The moon waxes and wanes; people part and reunite.

Zhou Fu and Wei Jin lived in marital bliss for many years, but unexpectedly, in the autumn when their daughter turned six, Wei Jin died on the road while thoroughly investigating a corruption case.

In the first few days, Zhou Fu washed her face with tears daily. She couldn’t think – even a single thought would cause tears to fall silently.

She lived numbly, showing grateful expressions when others kindly comforted her. When others grieved and wept, Zhou Fu could no longer cry.

Her mother-in-law was even more devastated and fell ill in bed.

For several days, daughter Wei Rao became a pitiful little thing – besides the nannies and maids by her side, no one truly paid attention to her.

One day, Zhou Fu had lain in bed too long and developed a headache. She walked out of her room in a daze and saw her daughter squatting under a crabapple tree, using a small branch to poke at ants crawling on the ground.

Children always forget easily. When she first lost her father, she cried until her voice was hoarse, but after a few days, she recovered her childish nature of loving to play.

“Mother.” Seeing her mother, little Wei Rao hastily stood up and hid the hand holding the wooden stick behind her back.

She was a girl, and her grandmother had said girls shouldn’t play with such things.

Zhou Fu smiled and walked over, kneeling on one knee beside her daughter. A line of small black ants crawled busily – some carrying leaf fragments, others carrying grains of rice.

Having something to do makes life less boring.

The less one understands about the world, the easier it is to feel curious. When she was her daughter’s age, she could play with insects for an entire day.

“Does Raorao know what these ants are doing?” Zhou Fu asked her daughter gently.

Seeing that her mother didn’t scold her, little Wei Rao’s eyes lit up. She obediently came closer, waiting for her mother’s answer.

Zhou Fu explained the structure of ant colonies to her daughter.

From that day on, Zhou Fu no longer shut herself in her room. She wholeheartedly accompanied her daughter.

She always maintained a smile in front of her daughter, but Zhou Fu’s heart was uneasy. She felt trapped in a cage. In this cage, besides her daughter, who could give her some comfort, everyone else constantly reminded her that Wei Jin was dead, she had become a widow, and this was how her life would be.

Zhou Fu missed the carefree days of her youth and the joy of traveling with Wei Jin when he was alive. She didn’t want to be a widow trapped in a cage, didn’t want to accept others’ pitying looks anymore, didn’t want to see a favorite dress in her wardrobe but be unable to wear it because its bright color was inappropriate for a widow’s status.

All her desires were suppressed. Zhou Fu felt that if this continued, she might go mad.

She no longer wanted to be the widow of Earl Cheng’an’s mansion. She wanted to go home, return to her mother’s side, and return to the days when she could go out freely.

But her daughter was still young – she couldn’t abandon her daughter.

When her daughter turned ten, Zhou Fu was twenty-six.

Zhou Fu had been a widow for over three years. She no longer wanted to continue. Her ten-year-old daughter was becoming increasingly sensible and might understand her thoughts.

Zhou Fu first discussed it with her daughter.

Wei Rao knew her mother wasn’t happy. Sometimes when she finished practicing calligraphy and looked up, she would see her mother staring out the window in a daze. Only when she noticed her gaze would her mother smile.

If returning to the leisure estate could make her mother happy, then Wei Rao supported her mother. She also liked the leisure estate and Yunwu Mountain.

With her daughter’s support, Zhou Fu went to the leisure estate to discuss with her mother, Shou’an Jun.

Shou’an Jun naturally felt sorry for her daughter. She knew that if her daughter returned home, her granddaughter’s reputation might be implicated, but she couldn’t think only of her granddaughter and force her daughter to continue living in a cage. Mothers come before children. Raorao was already sensible, and with a good grandmother and father, marriage wouldn’t be too difficult. But if her daughter continued to suppress herself, she might develop an illness.

Some illnesses show externally, others hide in the heart. They seem fine on the surface, but if they erupt one day, a person might go mad.

Thus, in early March of spring, Zhou Fu left Earl Cheng’an’s mansion and resumed her identity as Second Miss Zhou.

She had wanted to take her daughter with her, but her mother-in-law wouldn’t allow it. Zhou Fu could only promise her daughter they would meet at the leisure estate every year.

.

Xiao Zhou Shi’s return home caused a great stir in the capital.

Second Master Wei was an upright, good official, yet Xiao Zhou Shi refused to remain a widow for him. She must be relying on her beauty, unable to bear loneliness, intending to follow her elder sister Da Zhou Shi, who remarried Jin City’s wealthiest man.

Shou’an Jun already had a bad reputation. With Xiao Zhou Shi’s return home, the people immediately gossiped about all three women.

The rumors reached the imperial palace. The Empress Dowager said to Emperor Yuanjia with great disappointment: “How did the Li family raise their daughters? If I had known she would be so unfaithful to widowhood, I never would have chosen her as His Majesty’s wet nurse back then. Now it even damages His Majesty’s reputation.”

The thirty-six-year-old Emperor Yuanjia merely smiled faintly upon hearing this, as if anything concerning Shou’an Jun and her daughters had nothing to do with him.

Privately, Emperor Yuanjia sent two secret guards out of the palace.

In April in the capital, the weather was more suitable for outings than in March. Peonies and herbaceous peonies bloomed in succession, and Yunwu Temple became a destination people eagerly visited.

For Zhou Fu, Yunwu Mountain was equivalent to the leisure estate’s back garden. Early in the morning, she brought Aunt Ying and A’Man, a female guard skilled in martial arts, into the mountains. A’Man was a little beggar adopted by Shou’an Jun. This girl disliked doing what other maids did and spent every day mingling with the leisure estate’s guards. She was probably naturally gifted for martial arts – when she grew up, she became quite formidable in fighting, better than ordinary ruffians.

Several wild vegetables on Yunwu Mountain made excellent dumpling fillings. April was the best time to eat wild vegetables. Zhou Fu carried a basket into the mountains, both to appreciate the scenery and relax, and to gather wild vegetables to bring back.

The wild vegetables on the outskirts had all been picked by nearby farmers’ children. Zhou Fu took Aunt Ying and A’Man deep into the mountains. Pilgrims wouldn’t come here, common people were busy with crops, and children alone wouldn’t venture into the deep mountains.

The three masters and servants wandered through the mountains, resting by the stream when tired.

By this time, their three vegetable baskets were almost full. Just as Zhou Fu had rested enough and prepared to descend the mountain, footsteps suddenly sounded from the forest.

A’Man and Aunt Ying immediately positioned themselves in front of Zhou Fu.

Zhou Fu frowned slightly. From the footsteps, it seemed like only one person.

Soon, a tall figure emerged from the forest. He wore dark-colored everyday clothes. Among the verdant trees, his skin was white as jade, his bearing noble.

Both Zhou Fu and Aunt Ying had seen Emperor Yuanjia before, but it had been twelve years since their last meeting. The master and servant looked at each other, both uncertain.

Emperor Yuanjia smiled at Zhou Fu, revealing his hands from behind his back. In his hand was a black eagle kite.

Zhou Fu looked astonished.

Aunt Ying even covered her mouth – it was His Majesty!

Seeing that they had recognized him, Emperor Yuanjia continued walking toward the three women.

Only A’Man still didn’t understand the situation. Aunt Ying looked at her young miss and, receiving Zhou Fu’s confirming gaze, pulled A’Man away to a distance where they could see Emperor Yuanjia and their young miss but couldn’t hear their conversation.

Zhou Fu curtsied to Emperor Yuanjia, her gaze falling on the emperor’s black boots. She was very surprised: “How did Your Majesty come here?”

Emperor Yuanjia didn’t speak, lowering his eyes to examine Zhou Fu before him.

When they last met at Yunwu Mountain, she was only fourteen, dressed in men’s clothing, with bright eyes, white teeth, and innocent naivety. Now reuniting, she was already the mother of a ten-year-old girl. But a twenty-six-year-old woman wasn’t old, especially not a beauty like her – twelve years had only made her more beautiful and captivating.

Back then, Emperor Yuanjia had hidden his amazement. This time, he didn’t want to conceal anything.

Zhou Fu sensed the burning heat in the emperor’s eyes. She was no longer an ignorant girl. Looking again at the aged eagle kite in Emperor Yuanjia’s hand, Zhou Fu felt inexplicably uneasy.

“Let’s sit and talk.” Emperor Yuanjia walked to the stones by the stream and placed the kite on his knee.

Zhou Fu sat primly across from him.

Emperor Yuanjia’s slender fingers gently brushed the black kite as he looked at Zhou Fu: “Does A’Fu still remember this kite?”

Zhou Fu’s heart tightened. A’Fu – it was harmless when she was young, but now it was inappropriate for him to address her so.

She lowered her eyes to hide her panic and smiled bitterly: “Don’t tell me it’s the one I lost back then?”

Emperor Yuanjia looked at her: “Precisely. That day, when I returned to the palace, I couldn’t help thinking of you, so I had a guard go into the mountains to find it. All these years, it’s hung in my study.”

Zhou Fu looked up in disbelief.

Emperor Yuanjia was close to her, yet between them lay an invisible span of twelve years. He was the emperor with countless matters to distract him, yet in the depths of night, Emperor Yuanjia would think of that little mushroom who had intruded into his life, think of their brief encounter on Yunwu Mountain, think of her exchanging affectionate glances with Wei Jin during Mid-Autumn Festival.

He was the emperor. If he had wanted A’Fu, he could have brought her into the palace back then.

But Emperor Yuanjia remembered – she liked little red carp but disliked big water tanks.

So that year, Emperor Yuanjia restrained himself. He would rather suffer sleepless nights than prevent her from marrying Wei Jin.

He had regretted it, but what use was regret? She was already married, and he wouldn’t make her sad.

Until Wei-Jin met with misfortune.

Emperor Yuanjia had executed all the corrupt officials in Wei Jin’s case, but couldn’t bring back one Wei Jin to compensate her.

Guilt prevented him from having wild thoughts or disturbing her until this year, when she left Earl Cheng’an’s mansion.

“A’Fu, Wei Jin’s death – I’ve wronged you.” Emperor Yuanjia first apologized to her. If he hadn’t sent Wei Jin, Wei Jin wouldn’t have died. Emperor Yuanjia didn’t know if she would resent him for this.

His sudden mention of Wei-Jin disrupted Zhou Fu’s chaotic thoughts. After a pause, Zhou Fu shook her head and said calmly: “Your Majesty needn’t blame yourself. My husband mentioned many times that you valued him greatly. Precisely because you trusted him, you gave him that case. No one anticipated that treacherous officials would assassinate the imperial commissioner. This matter has nothing to do with Your Majesty. My husband wouldn’t blame Your Majesty, nor will I.”

Emperor Yuanjia looked at the kite in his hands, silent for a long time before saying: “But I still feel guilty toward him.”

Zhou Fu prudently didn’t inquire.

Since she didn’t ask, Emperor Yuanjia insisted on telling her. Holding up the kite, he looked directly at her: “A’Fu, back then, I wanted to return this kite to you personally. But there was the Empress Dowager in the palace – she wouldn’t like you. I also didn’t want to confine you in the palace to suffer, so I hid this kite and watched you marry someone else.”

Zhou Fu closed her eyes, stood up, and knelt before him again: “Your Majesty, please say no more. In my heart, you are my elder brother.”

“But I don’t want to be your elder brother.”

Dropping the kite, Emperor Yuanjia came over and grasped Zhou Fu’s slender shoulders with both hands, forcing her to look up at him: “Perhaps when I was young, I also treated you as a sister, but you’ve grown up. From the first moment I saw you, I knew I wanted you. A’Fu, twelve years – I’ve endured for twelve years. Now I’m nearly forty. I don’t want to endure anymore, don’t want to watch you marry others again.”

Zhou Fu turned her face away, looking bitter: “Who said I was marrying others? Others suspect I returned home because I couldn’t bear loneliness and wanted to remarry. Does Your Majesty believe that, too? But I haven’t – I never thought of remarrying. I just wanted to be myself again, to go wherever I want without asking anyone’s permission, without worrying about criticism that would implicate my husband’s family elders.”

Emperor Yuanjia listened silently. This was the first time he had heard her explain her reasons for returning home. He naturally wouldn’t believe outside rumors and didn’t care about them. He only knew she was now Second Miss Zhou, and he could bring her into the palace.

“You won’t marry others, but in your heart, am I among those others?” Emperor Yuanjia cupped her face, looking desolate. He had known her since she was a little child – if she dared consider him an outsider…

Zhou Fu still remembered their time together in Yunhai Residence and the Eastern Palace. Looking at Emperor Yuanjia’s familiar yet strange face, she said sincerely, “Your Majesty isn’t an outsider. I consider you my bro…”

Before she could finish, Emperor Yuanjia’s breathing grew heavy, and he suddenly kissed her.

This was a kiss suppressed for twelve years – domineering and burning, urgent yet inexperienced, carrying a hint of exploration, fearing her dislike yet not allowing her to escape. He held her tightly in his arms. Lost and found again, no matter how her hands resisted and pushed, Emperor Yuanjia wouldn’t let her flee.

Zhou Fu couldn’t break free. The kite he had brought swirled in her mind.

Had he hidden it for twelve years?

Tears suddenly flowed. He was never an outsider – she didn’t blame him, only felt sorry for him.

But inappropriate was inappropriate. With the Empress Dowager there, with palace walls there, she wouldn’t have chosen him before marriage and certainly wouldn’t now. Despite his deep feelings, she was destined to be unable to bear them.

Though Emperor Yuanjia restrained her physically, his heart held no lust at this moment. He only wanted her to know he was serious.

Zhou Fu’s tears made him fearfully release her. Meeting her tear-dimmed eyes, Emperor Yuanjia felt momentary regret, hating himself for hurting her.

“I only consider you my elder brother. Let’s pretend today never happened. Your Majesty, please don’t come again.”

Zhou Fu said with lowered head, then hurriedly left.

Emperor Yuanjia turned back, watching her fly out of his sight like a white butterfly.