The New Year in Shuo Capital arrived quickly.

Last year during the New Year period, He Yan was in the Liangzhou Guard and couldn’t return home. This year, with her upcoming marriage after the New Year, He Sui went to purchase many New Year goods, insisting on having a lively celebration at home. Unfortunately, since he wasn’t originally from Shuo Capital, and especially after Madam He’s passing, fewer relatives were visiting, leaving them with few family connections to maintain.

However, the neighbors were very warm-hearted, frequently bringing dried fruits and food. One household would send a plate of dumplings, another would share some preserved meat. They would often hold He Yan’s hand and say, “Yan Yan, after you marry into the Xiao family and become the Young Mistress, don’t forget about us neighbors. I even held you when you were little.”

“Yes, yes! I even sewed clothes for you when you were small!”

Thanks to Xiao Jue, they had more than enough meat this year without needing to buy any.

Nevertheless, He Yan still spent her own money to buy some items and arranged for Wang Ba and others to deliver them, along with New Year gifts for several instructors. They were stationed in the camp outside the city and could only celebrate the New Year with their soldiers. Since she would be getting married on the tenth day, He Yan wanted Xiao Jue to grant them leave. Shi Tou and the others had been her companions since Liangzhou Guard, and she wanted to invite them to her wedding feast.

However, since that day when Xiao Jue appeared during her meeting with Chu Zhao, she hadn’t seen him for several days. He was likely busy with the aftermath of the Ming Shui case.

As darkness fell, the distant sound of firecrackers and fireworks could be heard. Tonight was clear without snow. He Sui moved the table into the courtyard and called He Yan and the others to eat. He refused to let He Yan help with the New Year’s Eve dinner, saying, “You’re getting married right after the New Year, how can I let you work? Sit down! Yan Yan, just focus on eating.”

He Yunsheng secretly rolled his eyes.

The large table of dishes had five sets of bowls and chopsticks for only four people, including Qing Mei. The empty set was for the deceased Madam He.

He Sui poured everyone a small cup of sweet wine, a New Year gift from his employer when he worked as a guard. He took a sip from his cup and gazed at the empty place setting, his expression softening with emotion. “If Ah Hui were still here, she would be so happy to see Yan Yan getting married.”

“Ah Hui” was the late Madam He.

He Yan felt sad inside. The real Second Young Lady He was no longer here, but all she could do now was live well in her place, protecting He Sui, He Yunsheng, and Qing Mei.

“Father, let’s not talk about such things on this joyous occasion,” He Yunsheng frowned. “Besides, Mother is probably blessing Sister from heaven, which is why she’s getting married so smoothly. Look at her – if it weren’t for heaven’s blessing, I think she’d just stay home arguing with me forever, with no one willing to marry her.”

He Yan smiled at him. “Yes, yes, yes. But Yunsheng, you’re not so young anymore. I wonder what kind of girl you’ll marry? Will any girl be willing to fancy you? If you don’t fix that temper of yours, you might end up just staying home arguing with Xiang Xiang.”

“You’re talking nonsense, I…” He Yunsheng immediately protested.

He Yan propped her chin and leaned closer. “Oh? Then do you already have a girl you like? Tell me about it?”

He Yunsheng had never won in verbal sparring with He Yan. Frustrated, he turned to He Sui: “Father, look at He Yan!”

“Your sister isn’t wrong,” He Sui always took He Yan’s side. “You should learn from your brother-in-law.”

He Yan, who was taking a sip of wine, almost choked. They seemed quite comfortable calling him “brother-in-law.”

He Yunsheng watched her predicament with schadenfreude while Qing Mei covered her mouth and giggled softly.

“Alright, enough of this,” He Sui raised his cup. “In the new year, may we all have good fortune and continuous blessings!”

The remnants of fireworks could be seen in the distant night sky as the new year approached.

He Sui wouldn’t let He Yan drink much, so she only had one small cup, just for the gesture. However, He Yunsheng drank quite a bit. Although the family had planned to stay up for the New Year together, both father and son collapsed before midnight. He Yan and Qing Mei struggled to help them to their beds, then returned to the main hall where the brazier was burning.

Qing Mei rubbed her hands and said, “I didn’t expect Master and Young Master to get drunk so early.”

He Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He Yunsheng had proposed staying up, yet he was now sound asleep. Well, she would keep the vigil for him.

“Would you like one?” He Yan offered a roasted tangerine to Qing Mei.

Qing Mei took it and peeled it, putting a segment in her mouth. The He family didn’t treat Qing Mei as a servant, unlike the strict master-servant rules in wealthy households. The tangerine was a bit sour, making Qing Mei squint before swallowing. “I didn’t notice before, but celebrating New Year today makes the house feel quite empty. With Master and Young Master asleep, it’s just you and me, Miss.”

Looking at other families being so lively and harmonious made her wistful.

He Yan didn’t find anything wrong with this, as she was used to being alone. Rather than sharing Qing Mei’s melancholy, she looked at her and nodded, “We should have invited Chi Wu.”

Qing Mei was startled. “What does this have to do with Guard Chi Wu?”

“It has everything to do with it,” He Yan said while eating a tangerine. “When he was staying here every day recently, you didn’t say it was quiet. Now that he’s gone, you say it’s lonely. You must miss him.”

Qing Mei froze, then denied it without thinking: “I don’t, Miss, please don’t say such things.”

“It’s nothing,” He Yan placed the tangerine peel by the brazier to roast, filling the hall with a fresh fragrance. “After I go to the Xiao family, you’ll be our only maid, so of course you’ll come along. Then you’ll see Chi Wu every day, and it won’t feel lonely anymore.”

“Miss,” Qing Mei stomped her foot in distress, “I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I think Chi Wu is quite nice,” He Yan teased her deliberately. “He’s good-looking, works in the Nine Banners Camp, and might even become an official someday. Besides, he listens to you so well – I saw him sweep the floor and hang clothes when you asked. If he didn’t have feelings for you, why would he be so obliging?”

“Miss!” Qing Mei was annoyed, her face bright red. She stood up abruptly, abandoning both the tangerine and the vigil, saying, “I don’t have such intentions, please don’t say such things. There’s nothing between Guard Chi Wu and me.” She put down the tangerine and ran away with quick steps.

“Hey?” He Yan called after her, “Aren’t you staying up?”

“No more staying up!”

He Yan felt a bit regretful, thinking perhaps she shouldn’t have teased her so much. Now she was left alone for the vigil. She picked up the tangerine Qing Mei had left behind, tossing it up and catching it while sighing, “Such a contradictory little girl.”

A voice spoke up: “You seem to know quite a lot.”

He Yan turned to see Xiao Jue leaning against their main gate, arms crossed, watching her with an ambiguous smile.

“Xiao Jue?” She was delighted. “Why are you here?” She looked outside. “Did you just come in?”

“I knocked,” Xiao Jue said as he walked in, “but since your family has no guards, knocking doesn’t make much difference.”

That was honest enough.

He Yan pulled him to sit by the brazier and pushed a tangerine into his hands. “Want one?”

Xiao Jue took the tangerine but just held it without eating.

“Why did you come?” He Yan asked. “Aren’t you spending time with your brother and sister-in-law at home?”

“After the New Year’s Eve dinner, I came to see you.” He looked around thoughtfully and asked, “Where are your father and brother?”

“Don’t ask – they’re drunk. I helped them to their rooms to sleep.” She looked at Xiao Jue. “If you’d come any later, I would have been asleep too.”

Xiao Jue: “If you were waiting for me, how could you sleep?”

“I wasn’t waiting for you.” He Yan was puzzled.

Xiao Jue turned to look at her and gave a noncommittal “Oh.”

He Yan had a sudden revelation and grabbed his arm, speaking sincerely: “How did you know I was waiting for you? I was just waiting until everyone fell asleep to see you! Now that no one’s here, we can…”

“We can what?”

“We can…” He Yan had been making things up and couldn’t continue the thought. She looked up and met his bright gaze.

“We can…let you have a tangerine,” He Yan held his hand and raised the tangerine to his chest.

Xiao Jue watched her for a moment, then turned his head and laughed softly.

He Yan felt she might be like a pistachio – someone who could make the usually distant and aloof Xiao Jue laugh openly, a special ability that others didn’t possess.

“It’s boring sitting inside. Want to go sit on the roof?” He Yan invited him enthusiastically.

“The roof?”

He Yan grabbed his hand and walked outside: “Yes!”

The He family residence wasn’t an expensive one, and the roof wasn’t very high – they could reach it with a light jump. The two sat side by side, hands propped behind them, looking up in the distance.

On New Year’s Eve in the Shuo Capital, fireworks were everywhere. They were too far to see clearly, visible only as bright sparks like flowing stars flashing across the night sky.

“Before I went to the military camp, I loved climbing roofs when I was little,” He Yan said. “The roof at the He family house was higher than this one. My martial arts weren’t good then, so I couldn’t fly up. I had to use a ladder. Once I fell halfway up and was afraid Lady He would find out, so I didn’t make a sound. My back hurt for quite a while after that.”

Xiao Jue asked: “Why did you like climbing roofs?”

“Because it’s high enough,” He Yan made an archery gesture, “When you climb high enough, you can reach for the moon and pluck stars from the sky.”

He laughed softly: “Childish.”

“Who wasn’t childish when they were young?” He Yan retorted, “Besides, I haven’t climbed roofs for years.”

After joining the army, she lived in tents – there were no roofs to climb. After marriage, it would be even more impossible. Thinking about it now, roof climbing seemed like something from long ago.

“If you want,” Xiao Jue said, “the roofs of the Xiao family will be yours in the future.”

He Yan turned to look at him, asking tentatively: “Can I still climb them after marriage?”

“Yes.”

“Can I climb them with you?”

“Yes.”

“Bringing snacks…”

Xiao Jue interrupted her: “Whatever you want to do is fine.”

He Yan blinked and lowered her head, unable to hide her growing smile, like ripples spreading on water.

Xiao Jue glanced at her, seemingly speechless, then after a moment said: “This happy just from climbing a roof?”

“Of course,” He Yan replied, “I’m easily satisfied. I don’t have expensive tastes – having food, clothes, and roofs to climb is enough.”

Xiao Jue smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“Hey,” He Yan nudged his arm, “How are things with Minister Xu’s faction?”

Xiao Jue’s smile faded. “Some have aligned with Chu Zilan.”

This was what He Yan had expected. She asked: “You mean Chu Zhao’s previous act of punishing his own family was deliberate?”

“Most likely.” Xiao Jue looked into the distance. “He has probably replaced Xu Jingfu in the Crown Prince’s trust.”

“Do you know the Emperor’s view on the Wutuo people?” He Yan asked. “After this incident, surely the Emperor won’t accept their peace proposals anymore?”

Xiao Jue remained silent for a while, then slowly shook his head.

He Yan understood clearly that Emperor Wenxuan’s stance was no longer the most important factor. The conflict between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince would likely escalate faster due to Xu Jingfu’s death. Soon, their struggle would be out in the open.

Given Xiao Jue’s enmity with Crown Prince Guangyan, he would inevitably side with the Fourth Prince in the future. But without proper justification, if the Emperor issued a succession edict, they would face difficulties, at least nominally.

“Don’t worry,” Xiao Jue said calmly, “I have it under control.”

He Yan smiled: “True, it’s New Year’s Day. Let’s not think about these things.”

“The wedding dress is ready,” Xiao Jue suddenly changed the subject. “It will be delivered to your home in a few days.”

“So soon?”

Xiao Jue’s gaze swept over her: “The wedding is in less than ten days. How is that soon?”

He Yan smiled sheepishly: “Well when you put it that way…”

She hadn’t felt it before, but hearing him say it now suddenly gave her pre-wedding jitters.

“After tomorrow, I won’t see you again.”

He Yan: “Why?”

“Newlyweds shouldn’t meet in the days before the wedding,” Xiao Jue answered.

He Yan mumbled: “You never seemed like someone who followed rules so strictly.”

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow.

“I mean,” He Yan grabbed his hand, speaking earnestly, “you’re right, that’s how it should be. I feel at ease with you managing everything so well.”

She understood now that Xiao Jue responded better to gentle persuasion than force. Just a few words of praise would make him happy. If she had known earlier how easy he was to please, He Yan thought, she should have clung to him and flattered him more at Xianchang Hall – perhaps he would have taught her not just swordsmanship but also knife skills and horsemanship.

Her acting was clumsy, but Xiao Jue just looked at the hand she had grabbed, paused, and then covered her hand with his own.

“He Yan.” He called her name.

“Yes?”

“Happy New Year,” he said softly, his dark eyes filled with starlight, more captivating than the fireworks in the night sky.

He Yan was stunned for a moment.

A warm satisfaction gradually rose in her chest. She suddenly felt that this New Year truly marked the beginning of something new.

“You’re welcome,” she tilted her head, leaning against Xiao Jue’s shoulder and nuzzling against it. “Happy New Year to you too.”

At the end of the street, the sound of firecrackers echoed in the distance.

Every household had put up new Spring Festival couplets on their doors.

At Marquis Shi Jinbo’s mansion, however, the atmosphere was particularly desolate this year.

By this time, the Chu family should have been welcoming a new bride, a doubly joyous occasion. But with the recent incident involving the Xu family, the Chu family’s fortunes had also declined. Although Chu Zhao had ultimately escaped disaster by punishing his family members, Marquis Shi Jinbo had become a laughingstock in the capital due to the marriage alliance with the Xu family. Chu Lingfeng, being face-conscious, hadn’t left his house during the entire New Year period. The mansion lacked any festive spirit and was extremely quiet.

In Chu Zhao’s courtyard, silence reigned supreme.

When Xu Pingting first arrived, upon learning the truth about Xu Jingfu’s death, she would curse Chu Zhao daily in the courtyard for being heartless and ungrateful. Later, after the courtyard matrons taught her some “manners” for several days, she became much quieter. But with this change, even the last bit of liveliness in the courtyard disappeared.

Chu Zhao sat inside, the sound of fireworks very distant. Inside and outside the mansion seemed like two completely different worlds.

Someone entered behind him, and a servant said: “Fourth Young Master, a letter has arrived from Miss Yingxiang.”

Chu Zhao took the letter and read it, then after a moment, held it to the oil lamp’s flame until it burned completely.

On the table lay an oddly shaped stone, flat like a human palm. Looking carefully, it resembled the shape of a horse, though the broken edges were rough and uneven. It looked out of place among the other items on the table.

Chu Zhao’s gaze fell on the stone, his expression growing distant.

The servant hesitated, then finally couldn’t help asking: “Fourth Young Master, when you met Miss He that day, why didn’t you use Madam Xu as bait to keep Miss He here?”

Given how much He Yan cared about He Xinying, using He Xinying as leverage might have prevented He Yan’s marriage to Xiao Jue.

“It wouldn’t have worked,” Chu Zhao replied.

The servant didn’t understand, looking at the man before him. Sitting alone at the table, the weak light from the oil lamp made him appear thin and lonely as if he were the only person in this vast mansion, destined to sit here alone for eternity.

“She is a woman who controls her destiny,” Chu Zhao finally said with a smile after a long while. “No one can coerce her.”

“Not me, not Xiao Huaiyin, and certainly not He Xinying.”

In his mind appeared the night market in Jiyang Water City, where the bright-eyed young woman walked the streets. Among the surging crowds, beneath the brilliant lanterns, she stood there, different from everyone else, like an eagle about to spread its wings. One look was enough to know that she yearned for the open sky, not a cage.

He was someone who couldn’t control his destiny, which was why he had been inexplicably, hopelessly drawn to her but was destined to be left behind.

Because as she had said, they weren’t the same kind of people.

They never were.