you were on duty today?”

“Night shift. I finished my duties and came back to burn incense for mother.”

Pei Yunshu smiled: “Perfect, I’ll go with you.”

The ancestral hall was at the very end of the corridor. Outside the door were newly replaced paintings and peach wood charms. Inside, incense and candles blazed, enshrining portraits of Pei family ancestors.

Pei Yunshu and Pei Yunying entered the ancestral hall. It was empty inside. Pei Yunshu took incense intending to worship the ancestors from right to left in order, but turning around, she saw Pei Yunying had lit incense directly and walked to their mother’s memorial tablet.

He had no intention of worshipping anyone other than his mother.

Pei Yunshu’s lips moved slightly, wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Pei Yunying stood before his mother’s memorial tablet, bowing respectfully as he offered incense. His expression was calm, and he spoke no formal words of respect, silently inserting the incense candles before his mother’s shrine, then stepping back two paces to look at the hazy tablet obscured by blue smoke, revealing a normal smile.

“Mother,” he said with a smile, “Happy New Year.”

Watching his actions, Pei Yunshu couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart. She quickly turned away, and only after calming her emotions did she join Pei Yunying in offering incense.

The main hall’s brocade curtains hung high. After standing for a while longer, the siblings slowly walked outside.

Pei Yunying asked: “How long do you plan to stay here with Bao Zhu?”

“We’ll leave in a couple more days.”

Pei Yunying remained silent.

She smiled: “Don’t worry. Usually Bao Zhu and I stay in my own courtyard. No one bothers me, and it’s peaceful. As for you, if you’re unhappy, don’t come back. As for mother…” She looked back at the ancestral hall. “I’ll speak for you.”

Just as she finished speaking, another person approached. It was already evening and growing dark. The person stopped before Pei Yunshu and her brother—scholarly in his long robe, gentle in expression. The lantern hanging under the corridor wall illuminated half his shadow, casting a cold tint over his originally handsome features.

Pei Yunshu quickly said: “Father.”

Pei Di nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Pei Yunying beside her.

“Why didn’t you say anything when you came home?”

His tone was natural and gentle, like a loving father reproaching a late-returning son, full of concern.

Pei Yunying said nothing.

“A’Ying!” Pei Yunshu was extremely nervous.

The strained relationship between Duke Zhaoning Pei Di and heir Pei Yunying was known throughout Shengjing. Outsiders only said that Pei Yunying was rebellious in his youth, repeatedly defying his father, while Duke Zhaoning had a gentle, tolerant nature that allowed his eldest son to act wildly.

Only Pei Yunshu knew the truth was not so simple.

“Sister,” Pei Yunying smiled at her, “Bao Zhu is still waiting for you in the room. Go back quickly.”

“You—”

She was still worried, but Pei Yunying’s gaze was insistent. After a moment’s standoff, Pei Yunshu was defeated. She could only suppress her unease, give Pei Yunying a meaningful look of warning, then leave with worry.

The hibiscus tasseled lanterns hanging under the eaves were exquisite and luxurious, casting brilliant colored light on the people below. The young man stood tall like a young eagle, the middle-aged man was deep like a wolf or tiger. Though they were father and son with blood thicker than water, they were separated by a palace lantern’s pattern on the ground into two sides of light and shadow.

Clear as the Jing and Wei rivers.

The wind gradually picked up. Pei Di spoke, his voice as gentle as always: “I hear the Qi family has approached you.”

The young man only smiled without speaking.

“The Qi family supports the Crown Prince.”

Pei Yunying made an “oh” sound and spoke with a half-smile: “But I don’t plan to board that ship.”

Pei Di said nothing, silently looking at the person before him. The young man was very tall, now a full head taller than him when standing. When he smiled, there was a small dimple beside his lips—he resembled his mother in that. But his gaze was very sharp, cold like the silver long sword at his waist.

Somehow, perhaps in some unnoticed evening, the boy who once followed his father’s steps to see lanterns had grown up in the blink of an eye.

Pei Di stared at him for a long time before speaking: “The Pei family stands with the Crown Prince.”

“So?” the young man said with a light smile, “If my actions harm the Pei family’s interests, what does Lord Pei plan to do?”

Pei Di remained silent.

“Perhaps righteously eliminate me by poison…”

He stepped forward, bent down slightly, and lowered his voice by the man’s ear: “Just like you poisoned my horse back then.”

Pei Di’s gaze flickered. Pei Yunying had already straightened up.

He looked at Pei Di with eyes as distant as if looking at a stranger, his tone very calm.

“Since there are other matters, I won’t disturb your lordship’s family bliss.”

With that, he stepped past the man and strode away.

The palace lantern swayed in the night wind, its colorful tassels like flowers of many colors.

Pei Yunying walked around the corridor when Qiong Ying, who had been sent by Pei Yunshu to inquire, caught up and asked: “Where is my lord going?”

The young man’s steps paused slightly. He glanced at the bright tassels blooming under the eaves’ flower lanterns and smiled carelessly.

“Today is the fifteenth, and the lantern evening is lively.”

“I suddenly want to go see the lanterns at Jingde Gate.”