His strength was immense, and once he exerted force, Jiang Caiping couldn’t possibly resist. She was involuntarily pulled along by him and could only call urgently to Yunyi, “Sister! Sister!”

Before Yunyi could speak, Li Xuanba had already said coldly, “Zhang Jiu, block the way. Don’t let anyone follow.”

Blocked by Li Jiu, Yunyi had no choice but to stop where she was, helplessly watching them gradually disappear into the distance.

It wasn’t until they reached the edge of Yuehua Pond that Li Xuanba finally released his grip. There weren’t many people here, only a few servants in the distance retrieving the lotus lanterns left from the previous night. The willow trees planted along the shore, after a winter of silence, had already sprouted the first touch of green in the tenth year of Daye.

Jiang Caiping rubbed her arm, which he had pulled painfully, “What do you want to do?”

Li Xuanba stared at her, “That’s what I should be asking you. Wasn’t everything fine last night? Why did you say such things to Zhang Jiu this morning? What’s going on?”

Jiang Caiping didn’t dare look into his eyes and turned her face away, “Anyway… anyway, just don’t come looking for me anymore.”

“What’s your reason?” Li Xuanba pressed. This morning, after giving the lotus lantern to Zhang Jiu to deliver, he had gone to the training ground outside the city to spar with the soldiers there, only returning at evening. Upon arriving at the manor, he heard what Zhang Jiu had to say. Without even returning to Tingfeng Pavilion, he immediately came to see Jiang Caiping.

“There’s no reason, anyway it’s just…” Before Jiang Caiping could finish, Li Xuanba interrupted, “If it’s unreasonable words, then I don’t need to pay attention to them.”

“You!” Jiang Caiping was both angry and anxious, stamping her foot, “How can you be so unreasonable?”

Li Xuanba said matter-of-factly, “That’s just how it is. Why listen to unreasonable words?”

Jiang Caiping’s heart was already heavy, and being stirred up by him like this, tears immediately came down. She sobbed and shouted, “Whether you listen or not is up to you, but I don’t want to see you anymore. Even if you come, I won’t pay attention to you!”

Li Xuanba hadn’t expected her to suddenly start crying. This was the first time he’d seen Jiang Caiping cry. He frantically tried to find a handkerchief, but unfortunately he had never had the habit of carrying one, thinking such things too feminine. Having no choice, he rolled up his sleeve and wiped her tears while saying, “You… don’t cry. I’m not forcing you, I just can’t understand. Weren’t you happy last night?”

“I was happy, but…” Jiang Caiping pushed him away and said sadly, “How long can such happiness last?”

Li Xuanba was stunned and asked uncomprehendingly, “What do you mean?”

Jiang Caiping took a deep breath, “You can give me joy for a day, a month, or even a year, but can you give it for a lifetime?”

Li Xuanba answered without hesitation, “Why not? If you like it, I’ll have people light lotus lanterns in Yuehua Pond every day so you can see lotus flowers all year round.”

“That’s not what I mean, but rather…” Jiang Caiping didn’t know how to express it for a moment. She tried to organize her thoughts and said hoarsely, “You’re the Third Young Master of the Governor’s Manor, and I’m just a small dancer. You may be able to light lotus lanterns for a lifetime, but can I watch them for a lifetime? Will you marry me?”

“Marry you…” Li Xuanba obviously hadn’t thought this far ahead. He scratched his head and thought for a while, then said, “If I like you, why not?”

Jiang Caiping shook her head tearfully, “Even if you’re willing, what about the Governor? What about Second Madam? What about First Young Master? Would they be willing?”

Li Xuanba lowered his head without speaking. Though he wasn’t as thoughtful as his two older brothers, he was still clear about his status. The Li family was, after all, a great clan, and his father would never allow him to marry a commoner woman as his wife, let alone with Second Mother fanning the flames on the side.

When the servants lit the copper-wire-covered path lamps by the pond, Li Xuanba said in a low voice, “Perhaps I can’t marry you as my principal wife, but…”

Jiang Caiping suddenly took up his words, “But you would take me as a concubine, right?” After Li Xuanba nodded, she slowly backed away, gradually increasing the distance between them, “Unfortunately, I don’t want to be anyone’s concubine, so… let’s end this here.”

“Why?” Li Xuanba stepped forward urgently, “Wife and concubine are just differences in title. If I took you as a concubine, I would definitely treat you well. I can guarantee it!”

Jiang Caiping said sarcastically, “You can guarantee one or two years, but you can’t guarantee a lifetime.” With that, she bowed to Li Xuanba and said hoarsely, “Thank you for Third Young Master’s deep affection, but unfortunately Caiping has shallow fortune and cannot accept it.”

At the moment she turned to leave, the tears that had already stopped began falling again, continuously dripping down her chin onto her clothes, soaking that patch of peach pink…

Behind her, Li Xuanba opened his mouth several times but ultimately said nothing, silently watching that frail figure disappear from his sight…

From that day on, Li Xuanba never came looking for Jiang Caiping again. The latter spent each day practicing dance and music, as if returning to the past. However, Yunyi knew that for Jiang Caiping, Li Xuanba would remain an indelible pain in her heart.

During this period, Li Shimin seemed very busy. In over a month, they had only met a few times, and Li Shimin appeared to have something heavy on his mind.

On February fifteenth, the customary day for leaving the manor, the two got up early in the morning, simply packed their things, and went to Steward Lin to get their waist tokens to leave the manor. When they reached the manor gate, they unexpectedly saw Li Xuanba there as well. Jiang Caiping’s face immediately turned pale, and without bothering to bow to Li Xuanba, she hurriedly walked outside.

Li Xuanba didn’t pursue her, just followed unhurriedly behind. After they had walked more than ten zhang from the manor, he quickened his pace and pulled Jiang Caiping aside in a secluded place, “You know my feelings. Why must you strangle everything just when it’s beginning, not giving either of us a chance?” After several days of thinking, he still couldn’t bear to let go of Jiang Caiping. Knowing she would return home today, he had waited at the manor gate early in the morning.

Jiang Caiping tried hard to suppress the sadness in her heart and lowered her head, “Caiping is just an ordinary woman and truly doesn’t dare to aspire so high as Third Young Master.”

Li Xuanba’s face darkened, “Just because I can’t marry you as my wife, you say such things?” Seeing Jiang Caiping remain silent, he said angrily, “Does the distinction between wife and concubine really matter so much to you?”

Jiang Caiping bit her lip hard and said quietly, “Yes… Thank you for Third Young Master’s misplaced affection!” With that, she walked away quickly. As Li Xuanba was about to stop her again, Yunyi, who had been silent all along, stepped forward, “Third Young Master, for you, wife and concubine may just be differences in title, but for Caiping, being a concubine means she would be inferior to others for her entire life, and even if one day you cast her out, she would have nowhere to appeal!”

Li Xuanba said urgently, “If I took Caiping as a concubine, treating her well wouldn’t be enough – how could I cast her out?”