For nearly a decade, Bing Ling had accompanied Fang Xuan. She had witnessed Fang Xuan’s entanglement with Shen Che years ago, and back then, even Bing Ling couldn’t help but blame Fang Xuan for being “unappreciative.” However, upon seeing Miss Acheng now, she felt a sense of relief for Fang Xuan.
Fang Xuan’s carriage drove into a mountain estate in the eastern suburbs of the capital. The estate was nestled among mountains and embraced by water, with a lake as clear as a mirror. Inside were thousands of rare bamboo and various flowers and trees. In the lake stood a crystal palace, decorated entirely with colored glaze. The sunlight reflected off it, making it appear like a dragon’s palace.
As soon as Fang Xuan alighted from the carriage, a young maid came forward and said, “Miss, the Second Young Master sent word that he will arrive shortly.”
Fang Xuan nodded and went inside to change her clothes. Her attire was extremely simple, without any jewelry. Only someone with her beauty could be so confident, disdaining to taint her complexion with powder or rouge.
When Shen Che walked into the courtyard, Fang Xuan was standing on the steps in front of the house, watching him.
The man before her had grown into the image she had imagined, even surpassing her expectations. Time had carved his features to be increasingly resolute and profound. He strode forward, each step resounding firmly on the ground, perhaps due to the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. The sound of his footsteps echoed in Fang Xuan’s ears and reverberated in her heart, making her realize that Shen Che was no longer the young man whose feelings she could easily read at a glance when he first entered the world.
“Why are you leaving after staying for just a few days?” Shen Che asked, standing before Fang Xuan.
Fang Xuan smiled and gestured for Shen Che to enter. “You know me. I’ve grown accustomed to traveling these past few years and can’t stay idle. I’m planning to visit some old friends in Jiangnan, then travel to the Southern Frontier.”
Shen Che nodded, not saying anything to persuade her to stay. He only said, “The miasma in the Southern Frontier is severe. I’ll have Yuan Tong prepare some medicinal pills for you to take along.”
Fang Xuan paused, then picked up the copper kettle from the brazier and began to brew tea. She replied, “That would be nice.”
After warming the cups, Fang Xuan poured tea for Shen Che and took a small sip herself. Her tea-making skills had greatly deteriorated. She recalled that Shen Che had learned to brew tea solely because she enjoyed drinking it. Now, after so many years in the Western Regions, she had grown accustomed to milk tea and no longer craved clear tea, while Shen Che had become deeply engrossed in it.
Things change, and time rushes on.
Fang Xuan gazed at Shen Che, her eyes caressing his face like gentle hands. She asked softly, “How did you manage to appear so timely back then?”
She was referring to when she had fallen into the hands of the Crown Prince of Gumuo. She had been fencing with him for a long time, and the Crown Prince’s patience had finally worn thin. That night, when Fang Xuan thought she would lose her virtue, helplessly pinned to the bed, she suddenly saw Shen Che break through the window. She almost thought it was an illusion, as he was supposed to be thousands of miles away.
Remembering how she had thrown herself into Shen Che’s arms in her disheveled state, Fang Xuan’s face flushed slightly.
“Someone deliberately lured you into Gumuo,” Shen Che said.
Recalling the heart-pounding events of that night, Fang Xuan realized that many words of reunion had been left unspoken as Zhe Li had arrived soon after. It was clear that someone had used her as bait to plot against Shen Che. “Their target was you?” she asked.
Shen Che nodded.
Fang Xuan leaned back, feeling afraid in retrospect. “Have you found the person who schemed to frame you?”
She felt uneasy, remembering how Shen Che had been severely wounded and delirious with fever, and how he had struggled to travel as soon as he regained consciousness. It must have been for this matter. “I never thought that after so many years, someone would still use me to set you up.”
“It’s my fault for involving you,” Shen Che said. “I’m sorry.”
Fang Xuan shook her head. She didn’t need Shen Che to apologize to her. Once, she had thought herself cold-hearted, able to leave Shen Che behind and pursue her path. But in her midnight dreams, she would wonder what life would have been like if she had stayed by Shen Che’s side instead of leaving. Surely, there would have been sweet memories.
However, Fang Xuan had always known what she wanted. She knew that back then, Shen Che was too young, his feelings too passionate, and thus more likely to cool quickly. At that time, the young Shen Che had everything and could give her anything, except for the one thing she needed most – a sense of security. For a woman, this was the most crucial thing.
So Fang Xuan chose to distance herself. She had once been extremely proud of her rationality, but in Gumuo, when Shen Che appeared before her to save her from danger, Fang Xuan broke down uncontrollably in front of him for the first time. In her most desperate moment, she had fantasized about Shen Che appearing before her, knowing it was impossible, yet he had truly appeared.
Bringing with him all the radiance she had hoped for and imagined.
After reminiscing, there was nothing more to say. Fang Xuan didn’t speak, and Shen Che just sat there. They were silent, yet an indescribable connection lingered in the air.
A man and woman who were once so familiar with each other now found themselves struggling to find topics of conversation after years apart.
“Would you like to see what I’ve collected over these years?” Fang Xuan spoke up.
Shen Che nodded a faint smile on his lips.
Fang Xuan’s collection was extensive, including musical scores and instruments – strange, unimaginable instruments. She eagerly showcased her treasures to Shen Che. “You can’t imagine how strange the tones are, yet when combined into a melody, they’re no less impressive than the elegant music of the Central Plains.”
Fang Xuan pointed at the instruments and scores, detailing the origin of each one. When particularly pleased, she would pick one up and play a short tune, delighting in it.
After a long while, Fang Xuan realized that Shen Che hadn’t interjected at all, only occasionally responding with an “Mm” to her self-directed questions.
“Are you not interested?” Fang Xuan asked, somewhat surprised as she stopped.
Shen Che smiled helplessly.
Fang Xuan suddenly understood. “Oh, I see… You played the flute so well, I thought you liked the music. I…”
Shen Che covered his face and laughed. “I can’t imagine now why I did such a thing back then.” He had practiced the flute diligently just because Fang Xuan liked it, hoping to win her favor.
Fang Xuan couldn’t help but laugh too, though the aftertaste was somewhat bitter. Shen Che’s honest words now were even less comforting than if he had continued to deceive her.
Even someone as calm as Fang Xuan couldn’t help but think, is this a case of only seeing the new love smile, not hearing the old love cry?
As for the so-called new love, if she knew of Fang Xuan’s words, she would certainly loudly object. It was the new love who was crying, and the old love who was smiling.
Ji Cheng hadn’t expected to encounter Shen Che’s beloved Fang Xuan so unexpectedly. It’s said that a person’s heart becomes particularly soft when near their beloved. Although Ji Cheng wasn’t sure if Fang Xuan’s return to the capital would benefit her, she felt it couldn’t hurt. No matter how outrageous Shen Che might be, he surely wouldn’t misbehave under Fang Xuan’s watchful eye.
However, one shouldn’t speak of Cao Cao, or even think of him. Just as Ji Cheng was wondering if Fang Xuan could restrain Shen Che, Nan Gui entered and said, “Miss, the Young Master asks you to go to the Nine Li Courtyard.”
A message delivered by Nan Gui meant that Ji Cheng was to use the secret passage. Ji Cheng was surprised that Shen Che suddenly wanted to see her, but she felt a strong aversion to the Nine Li Courtyard.
Those dark days were like a festering sore in Ji Cheng’s heart, painful to touch.
“I understand. I’ll change my clothes,” Ji Cheng said.
Wearing a high-collared dress in the height of summer, Ji Cheng was taking extreme precautions against Shen Che. Instead of using the secret passage to meet Shen Che, she boldly led Nan Gui from Qing Garden to the Nine Li Courtyard.
The gate of the Nine Li Courtyard was already locked. Ji Cheng knocked on the copper ring several times before a young gatekeeper opened the door.
“Miss Ji?” Yu Yi, whom the young boy had called, looked at Ji Cheng in astonishment.
Ji Cheng smiled and said, “Cousin Che sent someone with a message saying he had something to discuss with me. I’m not sure what it’s about. Do you know anything, Sister?”
Yu Yi hadn’t yet recovered from her surprise. As far as she knew, no one from the courtyard had been sent to deliver a message to Ji Cheng. However, the Second Young Master might have sent someone else. Although Yu Yi was Shen Che’s senior maid, there were many things she wasn’t privy to.
“Is that so? Please wait a moment, Miss Cheng. I’ll go inform the Young Master,” Yu Yi said.
Ji Cheng nodded and sat down in the entrance hall. The young boy was quick-witted and promptly brought tea to serve her.
Yu Yi returned to the upper courtyard and asked Ni Shang, who was polishing tea utensils, “Miss Cheng is here downstairs. She says the Young Master invited her over.”
Ni Shang was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, “Perhaps it’s about the newly arranged marriage.”
Yu Yi smiled and said, “I thought so too. She seems quite eager.” Although Shen Che hadn’t exactly acted as a matchmaker for Ji Cheng and the Liu family, he had indeed helped smooth things over. Many in the household knew about this.
“I’ll go tell the Young Master,” Yu Yi said, starting to walk towards the main courtyard to find Shen Che. “I’ve never seen anyone so impatient, coming even after the gates are locked.”
Ni Shang said, “The Young Master isn’t upstairs. I just came down from there. If he sent for Miss Cheng, he’s probably at the top. I’ll go up and tell him.”
Yu Yi smiled without saying anything. She had been at the Nine Li Courtyard for over a year but was still just doing odd jobs. She wanted to see if Ni Shang, who was always in charge, could climb to a higher position.
Ni Shang didn’t care about Yu Yi’s thoughts. She walked up the mountain path and pulled the copper bell outside the wooden door, calling out loudly, “Young Master, Miss Cheng is here.”
There was no response from inside. Ni Shang listened carefully, and after a moment, Shen Che’s voice came from within, “Tell her to come up.”
“Yes,” Ni Shang responded, but she stood there, stunned. The small courtyard at the top had always been off-limits to casual visitors, yet he so easily agreed to let Ji Cheng come up. This immediately reminded Ni Shang of the shattered pieces she had seen that day.
Ni Shang had served Shen Che for many years and had rarely seen him angry, let alone smashing cups. She had been extremely curious at the time, wondering who could have smashed so many cups in the Nine Li Courtyard. Her instinct told her it must have been a woman.
As Ni Shang walked down the mountain in a daze, she caught sight of Ji Cheng sitting in the entrance hall, wearing a thin dress in shades of cherry and rice. Suddenly, she felt it wasn’t so strange after all.
Ji Cheng followed Ni Shang to the main courtyard level. Ni Shang turned and said, “Miss Cheng, please go up by yourself. The Young Master is waiting for you upstairs.”
Ji Cheng knew a bit about the rules of the Nine Li Courtyard, so she just nodded to Ni Shang and headed up the mountain.