Zhu Pianxian froze for a moment before turning around in surprise. "Oh my! Who has made my little brother so angry? Tell me all about it."
"Sit down!" Yu Pianfei snapped.
Zhu Pianxian carefully perched on the edge of the chair, gazing at him with wide, submissive eyes like a meek little wife.
"Yu Pianxian!" Yu Pianfei fumed just looking at her.
"Zhu," Zhu Pianxian corrected softly.
Yu Pianfei said nothing, only glared at her coldly.
Zhu Pianxian wisely conceded, "Whatever you say goes."
Suppressing his anger, Yu Pianfei spoke as calmly as possible, "Yu Pianxian, do you know who that Chu fellow really is?"
"Isn't he from the Crane Control Institute? That's what everyone outside is saying. They even found leftover tokens, claiming the Crane Control Institute massacred the entire town." Zhu Pianxian replied with a smile.
"Be serious! Stop grinning like that!" Yu Pianfei glared.
Only when her smile faded did he continue, "Do you remember who bought your life from Misty Villa?"
"That Chu fellow," Zhu Pianxian answered honestly.
"You have no feud with them, yet he sold you out for his schemes. If you get any closer to someone like that, you won't even have bones left!" Yu Pianfei exhaled sharply, his anger subsiding into a heavy sigh. "Sis, this man is cunning and ruthless. Working with him keeps me on edge every moment. I, Yu Pianfei, have always walked the unconventional path—all of Yangzhou calls me 'Bold Yu.' But this is the first time in my life I've regretted a decision. If he refuses to cooperate, so be it. You are not to follow him to Bianjing!"
Zhu Pianxian blinked innocently. "I never said I would go with him!"
"Yu Pianxian! I've seen through your little schemes since we were in the womb! Do you think I can't tell what you're thinking?!" Yu Pianfei threw her own words back at her.
"I said I'm not going, so I'm not!" Zhu Pianxian stubbornly insisted.
Yu Pianfei sighed. "Father once promised you could choose your own husband, but in the end, he broke his word and used you for a political marriage. I know you resent it. But no matter what, you're my own sister. We've been together since the womb—closer than most siblings. I can't just watch you throw your life away."
Tears welled up in Zhu Pianxian's eyes. "Don't lecture me! You reckless fool, you never leave yourself any room to maneuver. Third Master Feng's bloody past is a cautionary tale. Must you end up like that before learning to be more flexible?"
Outwardly, Zhu Pianxian often caused trouble that Yu Pianfei had to clean up. But behind the scenes, she had also smoothed over many of his ruthless actions, carving out some leeway where he left none.
Yu Pianfei knew this too. Because he knew his sister would back him up, he dared to go all out.
"With the way you carry on, you'd better hurry up and marry to continue the Yu family line! Otherwise, if you die one day, the Yu bloodline will end with you." With that, Zhu Pianxian stood and hurried out.
Watching her rush off, Yu Pianfei wiped his moistened eyes.
He leaned back, picked up his teacup, and relaxed with a satisfied expression. This time, she won't run away, will she...?
Zhu Pianxian ran to the arched bridge, wiped her face, and thought smugly: I've really improved. Especially the way the tears welled up just right—on the verge of falling before I covered my face and ran off... Tsk tsk, that must have fooled him good.
Though both thought this way, each had taken the other's words to heart.Zhu Pianxian's cheerful steps slowed. She glanced back at the warm pavilion and murmured, "Silly little brother. You're gambling too big this time. I don't know if I can cover for you—this might have to be the last time I can help."
Inside the room, Yu Pianfei's eyes moistened again. He set down his teacup and pushed open the window of the warm pavilion, just in time to see Zhu Pianxian looking back at him.
Zhu Pianxian paused in surprise, then made a playful face at him.
Tears suddenly spilled from Yu Pianfei's eyes.
The crumbling Yu clan had been placed in his hands. Bearing the hopes of his entire family, remembering the earnest, expectant gaze in his father's eyes before death—he couldn't afford to be afraid, couldn't retreat!
But, "Sister... truth is, I'm not brave at all. You don't know—I'm terrified even in my dreams..."
That's why he dared not marry. He feared others would see his cowardice, feared his secrets might be exposed to someone who was once a complete stranger.
The sunlight was blinding.
The snow was melting, making these past few days especially cold.
The snowstorm that hit Yangzhou had come fiercely and melted just as quickly—within four or five days, only scattered remnants remained.
Though the small town where the massacre occurred had been cleaned up, the blood-soaked earth still reeked heavily of iron, and chunks of flesh clung stubbornly to walls and ground, attracting flocks of vultures.
Passersby pointed and whispered, "Never seen so many vultures before."
"Indeed... an ill omen..."
On the main road, an ornate carriage moved at a leisurely pace. Two white steeds with white tassels on their heads pulled the carved huanghuali wood canopy. The carriage handles were inlaid with glossy green jade, its sides adorned with plum blossoms and cranes—each blossom's stamen dotted with yellow topaz. White lanterns hung from the four upturned corners of the carriage, their golden tassels swaying gently with the motion.
Such grandeur drew sidelong glances from pedestrians.
The carriage followed the main road straight into the city, stopping before a grand estate. A man in blue robes alighted and gazed up at the plaque reading "Jade Residence."
A servant stepped forward to knock and present a name card.
Soon after, Yu Pianfei hurried out to greet him. At the sight of the young man, he paused in surprise. "Rongjian, you're dressed in mourning blue, with sorrow between your brows—what's happened?"
The visitor was none other than Hua Rongjian.
The two had met by chance in Bianjing years ago, conversing so delightfully that they became fast friends. Though they corresponded regularly, they met only once or twice a year.
"An old friend passed not long ago," Hua Rongjian explained. "Hence the attire."
Though he and Lu Danzhi were close, he couldn't wear full mourning—people might think Prime Minister Hua had died! So he kept it simple, using only plain colors in dress and belongings to express his grief.
Yu Pianfei ushered him inside.
Once seated in the hall, Yu Pianfei poured him tea. "Rongjian, is this the only matter weighing on you?"
Hua Rongjian shook his head. "My thoughts are in turmoil. That's why I haven't returned to the capital—wandering until clarity comes. I'll speak of it when my mind settles."
Lu Danzhi's final words to him that night echoed relentlessly in his mind.
He knew he'd suffered a grave illness as a child and was sent to a Taoist temple to recuperate. His father claimed it was three years, yet he had no memory of that time! He only remembered being brought home—how his mother had clutched him, weeping nearly to collapse, murmuring, "My poor child, how you've suffered! After all this time, you're still so thin and small..."At the time, he thought his illness had taken even his memories, so it seemed normal that his body was frail, and he didn't dwell on it. When he first saw his mother, he felt no familiarity at all—as if she were a complete stranger to him. It was only later, after her endless affection and care, that they gradually grew close.
But now, upon careful reflection—why had his memories vanished? Why had he spent three years in the Taoist temple? Could it be related to concealing his true age?
If his age had been hidden, then was he even truly Hua Rongjian... (to be continued)
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