◎”Oh my, Little Bitter Melon, you’ve turned into a Sweet Melon!”◎

Yu Qingwu had never imagined that at a time like this, he would think of Lan Shanjun.

But it came to him so naturally.

Thinking carefully about it, perhaps when a person has settled a great matter weighing on their heart and cast aside the past, they will inevitably think about having a fresh start when tomorrow’s sun rises.

Thus he felt that thinking of her at this moment was really not strange at all.

He remembered again how when he was taken away from the Shou residence, she had silently followed along for a stretch of the road.

In that instant, he couldn’t help but feel that perhaps this was what home meant.

When leaving, she would see him off; when returning, she would wait for him.

He sighed deeply, thinking that he truly could be counted among those favored by heaven—after losing one family, she had come before him and said, “Then I’ll wait for you to return.”

Wait for you to return; I have something I want to tell you.

Yu Qingwu had relied on this sentence, thinking about what she wanted to say, to endure torture after torture.

Upon his crisscrossed, tattered flesh, because the two characters “Shan Jun” had been carved into it, there arose an unusual kind of joy.

At least, while staying in that dim and dark prison, when he couldn’t see daylight, he didn’t feel suffering or humiliation. Instead, a kind of hope emerged—if she truly was willing, then the two of them forming a family would be excellent indeed.

Thinking this way, his days had more to look forward to. The flesh all over his body no longer hurt; having his heart gouged and liver split no longer festered. She was like good medicine, allowing him to imagine all manner of romance and beauty while in this ghostly prison.

It was just that he was too poor.

He smiled faintly and, enduring the pain to stand straight, said to the Grand Imperial Grandson, “I’m afraid Your Highness will need to increase my salary somewhat in the future.”

The Grand Imperial Grandson still respected him. If it were himself, he would certainly deal with Wu Qingchuan through superficial civility, accepting his favors, eating his food, living in his residence, and taking over everything of his after he died—the Grand Imperial Grandson had done exactly this with the Emperor.

Why rebel against it and reveal one’s own pride? What person couldn’t put on a false smile? His father had been killed by the Emperor, yet didn’t he still smile while reminiscing with the Emperor about the past?

But Yu Qingwu had this kind of character, which was precisely why he could use him with confidence. He especially needed him to sever all ties with Wu Qingchuan before he could continue using him.

He said gently, “Rest assured, when you get out, you should be able to move to a different position.”

He also joked, “Move quickly. Today His Majesty is pleased with me; tomorrow, who knows?”

When he’s pleased with you, everything you do is right. When he detests you, even defending yourself with two sentences is wrong.

Fortunately, His Majesty was currently pleased with him.

That’s why he had to act so quickly on this matter; otherwise, if the opportunity passed, he would regret it deeply.

He looked at Yu Qingwu and asked, “His Majesty has summoned you to the palace—can you still walk?”

Yu Qingwu nodded. “I can.”

He asked, “How are things in the palace?”

The Grand Imperial Grandson smiled at him and consoled him, “As they say, the spirits watch from three feet above our heads; worldly affairs are ever-changing.”

“Last time, you had no evidence. This time, they have no evidence.”

…

Lan Shanjun hadn’t returned to the Duke Zhenguo’s residence for three consecutive days, staying at Old Madam Shou’s residence the entire time. Nanny Qian personally went to the Duke Zhenguo’s residence to deliver the message: “Old Madam’s health is poor, and Miss Shanjun has won her affection, so she doesn’t want her to leave.”

Even though Zhu Shi was dissatisfied in her heart, she didn’t dare show it, only saying, “Old Madam’s illness is important.”

She then had someone fetch Lan Shanjun’s clothes and asked, “How many days will she stay?”

Nanny Qian replied, “About half a ten-day period?”

Zhu Shi said, “…Oh.”

When Nanny Qian returned, she whispered to Old Madam Shou, “Her expression was very displeased—she couldn’t even hide it.”

Old Madam Shou had no time to think about her matters. She looked at the sun, calculated the hour, and said, “In another quarter-hour, have me enter the palace.”

Nanny Qian asked, “What are you entering the palace for?”

Old Madam Shou helplessly glanced at her, then looked at Lan Shanjun who was arranging flowers in a vase nearby.

Lan Shanjun smiled and said, “Lord Yu was taken away from the Shou residence. His Majesty treasures Old Madam greatly—this place could be said to have been built under his watchful eye. Yet they dared to come here and arrest someone without any evidence or proof.”

Whose influence were they relying on, and whom did they think they could bully?

This was a matter that could be made small or large, depending on when someone added fuel to the fire.

Old Madam Shou was going to add that fuel.

She said, “That’s exactly right.”

Lan Shanjun finished arranging the flowers, thought for a moment, and asked softly, “Lord Yu is also using you in a way.”

Old Madam Shou patted her hand. “If these old bones of mine can still do something for you young people, it could also be considered robust vitality in old age.”

Everyone has a scale in their heart. Old Madam Shou was no exception. She said, “When the two children of the Su family died, I couldn’t bring myself to fight with the Marquis Boyuan’s residence, nor could I afford to. But if someone is willing to step forward, what harm is there in me standing with them?”

The hardest part is being that person who steps forward.

Lan Shanjun rarely had heart-to-heart talks like this with Old Madam, and seldom heard her speak such words from the heart. She asked a question she couldn’t understand, “Why do you treat me so well?”

Old Madam Shou laughed heartily a few times and patted her head. “I don’t know—I just felt we were very compatible, like my own child.”

“You and Qingwu—from the first moment I saw you both, I had this feeling.”

She stood up and said, “Shanjun, you wait at home. I’ll go bring him back right now.”

Lan Shanjun nodded, kneeling on the floor with her hands folded at her waist. “Thank you for being willing to care for Lord Yu and me.”

…

Old Madam Shou didn’t bring Nanny Qian with her.

She was afraid something might happen to Lan Shanjun alone at home.

Lan Shanjun had the servants sun Yu Qingwu’s bedding while she carried the freshly arranged flower vase into the inner room.

She looked around for a while and discovered that this room was completely empty—aside from a few pieces of clothing and a few books, there was nothing else at all.

As if he was prepared to leave at any moment.

Nanny Qian came in to wipe down the tables, chairs, and benches—she simply couldn’t stay idle!

When idle, she wanted to cry. “Ai, what kind of situation is this?”

Little Bitter Melon, oh!

Looking at Lan Shanjun again and thinking of her mother’s appearance, she sighed once more. “Two Little Bitter Melons, oh! Planted on the same vine, oh!”

Lan Shanjun found this amusing and finally placed the flower vase beside the window.

Nanny Qian didn’t like flowers; she liked vegetables. But even though she loved vegetables, she had to admit that flowers by the window actually appeared more full of vitality than vegetables.

She said, “Shanjun, later put a vase in my room too.”

Lan Shanjun replied, “All right.”

Nanny Qian looked at her and said, “Old Madam says you resemble an old acquaintance, and I agree.”

Lan Shanjun’s hand paused. “Hm?”

Nanny Qian said, “General Duan—the former General Who Pacifies the South, Duan Boyan—he liked to arrange flowers in vases and place them under windows just like this. Sometimes when the mood struck him, he could place several dozen vases.”

Lan Shanjun’s body stiffened.

She was already moving the third flower vase over.

Did she really have this many flaws showing? She didn’t move again but sat by the window, slowly gathering all the flowers to hold in her hands.

Nanny Qian didn’t notice. She was already heartbroken to begin with, and bringing up someone who had died, she couldn’t help but cry. “I said at the time that His Majesty’s title wasn’t good, wasn’t good. General Who Pacifies the South—’zhennan’ sounds like ‘really difficult’—isn’t that terribly inauspicious?”

She talked about the past. “Once, he went with His Majesty, Old Madam, and Lord Wu—that’s Old Madam’s husband—together to a temple to draw fortune sticks.”

“His fortune slip said he would live no more than sixty years and be displaced for half his life.”

Hearing this, Lan Shanjun was silent for a moment, then said, “That truly is inauspicious.”

Calculating from the year that old monk died, he would have been fifty-nine years old.

But he had looked like he was seventy.

She offered consolation: “Then you should just add the character ‘not’ before it. Not Really Difficult General.”

Nanny Qian was coaxed into laughter by her. Walking to the window, she looked out. “Oh my goodness, they’re back, they’re back! Quickly, let’s go help.”

Hearing this, Lan Shanjun hurried to stand up. Because she was too far from the door, she first looked out the window.

Looking into the distance, she saw a person covered in blood.

Her heart constricted, and she didn’t know how she got there. Standing before him, she felt that half the responsibility for his body covered in blood was hers.

She asked, “Does it hurt?”

Yu Qingwu shook his head. “It’s just blood all over.”

Nanny Qian cried out loudly, “Don’t be stubborn! Your bones are about to show!”

Then there was great commotion and chaos. Nanny Qian wanted to carry him away, but Yu Qingwu suddenly turned back to look at the flowers in Lan Shanjun’s hands.

He couldn’t bring himself to ask one question: Are these flowers for me?

Lan Shanjun was also dazed and hadn’t recovered her senses—she had seen his flesh torn open beneath his clothes.

Nanny Qian looked at one, then the other, then grabbed the flowers from Lan Shanjun’s hand with one hand and pulled Yu Qingwu along with the other.

“Heaven curse them! Quickly call for a physician!”

The physician and medicine had been prepared long ago.

Yu Qingwu was inside gritting his teeth as they cleaned his wounds and treated him, while Old Madam Shou and Nanny Qian sat with Lan Shanjun in the corridor waiting.

Lan Shanjun asked, “What happened afterward?”

Old Madam Shou replied, “When His Majesty saw his injuries, he became angry—but his anger was at Prince Qi and Marquis Boyuan’s audacity and recklessness.”

His Majesty had determined that the two were conspiring to kill the Grand Imperial Grandson.

Marquis Boyuan wept bitterly. “Your Majesty, the one who died was this subject’s son—how could this subject use his son—”

In his fury, His Majesty said something: “The one who died is your son, not Prince Qi’s son!”

Both Prince Qi and Prince Qi’s heir apparent turned deathly pale.

The Grand Imperial Grandson knelt on the ground without speaking the entire time.

Then His Majesty asked Yu Qingwu, “Why did you go to Willow Lane?”

Yu Qingwu replied, “In answer to Your Majesty, I didn’t only go to Willow Lane. It’s just that the residences there were cheap, so I wanted to buy one to live in—it would be convenient for attending court duties in the future.”

He shook his head. “This subject just arrived in Luoyang and only went to poor areas. I truly had no idea that Prince Wei’s heir and Young Master Lin would go there.”

The Emperor asked, “Why are you buying a residence?”

Yu Qingwu pressed his lips together, then said, “I dare not deceive Your Majesty. This subject and Grand Secretary Wu… are not harmonious. I need to buy my own residence. During this time, I visited various lanes and alleys, and nothing ever happened…”

The Emperor discovered that Yu Qingwu, this person, had actively placed himself in the position of an isolated official.

This was actually a good thing. In the future, when the Grand Imperial Grandson used him, there would be no concerns.

This person could be kept.

When Old Madam Shou entered the palace, matters were already mostly settled. The Emperor hadn’t seen her in a long time and was rather pleased. “Sister, why have you come?”

Old Madam Shou said, “Someone was taken from my residence—how could I not be concerned?”

The Emperor’s expression became even worse.

Although the matter wasn’t yet concluded, Yu Qingwu was brought home by her.

Lan Shanjun asked, “Now that this ordeal has passed and he’s gained favor with His Majesty, there should be no more problems, right?”

Old Madam Shou nodded. “No more problems.”

It’s just…

She sighed. “It’s just that his path ahead will likely be even more difficult to walk.”

She asked, “Shanjun, are you afraid?”

Lan Shanjun knew what she was asking. She shook her head without hesitation. “I’m not afraid.”

She said softly, “Although I don’t know which path he’ll ultimately walk, I’m certain that the path he wants to walk with me is currently the same one.”

“That day, when hoeing the fields, he told me that Grand Secretary Wu once told him that when three carriages travel together, it’s called a road, but when two carriages travel together, it’s called a way.”

She smiled faintly. “I thought then that he and I could also be considered a ‘way’ together.”

But…

“In our Huailing, we also call roads ‘great ways.'”

Inside the room, Yu Qingwu heard Lan Shanjun’s words.

He knew that Old Madam had asked deliberately, and Lan Shanjun wasn’t afraid of him hearing.

He looked at the flowers placed on the bed, and that warm current surged in his heart again. Unable to restrain himself, he said, “Nanny Qian.”

Nanny Qian walked over with a stern face.

Yu Qingwu said, “Nanny Qian, I’d like to speak with Miss Shanjun.”

Nanny Qian snorted lightly. “She’s said all that—don’t be ungrateful!”

Yu Qingwu replied, “Yes.”

Nanny Qian was just about to scold him when she realized he had said “yes,” and immediately praised him vigorously: “Oh my, Little Bitter Melon, you’ve turned into a Sweet Melon!”