The carriage drove out the city gate heading straight for the capital’s suburbs. Song Wan caressed the land deed in her sleeve, her panicked feelings gradually settling.

No matter when, as long as Elder Brother was there, she had nothing to fear or worry about.

Heng Zhi and Heng Wu sat dazedly in the carriage. Hearing the continuous wailing and crying behind them, they couldn’t help feeling sorrowful.

“Miss, what has become of the city?”

Song Wan returned the deed to her sleeve and said mournfully: “Since ancient times, struggles for power have always been thus. One general’s success is built upon ten thousand bleached bones. There is no ruler who did not climb up by stepping on mountains of corpses and seas of bones.”

She dared not listen, nor dared think carefully about what terrible conditions the city’s commoners were experiencing. Song Wan pressed her lips together and gently lowered the carriage curtain, as if this could isolate the lamentations of those who had lost their loved ones.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

“Thank you, Nanny Lang.”

Nanny Lang had originally been the nanny who cared for her elder brother, but because he worried about her, he had sent Nanny Lang to her side. Initially, it should have been Nanny Lang accompanying her to the marquis manor to keep her widow’s vigil, but Nanny Zhao had treated her like her own daughter since childhood and truly couldn’t leave her, so she went to the marquis manor instead.

Later, Song Wan arranged for Nanny Lang to be outside, helping her manage her dowry shops, estates, and such. Over these years, she and Nanny Zhao had looked after her extremely well, both inside and out.

Meeting Nanny Lang today made Song Wan’s heart even more settled, as if she had seen Song Fu himself.

“Miss, what are you saying? This old woman has long wanted to snatch you out of that godforsaken marquis manor.”

Helped down from the carriage by her, Song Wan finally saw the residence Song Fu had prepared for her.

Just seeing the recently repaired courtyard walls, her eyes grew hot and her heart tender.

These tall walls were almost twice her height, with residences on all sides, positioned neither too near nor too far.

They wouldn’t leave her isolated and frightened, nor would they be so close as to trouble her.

The main gate of the residence was made of very heavy cypress wood, brushed with vermillion tung oil. As Song Wan entered, Nanny Lang quickly fastened three door bolts.

The two-section residence was bright and spacious, kept clean and tidy inside. Song Wan walked through the courtyard, passed through the central hall, and reached her chamber.

The inner courtyard wasn’t large, with only two side rooms, but seeing the beaded curtains hanging on the door and the soft pillows on the bed exuding floral fragrance, Song Wan smiled gently.

“These are all things I loved as a child.”

Gauze curtains hung everywhere in the room, all in fresh colors. Looking at them, Song Wan suddenly felt as if her long-withered heart was beating again.

Seeing this, Heng Wu clapped vigorously: “Beautiful, beautiful! Finally we don’t have to look at that room full of white. It was truly unlucky and vexing.”

Nanny Lang laughed: “The Young Master gave this old servant silver to purchase these things. I don’t know if Miss likes them.”

“Thank you, Nanny. I like them very much.”

Song Wan hooked the beaded curtain at the door, looking at the empty bookshelf in the room, and suddenly remembered her rare book collections and such that she hadn’t had a chance to take.

But as soon as this thought flashed by, she cast it behind her.

She never wanted to mention anything related to the marquis manor again.

“From now on, this old servant will accompany Miss in this residence. The Young Master said this residence is small—if there were many people, it would instead be unsafe. The Young Master originally found several maids who knew some martial arts to prepare them for your protection, but now they cannot leave the city.”

Song Wan shook her head: “No matter, this is already very good.”

Nanny Lang went to the kitchen to boil hot water. After Heng Zhi and Heng Wu helped Song Wan undo her makeup and hair, the three sat on the canopy bed in the room, smiling foolishly with reddened eyes.

After laughing, Heng Wu wiped away tears and said: “Miss, have we truly escaped from the marquis manor? This servant feels as if it’s all been a dream.”

Heng Zhi’s nose was red: “Miss, will we be sent back in the future?”

“No.”

Song Wan touched the golden lotus flower orange silk quilt beneath her, her tone joyful: “Having gone through such tremendous hardships to leave the marquis manor, Elder Brother and Aunt will not let me return again.”

“Heng Zhi, Heng Wu, we won’t go back anymore.”

The master and two servants huddled together on one bed, none with any sleepiness. They spoke of the bits and pieces of these past years, growing increasingly emotional.

At the third watch of the night, Song Wan couldn’t sleep and went to find writing materials in the room, writing letters one by one to report the good news to Nanny Zhao, Xiang Cao, and Lv Zhu.

Early the next morning, Nanny Lang made five-grain porridge and pickled vegetables for everyone. Seeing Song Wan eating with such relish, she choked up and turned away to wipe her tears.

“This residence lacks nothing else, but there’s no grain or oil. These days we cannot enter the city. This old servant will look around in a bit to see if there are any farmers carrying loads.”

“Nanny need not trouble yourself. Whatever there is to eat will do.”

Heng Wu nodded repeatedly: “Miss speaks correctly. Eating anything in this place is fragrant. Even if Nanny brought us raw rice, this servant would eat it without indigestion.”

“When the heart is comfortable, anything digests well.”

Song Wan pressed her lips together in a light smile.

With the city gates not opening, the master and two servants lived in this small residence. In the morning, there was no need to pay morning and evening respects to Madam or Old Madam. In the evening, there was no need to keep accounts or handle miscellaneous matters. In just six or seven days, Song Wan had been nourished to have rosy coloring, a delicate bearing, and charming form.

The day the city gates opened wide, Song Fu came to see Song Wan. He was greatly relieved by her healthy appearance—though she wore no powder or rouge, her skin was lustrous as cream, her cheeks flushed pink.

“Elder Brother.”

Song Wan wore a crab-shell red cutwork jacket, paired below with a pale blue silver-embroidered flower skirt. Two pearl temple hairpins were inserted in her hair, even adorned with silk flowers.

Even around her neck hung a bright red imitation pomegranate seed gilt-inlaid jeweled necklace.

The embroidered shoes on her feet were also inset with pearls and little bells, tinkling as she walked.

Song Fu examined her carefully and smiled: “Why are you dressed so vibrantly? It doesn’t seem like your usual preference.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Song Fu knew he had misspoken.

“You look very beautiful dressed like this. Elder Brother likes it.”

Song Wan smiled shyly: “Heng Zhi and Heng Wu chose this outfit, saying it looked auspicious.”

“Qianbai’s injuries have healed, so my mood is good too.”

Some days ago, receiving the letter sent by Song Fu’s carrier pigeon, Song Wan’s worried heart of several days finally settled. Seeing him today, she could finally ask in person about the Third Prince’s condition.

“Did Qianbai cry out in pain from his injuries? Did he suffer any scars or marks?”

Song Fu lowered his eyes, then smiled: “Everything is fine now. You need not worry.”

Though Shen Qianbai’s life was spared, that day the flower lantern had contained explosives that disfigured half his face. Song Yuning couldn’t bear to let Song Wan also suffer heartache and difficulty, repeatedly instructing them not to tell her about this matter.

His younger sister had finally obtained a few days of happiness. He and Aunt were both unwilling to trouble her with these vexing court matters.

“I brought you food and books from home. If you have nothing to do, you can read them to pass the time…”

As Song Fu spoke, he walked toward the inner hall, but Song Wan stood dazedly in place, furrowing her brows: “Elder Brother is lying.”

“Elder Brother doesn’t know how to lie and can’t deceive Wan’er. Something happened to Qianbai, didn’t it? What happened to him? Where was he injured? Is it life-threatening? Or… does it threaten his position?”