Su Yan tightly held Yan Shuangqiao’s hand as she led the two to the third floor. After closing the door, she turned and embraced Yan Shuangqiao, bursting into tears. Yan Shuangqiao had calmed somewhat, only quietly weeping as she gently patted Su Yan’s shoulders. Jiang Ci consoled both of them, finally managing to stop their tears.
Noticing Su Yan’s makeup smeared by tears, Jiang Ci quickly brought a basin of water to help clean her face. Yan Shuangqiao, looking at the face so similar to her mother’s, was choked with emotion.
Su Yan gently caressed Yan Shuangqiao’s face, murmuring, “Shuangqiao, do you know that I chose your name?”
“I do,” Yan Shuangqiao replied, holding her hand. “Mother said that you and she hoped I would be like a tall tree that endures frost and snow, not a delicate vine easily swayed by others.”
Su Yan’s tears fell again like strings of pearls. “Your mother, she—”
Yan Shuangqiao turned her head slightly, choking back tears. “Mother passed away when I was ten.”
Su Yan felt a searing pain in her chest, the anguish of losing her family twenty years ago resurging, making her feel as if she were floating in a void.
Yan Shuangqiao spoke softly, “When Mother jumped into the river, she only managed to hold onto me before we were swept away. We were carried over ten miles downstream before a fisherman and his wife rescued us. Mother had held me up with all her strength, saving my life, but she remained unconscious for over ten days. Later, when she returned to Qingfeng Ferry to look for you, she learned that there had been a murder at the courtesan boat one night. Some courtesans fled, others scattered, and some were transferred to other registries. You had disappeared.”
Su Yan wept, “Yes, I wanted to follow you, but I was rescued by people on the boat. A few days later, when the murder occurred, I was taken away by officials and sent to the courtesan registry in Nan’an Prefecture. Then I was transferred to Yujian Prefecture, Dezhou, and other places. It wasn’t until five years ago that I returned to the capital.”
Yan Shuangqiao supported Su Yan’s trembling body, letting her lean against herself. She continued, “Mother feared discovery by officials. After searching for you for many days without success, she had no choice but to head south. When we reached Dengjiazhai in Yangzhou, she fell ill by the roadside. Fortunately, Master rescued us and took us in.” She glanced at Jiang Ci as she spoke.
“After Mother recovered, she entrusted me to Master and went down the mountain several times to search for you. Years passed without results. Her heart was heavy, and after years of traveling, she finally fell gravely ill when I was ten—”
By now, Su Yan had no strength left to cry loudly. She just leaned on Yan Shuangqiao’s shoulder, weeping softly.
Yan Shuangqiao gently patted her, saying, “Before Mother passed away, she instructed me to find you, Aunt. To make it easier for us to recognize each other in the future, Mother told me everything about our past. That’s why earlier, your performance of ‘Mistaken This Life’ allowed me to confirm that you are my aunt.”
Su Yan hugged her back, “Shuangqiao, my good child, now that I’ve seen you, I can die content.”
Tears welled in Yan Shuangqiao’s eyes, but her voice carried a hint of anger and sorrow. “Aunt, although Mother told me everything about our past, she never revealed that man’s name. Aunt, tell me, who is he? Where is he now?”
Su Yan’s body stiffened. Yan Shuangqiao gently pushed her back a little, gripping her shoulders and looking directly at her. “Aunt, don’t worry. I don’t want to acknowledge him as my father. I just want to know who he is. I want to ask him why he was so heartless and unfaithful, why he caused our family’s destruction!”
Outside the building, the night sky deepened, clouds thickening to obscure the moonlight. A black figure clung to the window sill, as if frozen, staring intently at the people inside, unwilling to move an inch.
Su Yan’s mind raced, unsure whether to tell Shuangqiao the man’s identity. Jiang Ci, however, had calmed down and connected the dots between Su Yan’s performance and the events at Changfeng Manor. She exclaimed, clapping her hands, “Ah! I know who that man is! He’s—”
Su Yan glanced at Jiang Ci, who suddenly realized her mistake and quickly fell silent. Su Yan knew she couldn’t keep it secret any longer. With a long sigh, she said softly, “That man is now the leader of the First Rank Hall in the Huan Kingdom, known as ‘Autumn Water Sword’ Yi Han!”
Yan Shuangqiao, who had encountered many jianghu figures during her journey north to find Jiang Ci, had heard of Yi Han’s name. She gasped, never imagining that her birth father was the world-renowned “Autumn Water Sword.” As she grappled with her complex emotions, Su Yan continued, “After I returned to the capital five years ago, I even hired assassins to kill him in the Huan Kingdom, but they all failed. Instead, it alerted him to my existence. However, he never came looking for me or tried to harm me. I saw him once in Nan’an Prefecture two months ago, but he disappeared after that.”
Yan Shuangqiao felt Su Yan’s hand trembling slightly in hers. Feeling sad, she hugged her and said, “Aunt, don’t worry. I won’t acknowledge him. I just have some questions to ask him. After that, I’ll never see him again.”
Su Yan felt somewhat relieved. As her emotions slowly settled, she remembered something and quickly asked, “By the way, how did you come to the capital? And how did you and Xiao Ci—”
Yan Shuangqiao took Jiang Ci’s hand and said, “She’s my junior sister. She ran away from the mountain, and I came to find her. Fortunately, she was so mischievous, or I wouldn’t have been able to meet you.”
Having calmed down, Jiang Ci thought of the matter that had been weighing on her mind. To ask Su Yan to pass a message to Wei Zhao, she needed to test her a bit more. Her mind raced as she smiled and said, “I’m a lucky star, that’s why Senior Sister was able to reunite with Sister Su Yan. Besides, Sister Su Yan is kind-hearted and beautiful, so of course she has such good fortune. Who knows, Sister Su Yan might become Lady Pei or Lady Wei, the wife of Commander Wei, in the future!”
Su Yan quickly said, “Xiao Ci, don’t talk nonsense. These words can’t be heard by others. My relationship with Minister Pei is just casual, merely that of a performer and an audience member.”
Jiang Ci smiled, “Then what about San Lang? I heard Hua’er and the others say that night that the one you admire is San Lang.”
Su Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she knew Xiao Ci was innocent and naive. Seeing Yan Shuangqiao looking at her with concern, she smiled self-deprecatingly and said, “Xiao Ci, how could I dare to have such unrealistic hopes for San Lang? Although I have a good relationship with him,—”
As she was speaking, there was a gentle knock on the door. Bao’er entered and said softly, “Elder Sister, Prince Jing has sent a message requesting your immediate presence at his mansion.”
Su Yan frowned, “What does he want at this hour?”
“The messenger said that Prince Jing is celebrating Consort Qin’s birthday. He has personally composed a song for her and wants you to go to the prince’s mansion to rehearse it.”
Su Yan hesitated. Bao’er added, “The Madam said that you should go immediately. The Prince and the Consort are waiting, and we can’t afford to offend them.”
Su Yan looked at Yan Shuangqiao, who quickly said, “Aunt, you should go attend to your business. Now that we’ve reunited, we have plenty of time in the future. There’s no rush at this moment.”
Su Yan nodded, intending to have Yan Shuangqiao wait for her at Lan Yue Tower. Remembering that person’s methods, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy and asked, “Where are you staying now?”
“I’m staying at a friend’s house. He’s very kind-hearted and has been a great help to me. The residence is in the North Second Street of Xingzi Lane in the inner city, the Shao Mansion,” Yan Shuangqiao replied, thinking of Shao Jizong with a hint of shyness, ultimately not mentioning his name.
“All right, Shuangqiao, go back and rest. I’ll come to see you tomorrow morning,” Su Yan said.
As the three were about to leave the room, Jiang Ci stepped forward and clung to Su Yan’s arm, smiling, “Sister Su Yan, I have a favor to ask of you.”
Su Yan quickly responded, “Xiao Ci, what is it? I’ll help if I can.”
Jiang Ci hesitated for a while, then pulled Su Yan aside and whispered in her ear, “Sister Su Yan, could you deliver a message to the Third Young Master for me?”
Su Yan was startled. Jiang Ci put on a coy and shy demeanor, “Ever since I saw him that one time, I can’t stop thinking about him. Please tell him that this young lady greatly admires him and only hopes to see him once more. If he doesn’t agree, I’ll have no choice but to die before him.”
Su Yan was even more surprised and was about to speak, but Jiang Ci had already run off with a blushing face.
As the three left Lan Yue Tower, the performance had ended, and the area in front of the tower was quiet. Watching Su Yan’s palanquin disappear into the distance, Yan Shuangqiao and Jiang Ci walked slowly by the lake, their hearts filled with mixed emotions, unable to utter a word.
Jiang Ci understood her feelings and gently held her hand. Yan Shuangqiao felt the warmth of her palm and her heart softened. She turned her head and smiled at Jiang Ci, who was overjoyed and said, “Senior Sister, don’t be sad. Such a joyous occasion should make you happy.”
Yan Shuangqiao nodded, “Yes if Mother knew I had reunited with my aunt, she would be so happy. It’s just a pity that she—”
Seeing that she was about to cry, Jiang Ci quickly took out a silk handkerchief to wipe away her tears and hugged her, comforting her softly. Yan Shuangqiao found it amusing how Jiang Ci was consoling her like a child and gently pushed her away.
Jiang Ci grinned cheekily, “Senior Sister, how will you thank me?”
Yan Shuangqiao glared at her, “Why should I thank you?”
“If I hadn’t run away from the mountain, how would you have come to the capital and reunited with Sister Su Yan? How could you have this family reunion?” Jiang Ci retorted.
Yan Shuangqiao reached out to pinch her, “You have the nerve to say that? You made me worry for months! And what’s with calling my aunt ‘sister’? How can you address her so casually?”
Jiang Ci laughed and dodged, running along the lake with Yan Shuangqiao in playful pursuit. “I’ve been calling her sister for a long time now. How should we sort out the generations?”
As they were laughing and playing, Shao Jizong caught up to them, out of breath, “Miss Yan, Miss Jiang, I’ve been waiting for you for a while!”
Yan Shuangqiao stopped in her tracks. Shao Jizong smiled and said, “It’s getting late. Let’s head back to rest.”
Yan Shuangqiao noticed that he didn’t ask about what had happened earlier, and felt grateful for his tactfulness. She responded softly, took Jiang Ci’s hand, and the three of them returned to the Shao Mansion together.
At the Hour of Hai (9-11 PM), the night was cold and windy, but the moonlight was even brighter, shimmering on the glazed tiles of the Shao Mansion.
Yan Shuangqiao’s mind was restless, and she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Hearing Jiang Ci’s rhythmic breathing beside her, she turned to see her sleeping peacefully, her cheeks flushed like beautiful begonia flowers. She gently stroked Jiang Ci’s forehead and whispered, “Xiao Ci, I wish you could stay young forever, never having to experience the joys and sorrows of this world. Tomorrow, I’ll persuade my aunt to return to Deng Family Village with us. We’ll never leave again.”
Her voice grew bitter, but then she heard a very light tapping sound on the window screen. Startled, she got out of bed and opened the window, only to see a dark figure silently watching her in the moonlight.
Yan Shuangqiao was stunned for a moment, then realized that this black-clad person was looking at her with a gaze that was gentle yet tinged with sadness, showing no hostility. She didn’t rush to call for help and asked softly, “Who are you?”
The person removed the black cloth covering their head. In the bright moonlight and the candlelight from the room, Yan Shuangqiao could see the handsome yet cold features. An indescribable feeling washed over her, and after a moment, she suddenly understood. She laughed coldly, “They say a daughter’s appearance takes after her father. It seems to be true. I hate myself for having any resemblance to you!”
Yi Han stepped forward, and Yan Shuangqiao said coldly, “If you have something to say, let’s talk outside. Don’t wake my junior sister!”
Yi Han didn’t speak but suddenly reached out to seal Yan Shuangqiao’s acupoints. He picked her up and leaped onto the roof, swiftly moving across the eaves and ridges. Soon, they landed in an abandoned garden.
He put Yan Shuangqiao down and unsealed her acupoints. After looking at her for a long time, he slowly reached out his hand, but Yan Shuangqiao stepped back, “Don’t touch me!”
Yi Han sighed softly and asked gently, “Your name is Shuangqiao?”
Yan Shuangqiao just stared at him coldly, not saying a word.
Yi Han felt a pain in his heart and asked again, “Your mother… where is she buried?”
Yan Shuangqiao thought of her mother who died with resentment and laughed coldly, “What face do you have to go see her?”
Yi Han took a small step back, his voice filled with sorrow, “Yes, I have wronged her and have no face to see her again. But, child, you—”
Yan Shuangqiao turned her face away, not wanting to see his pained expression, “I am not your child. My surname is Yan, and my mother never told me who my birth father was.”
Yi Han remained silent for a long time, thinking of the events from over twenty years ago. He felt that life was like wisps of smoke, dissipating in an instant, yet the traces of that smoke lingered in one’s heart, never fading away.
He smiled self-mockingly and looked at Yan Shuangqiao, “You said you had questions for me. What are they?”
Yan Shuangqiao suddenly turned to face him, “I want to ask you, why did you cause my maternal grandparents to die tragically? Why did you destroy my mother’s family? Why did you ruin my aunt’s life? As a citizen of the Hua Dynasty, why did you betray your country and defect to the Huan Kingdom?!”
Yi Han’s body swayed slightly, and he closed his eyes in pain. After a long while, he opened them and slowly said, “You all accuse me of betraying my country, but do you know that I was originally from the Huan Kingdom!”
Yan Shuangqiao was shocked, “You’re from the Huan Kingdom?!”
“Yes, so child, you are also from Huan Kingdom. The blood flowing in our veins is that of a noble family from Huan,” Yi Han said, clasping his hands behind his back and looking up at the starry night sky. “I was born into a military family in Huan, but as the child of a concubine, I was always ostracized by the family. To make a name for myself and to serve my country, when I was ten years old, I agreed to do something for my father.”
Yan Shuangqiao asked in a trembling voice, “What was it?”
“I agreed to your grandfather’s request to enter the Cangshan Sect of Hua Dynasty as an orphan, and then join the Hua military as a Cangshan disciple. At the most crucial battle, I was to send military intelligence back to my father, allowing him to achieve a great victory.”
Yi Han’s words were like a sharp sword piercing Yan Shuangqiao’s heart. She couldn’t believe this cruel truth and shook her head after a long while, “So that’s why you abandoned your conscience, deceived my mother and my grandfather, and did such a heartless and disloyal thing?”
Yi Han lowered his head and sighed deeply, “Your mother and I were truly in love, and I often hesitated about whether to tell her the truth. But the war came too quickly, and I didn’t know she was pregnant. By the time I reached the battlefield, my father’s secret envoy came to find me, and I was already in a position where I couldn’t back out. The tragic death of your grandfather was not my intention. I had to be loyal to both my country and my father, which meant I had to betray your mother. For these past twenty years, my heart has never known peace. The day I learned from your aunt that your mother had given birth to you, I’ve been searching for you both. To see you today is truly—”
Tears surged from Yan Shuangqiao’s eyes, but she didn’t want to look at the man before her anymore. She turned to leave, and Yi Han hurriedly caught up. Yan Shuangqiao shouted, “I’ve asked what I wanted to ask, and you’ve said what you wanted to say. In this life, I never want to see you again!”
Yi Han sighed deeply and sealed Yan Shuangqiao’s acupoints again. He carried her back to the Shao residence and placed her in a chair. Slowly, he reached out his hand and stroked her head. The black hair under his hand was as smooth as silk, seemingly connecting their bloodlines, but the eyes revealed hatred and disgust. His heart ached terribly, and he finally said softly, “Your aunt’s identity is complicated. It’s best not to associate with her too much. Take your junior sister and return home soon. This capital is not a place for you to stay.”
Yan Shuangqiao turned her head away. Yi Han looked at her for a while longer, then unsealed her acupoints and disappeared into the vast night as swiftly as lightning.
Yan Shuangqiao sat motionless in the chair for a long time. Finally, tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping onto her skirt, soon soaking a large area, like a blooming ink chrysanthemum.
Yi Han’s heart was turbulent and difficult to calm. He forced himself to remain composed as he moved swiftly through the night, entering a house on the west side of the outer city. He sat in the courtyard for a long time, until the autumn frost slowly crept up his feet. Only then did he sigh deeply and enter the house to rest.
He woke up at the Hour of Yin (3-5 AM), realizing that his heart’s burden was lifted and his mission completed. Knowing that his daughter would not return to Huan Kingdom with him, he knew he couldn’t stay in the capital for long and must leave under the cover of night.
He changed into black night-traveling clothes, grasped his long sword, and leaped out of the house like a wildcat. He moved through the city like a ghost, soon reaching the Shuangshui Bridge in the west of the city.
It was still before dawn, and darkness surrounded him. He stood at the head of Shuangshui Bridge for a long time, finally steeling his heart to erase all past events, and stepped down from the bridge.
After taking just a few steps, his heart became alert, and his expression grew solemn. He held his long sword across his chest, looking towards several people emerging from the darkness, his eyes narrowing, but he didn’t speak.
Pei Yan stepped out with his hands behind his back, smiling as if basking in spring sunshine, “Hall Master Yi, we meet again!”