Yan Qing had heard from Qiao Yiran that not long after this case had occurred, the man named Liu Ren had already written his report. He had originally intended to publish the article through the New Moon Daily, which had the largest circulation, but Qiao Yiran had blocked him at every turn.

Liu Ren, unwilling to give up, took his manuscript and submitted it to other newspapers instead, thus setting off a wave of public opinion.

“That Liu Ren — I’ve already had people detain him,” Shi Ting said. “This time we owe a great deal to Qiao Yiran. We must properly thank her someday.”

Yan Qing smiled. “Yiran is the paper’s chief editor. Her abilities in this regard are beyond question.”

“She is the good friend you made.”

“By the way, did Ling’ai come back with you?”

Upon hearing that Zheng Yun was heading to Qianguan City, Ling’ai had gone along as well. Throughout those days, she had been the one attending to everyone’s daily needs — their clothing, food, and lodging.

Zheng Yun had not expected that a young lady of Ling’ai’s privileged background would endure hardship without so much as a frown. This shared journey had deepened the bond between them considerably.

“She came back. She wanted to come here, but Zheng Yun wouldn’t allow it — she sent her home to rest,” Shi Ting said reassuringly. “She was worried about you the whole time. She traveled through the night with us without uttering a single word of complaint.”

Yan Qing smiled. “That girl — she doesn’t have a spoiled bone in her body.”

Qiao Yiran was the same way. Though her family was well-off, she had always been self-reliant. It was said that her father had already bought her a luxurious mansion, just waiting for her to find the right man to marry — but she had her heart set firmly on her career and remained unmoved by matters of romance. This left both Mr. and Mrs. Qiao anxious yet helpless.

“The matters here, I’ll leave to Zheng Yun and Bai Jin to handle. I’ll go with you to see Father-in-law.”

At the mention of Old Master Yan, Yan Qing could not help but feel her eyes grow red. She tightened her arms around him with both hands, pressing against his broad chest. The long-missed sense of security wrapped around her once more.

She knew he had come back. The storms around her would no longer rage. He could shield her from everything, resolve everything. He was her umbrella. He was her harbor.

Shi Ting held her tightly in return, saying softly, “With me here, I won’t let you suffer even the slightest grievance.”

“Mm.” Yan Qing nodded firmly against his embrace, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

How wonderful. Her Shi Ting had come back. She no longer had to fight alone.

~

The two of them went to the Yan Family Mansion, where white mourning cloth hung throughout.

Yan Madam’s body had been held at the Military Police Bureau all along, so it had not yet been buried. However, a mourning hall had already been set up in the Yan family courtyard, with the coffin placed inside.

When Yan Qing walked in, Yan Qi — dressed in mourning garments — immediately darkened his expression. But out of regard for Shi Ting’s presence beside her, Yan Qi held back from saying anything further.

“Elder Brother.” Yan Qing knew Yan Qi was not intentionally targeting her. Given that all evidence had pointed to her, Yan Qi could not help but believe it.

Yan Qi stopped in his tracks, seeming reluctant to deal with Yan Qing, but still tilted his head slightly, as though willing to hear what she had to say.

Yan Qing stepped closer before speaking. “Elder Brother, I know you are heartbroken and furious over Madam’s death. But she was not killed by me.”

Yan Qi said nothing.

“The killer has been found. It was Han Xiling, the widow of the late Minister Han.”

Yan Qi finally turned around, his eyes wide with shock. “What did you say? Who is Han Xiling? Why would she kill Mother? What grudge did she have against Mother?”

“Because of me.” Before Yan Qing could even open her mouth, Shi Ting took over. “Han Xiling has held a deep grudge against me over Minister Han’s death. She wanted to kill Yan Madam and frame Yan Qing in order to take revenge on me. If you wish to place blame, blame me. This matter has nothing to do with Yan Qing. She is entirely innocent.”

“Because of you?” Yan Qi’s eyes reddened, and he suddenly stepped forward and seized Shi Ting by the collar. “Because of you — it was because of you that my mother died, wasn’t it?”

“Elder Brother.” Yan Qing quickly stepped forward to pull Yan Qi away. “Elder Brother, Shi Ting only enforced the law impartially. What crime is that? It was Han Xiling who transferred her father’s wrongdoings onto others and used the lives of innocent people to vent her hatred. At the root of it all, the blame should not fall on Shi Ting either. He arrested so many criminals — does that mean every criminal’s family member should come seeking revenge against him? If those criminals had not committed crimes in the first place, why would Shi Ting have arrested them? If this country had no one like Shi Ting, where anyone could kill and burn for personal vendettas, how would that be any different from a living hell?”

Yan Qi glared at Shi Ting but met a gaze that was utterly composed — deep, yet clear as water — reflecting back his own smallness and impulsiveness.

Yan Qi gradually loosened his grip, but turned aside in a fit of pique, unwilling to look at Shi Ting any longer.

“Elder Brother.” Yan Qing said gently. “I’m sorry. This matter ultimately arose because of us, and if you wish to blame us, it is entirely understandable.”

“What about Second Yitai?” Yan Qi suddenly asked. “Why haven’t Second Yitai and Yan Ling come back? Were they also involved in this affair?”

Han Xiling had been arrested inside Guo Yanrong’s courtyard — something Yan Qi naturally knew about.

How Han Xiling had entered the Yan family compound and disguised herself as a servant, he had not known at all.

Yan Qi was no fool. Since Han Xiling was the killer, and she had been hidden in Guo Yanrong’s courtyard, even if Guo Yanrong had been unaware, Yan Ling must have known. They had known what Han Xiling intended to do, yet said nothing, allowing her to act as she pleased.

Had they spoken a single word, Yan Madam would not have died. But to satisfy their own selfish desires, they had chosen to look away and provide cover.

Yan Qi gazed at the mourning hall, at the portrait hanging within, and grief surged through him all at once. He crouched down and began to weep loudly.

Yan Qing, unable to bear it, stepped forward and offered a handkerchief. Yan Qi shoved her hand away forcefully. “No need for your false kindness. Now that Mother is dead, you must be overjoyed.”

“Elder Brother, even though Madam and I were at odds, I never wished to harm her, let alone take her life.”

Yan Qi said nothing more, still weeping in low, muffled sobs.

“Elder Brother, I’m sorry.” Tears fell from Yan Qing’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Yan Qi’s weeping grew louder.

Coming out of the mourning hall, Shi Ting consoled her: “This is not your fault. No one could have foreseen things would come to this.”

Though Yan Madam had never done much good in her life, and both Wen Wan’s death and Yan Qing’s leg injury might have been connected to her, no one had the right to decide another person’s life or death.

Besides, the dead deserve respect. No one wished to speak ill of her anymore.

“Enough. Let’s not dwell on it. Let’s go see Father-in-law.” Shi Ting squeezed her hand. “He hasn’t seen you in days. He must be worried.”

The two of them went to Old Master Yan’s bedroom. Old Master Yan was being helped to take his medicine.

“Ah, this medicine is so bitter!” Old Master Yan said, frowning.

The steward laughed. “When Sixth Miss was here, Master never once complained about bitterness. Why do you complain every day now?”

“Ah, that’s true. When Qingqing was here, even medicine tasted sweet.” Old Master Yan sighed. “But she is, after all, the Shi family’s daughter-in-law. When the Shi family has matters to tend to, she must go back.”

Hearing the loneliness in Old Master Yan’s tone, Yan Qing’s heart ached. Without even waiting for Shi Ting to knock, she had already pushed the door open and stepped in quickly.

“Father.”

Old Master Yan heard the familiar voice and his face lit up with joy. He immediately sat up in bed. “Qingqing is back!”

Perhaps because of the serious illness, Old Master Yan had grown increasingly dependent on his daughter.

The steward had told him that Yan Qing had returned to the Shi family home, and he had been saddened for quite some time over it. He understood that his daughter was, after all, the Shi family’s daughter-in-law, and returning home was only natural — but during the days she was away, he always felt this place was empty and hollow.

Now the familiar figure and voice had returned, and he naturally beamed with delight.

Old Master Yan’s gaze swept the room and landed on Shi Ting, who followed close behind. He was both surprised and pleased. “Xingzhi has also come?”

Shi Ting stepped forward. “I had just returned from Qianguan City when I heard that Father-in-law was ill. I’ve arranged for several specialists in treating consumption to come. Tomorrow I will bring Father-in-law to the hospital for a thorough examination.”

Old Master Yan sighed. “It’s already a confirmed diagnosis. There is no need for Xingzhi to trouble himself. This illness has no cure — that I know well.”

“Father, you are not allowed to say such discouraging things.” Yan Qing deliberately puffed out her cheeks in feigned anger. “You made a promise to me.”

Old Master Yan quickly smiled and waved a hand. “Alright, alright. I won’t say it. I’ll recite ‘long life and prosperity’ a hundred times every day.”

Yan Qing took up a cloth and wiped his hands with a smile.

“Xingzhi, please sit.” Old Master Yan beckoned to Shi Ting.

Shi Ting sat down in the chair beside them, his posture straight and upright as a pine.

Old Master Yan looked at him and his thoughts drifted to the past. “In those days you would come to my home regularly to collect medicine. I offered to have it sent to your door, but you worried about causing trouble. Looking back now — if I had truly sent it to your door, how would you ever have met Qingqing?”

“The first time I saw her was by that bridge,” Shi Ting said.

As he spoke, his gentle gaze fell on Yan Qing’s fair face. “I must thank Father-in-law.”

“It is all fate. There is nothing to thank me for,” Old Master Yan said. “Xingzhi, my illness will not allow me long in this world. When I am gone, I am entrusting Qingqing to you. You must treat her well.”

“She will certainly not allow Father-in-law to have anything happen to him,” Shi Ting said, his gaze calm and steady. “You just promised her not to say such discouraging things.”

Old Master Yan paused and then laughed heartily. “Right, right. I promised. I won’t say it, I won’t say it.”

Shi Ting said, “Father-in-law, please rest at ease. When you first entrusted Qingqing to my care, it was an act of trust in me. I will protect her for the rest of my life, treat her well, and cherish her like a treasure.”

Their gazes met involuntarily. Yan Qing’s face flushed red. “Saying such mushy things right in front of Father.”

Shi Ting smiled. “I’ve already phrased it quite subtly.”

Old Master Yan saw how naturally and sweetly the two interacted with each other, and the worry in his heart gradually settled. He believed that no matter what the future held, Shi Ting would honor the promise he had made today.

As they came out of Old Master Yan’s room, Shi Ting said, “I’ve sent word to Mother. Until Father-in-law’s condition improves, I will stay here in the Yan family home with you.”

Yan Qing was taken aback. “Is — is that appropriate?”

“You don’t want me to stay with you?” Shi Ting raised an eyebrow.

Yan Qing shot him a reproachful glance. “As long as Mother has no objections, it’s fine.”

“She even told me to comfort you and keep you company. She said that once she’s feeling a bit better, she wants to come visit Father-in-law.” Shi Ting took her hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss. “Don’t you also have so much to tell me?”

~