It was June in Jinling, the early summer season, with particularly warm sunshine. Around one or two o’clock in the afternoon was precisely the leisurely time at the official residence, and since this was also the hour when each household took their afternoon nap, everything was quite serene. Seeing that the sun was just right, many potted plants were arranged among several trees in the garden, clustered together in groups. The thousand-petaled pomegranate had already bloomed, its scarlet dots reflected amidst that expanse of emerald green, creating a most enchanting sight.

Several young maidservants were holding watering cans, sprinkling water there, when suddenly a string of laughter rang out. Qiu Luo, a senior maid standing beside a hammock under the shade of trees, held an embroidery hoop in one hand and a needle in the other. She retreated several steps, laughing reproachfully: “Fifth Young Master, if you keep causing trouble, this needle of mine won’t have eyes.”

A man’s clear, bright laughter came: “I’ve only heard of swords having no eyes, but I never knew that needles also have no eyes. How exactly do they lack eyes? Could you really embroider a pair of mandarin ducks on my face? Then we’d be a matched pair.”

Qiu Luo laughed: “I wouldn’t dare!”

Yu Changxuan was leisurely half-reclining on the hammock, his features deeply handsome and distinguished. At this moment, he slightly narrowed his eyes, pretending to doze. Hearing Qiu Luo’s words, he opened his eyes and sat up directly from the hammock, laughing once before saying: “Then let me see what you dare to do. I’ll know and can guard against it in the future.”

Just as his words fell, he had already pounced forward, grasping Qiu Luo’s wrist in one motion. Qiu Luo was startled and stepped back. Instinctively raising her hand, she accidentally pricked Yu Changxuan’s head with the needle.

Yu Changxuan lowered his head, feigning great pain, frightening Qiu Luo into hurrying forward: “Where did it prick? Let me see.” Who knew her wrist was then seized by him. Yu Changxuan laughed and leaned toward her face to kiss her, saying: “You coquettish girl, now you’ve made me bleed, you must properly compensate me.” Just as they were playing around, suddenly a voice came from behind: “Oh my, no wonder we couldn’t find Fifth Young Master anywhere – turns out he’s enjoying himself here.”

Yu Changxuan turned around to see the two young misses from the Tao family, longtime family friends – Yayi and Ziyi – walking over hand in hand. Both wore beautiful Western-style dresses adorned with sparkling beads, like two bright peacocks. Before they arrived, the fragrance of rouge and powder had already wafted over. Yu Changxuan released Qiu Luo, saying: “How did you two come together?”

The Tao family’s eldest miss, Yayi, smiled slightly: “What’s wrong? Did we two arrive at an inconvenient time and spoil Fifth Young Master’s good fortune?” Yu Changxuan knew her words had implications, so he just smiled without speaking. Meanwhile, Second Miss Tao Ziyi coldly laughed at Yu Changxuan: “In broad daylight no less – it’s really hard on Fifth Young Master. If it were me, I’d definitely poke a big hole in you.”

Yu Changxuan heard the jealousy in her words and laughed. In that smile, his thick eyebrows swept toward his temples, revealing a distinguished bearing. He said gently: “If it were really Sister Ziyi, even if you poked a big hole in me, I’d accept it.”

Ziyi pouted unhappily: “You’d accept it, but I wouldn’t! Someone like you who has to flirt with every flower and grass all day long – I can’t be bothered with you. Save those sweet words for Jun Daiti! I won’t listen to them.”

Yu Changxuan smiled faintly: “You’re really looking for crimes where none exist – what’s the point of groundless accusations? Daiti is my eldest sister-in-law’s cousin. When I’m with her, I only speak the appropriate words of relatives. If even this makes you unhappy, then I’m at a loss.” Ziyi just snorted. Fearing they’d start quarreling again, Yayi quickly smiled to smooth things over: “Fifth Young Master, are you going to the Xiangxi Restaurant tonight to dance?”

Yu Changxuan laughed: “Since there’s nothing else to do, why wouldn’t I go? How many people have you invited?” Yayi smiled: “I’ve called all those people from your Staff Department. Even if it delays military duties, there’ll be plenty of people to take the blame – can’t have Fifth Young Master ‘standing alone in excellence’ after all.”

Hearing the word “dancing,” Ziyi couldn’t be bothered with being angry anymore and became quite excited. She lifted her skirt slightly, revealing her own pair of gorgeous shoes, saying repeatedly: “Look, I even wore such beautiful dancing shoes! After playing cards with Second Sister and Sister-in-law for a while, let’s go!”

Seeing Yayi’s arrangements were quite proper, Yu Changxuan thought that since father wasn’t home anyway, there was no harm in enjoying himself. While Yayi was talking to Qiu Luo, he stole a glance at Ziyi standing to the side. Tao Ziyi proudly raised her head, putting on an act of still being upset, though the corners of her mouth held a smile. Yu Changxuan understood and immediately laughed.

The Xiangxi Restaurant was precisely an entertainment venue where high society came to play. Yu Changxuan accompanied the Tao sisters with several young officers from the Ninth Army for several dances. The Tao sisters were already famous sister flowers in social circles, and Tao Yayi was especially someone attractive both from afar and up close. When the dance music began, she was immediately invited onto the floor. Yu Changxuan sat at the table while Li Boren leaned over, laughing: “Fifth Brother, looking at this pair, which one is better?”

Yu Changxuan replied indifferently: “I don’t think either is good.” Li Boren was slightly stunned: “I see Fifth Brother has put considerable thought into Sister Ziyi. How is it that you’re saying neither is good now? Could your heart really be with that foreign-educated miss Jun Daiti?”

Yu Changxuan drank his beer, saying carelessly: “Whether it’s the Tao sisters or Jun Daiti – these types of people are fine for playing around with, but if you put serious thought into them, it’s not worth it.” This statement made the surrounding young officers laugh as well. Soon they saw the Tao sisters return. Tao Ziyi naturally looked at no one else, only pulling at Yu Changxuan while loudly complaining: “I don’t care, I don’t care! We agreed to dance together, but you’ve been chatting endlessly here. Don’t waste my newly bought pair of dancing shoes!”

Watching Yu Changxuan stand up, Li Boren laughed meaningfully: “Fifth Brother, don’t forget what you just said – be careful. If you step through someone’s ready-made dancing shoes, who’s going to wear them?”

Hearing this, Tao Yayi walked over with a smile, picked up a plate of custard cake, scooped some with a small spoon and fed it to Li Boren’s mouth. With eyes like rippling waves and infinite coquettishness, she laughed: “Don’t say such things. Speaking of which, don’t forget – your wife is wearing shoes I’ve worn before!”

This double entendre left Li Boren completely speechless, knowing full well that Tao Yayi wasn’t someone to provoke, and that he was one of her “intimate guests.” Moreover, their father, Minister of Finance Tao, was currently in his prime. So he laughed: “I just wanted to compliment Second Miss Tao’s beautiful and precious shoes – how much did they cost?”

Tao Yayi sat down to drink soda, saying nonchalantly: “Just something worth a thousand or two – nothing special. Staff Officer Li flatters me.”

The other officers watched Li Boren eat his humble pie and sat there gloating with laughter. Suddenly the music rose again, and Yu Changxuan and Tao Ziyi danced gracefully on the floor. Hearing thunderous applause and continuous Western music, it was truly a scene of fragrant clothes, beautiful hair, and intoxicating luxury.

Around two or three in the morning, Yu Changxuan felt it was about time. If he didn’t go back to rest soon, he wouldn’t be able to get up tomorrow morning, and if father found out, it would be serious trouble. So he said he needed to leave first. Who would have expected that just as he walked out of the restaurant, he’d feel the pressing cold air and torrential rain pouring down from the black, oppressive night sky? The street had accumulated two or three inches of water. The aide-de-camp waiting outside had already opened an umbrella and came forward to escort Yu Changxuan to the car.

Gu Ruitong, Director of General Affairs and Chief of Guards for the Chamberlain’s Office, was sitting inside the car. Seeing Yu Changxuan get in, he finally breathed a sigh of relief: “If Fifth Young Master hadn’t come out soon, I would have had to go in and drag you out. Returning so late – if Madam finds out, wouldn’t all us brothers in the Chamberlain’s Office have to be replaced again?”

Yu Changxuan laughed: “Someday you should also taste the Tao sisters’ clinging skills, then you’d understand my hardship.” While signaling the driver to start the car, Gu Ruitong laughed: “Please spare me this once, Fifth Young Master. That pair of sister flowers – ordinary people can’t handle them.”

Hearing this, Yu Changxuan laughed heartily: “I know Uncle Gu keeps you on a tight leash. I won’t play matchmaker for you either. Better not end up unable to play with women, only to be played by them instead – that would be my great sin.”

Gu Ruitong said: “We wouldn’t dare touch Fifth Young Master’s women. If any of them really becomes Fifth Young Master’s wife someday, we might as well not live.” Hearing this from Gu Ruitong, Yu Changxuan raised his eyebrows and laughed carelessly: “For them to want to enter our Yu family’s door – I’m afraid they don’t have such good fortune!”

It was two or three in the morning, with deep night and rain pattering on all sides. The car had its wipers running, speeding along and splashing water that could cover half the car window. Yu Changxuan sat in the back seat, feeling somewhat drowsy. Just as he was closing his eyes to rest, he heard a “crash” sound – the car suddenly braked hard. Caught off guard, Yu Changxuan’s body lurched forward, nearly hitting the front seat. He raised his head: “What happened?”

The driver quickly said: “Someone nearly hit our car, and they’re still not moving – blocking the front of the car.” Gu Ruitong frowned at the driver: “You sure have a way with words. I’ve only heard of cars hitting people, never people hitting cars.” The driver immediately shut his mouth. Gu Ruitong looked out the car window: “Did we hit someone?” The driver hurriedly said: “No, no, but she seems to have scattered things all over the ground.”

Gu Ruitong glanced outside. “Fifth Young Master, I’ll go take a look.” He got out with an umbrella and saw in front of the car a thin young woman crouching in the rain, head down, picking up something from the ground. The car’s headlights shone brightly on her body. The girl was only about seventeen or eighteen years old, completely soaked through and still shivering. Her rain-beaten, wind-blown appearance was truly pitiful. Gu Ruitong was slightly stunned and was about to step forward when he heard the car door slam behind him – Yu Changxuan had gotten out. Gu Ruitong quickly turned around, standing in front of Yu Changxuan and holding the umbrella over his head: “The rain is too heavy. Please get back in the car, Fifth Young Master.”

Yu Changxuan said nothing and just walked forward. Gu Ruitong hurried to follow with the umbrella. Under the bright car lights illuminating the splashing rainwater, they saw the girl in thin clothing crouched on the ground anxiously picking up scattered silver dollars, counting under her breath: “…six…seven…eight…nine…nine…” She reached around the rain-soaked road surface searching, but couldn’t find that one. Suddenly, a slender hand extended before her, with a shining silver dollar held between the middle finger and forefinger. Yu Changxuan watched as the girl raised her head, smiled slightly, and brought the silver dollar before the girl’s eyes, saying gently: “Ten.”

The bright car lights shone on her face. The girl looked up, with wet strands of hair scattered around her cheeks. Her somewhat pointed chin bore a transparently pale complexion, her lips also wan and colorless, still trembling. She said softly: “Thank you.” That voice carried a clarity that pierced straight to the heart, making Yu Changxuan slightly stunned. She reached out to take the silver dollar from Yu Changxuan’s hand, stood up, and ran off into the heavy rain.

Only the sound of rain pattering on all sides could be heard. When he turned his head, he saw the girl’s figure had been swallowed by the heavy rain and vanished from sight, leaving only those still-dazzling car lights brightly illuminating this stretch of rain-soaked ground. Yu Changxuan turned back and saw a small white hair clip soaking in the rainwater. He walked forward to pick it up – it was a small jade hairpin clip.

Playing with that small jade hairpin clip, he smiled at Gu Ruitong: “What do you think?”

Gu Ruitong carefully held the umbrella for Yu Changxuan and laughed: “Never mind Miss Jun Daiti – I think she can’t even compare to the two Tao misses.” Yu Changxuan walked to the car and looked once more in the direction where the girl had disappeared, then turned back to smile at Gu Ruitong: “I actually think this one is in heaven while that pair are on earth.”

Gu Ruitong quickly agreed without saying more, followed Yu Changxuan into the car, closed the door, and called “Drive.” The car sped off toward the Yu family residence like flying. Throughout the journey, Yu Changxuan held that small jade hairpin clip between his fingers, playing with it with great interest, no longer showing any signs of fatigue.

It was around ten in the morning when the bell for the second class at Mingde Girls’ School had just rung. On the lawn between the red-roofed, ochre-brick buildings, many female students had gathered, all wearing uniform moon-white blouses, knee-length black skirts, and long cotton stockings. Anyone seeing such attire would immediately know they were Mingde Girls’ School students – an outfit that countless girls of the same age who had no books to read would envy.

Class had just ended, and the lawn in front of the classroom was filled with the playful voices of girls. Amidst this commotion, a girl’s anxious calling could be heard: “Pingjun, Pingjun! Hey, Ye Pingjun!”

Ye Pingjun turned around to see her classmate friend Bai Liyuan waving at her and running over along the corridor. Before she could catch her breath, she spoke rapidly like firing a machine gun: “Why would you suddenly want to drop out? Didn’t we agree to go to university in Hong Kong together? Now you’re giving up halfway – what’s this about?”

Ye Pingjun only lowered her head to adjust the strap of her blue cloth book bag on her shoulder, then looked up with a smile: “I don’t want to study anymore. I don’t want to be a female doctor anyway – what use is reading so many books?”

Bai Liyuan was slightly stunned: “Is your mother sick again?” As she spoke, she stepped forward to take Pingjun’s arm. Who knew Pingjun would slightly furrow her brow. Liyuan said: “What’s wrong?” She quickly pulled up her sleeve to look and saw a large scrape, which really startled her: “Pingjun, how did you hurt yourself like this?”

Ye Pingjun quickly pulled her arm back and smiled: “I wasn’t careful – fell on the street last night.” Bai Liyuan asked puzzledly: “With such heavy rain last night, what were you doing on the street?” This pressing question made it impossible for Ye Pingjun to hide anymore, so she said quietly: “My mother’s lung disease flared up again.”

Bai Liyuan immediately understood and pulled money from her own pocket, stuffing all the bills into Pingjun’s hands: “Take these for now. When I get home, I’ll ask my father for more. No matter what, dropping out is absolutely impossible. I’ll go back and tell my father to give you a leave of absence first, alright?”

Bai Liyuan’s father was precisely the principal of Mingde Girls’ School. With her saying this, the matter was settled. Ye Pingjun looked at the handful of bills in her hands – this was exactly when she urgently needed money. She only said: “I’ll pay this money back to you.” Bai Liyuan knew her character and didn’t say much more, then smiled: “I have another way to earn money here – do you want to hear it?”

Pingjun asked: “What way?”

“In a few days, the Tao sisters from the Minister of Finance’s family will host a small dance party. They invited me too. I’ll talk to them about having you help out with something. I figure you could get quite a bit in tips – I’m just afraid you… wouldn’t be willing.”

Pingjun quickly said: “Don’t overthink it. I’m willing to do this work. If I could earn some money now to help my mother buy good medicine, that would really be…” Before she could finish, Bai Liyuan had already said briskly: “Then it’s settled. Just wait at home, and I’ll come find you when the time comes. Go back and take care of your mother first.”

Ye Pingjun nodded, stuffed all the money Bai Liyuan had given her into her blue cloth book bag, turned and walked out of Mingde Girls’ School’s main gate. She couldn’t help but turn back to look at the school gate, thinking that for a girl from such a poor family as herself, having her mother scrimp and save these past years so she could study in such a good school for several years – she should be quite content. But talk of university was clearly just wishful thinking.

She put away these thoughts, turned and walked forward along Northwest Road. Along the way, rickshaw pullers followed asking if she needed a ride, but she didn’t respond, just walked silently. She walked all the way to West Shop Pharmacy, bought medicine according to the prescription, carried several packages of medicine, and went home. Her family lived in a simple room in a large courtyard. As soon as she entered the main gate, Auntie Zhao from the same courtyard came forward: “Miss, you’re finally back! Go take a look quickly – your mother has been coughing all morning.”

Ye Pingjun was so frightened she hurried into her family’s room, lifting the curtain to the inner room while calling: “Mother.” She saw her mother leaning against the bed, head slightly tilted, holding a handkerchief in her hand to cover her mouth as she coughed. Ye Pingjun quickly stepped forward: “Mother, lie down quickly.”

Madam Ye raised her head to look at Ye Pingjun, coughed a few more times, and said softly: “Let me sit for a while – when I lie down, my chest hurts terribly.” Ye Pingjun took her own pillow to prop behind her mother’s back, then moved the quilt from the side to cover Madam Ye. Seeing her very efficient movements, her mother suddenly shed tears: “Ping’er, I’ve burdened you. Poor child, you’ve grown up without enjoying a single blessing.”

Ye Pingjun took a handkerchief from the side to wipe her mother’s tears, smiling slightly: “There are many kinds of blessings in this world. Being able to stay together with Mother like this is my blessing – it takes many lifetimes to earn this.” Though her words were clear and understanding, they made her mother feel even more distressed. Ye Pingjun took her blue cloth book bag and pulled out the handful of money Bai Liyuan had given her, saying to her mother: “Look, this is from Liyuan. The principal also said I should take good care of Mother and gave me a long leave.”

She put all the money away properly, then picked up the medicine from the side, smiling: “Mother, rest first. I’ll go outside to brew the medicine and then make lunch.” Her mother nodded, then suddenly remembered something: “Xueting… should be returning soon, shouldn’t he?” Hearing this, Ye Pingjun immediately blushed and responded: “Mm.”

Her mother frowned and sighed: “I know about you two. Xueting is a good child, but he lost his parents young – he’s also pitiable. You two grew up before my eyes, and I know there are… feelings between you. I have no objection, but I’m afraid the Jiang family is a wealthy household, and now that Xueting has returned from studying in Japan, his brother and sister-in-law might not be willing to associate with us…” Hearing this, Pingjun just smiled slightly: “What’s wrong with our family? We don’t steal or rob – we’re also an honest, upright family.”

Seeing Pingjun’s calm and composed appearance, her mother couldn’t help but laugh and had to say softly: “You child… you really are still a child.” At this point, Ye Pingjun felt too embarrassed to continue, so she took the package of medicine: “Mother, I’ll go brew your medicine.” Then she went out.

She took the medicine to the outer room and looked up to see that the cluster of jade-green tuberose in the courtyard was actually showing tiny white buds. These flowers usually bloomed in July, but this year they were blooming so early. Could it be that because Xueting was about to return, even the plants knew people’s hearts? Thinking this, her hand unconsciously touched the hair knot on her head, but felt nothing there. Only then did she remember that the jade hairpin clip Xueting had given her was missing. She had noticed when combing her hair that morning – it must have been lost on the road while looking for a doctor in last night’s heavy rain. She slowly lowered her hand and gazed at those tuberoses about to bloom in full, suddenly feeling waves of loss in her heart.

Because his father had been busy at the government office these past few days with no one to restrain him, Yu Changxuan had grown bold and went dancing with the Tao sisters. For several days straight, he’d been out from evening until the next morning, not sleeping until three or four in the morning. When he woke, it was already two or three in the afternoon. He had just gotten up to wash and change clothes when he heard someone outside saying: “Is Fifth Young Master awake? Quickly brew tea and take it in for the young master to rinse his mouth.” Hearing this voice, it was Auntie Zhu who managed affairs here. Then he heard the door open as a young maid naturally entered to bring Yu Changxuan tea.

After rinsing his mouth, Yu Changxuan turned and saw that small jade hairpin clip still placed in the corner of the cabinet beside his bed. This was what he had put there when he returned a few days ago. Now he picked it up and glanced at it indifferently, finding it quite tasteless, casually tossing it aside and turning to go to the living room.

Yu Changxuan had just come downstairs when he heard some commotion from the living room – the Yu family’s youngest sixth miss, Qixuan, was using a small hammer to crack walnuts inside. Second sister Jinxuan and eldest sister-in-law Minru were both helping her nearby. Looking further to the side, sitting there was eldest sister-in-law Minru’s cousin, Jun Daiti.

Eldest sister-in-law Minru had always been sharp-eyed and quick-tongued. She was the first to see Yu Changxuan enter, smiling: “Fifth Brother is awake. How is it you’re not busy at the military today?”

Yu Changxuan sat in an independent Western-style chair beside the coffee table, laughing: “Sister-in-law is teasing me. Father only had me train at the Ninth Army for a few years first. Right now there are no major affairs falling on my shoulders – going would be in vain.” After responding to Minru’s words, he saw Jun Daiti with her head lowered, holding a teacup and sipping tea. He smiled: “When did Sister Feng arrive?”

Jun Daiti smiled: “I just arrived not long ago.”

Seeing the two of them talking, eldest sister-in-law Minru unfastened the handkerchief from the qipao buttons under her arm to wipe her hands sticky with walnut residue, while laughing: “You’re all grown up now, yet you still call our Daiti by her pet name. Acting as if only you know her nickname is Feng’er – we know you two are close, but must you show it off like this?”

Yu Changxuan laughed: “It wasn’t on purpose. I won’t call her that anymore, lest I make sister-in-law unhappy again.” Minru smiled: “Call her whatever you like. I’m afraid even if I don’t want you calling her that, there’s still someone who likes hearing it, isn’t that right, Feng’er?”

Jun Daiti was helping pick out the cracked walnut meat. Hearing her cousin’s words, she said: “Cousin is starting to tease people again. If you keep talking like this, I won’t play anymore and will just go home.” Second Miss Yu Jinxuan smiled at Daiti: “What a young lady’s temperament! Tell us, what did your cousin say that was so terrible that you want to make a fuss about going home?”

Daiti was embarrassed and became even more tongue-tied. Yu Changxuan was accustomed to mixing in circles of rouge and powder. Though Jun Daiti’s looks were far from as charming and alluring as the younger Tao sister, she still had considerable appeal, so he couldn’t help but look at her more. Seeing him gazing at her this way, Jun Daiti pretended to watch Qixuan cracking walnuts, deliberately revealing her very beautiful profile, the ginkgo earrings on her earlobes swaying back and forth beside her cheeks. Yu Changxuan smiled, and the servants brought over refreshments and milk for him.

Madam Yu, sitting properly to the side, still wore tortoiseshell gold-rimmed glasses while reading the newspaper. Suddenly she said: “No wonder your father has been so busy these past few days, not even coming home – turns out there’s been another earth-shaking commotion in the government.” Second Miss Jinxuan said: “I heard something too. There were rumors a few days ago that Administrative Chairman Mou Linsen was going to step down?”

Madam Yu said: “This Mou Linsen is no match for Chu Wenfu after all. It’s his own fault for being worthless. Whatever strategic plan he arranged, in the end he still let Jiangbei gain the advantage. A perfectly good Huyang Pass was taken by the Xiao family army. I heard the Xiao army was led by some Young Marshal Xiao. What face does Mou Linsen have left to continue struggling? Fortunately your father was on sick leave recently and didn’t lose face along with them.”

Minru laughed: “Mother needn’t worry. It’s just painted faces taking the stage to sing opera – when you finish singing, I take the stage! Whether it’s the Chu family or Mou family, don’t they all have to listen to our Yu family!”

Sixth sister Qixuan, sitting to the side, suddenly spoke up: “I heard that Young Marshal Xiao is only in his twenties, yet his abilities are a hundred times stronger than my fifth brother’s. So accomplished – he’s truly a great hero.”

This sudden statement stunned everyone. Yu Changxuan casually finished eating a piece of cake: “Qixuan must have taken a fancy to that Xiao fellow from Jiangbei. Since you’re so fond of him, have father arrange a match – we’ll have a North-South marriage alliance. Let you marry over there, and it’ll save us from this endless North-South standoff and constant warfare. How about it?”

Sixth sister Qixuan turned to look at Yu Changxuan, saying loudly: “Fifth Brother just watch! When I turn twenty, how do you know I can’t marry him?!”

Madam Yu knew this pair of siblings had incompatible temperaments and would start bickering if they continued. She changed the subject, saying to Yu Changxuan: “I see you’ve been quite wild lately, taking advantage of your father not being home. Your father’s affairs are almost finished – you should settle down too.”

Seeing his mother about to lecture him, Yu Changxuan quickly responded, stopped eating, stood up and headed out: “Mother is right. I’ll go to the Army Department now.”

Qixuan laughed with a “chi” sound, calling out: “How rare that Fifth Brother wants to attend to serious business! Better tell your driver to be careful not to drive to some Xiangxi Restaurant or Paramount instead – that would be embarrassing.”

Yu Changxuan didn’t listen to Qixuan’s mockery at all, just got up and left. Jun Daiti watched him leave the living room without even turning back, and disappointment unconsciously appeared on her face. Minru lightly pinched her palm, then smiled at Qixuan: “Sixth sister, didn’t I tell you Daiti plays piano extremely well? Would you like to hear it?”

Sixth sister Qixuan was at a playful age. Hearing this, she became excited, stopped cracking walnuts, stood up and took Jun Daiti’s hand with a grin: “Come, let’s go to the music room. I’ve long heard you foreign-educated civilized seeds are most remarkable – play for me quickly.”

Jinxuan smiled: “Sixth sister, don’t be too playful. Don’t forget you still have a tutor coming to teach you this afternoon.”

Qixuan responded “I know” and ran out pulling Jun Daiti along.

Yu Changxuan came out of the hall and ordered servants to call Chamberlain Director Gu Ruitong, then went straight upstairs to change into military uniform. Just as he finished changing and came out of the washroom, he saw Gu Ruitong already waiting there. He said: “Let’s go to the Army Department.” Gu Ruitong was stunned: “Not going to the Tao sisters’ dance party tonight?”

Yu Changxuan said: “If we make it in time, we’ll go. If not, we won’t. Do such things need serious consideration?” While fastening the buttons on his sleeves and walking out, he saw the Yu residence’s steward Zhou Tai come in and bow: “Fifth Young Master, Second Miss Tao called.”

Yu Changxuan didn’t turn back, walking straight out while coldly scolding: “A bunch of blind things! Can’t you see I’m busy? Where do I have time to deal with her now?” Steward Zhou Tai quickly acknowledged and withdrew. Gu Ruitong watched Yu Changxuan leave and followed him out.

Ever since former Jiangnan Central Government Finance Minister Lin Tangsheng was imprisoned for embezzling public funds, the Jiangnan Tao family had used this opportunity to rise rapidly, single-handedly controlling the central government’s financial power. However, with political turmoil at the time – external threats from the Japanese military eyeing them covetously, and internal division of half the realm by Jiangbei’s Xiao military clique and other minor forces – though the central government was named “central,” it actually only controlled the southern half of the territory. Moreover, political struggles within the government were extremely brutal. As the saying went: “The Chu family’s realm, the Yu family’s army, the Mou family’s party, the Tao family’s wealth!”

Watching the southern powerful families compete and struggle with each other, their influence waxing and waning – with such snipe and clam fighting, whether the ultimate beneficiary would be the invading Japanese, Jiangbei’s Xiao family, or other military clique forces remained unknown.

The Tao sisters were the top socialites of high society, first-class in family background. When the Tao sisters hosted an evening party, they naturally wouldn’t be casual about it. The Tao residence’s main gate already displayed pine and cypress branches and flags of all nations. The entire courtyard was decorated with colored paper strips, lanterns, flowers and green leaves – quite prosperous and lively. With Bai Liyuan’s recommendation, Ye Pingjun was able to enter the Tao residence. Just standing in the courtyard helping receive guests, she collected considerable tips. Watching the stream of men and women, the hall full of distinguished guests, and Western music playing in the main hall, people didn’t disperse even late into the night.

Following the Tao residence steward’s instructions, Ye Pingjun carried coffee to the two Tao misses. She saw Bai Liyuan and several socialites accompanying the two Tao sisters sitting in the hall. Second Miss Tao Ziyi wore a low-shouldered, fitted dress and sat there angrily having a tantrum: “I won’t go, I won’t go! I called several times and he ignored me all. Once that fake foreign devil Jun Daiti returned to the country, he became completely bewitched. Now he’s here but won’t come in, instead wanting me to go out and see him. Where in the world is there such a good deal!”

Tao Yayi smiled: “Sister, you’re throwing the wrong tantrum. Didn’t you hear he just came from the Army Department and came straight to see you without even going home? Don’t hurt his feelings – go out and see him.”

Tao Ziyi looked at her sister, and just then Pingjun came over with coffee. She looked at Pingjun again, suddenly burst out laughing, stood up and walked to a desk nearby, wrote a note and came back. Her Ferragamo leather shoes made the floor click-clack. She stuffed the note into Pingjun’s hands, raising her eyebrows: “Follow the attendant outside and deliver this note to Fifth Young Master. Also tell him that I’m tired today – if he has feelings, let him come see me tomorrow!”

Ye Pingjun took the note, responded “Yes,” and went outside the hall. Yayi smiled: “Sister is being mischievous again. What did you write to Fifth Young Master?”

Second Miss Tao Ziyi was naturally somewhat willful and pampered. Thinking of Yu Changxuan waiting outside, she wanted to put on a romantic, aloof air to show her skill. Hearing her elder sister ask, she raised her head and laughed coldly: “Naturally it’s a rejection note. Since he treats me this way, I’ll reject him once too – only then will I vent this anger.”

Ye Pingjun clutched Second Miss Tao’s note and found the attendant waiting for Second Miss Tao at the hall entrance. The attendant led Ye Pingjun out of the Tao residence. She saw a military vehicle parked in the shadows beside the vermillion gate. But the attendant stopped walking and just stood there. Ye Pingjun looked back at the attendant, who stood at attention in a guard stance.

Ye Pingjun turned around, clutching the note and walking toward the car. Just as she reached the front of the vehicle, she saw a uniformed military officer standing before it. In the dim moonlight, Ye Pingjun couldn’t see the person’s features clearly. She held out the note. The person looked at Ye Pingjun but didn’t reach out to take the note. Ye Pingjun said: “Second Miss Tao said she’s not coming.”

The stunned Gu Ruitong heard her words and came to his senses, quickly taking the note. The car window slowly rolled down. The interior wasn’t lit, only faint moonlight filtering in. Yu Changxuan sat inside the car, a cigarette between his fingers, letting it burn without looking out the window once. He only said: “What else did she say?”

Ye Pingjun stood outside the car. She didn’t look into the car either, only said quietly: “Second Miss Tao said she’s tired today. If you have feelings, she asks you to come see her tomorrow.”

Yu Changxuan smiled faintly, casually waved the back of his hand outward. Gu Ruitong said: “You’re dismissed. You may go.” Ye Pingjun turned and walked toward the Tao residence’s main gate. Yu Changxuan sat in the car, flicked the cigarette out the window, leaned his head back. Gu Ruitong had already gotten in the car and told the driver: “Return to the residence.”

As the car started, Yu Changxuan’s gaze casually swept and caught sight of the rearview mirror. In the mirror’s surface appeared a girl’s slender silhouette, her hair arranged in black double knots, her figure illuminated by moonlight like a fragrant white jade hairpin in bloom – most touching and beautiful.

The car had started moving when the driver heard Yu Changxuan’s urgent “Stop!” The driver hastily stopped. Yu Changxuan had already pushed open the door and gotten out, calling to that silhouette: “You, stop there.”

The girl’s silhouette silently paused, quietly turned around. Under moonlight like frost, illuminating the ground full of tree shadows, she looked back with a light glance. Her fair, beautiful countenance seemed to melt into the frosty moonlight, her clear features like a petal of snow-white pear blossom in spring, elegant with a touch of delicate, cool fragrance.

Yu Changxuan felt his heart leap suddenly, his breathing stop abruptly, and he stood there stunned.

Ye Pingjun stood in the bright moonlight, only glancing back once. She could only see a person standing in the hazy night. Her heart tightened slightly. She turned and walked quickly forward, seeing Bai Liyuan had already come out, standing at the Tao residence’s main gate waving to her: “Pingjun, let’s go. You can ride in my family’s car back.”

Ye Pingjun hurried over. Seeing the Bai family driver had already brought the car over, Liyuan took Pingjun’s hand and got in the car. The car drove forward. Liyuan was still excitedly talking about the evening party, her words showing considerable envy for the Tao sisters. Pingjun listened beside her. When the Bai family car crossed paths with that other car, she silently glanced out the car window and saw the black military vehicle covered by shadows. In a flash, it was gone.

Bai Liyuan intended to drive directly to Ye Pingjun’s home, but before the car entered her own lane, Ye Pingjun called out to stop, smiling at Bai Liyuan: “I just remembered – I want to buy some cloud cakes for my mother. Just let me off here.”

Bai Liyuan smiled: “Looking at you, you must have gotten quite a bit in tips tonight.”

Ye Pingjun smiled and nodded, then got out of the car. Watching the Bai family car drive away, she saw another small car slowly stop by the roadside. Pingjun didn’t look back, just walked forward calmly. But instead of entering her own lane, she turned into a small alley, quietly hiding under a family’s eaves. After waiting a moment, she felt car lights sweep in this direction, followed by the sound of the car driving away.

Only then did Ye Pingjun feel relieved, thinking it was fortunate she had discovered it early. She turned and ran out along the alley wall, running home in one breath. But as soon as she entered the gate, she heard Auntie Zhao crying in the courtyard. Turning to see Pingjun run in, she cried out in panic: “Miss, your mother is dying! She just coughed up blood several times and fainted!”

Before those words finished, Pingjun nearly couldn’t stand. She called out “Mother!” and rushed toward her family’s room, forgetting about the threshold she walked over daily. She tripped and fell to the ground. The frightened Auntie Zhao exclaimed “Oh my heavens!” and hurried forward to help. Pingjun got up from the ground, not caring about herself, and rushed straight into the inner room.

That afternoon, Gu Ruitong had just come out of the guard room when he saw the Yu family steward Zhou Tai come downstairs looking disheveled, obviously having been scolded upstairs. He was still muttering: “What jade hairpin? This is really going to be the death of me. I’ve never even seen it – where am I supposed to find it?”

Gu Ruitong went upstairs to see Yu Changxuan leaning on the Western sofa with ivory carved floral patterns in the small living room, his feet crossed and propped on the coffee table in front, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing Gu Ruitong’s footsteps, he opened his eyes and smiled: “Brother Gu, perfect timing. I was just looking for you. I’ll take you to see a beauty.”

Gu Ruitong said: “See what beauty?”

Yu Changxuan smiled and stood up from the sofa, his leather military boots making no sound on the soft carpet. He turned to look at Gu Ruitong: “Remember that little girl who fell in front of our car that rainy night? Yesterday I had someone follow her – finally found her home.”

Gu Ruitong understood and smiled: “A girl from a small household – what’s there to see?” Yu Changxuan laughed and headed outside, laughing loudly as he walked: “You’re wrong there. This girl from a small household is really quite worth seeing!”

It was May or June, approaching evening time. Thin sunset light bathed half the lane. Children returning from school ran through the lane carrying abacuses, laughing and chasing each other. An old man selling dried tofu carried his goods on a pole, calling out as he went. The repeated calls of “Five-spice dried tofu…” carried a particularly long and melancholy tone, like ancient years settled in this lane.

Gu Ruitong simply didn’t dare look at Yu Changxuan, imagining his expression must be extremely ugly at this moment. He could only look at the elderly couple standing in front, who appeared very frightened. The old man stammered: “Just we… two live here. Where is… where is any young lady?”

Gu Ruitong waved for the elderly couple to leave, walked to the car, and said to Yu Changxuan sitting inside: “Fifth Young Master, it seems we found the wrong place.” Yu Changxuan smiled faintly: “This isn’t finding the wrong place – she clearly tricked me. She thinks this way I’ll have no recourse? This has aroused my competitive spirit – I absolutely must find her!”

Just as he was saying this, he saw an elderly woman in the distance pulling along someone who looked like a doctor, walking this way while chattering: “This is a matter of life and death – what’s wrong with making one house call? Go take a look quickly. She’s been coughing up blood all night. Poor girl has been crying herself into such a state.”

The doctor sighed: “Auntie Zhao, it’s not that I’m unwilling to go. I told you I can’t cure it. Her illness requires going to a foreign hospital. I’ve been helpless for a long time.”

The old woman glared at the doctor hatefully, loudly scolding: “You think our Pingjun doesn’t want to? Where does she have money? Poor orphaned mother and daughter – just consider it accumulating virtue and take another look. If you want more money, you really have no conscience!” The doctor jumped up: “Old woman, how dare you scold me!”

Meanwhile, Ye Pingjun was still frantically brewing medicine in the outer room when she heard her mother’s coughing from the inner room becoming more urgent, mixed with wheezing sounds. Pingjun hurriedly took a cloth to pad her hands, picked up the medicine pot from the fire and poured it into a bowl. She carried the bowl of medicine into the room, lifted the curtain to see her mother lying on the bed, her mouth full of blood that had soaked through the bedding. Ye Pingjun called “Mother!” and hurriedly set down the medicine bowl to help her mother up. She saw her mother’s face was deathly pale, blood at the corners of her mouth, eyes barely open in a thin line, breathing weakly while tearfully saying: “Ping’er… Mother fears she’s… no longer useful…”

Pingjun didn’t cry or wail, only silently bit her lips, helped her mother lean against herself, and used her other hand to lift the bowl of scalding medicine. She scooped a spoonful, blew it cool, and fed it to her mother’s mouth. Seeing her mother close her eyes and shed tears, unable to take the medicine anymore, she said decisively: “If Mother doesn’t think of me and feels she can’t hold on, then I’ll just die before Mother. Anyway, I have no other relatives in this world – dying early would be good!”

These words made Madam Ye’s insides boil. She tremblingly said: “You child…” Pingjun said nothing more and fed another spoonful of medicine. Madam Ye, despite her discomfort, forced herself to swallow. Just then, they heard Auntie Zhao calling from outside: “Miss Pingjun, the doctor is here…” Suddenly there was a rush of footsteps, then Auntie Zhao calling in the courtyard: “Hey, you people… who are you? Stop! That room… you can’t go in!”

Ye Pingjun had just turned around when the cloth curtain was lifted and several uniformed soldiers entered. The leader looked once at Ye Pingjun’s face and said to the guards behind him: “No mistake – it’s her. Quickly carry the old lady away.” As soon as he finished speaking, the guards stepped forward, pushed Ye Pingjun aside without explanation, and went to carry the dazed Madam Ye. Ye Pingjun’s entire face went white. The bowl of medicine crashed to the ground as she frantically rushed forward to pull at them: “What are you doing?! Let go of my mother!”

Gu Ruitong stepped forward and grabbed Ye Pingjun with one hand: “Miss Pingjun, rest assured. We’re here to save your mother – we absolutely mean no harm.”

Ye Pingjun turned to glare at him, her gaze bright as snow, angrily scolding with dignity: “You come to my home in broad daylight to carry people away without explanation, yet say you mean no harm. Put my mother down quickly! Do you really think there’s no law in this world?”

Gu Ruitong hurried to explain: “We’re following the orders of one of your acquaintances, specifically coming to take your mother to the hospital. If you don’t believe us, come with us.”

Ye Pingjun was stunned, staring fixedly at Gu Ruitong. Those black and white pupils were clear and bright like fresh snow under the moon. Gu Ruitong gestured toward the outside with a “please” motion, smiling slightly: “Whether we have good intentions or evil ones, Miss Pingjun will know once she comes with us!”