The Lament of Autumn

Jiang Xueting whispered, "I stayed outside all night and got chilled."

Ye Pingjun's heart immediately softened, and she couldn't bring herself to say anything more. Seeing him bowing his head in apology, all her pent-up grievances dissolved, leaving her to grit her teeth and say, "Forget it, forget it. Consider it my debt from a past life. Who knows, I might even die by your hand someday."

Jiang Xueting laughed and said, "If you die, I won't live either. Or maybe I'll become a monk in the mountains." Ye Pingjun wiped her tears dry and couldn't help but chuckle. "Stop talking nonsense—death and monks! Do you think you're some Jia Baoyu?" Seeing her smile, Jiang Xueting breathed a sigh of relief but quickly added, "Even if I were a Jia Baoyu, with your temper, you'd never make a good Lin Daiyu."

As they bantered back and forth, the courtyard gate creaked open—it was Mama Zhao returning with bought bean curd. Ye Pingjun hurriedly tried to pull her hand back from Jiang Xueting's grasp, but he refused to let go. Mama Zhao, noticing this, chuckled heartily, "Well, isn't this something? Just a moment ago, you were squabbling like two angry roosters, and now you're stuck together like an eagle clutching a hawk—both locked in a ring?"

Embarrassed, Ye Pingjun stood up from the stone table and glanced behind Mama Zhao. The latter walked toward her room, laughing, "Your mother is still behind me. I'll pretend I saw nothing. I won't say a word, not a word." As she spoke, Madam Ye entered the courtyard and said with a smile, "Have you two finished quarreling? If so, come inside for breakfast."

Jiang Xueting promptly replied, "We're done, and I'm quite hungry."

Ye Pingjun turned and shot him a playful, reproachful look. "You're really making yourself at home, aren't you? You haven't even washed your face and you're already asking for food. And here I thought you were a young master." Jiang Xueting glanced around and spotted a basin of wash water on the steps by the house. He walked over to wash up, but Ye Pingjun quickly called out, "Hey! That's my used wash water—I haven't dumped it yet."

Jiang Xueting said, "It's fine. I'll just rinse my hands a couple of times with your water." Seeing he had already started washing, Ye Pingjun said nothing more and went inside to fetch him soap and a towel. Jiang Xueting declined the soap, simply taking the towel to dry his face. Turning around, he saw Pingjun picking up fallen petals by the Hosta flower bushes. He walked over to her, sniffed his freshly washed hands in front of her, and grinned. "So fragrant."

Ye Pingjun's face instantly flushed. Looking up at his teasing expression, she tossed the Hosta petals she had just gathered at him but couldn't suppress a laugh herself. The quarrel between this childhood sweetheart pair melted away in that shared laughter and playful toss.

After finishing breakfast at Pingjun's home, Jiang Xueting mentioned that he had been away all night and needed to hurry back now, lest his elder brother become upset. Madam Ye smiled and said, "Then I'll clear the dishes. Ping'er, see Xue Ting out." Ye Pingjun, who was tidying up at the table, turned her head and said, "He comes and goes from our house every day. I'm not seeing him out."Jiang Xueting leaned against the door, smiling as he said, "Who said I wanted you to walk me home? Wait for me after school—I’ll come pick you up, alright?" Pingjun pursed her lips into a playful smile at his words. "Then I definitely won’t go along with your plan. Today, my classmate Aiyun is having a birthday party. I’m going to her place after school and won’t have time for you."

Jiang Xueting laughed. "Then I’ll make time for you!"

Pingjun’s cheeks flushed, and she turned to step over the threshold. Glancing back to see Jiang Xueting following her, she pushed the courtyard gate open and said, "You should go now."

Jiang Xueting chuckled as he walked out of the gate. Turning back, he saw Ye Pingjun standing on the doorstep, covering her mouth with a mischievous smile. Her knee-length skirt swayed gently in the morning breeze, and the beautiful scarf she wore that day fluttered in the wind, making her jade-like face appear even more delicate and lovely.

Jiang Xueting smiled and said, "Tomorrow, I have to report to the Southern Bright Military Academy, so I probably won’t be able to visit you. How about the day after, when I take you to Guanyin Pavilion on the mountain to pray?" Pingjun couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Why suddenly go there?" A faint blush spread across Jiang Xueting’s refined face as he replied softly, "When we get there, I have something to tell you. Remember to wait for me to come find you."

Pingjun smiled gently. "Alright, I’ll wait for you."

Only then did Jiang Xueting turn and leave. Pingjun watched him gradually disappear into the distance. Even after walking far away, he didn’t forget to turn back and wave vigorously at her. Leaning against the courtyard gate, she smiled as she watched him go, the scarf around her neck dancing gracefully in the wind. From afar, she looked like a figure in an elegant painting—utterly beautiful.

Around two in the afternoon, Maple Terrace was enveloped in silence. A light drizzle pattered down, rustling the leaves of the trumpet vines on the walls. Yu Changxuan was still in his study reviewing documents, but his mind was wandering. His gaze lingered on the page for a long time without turning it. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, stirring his irritation. He snapped toward the door, "What’s all the noise?!"

Gu Ruitong’s voice came from outside. "Fifth Master, there’s a call from the official residence. The Chairman has returned, and Madam asks you to come back immediately."

Upon hearing that his father had returned, Yu Changxuan quickly stood up, grabbed his coat from the rack, and pushed the door open. Gu Ruitong, who had been waiting outside with a raincoat, said, "The car is ready and waiting outside."

Yu Changxuan took the raincoat and hurried downstairs, fastening it as he went. Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao and others were waiting outside Maple Terrace. As Yu Changxuan got into the car, he noticed it taking a detour onto Nanhuai Road—a much longer route. "Why not take the shortcut?" he asked.

Adjutant Wu Zuoxiao replied, "Fifth Master, that road is blocked by student protesters. They’re demanding Chu Wenfu step down and Old Master Mu return to power. They’ve already smashed several shops selling Fusang goods to pieces. Military police have been dispatched, so we can’t go that way."

Yu Changxuan understood immediately. This was undoubtedly sparked by the conflict between the northern and southern factions. With public sentiment increasingly vocal against Fusang aggression, the central government’s focus on confronting the Xiao Clan Warlords in the north had stirred widespread popular discontent.Yu Changxuan leaned back comfortably against the car seat, closed his eyes, and said with a laugh, "Chu Wenfu is a hypocrite, the Tao family values harmony for prosperity, and Old Master Mou is indeed virtuous and respected—it's just a pity he lacks the ability to seize power by force." He paused briefly before adding, "Is that why Father has returned?"

Gu Ruitong, seated in the opposite seat, replied, "I'm not entirely sure, but right now, my father, Army Chief Zhang, and Director He from the Pacification Office are all over there."

Yu Changxuan kept his eyes closed, his handsome face calm and composed, betraying no hint of his thoughts. After a long silence, he suddenly chuckled and teased, "Well, that's perfect! Those three, along with my father, can make up a full table for a game of cards!"

The car arrived at the Yu Family Mansion by evening. Not daring to make too much noise, Yu Changxuan walked through the covered corridor toward the flower hall. Inside, the lights were bright, and Madam Yu was drinking her nightly health tonic of soy milk. Yu Changxuan tried to retreat quietly, but as he turned, he nearly bumped into someone. It was Qixuan, holding sheet music, clearly having just rushed out of the piano room. She looked at him excitedly and said, "Fifth Brother, I saw your car from the piano room and hurried over to ask you—Father is back, aren’t you scared?"

Yu Changxuan retorted, "You little rascal, stop talking nonsense. Why should I be scared? I’ve been perfectly well-behaved lately and haven’t done anything to make Father furious!"

Qixuan snorted in disbelief, "You’ve been spending all your time with Li Boren lately—what good could he possibly inspire you to do?!" As Yu Changxuan prepared to go upstairs to see his father, he lightly tugged her hair and said, "Hurry back to your piano practice!"

Caught off guard, Qixuan winced at the pain and immediately protested loudly, "Mother, look at Fifth Brother!" Hearing this, Madam Yu set down her bowl of soy milk and called out, "Is Changxuan here? When did he arrive? It’s pouring outside—did he get wet?" Qixuan pouted, displeased by her mother’s reaction, and complained, "Fifth Brother pulled my hair again!"

Madam Yu stepped out of the flower hall, watching as Yu Changxuan went upstairs to see Yu Zhongquan. She turned to Qixuan and said, "It was just a little tug—why get so upset? And you, why do you always provoke your fifth brother? Since your father is back, both of you, settle down!"

That evening, to celebrate Yu Zhongquan’s return, Madam Yu had the kitchen prepare a lavish feast. Except for the fourth daughter, Ying Xuan, who was studying abroad, it was practically a family reunion. Watching Yu Zhongquan patiently dote on Jin Xuan’s child, Ze Ning, Madam Yu smiled and said, "Look, our grandson is already this big. I wonder when our Yu family will have a precious grandson of its own?"

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone at the table turned to look at Yu Changxuan, who was enjoying a dish of phoenix-tail shrimp. Though he had clearly heard his mother’s remark, he looked up and asked innocently, "Why is everyone staring at me?" Minru laughed and said, "Who else should we look at? Stop pretending you don’t understand what Mother meant."Madam Yu said, "Do you actually have someone in your heart? Which official's daughter is it? If you truly like her, you should quickly settle the engagement!"

Yu Changxuan replied, "I really haven't taken a liking to any official's daughter."

The fragrance of silk skirts damp with dew, passion deep as slender flowers.

Madam Yu said, "Do you actually have someone in your heart? Which official's daughter is it? If you truly like her, you should quickly settle the engagement!"

Yu Changxuan replied, "I really haven't taken a liking to any official's daughter."

Qixuan said with a grin, "I know of two—one is Sister Dai Ti, and the other is the Second Miss Tao. I just don’t know which one Fifth Brother prefers?" Hearing this, Madam Yu became attentive and immediately smiled, "I think both are fine. Which one do you like? I’ll go and propose for you—I guarantee it’ll work." She glanced at Minru beside her and added, "I do like Dai Ti a bit more. She clearly seems like a sensible and understanding child."

Minru smiled and said, "Since Mother has said so, I won’t be modest. My cousin is truly an exceptional person, graduated from a prestigious American women’s college. My uncle is a respected pastor in the supervisory church, and he places great importance on Dai Ti’s education. Ordinary girls simply can’t compare to her."

Madam Yu nodded, looking quite satisfied, but then Jin Xuan beside her chuckled, "That’s great. If Dai Ti really becomes Fifth Brother’s wife, our family might have to worship two different gods." Qixuan asked curiously, "What two gods?"

Jin Xuan laughed, "Isn’t it obvious? Mother believes in Buddhism, and Dai Ti is a Christian. Wouldn’t our family have to enshrine both Guanyin and Jesus? I just wonder if these two gods might clash."

Minru smiled faintly and said, "Second Sister, you’ve thought of everything. How considerate of you."

Madam Yu then picked up a slice of roast duck, took a bite, and chewed it slowly before saying with a smile, "I heard the Second Miss Tao is also going abroad. Who knows how long she’ll be gone? That child seems quite nice to me as well."

After listening to their back-and-forth for so long, Yu Changxuan set down his chopsticks and said with a laugh, "Mother, if you’re in such a hurry, how about I go to Chang’an Alley and find you a daughter-in-law? What do you think?"

Madam Yu quickly asked, "Chang’an Alley? What kind of place is that?"

Eldest sister-in-law Minru looked at Yu Changxuan and smiled, "Fifth Brother, what nonsense are you talking? Chang’an Alley is a slum."