Chen Xuan Yue was quickly appointed to the position of Administrative Secretary of the Left Military Command.

This was the first time the Chen family had produced a military official.

Third Master Chen spoke with Chen Xuan Yue: “Though the position of Administrative Secretary isn’t high-ranking, promotion from there would be remarkable. It depends on whether you have the ability. Your Third Uncle will help look after you, but ultimately it depends on yourself.”

Having worked hard for several years, Chen Xuan Yue understood these matters clearly. After staying at home for a month, he prepared to return to Shaanxi.

Chen Xi didn’t go to see him off when he left.

She had been avoiding him these days. Thinking about what happened by the lotus pond that day still made her feel flustered. But when he truly left, she felt lost. Chen Xi understood she needed to keep her distance—she and Chen Xuan Yue shared the same surname, and they had grown up together. If word got out, her reputation would be ruined. So she buried this matter deep in her heart, never mentioning it to anyone.

Perhaps because they had spent years together, she had already begun to like him. She just hadn’t realized it herself.

Besides, he didn’t care about her at all. When he left, he seemed to have completely forgotten her existence and didn’t even say goodbye…

Chen Xi’s heart remained in turmoil for several days before she finally made sense of things.

It would be best to pretend nothing had happened.

Her father finally decided to marry her to the heir of the Marquis of Ding Yang. The Marquis’s family was delighted and offered a betrothal gift of three thousand taels of silver.

On her wedding day, the household was bustling with activity. Lady Gu Jin Chao invited Old Lady Chang to help with her hair. Her two younger brothers, Chen Xuan Lin and Chen Xuan Jing, played nearby, both eager to watch her dress up. After each received a light smack from Gu Jin Chao, they behaved, and the two little radish-heads were led out.

When everyone had left, Gu Jin Chao carefully explained to her the ways of being a wife.

Chen Xi listened attentively, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Gu Jin Chao was content: “I watched you grow up, and in the blink of an eye, you’re getting married.”

Gu Jin Chao opened the door to find the two children pushing each other behind the latticed door. Seeing her emerge, they both grinned and called out to Mother. Gu Jin Chao reached out to catch them, but they darted away, leaving her with a headache.

Only the Third Master could control those two.

When she turned back to look at Chen Xi, she found her gazing absently into the mirror.

By the time the title passed to the current generation, the Marquis of Ding Yang’s household no longer had the large family it once did. The heir had only two half-brothers, and both their wives respected Chen Xi’s background, never exchanging a single unpleasant word with her. Her parents-in-law treated her kindly as well.

Two years later, she had a child, a girl. Then she failed to conceive again. Eventually, her mother-in-law couldn’t bear it anymore and spoke with the heir. The next day, two concubines joined his household.

Chen Xi thought she wouldn’t mind. But she had grown up in a different environment—her Seventh Brother had only one proper wife, and her mother and father had only each other, no concubines or bedchamber servants. Who could endure seeing their husband sleeping in another woman’s quarters?

She took her daughter and stayed at her parent’s home for a while.

Gu Jin Chao couldn’t interfere in such matters. No matter how powerful the Chen family was, they couldn’t prevent their son-in-law from taking concubines. That would only confirm Chen Xi’s reputation for jealousy. She could only tell Chen Xi: “If they bear sons, have them raised under your name. The Marquis’s household wouldn’t dare elevate a proper concubine for the heir. These two bedchamber servants—just endure it and it will pass.”

Chen Xi cried in her arms for a while and then felt better.

After comforting her, Gu Jin Chao sighed: “Your child is already a few years old, and Chen Zhao is about to be engaged. Yet your Ninth Brother remains far away in Shaanxi without any intention of starting a family. I can’t even control him… The last time I wrote to him, he said he wasn’t in a hurry. He’s already in his twenties. If he doesn’t marry soon, what young lady from a good family would be willing to marry him later…”

Her mother was probably trying to change the subject to comfort her, but Chen Xi was stunned: “Ninth Brother still isn’t married?” She had thought he already had a family in Shaanxi.

Gu Jin Chao shook her head with a smile: “He’s just odd! I can’t be bothered with him anymore.”

Chen Xi remembered what had happened by the lotus pond when she was fifteen. Her heart suddenly felt a little dazed.

After returning to the Marquis’s mansion, the heir, following his mother’s advice, carefully came to comfort her. When they were about to go to bed, she refused him, claiming she felt unwell. The heir thought she was still upset about the two concubines, and his expression immediately darkened: “You… although you are a daughter of the Chen family, you are also my wife, aren’t you? If you weren’t a Chen, I could easily divorce you for the seven grounds. Haven’t I treated you well enough all these years? I never had anyone else. Do you know what people outside say about me? And now I have to humble myself to ask for your forgiveness. I want to ask, whose fault is it?”

He left after saying this.

Chen Xi sat bewildered for a while, feeling very unhappy.

But she didn’t even know what she was unhappy about. After the sadness, she felt relieved.

Afterward, she indeed ignored the two concubines. Later, one of them gave birth to a baby boy, who was raised under her name. The old nurse once suggested she keep the child but get rid of the mother to eliminate future trouble. Chen Xi considered it but refused—not out of compassion, but because she felt it unnecessary.

In the sixteenth year of the Wanli era, Chen Xuan Yue quelled a major Mongolian rebellion and returned triumphantly. He was promoted to the position of Qian Shi of the Military Command, a rank of Senior Second Grade.

Third Master Chen personally went to welcome him.

Chen Xi heard that he wore a felt flower, rode horseback through the streets and that all the common people of the capital lined the roads to welcome him. It was more magnificent than a top scholar’s parade, with everyone in the city coming out to see it.

She couldn’t witness such a grand occasion.

At the family banquet, she only caught a glimpse of him.

Times had changed, and standing beside him now was his Second Uncle and Father. Second Uncle smiled and patted his shoulder, but he remained indifferent.

Chen Xi thought about how Second Uncle and Second Aunt had treated him before. If she were in his position, she probably wouldn’t be too warm either!

After the banquet ended, she accompanied her mother back.

Gu Jin Chao asked about the boy, and she replied: “His temperament is good, very teachable.”

As they were talking, they heard a maid announce from outside that the Ninth Master had arrived.

Chen Xi was startled, but Gu Jin Chao had already called him in. When he entered, his face was full of smiles, appearing very happy.

“Aunt, I’m back!” he said, only then noticing Chen Xi was also present, immediately restraining his tone.

Only in front of his aunt did he show childlike happiness.

Gu Jin Chao smiled and said: “I thought becoming a high official would make you more reserved. What brings you here?”

“There were too many people around when I returned, so I couldn’t come see you,” he stood a few steps away. “I wanted to pay my respects.”

Gu Jin Chao shook her head: “That won’t do. You’re now a second-rank official, how could you be paying respects to me!… Weren’t you speaking with your father and the others? Why have you come so quickly?”

Chen Xuan Yue said: “No matter how high my rank, you are still my aunt. I must pay my respects to you. As for my father… it’s always the same few words, nothing much to say.”

A faint smile appeared on his face: “By the way, Aunt, my father mentioned he wants to arrange for me to marry my mother’s niece.”

Gu Jin Chao frowned, slightly displeased: “How could they behave this way? I’ll speak to them about this for you.”

He sat down, and a maid brought him tea. He asked Chen Xi: “Has your family’s heir secured the position of Commander of the Five Cities Guard?”

Chen Xi hadn’t expected him to speak to her and nodded slightly.

Chen Xuan Yue thought for a moment and said: “You should advise him to try to transfer to the Jinyiwei Guard. The Five Cities Guard isn’t peaceful lately; he might be implicated.” He immediately added, “If he doesn’t believe you, mention Liu Shi Guang’s name to him. He’ll know what to do.”

He was guiding them… Chen Xi instinctively said: “Then I thank you on his behalf.”

“You’re welcome,” he raised his teacup to drink. “I’m only saying this for your sake. Just tell him not to speak carelessly.”

Chen Xi murmured in agreement, listening to him talk with her mother, but she hardly dared speak herself. She feared he might detect something from her manner.

After returning home, she told the heir, who became extremely nervous and went to find someone that very night.

Later, they indeed avoided a calamity.

The heir treated her much better than before, truly doing whatever she said without daring to slight her.

Half a year later, Gu Jin Chao arranged a marriage to Chen Xuan Yue.

Chen Xi attended his banquet. When the bride entered, she only saw that she was not tall and had a slender figure. When they rose from their bows, Chen Xuan Yue gently supported her. The next day, during the family introductions, she saw the bride again and confirmed she was indeed beautiful, gentle, and virtuous.

But standing next to Chen Xuan Yue, she was immediately overshadowed by him. Chen Xi herself felt the bride was not worthy of Chen Xuan Yue.

It seemed she couldn’t think of anyone who would be worthy of him.

He was too distant, unreachable.

Chen Xi observed that he didn’t seem particularly fond of his bride either. But he was polite to her and respected her.

Not long after the wedding, he left North Zhili again. The frontier needed him more than North Zhili did, and he seemed to prefer that life rather than being confined to the narrow official circles, constantly scheming against others. She had heard that the Northwest had deserts, gobi, and grasslands—surely it was more expansive!

Chen Xi found she had no particular feelings about it anymore.

After Chen Xuan Yue’s wedding, on the third day of the third month, Chen Xi’s mother and grandmother took her to worship at Baoxiang Temple.

The weather was pleasant, just as the warmth was returning. Baoxiang Temple stood dignified and majestic, nestled halfway up the mountain.

The monks in the temple struck the bell, indicating it was time for the ritual service. The bell sound echoed deeply. Accompanied by the guest-receiving monk, Chen Xi offered incense in the Grand Hall. She knelt respectfully on the prayer cushion and bowed to Buddha. Her heart was extremely calm, and she thought perhaps she should also enshrine a Buddha statue at home.

When there are too many matters in life, when one desires but cannot obtain, and when one has no direction, one tends to seek Buddha.

After standing up, Chen Xi looked toward the doorway where monks were walking along the corridor toward the back mountain, their gazes fixed straight ahead.

An elderly monk walked at the end, moving very slowly. He wore a faded reddish-brown robe with large sleeves that revealed a string of well-worn prayer beads. His face was incredibly aged; Chen Xi had never seen anyone who could grow so old.

Chen Xi watched for a while before sending her maid to call the monk over.

The monk pressed his palms together, smiled at her maid, and said something before slowly following her.

The maid returned and whispered to Chen Xi: “Madam, this master says he doesn’t know much Han language. He comes from the Western Regions.”

Chen Xi replied, “That’s fine. I just want to ask him to recite scriptures and pray for blessings.”

In truth, if Chen Xi wanted to request a monk to recite scriptures, given her status, Baoxiang Temple had plenty of eminent monks available. Monks who recited scriptures would usually receive some silver. She simply saw that the old monk appeared impoverished. The guest-receiving monk smiled and said, “This Master Jiepo cleans the dust in the Grand Hall.”

This meant he merely added oil to lamps and swept away dust. He wasn’t considered a monk with profound Buddhist knowledge.

Chen Xi smiled and nodded, “Master, please just recite the scriptures.”

The old monk understood and agreed with palms pressed together.

Chen Xi had her maid give a bag of silver to the guest-receiving monk, who was reluctant to accept but eventually took it after her insistence. Chen Xi also bowed, saying politely, “Thank you for your trouble, Master,” regardless of whether the monk understood.

As she was about to leave, the old monk called out to her, taking out a blessing token from his sleeve for her to keep.

Chen Xi was puzzled, but the old monk merely smiled, pressed his palms together, and spoke in Sanskrit.

The guest-receiving monk explained, “This is a fulfillment charm. Madam, place it under your pillow when you sleep, and it will help you rest.”

Chen Xi examined it. The paulownia wood had lost its luster with age, its edges worn smooth, inscribed with Sanskrit characters she couldn’t understand.

After taking it home, she looked it over before placing it beneath her pillow.

She had a long dream that night.

When Chen Xi awoke, she felt groggy. She sat up and found her surroundings strange.

She couldn’t quite explain what was strange.

The room was pitch dark. Even without candles lit, it shouldn’t be this dark.

She felt for the outline of her shoes, put them on, and stood up.

Her body seemed to have its consciousness as she pulled open the curtains, discovering it was still dark outside. Looking down, she realized she was standing very high up.

She was startled—how could she be so high?

A rustling sound came from outside the door, and she walked out after hearing it.

She saw someone with their back to her, arranging something.

Hearing her, he asked indifferently, “You haven’t left yet?”

Chen Xi heard herself say, “Without giving me the item, I won’t leave.” After speaking, she wondered what item she was referring to.

He turned around, holding a tray. “I didn’t prepare breakfast for you.”

“I don’t want to eat.”

“Skipping breakfast is bad for your stomach.”

He emerged from the shadows, and when Chen Xi saw him, she felt something very strange.

Though he looked completely different, she was certain. This was him… this had to be him…

He sat very properly, eating in a perfectly orderly manner without making a sound, appearing well-trained.

Ignoring her, he quickly finished his meal and picked up a coat placed to the side. “I’m returning to the unit now. Stay or leave as you wish.” He thought for a moment, approached her, and bent down to say quietly, “Little spy, go back and tell your Union chairman the item isn’t with me.”

“Also, next time I won’t be so lenient.”

He opened the door and went out. Chen Xi felt a rush of anxiety and ran to the window. Below were strange contraptions. Someone was waiting for her.

She shouted, “What’s your name?”

The person looked up at her, but the night was too dark to see his expression.

He said a few words, but Chen Xi couldn’t hear clearly.

Later, she remained in that strange world for a long time, with tall buildings, vehicles, and men and women everywhere.

The next time she encountered him was at an alley entrance. Chen Xi saw him standing there smoking and walked toward him: “Does your discipline allow that?”

He lowered his head to shield the flame, the lighter flashing briefly to illuminate his strong profile.

Perhaps not remembering who she was, he paused before frowning and saying: “You’re troublesome. Cooperate with me.”

He whispered three words, suddenly pulling her close: “You’re being temperamental again. Didn’t we agree not to argue?” His tone was very gentle.

With her back to the entrance, Chen Xi suddenly saw someone walk by, seemingly glancing in their direction.

Once the person disappeared, he immediately released her and rushed back, quickly returning with armed men: “Left direction, don’t let them escape!”

Much later, he returned, seemingly in good spirits. “Let me treat you to a meal!”

He took her to a secluded club, and during the meal asked, “Little spy, did you eventually get the item?”

Chen Xi shook her head and asked, “What item?”

He said, “So you didn’t get it. That’s good. Young people like you should go home and work properly, not do these harmful, treasonous things.”

Chen Xi said, “You still haven’t told me your name.”

“Oh,” he responded carelessly, playing with his lighter, “Just a name…”

Someone called him outside. The door was half-closed, and Chen Xi saw him talking to a beautiful woman. Their voices were very low.

That world gradually became blurry. Some sounds arose, chaotic and confused.

He opened the door and came in again, smiling as he told her: “If you want to know, I’ll tell you. My name is…”

She could no longer hear the rest.

When Chen Xi woke up, she saw the familiar canopy again. The glass goat-horn palace lamp was lit, with her maid watching over her.

“Madam, you were having a nightmare! I called you for so long before waking you… Shall I have the kitchen prepare some Job’s tears soup for you?”

Chen Xi sat up with a splitting headache.

“Why did you wake me for nothing?”

“You were talking in your sleep…” the maid said quietly, “Saying something about… about a name…”

Chen Xi suddenly remembered the fulfillment charm and reached under her pillow, but felt nothing. She removed the pillow to look but didn’t see it. She asked her maid, “Where is the fulfillment charm?”

The maid was truly frightened and stammered that she didn’t know.

Chen Xi turned the room upside down but couldn’t find the charm. It had vanished into thin air.

She returned to Baoxiang Temple to find Master Jiepo, wanting to ask what place that was and who that person was. She had many more questions. However, the guest-receiving monk regretfully told her: “Master Jiepo was advanced in years; he passed away a few days ago.”

She asked about the blessing token, but the guest-receiving monk shook his head: “That was Master Jiepo’s protective charm. He never parted with it, yet that day he gave it to you. I also find it strange… How could it just disappear? Perhaps you should look more carefully?”

Chen Xi knew further inquiry was futile and returned home feeling somewhat lost.

To think there was such a strange place. What connection did it have with him?

She remembered this incident always, suspecting it was merely a dream—a person who looked completely different from Chen Xuan Yue but felt very similar had appeared in her dream.

Later, Chen Xi began to believe in Buddhism, feeling that Buddha was best.

A year later, she gave birth to a boy, which greatly pleased her husband, now the Marquis of Ding Yang.

When the child was three months old, she took him to visit the Chen family. Gu Jin Chao was very happy for her. Looking at her son’s tender face, Chen Xi felt content. When she saw Chen Xuan Yue again, she hesitated for a long time, wanting to ask him something.

Chen Xuan Yue was stopped by her and asked, “Do you need something?”

“It’s not important…” she stammered.

He sighed, “I have urgent matters to attend to. Could you be more direct?”

She heard her daughter talking with Gu Jin Chao in the adjacent room, competing with Xuan Jing to play with a rattan ball. The children were lively, making a commotion.

Seeing she still wouldn’t speak, Chen Xuan Yue thought for a moment and said, “If you have any urgent matters, tell Mother. Have her relay them to me!”

The face before her and the face in her memory overlapped—they seemed very similar, yet somehow different.

Chen Xi suddenly understood.

She just smiled, “It’s nothing. You may go.”

She turned and walked back, knowing she would never ask again.

It was just a dream. Why should she think too much of it…