Pingjun’s character carried a touch of masculine spirit, and when she did things, she was especially earnest and clear-minded, managing the small flower shop so excellently that even Jiang Xueting would sometimes laugh at her, saying she looked exactly like a little boss.

This afternoon, Pingjun had just delivered a few pots of flowers and returned to find a small automobile parked outside the shop door. Walking into the store, she indeed saw Jiang Xueting already waiting inside, chatting with Madam Ye. On the table were arranged walnut crisps from the old established pastry shop “Daoxiang Village” and Jinling’s traditional famous treat, five-colored small cakes. When Madam Ye saw Ye Pingjun return, she smiled and said, “Ping’er returns at just the right time. Xueting says he wants to take you on a spring outing to the mountains.”

Pingjun walked forward, picked up a small cake to eat, and laughed, “The sun is almost setting, what kind of outing is there to go on? I’m not going.” Madam Ye then said, “Xueting is so busy now, yet he still thinks of taking you out to play. How can you keep making excuses?”

Jiang Xueting smiled at Pingjun from the side, “Don’t be lazy. Auntie is most devoted to Buddha, so let’s go to the mountain to worship Guanyin, shall we?” Seeing she couldn’t refuse, Pingjun smiled and said, “Alright then.”

Jiang Xueting had been promoted all the way up by Old Master Mou, and was currently serving as the Propaganda Minister of the Jinling government and an important Party member. His status was naturally pivotal, and he always traveled with guards escorting his vehicle. This time taking Ye Pingjun out, however, he didn’t bring any bodyguards, personally driving the car to take Pingjun to Guanyin Pavilion in the suburbs. He parked the automobile at the foot of the mountain, and the two followed the stone steps up the mountain. They could see the trees withered far and near, mountain winds gusting. Though it was early spring, the grass was still bare. After walking a few steps, Jiang Xueting said, “It’s so cold today, and I see you’ve been busy all day. Why don’t we hire a sedan chair to go up?”

Ye Pingjun laughed, “This is to worship Guanyin. If we take a sedan chair, there won’t be any sincerity left. Besides, I used to be able to walk up step by step like this before. Could it be that I can’t walk now?” Jiang Xueting smiled and stepped forward to support her, saying, “I’m afraid you’ll get tired.”

The two thus walked hand in hand up the stone steps, and could see the distant sunset about to fall behind the mountain, a scene of vast twilight. At this time, pilgrims had also almost disappeared. Ye Pingjun laughed, “I told you to come earlier. Now it’s fine—by the time we walk up there, the temple gates will be closed, and we’ll have to walk down dejectedly.”

Jiang Xueting laughed, “Even if the temple closes its doors, seeing you come, they would still open them.”

Pingjun asked puzzledly, “What do you mean by that?”

Jiang Xueting looked at her and smiled, “Because you look like Guanyin.”

These words made Pingjun laugh involuntarily. She raised both hands in a helpless gesture, “According to what you say, I look like Guanyin, but you don’t look like Buddha, so only I could enter Guanyin Pavilion while you couldn’t.”

Jiang Xueting laughed, “If I can’t get in, then I’ll honestly wait for you to come out on these stone steps.” Just as he finished speaking, Pingjun’s body swayed—she had stepped on a patch of moss on the stone steps and nearly slipped. Jiang Xueting quickly pulled her up, and seeing her stand steady, said, “You’ve had this problem since childhood, always prone to stumbling while walking. These stone steps are so hard—one fall would be enough for you to suffer.”

Seeing that Xueting seemed even more nervous than herself, she smiled and withdrew her hand. The two continued walking up the mountain this way, and saw that the temple gates were still not closed. The two stood in the main hall of Guanyin Pavilion, lit candles and inserted incense, then knelt together on prayer cushions. Pingjun had just bowed once when she heard Jiang Xueting beside her recite, “Guanyin Bodhisattva, please bless me to have a hundred years of happiness with Pingjun, and never to betray her in this life and this world.”

Pingjun actually forgot to worship, turning her head to look at Jiang Xueting, who was devoutly bowing with his hands pressed together. Jiang Xueting bowed three times in succession before straightening up, turning to smile slightly at the stunned Pingjun, reaching out to grasp her hand. Pingjun instinctively tried to dodge, but felt something cool fall into her palm—it was a gold ring, gleaming with golden light. She looked up, and he smiled at her saying:

“Pingjun, let’s get married.”

Pingjun stared blankly at Jiang Xueting, her heart suddenly feeling hollow waves of emptiness, calm as a pool of dead water. She could feel the ring’s edges slightly pricking her palm, that subtle stinging sensation bringing her back to her senses. Only then did she realize that Jiang Xueting had been watching her all along, his clear and heroic eyes full of expectation, as if she had already agreed.

His voice carried some guilt but also determination as he said, “Because of my special status now, when we marry, we can’t announce it in the newspapers or sign marriage documents. Moreover, I’m afraid you’ll be in danger, so in a few days I’ll buy you a house in Luzhou under your name. You and Auntie can move to Luzhou, and whenever I have time, I’ll come see you both.”

Seeing Pingjun in a daze, and knowing his reasons were indeed quite weak, he tried to make up for it by adding, “With this ring as our token of engagement, don’t you trust me? From today on, you are my wife, and I am your husband.”

Pingjun suddenly said softly, “Husband?” A trace of absent-mindedness flashed through her eyes. Seeing her like this, Jiang Xueting panicked, afraid she wouldn’t agree. Regardless of everything else, he simply extended his right hand in a oath-taking gesture and said decisively, “Pingjun, even if I betray everyone in the world, I will never betray you. If I ever break this promise, let me die a horrible death and have no peace even after death!”

She finally heard this sentence clearly, but her heart panicked, and she quickly said, “Don’t make such vows before the Bodhisattva!”

Jiang Xueting was also startled, instinctively turning to look at the high and mighty Guanyin statue. He could see that compassionate Buddha countenance shrouded in swirling incense smoke, and he couldn’t help but shiver involuntarily. However, seeing her care for him this way, his heart was also joyful, and he couldn’t help but grasp her hand, softly saying, “Pingjun, you treating me this way makes me truly happy.”

But Pingjun still kept her head lowered, her delicate profile showing only gentle expression. No matter how passionate he was, she only quietly said, “You fool, don’t talk nonsense anymore.”

That evening, with a pale yellow moon hanging in the sky, Jiang Xueting drove Pingjun all the way to the flower shop entrance before leaving. Pingjun walked into the shop to find her mother sitting in a rattan chair by the window resting. Seeing Pingjun return, she beckoned to her, “You’ve been out so long, come sit for a while.”

Pingjun walked over, poured two cups of tea, placed one beside Madam Ye, and sat in the rattan chair to one side with the other cup. After taking a sip, Madam Ye smiled, “What scenery did you see today?” Pingjun lowered her head slightly, slowly placing her teacup on the table, saying, “Mom, look at this.” She took out the ring along with its box and placed them in the center of the table. Madam Ye turned to look, but said nothing for a long time.

Pingjun kept her head down, her face also showing a faint expression, her long eyelashes slightly drooping, lips gently pressed together. She untied the handkerchief attached to a button and silently wound it around her fingers. After a long while, Madam Ye softly said, “Ping’er, Xueting has changed.”

Pingjun turned her head, “Don’t blame him. I changed first.”

Madam Ye said, “Then, do you still want to be with him…” Pingjun didn’t even hesitate, simply shaking her head, “Mom, I don’t want to. I don’t want anything now. He forced this ring on me today, and I’ll return it to him tomorrow.” Madam Ye nodded and smiled gently, “Good, Mother will listen to you in everything.” Seeing Pingjun breathe a light sigh of relief, looking as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, her own heart also felt much lighter. She added, “Tomorrow is Liyuan’s birthday, and she’s asking you to come over.” Pingjun nodded, “I’ll go over tomorrow evening.”

Only then did Madam Ye nod, getting up to rest in the inner room. Pingjun watched her mother leave, sitting alone in the flower shop. Only then did she lower her head slightly, taking out something shining from her jacket pocket, cushioning her palm with a handkerchief and carefully placing that small object on the handkerchief—so careful, so cautious.

When she left Fengtai, she brought nothing with her except this small white jade tiger.

This jade tiger lay quietly in her palm, and she stroked it with her finger, feeling the smooth texture. She gazed at the jade tiger lost in thought, not making a sound for a long time. Her shadow was faintly reflected on the wall, and the two pots of azure bamboo by the window swayed in the night wind. This scene of her silent contemplation was something she herself didn’t know how desolate it appeared. Only Madam Ye, who had intended to come out and tell her to rest, seeing her like this, thought how a daughter who had just turned twenty could have so many burdens, becoming like tea flowers about to finish blooming, with a lifetime of happiness already concluded. Sadness welled up in Madam Ye’s heart, and she couldn’t help but shed two lines of tears.

The next morning, Ye Pingjun carried a pot of newly bloomed small spring plum bonsai to deliver to a newly opened antique shop at the front street entrance. The weather was somewhat overcast that day, with a few snowflakes drifting down. On both sides of the street were small stalls selling fruit, cake slices, and bean juice. She walked a few steps carrying the bonsai with both hands, then suddenly stopped and looked to the side. She saw an elegant man in Western dress holding a camera, taking her photograph. When he noticed she had discovered him, he calmly put away the camera and smiled at her in a friendly manner, very refined in appearance, blurting out, “How do you do!” After saying this, he was startled himself, patting his head, afraid Pingjun wouldn’t understand, and quickly smiled again, “Hello.”

Although Pingjun wasn’t proficient in English, she hadn’t forgotten what she learned in school. This person also had a cheerful smile, so she said nothing and turned to continue walking. Suddenly she heard the man shout, “Careful!” and found herself pulled aside, just as an automobile with guards standing on all four running boards “whooshed” past beside her at great speed. Pingjun’s heart leaped with fright, and the small spring plum bonsai fell from her hands, shattering to pieces.

Seeing this, the man repeatedly said, “What a pity, what a pity,” and quickly crouched down to clean up the bonsai, moving even faster than Pingjun. “It’s all my fault for being too hasty and ruining such a beautiful pot of flowers.” Pingjun’s face was pale, just recovering from the shock, and seeing him like this, quickly said, “Sir, this isn’t your fault. You were trying to help me.”

The young man, seeing the bonsai was ruined, took out his wallet and while pulling out bills from it said, “How much does this bonsai cost? I’ll buy it to compensate you.” Pingjun said in surprise, “Really, there’s no need.”

She was about to turn and leave when she suddenly saw that the car that had nearly hit her had actually stopped in front of a jewelry shop not far away. The armed guards from the car’s running boards got off with their rifles and stood on either side of the jewelry shop. When the car door opened, a man got out first, then turned to help an attractive, fashionable woman out with his hand. The woman laughed coquettishly, “Didn’t you say we were going to see a movie? What are we doing here?”

He laughed, “The diamond rings here are all excellent. I’m asking you to come have a look.”

The woman raised her head, a smile playing on her lips, “I don’t want to look.” He held her hand, gently and considerately saying, “That won’t do. If you don’t come personally, how can I know the size?”

The sky grew increasingly overcast, and the wind gradually picked up. Pingjun felt the cold seemed to penetrate her completely, even her bones ached. The young man in front of her, seeing her face growing paler and paler, quickly said, “Miss, what’s wrong?”

Pingjun shook her head and said softly, “Nothing, I need to go home.” Seeing her complexion so poor, the man was about to hail a rickshaw from the roadside to send her home, but Pingjun said, “I don’t take vehicles.”

She walked along the street by herself. When passing in front of the jewelry shop, she heard a woman’s voice from inside, “I don’t want this diamond, the color looks so petty. Jiang Xueting, come look at this one, is it nice?”

Pingjun kept her head down and slowly walked away.

In the afternoon, Pingjun was sitting in the flower shop when she heard the sound of an automobile outside. Then a figure flashed, and indeed Jiang Xueting walked in, cold all over, shaking snow from his overcoat as he walked and laughing, “It’s really cold outside, such strong wind.”

She was sitting by the small stove cooking rice cakes. Hearing him speak, she smiled slightly and said, “Then come warm yourself by the fire. I’ve cooked some rice cakes here, and I’ll serve you a bowl when they’re ready.”

He also smelled the fragrance of the cooking rice cakes and laughed, “Great, I’m just hungry. You must give me a large portion later.” He brought over a stool to sit beside her, extending his hands over the stove to warm them, smiling, “I came to tell you good news. I sent people to find a good house in Luzhou. Tomorrow or the day after, we’ll go take a look.”

She smiled, “Mother and I are living perfectly well here. Why should we go to Luzhou?”

Jiang Xueting was startled, looked at Pingjun, then smiled, “You’re being naughty again. We agreed on this before Guanyin. You can’t go back on your word.”

Pingjun looked at the rice cakes in the pot. The fire was too high, and she could see the rice cakes tumbling up and down in the soup like fish in boiling water. The hot steam brushed against her face, warmly stinging her eyes. She stirred the soup with a ladle, then suddenly smiled softly, “When are you and Second Miss Tao getting married?”

Suddenly there was no sound beside her.

The fire in the stove was burning vigorously, and wind was also blowing outside the window. The room was full of warmth, but after such a long time, the surroundings were terrifyingly quiet. His expression was indescribably complex, extremely ugly. He finally said, “Soon, at the end of next month.”

She smiled lightly, “Oh, then congratulations.”

She took out the ring he had given her from her pocket, placing it along with the box in his hand. She said nothing else, only turning to get a bowl to serve him the cooked rice cakes, her expression extremely calm. She looked up at him and smiled, “Would you like some chili?”

Jiang Xueting looked at her, suddenly stood up from beside the stove. That handsome face actually showed a faint bluish-white color. He just stood there in silence for a long time, finally sneering coldly, “What right do you have to treat me this way?”

Ye Pingjun was slightly startled, “What do you mean by that?”

But Jiang Xueting just raised his head proudly and smiled faintly, “You know perfectly well what I mean!”

She said calmly, “I don’t know.”

Jiang Xueting snorted, his face showing an arrogant expression, “Then I’ll make it clear to you. I don’t mind that you were greedy for luxury and followed Yu Changxuan. Even with your damaged body, I still want you. What more do you want from me?!”

Her body shook.

It was like a huge icicle had suddenly penetrated straight down from the top of her head, violently pinning her in place. She stared in shock at Jiang Xueting, who kept sneering coldly, and cried out, “What did you say?”

Seeing her sudden loss of composure, Jiang Xueting felt as if he had caught her weak point. This reversal of defeat into victory made him uncontrollably proud, and he said indifferently, “You don’t need to act innocent in front of me! I’ve known about that matter for a long time. No matter what your reasons were then, my not despising you now is already being good to you. Are you trying to play hard to get with me? Since you were willing to be kept by Yu Changxuan, what’s the difference between being kept by me instead?”

Ye Pingjun’s heart plummeted, the corners of her mouth trembling slightly, not to mention the grievance that instantly invaded her internal organs, leaving her speechless. Seeing her like this, Jiang Xueting continued, “You don’t need to rush to defend yourself either. That day at ‘Jiangji,’ didn’t the owner say you were the Yu family’s young mistress, and that you were pregnant with Yu Changxuan’s child? Do you think I’m a fool?”

In an instant, she was filled with both anger and rage, her hands shaking, and a sudden thought arose in her mind, sending a bone-chilling coldness down her spine. She blurted out, “You were still upstairs then?”

Jiang Xueting said coldly, “Of course, I was upstairs and heard everything clearly.”

Her whole body began to tremble, her face deathly pale, “When there was only one military policeman downstairs, and you and your companion were upstairs, you were upstairs listening to that man torture the child in my belly, and you remained unmoved?”

Jiang Xueting said angrily, “That wasn’t my child, so why should I care?!”

Just this one sentence was enough.

She felt her hands going numb in waves. He stood before her triumphant and self-righteous, saying repeatedly that she had wronged him, that he was being magnanimous in wanting her again, but hadn’t thought she would be so ungrateful. Her ears were roaring, her body growing cold in waves. That child had slowly flowed out of her body… like a knife stabbing fiercely into her heart, and she was powerless to stop it. That kind of heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching pain, she would never forget for the rest of her life.

She stood up, her lips trembling, “Get out!”

Jiang Xueting suddenly pointed his finger at her decisively, “Ye Pingjun, don’t regret this!”

His furious roar actually made her want to laugh. She said, “Why should I regret this?!”

Jiang Xueting laughed once, then decided to be ruthless to the end, “Do you really think this is still the Yu family’s world? Just watch—I will never remain beneath others. I will always distinguish myself. Now Yu Changxuan doesn’t even want you anymore, so what are you being so proud about in front of me?! If you refuse me today, and later want me to want you again, I won’t be able to do it.”

Ye Pingjun suddenly raised her hand and pushed over the entire row of flower stands. With a tremendous “crash,” it was truly a mountain of flowers toppling, debris everywhere. Even Jiang Xueting was shocked by her decisive action and stepped back.

She had used such great force that her hands couldn’t stop shaking. She was ultimately angry, was hateful, her chest aching like knife cuts, barely able to breathe, yet she clearly said one sentence, “Jiang Xueting, I wish you success at every step. Now, get out of here!”

At dusk, when Madam Ye returned from outside, the flower shop had already been cleaned up, but the flower stand that had been in the center of the shop was nowhere to be seen. Madam Ye was slightly puzzled and called toward the inner room, “Ping’er.” She immediately saw Ye Pingjun walk out from the inner room, but she was neatly washed and dressed, saying to Madam Ye, “Mom, I’m going to the Bai mansion.”

Madam Ye knew that evening was Bai Liyuan’s birthday, so she nodded and smiled, “Once you go, Liyuan will definitely keep you to stay over. You’ve been too tired lately, so go have a good time.”

Ye Pingjun nodded. Madam Ye saw her wearing a pink cotton shirt dress with embroidered patterns on the small collar, covered with an overcoat, and moon-shaped satin shoes below—it was still too plain overall. She said, “Someone’s having a birthday, which is a happy occasion. You should dress more festively.” She took flower scissors and cut a smaller pomegranate flower from a nearby pomegranate pot, pinning it in Ye Pingjun’s hair, carefully arranging her hair before smiling, “There, go ahead.”

Ye Pingjun smiled and left the shop, hailing a rickshaw at the door. Turning to see Madam Ye standing at the shop entrance, she called out, “Mom, I’m leaving.”

Madam Ye nodded, and the rickshaw puller started running quickly. Just as they were about to reach the corner of West Gate Alley, Ye Pingjun sat in the rickshaw looking out, and could still see her mother standing at the flower shop entrance, distantly seeing her off. Behind her mother, that pomegranate flower was brilliant and eye-catching, like fire and rosy clouds.

Bai Liyuan’s home was in a large Western-style house in the French Concession, surrounded by black iron railings. As soon as Ye Pingjun entered, she saw the house was full of Mingde Girls’ School classmates. It turned out Bai Liyuan had only invited classmates to this birthday party, not even allowing her own parents to participate.

Bai Liyuan wore a beautiful apricot-red silk floral qipao with a standing collar and butterfly-shaped traditional buttons, draped with a brilliant Indian tasseled shawl, looking very lively. Upon seeing Pingjun, she ran over with a smile and pulled Pingjun to sit on the sofa. The Bai family’s servants brought two cups of coffee, and Bai Liyuan chattered excitedly with Pingjun for several sentences before suddenly saying, “Pingjun, have you seen Jiang Xueting recently?”

Pingjun smiled and slowly shook her head. Bai Liyuan, always straightforward, said, “You mustn’t see him again. He’s different from before. Relying on the Mou family’s influence, he’s become an important figure in the government. I heard he’s been quite intimate with Second Miss Tao lately. A few days ago, I saw them eating at a Western restaurant, and he even said Second Miss Tao didn’t like red roses, so he specially sent a waiter to buy yellow roses. That attentive manner—I didn’t dare tell you, afraid you’d be hurt.”

Pingjun picked up the cup of coffee, slowly sipped it at her lips, then gently set the coffee cup down. She smiled slightly at Bai Liyuan, who was watching her with concern, “How could I be hurt so easily?”

Bai Liyuan laughed, “Exactly! I knew you were an extremely strong person, able to take things up and put them down.” As they were talking, they heard a clear, bright laugh from the side, “So the birthday girl is hiding here.”

Bai Liyuan turned around and immediately smiled, “Brother Xie.” She stood up pulling Pingjun’s hand and introduced with a smile, “Pingjun, let me introduce you. This is the eldest son of Uncle Xie Yunbo’s family, a close friend of my father’s generation—Xie Zaohua.”

Pingjun glanced at the well-dressed Xie Zaohua and was startled. At the same time, Xie Zaohua also exclaimed “Oh!” and said with a smile, “I know you.”

Pingjun also smiled, “I know you too.”

Bai Liyuan was surprised, “What are you two talking about?” Xie Zaohua turned and smiled, “When I went out this morning, I happened to knock over Miss Ye’s pot of small spring plums. Who would have thought that ‘enemies on a narrow road’—we’d meet again here.”

Bai Liyuan giggled, “What a coincidence! It’s true that enemies are bound to meet.” Knowing that Bai Liyuan spoke without restraint, Pingjun pulled her and said, “Don’t talk nonsense. What enemies? If not for Mr. Xie, I probably would have been hit by a car. Mr. Xie should be called my benefactor.”

Xie Zaohua’s gaze lingered on Pingjun’s face for a moment before he smiled slightly, “I dare not claim to be a benefactor, but although Miss Ye and I are meeting formally for the first time, Liyuan has mentioned you to me quite often. We can be considered half-friends already.”

Bai Liyuan stuck out her tongue, “With that sentence, Brother Xie has sold me out again. Fine, I can’t take off this big mouth hat anymore—I accept my fate.” Her words made both Xie Zaohua and Pingjun laugh. The three sat down and talked for a while. Xie Zaohua had just returned from studying medicine abroad and told Pingjun and Bai Liyuan about foreign customs and culture. His humorous way of speaking made even Pingjun laugh, while Liyuan laughed so hard she doubled over.

Suddenly they heard a high, excited shout from outside the main hall, “Great victory! Great victory! Our army’s great victory!”

The three of them looked over simultaneously and saw a girl who had just rushed in from outside, still wearing her coat, standing in the center of the hall. She scattered newspapers that still smelled of fresh ink all over the room while excitedly shouting, “Freshly printed newspapers! Great victory at the front! Our government’s Central Army has successfully broken through! Xiao army regimental commander Jiang Songren has defected to Yu Changxuan in battle! The Xiibei Railway line has been occupied by our forces! The Xiao army has retreated to defend Xiangpingkou, stubbornly resisting, but this is merely a death struggle!”

This explosive headline naturally delighted everyone. The hall immediately erupted in excited voices, with someone loudly saying, “Young Master Yu Five has been suppressed by Xiao’s army for over half a year—this time he can finally hold his head high!”

Bai Liyuan was also happy, standing up and running to the band on one side. Bai Liyuan’s father extremely doted on this only daughter and had specially invited the Russian band from Xiangxi Restaurant to play at home. Bai Liyuan spoke a few words in Russian to the band leader, who nodded and raised his conductor’s baton, beginning to play “Ode to Joy.”

The melody of “Ode to Joy” was originally extremely joyful, and when this group of innocent and lively students sang it hand in hand, it became even more lively. There was a “whoosh” from upstairs as colorful small paper flowers floated down from the air like snowflakes, flying everywhere. The atmosphere reached its peak. Liyuan happily called back, “Pingjun!”

Pingjun responded “Ah!” and turned from the side of the sofa to look at the joyful Bai Liyuan, waving at her with a slight smile. Surrounded by the overwhelming excitement, she alone was a special point of quiet in this liveliness. Xie Zaohua gazed at her for a moment and smiled slightly, “Liyuan said you and she are very good friends. I thought you two had similar personalities, but I didn’t expect you to be so different.”

Pingjun smiled, “Liyuan is a lively person.”

Xie Zaohua smiled, “Miss Ye is a quiet person.” Pingjun lowered her head to look at the coffee cup in her hands, then smiled softly after a while, “I really wish I could be as simply happy as she is.”

Seeing her hesitation to continue, Xie Zaohua smiled gently, “You don’t need to envy her. Different people have different virtues. I greatly admire quiet girls like Miss Ye.”

Pingjun looked up and saw Xie Zaohua’s eyes full of warm smiles. She was slightly startled, then lowered her head again, silently gazing at the coffee in her cup without saying another word.

That evening, Bai Liyuan indeed insisted that Pingjun stay overnight. Having partied vigorously, everyone was quite tired. Pingjun chatted with Bai Liyuan for a while and made plans to go boating on the Qin River together the next day before returning to the guest room to rest. Looking at the grandfather clock, it was around one in the morning. Pingjun felt tired and lay in bed with drowsy eyes. Just as she was drifting off, she suddenly felt a shock of alarm and snapped awake to hear chaotic footsteps outside the door and someone shouting, “Miss Ye, Miss Ye, please open the door!”

Hearing they were calling for her, Pingjun hastily threw on a coat and got out of bed. Walking to open the door, she stumbled and nearly fell. Opening the door, she saw the corridor brightly lit, and not just one or two people standing outside—even Bai Liyuan’s parents were there. As soon as Bai Liyuan’s father saw Pingjun, he immediately said, “Miss Ye, your family has suffered an unexpected disaster. A great fire suddenly broke out in the middle of the night. The fire department arrived too late, and your mother unfortunately… perished in the flames.”

It was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky!

Pingjun instantly felt her soul scatter, her face ashen as death. She cried out, “Mother…” and pushed past those people to run outside. Unexpectedly, after running only a few steps, she encountered the carpeted stairs and stepped into empty air. Her weak body spun like a top, the world spinning around her, and then she tumbled down…

At noon, an automobile drove up to the black-painted gate of a small courtyard and stopped. The driver hurriedly got out to help Bai Liyuan, who had just alighted, carry various packages. Bai Liyuan didn’t need his help, simply saying, “Drive the car ahead to wait for me. Don’t park it here blocking people’s way.”

The driver hurried to move the car. Bai Liyuan carried her things to push open the courtyard gate and saw Xie Zaohua under the eaves, having removed his suit jacket and rolled up both sleeves, crouching by a small kerosene stove with a palm fan, constantly fanning it. Continuous coughing sounds came over, and the whole courtyard was filled with the bitter scent of Chinese medicine.

Bai Liyuan was first slightly startled, then smiled slightly, “Brother Xie arrived earlier than me and is working so hard. Where’s Pingjun?”

Xie Zaohua had grown up abroad and studied Western medicine—where would he have experience brewing Chinese medicine? He looked up, his face already covered with smoke and dust. Seeing Bai Liyuan, he looked at her like seeing a savior, “Sister Bai comes at just the right time. Miss Ye has a high fever and is lying in the room. Go quickly and see her.”

Hearing this, Bai Liyuan couldn’t worry about anything else and hurried into the room. She saw Madam Ye’s memorial altar set up in the outer room facing the door, with Madam Ye’s memorial tablet placed on it. Bai Liyuan couldn’t help feeling sad, and hearing Ye Pingjun’s coughing from the inner room, she called out worriedly, “Pingjun, how are you?”

She lifted the curtain and went in to see Ye Pingjun reclining on the bed, her face pale and lips colorless, still wearing white mourning clothes, making her face appear even more haggard. Liyuan walked over and placed her hand on Pingjun’s forehead, couldn’t help exclaiming “Oh my!” and blurted, “Pingjun, you’re so sick you need to go to the hospital.”

Pingjun slowly shook her head and said softly, “Brother Xie said the same thing earlier. I don’t think it’s necessary. I bought medicine—I’ll be fine after brewing and drinking it.” Seeing her condition, Bai Liyuan held her hand with tears in her eyes. Ye Pingjun drew a gentle breath, looked up at Bai Liyuan, and instead softly comforted, “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

As they were talking, they suddenly heard Xie Zaohua’s voice from outside, “Who are you people? How dare you trespass into private residences like this?!”

A rough voice replied, “Mr. Xie, I know you. I advise you to stay away. We police bureau people have never been lenient with foreign-educated types like you. Have this family bring out their household registration—we need to examine it.”

Hearing this, Pingjun struggled to get up from the bed. Liyuan held her down, “Don’t move. I’ll go out and see.” Pingjun shook her head, “Don’t provoke these people. I’ll just get the household registration to show them.” Liyuan helped her retrieve the household registration from the drawer and they walked out together, indeed seeing several policemen standing in the courtyard.

Xie Zaohua turned to see Bai Liyuan supporting Ye Pingjun coming out and hurried forward, “Miss Ye…” Ye Pingjun handed the household registration to Xie Zaohua, saying softly, “Please show it to them. Don’t argue with them.” Xie Zaohua took the household registration to show those policemen.

Who would have known that the lead policeman, after glancing at the household registration and then at Ye Pingjun, suddenly tore the household registration into several pieces with a “rip,” pointing at Ye Pingjun and saying, “Do you think I’m blind? This household registration is fake. Where did you vagrants come from? Get out of Jinling immediately!”

This action absolutely infuriated Xie Zaohua, who angrily said, “What are you doing? Whether it’s real or fake is just your word—is there no law anymore?”

The man laughed, “Law?! We police bureau people are the law.” He looked at Ye Pingjun again and smiled coldly, “Miss Ye, pack up and leave Jinling. This afternoon we brothers will come check again. If you’re still here, we’ll personally help you move.”

Ye Pingjun watched that group of people swagger away, so angry she felt dizzy and weak, collapsing in a chair unable to speak. Bai Liyuan was even more furious, “These people are clearly bullying! Pingjun, don’t mind them. I’ll go home right now and ask my father to help.”

Xie Zaohua said, “Let’s not alarm Uncle Bai yet. I have some friends at the police bureau. Let me go find friends first. Liyuan, you stay here and take care of Miss Ye.” Bai Liyuan thought this was also a solution and nodded. Xie Zaohua took his suit jacket and hat and quickly left.

Bai Liyuan stayed to accompany the haggard-looking Ye Pingjun. At noon, Xie Zaohua still hadn’t returned. Bai Liyuan said she’d go out to make a phone call to check. She hadn’t been gone long when the sound of an automobile came from outside the courtyard gate. Several armed guards pushed open the courtyard gate and entered, followed by Jiang Xueting.

Pingjun had slowly stood up from her chair. Jiang Xueting walked directly to the memorial hall and knelt silently, kowtowing three times. Having no parents since childhood and being unwelcome by his brother and sister-in-law, Madam Ye had treated him like her own son, showing great kindness in raising and caring for him.

Pingjun walked to the memorial altar and returned the courtesy. Jiang Xueting looked at Ye Pingjun’s haggard appearance and after a while said, “When Auntie was buried, I was in Yuzhou, so I couldn’t come.”

Pingjun stood to one side and said politely, “It was nothing. With Liyuan and her friends helping me, everything was arranged properly.” Jiang Xueting nodded and shifted his gaze to Madam Ye’s memorial tablet, saying flatly, “Then pack your things. I’ll take you to Yunzhou right now.”

Pingjun was slightly startled, “What do you mean? Did you send those policemen?”

Jiang Xueting said, “What policemen?” His puzzled expression didn’t seem feigned. Pingjun looked at him and turned her head. Exhausted mentally and physically, feeling dizzy and disoriented, she said softly, “I said I wouldn’t go to Yunzhou. Please leave.”

Jiang Xueting said, “Whether you go to Yunzhou isn’t for you to decide!”

Pingjun slowly looked up at him. He was clearly in high spirits now, even showing a trace of pride and satisfaction between his brows. She also saw the guards stationed in the courtyard. The memorial hall was silent, with three incense sticks burning before Madam Ye’s tablet, wisps of smoke curling past their eyes.

Ye Pingjun’s gaze was calm, “Director Jiang, if you still remember our past friendship, allow me to presumptuously call you elder brother. If you don’t remember… then once you leave this door, the Ye family’s connection with you ends here.”

Jiang Xueting suddenly said angrily, “Stop talking like that. You must come with me today!”

Just as he finished speaking, they heard Bai Liyuan’s surprised voice from outside, “Pingjun.” Pingjun turned to see those guards had already blocked the worried-looking Bai Liyuan outside. Bai Liyuan angrily shouted at Jiang Xueting, “Jiang Xueting, I came to take Pingjun to my house. If you dare touch her, the Bai family will never forgive you.”

But Jiang Xueting only snorted coldly, unmoved by Bai Liyuan’s words, saying sternly to Ye Pingjun, “Don’t think I can’t deal with you!”

Ye Pingjun lowered her eyes, turned calmly, and stepped back behind the memorial altar. Jiang Xueting’s expression was extremely ugly as he stepped forward to grab her, but Ye Pingjun suddenly turned around, her eyes bright, already holding Madam Ye’s memorial tablet in front of her chest.

Jiang Xueting froze as if doused with cold water.

Ye Pingjun, dressed in mourning clothes, held Madam Ye’s memorial tablet with both hands, staring brightly at Jiang Xueting, saying clearly word by word, “Jiang Xueting, think about how my mother treated you. How dare you force me like this?!”

Seeing Jiang Xueting standing there rigidly with an indecisive expression, and understanding his character well, Ye Pingjun said calmly, “Jiang Xueting, let me give you some advice.”

Jiang Xueting said stiffly, “Speak.”

Ye Pingjun, enduring her headache, said slowly, “I know your wedding with Second Miss Tao is approaching. Second Miss Tao’s status will certainly benefit your career immensely. The Tao family is a prominent Jinling clan and must be watching your every move closely. Don’t let emotions over a woman like me ruin your future.”

These words hit exactly at Jiang Xueting’s weak point, making him even more furious, though he coldly replied, “My future is none of your concern!”

Ye Pingjun withdrew her gaze, silently walked past Jiang Xueting carrying the tablet toward Bai Liyuan at the gate. The small courtyard was extremely quiet all around. Jiang Xueting listened to her increasingly distant footsteps, his expression gloomy, breathing more and more rapidly, clenching both hands tightly, feeling as if his heart was being carved out alive.

Seeing Jiang Xueting’s ashen face and the signs of an impending rage, accompanying deputy Xue Zhiqi stepped forward and advised quietly, “Director Jiang, the Tao family is watching so closely. This woman… forget about it. Your career comes first.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt pain in his chest as Jiang Xueting shoved him aside. In a flash, Jiang Xueting drew his pistol from its holster and aimed it at Ye Pingjun, who had reached the courtyard. His clear eyes actually shot out bloodshot threads as he gritted his teeth and shouted, “I know you’re going to find him!”

This sudden mad action shocked everyone in the courtyard. Bai Liyuan, blocked outside, trembled all over in fright and cried out in terror, “Pingjun!”

Ye Pingjun turned around. The dark muzzle pointed at her from afar. Her gaze fell on Jiang Xueting’s suddenly furious face. He held the pistol with a trembling arm, his chest rising and falling violently. The wind through the courtyard lifted the edges of her mourning clothes, and the barely budding branches of the old locust tree swayed silently above his head.

Pingjun’s eyes held a tranquil expression as she looked at him, as if looking at a complete stranger.

She said softly, “If I go to find him, would you really shoot me dead?”

“Bang!” The gunshot rang out.

Ye Pingjun’s shadow was cast on the stone pavement of the courtyard. He had shot at her shadow, but she still faced him, her slender back straight as an arrow.

Jiang Xueting was completely desperate, knowing everything was over.

His voice was rigid, “Ye Pingjun, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other.”

Ye Pingjun turned and walked out the courtyard gate.

Bai Liyuan stepped forward and grasped her hand. She lowered her head and left that place with Bai Liyuan. When they reached the alley entrance, a military automobile was parked there. Bai Liyuan’s heart was beating wildly as she said nervously, “This isn’t our family’s car. Where is our car?”

As she was looking around, she suddenly felt her arm grow heavy. When she turned around in alarm, Pingjun, holding the memorial tablet, had already weakly slid down along her arm, collapsing unconscious on the ground with a pale face.

This was precisely the era of warlord conflicts and troubled times. The two major separatist forces in the country—the Jinling Central Government in the south and the Xiao family warlords in the north—had been in standoff for years. Marshal Xiao from the north had fought his way from beyond the passes into the interior, brave and skilled in battle, and his eldest son Xiao Beichen was even more cunning in military strategy. The Jinling government had never gained the slightest advantage, only managing to rule separately from the northern Xiao forces with the Xi River as the boundary. However, in this spring campaign, Xiao army regimental commander Jiang Songren had actually defected to the Yu army in battle. The Yu army turned defeat into victory, rising from desperate circumstances to trap Xiao army young marshal Xiao Beichen and a brigade of troops at Xiangpingkou, completely annihilating over ten thousand men from the Xiao army’s first and second echelons. The Jinling government in the south could finally hold its head high. Yu family’s Fifth Young Master, a phoenix among dragons, had turned the world upside down and made his name in one battle, henceforth commanding troops and governing, his power shaking the realm.

This northern campaign had raged for over half a year. The Yu army seized the main railway lines, turning the Xiibei region into a fog of war with corpses filling the ravines—naturally shocking both China and foreign countries, drawing worldwide attention. American Mr. Terry’s secretary Shen Yanqing came forward, traveling north and south to promote peace talks.

This morning, in the Yu army’s central command headquarters, half the wall was covered with strategic maps marked with military force indicators. By the window sat a pleasant pot of jade begonias, fragrant and verdant. Chief Secretary Wang Ji of the confidential office stood opposite the desk, clearly reading aloud a letter Shen Yanqing had specially written to Yu Changxuan.

Commander Yu, respected sir:

After the battle at Xiangpingkou, Fifth Young Master’s name resonates throughout the realm. However, “one general’s success is built on ten thousand bones.” Witnessing the people’s suffering and the exhaustion of their lifeblood, casting away soldiers’ lives, at this time of external enemies and threats, with Japan eyeing us like a tiger, while our beautiful rivers and mountains are carved up by foreigners, this north-south civil war, this fraternal strife, no matter how great the achievement, what benefit is there?

…

Shen has good counsel to offer: although the Yu army currently holds the upper hand, there are “three reasons the Xiao army cannot be destroyed”!

First reason it cannot be destroyed: Young Marshal Xiao’s ruthlessness in warfare is known to all. If he decides to perish together with you in mutual destruction, the Yu army would not only gain no advantage but would certainly suffer great damage. If the Yu army were more than half destroyed, how could the Jinling Yu family compete with the three great families?

Second reason it cannot be destroyed: although Jiang Songren has submitted to the Yu army, his heart is hard to fathom. Jiang was Young Marshal Xiao’s mentor, and Young Marshal Xiao treats him with great loyalty. Whether his submission is genuine, even your excellency in Jinling dare not trust lightly. Now Teacher Jiang is stationed outside Xiangpingkou—if during the decisive battle he shows mercy for old times and strikes back, alas! Xiangpingkou would become the place of the Yu army’s destruction.

The third reason it cannot be destroyed: The Yu family’s two sons both perished at the hands of Japanese forces. The hatred between the Yu army and Japan is irreconcilable. However, the Mou, Tao, and Chu families in Jinling are all pro-Japanese factions who have always feared the Yu army. It is precisely because of the north-south division, with only the Yu army and Xiao army evenly matched, that the Mou, Tao, and Chu families dare not act rashly. In this battle, Fifth Young Master had favorable timing, geography, and popular support—all conditions were perfect. Allow Shen to speak frankly: this was truly a stroke of luck. But if in youthful vigor you completely annihilate the Xiao forces, I fear that on the day of your triumphant return, it will be precisely when the three Jinling hawks unite to destroy the Yu family!

“When the hares are killed, the hunting dogs are cooked; when the birds are gone, the bow is put away”—who doesn’t know this principle? Fifth Young Master surely understands the stakes involved. If you heed Shen’s words and pursue north-south peace negotiations, then the realm will be peaceful, the people will unite in allegiance, and Fifth Young Master’s achievements will benefit generations to come.

…

These sincere words from Shen contain no personal desires—they are offered with complete honesty. I humbly request your consideration.

When this letter was finished being read aloud, its words were extremely earnest and each sentence struck at the heart of vital interests. Yu Changxuan stood facing the window, the collar insignia on his iron-gray military uniform stiff and blindingly bright. He took out a long thin match stick, lightly struck it against the phosphorus surface, and heard a “hiss” as a cluster of pale blue flame rose from his fingertips. He watched the flame and smiled, “Uncle Gu, what do you think?”

Yu army senior advisor Gu Yigang smoked his cigarette, his shrewd calculating face hidden in the smoke, saying, “This Shen Yanqing is indeed remarkable. The three matters that you worry about day and night—he has hit upon each one.” He paused, looked at Yu Changxuan’s straight back, then smiled again, “The commander is now wise and decisive, incomparable to the past. You say whether to fight or not still depends on your judgment.”

Yu Changxuan lowered his eyes slightly, “I was able to win this battle entirely because of Father’s and all the uncles’ support. But having finally cornered Xiao Beichen at Xiangpingkou, if we let him go again, this man is full of schemes—I fear we’ll never have another chance to capture him!”

He remained there contemplating, the flame continuing to burn until it reached Yu Changxuan’s fingers. Yu Changxuan frowned and thrust the burning match into the flower soil. There was a “hiss” as only faint white smoke silently drifted out from the soil cracks.

Gu Yigang slowly said, “Your excellency has ultimately underestimated the power of the Mou and Tao families. One careless move allowed these two great families to grow strong. I fear the Yu army’s real adversaries are no longer the northern Xiao forces. Commander, forgive this old fool for speaking plainly—external enemies can be repelled, but internal strife is hard to guard against.”

Yu Changxuan understood the meaning in Gu Yigang’s words. He finally turned around, threw away the matchbox, and smiled faintly, “Forget it. Uncle Gu understands after all. The timing isn’t right—further Yu army advances would be unprofitable. I think we should do this favor.”

Gu Yigang smiled, “Let’s proceed as the commander says.” Just as this plan was decided and Yu Changxuan was about to call the secretary to draft a telegram, someone knocked outside the office. Feng Tianjun, standing to one side, went to open the door. Deputy Wu Zuoxiao followed Feng Tianjun in, holding a letter, and stood at attention, “Commander, Director Gu will arrive tomorrow.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Changxuan’s expression paused slightly. He took the letter from Wu Zuoxiao’s hand, opened it, and slowly read it through.

The further north they went, the colder it became.

The train rumbled along, the lamp in the first-class compartment burning through the night. By dawn, light snow had begun falling outside the window, making the weather even colder, though the compartment remained warm. The nurse had just given Ye Pingjun an injection when someone slid open the compartment door. The nurse turned her head, “Director Gu.”

Gu Ruitong walked over to look at Ye Pingjun lying in bed. Seeing she was still asleep and her complexion still poor, he turned to the nurse, “We’ll need to take an automobile for a stretch after getting off the train. Can her body handle it?” The nurse said, “She just had an injection—there shouldn’t be any problem.” Gu Ruitong nodded, and the nurse left carrying her medicine tray.

It was already dawn, the sky gradually showing light like a sheet of pale azure gilt paper. The endless plain scenery flashed quickly past the train window. Ye Pingjun slept drowsily while Gu Ruitong pulled over a chair to sit beside her. He quietly watched her, his eyes showing a trace of pity. After this woman had finished handling her mother’s funeral affairs, she had finally exhausted herself, like a withered flower that could no longer support itself and had collapsed.

She lay there weakly, her hair somewhat disheveled against her temples. Gu Ruitong slowly reached out, wanting to smooth the messy hair at her temples, but his hand paused in mid-air just as it was about to touch her skin. He looked at her sleeping face, his fingers slowly curling as he gradually withdrew his hand.

A guard’s voice came from outside, “Director Gu, the train is entering the station.”

Xiangpingkou was currently occupied by the Yu army’s Ninth Corps, with sentries everywhere and security along the route. In the compartment, the nurse had already dressed Ye Pingjun in a plain cloud-patterned velvet cloak with the hood up. Gu Ruitong saw that Ye Pingjun was still unconscious with her fever unbroken. He lowered his head and called several times, “Miss Ye.” She barely opened her eyes, her breathing hot, opening her mouth but unable to speak. Gu Ruitong said softly, “Miss Ye, please bear with this.”

He bent down and lifted her in his arms, carrying her off the train with guards naturally following behind. Armed sentries stood on both sides of the railway, and because of the extraordinary wartime conditions, there was even a guard captain with a machine gun on alert. As soon as Gu Ruitong got off the train, he heard “Salute!” and all the guards on both sides of the railway presented arms in perfect military order. An armored automobile was already waiting there. Guards opened the rear door, Gu Ruitong bent to carry Ye Pingjun into the car, then got in himself. The armored automobile started up and headed straight for the central command headquarters at Xiangpingkou.

Because Ye Pingjun had received an injection on the train, the medication was now taking effect and she had regained some consciousness. She felt herself lying in a moving vehicle. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the car window covered with a layer of crystalline frost flowers, piece by piece. The automobile was moving very fast. Her mind was confused—she had been drowsy the whole way, and now that she was finally somewhat alert, she felt a sense of helpless panic. With effort, she said, “Where… are we going?”

Gu Ruitong sat on the fold-down seat and, hearing her voice, said softly, “Miss Ye, I’m taking you to see Fifth Young Master.”

Pingjun’s eyes filled with tears as she choked out, “He…”

Gu Ruitong said slowly, “Fifth Young Master has never forgotten Miss Ye. If he weren’t tied up with military affairs, he would have come to find you personally long ago. Now that Fifth Young Master knows Miss Ye has suffered the pain of losing her mother, he commanded me to bring you here no matter what.”

Ye Pingjun’s body trembled lightly. She looked up at Gu Ruitong, tears streaming down her face. She had always thought of his resentment toward her, believing he would never forgive her. But when Gu Ruitong spoke of him, her heart still beat rapidly. She struggled to sit up, barely able to catch her breath.

The car hadn’t gone much further when the driver said, “Director Gu, there’s a checkpoint ahead.”

Gu Ruitong turned to look forward and said, “Stop the car.” The automobile stopped by the roadside. Gu Ruitong saw that Ye Pingjun had awakened and said, “Miss Ye, can you walk?” Ye Pingjun nodded with difficulty. Gu Ruitong smiled slightly, “Good. Fifth Young Master has come to meet you.”

The day had fully brightened, with a thin layer of snow covering the ground. Tall bare trees lined both sides of the road, their branches stripped of leaves in the cold wind. Deputy Wu Zuoxiao and Feng Tianjun dutifully led a large contingent of armed Yu army guards standing to one side of the checkpoint. Yu Changxuan wore a large military cloak, standing in the middle of the road, watching the armored automobile gradually come to a stop.

He saw Gu Ruitong help her get out of the car. Her steps were so weak she could barely stand. The bitter cold wind blew over them, her hair scattered loosely in the wind. Her body in the plain cloak was thin as a withered leaf falling in the wind. He hadn’t expected that when he saw her again, she would have changed to the point of heartbreak. His breathing involuntarily quickened as the deep longing he had fiercely suppressed in his heart transformed into surging emotion, all crashing over him like overturning seas the moment he saw her. His entire heart was about to leap from his chest.

She had come!

Yu Changxuan ran quickly toward Ye Pingjun. Ye Pingjun stood unsteadily, the wind blowing her temple hair into disarray. She watched the figure running toward her across the snow, her chest feeling surrounded by warm water, even her eyes brimming with warm liquid. Yu Changxuan had already reached her, saying nothing as he pulled her into his arms. The large military cloak instantly covered her frail body. She was in his embrace, his warmth completely surrounding her. She trembled continuously, tears falling uncontrollably, her lips quivering but unable to speak. He said, “I know everything.”

Her tears flowed even more fiercely. The pain of losing her mother that had tormented her struck again. Her legs couldn’t support her and she slid weakly downward. He wrapped her completely in his military cloak, holding her tightly in his arms like comforting a wronged child, saying firmly, “Pingjun, you don’t need to go anywhere. Stay with me.”

Her whole body was soft. She slowly closed her eyes and lowered her head, tears falling one by one into his embrace. The wind howled beside her ears, blowing the withered grass revealed in the snow, scattered and drifting everywhere. The vast mountains and fields were all white. This world was lonely and cold, but only his embrace was warm, only he could be relied upon.

Pear Blossoms Sway on Branches, Young Hearts Unite in Love

That evening, in the central command office, because front-line military affairs could never be delayed, Yu Changxuan had consecutively processed several front-line military reports and instructed the confidential office secretary to immediately telegraph several important directives. An orderly brought in dinner. Yu Changxuan had been busy all afternoon but didn’t feel like eating. He waved for the secretaries and staff who had worked with him all afternoon to go eat, then said to Wu Zuoxiao nearby, “Have Director Gu come in.”

Wu Zuoxiao went out and soon brought Gu Ruitong in. Wu Zuoxiao left again, casually closing the office door. Yu Changxuan sat there and said, “The fire at the Ye house—was it intentional or accidental?”

Gu Ruitong said, “I told Miss Ye it was accidental.”

Yu Changxuan looked at Gu Ruitong, “Who did it?” But Gu Ruitong remained silent, his face showing difficulty. Seeing his expression, Yu Changxuan couldn’t help snorting, “Could it really be some important figure making trouble for an ordinary civilian woman? The Mou family? Chu family? Or Tao family? Or perhaps the Dragon Hawk Gang from Xinping Island came to Jinling to cause trouble? No matter who it is, I’ll have them die without…”

Gu Ruitong blurted out, “Commander!”

Yu Changxuan raised his eyes. Under his ink-black hair, those eyes shone with sharp, snowy brightness. His face was cold, his handsome features showing unprecedented angular sharpness and severity. He sat there staring at the hesitant Gu Ruitong, asking word by word, “Tell me clearly—who exactly did it?”

Ye Pingjun once again awakened drowsily from sleep. Night had already fallen.

She turned her head on the pillow and saw several nurses in white standing by the bed. One nurse, seeing her open her eyes, bent down and smiled at her, “Miss Ye, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Pingjun shook her head. The nurse pressed her forehead, then turned to another nurse, “Still a slight fever. Take Miss Ye’s temperature and blood pressure again. I’ll call Medical Officer Dai to examine her.” Ye Pingjun watched the nurses moving around her like a revolving lantern. One nurse stepped forward to take her temperature. Pingjun lay on the pillow and asked softly, “Where is this?”

The nurse smiled, “This is the central command headquarters.”

Pingjun drew a gentle breath, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead again. She struggled to ask another question. The nurse had personally witnessed the commander carrying this woman back during the day, remembering clearly his extremely caring manner, showing how much the commander valued this woman. She smiled again, “This is Commander Yu’s room.”

Hearing this sentence, Ye Pingjun’s heart relaxed and she immediately felt secure. The corners of her mouth slowly turned up in a slight smile. She lay in bed and closed her eyes. The nurse beside her asked, “Miss Ye, do you need anything?”

Pingjun slowly shook her head. Her sweat-dampened hair stuck to her temples. Her fever hadn’t completely subsided, but her tense nerves finally relaxed. She closed her eyes and said wearily, “Nothing. I’m too tired—I just want to sleep a while longer.”

When Yu Changxuan came, she hadn’t yet awakened.

The room had only one small table lamp lit, making it somewhat dim. Several nurses saw him enter and quickly stood up, about to address him when Yu Changxuan signaled for quiet. The perceptive nurses saw Yu Changxuan walk to Pingjun’s bedside and all withdrew.

Yu Changxuan bent down to look at the sleeping Pingjun, seeing she slept very peacefully. He was extremely familiar with her sleeping appearance—still lying slightly on her side, right hand beside the pillow, fingers gently curled toward her palm. He held her hand in his own. Her hand was soft and warm, boneless and tender, her delicate fingers seeming ready to break at a touch. He pressed her hand against his face. Her palm pressed warmly against his skin like an infant’s softest touch. In the faintest voice, he called, “Pingjun.”

She slept drowsily, responding “Mm” in her dreams. Her eyelids were heavy and wouldn’t open. He slowly lowered his head, burying his face beside Pingjun’s cheek, gently kissing her. The room’s lamplight cast a warm yellow glow, illuminating the age-old rosewood antique furniture, ebony lattework, and white walls with their mottled light and shadows. Only he kept his head deeply lowered, his features immersed in shadow, so even the expression on his face was hidden.

When Pingjun awakened again, it was already the next morning. Her fever had completely subsided, though her forehead still showed fine perspiration and her whole body felt warm. Only then did she discover she was being held in someone’s arms. She looked up at him—he was still sleeping, his handsome brows still showing fatigue. He hadn’t removed his outer uniform, the collar insignia gleaming brilliantly, the hard buttons on his sleeves pressing into her shoulder.

This reunion felt like a lifetime had passed.

She moved slightly. Having grown up in the military, he was very alert and awakened with her. Seeing her looking at him silently with open eyes, he smiled, “I actually got up later than you.” She still didn’t speak, just lay there quietly watching him. After being looked at for a while, he smiled, “What? Don’t you recognize me?”

Pingjun extended her finger, gently placing it on his dark eyebrows, slowly tracing along the brow ridge point by point, then touching his high, straight nose bridge. “I recognize you.”

After saying this, her eyes suddenly reddened. He asked, “What’s wrong?” Pingjun’s eyelashes moved silently and tears flowed down as she choked out, “I don’t have a mother anymore.”

Yu Changxuan’s gaze paused slightly. He reached out to hold her tightly in his arms, saying softly, “You have me now. I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” His voice carried deep tenderness. The two of them had experienced so much, with all its twists and turns, and now finally found this peaceful companionship. What did all those past events matter compared to the importance of this moment’s warmth?

Pingjun gazed at him and said softly, “Don’t you blame me anymore?”

He knew what she was asking about, but only smiled slightly, leaning close to her ear to say tenderly, “I missed you so much. Let me hold you.”

He extended both arms to embrace her. Pingjun’s eyes grew warm and she silently sobbed once, but then heard him say half-teasingly, “As long as the green hills remain, there’s no fear of lacking firewood. You’ll have to give me another one to make up for it.”

Pingjun immediately blushed and pushed him hard. Yu Changxuan took the opportunity to gently press her forehead, smiling, “Your fever has finally broken. I still need to handle some military affairs in a while. You should lie still today and not move. This place isn’t like Jinling—it snowed a little yesterday and it’s very cold outside.”

She nodded and pointed outside, “It snowed.” Yu Changxuan followed her hand’s direction to look out the window and smiled, “That’s not snow—it’s pear blossoms planted in the courtyard.” She looked carefully and indeed saw several snow-white petals blown against the window by the wind.

Yu Changxuan saw her watching intently, then noticed the small lamp by the bed was still on—it had burned all night, though in daylight it no longer had the brightness it had shown at night. The bedroom was quiet. In this situation, he suddenly smiled softly, “I’m reminded of a line of poetry I learned as a child: ‘Just able to light the lamp, rain beats the pear blossoms with doors deeply closed.'”

She turned to him, “You still remember poetry you learned as a child?” Yu Changxuan laughed, “Originally I couldn’t remember either—who likes such tedious things? Later, after my father beat my hands with thirty strikes of the board, I remembered it.” Thinking of childhood events, he smiled again, “At that time my grandfather was still alive. Seeing my father beat me, he felt very sorry and stood beside tapping the ground with his walking stick, scolding my father. He said we Yu family people only needed to remember eight words: ‘die wrapped in horse hide, spill blood and brains’—what was the point of remembering about pear blossoms and closed doors? Were we planning to take the imperial examinations?!”

This sentence made Pingjun feel alarmed. She quickly covered his mouth, “Amitabha! Enough, enough! You’d better just remember ‘rain beats the pear blossoms with doors deeply closed.'” He laughed, leaning forward to kiss her palm. She blushed, and he leaned closer to kiss her neck. She was flustered into deep redness, shrinking into the covers, “Stop fooling around! Don’t you have military affairs to handle? Go quickly!”

Yu Changxuan saw her complexion was much better than yesterday. He knew that she had been deeply troubled these past months and must have been extremely sad. Now it was rare to see her smile, and having been separated from her for so long, how could he bear to leave? He laughingly tried to grab her covers, “It’s so cold outside—let me lie down a while longer.”

Pingjun pushed him away. Yu Changxuan smiled again, “I remember another line—this one was good, didn’t get me beaten by Father. I memorized it at a glance.” Pingjun asked curiously, “Which line?” He smiled, “Spring nights are regrettably short with late sunrise—from then on the king never held early court.” Pingjun blushed and said softly, “Bah! You… you really… you really can’t say anything proper!” After this sentence, he lunged forward, hugging the thoroughly red-faced Pingjun along with her covers. Just as they were laughing and playing, someone knocked outside. Wu Zuoxiao’s voice came in, “Commander, Division Commander Yang has arrived and is waiting in the war room.”

Yu Changxuan was extremely frustrated. He helplessly lay back on the bed looking at the ceiling, not speaking for a long time. Seeing him like this, Pingjun said, “Get up quickly!” Yu Changxuan said, “If I don’t make a sound, maybe he’ll go away?” Pingjun couldn’t help laughing, pushing him hard, “Go quickly! Don’t pester me here.”

More knocking came from outside. Yu Changxuan shouted toward the door irritably, “I heard you! What are you knocking for!”

Wu Zuoxiao replied righteously from outside, “I was afraid the commander might pretend not to hear! You’ve done this before!”

Pingjun lowered her head and smiled. Yu Changxuan could only get up from bed and go to the washroom to clean up. Soon he came out and, seeing Pingjun leaning against the headboard, said, “I’m leaving then. I’ll come see you tonight. If you need anything, there are orderlies outside—just call.”

Pingjun nodded. Only after he left and the bedroom door closed did she hear his voice carry over, clearly annoyed, “Knock, knock, knock—I’ll chop off your fingers next time!” Wu Zuoxiao laughed and replied something that wasn’t clear.

Pingjun leaned against the headboard, listening to his voice gradually fade away. She turned to look out the window and saw several pear trees in the courtyard, their abundant blossoms weighing down the branches, blooming extremely luxuriantly. The branches still held a thin layer of snow—truly “white brocade floating fragrantly, jade petals piled like snow.”

Pingjun gazed at the tree full of pear blossoms, lost in thought. After a while, she smiled slightly.