Summer weather always changes without warning, like life’s unpredictable fortunes—one moment you’re in brocade robes thinking you stand at the peak, the next you might tumble into the abyss.

Dark blue-gray clouds gathered thickly in the sky, completely obscuring the blazing sun that had been raging just days before. The imperial prison of Shuntian Prefecture, however, remained perpetually in bottomless darkness. Between the damp, gloomy stone walls, the constant stench of rot and mold pervaded the air. At this moment, a pair of silk blue boots stepped onto the corridor. The owner of these shoes possessed an elegant and noble bearing, completely at odds with the oppressive, decaying atmosphere around him. He slowly walked to a cell and slipped a package to the leading jailer. The jailer opened it for a glance, immediately breaking into a grateful smile before departing.

He crouched down on one knee before the iron bars, peering through the dim light at the woman leaning listlessly against the hard, cold wall with vacant eyes. Her exquisite makeup was gone, all vitality seemingly drained from her face, leaving only a soulless shell. Her hair had turned gray overnight, making her appear aged and withered. Xiao Du quietly observed this scene, sadness welling in his heart as he softly called: “Concubine Wang.”

Concubine Wang slowly shifted her gaze toward him. Upon recognizing the visitor, a mocking smile curved her lips: “Who would have thought the Marquis would condescend to visit this death cell—I’m truly overwhelmed by such honor.”

Xiao Du sighed and pulled something from his robes, passing it through the bars: “I remember Concubine Wang always cared most about her appearance. Though it’s difficult to maintain in this prison, having a comb is still better than nothing.” Concubine Wang’s gaze paused, finally reaching out to accept the comb. The sandalwood teeth slowly glided through her graying, disheveled hair before she casually arranged it into a simple chignon. As she combed, she was suddenly overcome with grief, covering her face and weeping. Today, this was the last dignity she could preserve.

After crying for a while, she composed herself and said coldly: “What’s this supposed to be? False benevolence to reduce your guilt?”

Xiao Du didn’t answer her, continuing on his own: “I still remember when I was eight and fell into the lotus pond while playing—you were the first to arrive.” He paused, then continued: “But you didn’t immediately rescue me. Later I realized you were hesitating then, because if I died, Second Brother would be the only male heir of the marquis mansion. But you still reached out and pulled me up. Though this happened long ago, from that moment on, I never believed you could be a vicious, ruthless person.”

“Enough!” Concubine Wang suddenly became agitated, trembling as she said: “My current plight is entirely your doing—why must the Marquis continue this pretense of warmth?” She smoothed her hair to calm herself: “I suppose the Marquis didn’t come today just to bring me a comb and reminisce about the past.”

Seeing her like this, Xiao Du stopped beating around the bush and asked directly: “I want to know—what was that secret about my mother you wanted to reveal yesterday?”

Concubine Wang was stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter as if she’d heard the most amusing thing in the world. When she finished laughing, she leaned closer to the bars with a playful tone: “You really don’t know?”

Xiao Du frowned: “Should I know?”

She leaned even closer, showing a mysterious smile as she whispered: “Trust me—you’re better off never knowing this secret.”

Then she ignored Xiao Du completely, returning to her previous spot and taking out the comb from her hair to begin combing again. Xiao Du watched her for a long time, knowing she would never speak again. He stood to leave, but suddenly remembering something, he hesitated before finally turning back: “Take care of yourself here. Perhaps things aren’t without hope for a turnaround.”

Concubine Wang shuddered violently, hearing the deeper meaning in those words as intense longing flashed in her eyes. But Xiao Du said nothing more, only walking slowly away down that dark corridor until he disappeared into the darkness.

The sky outside grew increasingly overcast, black clouds pressing low as a torrential downpour seemed imminent. Yet Xiao Du felt this place was a hundred times fresher than that death cell. He couldn’t help but exhale deeply, though the gloom in his heart didn’t dissipate in the slightest. A servant who had been waiting approached quickly, helping him into the carriage to return to the marquis mansion.

Meanwhile, in a side room of the marquis mansion, the scene was one of complete sensuality. On the cloud silk brocade couch, two naked bodies were tightly entwined, continuously emitting gasps and moans as the bed shook constantly… The door was suddenly pushed open violently. The cold wind from outside dispersed the room’s sensual atmosphere. Xiao Qing straightened up angrily, but froze upon seeing who had entered. The maid beneath him screamed while covering her face, shrinking into the bedding. Xiao Yunjing’s face was iron-blue as he looked at this disgraceful scene, turning away and roaring: “Get out of here!”

The maid quickly threw on clothes and fled the room in embarrassment. Only then did Xiao Yunjing turn to Xiao Qing, who remained bare-chested with an indifferent expression, scolding harshly: “Scoundrel! Your mother just had an incident, and you’re already engaging in such debauchery again. Do you even acknowledge me as your father?”

Xiao Qing looked up at him with deep hatred in his eyes: “My mother’s current state—isn’t that thanks to you, Father? What, can’t tolerate even me now and have come to condemn me?”

Xiao Yunjing was so angry his hands trembled. After a moment, he finally suppressed his rage and softened his voice: “Enough. These years I’ve wronged you both, making you like this. I’ve arranged an idle position for you at the Ministry of Personnel through connections. If you agree, report for duty tomorrow—it would be an answer to your mother.”

Xiao Qing looked at him and laughed, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes, carrying only mockery. He stood and tied his robe: “What’s this—compensation? Unfortunately, I didn’t care for it before and care even less now. If you find me disgraceful, just throw me out and let me fend for myself.”

“You!” Xiao Yunjing was furious and raised his hand to strike, but stopped mid-air, finally shaking his head: “Fine, fine. I can’t control you—do whatever you want.” He then turned dejectedly and walked outside.

Xiao Qing watched his obviously aged back and suddenly raised his voice: “If Father truly cares about me, think carefully about why I’ve been married for years yet have no children!” Xiao Yunjing spun around, seeing that deeply mocking smile, his body swaying as he grabbed the doorframe to avoid falling. Xiao Qing lay back down on the bed as if it had nothing to do with him.

Xiao Yunjing walked unsteadily out the door, looking up at the dark clouds gathering overhead, feeling terribly stifled. A servant approached asking: “Master, shall you return to your room?” He shook his head: “No need. You go ahead—I want to walk around alone.”

He wandered aimlessly through the courtyard, feeling dizzy and disoriented, not knowing where he was going. Suddenly thunder crashed overhead, followed by a torrential downpour. The rain came fast and fierce, but Xiao Yunjing seemed oblivious, continuing to walk forward in a daze, letting the rain completely soak his robes. Then a blue umbrella appeared over his head. He turned to see a familiar, gentle face and asked strangely: “How are you here?”

Concubine Cai smiled: “Master is confused—this is my courtyard.” Only then did Xiao Yunjing look around, realizing he had unknowingly wandered into Concubine Cai’s quarters. She moved the umbrella further over him, saying gently: “I saw Master standing in the rain from my room and didn’t know what had happened, so I quickly brought an umbrella to shelter you. Please come inside quickly and change out of those wet clothes before you catch cold.”

Xiao Yunjing nodded and followed her inside. Concubine Cai had servants fetch dry clothes for the master and personally helped Xiao Yunjing remove his outer robe, wringing it out and hanging it on a rack. Xiao Yunjing watched quietly for a long time before saying gently: “Let the servants do such tasks.”

Concubine Cai was stunned, then showed a forlorn expression, lowering her head: “This servant is just a servant after all.”

Xiao Yunjing suddenly thought of another person, his heart stabbing with pain. He sighed deeply: “I’ve made too many mistakes over the years. After yesterday’s incident with Shuoyao, I finally understand the resentment in your hearts. When I forcibly took Xuan’er from your side years ago, you must have always hated me.”

Hearing her daughter’s name, tears immediately welled in Concubine Cai’s eyes. She quickly wiped them with her sleeve: “How dare this servant blame Master? Someone of my background—Master was willing to give me the status of concubine and let Xuan’er be a proper marquis mansion young lady. This was already the greatest blessing for us mother and daughter. What could this servant resent?”

Seeing her like this only increased Xiao Yunjing’s guilt. Xuan’er had been clever and adorable since childhood, his most beloved junior. He had indeed looked down on her background and refused to let his daughter be raised by her side. He sighed: “Separating you mother and daughter all these years was truly unfair to you. How about this—move to Songbai Courtyard from now on, so you can care for Xuan’er at any time.”

Concubine Cai couldn’t believe what she heard, looking up excitedly: “Really? Thank you, Master! Thank you!” She wept with joy, almost kneeling in gratitude. Xiao Yunjing quickly supported her, grasping her hand and saying gently: “No more of this in the future. Remember—you’re no longer just a servant.”

Outside the window, the rain grew heavier, pattering against the windowsill and disturbing the two inside, while also blocking Yuanxi who was preparing to return from the estate.

She hugged herself, hiding under an eave, watching rainwater drip from the eaves to form a puddle at her feet, many worries swirling in her heart. Since yesterday, she’d felt something suspicious about Concubine Wang’s case, so she brought An’he and Nanny Li to the estate seeking clues. But since Manager Liu’s incident, everyone at the estate was tight-lipped about the matter—no amount of questioning yielded answers. She had to abandon the idea and prepare to return, but just as she reached the river, this downpour began. The boatman who should have been waiting by the river was nowhere to be found, so An’he and Nanny Li told her to find shelter while they went to fetch him.

She looked around aimlessly and suddenly saw a figure in a blue robe through the misty rain. She couldn’t help blinking in surprise and called out: “Young Teacher? How are you here?”

Luo Yuan was hurrying through the rain with an oil-paper umbrella when he turned back in surprise: “Madam Xiao, how are you here?”

Yuanxi briefly explained what had happened. Luo Yuan then closed his umbrella and joined her under the eave: “Who knows where they’ll have to go to find the boatman? Why don’t I wait here with you for a while?”

In such terrible weather, two people were always warmer than one. Yuanxi thought it over and nodded gratefully. Under the eaves, rain continued falling like fine pearl curtains, creating a small world within the gray, misty rain. The two stood side by side, quietly listening to the rain drumming on the eaves and watching water droplets dance gently before them.

Finally, Luo Yuan spoke: “I still remember your coming-of-age ceremony day—it was a rainy day like this too.”

Yuanxi turned to him in surprise: “How would you remember it rained on my coming-of-age day?” She remembered that day the marquis mansion held no ceremony for her—she only ate a bowl of longevity noodles with Seventh Concubine, who gave her a hair ornament she’d made herself. But hadn’t Young Teacher already passed the imperial examination and entered the Hanlin Academy by then? Why would he remember such a trivial matter?

Luo Yuan frowned with a very strange expression. After long deliberation, he finally asked with difficulty: “The day before your coming-of-age ceremony—didn’t you see the copy of ‘Peach Blossom Fan’ I sent you?”

Yuanxi was even more shocked: “I never saw such a book.” She thought carefully, then said anxiously: “I carefully read every book you sent me several times, but I never saw a book like that.”

Luo Yuan looked at her in shock, then showed sudden understanding that finally dissolved into deep bitterness and helplessness. Yuanxi stared at him blankly, suddenly feeling she might have missed something very important.