The maid drew aside the curtain.
The young master was draped in a white inner garment, his chest exposed and wrapped thickly with cotton cloth.
Though the cloth no longer seeped blood, every time Cai Bo saw it, his heart would stop.
The young master had run a sword through his own body.
Just an inch away from his heart.
He had been outside at the time and hadn't witnessed it firsthand, but when he heard, his own heart felt as if it had been pierced.
It was far too dangerous.
Even now, he couldn't help but mutter again.
"I knew my limits," Xie Yanfang said with a laugh, lightly pressing a hand to his chest. "If I don't wish to die, I won't."
Cai Bo looked at his pale, bloodless face—though he hadn't died, his vitality was severely damaged. He could only stay conscious for half an hour each day, confined to his bed for life, unable to bear wind or light. What difference was there between this and death?
"Of course there's a difference," Xie Yanfang replied, slightly raising a hand.
Cai Bo hurriedly helped him sit up, then took a jade hairpin from the bedside to tie up his waterfall of black hair.
"There's nothing much worth seeing in this world anyway. Even without looking, I know how things change. Half an hour is enough for me," Xie Yanfang continued, smiling at Cai Bo. "But death wouldn't allow that."
He paused here.
"At least not now. Wait a little longer, until A Yu and Yan Lai are both sailing smoothly."
He glanced at his own palm.
"By then, even if I die, the world will still be as I wish it."
Cai Bo picked up the medicine bowl to feed him, saying, "So the Xie family is truly being handed over to Xie Yanlai? He deeply hates the Xie family—even if you grant him supreme honor, he won't let go of that grudge."
"He doesn't need to let it go," Xie Yanfang said. "He hates the Xie family as it is now, so we'll create one he likes. No matter what, it will still be the Xie family."
Cai Bo said, "I understand your meaning—don't treat him as a person, but as a tool. As long as he's useful, that's enough." Though he spoke with resentment, tools should remain where they belong, not suddenly start ordering people around. And all of this was because—
"That wretched servant Chu Zhao actually dared to try and kill you."
He knew this young woman wasn't as meek as she appeared—greedy for power and ruthless—and he knew both sides would eventually break openly, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon, nor that she would strike first.
After he spoke, the room fell silent.
Xie Yanfang didn't reply but took the medicine bowl from his hand, drinking the last half-bowl himself.
After finishing, he pursed his lips as if savoring the taste, until he noticed Cai Bo's gaze.
"Not praising her happily now, young master?" Cai Bo snorted. "Not singing her praises anymore?"
Whenever Chu Zhao was mentioned before, Xie Yanfang would always smile and praise her.
Who would have thought she'd turn out to be such an ungrateful wretch!
Xie Yanfang laughed. "I'll still praise her. She did well in making a move against me—better than I imagined."
In the past, whenever people or events unfolded as he predicted or wished, he would be pleased.
But here, his smile faded.
"Yet this time, I'm not happy."
Indeed, though Chu Zhao was defeated and forced to flee, she had driven the young master to harm himself—a significant setback. Even with his magnanimity, the young master couldn't find joy in everything.
Cai Bo sighed, bringing over a plate of candied fruit and softly urging, "The medicine is bitter. Have something sweet."
The young master had suffered greatly.
He had never endured such hardship since childhood.Xie Yanfang did not refuse, reaching out to pick up a piece and placing it in his mouth. In truth, he could no longer taste bitterness or sweetness.
"Yan Lai, you need not concern yourselves with him at all. Let him do as he pleased," he said. "He chose to stay not for wealth and glory, nor to seize control of the Xie family. He did it solely for Chu Zhao. If this realm cannot be held by Chu Zhao or by me, it will fall into the hands of others."
To eliminate future troubles for Chu Zhao and protect her life's work and loved ones, Xie Yanlai trusted no one but himself.
Thus, he deliberately rendered himself useless, ensuring Xie Yanlai could not leave.
Since Xie Yanlai could not leave, he gazed at his own palm and gently closed it. Chu Zhao, even if you depart, your heart will remain trapped.
In this world, no one can act entirely as they wish.
Xie Yanfang lowered his eyes and said, "As long as this realm is secure, the Xie family will be secure. There is no need to worry about his antics."
Cai Bo acknowledged the order and added, "Let me update you on recent events, Young Master."
Xie Yanfang reclined as he listened to Cai Bo, occasionally responding with a soft "mm" to indicate understanding but saying little more. At some point, even these murmurs ceased. Cai Bo looked up and saw that Xie Yanfang had closed his eyes.
"Young Master?" he called softly.
There was no response.
The young master's period of lucidity had ended. With a sorrowful expression, Cai Bo gently helped Xie Yanfang lie down, removed his jade hairpin, tucked him under the quilt, and drew the bed curtains.
The dim lamp flickered in the silent room.
...
...
In the main chamber of the Xie residence, the lights blazed brightly.
"Young Master has returned."
"Young Master, have some hot tea."
"Young Master, let me wipe your hands."
Maidservants crowded around Xie Yanlai, helping him remove his outer robe, wiping his hands, and freshening his face. After he washed up, a late-night meal was promptly served. Xie Yanlai sat on the daybed by the window as the maids added dishes and rice to his plate.
"These are all your favorite dishes."
"Home-cooked meals suit your taste better, don't they?"
Xie Yanlai had been listening with a faint smile, but at these words, he set down his bowl and chopsticks. "You may leave," he said.
The maids hesitated, and one of them nearly made a playful remark as she would have in the past, but the look in Xie Yanlai's eyes silenced her.
They ceased their cheerful chatter and withdrew.
"Why did you mention home-cooked meals suiting his taste?" one maid whispered reproachfully.
The accused maid looked uneasy. "I only meant to say that the young master must be tired from social engagements outside." She added with a hint of grievance, "He's always been picky with food and used to complain about not being able to adjust to outside meals."
Another maid sighed softly. "In the past, he couldn't adjust because he had nowhere to go. Any place was the same. But now... the young master has found a place he wants to be, so his tastes have changed."
"It's not just his tastes that have changed," murmured yet another maid. "Though he wears a smile, he no longer jokes with us."
The Yan Lai they once knew was gone.
The maids dispersed with hushed voices, and silence settled over the room, inside and out.
Xie Yanlai sat at the table, eating with focus.
A man slipped quietly into the room. "Young Master."
Xie Yanlai glanced at the man dressed in guard's attire—a sentry from his courtyard, though he paid little mind to who was who.
The man hurriedly added, "Zhang Gu sent me."
At the name, Xie Yanlai picked up his wine cup. "What is it?"
The man reported, "Zhang Gu asked me to inform you that Miss A Fu is well and has returned home safely. Zhong Changrong has also been sent to her side. All are safe and sound."
Xie Yanlai acknowledged with a soft "Mm."The man finished speaking and quietly retreated as instructed, but was called back by Xie Yanlai just as he reached the door.
"Tell Zhang Gu to stop investigating them from now on," Xie Yanlai said.
The man paused in surprise, then hurriedly acknowledged and withdrew.
Xie Yanlai drained his cup of wine, a smile spreading across his face that reached his eyes, making them sparkle brilliantly.
"I told you you're blessed with good fortune, but you didn't believe me," he said, reaching up to touch his chin. "Had to go and bite me instead."
He hissed softly, as if the wound still pained him.
...
...
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the autumn wind turned into a bitter winter gale.
The northwest wind first whipped dried grass into chaotic swirls, then the dried grass gave way to pellets of snow.
Chu Zhao stood under the eaves, pulling back her hood and tilting her head as if to carefully examine whether it was truly snowing.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Xiao Man's voice came from nearby. "Put your hood back on."
Chu Zhao looked over to see Xiao Man emerging from the kitchen, carrying a basket and glaring at her.
"Don't be mischievous. If you catch a chill from the wind, you'll have to drink bowl after bowl of bitter medicine," Xiao Man said. "And when you beg me to pour it out for you then, I won't help you!"
Chu Zhao smiled and obediently pulled her hood back on.
Whether it was because the hood was too large or her face too small, it covered her entire face when donned, leaving only her blinking eyes visible. Though her cloak was thick, it still made her appear frail when wrapped around her, as if she might be blown away by the wind at any moment.
Xiao Man watched her while holding the basket. Previously, whether leading troops in battle or dealing with officials at court, she might have been tired and thin, but never this gaunt.
The poison had damaged her body, and that incident had wounded her spirit.
"It's time to eat. Get inside now," she said loudly, stomping toward the house with the basket. "I made the stewed lamb you wanted this time. If you don't eat plenty, I won't let it go."
Chu Zhao called out, "I'll eat two big bowls!"
As she spoke, noise erupted from the neighboring courtyard. A flock of children of all sizes poured out of one of the rooms, like chickens and ducks released from a coop.
"Class is over," Chu Zhao perked up, waving enthusiastically. "Come eat at my place!"
The children looked over. Some were shy, some hesitant, while others shouted, "Thank you, Sister A Fu!" and "We won't eat!" before noisily scattering.
Chu Zhao watched them go with a smile, her peripheral vision catching sight of another person emerging.
"Master Zhu Er," she said cheerfully. "Would you like to join us for dinner? We have stewed lamb."
Deng Yi glanced at her. "No need. We have our own."
As Chu Zhao was about to say more, Xiao Man called impatiently from inside, "Get in here!" She gave Deng Yi a smile and turned to go inside. She could hear Deng Yi's servant running out to call him for dinner, and the servant seemed pleased by her invitation.
"Miss A Fu is so kind, always inviting us to eat. Not like that A Jiu, who only comes to steal our food."
Deng Yi shot him a glare and snapped, "Enough talk." Then he looked toward the girl.
The girl didn't seem to have heard, stepping over the threshold and disappearing from view.
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