Inside the room, Zhu Yan sat absentmindedly at her dressing table, chin resting on her hand as she gazed out the window. Outside, the kapok tree bore clusters of crescent-shaped fruits, hanging heavily from its branches.
In two months, the kapok fruits would mature and burst open, revealing the soft white cotton inside. Picking and fluffing the cotton to dry in the sun would make for warm, light clothing.
As autumn approached, it was time to add layers.
Shen Du didn’t seem to have many clothes. Since Chang’an was in the north, she should make him some garments before returning. Pan Chi would need some too, and Jing Lin, and…
Wait, she didn’t know how to spin or sew. Why was she thinking about this?
Zhu Yan smiled to herself, recalling how Shen Du had protected her. Their relationship was no longer as distant as before. Could there be hope for the future?
She straightened up, glancing at the teacup on the table behind her through the mirror. Shen Du had sat there drinking tea before leaving this morning.
Exhaling softly, Zhu Yan stood up, pushing aside her thoughts. She prepared to visit the raided Guangchun Hall again to search for an antidote to “Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly.”
Just as she reached the door, she saw Jing Lin running over urgently.
“The situation with Pan Chi has become critical,” he said.
Zhu Yan’s face turned pale. She spun around and hurried with Jing Lin to Pan Chi’s quarters.
Entering the room, they could barely sense any signs of life.
“The Section Chief told me to stay close and observe,” Jing Lin explained.
Zhu Yan felt a warmth in her heart, knowing Shen Du had done this for her sake.
“Earlier, I noticed something was wrong and called for a physician. We found that those wildly growing threads had spread to his throat and face. He can no longer speak.”
Jing Lin looked pained. He respected Pan Chi as a true man. If it were him, he would have ended his own life long ago, unable to bear such torment.
Zhu Yan felt anxious as well. Without an antidote, watching Pan Chi suffer like this was like having a knife twisted in her heart, each turn more painful than the last.
Hearing the commotion, Pan Chi looked over. Seeing Zhu Yan and Jing Lin arrive together, he managed a weak smile. As he smiled, the white threads rippled like waves, a sight that brought tears to the eyes of those watching.
“You’re still smiling at a time like this,” Zhu Yan began, but her words were cut short as tears fell.
Pan Chi was still battling his illness, while she was alive and well. Just moments ago, she had been daydreaming about a long life with Shen Du as husband and wife. How could she be worthy of such thoughts?
Pan Chi gestured with his eyes for Zhu Yan to come closer. She complied, sitting beside him, and, unafraid of the dangerous white threads, reached out to hold his hand.
Pan Chi tried to pull away slightly but lacked the strength. He allowed Zhu Yan to grasp his hand.
As the white threads touched Zhu Yan’s skin, they immediately transformed into sticky beads, binding Pan Chi’s hand to hers.
Her face filled with worry, the guilt in her heart growing deeper. Tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
Pan Chi wanted to raise his hand to wipe away her tears but realized he couldn’t even manage such a simple task now.
Zhu Yan, sensing Pan Chi’s intention, raised her hand to wipe away her tears. But no matter how much she wiped, the tears wouldn’t stop. Finally, she gave in and began to sob openly.
Behind her, Jing Lin was also moved to sadness, standing silently without a word.
Pan Chi tried to open his mouth. He wanted to say it was alright, that everyone dies eventually, and that he’d rather die seeing her smile one last time.
But he couldn’t utter a single word. He didn’t want to make Zhu Yan cry; he wanted to wipe away her tears, but he couldn’t do any of it.
He truly was useless.
“If only I hadn’t let Xiu Xiu take care of you,” Zhu Yan said between sobs, finally realizing how undignified she appeared. She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, sniffling. “If I had taken care of you myself, you wouldn’t have been poisoned.”
They gazed at each other, Zhu Yan’s heart filled with nothing but guilt.
Pan Chi wanted to say yes, it would have been better if she had cared for him. But then he wouldn’t have seen her cry for him or worry about him like this. So was it truly better or worse?
The ancients said: “A man dies for one who understands him; a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her.”
But what did his situation amount to? Was he dying for someone who understood him or for a beautiful woman?
He realized he truly liked Zhu Yan, even more deeply than before. With this realization, he didn’t want to die anymore. Shen Du and Zhu Yan were still married, after all. He needed to stay alive for a chance to break them up and give Zhu Yan happiness.
That white-faced grim reaper lived on a knife’s edge every day. He couldn’t give Zhu Yan happiness.
Zhu Yan wiped her eyes once more, swearing an oath: “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to save you.”
She decided to negotiate with the enemy camp herself. She couldn’t let Pan Chi die like this.
Before the man on the bed could react, she quickly stood up and left the room.
Jing Lin, who had been waiting at the door with reddened eyes, hurriedly stopped her:
“Madam, where are you going?”
Knowing she would be stopped if she revealed her intentions, but also aware she couldn’t leave smoothly if constantly followed, Zhu Yan glanced at Jing Lin with annoyance. She quickened her pace, trying to shake him off.
But of course, she was no match for Jing Lin’s speed.
She saw him block her path again. “Please, Madam, tell me where you’re headed.”
Seeing no way to avoid him, Zhu Yan bit her lower lip lightly and looked into Jing Lin’s eyes, asking tentatively, “If I tell you, will you let me go?”
Jing Lin hesitated, then shook his head. “The Section Chief said Madam should rest well in the mansion. We’ll handle other matters.”
“If that’s the case, there’s nothing more to say.”
Before Jing Lin could respond, Zhu Yan darted past him and began to run.
She hadn’t gone far when she was blocked again. Frustrated, she looked at the man in front of her. “Can’t I just take a walk?”
Once more, she tried to sidestep him but was cut off. No matter which way she turned, she was blocked.
She turned to look at Jing Lin, her gaze unfriendly, though she knew in her heart she wouldn’t be allowed to leave.
“I’m going to negotiate with Mo Qian Zhi.”
What?
Jing Lin nearly bulged his eyes out. “Madam, do you realize what you’re saying?”
“I do!”
The determination in her eyes told him she wasn’t joking.
“Not allowed.”
“I’m not here to ask for your permission,” Zhu Yan tried to push past him but was blocked again.
“I am the Section Chief’s wife.”
Jing Lin: “I know.” But he still wouldn’t let her pass.
This guy.
The two faced off in the corridor, neither willing to yield.
“Shen Du!” Zhu Yan called out, looking behind Jing Lin with surprise and delight.
Jing Lin fell for the trick and turned around. Seizing the opportunity, Zhu Yan dashed out of the mansion gates with all her might.
Pan Chi was dying—that was her only thought.
Jing Lin: …Could someone tell him if it was too late to convince the Section Chief to return his wife? Would he be able to keep his head?
Not wanting to dwell on it, Jing Lin used his lightness skill to leap into the air, speeding towards the city gates.
—
On the city wall, Shen Du was surveying the terrain when he suddenly sensed someone approaching. He thrust his sword out, only to find it was Jing Lin. Annoyed, he said:
“Why aren’t you guarding that guy in the office? What are you doing here?”
His tone was not pleasant.
Jing Lin scratched his head. “Chief, Madam insists on leaving the city to negotiate with Lord Mo. I couldn’t stop her.”