“Every time I see this kind of scene, I feel so satisfied,” Shi Buyu patted her chest. “It’s full here.”

Yan Shi’an glanced at the person beside him, who was smiling with pure joy. She was truly happy at the sight of the harvest. He had only found the scene beautiful before, but in this moment, he suddenly understood her happiness—and even shared the same feeling.

“Harvest”—just hearing the word could bring joy.

“Come on, let’s go take a look.” Shi Buyu swung down from the horse and urged without looking back, “Hurry up!”

Yan Shi’an watched as she ran down a narrow path. The slope was a little steep and she was going too fast; it looked like she was about to fall off the path. He immediately rushed over and caught her before she could tumble.

“Be careful.”

“The ground here’s soft. Falling doesn’t hurt,” Shi Buyu replied casually. When she saw a narrow wooden bridge ahead, she didn’t let go of his hand. Instead, she grabbed his wrist and said, “This bridge might be a little wobbly—don’t fall off.”

Yan Shi’an looked down at the hand gripping his wrist and softly answered, “Alright.”

The bridge was made of four tree trunks tied together—definitely not very stable.

Beneath the bridge, clear water flowed gently, reflecting the two of them as they supported each other. Yan Shi’an stared at the reflection, lost in thought, and accidentally stepped off balance. His arm was instantly tugged, and he used the pull to steady himself.

“If you drag me into the water, Auntie will definitely scold you,” Shi Buyu looked toward the old woman still standing up the hill. “Ever since I grew up, she hasn’t allowed me in the water anymore.”

“You used to go in a lot?”

“When I was little, I loved summer and winter the most. Summer meant water fights, and winter meant snowball fights. After I grew up, Auntie wouldn’t let me go in the water or play in the snow anymore, so I stopped liking them. Summer’s too hot, winter’s too cold—autumn’s still the most comfortable.”

Yan Shi’an chuckled. Miss Shi’s preferences were simple and clear—whatever made her happy. Her freedom, in truth, existed within boundaries—but those boundaries were wide enough to let her feel free and joyful.

The more he understood, the more curious Yan Shi’an became about the man with the white beard. He wanted to know what kind of wise teacher could raise someone as deep-thinking as Kuang Jing and also someone as free-spirited as Miss Shi.

Beyond the bridge lay a small field.

Shi Buyu let go of him and measured the field with her fingers in a rather professional manner. “This is about a quarter mu.”

“You know how to estimate that?”

“I know a lot,” Shi Buyu walked over to a farmer approaching from the other side. “Uncle, is this your field? What a great harvest this year!”

The farmer looked to be nearly fifty, with a slightly stooped back. He was initially wary of them, but after hearing her words, his face broke into a wide smile. “Yes, it’s mine. Heaven was merciful this year—rain came when it should, and sun shone when it should. As long as we get a few more sunny days and bring the grain home safely, we’ll have plenty to eat this year.”

“Just look at this weather—not a cloud in the sky. There’ll definitely be more sunny days ahead.”

Shi Buyu plopped down on the field ridge, lifted a stalk of rice, inspected it, and pinched a few grains between her fingers. Her practiced manner made the farmer laugh. “Young lady, you know how to farm?”

“Don’t be fooled by me and my brother wearing nice clothes. We only dress like this to visit relatives in the capital. Back home, we wear rough brown work clothes,” Shi Buyu began spinning a tale without hesitation. “We have a lot of fields, so when it’s too much for the workers, we all pitch in.”

To prove she had really worked the fields, she described everything from transplanting rice to harvesting, animatedly acting things out as she spoke. The old man laughed the whole time, relating to her words—he’d been through it all himself.

Yan Shi’an also listened, utterly engrossed. He knew—these were stories from her real past. She was a paradox. On the one hand, she didn’t act like a pampered noble lady—after all, she had someone like Wanxia at her side, highly skilled and meticulous, more capable than the attendants of many noble families. Yet on the other hand, she had actually done hard labor in the fields—something even moderately well-off families would never let their daughters do.

“But since my brother studied outside all the time, he didn’t do much of this. So I brought him here to experience the joy of a good harvest.”

Now shifted into the role of “brother,” Yan Shi’an smiled at the old man. “Hello, Uncle.”

“Hello, hello,” the old man’s dark, wrinkled face beamed. “Your parents are truly blessed to have such wonderful children.”

“You’re the capable one—your children are the lucky ones,” Shi Buyu sweet-talked until the man beamed. She then pretended to wipe sweat from her brow and finally revealed her true purpose. “Do you live nearby? Would it be alright if we asked for a drink of water?”

“Of course! My house is just behind those woods—not far at all.” The old man led them that way, chatting as they walked. “Even though it’s autumn now, the days are still hot, but the nights are cooler.”

“Exactly.”

Yan Shi’an followed behind Miss Shi, listening to her chatter with the farmer while running his hand over the rice leaves. The slight sting from them was unfamiliar. Everything here was new to him. It felt like a door, once closed, had now been opened, and he could finally see a whole new world beyond it.

Looking up at the person walking ahead—the one who had opened that door for him—Yan Shi’an smiled. He had just made the most worthwhile trade of his life.

---

Elsewhere, Yan Ze was about to follow them.

Wanxia stopped him. “Let the others guard from the shadows. We can wait here.”

Yan Ze didn’t quite agree. “We cannot take the young master’s safety lightly.”

“Everyone lives on the ground, but your young master lives in the castle you all built in the sky. Right now, if he falls, he only suffers a little pain. But if he falls later, many people—not just you—will be hurt,” Wanxia said, watching the two figures walk through the golden field. “Right now, my lady is making sure he lands safely. That’s best for everyone.”

Yan Ze had been trusted by both mother and son for years. He was no fool. He made a quick decision, instructing the six people behind him, “Follow and guard in secret. Unless the young master is in danger or calls for you, do not reveal yourselves.”

“Steward Yan is decisive.”

“Your words made too much sense,” Yan Ze said, watching the pair vanish into the forest. Though still worried, he did not follow. “We’ve been so focused on the young master’s safety that we’ve neglected other perspectives. Thank you for the reminder.”

“It was my lady’s idea. She finally found the right opportunity today,” Wanxia said with a faint smile. “My lady has never lost her composure—not even once.”

“We’ve underestimated Miss Shi.”

“I hope you won’t do so again.” Wanxia was blunt. Though she didn’t often interact with others, she was fully aware of their doubts toward her lady. While Miss Shi didn’t mind, Wanxia certainly did.

Yan Ze nodded solemnly in response.