After her mother recovered from illness, Ye Pingjun returned to Mingde Girls’ School to resume her studies. She entrusted Bai Liyuan to return the gold bracelet that Madam Li had given her. The Ye family’s living expenses had always been calculated by Pingjun herself. She planned to wait until autumn when the tenant farmers would bring in some land rent, and she could take on some tutoring work. Then she would be able to repay part of Yu Changxuan’s nearly four hundred yuan hospital fee, and only then would she feel at ease.

This particular morning was a Sunday, and school was closed for the weekend. Mother Ye, having just recovered from her serious illness, wanted to go to Guanyin Pavilion on the mountain to fulfill a vow of gratitude. Seeing that her mother was still weak, Ye Pingjun said she would go in her mother’s place that afternoon. She had spent the entire morning doing homework in the outer room, then took a watering can to tend to the clusters of hosta flowers by the wall. It was precisely the blooming season for the hostas—their slender white flowers were pure as jade, untainted by dust. Ye Pingjun wore a moon-white long gown and had her hair arranged in small twin buns. With her clear, beautiful features, combined with the gentle breeze stirring around her, she presented a scene of ethereal beauty, like a fairy about to take flight. Auntie Zhao, who lived in the same courtyard, had been sitting by her own door picking through rice, but now found herself watching Pingjun for quite some time before sighing and saying, “Miss, what a pity that with such beautiful looks—like a flower—you weren’t born to a young lady’s fate.”

Pingjun turned around and smiled gently. “There are many types of flowers. Those delicate ones are born to a young lady’s fate and naturally have people caring for them. Someone like me is naturally like these hosta flowers—wherever I fall is where I grow, and that’s quite good too.”

Auntie Zhao laughed. “Miss, you’ve truly read books and have more insight than us common folk. When you go to Guanyin Temple to burn incense and fulfill vows, help me bring a stick of incense too.”

Ye Pingjun agreed with a smile. In the afternoon, she took some incense and candles and went up the mountain to pay her respects. Walking along the long stone steps up the mountain, green trees grew densely on both sides of the path, wild flowers bloomed everywhere, and a natural fragrance floated in the air. Pingjun entered through the temple gates and, following her mother’s instructions, lit candles and inserted incense before the Buddha. Then she knelt on the prayer cushion, kowtowed, and stood up to walk outside. There she saw an elderly man sitting at a table drawing fortune sticks and telling fortunes, though no customers had approached him. After thinking for a moment, she walked over and said, “Elder, let me draw a fortune stick!”

The old man brought over the fortune cylinder. When Pingjun picked it up, it felt heavy in her hands, and she laughed, saying, “So heavy.” The old man smiled and replied, “This contains people’s destinies—a lifetime’s worth of matters. How could it not be heavy!”

This comment made Pingjun suddenly cautious. She shook the cylinder vigorously and drew out a stick. The title read “Wind Sweeps Through Forest Leaves”—five characters. Without showing it to the old man, she looked at it herself and saw:

Since ancient times, deep affection has only left regret behind,

Beautiful dreams have always been the easiest to wake from.

A generation of captivating beauty sheds a thousand tears,

Fragrance fades, lotus withers, jade mat grows cold in autumn.

Ye Pingjun stared at the fortune stick in silence for a long while. When the old man saw Pingjun standing there in a daze, he called out, “Miss, let me see it and I’ll interpret it for you.” But Ye Pingjun slowly put the stick back into the cylinder and said with a smile, “I forgot what my mother told me—children shouldn’t casually have their fortunes told. Never mind, I won’t have it interpreted.”

She placed the fortune-telling fee on the old man’s table and turned to descend the stone steps. The stone pathway spread out layer by layer below, surrounded by the rustling sound of wind blowing through the treetops. With the setting sun and evening scenery, golden twilight clouds scattered across the entire path. Ye Pingjun walked slowly forward, and without realizing it, brushed shoulders with someone. But that instant was like a flash of lightning striking through her mind—she gasped, her breathing stopped, and she had already turned around—

She saw him standing there with a gentle smile. That handsome, upright face had gained even more refinement than four years ago. Behind him, green leaves rustled throughout the mountains in layers of emerald peaks. He stood like an orchid or jade tree upon those stone steps, with such elegant grace that no description of “radiant bearing” could adequately capture it.

Four years without meeting, and their reunion after four years came so unexpectedly. Ye Pingjun glanced at him once, and in that moment her thoughts became chaotic, her face flushed red, and in her panic she actually turned to flee down the stone steps. He quickly stepped forward to pull her back, laughing as he said, “Why are you running? I’m not a tiger!”

His slender hand grasped hers, transmitting waves of warmth that made her entire face burn with embarrassment. She became angry from shame and said, “Jiang Xueting, I don’t know you.”

Jiang Xueting immediately laughed. “Now you’re contradicting yourself. If you don’t know me, how do you know my name is Jiang Xueting?”

Ye Pingjun’s face was completely red. Hearing him speak this way, she raised her head to look at him and said, “You lied to me. You clearly wrote in your letter that you wouldn’t return until August…” Jiang Xueting saw that her eyes were actually beginning to redden and smiled, “I missed you too much. Can’t I come back a month early?”

Ye Pingjun shook off his hand and walked down the mountain. After walking a few steps, she asked, “When… when did you get off the ship?”

Jiang Xueting followed her, saying, “I got off the ship this morning. This afternoon I went to your house, and Auntie said you had come to worship Buddha, so I hurried here to find you. And what do you do? You see me and immediately turn to leave.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Pingjun suddenly stopped. Her lips pressed together slightly, saying nothing and no longer walking downward. She simply lowered her head and leaned against a tree beside the stone steps, covering her chest with her hand. After a long while, she took a deep breath and looked up at Jiang Xueting with a smile. “No good—I can’t talk with you anymore. My heart is beating too violently!”

Jiang Xueting saw that the hand covering her chest was actually trembling slightly, showing how excited she was inside. He stood quietly beside her, accompanying her as they listened to the mountain wind. The two of them stood in silence like this for quite some time. Seeing her gradually calm down, Jiang Xueting smiled and said, “Pingjun, let me tell you some good news. In a while, I’ll be going to Nanming Military Academy as a committee member.”

Ye Pingjun turned to look at him and saw his face showing proud satisfaction. Unable to contain himself, he spoke eloquently: “I joined the National Protection Association in Japan and even became the head of the Review Department. You know the Mou family, right? That highly respected Elder Mou is my teacher in Japan. He’s truly someone I greatly admire, and it was he who promoted me to enter Nanming Military Academy.”

Ye Pingjun saw that as soon as he met her, he talked about this subject with such radiant enthusiasm, showing how important this matter was in his heart. She smiled gently and said, “I don’t really understand these things you’re talking about, but since you say Elder Mou is a good person, he must be an extremely good person indeed.”

Jiang Xueting nodded and reached over to arrange the hair at Pingjun’s temples. They had grown up together since childhood and shared deep feelings—truly childhood sweethearts who were innocent companions. Such gestures were most natural between them. His fingers paused in Pingjun’s hair as he smiled, “So you’re also one who doesn’t keep your word.”

Pingjun asked, “How so?”

Jiang Xueting said, “Who was it that wrote in letters to me saying she would carefully wear the jade hairpin I gave her? If you want to deny it, I have the letters as proof.” Seeing him ask about this, Pingjun couldn’t hide it and honestly replied, “I was careless walking the other day and dropped the jade hairpin.”

Jiang Xueting acknowledged this and smiled, “If it’s lost, it’s lost. I’ll buy you another one in a few days.” He took her hand and led her down the stone steps. “Let’s go back. Auntie said she would make osmanthus cakes for me to eat. In all these years abroad, what I missed most was the osmanthus cakes your mother makes.”

As they walked down the mountain together, Jiang Xueting suddenly said, “Wait for me a moment.”

Pingjun was puzzled and saw Jiang Xueting walk toward a child at the foot of the mountain who was guarding a basket selling pears. He bent down to give the child some money, and soon returned pushing a bicycle. He smiled at Pingjun, “Come on, I’ll ride and take you back. Will you sit in front or back?”

Pingjun smiled with pursed lips and walked toward the back of the bicycle frame. But he turned the bicycle sideways, holding the handlebars with one hand. Using his long arms to his advantage, he sat on the back seat himself, blocking her way, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “The back seat is not available!”

She turned and started walking away. He pushed the bicycle behind her, laughing all the way, “Little miss, do you want a ride? Do you want a ride?” When she became annoyed by his pestering, she turned around and scolded, “You’re so thick-skinned!” He pushed the bicycle in front of her and smiled in surrender, “All right, you can sit in the back, can’t you?”

Jiang Xueting took a pinwheel from the bicycle basket and handed it to her. He rode the bicycle carrying her, pedaling very fast. She gripped his clothing tightly with one hand and held up the pinwheel with the other. The pinwheel spun rapidly before her eyes as her lips curved in a joyful smile, illuminated by sunlight with her bangs blown into disarray by the wind. He deliberately swerved the handlebars, making the bicycle lurch violently. This scared her into crying “Ah!” and she threw one arm around his waist before frantically trying to let go.

With one hand gripping the handlebars, he reached back with his other hand to hold down her hand that was trying to withdraw. With one side of the steering released, the bicycle began to wobble unsteadily, frightening her into calling out, “Don’t let go!”

With a smile playing at his lips, he said softly, “Then you don’t let go either.”

Dusk was approaching. On one side stood an old courtyard wall covered halfway up with emerald green ivy leaves in a large verdant patch. A car was parked at the entrance to the alley, with tall attendants standing beside the vehicle. The surrounding area was completely quiet—the girl’s laughter and the whirring sound of the spinning pinwheel had long since passed.

Yu Changxuan sat inside the car, silently gazing at the red velvet box in his hands. Inside the box lay a string of brilliant pearls that looked even more beautiful set against the velvet.

When he had chosen this pearl necklace at the foreign goods store, he had thought that if she wore it, she would surely be extraordinarily beautiful.

Suddenly there came a crackling sound from the back seat of the car. Guard Captain Gu Ruitong turned around and saw that the pearl necklace had completely scattered, with crystal-clear pearls rolling in all directions into the crevices under the car seats. Gu Ruitong glanced at Yu Changxuan’s expression but said nothing for a long while before turning his head back around.

Yu Changxuan sat by the window with his brow furrowed tightly. The box contained white sandalwood spice, so even though the pearls had scattered, waves of delicate sweet fragrance continued to drift up, surrounding his nostrils like something that haunted his dreams, impossible to dispel, stirring his heart and mind into complete chaos.

Jiang Xueting led Pingjun back to the courtyard compound. As soon as they entered the gate, they smelled the sweet aroma of osmanthus cakes. On the table sat a plate of red and white osmanthus cakes. Jiang Xueting was about to eat some when Pingjun quickly stepped forward to stop him, laughing, “Greedy thing, wash your hands first.”

Jiang Xueting cheerfully went to wash his hands. Then Madam Ye came out from the inner room, saying, “Ping’er, Xueting brought you many things this time. I’ve put them all in the room—go take a look.”

Ye Pingjun nodded in agreement. After Jiang Xueting washed his hands, he came to eat the osmanthus cakes on the table, not even using chopsticks but eating several in succession. Madam Ye laughed, “Four years abroad and he hasn’t changed a bit. He loved eating these as a child, and now grown up he still loves them. Don’t eat so hastily. Ping’er, go pour some tea!”

Jiang Xueting’s hands were full of the sweet fragrance of osmanthus cakes. He looked up with a smile, “Only the ones Auntie makes taste good. Those made by others—I wouldn’t even glance at them.” Ye Pingjun brought over a cup of tea and placed it in front of Jiang Xueting, smiling as she said, “Stop your smooth-talking flattery of my mother.”

Madam Ye looked at this pair of young people—truly talented man and beautiful woman, perfectly matched. Her heart was very happy, and her face, with its slightly improved complexion, also wore a smile. “Ping’er, I’ll go out to buy some vegetables. Xueting, can you stay for dinner tonight?”

Jiang Xueting immediately agreed wholeheartedly. After Madam Ye went out, Pingjun sat in a chair on the other side of the table, smiling as she watched Jiang Xueting eat for quite a while. She then picked up a piece of osmanthus cake to eat slowly herself. After thinking, she still said, “You just returned to the country today—how can you not go back to your brother and sister-in-law’s for dinner? What if they’re unhappy?”

Hearing this, Jiang Xueting replied indifferently, “It’s fine. They don’t care about me—they’d be happier if I didn’t come back.”

Looking at the half-eaten osmanthus cake in Pingjun’s hand, he reached over to grasp her wrist and leaned forward to take a bite. Pingjun’s face immediately turned half red, and she tried to pull her hand back. In this pulling and tugging, the door was pushed open and neighbor Auntie Zhao walked in. Seeing this scene, she immediately exclaimed, “Oh my!” Auntie Zhao raised one hand to half-cover her eyes while waving the other hand, “What’s this? Nothing happening here! I just came to check—eat, eat away.”

Watching Auntie Zhao retreat out the door on her small bound feet, Ye Pingjun’s entire face turned completely red. Looking up to see Jiang Xueting still laughing there, she became so angry she threw the half piece of osmanthus cake at him. Jiang Xueting caught it perfectly and ate it with a smile. Then the door opened again—it was Madam Ye returning from buying some small dishes at the market.

As they entered midsummer, the weather gradually became hot. To avoid the increasingly heated Chu-Mou factional struggle within the central government, Yu Zhongquan used poor health as an excuse to go to the Yu family’s summer retreat at Fenghua Mountain Villa. This gave Yu Changxuan tremendous freedom. He simply stopped going to the Army Department altogether and completely ignored both Tao Ziyi and Jun Daiti. All day long, he did nothing but practice shooting and ride horses at the training grounds.

On this particular afternoon, with the sun blazing fiercely in the sky, Yu Changxuan had just returned from target practice at the training grounds with Li Boren and several others. Seeing nothing else to do, he gathered two staff officers from the Ninth Army to play mahjong in the small reception hall of the Yu mansion. After playing several rounds with constant clicking sounds, the money and bills in front of Yu Changxuan gradually accumulated. Yu Changxuan knew that Li Boren and the others were deliberately letting him win, which he found most annoying, making him even more bored.

Li Boren saw Yu Changxuan’s expression was bland as he simply held a seven-dot tile, tapping it on the table intermittently with tap-tap sounds. Li Boren laughed, “What’s wrong, Fifth Young Master? So listless—is there some difficult military matter?”

Yu Changxuan didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids, smiling coldly, “What difficult military matters could I have? Everything has Father blocking the way. Even if I were the Jiaqing Emperor ascending the throne, wouldn’t there still be a Retired Emperor standing behind the dragon seat!”

Immediately a colleague flattered him with laughter, “Why does Fifth Young Master say such things? You are young and accomplished…” Yu Changxuan snorted and cut off the man’s words, “I dare not accept such praise. I merely rely on Father’s power. To become a staff officer in the Army Department at twenty-four—I’m afraid people will talk behind my back until they bend it crooked.”

One person at the mahjong table laughed, “Fifth Young Master need not be so self-deprecating. Everything is ready now—we only await the right moment. Once Fifth Young Master returns from the battlefield with a resounding military achievement, it will naturally silence all those critics.”

These flattering words one after another only made him more annoyed. Yu Changxuan casually threw the seven-dot tile in his hand onto the pile of tiles on the table, his expression showing slight anger. “Are we playing or not? So much nonsense!” Li Boren saw that Yu Changxuan’s temper was particularly bad today—anything they said would probably not please him. He quickly said, “Exactly—what’s all this dawdling? I’m still waiting to win back my losses. Another round!”

He reached across the table to shuffle the tiles randomly, but unexpectedly Yu Changxuan stood up, turned around without a word, and walked toward the hall exit. Gu Ruitong, Wu Zuoxiao, and the others were all startled. Gu Ruitong quickly led the guards to follow, while Li Boren grabbed Wu Zuoxiao and said, “Deputy Wu, what exactly happened? Why is Fifth Young Master so angry? Give us brothers a hint.”

Wu Zuoxiao turned around with a bitter expression, “It’s all because of that Miss Ye causing trouble, repeatedly making Fifth Young Master lose face. Fifth Young Master has had a terrible temper lately. When he gets angry, where’s the good life for the rest of us? I advise you brothers not to provoke him—hurry back.”

Only then did Li Boren understand. He laughed with a “heh” sound, “I thought it was something else—this thunder rousing earth fire, like he’d swallowed gunpowder, turns out he’s lovesick. So our Fifth Young Master has been unable to conquer Miss Ye’s stronghold for so long—no wonder his temper is so bad.”

Wu Zuoxiao saw Li Boren speaking with obvious amusement and said, “Seeing Staff Officer Li this way, do you perhaps have some good idea?”

Li Boren smiled, “I do have an idea or two.”

Wu Zuoxiao’s eyes lit up as if he’d found a savior, and he quickly said, “Indeed, Staff Officer Li is the only one who can think of foolproof schemes for such underhanded and smoking affairs.” As soon as he finished speaking, Li Boren kicked him in the calf, while the surrounding officers laughed heartily—they were accustomed to such joking around. Wu Zuoxiao continued, “Speak up quickly, so we brothers don’t have to endlessly suffer Fifth Young Master’s displeasure!”

Li Boren smiled unhurriedly, “Deputy Wu can rest assured. This matter is entirely in my hands. Our Fifth Young Master—what status does he have! Anyone he wants, how could he fail to obtain!”

On this day, just as Mingde Girls’ School was letting out, Ye Pingjun was packing her books to go home when Bai Liyuan came over with a big smile, holding up a box seat ticket and calling out repeatedly, “Pingjun, look, look! A theater ticket for Yuchun Garden. Yesterday my cousin’s wife was showing off in front of me, and I forcibly grabbed it from her. Let’s go see the opera tonight—the northern Beijing opera star Mei Jianqiu is performing ‘The Jade Hairpin’ here in Jinling. This is the last performance.”

This northern Beijing opera star Mei Jianqiu had tremendous fame, and ‘The Jade Hairpin’ was an opera that had been advertised in the newspapers for a long time. Although Ye Pingjun had long wanted to see it, she still pushed away the ticket and said embarrassedly, “Xueting is coming to my house tonight, so I can’t go.”

Bai Liyuan immediately looked disappointed, staring down at the ticket for a moment. Suddenly she looked up with a smile, “Then this is even better! I’ll give you this box seat ticket—you and Jiang Xueting can go see it. I won’t go.”

She stuffed the ticket into Ye Pingjun’s hands, who quickly protested, “No, this ticket is expensive, and besides, what sense does it make for us two to go while you don’t? I won’t take it.”

Bai Liyuan stuffed the ticket into Pingjun’s book bag and giggled, “Stop being polite with me. I’ll have my father take me to the cinema to see a movie. Thinking about it carefully, you watching opera with Jiang Xueting would surely be much more interesting than watching with me. I won’t go be your third wheel.” This single sentence made Ye Pingjun’s face turn red with embarrassment, and she picked up a nearby book to hit her with. Bai Liyuan cried “Ouch!” and turned to run out of the classroom with giggles.

Ye Pingjun took the box seat ticket home and saw that Jiang Xueting had already arrived. He was sitting with Madam Ye under a scholar tree in the courtyard enjoying the cool air. On the small table were arranged several types of dried fruits, a serving of five-spice beans, and even more appealingly, a plate of fresh, juicy grapes. Neighbor Auntie Zhao was also there, sitting and mending something—a scene of peaceful tranquility. Auntie Zhao sat opposite the main gate and was first to see Pingjun enter, smiling as she said, “Miss, you’re home early today.”

Pingjun responded and saw Jiang Xueting looking at her with a smile. She smiled with pursed lips but didn’t acknowledge him, only walked to sit beside Mother Ye. She took out the box seat ticket and placed it openly on the table, saying, “This is a box seat ticket that Liyuan gave me. Tonight let’s all go to Yuchun Garden to see Beijing opera.”

Auntie Zhao was sewing clothes, rubbing her needle against her hair, and smiled, “This old lady can only listen to folk songs and such—I can’t watch or understand Beijing opera.”

Madam Ye picked up the ticket and glanced at it. “So it’s ‘The Jade Hairpin.'” Jiang Xueting beside her said, “This is a famous opera—in Sichuan opera it’s also called ‘Double World Connection.'” Hearing this, Auntie Zhao couldn’t help but wonder, “‘Double World Connection’? Why such a name? Can people live two lifetimes?”

Ye Pingjun ate grapes while listening to Auntie Zhao’s words, finding them quite amusing. After thinking, she said, “It probably refers to the ways of the world. I think this talk of ‘one lifetime’ doesn’t necessarily require birth, aging, sickness, and death—experiencing each person and going through each story can count as one lifetime.”

Auntie Zhao continued, “There’s such a saying? Then if it’s like that, miss, being with us three people, you could say you’ve lived three lifetimes?” Jiang Xueting beside her said, “I understand this—knowing a person and understanding a person counts as one lifetime.” As he spoke, he looked at Ye Pingjun’s eyes with a slight smile. Pingjun lowered her head to pick at grapes, though the corners of her lips also held a smile.

Madam Ye placed the box seat ticket on the table and smiled, “I’ve had headaches these past few days and can’t go to such lively places. You and Xueting go see it—just come back early.” This was exactly what Jiang Xueting hoped for. He eagerly agreed and couldn’t help smiling. Seeing him so beside himself, Ye Pingjun glared at Jiang Xueting and scolded, “What are you laughing at? Go by yourself then.” She stood up with a red face and turned to go into the room to put away her book bag. Soon she saw Jiang Xueting following her in. The red flush hadn’t left her face when she turned around, and she felt her hair ornament tremble slightly. She reached up to remove it and saw it was a flawless white jade hairpin with an elegant hosta flower design at the top, completely white throughout with a slightly pointed end.

Jiang Xueting saw her staring at the white jade hairpin in a daze and smiled, “This one is better than that one—don’t lose it again.”

Ye Pingjun said regretfully, “No matter how good it is, it’s not the original one.” Hearing this comment, Jiang Xueting felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart, though he still smiled and said, “Never mind which one it is—they’re both ones I gave you.”

Ye Pingjun held the hairpin and nodded with a slight smile. Jiang Xueting took the jade hairpin and slowly inserted it into her hair. Seeing the black hair and jade hairpin making Ye Pingjun’s face appear even more refined and elegant, Jiang Xueting smiled slightly and leaned down to whisper in Ye Pingjun’s ear, “You’re much more beautiful than the hosta flowers.”

Ye Pingjun embarrassedly turned her body around to face away from him. Looking up, she saw the hosta flowers blooming in the courtyard—a large cluster of tender green that dazzled the eyes, with long white flowers giving off fragrant scents. They truly looked like jade hairpins inserted at the tips of branches. As the breeze blew past, the long stems supported the leaves and jade buds stretched slender and graceful, truly swaying like azure clouds—a scene of incomparable beauty.

That evening, Jiang Xueting stayed at the Ye house for dinner, then went with Ye Pingjun to Yuchun Garden to see the opera. The two entered the upstairs box and saw a large three-sided connected stage below, with a row of premium seats directly in front of the stage where wealthy families who didn’t want upstairs boxes naturally sat. The opera hadn’t yet begun. Pingjun sat in the upstairs box and with just a brief glance downward, she saw Madam Li sitting in the premium seats below. Looking to the side, she saw Li Boren, and beside Li Boren was an empty seat.

Jiang Xueting was drinking tea when he heard a “crash.” Turning around, he saw that Ye Pingjun had knocked over the plate of five-spice beans on the table, scattering them all over the floor. He couldn’t help but laugh, “How careless of you! If Auntie were here, she’d surely say you’re all thumbs.”

Ye Pingjun forced a smile and said, “I was careless. Xueting, I don’t want to watch this opera anymore. Let’s go.” Jiang Xueting was slightly surprised, seeing her face gradually reddening. Thinking it was because the box was too hot, he said, “If you feel hot, I’ll go out and buy some soda.” After speaking, he stood up to buy soda. Just then, Madam Li looked up toward the upper level. Pingjun panicked and called back, “Xueting.” But he had already walked out.

Ye Pingjun’s heart was in complete chaos. She thought when Xueting returned, they would leave together. She saw Madam Li below smiling and saying something to Li Boren beside her. Li Boren smiled and gestured to summon two trusted guards, giving them some instructions. The two guards nodded and immediately left the opera house.

The opera on stage was about to begin. After the gongs and drums sounded for quite a while, several guards were seen escorting Yu Changxuan over. Li Boren had already stood up, laughing as he said, “Fifth Young Master, you’re truly hard to invite! I made three or four phone calls to the Army Department before I could get your esteemed presence here.”

Yu Changxuan sat in the empty seat beside Li Boren and said, “Elder Brother, it’s not like you don’t know I have little interest in Beijing opera. Why did you call me here for no reason?” As he spoke, he saw Li family servants bring over a set of alum red porcelain teacups with auspicious patterns—the porcelain body was thin and light with lustrous glaze. Yu Changxuan picked up a cup to examine it in his palm and smiled, “This is from the Daoguang period imperial kiln, isn’t it? Bringing such an antique just to watch opera—such extravagance. How much military funds did Elder Brother embezzle this year?”

Madam Li quickly said, “Fifth Young Master, don’t talk nonsense! This was part of my dowry when I married into the Li family. I specially brought it to serve you, worried you’d find the theater’s tea cups unclean. I had the servants bring it over specially. Your casual use of the word ’embezzle’—if your father knew, would our Boren have any good days left?!”

Yu Changxuan smiled as a servant came over to brew fine Pu’er tea. Yu Changxuan lifted the teacup and said, “Elder Brother knows I don’t like drinking tea or watching opera. I’ll leave after finishing this cup of tea.” Li Boren smiled meaningfully, “Who called you here to watch opera? I called you to see that person you think about all day long.”

Yu Changxuan still held the teacup, raising his eyes to glance at Li Boren. Li Boren gestured toward the upper level of boxes. Yu Changxuan looked up and saw Ye Pingjun sitting alone in the upstairs box. He silently lowered his eyes, slowly took a sip of tea, placed the teacup back on the table, said nothing more, and simply turned to watch the opera.

Madam Li and Li Boren exchanged smiles. Madam Li immediately said attentively to Yu Changxuan, “Fifth Young Master, will you go up yourself, or shall I call her down?”

Yu Changxuan kept his gaze fixed on the stage, watching those red-faced and white-faced performers singing with their melodious voices, seeming entranced. After a long while, he said faintly, “Why should I go up!”

Madam Li smiled, “Very well, then I’ll simply be thorough in my good deed and invite our sister Pingjun down.” She stood up, smiled as she glanced at the upstairs box, waved cheerfully at Ye Pingjun, and the guards standing behind her had already gone upstairs to invite Ye Pingjun down.

Outside Yuchun Garden, there were naturally vendors selling snacks and sweets. Jiang Xueting remembered that Pingjun had eaten very little dinner in her rush to see the opera. Seeing the steaming hot glutinous rice lotus root that looked very fragrant and delicious, he had the vendor wrap a portion in lotus leaves. As he was taking out money, he heard a voice behind him: “This Miss Ye and Fifth Young Master—who knows what they’re fussing about now. A while ago they were all sweet and lovey-dovey, going everywhere together. Now it’s come to this—they can’t even sit together to watch opera, one upstairs and one downstairs, completely ignoring each other. Madam Li has to mediate between them.”

Another voice full of mockery said, “I think Miss Ye is ungrateful too. Just because Fifth Young Master has spent some effort on her, she’s gotten a bit too big for her britches. If Madam Li weren’t considering that Miss Ye is her cousin Miss Bai’s classmate, she wouldn’t bother with such affairs. Does our Fifth Young Master lack for women?!”

Jiang Xueting turned around and saw two guards standing not far behind him, both with rifles slung behind their backs, laughing and chatting while smoking and talking endlessly. As Jiang Xueting watched, he felt his hands grow hot. Turning back, he saw the vendor placing the lotus leaf-wrapped glutinous rice lotus root in his hands. He stood dazed for a long time, then suddenly threw the lotus root away, saying, “I don’t want it anymore.” He turned and walked back into the opera house. After climbing just a few steps upstairs, he saw Ye Pingjun standing distantly before the premium seats facing the stage, with a smiling lady naturally holding her arm and speaking intimately with her.

The stage showed a scene of prosperity and splendor, but the music of strings and wind instruments in his ears instantly became grating noise. Jiang Xueting’s body froze as he stood rigid on the stairway.

On the other side, Madam Li was still holding Pingjun’s arm and speaking warmly, saying repeatedly, “When you came to my house last time, you still knew to call me elder sister. How long has it been since then? You’ve forgotten me and your brother-in-law and don’t know to visit us at home.” Ye Pingjun smiled and said, “There’s a lot of schoolwork.”

Madam Li took Pingjun’s hand and smiled, “They say fate cannot be avoided—here we’ve run into each other at the opera house. Come quickly and meet your brother-in-law and Fifth Young Master.” She pushed Pingjun forward. Pingjun nodded to Li Boren and smiled, “Brother-in-law.” Li Boren smiled and bowed slightly from his seat. Only then did Pingjun turn to Yu Changxuan and call out, “Fifth Young Master.” But Yu Changxuan acted as if he hadn’t heard her words, simply turning his head to say something quietly to a nearby attendant, presenting a complete appearance of not taking her seriously.

Both Madam Li and Li Boren were stunned. Li Boren quickly stood up, yielding his seat, and smiled, “Sister Pingjun, sit together and watch the opera for a while.” Madam Li took the opportunity to push Pingjun toward the seat beside Yu Changxuan, but Pingjun shook off her hand and stepped aside. Turning to Madam Li with a smile, she said, “I came with my boyfriend. He must be looking for me everywhere now. I won’t disturb your opera watching—I’m leaving now.”

Li Boren’s smile froze on his face. Madam Li was still staring at Yu Changxuan in bewilderment when Ye Pingjun had already walked away from her side and headed straight out the main gate of the opera house. As soon as she exited, a wave of cool air hit her face. Her heart settled slightly, and she immediately began searching frantically for Jiang Xueting. Looking around at all the people coming and going, she couldn’t see any trace of Jiang Xueting. She didn’t dare go back inside to look, and just as she was at her wit’s end, she heard a voice behind her: “How did you come out?”

Ye Pingjun turned around and saw Jiang Xueting walking out. She quickly approached him, rubbing her temples and acting uncomfortable, “It was stuffy inside, and I have a terrible headache. Let’s go back.”

Jiang Xueting looked at her and said, “You couldn’t even be bothered to eat dinner properly because you wanted to see the opera, and now you want to leave just as it’s starting. Your temperament is getting stranger and stranger.” Pingjun found his words odd and quickly said, “I really do have a headache. If you want to watch, I’ll accompany you back inside.”

Jiang Xueting smiled, “I’ll take you home.” He reached out to hail a rickshaw, helped Pingjun into the vehicle, then got in himself and told the rickshaw puller, “13 Chang’an Alley, Shuangde Road.” The rickshaw puller began running. It was a night with a slightly cool breeze. Both sitting in the cart, Jiang Xueting reached over to hold Pingjun’s hand and smiled, “Why is it so cold?”

Pingjun said, “It must have been too hot in the opera house. I worked up a sweat, and when I came out, the wind blew on it, so naturally it became cold.”

Jiang Xueting smiled slightly, lowering his head to look at her snow-white, lustrous small hands. Her fingernails were trimmed clean and neat, with a faint rosy tint. He said, “I remember when we were small, you often pestered me to climb walls into other people’s yards to pick touch-me-not flowers for you to paint your nails. You must have been about seven then? At such a young age, you already knew about beauty. You made me fall from the wall and hit the back of my head so hard it swelled up big and never went down.”

Pingjun laughed, “Has it gone down now?”

Jiang Xueting guided Pingjun’s hand to the back of his head, showing a mischievous smile, “Feel for yourself—has it gone down?” Pingjun pulled her hand back with some force, glaring at him with a smile at the corner of her lips, “Sit properly. You blame everything on me. My mother said at the time that you had a naturally rebellious bone—it wasn’t from any bump.”

Jiang Xueting smiled gently and said softly, “Even if I have a rebellious bone, it grew for you. You can’t wash your hands of it—no way!” Pingjun’s face grew hot under his gaze, and she lowered her head with a smile, murmuring, “You’re becoming more and more unreasonable.”

Just then, the rickshaw arrived at their door. As soon as it stopped, Pingjun got out and heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Jiang Xueting also getting out. Pingjun smiled and said, “It’s so late and you’re still not going back. Be careful—if your brother gets angry, it’ll be terrible.”

Jiang Xueting said nothing and just stood there. Pingjun stood under the jujube tree by her front door, looking at him with a smile. Jiang Xueting stepped closer, standing before her. The moonlight slanted down, and his face began to redden. After a long while, he said somewhat stutteringly, “These four years in Japan… I thought of you every day, missed you. I kept writing you letters, and you also… wrote me letters…”

Ye Pingjun couldn’t help but laugh with a “puchi” sound, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Jiang Xueting’s face flushed even redder. After a long time, he finally mustered his courage and grabbed Pingjun’s hand, saying, “Pingjun, I… may I kiss you?”

This sentence made Pingjun’s face turn completely red with embarrassment, and she panicked, trying to withdraw her hand. But at that moment his strength was surprisingly great. He lowered his head toward her face, his voice trembling uncontrollably, “Pingjun, I… I…” Though these two had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, this was their first such close contact. Ye Pingjun was even more timid. In an instant, his warm breath was already touching her face. She instinctively dodged, “Jiang Xueting, what are you doing…” Then with a “splash,” a basin of cold water was thrown over them, drenching Jiang Xueting thoroughly.

This was like fierce flames meeting cold ice, instantly turning to nothing. Both were stunned in that moment. Turning around, they saw Auntie Zhao holding a water basin, also standing dazed at the doorway, looking at the two of them. Her face had gone pale. After a long while, she stammered, “How… how could this happen? I’ve hit the mark again! Why didn’t you two say anything? In this pitch darkness, I just came out to empty a basin of water, just to empty water!”

Auntie Zhao threw down this sentence and turned to flee into the courtyard. From far away, they could still hear her muttering, “Sinful! This old woman is truly sinful!”

Ye Pingjun looked up at the drenched Jiang Xueting and couldn’t help but giggle. She turned and ran toward her family’s courtyard, pressing both hands against the double doors to close them. But seeing Jiang Xueting still standing rigidly under the jujube tree with bright water droplets all over his face, she opened the door just a small crack. Her dark eyes bright and lips slightly upturned, she smiled gently at him, “Fool, why don’t you hurry back? You’ll catch cold.”

Only then did Jiang Xueting come to his senses. He quickly responded and looked at her once more. Ye Pingjun lowered her head, her cheeks flushed with rosy color. Not minding him anymore, she closed the door and turned around to see Madam Ye sitting under the scholar tree fanning herself and enjoying the cool air, looking at her with a smile. Pingjun felt even more embarrassed and said, “Mother, I’m back.”

Madam Ye smiled, “Why are you back so early? Was the opera good?”

Pingjun said, “Yes, quite good.” Madam Ye smiled, “Come tell me about it.” Pingjun agreed but couldn’t help turning to look again. She saw only a high surrounding wall and the jujube tree that rose above it, not knowing whether he had left. The corners of her lips lifted in a playful smile as she walked to sit at the stone table. Seeing tea on the table, she realized she was thirsty and poured herself a cup. She heard Madam Ye urging, “I’m still waiting for you to tell me about the opera—speak up.”

Pingjun hadn’t actually watched the opera and couldn’t answer immediately, so she said evasively, “It was all the same old thing—about a husband who doesn’t trust his wife, but after going through some experiences, they reconcile.”

Madam Ye didn’t quite understand and slowly fanned herself, “Was the man fickle and fell for another woman?” Pingjun said, “Not in the opera, but there are too many fickle men in this world—those who create chaos then abandon, who get the new and discard the old. Why go to the opera to see such things?”

She spoke carelessly, subconsciously glancing again toward the wall direction, her mind only on whether Jiang Xueting had left or not. Hearing several cat calls, she suspected it was Jiang Xueting teasing around. Such girlish thoughts unknowingly showed on her face. Madam Ye saw this and smiled, “Is Xueting still standing outside?”

Pingjun immediately felt embarrassed and quickly changed the subject, “He left long ago. Mother, my hands are very itchy—help me scratch them.” She extended her snow-white wrist onto Madam Ye’s knee with a big smile. Madam Ye smiled and lovingly tapped Pingjun’s head with her fan, saying gently, “You child, still acting spoiled at your age. Go out and see—if Xueting is still standing outside, let him come in. Usually he comes and goes freely. What’s wrong today? Why this foolish behavior?”

Pingjun felt even more guilty and stood up with a red face, “I wasn’t being foolish with him. Since you want me to look, I’ll go look.” She walked to the door, opened the double doors, and looked outside. She saw the area under the jujube tree was empty, with only moonlight casting tree shadows on the ground. Feeling slightly disappointed, she still walked down the stone steps and stood in the middle of the road. Looking up, she saw a small cat jump from the jujube tree branches onto the adjacent wall, walking along the roof tiles with “meow meow” sounds.

Pingjun turned to go back into the courtyard but caught sight of a car parked in the darkness of the alley ahead. She froze, staring intently. Then she heard a car door slam, particularly loud in the night alley. Yu Changxuan had stepped out of the car and stood in the open space looking at her.

Ye Pingjun raised her head and met his gaze directly. Her heart jumped violently. Even across this distance, she could feel those two deep gazes shooting straight at her from his eyes. She was suddenly terrified and panicked, turning her back to him and freezing in place. He wanted to approach, but saw her turn and run unsteadily back into the courtyard, as if fleeing from some flood or fierce beast. The double doors were hastily closed by her with a “clang” sound.

Moonlight was like water, tree shadows covered the ground, and the night alley was quiet except for the sound of wind blowing through leaves.

Yu Changxuan stood there motionless.

Deputy Wu Zuoxiao saw this situation and hesitated for a long time before opening the car door and stepping out. Cool night breezes blew intermittently. He looked at Yu Changxuan’s expression and couldn’t help feeling intimidated, trying his best to speak tactfully: “Fifth Young Master, it’s getting late. Madam might worry.”

Yu Changxuan was truly full of resentment. Without a word, he kicked the car body with a “clang”—kicking hard and heavy. Wu Zuoxiao shuddered along with it. He knew this was Yu Changxuan’s old habit of venting anger, but this kick on the hard car body made even Wu Zuoxiao’s face show fear.

After Yu Changxuan kicked, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he made no sound for a long time. Wu Zuoxiao watched Yu Changxuan remain silent like this. His gaze made a large circle around Yu Changxuan’s foot before settling on Yu Changxuan’s face. In the end, he still asked fearlessly, “Fifth Young Master, does it hurt?”

Yu Changxuan finally couldn’t hold on and bent over, lowering his head against the car beside him, saying in a muffled voice, “Get lost!”

The night was very late, but the Yu official residence was still brightly lit. Butler Zhou Tai had just arranged for servants to bring freshly made rock sugar pear juice to be placed in the flower hall for people to take. Jun Daiti had also come and was playing with nine-ring puzzles with Qixuan with clattering sounds. Minru and Jinxuan were on one side arranging newly cut flower patterns. Qixuan suddenly said, “Sister Daiti, you made a mistake. I had just managed to remove one ring, but with your interference, isn’t all my effort wasted?”

Daiti’s face already showed some absent-mindedness. Being told this by Qixuan, she put down the nine-ring puzzle and said, “I’m not playing anymore. All this clattering gives me a headache.” Qixuan said, “Then shall we go upstairs to Second Sister’s room to play cards? What do you think?” Seeing they wanted to go upstairs, Daiti picked up the nine-ring puzzle again and said softly with lowered head, “Let’s sit a while longer. I’ll go home after sitting a bit more.”

Minru smiled slightly and glanced outside the hall, “How strange today—why hasn’t Fifth Brother come back so late?” Jinxuan picked up an embroidery hoop, made a few stitches, and said casually with a smile, “He must have gone dancing with the Tao sisters again. Fifth Brother is hardly one to stay idle. Elder Sister-in-law has seen how frequently Fifth Brother and Second Miss Tao have been meeting lately.”

Daiti still sat there silently, but her complexion changed, even reddening somewhat. Minru said carelessly to Jinxuan, “I have noticed, but Father and Minister Tao have quite different political views. I think this pair of Fifth Brother and Second Miss Tao probably won’t last long.”

As they were talking, they heard footsteps outside. Jun Daiti immediately turned to look at the hall entrance, but it was Madam Yu walking in from outside, followed by several people from the guard department. Daiti turned her head back and silently threw the nine-ring puzzle aside. She heard Madam Yu saying as she walked, “How did he end up going to Fengtai? That place has always been windy and cold. What demon has possessed him now?”

The attendant officer replied in detail: “Fifth Young Master said there have been many Army Department matters these days. Rather than disturb you by working at the residence, he went to Fengtai instead. He’ll return once he’s finished with his work.”

Madam Yu sat on the sofa and, hearing these words, couldn’t help smiling, “It’s touching that he has such filial consideration. I haven’t loved him in vain.” She thought for a moment and continued, “Then take a few cooks and servants over there. Also, take Qiu Luo with you—she’s always served him and is devoted. Also, have them take…”

Before Madam Yu finished speaking, Qixuan laughed from the side, “Also take two catties of rock sugar, weigh out a catty of bird’s nest, and whatever ginseng, deer antler, crab claws, and rose dew—take everything. When Father comes back, give Fifth Brother a good whipping, and then it’ll be complete.”

This sentence had quite a story behind it. Everyone except Jun Daiti, even sister-in-law Minru who had married into the family later, knew about it and couldn’t help laughing. “Our little sister is becoming more precocious. Settle down!” Jinxuan also laughed, “You little sixth one, you’re young but know quite a lot.”

It turned out the Yu family had been a military family for generations, a prestigious clan of extraordinary prominence. Yu men were almost born to be generals. Yu Changxuan was sent to Nanming Military Academy for training before age ten. Madam Yu had always been extremely fond of this youngest son, constantly sending precious medicinal supplements to the military academy. She even brought family cooks to set up a temporary kitchen outside the school dormitory specifically to serve Yu Changxuan. For a time, the reputation of Fifth Young Master Yu echoed throughout Nanming Military Academy. When Yu’s father returned from the battlefield and heard about this, he was furious and rushed straight to Nanming. Walking into the small kitchen, he saw bird’s nest porridge with rock sugar simmering inside. This so enraged Yu’s father that his eyes became bloodshot. He dragged Yu Changxuan back to the residence and gave him a severe whipping. Madam Yu was punished by being sent to the Yu family’s private residence at Fenghua Mountain Villa to reflect for a month before the matter was resolved.

What Qixuan mentioned was precisely this long-ago incident. Madam Yu, unable to suppress her laughter, poked her forehead with a finger. Meanwhile, Butler Zhou Tai entered, leading the attendant officer to arrange the matters Madam Yu had just ordered. The attendant officer left the Yu official residence and headed directly to Fengtai to report.

Fengtai was another private residence of the Yu family, located at the foot of Yuxia Mountain in Jinling. Since the mountain was mostly covered with maple trees, when deep autumn came with red leaves flying and layers of forest dyed crimson, it was named Fengtai. On this day, Gu Ruitong was on duty. Just as dawn was breaking, he had dozed briefly in the guard captain’s room when he heard a “bang” of gunfire outside. He startled and immediately sprang from his seat, rushing out the door in several steps. An attendant officer said, “It’s the back courtyard!” Without another word, Gu Ruitong led the guards charging toward the back courtyard. He saw several guards who had already rushed over standing there, while in the center of the courtyard stood a person upright—it was Yu Changxuan.

Gu Ruitong exclaimed in shock, “Fifth Young Master!”

Yu Changxuan simply held his arm straight out, gripping his pistol and aiming forward. Gu Ruitong waved his hand to dismiss the guards, then approached with a smile, “This early morning gunshot—Fifth Young Master, this isn’t target practice, you’re testing our brothers’ nerves.”

Yu Changxuan said nothing, his eyes deep and dark like a tranquil lake. Gu Ruitong saw his expression was extremely grim and, knowing his temperament, stepped aside. Suddenly he heard Yu Changxuan say coldly, “What is she anyway? Must I keep chasing after her to curry favor?”

Gu Ruitong was startled, then saw Yu Changxuan raise his hand and fire another shot, hitting the bullseye precisely. This gunshot in the quiet dawn was particularly jarring, startling the birds roosting in trees to flutter about chaotically. Gu Ruitong stepped forward, “Fifth Young Master, there are fragrant grasses everywhere under heaven.”

Yu Changxuan’s face was gloomy. He aimed silently at the target for a long time, then suddenly holstered his pistol and turned to leave, coldly throwing out one sentence: “I don’t believe I can’t deal with her!”

This morning, the sun hadn’t fully risen yet, casting pale yellow light slanting into the courtyard filled with the fresh fragrance of scholar trees. Pingjun had just finished washing her face and arranging her hair in twin buns. Carrying her washbasin to pour water at the base of the scholar tree, she saw Auntie Zhao across the way coming out to pick vegetables. Remembering last night’s incident, she blushed first and quickly walked into the house, nearly colliding with her mother who was coming out. Madam Ye said, “What’s wrong? So flustered.”

Pingjun smiled slightly, went inside to get her blue cloth book bag, straightened her skirt, and came out. She heard Auntie Zhao cheerfully calling, “Miss, off to school!”

Pingjun quickly responded, not daring to look at Auntie Zhao’s smiling face. She heard her mother say, “Be careful on the road, don’t play around and delay your studies.” She answered, “I know.” Going to open the main gate, she pushed open one door and immediately froze. A car was parked in front of her house with several guards standing beside it. Gu Ruitong stood to one side smoking. Hearing the door, he looked up.

The smile on Pingjun’s face instantly froze. Seeing Ye Pingjun, Gu Ruitong threw his cigarette to the ground and stamped it out with his foot. He looked up coolly and said, “Miss Ye, please come with us.”

Ye Pingjun looked at Gu Ruitong, silently bit her lip then released it. After a long while she said, “Brother Gu, I know you’re a good person. Let me go this once, all right?”

Gu Ruitong’s expression seemed to freeze, showing cold indifference. The attendant officer beside them had already opened the car door. Gu Ruitong stood at attention, lowered his head, and gestured with his hand in invitation, dutifully saying, “Miss Ye, please get in the car.”

Seeing him like this, Ye Pingjun immediately became angry, “In broad daylight, I don’t believe that if I refuse to go, you dare to kidnap me!”

Gu Ruitong didn’t reply, only saying coolly, “Miss Ye, please get in the car!”

As they remained at this impasse, the gate opened and Madam Ye and Auntie Zhao, hearing the commotion, came out. Seeing this situation, they were so frightened their faces went pale. Madam Ye grabbed Pingjun’s hand and tried to hide her behind herself. Pingjun saw her mother’s hands were trembling and knew she had to get through this ordeal today. But her mother had just recovered from serious illness and couldn’t handle such shocks. Having calculated clearly in her mind, she said softly to Madam Ye, “Mother, don’t panic. I’m just going to a friend’s house.”

Madam Ye was terrified and bewildered, trembling as she said, “Ping’er…”

Pingjun said nothing else, walked up to Gu Ruitong, slightly lowered her head, and got into the car. Gu Ruitong shut the car door with a “snap,” walked to the front of the car, and got into the front seat. Four other guards stood on the running boards as escorts, and they drove off.

Fengtai, being at the foot of Yuxia Mountain, was quite windy. Even in summer, the residence still felt somewhat cold. The courtyard was especially spacious and clean, planted with pines, cypresses, and maples that spread out large patches of lush green shade. There were also thousand-petaled pomegranates placed beside a small pond, with little fish swimming contentedly under the swaying large leaves.

Gu Ruitong was in the duty room and had just drunk a few sips of tea when he heard a door open upstairs. Looking out, he saw the Army Department’s Political Director coming downstairs—apparently official business was finished. Only then did he go upstairs to Yu Changxuan’s office. The door was ajar. He called out “Fifth Young Master” and pushed the door open.

Yu Changxuan was holding a dossier, reading it. Looking up to see Gu Ruitong enter, he casually threw the dossier on the desk and smiled, “Look, another dragon-tiger fight. A large portion of this term’s Nanming Academy admissions are Mou family people. It seems Old Man Mou is going to have a showdown with Chu Wenfu.”

Gu Ruitong said, “I just saw the Political Director’s expression wasn’t good. Seems Fifth Young Master didn’t grant his wish.”

Yu Changxuan smiled as he drew a cigarette from a nearby box. That smile carried a hint of proud satisfaction, “I’m most annoyed by this Political Director—chattering all day like a nagging woman! I deliberately won’t give him face, leaving him unable to advance or retreat.”

Gu Ruitong said, “I’m afraid humiliating him will let the Commander know…” His “Commander” referred to Yu Changxuan’s father, Yu Zhongquan. Yu Changxuan bit the cigarette between his lips and took out a lighter to light it. As smoke curled up, he looked at Gu Ruitong, his handsome face wearing a faint smile, “Brother Gu, can you guess what my father is thinking?”

Gu Ruitong couldn’t say. Yu Changxuan smiled and drew his service pistol from its holster, pointing the barrel downward as he slowly traced it across the national map on his desk. The dark barrel stopped at Xishui and Nanhuai Mountain—precisely the boundary line between the northern Xiao family warlords and the central government controlled by the southern Four Great Families.

Yu Changxuan looked at the map, holding his cigarette between his left fingers while gripping the pistol with his right hand. The barrel slowly stopped over the territory of the northern Xiao family warlords. At this moment, all that beautiful landscape lay under his gun barrel. Yu Changxuan looked up with a faint smile, “Brother Gu, let me tell you something—my father once told your father that only this area counts as the enemy and must be eliminated. The rest are all worthless—let them make their fuss!”

The Yu and Gu families had been bound by life-and-death friendship for two generations. Gu Ruitong had heard these words from his own father, but hearing them again today from Yu Changxuan’s mouth, such ambition and domineering spirit still made his heart tremble. Gu Ruitong steadied himself and saw Yu Changxuan smoking while silently gazing at the maple leaves covering the mountains outside the window. Gu Ruitong lowered his head, “Fifth Young Master, that Miss Ye has been waiting in the reception room all morning.”

Yu Changxuan turned around and said indifferently, “Then let her keep waiting!” He threw his cigarette butt into an ashtray beside him and went to get the riding whip hanging on the wall. Turning back with a smile, “Defense Minister Chen gave me a fine horse. This afternoon I’m breaking it at the training grounds. Come, I’ll open your eyes!”

Gu Ruitong saw Yu Changxuan’s high spirits and hesitated, “But Miss Ye is still…” Before he could finish, Yu Changxuan had already turned around, “What nonsense!” Gu Ruitong quickly shut his mouth and followed Yu Changxuan out, bringing along several deputy officers and attendants. The group left Fengtai and headed straight for the training grounds.

Around ten o’clock in the morning, the Jiang residence was very quiet. Jiang Xueting’s elder brother Jiang Xueyong had gone early to the money exchange to work. Since returning from Japan, Jiang Xueting had been living in the small study in the back courtyard. He had just read a few pages when he felt somewhat restless. It was too early to visit the Ye family, so he looked up toward the window. In the courtyard stood a lush osmanthus tree whose leaves layered upon each other, creating a large patch of shade. Several slender wasps buzzed among the leaves.

Jiang Xueting stared absently at the scenery for a while, then smiled slightly as Ye Pingjun’s image involuntarily appeared in his mind. Loving her as he did, he naturally thought of her constantly. Just as he was thinking this, an old servant woman walked into the courtyard and called toward the study window, “Young Master Jiang, Madam wants you to come to the front.”

Hearing it was his sister-in-law summoning him, Xueting quickly responded, tidied the books on his desk, and walked to the front hall. He heard laughter from the sitting room and his sister-in-law saying repeatedly, “Staff Officer Li and Mrs. Li have truly saved us. If you hadn’t told me this news today, our Xueyong would have suffered a great loss. Yesterday he was still talking about moving a large sum to the Central Bank to buy gold, saying it was a sure-profit opportunity.”

Sitting on one side of the sofa was Li Boren’s wife, wearing a persimmon-red gold-scattered patterned qipao, looking very charming and graceful. She was speaking intimately to Mrs. Jiang, “Fortunately I came to notify you early, before you bought any. Think about it—the government selling public gold at such low prices to withdraw currency—where in the world is there such a bargain? There must be some complications involved. What they call gold bonds—if the government doesn’t acknowledge them in the end, they’re just waste paper. Your Xueyong and our Boren are friends, and now with Fifth Young Master’s connection, Boren came home yesterday saying he was afraid Xueyong would suffer losses and told me to hurry over and warn you. These two things, wealth and beauty, are just traps for people!”

Jiang Xueting stood in the doorway, seeing his sister-in-law looking at Mrs. Li with gratitude while Mrs. Li’s expression showed complete sincerity, as if she were laying her heart bare. As he stood there stunned, Mrs. Jiang saw him and showed a rare smile, saying to Jiang Xueting, “Xueting, your dear younger sister has helped our family enormously.”

Mrs. Jiang had always been cold and sharp with Jiang Xueting, but now she was suddenly so warm that Jiang Xueting was even more bewildered, “What younger sister?” Mrs. Jiang quickly gave Jiang Xueting a meaningful look and smiled, “Who else could it be? Pingjun of course. Pingjun is truly blessed, and we’re all benefiting from her good fortune.” Mrs. Li turned to look at Jiang Xueting and smiled warmly, “This must be Pingjun’s elder brother, Mr. Jiang?”

Jiang Xueting said with annoyance, “How did I become her elder brother?”

Mrs. Li smiled, “I’ve long heard Pingjun mention having such an elder brother—returned from studying in Japan, studied law, and came back to work as an academic committee member at Nanming Military Academy. Truly a young talent. I’ve wanted to meet you for ages. You’re also blessed to have such a younger sister.”

Jiang Xueting felt completely confused. He saw his sister-in-law smiling, “According to what you say, Fifth Young Master and Pingjun’s matter is certain?” Mrs. Li leaned toward Mrs. Jiang, lips curved in a smile as she whispered, “Of course it is. Let me tell Mrs. Jiang something—you and the Yu family are about to become in-laws. Fifth Young Master treats Miss Pingjun so well that he’s afraid to drop her even holding her in his palms. When Miss Pingjun throws even a little tantrum, Fifth Young Master coaxes her endlessly. Not to mention anything else, when Miss Pingjun’s mother was so seriously ill recently, wasn’t it our Fifth Young Master who sent people to take her to the hospital? In daily life—silks and satins, food and expenses—Fifth Young Master takes care of everything.”

Mrs. Li spoke softly, but just loud enough for Jiang Xueting to hear clearly. She paused, then turned to Jiang Xueting with a meaningful smile, “Let me say one more thing—Young Master Jiang, just being our Fifth Young Master’s brother-in-law, what good fortune won’t await you in the future? Just wait and see.”

Jiang Xueting suddenly understood. Looking again at the smiling Mrs. Li, he immediately felt dizzy and light-headed, his ears buzzing. He became completely bewildered and actually turned to leave, not even listening to his sister-in-law’s repeated calls, walking away without looking back.

Jiang Xueting left the residence in this dazed state, his ears filled with everything Mrs. Li had said, twisting his heart like churning seas. He connected what he had seen and heard these past few days, and indeed it all made sense. A nameless rage surged up within him. He was naturally suspicious and had always been prone to overthinking and tying himself in knots. Now the more he thought, the more convinced he became, the angrier he grew. Walking for less than an hour, without anyone else needing to spread rumors, he had thoroughly understood the meaning of “Gold is the most heartless thing, it changes all women’s hearts.”

Unconsciously he walked onto a busy street and saw a luxurious car stopped at the roadside. A young maid was offering a bouquet of flowers through the car window when an displeased woman’s voice came from inside, “What crude flowers are these? I told you to buy yellow roses. Who told you to buy such strange things?”

The young maid said, “There were no yellow roses, Second Miss. These flowers are also beautiful—they’re hydrangeas.”

Tao Ziyi reached her hand out the car window, pinched off a round hydrangea bloom, and casually threw it away, “I don’t care what flowers they are—I want yellow roses. Go buy them for me.” The flower landed squarely on Jiang Xueting. In his dazed state, he reflexively caught the hydrangea and looked over in surprise. But Tao Ziyi snorted and said angrily, “Worthless boy, what are you staring at? Looking for death?” With that, she tossed her head and told the driver, “Drive.”

The small car sped away quickly. Jiang Xueting hadn’t really paid attention to the car, just stood at the roadside with a dark melancholy in his clear eyes. Rickshaws passed by with their bells jingling. A driver called to him, “Sir, need a ride?”

But he heard nothing, looking dazed with his mind in complete chaos. Unconsciously he crushed the hydrangea in his hand, scattering it at his feet. After a long while, he tilted his head back slightly to look at the azure, clean sky, his face showing tragic resolve as he let out a long sigh.

In the afternoon, the sunlight had shifted to shine on another side, making the third-floor reception room somewhat cold and dim. The window was half open, with distant views of the layered emerald peaks of Yuxia Mountain and faint sounds of wind like rising and falling ocean tides.

The reception room was very quiet except for the wall clock whose hands moved with soft ticking sounds.

The food on the table had long grown cold. Ye Pingjun sat on the sofa, her feet going numb and her hands ice-cold. From time to time, the sounds of guards pacing back and forth came from outside the door. She turned to look out the window at the blindingly blue sky. She remembered when she was very small, also on such a beautiful day, Jiang Xueting had carried a bamboo pole and taken her to catch cicadas and crickets, even mixing mud to block ant holes. They attended private school together, and when they were late from playing, Jiang Xueting would take her to climb the school wall. Beside the wall grew a lush pomegranate tree whose shade covered half the wall surface. The brilliant pomegranate flowers clustered dazzlingly like a tree of blooming flames. She sat on top of the wall with one hand covering her eyes and the other gripping the roof tiles, not daring to jump down. Jiang Xueting, who had already climbed over, stood at the bottom waving to her, “Pingjun, Pingjun, don’t be afraid. I’ll catch you—jump down.”

She slowly moved the hand covering her eyes and looked down at Jiang Xueting below the wall. He wore a clean long gown with a childish face, stretching out his arms and looking up at her, shouting, “It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll reach out and catch you. Jump quickly.”

Being mischievous herself, she gathered courage and called out clearly, “Xueting, you must catch me.” She closed her eyes, made up her mind, and jumped. Wind rushed past her ears. That jump seemed to last only an instant yet felt like falling for such a long time… Her whole heart was suspended, as if she had stepped into emptiness and fallen straight into a bottomless black hole…

The door suddenly opened, followed by the sound of footsteps. The ice-cold Ye Pingjun started awake from her dream, raising her head from the sofa. Outside the window was already dark night. Lights were on in the reception room. Gu Ruitong led several guards standing at the door. Gu Ruitong looked at Pingjun and said politely, “Miss Ye, Fifth Young Master says he doesn’t want to see you. Please go back.”

When she left Fengtai, the night was silent. Fengtai was so large that guards led her out while he stood on the third-floor terrace watching her—though she didn’t know this. Lights were on in the courtyard, and the pines, cypresses, and maples cast long shadows beside the pebble-paved paths. Her moon-white clothes swayed gently in the night breeze. Though the surrounding scenery was dimmed by night, she still shone brilliantly like a dancing butterfly.

He held a cup of freshly brewed orchid tea, quietly watching her from afar while slowly raising the cup to his lips to drink. The tea’s fragrance was captivating. Her figure finally disappeared, leaving the path empty with only mottled tree shadows.

His heart also became empty in that instant, suspended neither up nor down. Her image was etched in his mind—every frown and smile, every gentle turn or faint backward glance…

He stood there motionless for a long time.

It was deep night with a pale golden crescent moon hanging in the sky. Since Chang’an Alley was inhabited by common people, it was especially quiet at this hour. The military vehicle slowly stopped. As Ye Pingjun was about to get out, Gu Ruitong had already opened the car door from outside. Pingjun got out and walked toward her house while Gu Ruitong returned to the car. The vehicle quickly left Chang’an Alley.

Listening to the car sounds fade away, Ye Pingjun suddenly seemed to lose all strength, immediately becoming dizzy and light-headed. She reached out to steady herself against the nearby jujube tree as her wildly beating heart slowly calmed down. Hearing footsteps ahead, having been frightened all day with her nerves still tense, she hurriedly looked up—it was Jiang Xueting.

Pingjun let out a soft sigh of relief, “Xueting…”

He said coolly, “Where have you been?”

Ye Pingjun heard coldness in his tone and her heart sank slightly. For a moment she didn’t know how to answer. Jiang Xueting had waited at this door all day, watching her get out of a military vehicle with his own eyes. Combined with her current expression, he was even more furious and began speaking rapidly with frost-like coldness, “You don’t need to find excuses to put me off. I know everything. How thoughtful of Fifth Young Master—car service, silks and pastries, nothing lacking. Even watching opera requires upstairs-downstairs eye contact. I’ve become the brother-in-law now, and I hear there will be many benefits in the future. Let me thank my younger sister in advance. When you become Fifth Young Master’s wife, don’t forget to give me a helping hand!”

Ye Pingjun’s face went pale. Seeing his angry appearance, she knew he had misunderstood. Her eyes were bright and clear, “Who told you these things?!” Jiang Xueting immediately laughed coldly, “Do I need others to tell me? I can see with my own eyes!”

Pingjun had been with him since childhood and knew his character well. Rather than get entangled in unclear explanations now, it was better to cut through the confusion directly. She pulled the jade hairpin from her hair and extended it toward him, saying with neither servility nor arrogance, “I don’t know where you heard these words, but if you trust me, don’t be so angry and listen to my explanation properly. If you don’t trust me, take this jade hairpin and from now on act as if you don’t know me!”

Hearing such clear words, Jiang Xueting felt somewhat uncertain inside, but he didn’t want to appear inferior to her in spirit or lose face, so he stubbornly said with cold indifference, “Why would I want something that’s already dirty?”

Ye Pingjun looked at Jiang Xueting and said word by word, “It’s not dirty!”

Jiang Xueting never expected she would be so righteous and confident. He couldn’t help clenching his fists tightly as waves of anger rushed to his head. He said coldly, “Only when the person is clean can the object be clean!”

That sentence was like a knife cutting directly into her heart. Ye Pingjun just looked at him, tears immediately welling up in her eyes. Though usually strong, she was still just a young girl. Now she couldn’t help it, her voice choking, “What did you say!”

Jiang Xueting snorted. The rage in his chest almost burned him up. He loved her so much, yet she was so vain and materialistic. Since childhood he had been stubborn and obstinate—once he decided something, it was hard to change. Now he turned his head away and said hatefully, “Only when the person is clean can the object be clean. If the person isn’t clean, how clean can the object be?”

The pain in Ye Pingjun’s heart was overwhelming, her hands and feet ice-cold, yet she still stood straight. Her gaze showed clear, cold light. She no longer deigned to explain even one sentence. Since he didn’t trust her like this, what use were more words? She too was proud and wouldn’t tolerate such suspicion and humiliation. On the spot she grabbed the jade hairpin and threw it hard in his direction, saying through tears, “Jiang Xueting, here’s your jade hairpin back!”

The jade hairpin hit his body and bounced back, falling with a “crack” into a dark corner. He still cared about her after all and panicked, turning to look at her. In the moonlight, her pale face was covered with tears, her body trembling uncontrollably in the night wind. His heart immediately softened and he was about to step forward, but she pushed him away and ran into her family’s courtyard. Without even glancing at him, she closed the door.

The night was deathly quiet except for the jujube tree rustling in the cold night. Street lamps cast dim light that made everything seem hazy and heavy. Jiang Xueting stood on the stone steps for a long time, silently gazing at that tightly closed courtyard gate, his heart feeling increasingly empty.

He looked hesitantly at that closed gate, his heart beating violently for some unknown reason. Her tearful, resolute expression settled in his mind. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his head—a tangle of ideas like messy hemp. He whispered softly, “Pingjun…”