Before a magnificent mansion, three black lacquered gates gleamed with oil, and over a dozen servants in sleek clothing bowed obsequiously, greeting guests coming and going. Outside, one could only see low pink walls within which willows swayed gracefully and rocks piled high. From small houses with brilliantly decorated door lintels came bursts of string and wind instrument music. Such colorful towers and embroidered pavilions made this Yuexi’s highest-grade pleasure house—the Qingyin Salon. Initially, girls bought by the madams were raised until age eleven or twelve, then taught opera singing by music masters until they could perform solo. Later, not only singing opera, but gradually developing proficiency in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—some women even became famous courtesans of their time, far surpassing those proper young ladies who never left their homes. Speaking of the pleasure house’s magnificence and the women’s artistic accomplishments, the Qingyin Salon ranked first among Yuexi’s pleasure houses. Naturally, these carefully cultivated girls commanded extraordinarily high prices.

Late at night, Xue Gui emerged from the Qingyin Salon humming and muttering. He had been drinking heavily, quite drunk, accompanied by four guards, one carrying a lantern. He swayed as he walked, singing absurd opera tunes. Just then, a black shadow flashed before his eyes. Xue Gui was startled. “Someone’s there! Quick! Go look!”

Immediately two guards rushed into the alley ahead to investigate. Xue Gui looked around in all directions, but the two didn’t return for a long time. The surroundings grew eerie—he felt somewhat frightened and scolded the other two. “Stop waiting—quickly call my sedan chair over!” The sedan was stopped at the alley entrance not far ahead. The guard carrying the lantern hurried to say, “This servant will go at once!”

However, just then a gust of wind blew past and the lantern suddenly went out. Before Xue Gui could speak, he heard the guard scream miserably. Immediately after, another guard suddenly collapsed to the ground. He shrieked and turned to run backward, but hadn’t run two steps before someone grabbed his collar from behind. He struggled desperately. Suddenly a gleaming dagger plunged into his heart. He screamed miserably, but the person’s hand rose and blade fell—mercilessly stabbing several more times in succession until he completely expired.

Just then, voices came from nearby—as if people from the Qingyin Salon inside had heard the commotion and come out to investigate. Candlelight suddenly brightened. The blade-wielder sneered coldly, turned and ran. Originally just two steps from hiding in the small alley, he was unexpectedly discovered by the night watchman. His expression changed drastically. Before he could grab the watchman, the other party was already running wildly and shouting, “Murder! Murder!” His heart panicked. Immediately he heard sounds from all directions, as if people were rushing over from everywhere. At this critical moment, someone suddenly whispered sharply in his ear, “Why don’t you leave quickly!” Before he could react, his whole person was lifted up—as if flying over eaves and walking on walls—he was carried away.

That person didn’t release him until reaching an unfamiliar alley entrance, dropping him to the ground. He choked on wind and coughed violently, but heard an indifferent voice say, “Wen Xiaolou, daring to assassinate the Minister of Revenue’s son—you’ve truly grown capable!”

This voice was exceptionally familiar. He sharply raised his head to see the carriage curtain ahead lift—Li Weiyang was looking at him with a half-smiling expression.

So she had sent someone to save him! Wen Xiaolou gritted his teeth. “Xiaoman’s performance—he devised ways to deceive her into going… and gave her to Yuan Yu to ravage! So he deserved to die!”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “Yes, he deserved to die, but he’s the Minister of Revenue’s son. After killing him, did you consider the consequences?”

Wen Xiaolou sneered coldly. “Since I dared do it, naturally I know the consequences.”

“To curry favor with Yuan Yu, Xue Gui often acted as go-between, doing such things more than once or twice—he truly deserved death. However, Xue Gui is the Minister of Revenue’s most beloved youngest son. He won’t let this rest. If I hadn’t helped you just now and let you be captured, by tomorrow there probably wouldn’t be a person named Wen Xiaolou in this world.” Li Weiyang spoke lightly and skillfully, without a trace of emotion.

Wen Xiaolou gently closed his eyes and stopped speaking.

When Li Weiyang discovered today that Wen Xiaolou didn’t cry or move, didn’t even utter a word of blame, she had already suspected he would take action. Then she discovered the troupe master’s corpse—only that troupe master had hanged himself. No evidence proved his death related to Wen Xiaolou, but Li Weiyang still determined the troupe master must have died by Wen Xiaolou’s hand.

Li Weiyang immediately decided to observe him carefully. If Wen Xiaolou rushed out mindlessly to kill Xue Gui, she would let him fend for himself. But he had meticulously arranged the time, location, even planned his escape route—if not for that watchman’s sudden appearance, he might have gotten away clean. Normal people might plan so meticulously when killing, but for Wen Xiaolou to do this just after losing Xiaoman, with his sanity and spirit on the verge of collapse, was extremely surprising.

“I want to know—how did the troupe master die?”

Wen Xiaolou looked quietly at Li Weiyang. “That’s right. I killed the troupe master. I deliberately induced him to drink, then hung him on a rope and created false evidence of my absence. I killed him because he knew what would happen when Xiaoman went, yet deliberately pretended ignorance—this was helping evildoers. Afterward, I investigated Xue Gui’s travel routes everywhere—who he usually met, where he went, when he had the fewest people around. Usually seven or eight guards accompanied him, but having just married a new wife, Minister Xue disciplined him strictly. Only when sneaking out from the Xue residence to visit pleasure houses did he bring the fewest people—these four were his confidants who had helped him commit countless evil deeds. So I calculated the timing and found an opportunity to kill him. Not only him—I also prepared to kill Yuan Yu—”

“Kill Yuan Yu?” Li Weiyang laughed mockingly. “You think Yuan Yu is like Xue Gui? How many guards surround him? Before you even approached, you’d already be dead with no burial place.”

Wen Xiaolou looked at her. “Yes, I cannot. So I chose to kill Xue Gui first, then plan further.”

So he truly prepared to assassinate Yuan Yu—Li Weiyang shook her head as if making a judgment. “You cannot kill Yuan Yu.”

Wen Xiaolou trembled slightly, lowered his head, thought for a moment, then suddenly said, “You’re right. He’s the true culprit, yet I lack the ability to kill him.” Then he suddenly walked several steps and knelt before Li Weiyang. “I beg you to avenge me.”

“Avenge you?” Li Weiyang suddenly laughed. “Why should I avenge you?”

Wen Xiaolou stared at Li Weiyang. Under moonlight, her features were delicate and gentle yet very indifferent, like lacking normal human emotions. After a long while, he suddenly smiled. “Because you also want Yuan Yu dead.” If Li Weiyang didn’t have a grudge against Yuan Yu, why would she risk such danger to help him? This made no sense.

A declarative statement, not a question. Truly a clever person. Li Weiyang nodded very seriously. “Yes, I want him dead. But not only him.”

Wen Xiaolou looked at Li Weiyang in shock. “Who exactly is your enemy?”

Li Weiyang’s tone was very peaceful. “This point you don’t need to know. What you need to know is that my goal aligns with yours. That’s sufficient.”

Wen Xiaolou looked at Li Weiyang, his gaze shifting unpredictably. Li Weiyang laughed. “You have nothing—I have nothing to scheme from you, do I?”

Wen Xiaolou thought for a moment, then deeply lowered his head. “As long as you avenge me, I’m willing to listen to anything you say.”

Li Weiyang sighed. Zhao Yue had been watching from the side but gently shook her head. Miss didn’t need Wen Xiaolou—she merely wanted to save him. Toward Wen Xiaolou, Miss seemed especially tolerant. No, not toward Wen Xiaolou, but toward the deceased Xiaoman. From the beginning, Miss could have used Xiaoman to approach Yuan Yu, yet she deliberately set fire to help her escape, then gave her silver to leave, even now saving Wen Xiaolou—all because of Xiaoman. Zhao Yue thought about it and had some understanding. Was Miss moved by Xiaoman’s smile?

Indeed, that child had suffered so much hardship yet had such a brilliant smile—even she had seen it for the first time.

Seeing Wen Xiaolou stagger back, Li Weiyang suddenly called to him, “I’ll give you a ride.”

Wen Xiaolou glanced at her and smiled. “Then I thank you.” He understood his status very well, only sitting outside the carriage with Zhao Yue, not entering the cabin within. After the carriage traveled about half an hour, he suddenly said, “Stop here.”

Li Weiyang lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at this plain residence—green walls, gray tiles, a dilapidated gate building with only a wooden plaque inscribed with three characters: Compassionate Youth Bureau. She glanced at Wen Xiaolou. “What is this place?”

Wen Xiaolou jumped from the carriage. “This is Yuexi’s Compassionate Youth Bureau, specifically for adopting abandoned children.”

Li Weiyang frowned. “I naturally saw that. I’m asking what you’re doing here?”

Wen Xiaolou’s handsome face showed a trace of bitter smile. “Yes, I also want to know what she was doing here when we were already so poor.”

Li Weiyang was slightly stunned, almost not understanding what he meant for a moment. Then she saw him go up and knock on the door. An elderly woman came to open it, wearing cloth clothing, deep wrinkles on her face. Seeing Wen Xiaolou, her face immediately showed a smile. “Xiaoman didn’t come today?”

Hearing Xiaoman’s name, Li Weiyang felt surprised. Wen Xiaolou and Xiaoman had only been in Dadu for a month, usually focused on singing opera—how would they know people here? Moreover, looking at this old woman, she seemed unaware Xiaoman had died, still hoping she would visit. Wen Xiaolou smiled, his face showing no trace of sorrow. “She went on a long journey. I came to see you on her behalf.”

The old woman naturally opened the door wider. “Come in quickly—it’s cold outside.” Then she saw the magnificently dressed, cold-faced Li Weiyang and was immediately surprised. “Miss, if you want to make donations or adopt children, this isn’t the right hour!”

Li Weiyang frowned. Wen Xiaolou explained, “She’s Xiaoman’s friend.”

The old woman looked at Li Weiyang suspiciously, as if not understanding how Xiaoman could know such a wealthy friend, but she didn’t think further and opened the door wider still. “Come in first.”

Li Weiyang walked into the courtyard. Seven or eight rooms in total, every wall cracked with fissures—probably in winter cold wind would desperately blow into the rooms. Along the north wall sat two vats, their lids topped with old porcelain bowls covering leftover food. From the vats emanated a sour smell mixed with a musty odor. Before Li Weiyang could stand steady, something black collided with her. Zhao Yue grabbed that black thing and held it up to the light—a little girl with a face full of black mud, eyes wide with curiosity looking at Li Weiyang. The old woman hurried forward to scold, “How can you be so reckless, child! Quickly apologize to the guest!”

The little girl, released by Zhao Yue, obediently said sorry, then quickly ran to hide behind a water vat nearby, revealing a pair of large eyes staring at Li Weiyang.

“This is Yuexi’s place for specifically adopting orphans. Many children were abandoned because of congenital defects. Since arriving in Dadu a month ago, Xiaoman constantly sneaked over to bring them money.” Wen Xiaolou spoke thus, his expression very indifferent, yet Li Weiyang felt he seemed about to break down crying at any moment.

Li Weiyang glanced at the nearby room from which came children’s noisy voices. She felt very absurd—Xiaoman had always been ill, couldn’t even support herself, yet actually ran here to see these abandoned children, even bringing them money? Simply a lunatic.

Li Weiyang was a thorough egoist. She couldn’t understand how someone like Xiaoman could exist in the world—so poor, so humble, yet still helping others. Yes, she had seen many wealthy ladies do good deeds, but most did so to earn a good reputation. Those who sincerely did good deeds mostly did so to cultivate merit for the next life. Yet in this world there were actually people who couldn’t even survive themselves but still helped others—either fools or idiots! That little girl was still secretly watching Li Weiyang—such pure eyes. Li Weiyang gazed at her. Looking at such eyes, could Xiaoman remain so clean?

Just then, seven or eight children poured out from the room. They had clearly heard sounds and run out, looking fearfully at these outsiders.

Li Weiyang examined them one by one carefully. One child couldn’t see—constantly pulled along by other children. One child had no arms. One child sat in a crude wooden wheelchair. There were also girls without physical defects—clearly abandoned by parents who favored sons over daughters. Some were very pretty, some ordinary, yet all very thin and weak.

Just then, a bold little boy looked admiringly at the long sword at Zhao Yue’s waist. “Sister carries a sword… must be very formidable, right?”

Zhao Yue looked awkwardly at the little boy, seemingly not knowing how to answer. Another criticized, “No way—Sister Xiaoman can sing opera. She’s very formidable!”

Another child raised his head to look at Wen Xiaolou, clearly having an impression of him, saying, “Sister Xiaoman said next time she comes she’ll bring us hot steamed buns. When will she come?”

The old woman smiled awkwardly. “Every year the court allocates silver, but there are too many places needing money. By the time it reaches us, very little remains. The children need to eat, some often get sick, so there’s no money left. Fortunately, kindhearted noble ladies often give some charity. Miss Xiaoman also frequently brings food over.”

Li Weiyang looked at these expectant children one by one and suddenly pressed her lips tightly together, saying nothing.

Wen Xiaolou smiled faintly. “Don’t understand, do you? I don’t understand either. I’m the same as you—both selfish people. I wanted to use your money to save Xiaoman. You wanted to use us to achieve your purposes. But not everyone in this world is like you and me.”

Li Weiyang sneered coldly. “It’s not that I don’t understand—I think she’s sick, seriously sick.”

Wen Xiaolou only sighed, crouched down to pat a small child’s head. “Yes, she was truly too ambitious beyond her means.”

Li Weiyang’s expression slowly calmed. She looked at these children, somehow feeling her eyes heat up, yet her tone remained hard. “Xiaoman is like this, and so are you. Weren’t you and she unrelated? I heard back then you picked her up from the street.”

Wen Xiaolou froze, lowered his head. “I originally… I originally…” He had originally been beaten by his master while learning opera, so thought to find another apprentice for the master to suffer together. Who would have thought that seeing Xiaoman’s eyes so innocent without a trace of impurity, he actually acknowledged her as family and cared for her all these years.

Suddenly a child timidly pulled at Li Weiyang’s skirt hem. She bent down to look at this child—the girl who had hidden behind the water vat earlier. She asked very seriously, “When will Sister Xiaoman come? I’m waiting for her to teach me singing.”

Li Weiyang’s heart ached slightly. She subconsciously pulled away, took out a bank note and pressed it into that old woman’s hand, saying quietly, “Zhao Yue, let’s go.” She walked outward without looking back. Who knew at the doorway she would bump head-on into someone. That person cried out in surprise, nearly rolling down the steps. Li Weiyang quickly supported the person. A maid behind that person panicked, lifting a lantern forward. “Madam Song, are you alright!”

Madam Song was about forty, wearing a blue silk skirt and fox fur vest, hair combed without a strand out of place, looking neat and efficient. Earlier she seemed to find the maid behind her walking slowly and had gone up the steps first, accidentally bumping into Li Weiyang. Fortunately Li Weiyang moved quickly—she didn’t fall completely down the steps. About to thank her, she subconsciously lowered her head for a glance and happened to see under moonlight that snow-white wrist wearing prayer beads. She immediately froze, sharply raised her head and stared at Li Weiyang.

Li Weiyang, seeing she was fine, withdrew her hand and said indifferently, “Sorry.” Actually both parties were at fault—her mood was bad, and that person was too hasty, so they collided.

Zhao Yue hurriedly followed Li Weiyang away. That Madam Song stood rooted in place, not speaking for a long time. The maid looked at her strangely. “Madam Song, didn’t you say you accidentally left something this afternoon and came to retrieve it? Why are you standing at the entrance not going in?!”

Madam Song seemed struck by lightning, standing at the entrance unable to speak. The maid was somewhat frightened. “Madam Song, what exactly is wrong?”

Madam Song suddenly came to her senses, grabbed that maid. “Man’er, where is that young miss just now? Where did she go?”

Man’er was surprised. “Ah? Just boarded a carriage, went… went that way!”

Madam Song’s expression changed dramatically. She turned and descended the steps, quickly boarding a carriage to the side, instructing the driver, “Quick, chase that carriage just now!”

Man’er grew even more shocked, hurrying to catch up, calling repeatedly, “Madam Song! Madam Song!” However, Madam Song, usually a steady person, today seemed to have seen a ghost—lifting her skirts completely disregarding her image as she jumped onto the carriage. Man’er shouted loudly from behind, but that carriage vanished in a cloud of dust. Madam Song had completely forgotten her.

The old woman responsible for the Compassionate Youth Bureau came out in surprise, raised her lantern for illumination. “Isn’t this Miss Man’er? Why are you standing here alone?”

Man’er turned back, her pretty face completely collapsed. “Aunt Liu… I don’t know either. Usually perfectly fine, yet just now seeing that young miss she seemed to go mad, disregarding everything as she jumped onto the carriage. I even heard her instruct the driver to give chase. How strange! By the way, Aunt Liu, who was that young miss earlier?”

Aunt Liu frowned. “This… I don’t know either. Came together with Boss Wen just now—” She turned her head, looking everywhere for Wen Xiaolou, but he had already vanished without a trace. Mother Liu was startled. “What’s going on today? Everyone acting this way?!”

Man’er still looked toward where the carriage had disappeared. “Yes, what’s going on?”

Madam Song sat in the carriage, her heart nervous to the extreme. She had almost doubted she saw wrong earlier, but that prayer bead string—absolutely unmistaken, it must be! Back then she had personally hung the prayer bead string around Miss’s neck. That… that girl just now… She carefully recalled—yes, that demeanor, that smile, truly resembled the young Madam by three parts, equally beautiful and gentle! Madam Song grew more excited thinking about it. Yes, she must be the Miss lost for so many years! The Miss Madam had searched for wearing out iron shoes all these years! Thinking this, she lifted the carriage curtain and urged, “Quick! Quick! Faster! We must catch up with that carriage ahead!”

Just then, Zhao Yue discovered the carriage pursuing relentlessly from behind. Worried their whereabouts had been discovered, she instructed the driver, “Go where there are many people!”

At this hour, only the night market at Yuexi’s South Gate had many people. The driver flicked his whip and headed toward the South Gate direction. Li Weiyang asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Zhao Yue said, “The person we saw earlier is chasing us. Miss, do you know that person?”

Li Weiyang recalled Madam Song’s appearance earlier and couldn’t help shaking her head. “No, I don’t know her.” She thought about it. “In a moment, stop the carriage where there are many people.”

Zhao Yue quietly acknowledged and instructed the driver to stop where there were crowds. Li Weiyang and Zhao Yue descended from the carriage and walked into the throng. Seeing the carriage stop, Madam Song’s heart beat so excitedly it seemed about to stop. She quickly instructed the driver to halt, jumped from the carriage herself and chased after Li Weiyang. Just then, vendors on both sides desperately promoted their wares, pulling at passing customers. Madam Song was pulled twice and nearly grew angry. Turning back, she couldn’t see Li Weiyang. She panicked badly, widened her eyes searching everywhere. Finally through the impenetrable crowd she found that white shadow and quickly chased over. When she reached Li Weiyang’s side, in a blink the person had vanished.

Surrounding people bustled about. Madam Song stood alone in the middle of the road, looking around bewilderedly.

She didn’t know that at this moment Li Weiyang stood in a second-floor wine shop’s private room beside them, watching Madam Song in the crowd. Zhao Yue said, “Miss, why does this person keep chasing you?”

Li Weiyang looked at Madam Song, her lowered lashes casting two shadows beneath her eyes. She said softly, “Yes, why would she follow me?”

This Madam Song’s exact origins—Li Weiyang thought she truly needed to investigate thoroughly.

Yuexi city prohibited establishing opera houses within, so all opera houses were set outside East Yang Gate. Within a radius of three to four miles concentrated almost all of Yuexi’s opera houses. Early in the morning, a luxurious carriage stopped here. Madam Song emerged from the carriage and began searching opera gardens one by one, because Aunt Liu from the Compassionate Youth Bureau only knew Boss Wen sang opera but didn’t know which company.

Encountering closed ones, Madam Song took out silver from her purse and gave it to gatekeepers, inquiring whether there was an actor called Boss Wen. Some houses were rehearsing—she bought a ticket to enter, first checking the front stage, then the backstage, but found nothing. Then she inquired everywhere, asking if any house had a young actor around twenty years old surnamed Wen. Everyone she asked shook their heads. Not that they wouldn’t help—there were quite a few people surnamed Wen. Searching them one by one, over a dozen opera gardens all searched and asked, continuing until evening without discovering any news. Madam Song returned dejectedly to the carriage side again and again, reporting the situation to the person inside the carriage. But that person seemed very insistent, absolutely requiring they find the person. So they continued changing locations. Finally, when all opera gardens had lit lanterns and candles, they reached Tianxiang Garden’s entrance.

The gatekeeper said the troupe’s old boss had hanged himself. The current new boss was surnamed Wen, also a famous performer—people called him Boss Wen. Madam Song had long grown weary. The two maids Man’er and Xi’er beside her had constantly supported her as she asked house by house. Hearing news at this moment, their eyes immediately brightened. Returning to the carriage, they reported everything in detail. That gatekeeper saw the carriage curtain stir slightly—unexpectedly a noble lady emerged, dignified and graceful, generous and composed, bright eyes and white teeth, brows and eyes like a painting. Though many nobles came to watch opera in the opera garden, he had never seen such an impressive lady. The gatekeeper stared dumbly. However, that lady seemed unable to wait longer and quickly walked inside. Reaching the steps but somehow her legs suddenly went weak, Madam Song beside her quickly supported her. “Madam, be careful.”

Miss had been lost for eighteen years. Now suddenly there was news—Madam’s feelings could be imagined. But regardless, they must first confirm before speaking! Madam Song thought this while verbally persuading.

That noble lady stood on the steps for a moment, steadied herself, as if swallowing back the heart about to leap out, then walked in. Someone led the way ahead. In the courtyard, the nomadic fiddle played melodiously. The lady followed the music, circling past an ancient tree before seeing in the courtyard a young man wearing opera costume practicing.

This was a golden voice. If at any other time, she would appreciate it properly, but now—she truly had no patience! Her heart anxious, servants beside her had already gone forward to announce, “Boss Wen, a lady says she’s come to find you!”

Wen Xiaolou stopped his lyrics, came back to his senses. Seeing a magnificently dressed, elegantly refined noble lady standing before him, he was startled. Then he saw Madam Song to the side, his face showing a suspicious expression.

Madam Song quickly stepped forward. “Boss Wen, last night we met at the Compassionate Youth Bureau entrance. Do you still remember?”

In fact, Madam Song hadn’t seen Wen Xiaolou’s appearance at all, only staring at Li Weiyang. And at that time Wen Xiaolou had just killed someone, precisely in a tense moment. Seeing a guest arrive, he quickly hid. Never imagined this Madam Song would actually find her way here. He hesitated slightly, almost wanting to deny it, when he heard that noble lady say, “Boss Wen, that young miss who went with you to the Compassionate Youth Bureau yesterday—do you know her? Do you know where she lives?”

Wen Xiaolou immediately swallowed back the words he was about to deny, carefully examining the visitor before him. He was somewhat puzzled—could the other party be coming for Li Weiyang? He thought about it. “Yes, yesterday I did bring a young miss to the Compassionate Youth Bureau. May I ask why Madam seeks her?”

However, barely had his words left his mouth when Madam Song solemnly presented a gold ingot. “This is a small token from my mistress. If you can tell us that young miss’s origins, there will definitely be generous gifts presented.”

Wen Xiaolou was even more shocked. He looked at the gold in his hand, somewhat disbelieving—spending so generously? What exactly was this noble lady’s background? He hesitated a moment. “It’s not that I don’t want to speak—that young miss was merely an opera fan who frequently came to watch performances. Because I occasionally mentioned the Compassionate Youth Bureau’s difficult circumstances, that miss felt compassion and had me bring her to see—”

In fact, these words contained quite a few questionable points. If the young miss wanted to see the Compassionate Youth Bureau, she could naturally find ways to go herself—why would she need a lowly actor to lead the way? Though everyone present was usually extremely sharp, at this moment no one would investigate deeply. That noble lady actually disregarded her status, stepped forward and urgently asked, “Do you know where she lives?”

Wen Xiaolou naturally knew, only before asking Li Weiyang’s opinion, he wouldn’t casually reveal her whereabouts. So his face deliberately showed difficulty. “This… with my status, how could I be proper to investigate someone’s residence?”

That noble lady seemed to have received a great blow—her entire face turned white, looking about to collapse. Madam Song beside her quickly supported her. “Madam, you’ve waited so many years—what’s one moment more? We’ll wait at the opera garden—still afraid that miss won’t come?” She glanced at Wen Xiaolou and smiled. “Boss Wen, please accompany our mistress in waiting until that young miss arrives.”

Wen Xiaolou raised his brows, his eyes glinting with curiosity mixed with probing. “This… I’m afraid it’s improper.”

Madam Song smiled slightly, her words carrying an imposing air. “This is the Duke Qiguo’s wife. What’s improper?”

Wen Xiaolou completely froze. Though he had already guessed the noble lady before him had extraordinary origins, he never imagined she was actually from the Guo family. Speaking of the Guo family, in Yuexi history they were an illustrious family spanning nearly three hundred years. The first prominent figure, Guo Cheng, supported the emperor to the throne with merit, appointed Grand Marshal. From him down, every Guo generation produced heroic figures. Regardless of which emperor or dynasty changed, the Guo clan always held a place in the imperial court. The family’s numerous members, vast influence, remarkable contributions, and noble bloodline were all witnessed and admired by all.

During the previous dynasty, the Guo family’s prestige once reached its peak. Prince Liang once sought to marry a Guo daughter but was politely refused. Prince Liang complained to Emperor Cheng at the time, who merely smiled and said the Guo family’s daughters even he couldn’t marry—what chance had Prince Liang? Prince Liang returned that day and vomited blood in anger—the matter became universally known. Now the Guo clan ranked among Yuexi’s ten great families, their power no less than the Pei family—a truly illustrious family known to all. The previous Duke Qiguo, Guo Xiang, married the former emperor’s sister, Princess Chenliu, making him the current emperor’s uncle by marriage. The current Duke Qiguo, Guo Su, commanded military power over four hundred thousand troops. His sister, Imperial Consort Guo Hui, was deeply respected by the emperor. And the woman before him was actually Duke Qiguo Guo Su’s wife…

For a moment, Wen Xiaolou couldn’t help but think he was dreaming.

How could such an illustrious family’s noble lady appear before him? Moreover specifically requesting to see Li Weiyang—this was simply inconceivable…

Wen Xiaolou sent someone with a message, requesting Li Weiyang immediately come to the opera garden once. Li Weiyang, receiving the news, couldn’t help feeling very strange. Last night she had already sent people to clean up after Wen Xiaolou. Now he should properly sing opera at the garden, acting flawlessly—why suddenly want to see her? Though puzzled in her heart, she still went to the opera house according to the agreement. But just entering the private room, she saw a noble lady stumble out and grab her.

Li Weiyang looked at the person before her in surprise. That noble lady’s beautiful eyes held a dreamlike expression as she said to Li Weiyang, “My Jia’er!”

Li Weiyang was even more shocked, not knowing what the other party meant. The noble lady trembled all over. When she saw Li Weiyang ascending the stairs, she desperately restrained the impulse in her heart. When Li Weiyang reached the doorway, she could no longer control herself and rushed over. Yet she felt with each step forward, her muscles and bones seemed to peel away layer by layer—indescribable excitement and pain!

“This lady, you are—” Li Weiyang looked at the other party, inexplicably her heart trembling.

Madam Guo wanted to speak but opened her mouth unable to utter words. Looking at Li Weiyang, she mumbled several words, one hand pressing her heart, feeling it about to burst from excitement. She desperately restrained herself, desperately controlled herself, yet tears still flowed uncontrollably.

Li Weiyang’s features were delicate, her eyes like crystals, distinctly black and white. Her lips small and thin—clearly not smiling yet seeming to smile.

Seeing this face, Madam Guo felt grief and joy intermingled, her sanity completely torn. All the grievance and excitement that couldn’t dissolve surged forth. She had finally found her biological daughter. All these years, every night, the long-accumulated pain of losing her daughter transformed into countless serpent fangs gnawing at her. Everyone told her that her daughter died in that military chaos, but she never believed it. She knew—she must be alive, would be alive waiting for her to find her! At this moment seeing Li Weiyang, that tremendous impact brought Madam Guo an irrepressible pain tearing through her entire body. She suddenly covered her face, instantly wailing aloud.

Li Weiyang and Zhao Yue both froze there, completely unaware what had happened. Soon Li Weiyang suddenly thought of something, thinking this lady must have mistaken her identity, but… such a noble lady should maintain etiquette and dignity at all times—how could she cry so uncontrollably without restraint before so many people?

Such crying seemed to vent many years of accumulated pain completely clean. Madam Song’s heart grew anxious. Before confirming Li Weiyang’s identity, she felt she couldn’t let Madam lose control like this, so she quickly went forward to embrace her. “Madam, Madam, we’re about to find Miss. This servant knows you’re happy, but please restrain yourself no matter what—don’t frighten this young miss!”

Her words were quite artful, indirectly reminding Madam Guo that the woman before her might not be Miss—they must verify carefully. However, Madam Guo had searched for so many years, long since despairing. Her daughter suddenly appeared before her eyes—for the moment she cried until her vision blurred, Li Weiyang before her becoming indistinct, leaving only a faint shadow…

Li Weiyang’s lashes were very long, at this moment gently fluttering once as she said gently, “This lady, have you mistaken me for someone else? I don’t know you.”

Madam Guo cried so hard she couldn’t catch her breath, almost unable to speak. Madam Song quickly stepped forward wanting to lift Li Weiyang’s wrist, but heard Zhao Yue say, “What are you doing!” She had already drawn her long sword.

Just then, countless Guo family guards originally stationed outside also drew their swords with a swoosh—cold light flashing momentarily, shaking people’s hearts. Li Weiyang glanced at Zhao Yue and gently shook her head. She vaguely felt this lady seemed to have no ill will toward her whatsoever… perhaps a misunderstanding…

Madam Song swiftly lifted Li Weiyang’s left wrist, removed the prayer bead string from her hand, and examined it carefully for a long time. Suddenly tears filled her eyes. “Madam, yes! It’s this! This exact one! Back then this servant personally put it on Miss’s neck!”

Madam Guo widened her eyes. Li Weiyang subconsciously retreated a step. In a flash of insight she suddenly understood something. Zhao Yue said, “It’s merely a string of prayer beads…”

Madam Song’s face showed complete joy. “Not ordinary prayer beads!” She took out a pointed cone-shaped iron tool from her bosom and gently rubbed one bead. That wooden piece actually split open in one motion, revealing a jade bead inside. The smile on Madam Song’s face grew larger, her movements faster. Before long she had ground away half the wooden outer layer. Then she handed the prayer beads to Li Weiyang, joyfully saying, “Miss, please look!”

Those prayer beads—the outer layer was wood, but inside were hollow jade beads. Amazingly, every jade bead was actually carved with several flowers. The maker displayed remarkable ingenuity, even pressing gold threads inside and polishing them smooth—they looked exquisitely beautiful, supremely skillful.

“This single bead required dozens of processes. A full one hundred and eight beads took half a year. This peerless prayer bead chain was personally commissioned by the Duke for Miss—absolutely unmistakable!” Though Madam Song was usually shrewd, at this moment seeing these prayer beads, tears fell like rain.

Li Weiyang immediately understood. So Xiaoman was actually… She was about to speak and explain when she heard a loud voice say, “Congratulations. Didn’t you always say you wanted to find your family? Your relative stands before you—how can you not recognize them?” It was Wen Xiaolou to the side, his gaze somber.

No matter how composed Li Weiyang was, at this moment she looked at Wen Xiaolou in disbelief. If Xiaoman had always worn these prayer beads, Wen Xiaolou must certainly know… but why would he suddenly say such words? At this moment, Wen Xiaolou’s eyes clearly reflected her, as if looking at her yet also as if not looking at her. In those eyes was clearly a trace of desperate pleading that shocked yet saddened one…

Before Li Weiyang could react, she was embraced by Madam Guo. Those gentle fingers stroked her back again and again. The magnificent clothing pressed against Li Weiyang’s cheek—that warm scent, a mother’s scent, suddenly surged forth. Madam Guo’s voice trembled. “Jia’er, Mother has finally found you!”

Zhao Yue stood to the side dumbfounded. And Li Weiyang felt inexplicably cold all over, her entire body cold as a block of ice—even her heart was completely frozen.