His world measured one chi and three cun.

Before him and behind him, the distance of a single step.

For twenty-two years, he had walked within his one chi and three cun, where no one dared approach, nor did he allow anyone near.

Yet today, as if ice had shattered and clouds had broken open, that person drew close with light grace that brooked no refusal, leaning against his shoulder. Her sweet breath stirred the face veil at his cheek, brushing across his face, soft and cool.

Gu Nanyi felt somewhat bewildered, somewhat confused. He furrowed his brow slightly, not knowing what to do.

That breath, so near and so quiet, close by his ear, moist and warm—he should have hated it, just as he hated coarse fabrics, clamorous sounds, glaring light… All sounds were like creaking broken wood, all brightness like blinding white lightning, coarse clothing like sandpaper grinding against skin, and even faces often fragmented into a heap of terrifying shards.

Yet at this moment, this quiet, intimate breath suddenly made him feel an ineffable serenity.

He did not know how to describe that feeling. In a trance, he seemed to hear from many, many years ago, someone gently stroking his hair and saying: My Nanyi, your parents have no other wish in life but to hope you understand the feeling of happiness.

Happiness… feeling… two words he did not understand.

He tilted his head slightly to look at the face on his shoulder. That woman had her eyes closed, her long lashes trembling faintly like black-winged butterflies in the wind. The intense, rich fragrance of peonies wafted gracefully from the carved balustrade, yet it could not match her scent’s quiet beauty and gentle elegance.

The hand resting lightly on his shoulder was slender as a scallion, with delicate finger joints and nails gleaming with a pearl-like luster.

Gu Nanyi tilted his head back slightly, facing the beautiful summer breeze.

Feeling… so this was called feeling.

Feng Zhiwei did not know that in this moment, this man who was forever set like jade, never to be broken, experienced the first fluctuation of his life—like a snowy mountain sealed for ten thousand years suddenly revealing a sliver of bright light, awaiting the moment when it would burst open with a thunderous roar.

She only felt tired and weary, needing a secure place to rest, and that man, silent and steadfast, could bear all her sorrow and bitterness in this instant.

Face down, she nestled briefly against his shoulder, then smiled and lifted her head as if nothing had happened, saying, “Let’s go.”

Watching that woman stride ahead with light steps, Gu Nanyi tilted his head slightly, pressing his cheek against the spot that still held her warmth.

There was a faint fragrance on his cheek. He sniffed carefully, then felt something moist on his face.

Gu Nanyi reached out and touched his own face, holding his fingers up to the sunlight where faint traces of moisture could be seen.

Greatly puzzled, he looked for a long while, then suddenly realized something and touched his shoulder, the place where Feng Zhiwei’s face had rested.

He felt slight dampness there.

In the deep corridor, the dappled light and shadow of the summer day shifted over. In that light and shadow, that person’s hand remained on his shoulder as he stood still, for a long, long time.

Lady Qiu had already ordered people to wait in the main hall of Lihua Residence for a long time, yet Minister Wei still had not come. It was inconvenient for her to go out to greet him herself. Just as she was wondering about this, she suddenly saw someone in flowing blue robes approaching, bathed in sunlight.

The maid who had gone out to check hurried back to the inner chamber to report. Lady Qiu led a large group of maids and matrons out to greet him, feeling somewhat puzzled about why no steward from the Qiu Mansion was accompanying him, when Feng Zhiwei was already smiling and bowing deeply: “I greet Lady Qiu.”

“Just call me Aunt.” Lady Qiu smiled very amiably. Before the master had left for the campaign, he had specifically instructed her that this Minister Wei, a young man favored by the emperor and a close imperial minister, must absolutely not be offended. Rather, they should try to curry favor with him and must not show any negligence.

And that young man stood neither humbly nor arrogantly in the hall, elegant and handsome, graceful and romantic, truly pleasing to the eye at first sight. As Lady Qiu cordially invited him to sit, she secretly lamented that among her three sons, not one had such talent.

After host and guest exchanged a few pleasantries, according to Lady Qiu’s intention, she would meet with Wei Zhi in the inner courtyard. This was merely the Qiu Mansion’s gesture of showing intimacy. Since Wei Zhi called Qiu Shangqi “Uncle,” it was proper for her as an elder to receive him. After a few brief words, she served tea. Afterward, it would be appropriate for the three young masters of the Qiu family to entertain this young civil official, so she quickly served the tea.

After serving tea, Feng Zhiwei did not move. Instead, she picked up the tea beside her and slowly drank it, even smiling at Gu Nanyi beside her: “The Xiangshan Sparrow Tongue tea at the Qiu Mansion is quite excellent. You should try some too.”

Gu Nanyi put down the hand that had been resting on his shoulder, rubbed his fingers together, and after confirming that nowhere was damp, pushed away the tea Feng Zhiwei had handed him, saying, “Dirty.”

Feng Zhiwei smiled, but the faces of everyone in the Qiu Mansion turned pale.

Lady Qiu’s expression was also very unpleasant—was this Wei Zhi from the countryside, not understanding proper etiquette? And this attendant of his, how could a mere attendant also sit beside the host and make such outrageous remarks?

“Madam.” Feng Zhiwei finished drinking the tea before saying leisurely, “This nephew has some words to say to you…”

She did not continue speaking, but glanced around in all directions.

Lady Qiu was stunned. Feng Zhiwei added, “The other day I went to the Huwei Military Camp…”

The third young master of the Qiu family had just received a hereditary appointment and was serving as a Recording Clerk in the Huwei Military Camp. Hearing this sentence, Lady Qiu’s expression grew serious. With a wave of her hand, the maids and matrons immediately withdrew silently.

“Madam truly commands her servants well.” Feng Zhiwei lightly praised her and stood up. “The bearing of the Qiu Mansion is even more imposing than in the past.”

Lady Qiu was about to respond modestly when she suddenly detected something wrong in that statement.

“In the past…” She looked at Feng Zhiwei in confusion, wondering why this Minister Wei spoke of the Qiu Mansion with such familiarity.

Feng Zhiwei smiled.

“Hao’er has not yet grown up, and Zhiwei is not very sensible either.” She looked at Lady Qiu’s suddenly changing expression with a smile. “I’ve been troubling you all this time.”

“You—you—” Lady Qiu stepped back, her hand gripping the chair back, swaying unsteadily.

“I am Wei Zhi.” Feng Zhiwei stood with hands behind her back, her gaze calm and pitying. “I am now, and will be in the future. In court I am, and in the Qiu Mansion I am too.”

She handed over a letter: “This is a letter Uncle Qiu left for Madam.”

After reading it, Lady Qiu’s face turned iron blue. She crumpled the paper fiercely in her hand, then thinking better of it, quickly smoothed it out again.

Feng Zhiwei watched her with a smile.

With her current status, obtaining Qiu Shangqi’s handwriting was too easy. She had it studied by those talented and skilled retainers of the Yan family, and a letter in Qiu Shangqi’s own hand was fabricated. The letter’s tone was vague, only repeatedly instructing that Wei Zhi was extremely capable, and that since the Qiu Mansion currently had no master, Madam must comply with all his requests and arrangements to achieve sincere cooperation, and so forth.

Reading that letter, Lady Qiu seemed to understand that Qiu Shangqi already knew Feng Zhiwei’s identity yet still required her not to defy her. Recalling how the master had indeed repeatedly instructed her before leaving to maintain good relations with this “Minister Wei,” her heart churned like stormy seas, and she stood speechless in shock.

“Madam.” Feng Zhiwei said coolly, “Since I have been candid with you and Lord Qiu, you need not worry that I harbor any resentment toward the Qiu Mansion. With Lord Qiu away, from now on, regarding all matters in this mansion, you and I must work together in concerted effort.”

Lady Qiu looked at Feng Zhiwei, understanding that she spoke the truth. With her current status and Qiu Shangqi absent, if she truly wanted to act, wouldn’t the Qiu Mansion be completely at her mercy? Now that she had personally made this trip and revealed her identity, it showed her sincerity. If she herself remained ungrateful and offended her completely, who would support her then? Even if her own family intervened, they might not be able to manage the Qiu Mansion’s affairs.

Yet instinctive unease gripped her, though she had no good solution. With the master away, she had lost her anchor. Feng Zhiwei, who had been expelled, had returned in this shocking capacity—this earth-shattering news had completely stunned her.

“What… do you want?” After a long while, she asked weakly.

“You’re being too formal.” Feng Zhiwei smiled. “I am originally your niece. What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours includes my share. Why spell things out so clearly?”

Lady Qiu opened her mouth, her face pale green and white. Feng Zhiwei looked at her cordially and smiled: “Naturally, you must keep my identity secret. Feng Zhiwei will return to the Qiu Mansion. From now on, Feng Zhiwei will be brought back by you from your family home in Jianghuai, while Minister Wei will still be an old family friend of the Qiu Mansion… Do you understand?”

Lady Qiu stood dazed. In the sweltering weather, cold sweat broke out on her back. Looking at Feng Zhiwei’s smiling face with eyes completely devoid of mirth, she felt waves of cold rising from the bottom of her heart.

She had never underestimated this niece, but she had still underestimated her far too much!

“What’s good for you is good for me and good for everyone. From now on, how to treat the returning young lady of the Feng family—I presume I need not instruct you further.” Feng Zhiwei brushed her sleeves with a leisurely air. “Naturally, one good turn deserves another. I will take good care of the Qiu Mansion and the three brothers.”

Lady Qiu sat down somewhat dazedly. After a long while she said, “Zhiwei, in the past…”

“Please call me Minister Wei.” Feng Zhiwei smiled warmly.

Lady Qiu made an effort to calm herself. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard a commotion not far away.

“Catch the assassin! There’s an assassin disturbing Madam!”

There was also Nanny An’s wailing voice like a broken gong, crying out as if mourning: “Madam! Madam! This old servant was nearly killed by that cheap Feng family woman—you must give me justice!”