Yan Shian urged his horse on, changed mounts along the way, and by that night he had reached just outside the city. He stayed overnight at a farmhouse outside the city walls and arrived at the city gate right as it opened the next morning.

Luo Qing was not surprised to see the young master return. Although the past two years had seen a strained relationship with Madam, the deep bond formed by years of relying on each other wasn’t so easily erased—especially when it concerned Madam’s life. How could the young master not care?

“Has Aunt Orchid sent any news? Did she request the imperial doctor?” Yan Shian asked as he spread his arms, allowing Yan Yi to help him change clothes.

“No news yet. Messages were sent twice yesterday but no reply came,” Luo Qing answered, pausing briefly before adding, “I suppose the imperial doctor sent by the emperor to Madam must be very capable.”

Yan Shian was startled. His mind, clouded with anxiety since receiving the news, began to clear gradually. He sat down by the screen, took the hot cloth handed to him, and pressed it against his face to warm it after the chill of the cold wind. The coldness seemed to cling stubbornly, then reluctantly seeped into his chest, leaving it icy cold.

How could he have forgotten? The emperor was a man who wanted to do good, and all matters were placed before him. The imperial doctor assigned to his mother must be very skilled. Before this, she hadn’t coughed blood. How could she start coughing blood after being treated by the doctor? How many heads should be chopped off for such incompetence?

Luo Qing had thought of this too, but Yan Shian had believed it too easily.

Right, Miss Shi must have considered this from the start, which was why she reminded him to ask more questions. She was always so clever in other matters.

Returning the cloth that absorbed the chill, Yan Shian sipped some hot tea before saying, “Send for Aunt Sophora.”

Aunt Sophora had been waiting outside the door, and upon hearing this, immediately came to the entrance and responded, “Young master, I’m here.”

“Come in and talk,” Yan Shian said, looking at the slightly plump woman and recalling how much younger she had been when she first came to serve him.

Many people had come and gone by his side. His mother was calculating and overthinking, worried he might become too close to someone else. She said it was because she didn’t want anyone to influence his decisions, but he understood that it was really because she didn’t want anyone to hold more weight in his heart than she did. Yet she never thought about how lonely and pitiful it was for him to grow up all alone.

“Aunt, you have gray hairs at your temples now.”

Sophora knelt down, about to beg forgiveness, but upon hearing this, felt her eyes warm.

“Yes, young master, you’ve grown up, and I’ve grown old.”

“You’re not old, just too worried. You want to please Mother, not betray me, and at the same time manage the increasingly tense relationship between us. I imagine every time you deliver news, you think and rethink.” Yan Shian smiled. “Since I know her nature, how could I not understand your difficulties?”

Sophora lowered her head and tears slipped down her cheeks. These hardships no one spoke of were part of her duty, but the young master saw and remembered them, so the effort was worth it.

“I’m not saying this to flatter you, just that it came to mind. In the future, you do as you must—I know you wouldn’t harm me.”

“Yes, young master, I’m grateful for your understanding.” Sophora then spoke of recent events: “After the city gates closed, I sent a message to Madam, telling her where you had gone. She was very angry, saying I delivered the message too late. At noon the next day, Sister Orchid sent someone to deliver a message saying Madam coughed blood.”

She then handed over a note. Yan Yi took it and passed it to the young master.

Yan Shian looked at the few lines written there and asked, “Was there any news about the loss of Baokou City at that time?”

“No,” Luo Qing took over. “Aunt Sophora received a reply before anyone told us. Only after that did the messenger from Baokou City arrive. After checking the situation in the capital, we sent both pieces of news to you early the next day.”

One message was sent only after the city gate closed, which prevented Madam from immediately sending someone to pursue. The other was that the Baokou City matter delayed the messenger. Yan Shian chuckled lightly—everyone around him thought of his interests, but the one who mattered most had always worried he might slip out of control. Before, she could keep up appearances, but since Miss Shi appeared at his side, she could no longer even hide it.

If the news of the city’s fall had arrived first, and then this message came, he might have fooled himself into thinking she only sent it incidentally, since the Baokou City news would have reached him anyway.

But she didn’t.

She sent it before.

“Send the message, I’ll go visit Mother.”

Sophora breathed a sigh of relief and hurried off to deliver the message. She had worried the young master might get angry with Madam after seeing through things. That had happened before, but luckily the young master was much more cheerful now with Miss Shi’s company.

While waiting, Yan Shian handled the urgent matters, avoiding the piled-up tasks that could wait. His thoughts involuntarily drifted to Miss Shi, two days’ travel away. Although not physically present, he seemed to see her acting spoiled and lazy in front of his siblings, her almond-shaped eyes curved in laughter, making him smile unconsciously.

He lifted the corners of his mouth, glanced around the fully stocked study, then stood and walked to the door to look out toward the courtyard. Miss Shi’s instructions had made the previously rigid yard now appear arranged and harmonious.

His surroundings were always this quiet, but today it was especially hard to bear. What started as a casual stroll unknowingly brought him to the Hongmei Residence.

Qingshan and Zhai Zhi stepped forward to salute.

Yan Shian waved lightly and walked over to the carved bridge to look around. Though well-tended, the courtyard without its master somehow seemed to carry a hint of decay, even the atmosphere feeling stagnant.

He walked up to the covered corridor and sat where Miss Shi often sat, examining the small space.

Though still called a covered corridor, Aunt had turned it into a shelter from wind and rain. On the table were tea sets, a basket of snacks, and brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Miss Shi always thought through serious matters in the study, but preferred to paint in the open, bright space outside.

Mimicking Miss Shi, Yan Shian leaned on the railing to look down. The fish that usually scrambled for food here seemed to know their master was absent; not a single one was in sight, the water calm and still.

If Miss Shi were here, what would she do?

He hardly had to think before knowing. The less you appear, the more they want you to appear.

Following her habit, he pulled open the drawer closest to him and indeed found fish food. Aunt had fried it with some secret ingredients; it smelled good and the fish loved it.

He pinched some and threw it in. Seeing no movement, he threw another pinch. Then small fish wagging their tails appeared one by one, slowly gathering as more smelled the food. He kept throwing small handfuls down.

Soon, a few large fish were attracted too, and the smaller ones couldn’t get much food.

At this point, Miss Shi would certainly stop feeding.

Yan Shian withdrew his hand and watched the fish swim back and forth, occasionally blowing bubbles, as if reminding the feeder that they had eaten everything.

No feeding, Yan Shian thought, not wanting to break Miss Shi’s rule.