After such a thrilling and terrifying incident, none of the girls had the heart to stay in Apricot Garden anymore. Cheng Shuwei sent them off with a deep sense of apology and returned to the pavilion by the wine garden where she was supposed to meet He Le'an. On her way back, she picked up a small, hollow, round sheep fat jade pendant that she had found on the road for the first time.

  It looked like a pendant accessory for some item, and was being specially treated with fondness, hung separately from a red silk cord. As half of the people were still sitting in the pavilion when they arrived, she casually asked, "Is this yours?"

  He Le'an and Xue Huiyu shook their heads first, and Xue Shizi took it from her hand with some doubt. "I seem to have seen it somewhere..." Before he finished speaking, his action of flipping through paused, and his gaze was fixed on a small, exquisite Sanskrit character 'Yuan' that was almost hidden in the sheep fat jade pendant and difficult to detect.

  Xue Huiyu saw that he looked different, and couldn't help but carefully examine the actually very ordinary jade pendant again. As she looked at it, it seemed to be somewhat familiar. She asked in doubt: "I also seem to have seen it somewhere, is it brother's thing?"

  "It's not mine, but I know whose it is. I'll just return it to 'him' then." Xue Shizi said with a hint of playfulness.

  He glanced at the jade pendant that seemed familiar to him, and just then, He Le'an laughed and said, "The wine is ready..."

  **

  The sky was like a piece of blue-black satin, washed clean, with stars twinkling like scattered dye, casting a faint glow. The moon, like a bright mirror, hung from the branches, casting a silver radiance on the ground, illuminating a slender, weak silhouette. Her heart racing with anxiety, searching for something, just as she pushed aside the flower cluster beside the bluestone slab, a voice full of disdain and mockery rang out:

  "Is this what you're looking for?"

  Qian Ying's anxious figure couldn't believe it and suddenly turned her head, only to see Xue Shi Zi still wearing that deep smoke blue brocade robe, elegantly walking out of a courtyard under the moonlight. The thing swaying from his fingers was exactly what Qian Ying had been searching for. She bit her lip and said: "It's mine, please return it to me, Xue Shi Zi..."

  "It can't be yours." Xue Shizi interrupted, "If I'm not mistaken, this jade pendant is an ornament on the drawstring head of a purse, with one on each side." He suddenly smiled playfully, "But several years ago, someone accidentally lost one, and then that purse was thrown away like trash."

  Qianying clenched her fist tightly, as if to suppress some emotions in her heart. She lowered her delicate eyebrows and self-mockingly said: "He's already gone, why does Xue Shizi have to be so annoying to me? It just so happens that I picked up this thing and kept it for myself, thinking of him. The thing was indeed not given by him, but neither did I steal it."

  "Although he's no longer here, his things remain with you, it's always been inappropriate, I'll return them to their rightful owner—"

  "No!" Qianying interrupted urgently, in the cold and clear moonlight, her eyes were filled with tears as she sincerely begged, "Today I've already lost too much, if this thought is also gone, I...I'm afraid I won't even have the courage to live on. Please, Lord Xue, have mercy and let me keep the jade pendant by my side, I promise I won't tell anyone it belongs to you!"

  "Dongfang Wu." Xue Shizi scrutinized her, his eyes probing the love that inadvertently flashed in her eyes. He sighed and said: "No one blames you for choosing self-preservation at this critical moment of life and death. As Huiyu's older brother, I also understand that as someone from a noble birth, you attach importance to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, but emotions have always transcended birth."

  In the face of swords and knives, some people choose to protect themselves, while others choose to protect others. Does that mean those who are willing to protect others are not afraid of death? Everyone is afraid, but those who choose to protect others care more about their relationships with each other than life and death.

  He said, "I decided to take back the jade pendant not because of today's incident, but because you are still young and have a bright future ahead of you. It's better for you to give up this idea early on, for your own good and for the sake of your future husband. It's all for the best, after all, paper can't wrap fire forever, if someone finds out, it will only implicate the Duke of Qian's household."

  The Eastern Rainbow's teardrops finally fell, and Xue Shizong said: "When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. No matter who misses him, thinks of him, or waits for him, he can't come back. Just like how he once treated someone differently, the fate is really strange, unable to resist the two words 'jealousy' and 'resentment', and the heart full of joy."

  His words had a hidden meaning, and the Eastern Rainbow's thoughts, which were well-hidden, trembled slightly. He also said: "Some things have gone wrong, and maybe there is no way to make up for them, but if you realize that something has gone wrong and make an effort to correct it, then it's not too late."

  "Dongfang Niang's pale lips twitched weakly, 'Just for the sake of fate, you're so biased. Just for the sake of fate, even if the Duke of Yue is dead, there's still you to protect her. This grandiose speech, every word and sentence pierces my heart. I offer my heartfelt enthusiasm, but before I can carefully present it to him, it's about to be trampled because of no fate or affinity!'"

  "And she, just because of the two words 'fate', can easily get my unreachable pampering, it's so unfair. What's wrong with me being slightly unwilling to accept this? What's wrong with me being slightly jealous?"

  Xue Shizi looked at her and saw the layers of resentment gradually revealing themselves, shaking his head: "It's not wrong to feel a little unwilling and envious, but ask yourself honestly, are you really just 'a little'? After what you call 'a little', do you think you're still worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with him?"

  On the day of the banquet at Yipai's mansion, one hand was making a false move to lure the tiger away from the mountain, and it was done smoothly without any flaws. After investigating thoroughly, all clues were ruthlessly destroyed. There was also a scapegoat who confessed and committed suicide without leaving any evidence behind.

  Dongfang Niang's tears, sour and astringent, bitter and suffocating, flowed from her cheeks into her heart. She bit her lip again and again, thinking of that man as bright and clean as the moon, and suddenly knelt down with a thud. Choking back sobs, she begged: "Please, Lord Xue, let me keep the jade pendant!"

  Xue Shizi looked at her determined and helpless plea, his fingers brushed over the 'Yue' character on the jade pendant, and with a subtle inner force, he erased it before tossing it back to her: "Even if you're no longer close with Huiyu, you're still someone I've watched grow up. Take care of yourself from now on."

  **

  In the quiet courtyard, only a faint silver glow remained. A patch of pure white hidden in the darkness silently merged into the darker night, and lazily appeared in an empty space. In an instant, a black shadow solemnly knelt on one knee before him, his voice calm and collected: "From Dongfang Yinniang's hands. Investigate again what happened at Zhiyibo's mansion that day."

  A dark figure departed, and a deep blue smoke came floating in, carrying a jar of wine with an air of leisure. A charming smile spread across its face as it said: "People, for the sake of fame, profit, or love, will always change. Although we've been acquainted for many years, I still can't see through you. At first, I thought you were quite similar to a friend who passed away many years ago. Later, when you unexpectedly saved Cheng Yi, your relationship with him became increasingly close, and I thought I must have been mistaken. If you were that person, why wouldn't you tell Huiyu, that silly girl who's always pining for you, right away? It wasn't until later, when you said you wanted to marry He Liu."

  "You're just someone who likes to 'think too much'."

  "What I learned from a young age in the military camp was all about being a military strategist, this habit is probably hard to change." Xue Shizi said with deep meaning, "Sometimes one's nature can't be changed just by changing one's appearance." He raised his wine jug and said, "Let's have another drink."

  **

  After the engagement, He Le'an's wedding day was calculated by Old Lady He and set on this year's Harvest Festival. In preparation for the wedding banquet and dowry, the entire Hou Mansion's side courtyard was filled with joy. Especially Old Lady He, who had always felt that she owed her eldest grandson's daughter a good marriage, was beaming with delight at the thought of He Le'an marrying well. Everyone looked thrilled and excited.

  It happened that He San Shu's birthday was approaching, and Old Lady He again had the idea of finding a new wife for him. However, since the incident with Xiang Niang, He San Shu, who was already thirty-two years old, had lost his enthusiasm for marriage and simply went along with whatever Old Lady He liked.

  The sky was clear and the air was fresh. He Le'an, Xue Huiyu, and the young ladies from various families saw Cheng Shuwei off as she left for Beijing. Before parting ways, she handed Cheng Shuwei a six-tiered food box and said with a smile: "A small token of my thoughts, I hope Sister Cheng has a smooth journey and all the best every day."

  Cheng Shuwei still couldn't get used to people giving her food boxes when seeing her off. She smiled wryly and said, "Thank you."

  The carriage, escorted by dozens of guards, set off reluctantly. Only after opening the exquisite food box did Cheng Shuwei discover that the large food box had only the last three layers filled with delicate and small pastries, including lotus seed buns, peanut fruit kernel cakes, and apple red date crisps.

  The first layer contained a handkerchief pouch and sachet embroidered with her name, the second layer was exquisite small ornaments, the third layer had a peace symbol and two brocade bags, along with a letter. She opened it in confusion, revealing elegant handwriting that read: "Open the red brocade bag when you are lost, open the green brocade bag when you are in danger. I calculated that you, Sister Cheng Yi, have an aversion to water in your five elements, so try not to go near water if possible. If you must go, be extremely careful. From now on, please abstain from drinking."

  A drop of water fell silently on the snow-white rice paper, Cheng Shuwei's hand holding the letter tightened, "This is not just a small token of thoughtfulness, how did this girl manage to move my heart like this." She looked at the six layers of thoughtful and gentle 'wedding gifts' in front of her, and the heart that had been intentionally cold-shouldered by the Wen Yibo's household when no one saw them off gradually warmed up.

  **

  He Lian returned to the Hou Mansion's separate courtyard, only to see Wu Miao and He Lizhe among others in the garden's pavilion. Wu Miao had specifically come over to visit Old Lady He and happened to bring along a message from Shao Laoye. Her gentle face was tinged with a hint of difficulty as she said: "The old master says that from now on, Miss, you shouldn't send things to the mansion anymore. The Zhuo Yibo Mansion can no longer accept these gifts."

  Upon hearing this, He Le An silently pursed her cherry lips, "I understand." Even if she had the heart to change things from her past life, it didn't mean that in this life everything would go as desired. For some people and some matters, being able to coexist peacefully was already sufficient.