Under the lush trees, Qiao Mo and Kou Zimo stood facing each other.

Kou Zimo felt somewhat annoyed at her younger sister’s presumptuous actions, yet being close to the one she had longed for day and night, beyond shame came an indescribable sweetness.

This sweetness carried bitterness. She understood clearly it was but a fleeting moment, yet even so, she felt it was hard-won.

She had originally thought there would be no chance in this lifetime to be so close to her cousin again.

How could Qiao Mo not be well aware of Kou Zimo’s feelings? But at this moment, apart from sighing, he had no other thoughts.

He was considerably older than Cousin Zimo, having always regarded her as a younger sister. Later, when he became aware of her feelings, though he showed nothing, he had once thought that Cousin Zimo was of pure and good character – if both families’ elders were willing, marriage between relatives would not be bad.

However, the world was ultimately unpredictable. A great fire left the Qiao family shattered, and his heart no longer had room for romantic love.

Those days of living under another’s roof made him see through many things even more clearly.

Even if standing before him was a good young lady who deeply loved him, they ultimately could not return to how things were before.

Since they had no fate in this life, he naturally could not let her harbor thoughts that would make her perpetually melancholy.

“Cousin—”

Just as Qiao Mo began to speak, Kou Zimo suddenly raised her eyes and interrupted him: “Cousin I don’t have any matter to ask for your help.”

Qiao Mo was startled, fell silent for a moment, then smiled: “I know.”

So Cousin Zimo planned to speak clearly? That would be good.

“From childhood to now, I have always been fond of you, Cousin.”

This time Qiao Mo’s silence lasted even longer, then he said softly: “I know, but I have always regarded you as a younger sister.”

This time, it was Kou Zimo who smiled gently: “I also know.”

She looked seriously into Qiao Mo’s eyes, smiling tenderly: “So I want to tell you, Cousin, that you don’t need to feel burdened. From the day my mother was confined to the ancestral hall, I let you go. Speaking of which, I do indeed have something to say to you today – that is to wish you success in your official career and that you find a good wife soon.”

Cousin had already completed his mourning period and was a man in his twenties. With Lan Shan’s downfall, he had become the ideal son-in-law in countless people’s eyes. An engagement this year was inevitable.

“Thank you, Cousin. I also wish you would soon marry a good man.” Qiao Mo’s tone was calm and unruffled.

Kou Zimo only felt each word piercing her heart, the pain making her fingertips tremble slightly, yet her face slowly revealed a smile.

It was good that Cousin spoke this way – it left her without even the last bit of hope.

However, this was something she had long anticipated. If Cousin were truly the type with improper thoughts, during those days when he stayed at the Kou residence, he would not have been so distant toward her.

She was clear that if Cousin had shown her even a bit of closeness at that time, she would have been able to declare she would marry no one but him.

Fortunately, Cousin was someone who would never abandon his dignity, and so was she.

Kou Zimo’s expression became increasingly calm as she curtsied slightly to Qiao Mo: “Qinglán loves to make trouble – please don’t mind her, Cousin. We still need to rush back after paying respects to Miss Ouyang, so I won’t speak further with you.”

“Go ahead, Cousin.”

Kou Zimo curtsied once more, then turned to walk toward Kou Qinglán.

Qiao Mo’s gaze lingered for an instant on the young lady’s slender retreating figure, then, with a calm expression, he walked to the roadside carriage and smiled at Shao Mingyuan and the other two: “Let’s return.”

Qiao Zhao turned to look at Kou Zimo, who was kneeling before Ouyang Weiyu’s grave, quietly sighed, and bent down to enter the carriage.

The group traveled farther and farther away.

Kou Zimo was already crying uncontrollably, gently stroking Ouyang Weiyu’s tombstone as she wept: “Weiyu, I’ve come to see you.”

Among the noble ladies of the capital, besides her younger sister Qinglán, she had been close friends with Ouyang Weiyu since childhood – it would not be excessive to say they were like sisters.

She still remembered that when Ouyang Weiyu left the capital, she had said they would surely have a chance to meet again. Who would have known that when they met again, they would already be separated by life and death?

“Weiyu, why did you have such a bitter fate?”

She had already learned of Ouyang Weiyu’s ordeal. If she had been sold to a brothel instead, after seeking justice for her father, death would have been the only choice besides a life of dishonor.

In death, the world would praise her as a daughter of Imperial Censor Ouyang who endured humiliation while bearing heavy burdens, showing fortitude and righteousness. But if she had chosen to live in disgrace, the entire family would never be able to hold their heads high again.

She understood her friend’s choice, yet her heart ached for her friend’s suffering.

Kou Zimo, supporting herself against the cold tombstone, nearly cried herself breathless.

Why was Heaven so unfair, always making people experience all manner of suffering?

Birth, aging, sickness, death, meeting with hatred, parting from love, unfulfilled desires.

“Elder Sister, please don’t cry anymore – be careful of your health.”

Kou Zimo threw her arms around Kou Qinglán, burying her head in her shoulder and crying bitterly: “Qinglán, I feel so miserable, truly so miserable…”

Kou Qinglán hugged Kou Zimo back, gently patting her sister’s back.

What made Elder Sister suffer was not only Miss Ouyang’s death, but also her destined yet impossible relationship with their cousin.

Even more pitiable was that Elder Sister could only express her pain by borrowing the excuse of crying for Miss Ouyang.

The more Kou Qinglán thought about it, the more her heart ached. She helped Kou Zimo to her feet: “Elder Sister, let’s go home.”

At the Kou residence, Old Madam Xue had already learned from the coachman that the Kou sisters had encountered Qiao Mo. She immediately summoned the two and asked about Qiao Mo’s situation.

“Cousin said he would come to visit Grandmother in a few days,” replied Kou Zimo calmly after returning home and washing her face.

Old Madam Xue was somewhat dissatisfied: “You are close blood-related cousins. Since you encountered him, you should have invited your cousin over.”

Kou Qinglán smiled: “Cousin said he was quite busy at the government office, so my sister and I didn’t feel it proper to insist.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Xue’s expression softened, and she nodded with a smile: “That’s true. Your cousin is increasingly valued, so being busy is appropriate.”

With his background as a top scholar, having the court connections accumulated by two generations of his grandfather and father, and now working in the Inner Cabinet, his rise to prominence was unquestionable.

Thinking of this, Old Madam Xue glanced at Kou Zimo. Seeing her eldest granddaughter with lowered brows and compliant eyes, showing no particular expression, she secretly felt frustrated at her lack of initiative. She took a sip of tea and said, “Zimo, when you return, arrange for someone to send some tonics over. Your cousin is so busy – he mustn’t ruin his health by focusing only on official duties.”

“With Grandmother managing the household and Second Aunt helping with affairs, it’s not proper for me, an unmarried young lady, to arrange such things,” Kou Zimo replied indifferently.

“You child, he’s your cousin! Having you send things is above board – it’s not some improper private exchange!” Old Madam Xue glared.

How did she end up with such a stubborn granddaughter?

“Cousin living at the Marquis residence lacks nothing. I know Grandmother cares for Cousin, so wouldn’t it be better when Cousin comes to see you that you give him these things then?”

Seeing her eldest granddaughter unmoved by reason, Old Madam Xue ultimately had to consider appearances and couldn’t press further. She could only secretly plan to have the two young people grow closer when Qiao Mo came to the Kou residence, hoping to settle the marriage as soon as possible.

After dismissing the Kou sisters, Old Madam Xue immediately instructed her trusted servants to have new clothes tailored for the two sisters, waiting for her grandson-in-law to come calling. But before that day arrived, she received news that Qiao Mo had become engaged to the granddaughter of the new Chief Minister Xu Mingda.