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Chapter 12: Farewell
With this one parting, may we never meet again for all eternity…
The moonlight was cool as water. Yu Mingyao knelt on the bluestone pavement, not knowing how long she had stayed there.
Everything below her knees had gone numb. A faint sting from the scrape on her right arm during the day sent intermittent pain through her body.
Yet Yu Mingyao looked up at the moon above her and felt a strange sense of ease. The heavy armor that had burdened her since her rebirth had finally turned to ashes this day.
In her previous life, she had been confined within the inner chambers, trapped in that rare snowstorm.
She could still recall that face, frozen and stiff, beard disheveled and messy, the deep furrows etched into his brows.
He had been as young as she was, and yet died at the prime age of twenty.
To be fair, the Duke Xie’s household hadn’t treated her particularly poorly. But with every bit more affection Yu Mingyao had shown Xie Zhuoguang, that face had etched deeper into her mind.
She couldn’t console herself like Yan Yue always tried to, telling her it had just been an accident, that her brother had simply been born unlucky.
But the warmth she had felt during the day had made it all more real—so vivid in her mind now.
It had been hot, steaming with life. Not cold like an ice cellar.
That was… wonderful.
Yu Mingyao raised her eyes to the moon and let a smile form at her lips.
Madam Shi Luo stood under the eaves, supported by Yu Jinnian. What she saw upon arrival was this scene:
Her granddaughter, still dressed in riding clothes, knelt with her back straight, full of pride and composure. Moonlight spilled over her dark hair, making her look like a proud red rose blooming fiercely in a dark room—striking and graceful.
This child, ever since her parents’ passing, had always carried a faint trace of timidity, evoking deep pity. But now, not even a shadow of that remained.
“Little sister, get up!”
Madam Shi Luo couldn’t bear to interrupt the beautiful moment, but Yu Jinnian lacked such awareness.
Seeing his sister still kneeling, he immediately shouted from a few feet away. Fearing he’d been too slow, he dropped Madam Shi Luo’s arm and strode forward. Only after walking quite a distance did he realize something was off, awkwardly laughing before turning back to help.
Madam Shi Luo waved him off, walked to Yu Mingyao herself, and reached out a hand to help her up.
“Still not getting up? Could it be you’re really upset with this old woman?”
Yu Mingyao stared at the hand before her—withered, mottled with age spots—but the gesture was firm and resolute.
She lowered her gaze, a small crease forming at the corners of her lips.
“How could I blame you, Grandmother? I barely have time to love you enough.”
She grasped Madam Shi Luo’s hand and stood up with strength and steadiness.
Under the moonlight, Madam Shi Luo hugged Yu Mingyao, patted Yu Jinnian’s shoulder, and felt a wave of warmth swell in her heart.
She looked up at the bright moon and murmured to herself:
“My son, can you see this? Your mother will protect these two with every bone in her body. Rest easy now.”
In the blink of an eye, the moon set and the sun rose—it was a new day.
In the corner of a brick alley, wild grass pushed up through the cracks. Dew shimmered on the green leaves.
Though spring had not fully arrived, the morning air still held a slight chill. Few pedestrians walked the bluestone path on either side.
Yu Mingyao and Yu Jinnian walked side by side.
Yu Jinnian had already found out that, as usual, the day after the exam period ended would be the day the results were posted. Today, then, was their last day at the Pei family’s academy.
Once this day was over, if all went well, they could pack up and return to Suzhou.
Walking on this familiar path, Yu Mingyao remained silent.
Seeing this, Yu Jinnian set aside his joy and cautiously spoke:
“Aren’t we finally going home after today’s results? Why aren’t you happy, sister?”
“Didn’t you say, ever since we arrived in the capital, that what you wanted most was to go home?”
Yu Jinnian looked refreshed, though his body was still wrapped in bandages. His eyes, black and white, were filled with concern.
“Brother, I…”
Yu Mingyao opened her mouth, but a wave of sourness caught in her throat and stopped her.
She couldn’t lie to the person who cared most about her in this world.
They had grown up together, knowing each other inside out.
She couldn’t just let go of the path she had once walked in her previous life. That road had left deep scars on her soul.
Her grandmother had seen it. How could her brother, born of the same mother, not have sensed something?
He could be forgetful, but when it came to her well-being, he was always meticulous.
He never asked, simply because she never said.
“I…” Yu Mingyao lowered her head. Her once-radiant face now looked pale and weary.
“There are things I want to tell you, but I don’t know how to start.”
“Then don’t, for now,” Yu Jinnian said, eyes gentle and bright.
“Sister, all you need is a joyful life. Nothing else matters. Before Father passed, he held my hand and said: ‘Jinnian is a man. The duty of protecting your sister falls to you.’”
At the mention of their late father, Yu Jinnian quickly turned away, hiding his reddening eyes.
Yu Mingyao saw the sorrow in him. She wanted to say, “I miss them too.”
So much time had passed that their parents’ faces now felt veiled and blurry in her memory.
They had died before she came of age. Looking back now, she was no longer just a daughter of the Yu family—she had once been a wife of the Xie family.
Time had been cruel and relentless, yet in this moment, Yu Mingyao felt a sliver of gratitude.
As long as they returned to Jiangnan, fate could be corrected, the path restored.
She could live like any proper young lady: embroidering, going on spring outings, enjoying poetry and flowers.
A life bold and radiant.
In silence, they arrived at the academy.
As Yu Mingyao stepped into the school with Yu Jinnian, a loud shriek suddenly erupted.
Someone—no one knew who—had tossed colorful paper strips, and the moment Yu Mingyao looked up, a rain of them fluttered down.
Leading the noise was Pei Shang, a whistle in his mouth, cheering in exaggerated fashion.
Surrounding him were students poring over betting ledgers.
“Congratulations, Brother Jinnian, on redeeming your name! Looks like you’ll be collecting quite the silver today. How are you going to thank us for our support?”
As he spoke, Yu Jinnian had just reached his desk.
Normally, he’d snap back at such nonsense or at least roll his eyes.
But today, mindful that it was their last day, he didn’t want to cause trouble. He only lifted his eyelids slightly, skipped over Pei Shang, and gruffly said:
“Excuse me.”
He shoved through the crowd, causing Pei Shang to raise an eyebrow.
Pei Shang then looked toward Yu Mingyao.
One glance—and his heart clenched.
Yesterday, though she’d been injured, she had grit her teeth, drawn her bow, and fought through the pain. But today?
His gaze fell to her lips.
They used to be pink and soft. Now they were pale and tightly pressed together.
Her head was bowed, loose strands framing her face.
Pei Shang couldn’t see her expression.
Ever since entering the classroom, aside from one brief glance up, Yu Mingyao hadn’t looked at anyone.
She sat properly at her desk, dressed in plain white. Her bloodless face made her look like a withered daffodil—still beautiful, but lifeless.
Yu Mingyao didn’t know why—returning to Suzhou had been her deepest wish across two lifetimes. Now that it was finally coming true, she should have been overjoyed.
She had expected this tug-of-war to last much longer, but in just over twenty days, it was already ending.
With this parting, she would never again see Xie Zhuoguang.
Back in Jiangnan, she would witness her brother marrying, having children.
What could be better than that?
Those things she ought to forget, those bonds that never should have formed—better to let them scatter in the wind.
That was what Yu Mingyao kept telling herself.
Yet in the end, Xie Zhuoguang’s cold, misty eyes haunted her like a shadow, clinging to her mind.
Annoying.
Pei Bizhu, scribbling down numbers and calculating her potential winnings, happened to glance up and spot Yu Mingyao.
She immediately dropped her pen and rushed over.
“Sister Mingyao! I’m counting on you to rank in the top three today and put some people in their place!”
Yu Mingyao responded with a smile—but it was pale, not like her usual.
Pei Bizhu sensed something was wrong and turned to Yu Jinnian, her clear eyes full of confusion.
Yu Jinnian waved his hand, signaling her not to ask.
“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Pei Bizhu didn’t quite understand and kept looking at him.
Yu Jinnian sighed and pulled her aside, whispering, “We’re not coming back tomorrow. We’re packing up for Suzhou. I’m only telling you, so you…”
He was about to caution her to keep quiet when Pei Bizhu suddenly shouted:
“What? You’re not coming to school anymore? Going back to Suzhou?”
A few feet away, Pei Shang’s eyes immediately darted over.
So did everyone else’s.
In a flash, they were the center of attention, surrounded by curious stares. Yu Jinnian put on a polite but awkward smile.
[Are you not leaving yet?]
He mouthed silently at Pei Bizhu.
Catching his death glare, Pei Bizhu stuck out her tongue, realizing she’d messed up. She gave an awkward grin and returned to her seat.
The classroom fell silent.
At its center, Xie Zhuoguang had been sitting with his back to them the whole time, never turning around.
But now, his heart was pounding.
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