Ruyi had provided Fuman with few clues – only Lady He’s place of origin, name, and the year and month she entered the Grand Preceptor’s manor – but the two sheets of paper Fuman handed over were densely written, as if they contained Lady He’s entire life story.

She was somewhat surprised. After sending Shen Qiyuan away, she moved closer to the candle to read carefully.

A maiden raised in her boudoir until sixteen, her heart awakening to love for the first time, fell in love at first sight with a young man who rode past her wall. After corresponding for over a year, the young man came to propose marriage. The beginning of stories was always so romantic and tender.

The young man’s family background was illustrious, so the marriage proposal naturally succeeded. But when the maiden followed him back to Lin’an, his family refused to acknowledge her, treating her as a concubine. Though the young man was deeply in love, he couldn’t disobey his parents’ orders and could only temporarily entrust the maiden to a good friend, having her live separately in a secluded courtyard.

Who would have thought that within a month, the young man was forced to marry his proper wife, with red bridal processions stretching ten li and drums filling the city? The maiden was heartbroken, but discovered she was pregnant. At this moment, the young man’s good friend stepped forward, taking her into his manor as his proper wife, vowing to protect her for the rest of her life.

Originally, the story could have ended well here, but unfortunately, watching her daughter grow day by day with features increasingly resembling the young man’s former elegance, the maiden ultimately couldn’t resolve her melancholy. She contracted consumption and passed away when her daughter was ten years old.

Turning to the second sheet, it contained Fuman’s annotations.

The maiden was Lady He, the young man’s good friend was naturally Grand Preceptor Liu, but this young man—

Ruyi narrowed her eyes: “Prince Yong is in his fifties now, right? He wasn’t young when he met Lady He either – where does this ‘young man’ business come from?”

Fuman scratched her head and said embarrassedly: “They, they’re all local people. What people said, I, I couldn’t change.”

Who knew why they called a man in his thirties a young man?

Ruyi propped her chin and muttered in confusion: “But that’s not right. Lady He didn’t die of consumption. Moreover, Grand Preceptor Liu wasn’t as righteous as they described – he married Lady He purely because she had over fifty shops in her hands. The silver earned from those shops was what supported his path to office.”

Fuman was startled upon hearing this.

Her tone was too relaxed – so relaxed it was as if the several people mentioned here had nothing to do with her.

Thinking of Grand Preceptor Liu, who pursued her and her deceased mother, Fuman’s expression softened as she reached out to embrace her.

Ruyi was puzzled by the embrace, but since Fuman was fragrant and soft, she didn’t struggle, only looking up with a smile: “Thank you.”

Fuman’s face reddened as she quickly waved her hands.

If she hadn’t met Ruyi, she would have died long ago – what was difficult about these small efforts?

Additionally, she had given Ruyi a map of Prince Yong’s manor.

“This, this location.” She said, “Someone said that Prince, Prince Yong set up a separate, separate Buddhist hall, with a memorial, memorial tablet that has no inscription.”

Who would a man who casually promised marriage but couldn’t fulfill it secretly commemorate?

Ruyi touched her chin, stood up, and took out the night clothes she had worn before, skillfully changing into them.

“You, you be careful.” Fuman frowned, “That, that is a prince’s manor after all.”

Ruyi bit the tie of her sash and looked up with a smile: “Not going to advise me not to go?”

“I, I’ve figured it out.” Fuman said seriously, “If it, if it were me, I would, I would also go. So, so I only want you, only want you to return safely.”

Her heart softening, Ruyi finished tying her clothes and pulled her over, gently kissing her forehead.

“Good girl.” She said, “You’ll have your wish fulfilled.”

Fuman only felt the warm, soft touch on her forehead. She was startled, then her face flushed red all over.

The instigator felt no embarrassment whatsoever, even pinching her cheek before turning and gracefully leaping out the window. The half-crescent moon hung in the night sky, and her fluttering garment corners soon disappeared into the tree shadows.

Tree shadows swayed, and osmanthus fragrance carried on the wind.

Though Prince Yong’s manor wasn’t decorated with red silk, a hint of celebratory atmosphere could still be detected. The servants were all drinking and chatting merrily, with no one near the main courtyard – only candlelight burning in the rooms.

He Tinglan sat expressionlessly in the room, awaiting her fate.

Prince Yong had peculiar preferences. She knew she might not survive even tonight, but it didn’t matter – this world was boring anyway. Having lived sixteen years, she had lived enough.

The door creaked open, wind blowing in and raising goosebumps on her skin.

He Tinglan closed her eyes tightly.

Tap, tap, tap.

That person walked up to her.

Her hands were secretly clenched in her sleeves, but her face showed a fearless expression.

The room was quiet for a moment, then someone laughed.

Her eyelashes trembling, He Tinglan opened her eyes.

Liu Ruyi pulled down the veil from her face, bent down close to her, fingertips caressing her tender white cheek, eyes full of interest: “What a beautiful little lady.”

He Tinglan was stunned.

She propped one hand on the canopy bed frame, the other stroking her face, leaning forward. Her hair bound high fell from her shoulders, starlight flickering in her long eyes, the curve of her mouth both heroic and roguishly wicked: “How about letting me cherish you instead?”

The crescent moon hung high, light streaming through behind her. He Tinglan stared blankly at this familiar person, tears filling her eyes.

“Hey.” Ruyi withdrew her hand and crossed it over her chest. “Are you trying to frame me? I haven’t done anything yet.”

Her throat choking with sobs, He Tinglan suddenly reached out and embraced her waist.

Ruyi caught her in bewilderment, feeling this little girl’s entire body trembling.

Just as she thought, in such circumstances, who could truly be fearless? It was just gritting teeth and enduring.

She sighed and gently patted He Tinglan’s back: “Alright, considering you once saved me, today I’ll save you once too.”

He Tinglan had saved Liu Ruyi – when she was infatuated with He Zeyou and wanted to give him all the property deeds and land contracts of her shops, it was she who stopped her. Though the scolding at the time was quite harsh, Ruyi felt this little girl wasn’t bad-hearted – she could be said to be a good bamboo shoot growing from the He family’s bad bamboo.

“How are you here?” She was crying, but her voice was still hoarse and calm.

Ruyi chuckled: “If I said I was passing by, you probably wouldn’t believe it. Better to talk after we get out.”

Get out?

He Tinglan released her and shook her head: “I’m destined to die here.”

She was the He family’s gift, having to repay the He family’s nurturing kindness with her life.

Ruyi clicked her tongue.

Why were all the young ladies of Great Qian so miserable? Bound by rumors, bound by family – life beyond control, death also beyond control.

“So much nonsense.” She reached out and directly lifted He Tinglan horizontally, stuffing her into the large red clothing chest nearby, “Live first, then discuss other matters.”

He Tinglan’s pupils contracted slightly. Before she could speak, the crimson gauze dress she wore was taken from her.

As the chest lid closed, the last words she heard were: “If you make even the slightest sound, today will see two lives lost. I’m so beautiful – you wouldn’t bear to see me perish, would you?”