Shen Xiling looked at him, her expression still somewhat confused, murmuring: “…After some time?”

He nodded, his expression growing a bit gentler as he said: “When it’s time for your coming-of-age ceremony, I’ll definitely return to see you.”

Shen Xiling looked up at him, not knowing why that mixed feeling of sorrow and joy surged in her heart again, the stinging sensation in her nose growing even stronger.

But she absolutely didn’t want to cry.

She restrained her tears, showing a faint smile on her face, seeming somewhat happy as she looked at him and said: “Mm, alright – then I’ll wait for you.”

I can see that you don’t seem to want to return right now.

But that’s fine, I can wait for you.

As long as… you tell me you’ll definitely return.

Shen Xiling lowered her head, thought for a moment but still felt uneasy, so she asked again: “So in another two months, you’ll return?”

Qi Ying remained silent for a while, then nodded.

Shen Xiling nodded along with him, thought for a moment, then bit her lip, seeming somewhat hesitant, but still asked him: “…Did I do something wrong?”

Did I do something wrong, making you angry, so that’s why you’re like this now?

Is it because I’ve always focused on business and haven’t studied well or practiced horseback riding properly, so you’re angry? Or is it because of something else?

I can correct everything… can you please stop being angry?

Or at least, can you not stay angry for so long?

She was so silent, not saying a single unnecessary word, yet he understood her so well that from the look in her eyes he read everything she wanted to say at that moment.

Qi Ying’s face suddenly became somewhat pale, his hands hanging at his sides trembling slightly.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then reached out with some uncertainty to gently smooth her hair, saying: “No, don’t overthink things. I’ll return soon.”

Shen Xiling looked at him, yet her heart still felt empty and lost.

Clearly he was gently smoothing her hair just as usual, clearly his palm was dry and warm as before, clearly his tone was also gentle, but she knew something had already changed.

He seemed to suddenly be very far from her.

But she could no longer say anything more, lest she appear nagging and affected. Besides, she held a trace of hope in her heart, thinking perhaps she herself was being too sensitive and suspicious, thus misunderstanding him, when actually his treatment of her was no different from before.

She comforted herself this way again and again, so she looked at him and nodded, saying: “…Alright.”

Alright… I believe you.

Outside the carriage, Shuipei and Liuzi both consciously stood far away to avoid accidentally overhearing anything they shouldn’t.

Liuzi noticed Shuipei beside him nervously stealing glances toward the carriage and couldn’t help but secretly smile, lowering his voice to whisper: “Sister Shuipei, what are you looking at? Aren’t you afraid of getting a stye?”

Liuzi was slow-witted and hadn’t noticed anything wrong between his mistress and the young master, only thinking they were reuniting after a long separation and inevitably needed privacy for intimacy, which servants should properly avoid. Shuipei was much more perceptive than Liuzi and naturally had no mind for joking with him. Her eyes kept flashing with the image of the young master’s expressionless face when he boarded the carriage, her worry growing stronger.

Before long, she saw the carriage curtain lift and the young master emerge from inside.

Shuipei and Liuzi hurried forward to pay respects. The young master’s expression remained cold and distant. He waved his hand to excuse their bows, then gave Shuipei an additional glance, saying: “Your mistress works hard. In the future, don’t let her be troubled by such small matters anymore.”

Upon hearing this, Shuipei’s heart sank with a “thud.”

The young master’s words… were they warning her not to let the mistress come looking for him again in the future?

Shuipei felt anxious and fearful, unable to determine whether the young master was reproaching her. She could only quickly lower her head again, answering submissively: “…Yes.”

The young master said nothing more. When she raised her head to look again, he had already walked far away, and she discovered her back was covered in cold sweat.

Liuzi beside her was still confused, approaching Shuipei to ask: “Sister Shuipei, what did the young master’s words just now mean? His expression didn’t look very good…”

Shuipei had no time to answer him. As soon as she came to her senses, she quickly walked to the carriage. Just as she was thinking of going in to check, she heard her mistress’s voice faintly through the curtain: “Sister Shuipei.”

Upon hearing her mistress call, Shuipei quickly responded, then heard her say: “Let’s go back. Please trouble yourself to sit outside for a while – I want to be alone for a bit.”

Her tone was gentle and calm, sounding no different from usual at first hearing, not like someone who had been wronged. But her not wanting anyone to enter was somewhat unusual. Though Shuipei was worried, she couldn’t go against her wishes and could only say: “…Alright, then we’ll head back now.”

After leaving the back alley of the Privy Council, the street sounds grew bustling. Children who had finished school were chasing and laughing, street vendors were calling out their wares – everywhere was lively.

Only then did Shen Xiling dare to cry softly inside the carriage.

She hadn’t wanted to cry – firstly, it showed she was weak and hadn’t grown, and secondly, she feared making Shuipei, Liuzi and the others worry if they saw.

She desperately tried to convince herself that he was just too busy lately, that he had no intention of being cold and distant toward her. But the grievance and fear in her heart kept bubbling up in waves, no matter how hard she tried to suppress them.

She had long since grown up – she was no longer that solitary girl with nothing from three years ago. She could now stand on her own, supporting the livelihoods of many people, and could compete for profits with the wolves and tigers of the business world.

Yet once she returned to that person’s presence, all her growth seemed to immediately become worthless. The calm rationality he had taught her turned to bubbles. She was so powerless and weak, just like when she first stepped into Fenghe Garden and knelt in Wangshi begging him.

She seemed to instantly revert to that timid, incompetent child again.

She cried, very carefully, covering her mouth tightly with her hands. But the broken sobs could still be faintly heard. She wasn’t sure if the street noise was enough to mask her crying, so she didn’t dare wail without restraint, only daring to whimper carefully, the loneliness and sadness in her heart completely enveloping her.

She was crying with some hiccups now.

Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the carriage: “Is sister Wenwen sitting inside the carriage?”

Shen Xiling was startled by the voice. After a moment, she recognized it as Qi Ning, Third Young Master Qi’s voice. She noticed Liuzi had stopped the carriage and heard Shuipei paying respects to Third Young Master.

She felt frustrated – how could they encounter an acquaintance at this time? She hurriedly wiped the tears from her face while gently clearing her throat, sitting in the carriage to reply: “Is that Third Brother outside?”

Outside the carriage was indeed Qi Ning.

Today he had originally gone out to wander around in boredom, never expecting to see a carriage that seemed to be from Fenghe Garden midway. Looking carefully, he recognized the maid sitting outside as familiar. After thinking for a moment, he remembered it was Shuipei, the senior maid beside sister Wenwen.

This made him extremely happy.

Ever since talking with second brother on New Year’s Eve and hearing his brother’s tone soften considerably, he felt his marriage with sister Wenwen was already half accomplished. Now encountering her by chance on the street, he felt even more that this was a heaven-sent match – they were destined to be happily united as a pair!

Qi Ning was infinitely joyful, thinking that if he could embrace such a beauty as Wenwen into the bridal chamber, all his years of failure in pursuing official rank could be completely written off – with sister Wenwen by his side adding fragrance to his red sleeves, what more could he ask for?

Though Qi Ning was delighted, he also knew to maintain proper demeanor. He restrained his joy and walked to the carriage window to say appropriately: “It is indeed me. I happened to be out walking today and unexpectedly encountered you – what a coincidence. Where is sister Wenwen heading?”

After his words fell, before long he heard his sister Wenwen’s voice from inside the carriage window: “Third Brother has such refined interests – I originally came out to check on business today and am now returning.”

His sister Wenwen’s voice was crystal clear and pleasant, especially when calling “Third Brother” – even heavenly fairies wouldn’t have a better voice. It made Qi Ning’s heart flutter. However, listening carefully, he felt her voice was somewhat hoarse, though only slightly, he still noticed it.

Qi Ning frowned, asking with considerable concern: “Has sister caught a cold recently? The weather is still cold – remember to wear thick clothes.”

There was no movement inside the carriage window for quite a while. Qi Ning felt somewhat uneasy and called for his sister twice more before hearing her answer: “Thank you for Third Brother’s concern, I understand.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Ning beamed with joy, feeling that “Third Brother” sounded even more pleasing – it nearly melted all his bones. His heart itched terribly, desperately wanting to see her to resolve the increasingly deep longing in his heart these days. Unable to restrain himself, he asked: “If sister isn’t in a hurry to return, why not come with me to sit in the tea house ahead for a moment? We haven’t seen each other for quite some time – it would be good to talk.”

Shuipei, hearing Third Young Master’s words, felt this was inappropriate.

Firstly, their mistress had grown up and was unmarried – meeting privately with men again would be improper. Secondly, though she hadn’t heard clearly just now, she had vaguely caught the sound of sobbing from inside the carriage compartment. She worried their mistress had just been crying and wasn’t in a state to see people.

Shuipei was most considerate. After thinking it over, she proactively stepped forward and politely said to Qi Ning: “Third Young Master is kind, but my mistress has some matters to attend to later. This time we must unfortunately decline your gracious invitation.”

This was clearly an excuse, and Qi Ning, reading between the lines, naturally heard it.

Actually, as soon as the words left his mouth, he had realized his impropriety. Now seeing Shuipei offering him a way out, he naturally had no reason not to take it. He thought he indeed needn’t be hasty – once they were married, the future days would be long, with plenty of time to face his beautiful sister Wenwen morning and evening.

He smiled and said: “Oh, if that’s the case, then let’s forget about today.”

He paused, then seemed to remember something and continued: “Speaking of which, it should be sister’s coming-of-age ceremony in some time, right? We can meet then just the same.”

After he finished speaking, he heard the person inside the carriage ask with some hesitation: “My coming-of-age ceremony… Third Brother will come too?”

“Naturally,” Qi Ning answered quickly, raising his eyebrows with some surprise. “Could it be that second brother hasn’t mentioned it to you yet? For your coming-of-age ceremony, mother will personally oversee it. We’ll all come to join the celebration and ask you for a cup of wine.”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was silence inside the carriage window again. He realized sister Wenwen didn’t yet know about the arrangements for her coming-of-age ceremony, so he said a few more words to her: “Second brother has always doted on you – your coming-of-age ceremony naturally won’t be handled carelessly. Don’t worry, mother is kind and thorough, and has always liked girls. She’ll definitely arrange your coming-of-age ceremony excellently and won’t let you suffer any grievance.”

Qi Ning spoke for quite some time but heard no response from sister Wenwen. He thought she might be somewhat tired, or perhaps it was inconvenient to speak on this busy street with carriages and horses. He felt some consideration, suppressing his desire to see his sister, and instead said: “Is sister tired? It’s my fault for being too delighted upon seeing you, thus delaying you for so long – perhaps you should return first. We can meet again on the day of your coming-of-age ceremony.”

Now his sister Wenwen finally responded, first answering gently with agreement, then saying: “Then I’ll greet Third Brother properly another day.”

Qi Ning responded, and the two parted. He watched the gradually departing carriage, his heart still infinitely sweet.

Such a beautiful sister Wenwen… after the coming-of-age ceremony, she might be his.

Author’s Note: This chapter is finished, two chapters remaining.