As Xie Yun left the palace, the evening sky painted the entire palace with a soft red hue.

On the stone path, his figure wasn’t very clear, but because of his long legs, even though he walked calmly, he soon left behind a large gap between him and Lu Li, who had stopped to talk to someone.

Soon, Lu Li caught up from behind Xie Yun and said, “Xie Yun, why are you in such a hurry?”

Xie Yun replied, “What, should I wait for you to give me a raise?”

Lu Li burst into laughter and said, “Alright, Xie Yun, whatever raise you want, you’ll get.”

Xie Yun didn’t respond, so Lu Li continued, “Xie Yun, I heard that Ah Jie Jie caught a cold recently. Is she feeling better now?”

When Jie Jie was mentioned, Xie Yun showed a bit more patience.

He said, “She’s better now. Last time when I took her out to play, she got tired and didn’t listen to her mother. She took off her coat and caught a cold.”

Lu Li asked again, “Ah JieJie is still young and playful by nature.”

He added, “Besides, Ah Jie Jie is already very talented. At such a young age, she can easily understand ancient classics. With such abilities, won’t she excel when she grows up?”

“You don’t need to be too strict with her.”

Xie Yun nodded and said seriously, “I usually don’t bother with her studies. Perhaps she’ll study on her own.”

Lu Li was surprised, “Just studying casually and still excelling in everything? Ah Jie Jie is truly gifted.”

But Xie Yun replied, “Only excelling in some aspects.”

Just reaching the level of excellence was not enough.

The one teaching Jie Jie is a renowned scholar of the current dynasty, who once taught Xie Yun and the head of his clear stream.

Achieving his level of excellence is as difficult as reaching the sky.

Lu Li smirked and said, “Xie Yun, you’re being modest.”

Xie Yun asked, “Modest?”

Lu Li, used to Xie Yun’s modest yet profound behavior, kept his smile and praised Xie Yun a bit more before casually asking, “By the way, how is that child doing lately?”

Xie Yun replied, “Still recovering.”

Yun’s health has been poor since he was three years old, and the Xie family has spared no effort in his treatment.

In recent years, with the help of precious natural resources, his condition has stabilized.

Xie Yun added, “In short, he’s better than before. He had a lingering illness from childhood, difficult to completely cure, but it won’t take his life.”

Lu Li let out a silent sigh, stayed silent for a moment, then whispered, “Now that I’ve stabilized too, if you have any difficulties, you can entrust him to me…”

Xie Yun glanced at him and asked, “You’ve stabilized what?”

Lu Li pressed his lips together, not saying anything.

Though he’s not what he used to be, he’s not exactly in a winning position either.

If he wants to raise this child, it’s not impossible, just risky, perhaps its safer to leave him with the Xie family.

Xie Yun turned his gaze away and asked, “Do you miss him?”

Lu Li quickly responded, “How could I?”

He hadn’t raised the child at all, had no emotional attachment. Where would the longing come from?

But always letting Xie Yun raise the child for him didn’t sit right with him.

Xie Yun continued, “So, do you think my family can’t provide him with food?”

That’s not the case either. It’s just that every time he thinks he still has a child in this world, he feels strange. In his free time, he always thinks of that small figure.

After a moment of silence, Lu Li said, “A few days ago, I obtained two pieces of top-quality jade. When I have time, I’ll have someone send them to Ah Jie Jie… as a gift.”

Xie Yun nodded and got into the carriage.

Lu Li often sent things to the Xie mansion, whether it be jewelry, silver coins, or precious natural resources.

Regardless of whom they were nominally intended for, they always ended up in Yun’s courtyard.

By the time Xie Yun returned to the West Garden, the sunset had brought a hint of darkness.

His steps slowed as he spotted the graceful figure of a woman ahead.

Sang Yao was facing sideways, the warm light casting a surreal glow on her profile, making her seem ethereal.

Whether he saw her at this moment, thought of her during the day, or dreamed of her at night, he always felt turbulent inside, unable to calm down.

Xie Yun quietly watched her, his expression soft.

Perhaps this was the marvel of fate.

In the end, Sang Yao’s name still dominated his entire life.

Sang Yao used to ask him when he started liking her, and each time he would answer sincerely.

Twice his answers differed, and she got angry, accusing him of being insincere and not talking to him for a long time.

But he wasn’t insincere; he always answered seriously.

The reason might be that he already liked her before that moment he mentioned.

It’s like no one knows when spring arrives or at which moment the first breeze of spring touches the earth. By the time you notice, the bare branches have already sprouted new buds.

Suddenly, Sang Yao turned her head and met Xie Yun’s gaze.

She held freshly cut flowers in her arms, their vibrant colors pale in comparison to her beauty.

As soon as she saw him, she smiled, waved at him, and called out, “Xie Yun, what are you standing there for?”

Xie Yun walked towards her and took the flowers from her arms, saying, “I call you Yao Yao, and you call me Xie Yun, that’s not fair.”

Sang Yao led him into the room, saying, “Alright, then I’ll call you Yun Yun.”

Xie Yun: “…Let’s try something else.”

Sang Yao knew what he was thinking, it was always the same thing. She tilted her head and said slowly, “Husband.”

Xie Yun nodded in satisfaction.

She sat on the round stool, watching Xie Yun change the flowers in the vase. She said, “How come you’re so good at being mushy? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

After Xie Yun finished changing the flowers, he went over and embraced her. He said, “What’s there to be embarrassed about?”

“Look at how long we’ve been married.”

Sang Yao had just finished dinner with Shen Miaoyi when Xie Yun, after hesitating for a while, directly took her to the bathhouse.

He said leisurely, “If you say that, then you need to reflect on yourself.”

Sang Yao swung her legs, her shoes falling to the ground. She hugged his neck, the rising mist blurring his face. She said, “What do I need to reflect on?”

Xie Yun let her down and untied her clothes. He said, “Why aren’t you affectionate like me? How come, it’s only been a few years since we got married, and you’ve lost interest in me?”

Before long, she was completely undressed by Xie Yun. Sang Yao didn’t bother to move and let Xie Yun help her bathe. She said firmly, “Mr. Xie, I’m not that clingy type of woman.”

Xie Yun was skilled in bathing her. He said, “Don’t change the subject. You have changed; you’re not passionate about me anymore.”

Sang Yao extended her foot and deliberately let it fall on Xie Yun’s shoulder, wetting his clothes with the water from her legs. She smiled triumphantly and said, “So, Mr. Xie, where have I changed?”

Xie Yun grabbed her leg, his hand sliding down into the water. Sang Yao’s expression changed for a moment, then Xie Yun’s hand stopped at a certain place and didn’t move.

Sang Yao blinked and said calmly, “Move it.”

He bent down, and his hand resumed moving. He said, “See, why aren’t you blushing now?”

“…”

Sang Yao rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to answer.

After being married for so many years, what was there to blush about? What was this man talking about today?

After a while, the girl’s slender white legs hooked around Xie Yun’s waist, and she commanded him, “Take off your clothes.”

…

The moon rose above the branches, and Xie Yun opened the window to let in some fresh air. Sang Yao lay on Xie Yun’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

Sang Yao’s voice was slightly hoarse as she lazily asked, “Am I heavy?”

Xie Yun shook his head and said, “Yes, you are.”

Sang Yao suddenly looked at him and said, “I’ve been lying here for so many years, and you say I’m heavy?”

Xie Yun replied, “In my heart, you have a lot of weight.”

Sang Yao said, “…”

She immediately covered Xie Yun’s mouth and said, “Xie Yun, where did you learn to say such things? Don’t say it next time!”

Xie Yun had finished reading eight small books on etiquette several years ago, so this level of sweet talk came naturally to him.

Every time he said something like this, Sang Yao’s reaction was always intense.

He touched Sang Yao’s cheek and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you too shy?”

Sang Yao endured for a while and finally said bluntly, “What’s there to be shy about? Xie Yun, you weren’t like this before.”

Xie Yun was dissatisfied and lightly patted Sang Yao’s buttocks, saying, “Miss Sang, what are you saying?”

Sang Yao leaned against him, not repeating herself. She snorted lightly, then said, “Let’s go to sleep.”

Xie Yun held her in his arms and kissed her cheek, saying, “Go to sleep.”

Sang Yao was already tired, and Xie Yun didn’t disturb her with more words.

Soon, the girl’s breathing became steady.

Xie Yun looked at her in the moonlight. Her rosy lips were slightly puckered because her face was pressed against his chest. Xie Yun gently touched her lips, and Sang Yao seemed to feel something, licking her lips.

Xie Yun smiled and, after retracting his hand, softly said, “Sweet dreams.”

He hugged her and closed his eyes.

A faint floral fragrance drifted over, accompanied by a cool breeze.

Suddenly, the world became bright.

But the floral fragrance seemed to linger.

It became brighter and brighter, as if it were daylight.

The surrounding noise was incessant, and Xie Yun furrowed his brow subconsciously, worried about waking Sang Yao.

But when he opened his eyes, everything was bright.

The brightness was enough for him to see everything around him clearly.

The palace. ( Dreamland )

The noise became more pronounced, and the faces of everyone became clear.

“Young Master.”

It was Jinglian’s voice.

Xie Yun stood still and glanced at Jinglian, who looked a bit different.

What’s going on?

Before he could finish his thought, he saw something seemed to fall in front of him.

Even though it was just a momentary resemblance, he instinctively reached out, but it was too late.

The person who should have been sleeping in his arms was now lying in the flowerbed in a sorry state.

Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed together, and the wet soil from the rain easily wetted her clothes. There was a red mark on her wrist, likely from scraping against a dry tree branch.

Xie Yun met her surprised and panicked gaze.

Her eyes were red, and she whispered, “What happened to you…”

Whispers surrounded them.

“What’s going on?”

“It seems like Sang Yao deliberately fell towards Master Xie just now, but he completely ignored her and dodged.”

“She looks so embarrassed, it’s humiliating.”

Everything seemed to happen in an instant, and Xie Yun couldn’t even react in time.