Yan Ze paced back and forth in front of the young master’s courtyard, his eyes occasionally glancing toward Hongmei Residence. He waited from early morning to late morning, yet not a sound came from within.

Luo Qing stepped out of the house, hands behind his back, watching him fret like an ant on a hot pan.

“Aren’t you afraid Madam will raise hell again?”

“I used to be, because the young master was weak and had no power to resist. But now…” Yan Ze stepped closer and lowered his voice to say something bordering on treason, “Now the mother is weak and the son is strong. The young master started breaking free from Madam’s control two years ago. Look at him now—what can Madam really do?”

In other words, his wings had hardened—he now had both the heart and strength to resist.

Luo Qing saw someone walking over from afar. Not only did he not try to stop them, he was even pleased. A full-grown eagle should no longer obey its mother in everything. Though they had all been placed by Madam to serve the young master, their true master now was the young master himself. And if great things were to be accomplished in the future, it would certainly be through him.

Yan Ze followed his gaze and his eyes lit up as he stepped forward to greet the visitor warmly: “Aunt Wan, what brings you here?”

Wan Xia almost burst out laughing but restrained herself. “The young lady discovered an important clue and sent me to invite Young Master Yan for a discussion.”

Yan Ze blinked. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

“No. The young lady said it’s urgent. You may even have to leave the city afterward.”

“In that case…” Yan Ze looked back at Luo Bo with a troubled expression. “Aunt Wan, please wait a moment. I’ll go report to the young master. Luo Qing, please show Aunt Wan inside.”

With that, Yan Ze lifted the hem of his robe and ran off quickly.

Luo Qing led her in, speaking quietly with thanks.

Wan Xia smiled. “Young Master Yan must be a good master, for you all to protect him like this.”

Luo Qing nodded. The young master might be strict, but he was fair with rewards and punishments. Truly a good master.

Meanwhile, Yan Ze gently pushed open the door, knelt beside the young master, and reported, “The young lady sent Aunt Wan to say she found a very important clue and requests your presence for a discussion.”

Yan Shi’an remained silent.

Afraid the young master might refuse, Yan Ze added, “Aunt Wan came personally.”

Yan Shi’an looked at the memorial tablet and seemed to smile faintly. “How long has it been?”

“Two hours.”

Two hours. It didn’t seem that long. Yan Shi’an thought to himself—it somehow felt much shorter than the half-hour it used to.

He tried to lift one leg, and a wave of numbness swept over him, causing his body to sway.

Yan Ze quickly steadied him, barely containing his delight. This was the first time his young master had risen before the required time was up! The young lady truly was wonderful—so, so wonderful!

They waited silently for the numbness to pass. Only after a while did Yan Shi’an stand fully upright. Then, after waiting a bit longer, he walked out.

In the shade, Wan Xia watched Yan Shi’an in black slowly approach. Though she usually paid little mind to others, she couldn’t help feeling something in this moment. Those destined for great things rarely do so without paying a price.

Yan Shi’an returned to his room and changed into white robes, tying up his loose hair. When he emerged, he looked no different than usual. “Aunt, why didn’t you come in and sit?”

“The view outside is lovely,” Wan Xia replied, gesturing with a hand.

Yan Shi’an was uncharacteristically quiet today. It wasn’t until they reached Hongmei Residence and he saw the wall covered in red blossoms—and the three characters of its name—that his face lit up with a smile. “It didn’t bloom this well in previous years.”

“I heard from Qingshan that no one used to live in this courtyard. People nurture houses, and houses nurture people. With life here now, the flowers thrive.”

“You’re right, Aunt.” Passing through the gate partially covered by bougainvillea, Yan Shi’an looked up and saw someone waving from the breezeway.

“Come play a game with me,” Shi Buyu called out.

Yan Shi’an walked over. The chessboard was already set up, with an empty seat waiting.

“You’re in white today, so the white pieces are yours,” Shi Buyu decided on her own, already placing her first move.

Yan Shi’an sat down and followed suit with the white pieces.

One didn’t ask; the other didn’t speak. On the board, they captured each other’s dragons and cut off each other’s paths, fighting evenly. When lunchtime came, they naturally sat at the same table.

Shi Buyu preferred lively meals and disliked eating separately. Yan Shi’an had long grown used to it.

The dishes were simple—vegetarian, and one bowl of porridge.

For someone who loved good food, the meal was rather plain. Yet it tasted amazing. Even the ordinary white porridge seemed delicious.

They ate until not a single bite was left.

Shi Buyu said, “Old Whitebeard has bad teeth but a greedy mouth. When his teeth hurt, Aunt had to work hard to get him to eat a bowl of porridge he didn’t even like.”

“It tastes really good.”

“If you want it again, just ask Aunt to make it for you.” Shi Buyu stood up. “Come on, we’re heading out of the city.”

Yan Shi’an looked at her—had she really found a clue?

But Shi Buyu didn’t explain, simply took the lead outside.

They rode out together, with Wan Xia, Yan Ze, and the others following at a steady distance.

After leaving the city gates, Shi Buyu snapped her whip. “Race me!”

Yan Shi’an wasn’t in high spirits, but he didn’t want to spoil hers. He responded with a whip crack of his own. They both rode fine horses, sometimes one chasing the other, sometimes neck and neck.

Chasing the sun, the world rushed by. Only the wind roared in his ears. When he overtook her again, it felt like he was the only person in existence. He wanted to keep running like this forever—never stopping. No grand cause, no worries of life or death, no burdens, no vengeance for his father.

A man he had never met… yet who defined his entire existence. How ridiculous.

Why?

Why!

If this was all his life amounted to, if this was all it ever would be—

“Yan Shi’an! I’m dying over here!”

A sudden pain struck his back as a voice slammed into his ears.

Shi Buyu threw another pebble at him, hitting him, not his horse. “You better stop right now!”

Yan Shi’an reined in his horse and turned to face her glare.

“These horses came from the same stable—why is yours faster than mine?”

Yan Shi’an laughed loudly. “It’s not the horse. It’s the rider. Cousin, your riding skills can’t compare to mine.”

“Impossible!” Shi Buyu spurred her horse forward and shouted, “Rematch!”

Today, Yan Shi’an had no intention of letting her win. He whipped his horse forward and left her behind once again.

“Admit defeat?”

“Never!” Shi Buyu retorted stubbornly. “It’s the horse—not my riding!”

“Hahahahaha!”

The shadows that had clung to Yan Shi’an dissipated entirely in that laughter. He realized—he couldn’t change the past. But the future? That was his to decide.

“Yan Shi’an, come look!”

The girl ahead raised her whip high, waving it to call him over.

Yan Shi’an spurred his horse forward, following her. They rounded a bend—and golden fields burst into view, more brilliant than the sun.

A light breeze stirred the stalks, causing waves across the land. Farmers in straw hats walked the ridges, occasionally lifting a stalk of rice to inspect it.

It was the most beautiful scenery he had ever seen.