After the Awakening of Insects, the weather gradually turned warmer.

In the southern region of Western Liang, spring waters warmed and grasslands flourished. Scholars and refined guests loved to plant flowers and herbs. In mountain courtyards everywhere, mountain orchids and jasmines intertwined sparsely and densely, while large blooms of poppies flourished brilliantly, creating layers of brocaded splendor.

At noon, with the sun high overhead, the carriage sped along, passing through mountain forests. Inside, a woman wearing a cyan comparison armor lifted the carriage curtain and asked the driver outside: “Brother Wang, how much longer until we reach Changwu County?”

The driver replied cheerfully: “Not far! Just over half a mountain more, we’ll arrive in about two hours!”

Yin Zheng then dropped the carriage curtain and turned to look at the person beside her.

This was a young lady, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with strikingly beautiful features and porcelain-white skin that made her black pupils appear even more bright and clear. Though she wore only a half-worn dark blue algae-patterned cotton dress, her demeanor was exceptionally serene and cool. Hearing the driver’s words, the young lady’s eyelashes flickered slightly, her gaze momentarily touched with emotion.

Yin Zheng sighed inwardly.

Having followed Lu Tong for half a year, she had never seen her young mistress show much excess emotion, her expression always faint. It seemed that even the greatest matters in the world were unremarkable in her eyes. Only as they approached Changwu County did she see life appear in Lu Tong’s eyes, as if a clay sculpture gradually received the offerings of smoke and fire, gaining some of the vitality of ordinary people.

Indeed, even the most indifferent person would be moved when returning to their homeland.

In the carriage, Lu Tong sat quietly.

The mountain road was rough, and the jolting scattered the apricots Yin Zheng had brought everywhere. She lowered her gaze to look at the apricots on the floor, her thoughts gradually drifting far away.

Seven years ago, she had also left Changwu County by carriage. At that time, the journey seemed so quick, arriving in strange towns in the blink of an eye. Now the road home had become distant, seeming endless.

She had stayed with Mistress Yun on the mountain for seven years, until Mistress Yun’s death. Only after burying Mistress Yun did she gain her freedom to return home.

During those seven years, she had written letters to her father and the others, though she didn’t know if they had received them. When she left so hurriedly that year, perhaps they thought she had died…

As Lu Tong was lost in thought, unknowingly, the sun gradually moved westward. The carriage stopped at the city gate, and the driver’s voice called from outside: “Miss, we’ve arrived at Changwu County!”

They had arrived at Changwu County.

Yin Zheng helped Lu Tong down from the carriage, paid the driver his silver, and walked with Lu Tong into the city.

Lu Tong raised her eyes to look, feeling somewhat dazed.

It was springtime, and the streets were filled with travelers and carriages. Many tea shops had been added along both sides of the street, with stalls selling tea, orange cakes, and sesame candy on the tables. There were also fortune tellers and palm readers. By the city lake, many new pavilions had been built, with spring willows reflected in the river, dyeing the water in varying shades of green.

At a glance, the crowds moved endlessly, very lively.

Yin Zheng’s eyes showed some delight: “Miss, Changwu County is so bustling.”

But Lu Tong seemed lost.

When she left home, it was during an epidemic and deep winter, with the streets desolate and barren. Now returning home, the small county town had become much more prosperous than before, with tourists and spectacular scenes, which instead gave rise to a hint of unease in her heart.

After a pause, she said: “Let’s go.”

Changwu County’s streets had been widened considerably. The former mud ground, which turned into a mire during the summer rainy season, was now completely paved with fine stones, making even carriage rides smooth.

The original cloth shops and rice stores along both streets could no longer be found, replaced by unfamiliar restaurants and teahouses, vastly different from the street scene of the past.

Lu Tong walked slowly, following the memories in her mind, occasionally finding traces of the old times. Such as the well at the temple entrance in the east of the city, and the bronze iron ox in front of the ancestral hall in the city center.

Passing through a secluded alley and walking a few hundred steps forward, Lu Tong’s footsteps stopped.

Yin Zheng looked ahead and couldn’t help but be startled: “Miss…”

Before them stood a collapsed building.

The earthen wall at the entrance was scorched black by fire, and the building was unrecognizable from before, showing only a few burnt lacquered wood pieces vaguely in the shape of a door frame. Drawing closer, one could still smell the acrid smoke.

Yin Zheng looked uneasily at Lu Tong. Lu Tong had stopped here, so this must be Lu Tong’s home. But there were only traces of a great fire… where were the house’s occupants?

Lu Tong stared fixedly at the burnt door frame, her face growing increasingly pale, feeling as if her legs were filled with lead, unable to take a single step.

Just then, a voice came from behind: “Who are you? What are you doing standing here?”

They turned around to see an old woman standing not far away, carrying a pole of Fuling cakes on her shoulders, looking at them both suspiciously.

Yin Zheng was quick-witted and immediately put on a smile, walking to the old woman’s side. She reached out to give her a few coins to buy some Fuling cakes from her basket while asking: “Auntie, my young mistress is a distant relative of the Lu family. We’re passing through and came to seek shelter with them. How come… it seems there was a fire here? Do you know where the family has gone now?”

The Fuling cake seller, hearing Yin Zheng mention “Lu family” and accepting her money, softened her expression considerably and said: “Coming to seek the Lu family?” She glanced at Lu Tong standing behind Yin Zheng and shook her head: “Tell your young mistress to go back early, there’s no one here anymore.”

“No one anymore?” Yin Zheng glanced back at Lu Tong and asked with a smile: “What do you mean?”

The old woman sighed: “Don’t you know? The entire Lu household died out a year ago.”