Madam Yu, seeing him like this, said anxiously, "Cover yourself with the quilt. Going from cold to hot like this—how can you stand it? If you're tired, lie down a while longer. Your father isn't home anyway. Look at the dark circles under your eyes—how can you still have them after sleeping so long?"
Yu Changxuan evaded the question and asked, "Where did Father go?"
Madam Yu sat by the bed, noticing he did look rather listless. She reached out to feel his forehead, but he turned his head away with an impatient expression. She laughed and said, "Alright, I understand. You're an adult now—I can't keep treating you like a child. Today is the wedding of the Mou family's son and the Tao family's eldest daughter, Yayi. Your father has gone to the wedding banquet."
Yu Changxuan smiled and said, "The Mou and Tao families marrying—their intentions are crystal clear. Such a political marriage is bound to make Father fume for a while. Why doesn't the Chu family have a daughter? Otherwise, I could step up personally and share some of Father's worries."
Madam Yu chuckled and replied, "Well, that's perfect. It's rare to see you so filial. The Chu family may not have a daughter, but the Tao family has a second daughter. Don't you like her too? I'll go and propose it for you one of these days."
Yu Changxuan said dismissively, "Forget it. Becoming the brother-in-law of that fool from the Mou family, always one step below him—I won't do it. Mother, you know as well as I do that the Mou family's only son is a bit short on brains." This made Madam Yu laugh even harder. She poked him lightly on the forehead and said, "You! Always saying such nonsense—you really are infuriating. Hurry up and get something to eat. Don't go hungry."
Yu Changxuan grunted in agreement. Only then did Madam Yu lead the butler, Zhou Tai, out of the room. He collapsed back onto the bed, pulling the quilt over his head and burying himself completely under the covers. After lying like that for a while, he suddenly sat up, his face filled with frustration. He grabbed the quilt and flung it to the floor, but even that wasn't enough to vent his anger. He stood up and viciously kicked the tangled quilt away.
He thought he was going mad. How had it come to this? The moment he closed his eyes, his mind was filled with her—her every smile, her every gesture, her shadow everywhere, impossible to shake off. The soft fragrance that clung to her seemed to linger in his heart, that gentle scent stirring him into chaos, impossible to dispel...
Never having known longing before, now that he did, he was consumed by it.
He was truly going mad.
His aide-de-camp, Wu Zuoxiao, having had nothing to do for several days, was lounging in the guards' room in the main hall that afternoon, chatting idly with a few other aides-de-camp, when a guard suddenly came in and announced, "Fifth Master is here."
Wu Zuoxiao quickly rose and went out to greet him. He saw Yu Changxuan dressed in full riding attire, even the spurs on his military boots gleaming brightly. Waving his riding crop at Wu Zuoxiao and the others, Yu Changxuan said, "Come with me. We're going riding at the parade ground." Wu Zuoxiao replied, "It's snowing and raining outside—hardly good weather for riding. If Madam finds out, she'll be angry."
Yu Changxuan pointed his riding crop at Wu Zuoxiao and said, "If my mother finds out, I'll deal with you first."Wu Zuoxiao noticed Yu Changxuan’s expression was particularly grim and quickly grabbed his military cap, following him with the guards. After a few steps, he saw the faint dark circles under Yu Changxuan’s eyes and couldn’t help but chuckle, “Fifth Master, how did you end up with such dark circles? How many nights have you gone without sleep?”
Yu Changxuan didn’t even turn his head, snapping irritably, “What’s it to you?”
Wu Zuoxiao laughed, “If you can’t sleep, why not go out for a stroll? Staying cooped up in the official residence all day might make you sick.”
Yu Changxuan replied curtly, “I like it that way!”
Wu Zuoxiao, like Gu Ruitong, had served Yu Changxuan for many years and was well-acquainted with his temper. He grinned and said, “Fifth Master, it’s been a while since you visited Maple Terrace. Maple Terrace is a wonderful place—beautiful scenery and even more beautiful people.”
No sooner had Wu Zuoxiao finished his teasing remark than Yu Changxuan stopped walking, turning around to glare at him furiously, his eyes practically blazing with anger. Wu Zuoxiao immediately grew fearful, adopting a posture ready to flee at any moment. “What I meant was, we brothers have been indulging in revelry with Fifth Master all this time. Director Gu, after all, is one of us, yet he’s left alone at Maple Terrace, all by himself. It just doesn’t sit right with me.”
Without even using his horsewhip, Yu Changxuan delivered a swift kick without another word. In his panic, Wu Zuoxiao blurted out the most crucial information, “Director Gu asked me to tell Fifth Master that someone at Maple Terrace has been staying at the hospital these past few days!” His words were still too drawn out, and he ended up taking the kick. Yu Changxuan demanded, “Who’s at the hospital?”
Wu Zuoxiao grimaced and rubbed his sore calf, saying, “Miss Ye’s mother’s old illness has flared up again, and it seems serious this time. Chief Guard Gu mentioned that Miss Ye has been keeping vigil at the hospital these past few days, not leaving even for a moment.”
Yu Changxuan froze for a moment, standing there and staring intently at Wu Zuoxiao. His gaze was so focused it sent a chill down Wu Zuoxiao’s spine, raising goosebumps all over his body in an instant. Then, Yu Changxuan’s eyes flickered, and he turned to walk back, saying as he went, “Have the car prepared.” Wu Zuoxiao, ignoring the lingering pain in his calf, eagerly followed Yu Changxuan and asked recklessly, “Aren’t we riding horses anymore? Not riding horses?”
Yu Changxuan was utterly exasperated. He turned and swung his whip at Wu Zuoxiao’s head, fuming, “Can’t you see for yourself? Is this weather for horseback riding? With all this snow and rain, do you want me to fall and die?!”
Wu Zuoxiao found the remark strangely familiar. As Yu Changxuan strode away, Wu Zuoxiao, with his naturally roguish and irreverent disposition, felt immensely pleased. He slung an arm around an aide-de-camp’s shoulder and lamented dramatically, “You see, our line of work is just too tough. We have to swallow all the bitterness and hardship, and still put on a smiling face for others.”
The aide-de-camp was taken aback, taking a moment to process the words before replying, “Deputy Wu, I don’t think we’re in the same line of work.”
Spring warmth fills the scented brazier, locking in the night of mandarin ducks.Since the onset of winter, Madam Ye had suffered several bouts of cold, which unexpectedly triggered a recurrence of her lung disease. In the first few days, she managed to endure it, but gradually her condition worsened until she was once again confined to bed. Pingjun was utterly terrified and spent nearly half the winter at Mercy Hospital, caring for her mother day and night. The strain took its toll, and she grew noticeably thinner.
One day, after feeding Madam Ye half a bowl of fine rice porridge, Pingjun sat by her mother's bedside as she drifted into a fitful sleep. The room was silent, and Pingjun occasionally adjusted the blankets, her eyes fixed on her mother's pale face. Overwhelmed, she felt a lump in her throat and tears welling up.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. Startled, she looked up as Yu Changxuan entered the room. Their eyes met, and her fingers trembled as she rose from her chair. The noise also roused Madam Ye, who weakly called out, "Ping'er, who is it?"
Yu Changxuan stepped forward. Madam Ye slowly opened her eyes and, recognizing him, struggled to sit up. He reached out and gently pressed her back, saying, "Mother, please lie still." The address left Madam Ye breathless, staring at him in disbelief. After tucking the blankets around her, Yu Changxuan called toward the corridor, "Come in."
A foreign military doctor entered with two nurses, carrying a medical kit. The doctor stood at attention and saluted Yu Changxuan, who nodded in acknowledgment. The doctor then set the kit on a table and began unpacking diagnostic tools. As the nurses approached to assist Madam Ye, Pingjun helped her mother sit up. Noticing tears glistening in her mother's eyes, she whispered, "Mother."
Madam Ye softly acknowledged her, wiping away the tears with her fingers before smiling faintly at Pingjun and Yu Changxuan. "The doctor can examine me here. There's no need for you two to stay—why don't you go for a walk?"
Pingjun remained seated, head slightly bowed as she traced patterns on the corner of the table. Her lips pressed together in stubborn silence. Madam Ye sighed and urged, "Ping'er, what's gotten into you? Won't you even listen to me now..."
Yu Changxuan smiled. "Let her stay and care for you. I'll wait outside—call me if you need anything, Mother." He glanced at Pingjun, but she kept her head down, eyes lowered, ignoring him completely.
Withdrawing his gaze, Yu Changxuan said nothing more and left the room. The military doctor proceeded to examine Madam Ye, the process lasting until evening. As they finished, a Guard entered and informed the doctor, "Fifth Master requests a report on Madam Ye's condition once you're done."
The doctor promptly followed the Guard out. After receiving injections and medication, Madam Ye's complexion had improved slightly. Lying in bed, she let out a soft sigh. Pingjun immediately stood up. "Mother, would you like some water?"Madam Ye slowly shook her head, holding Pingjun's hand as she whispered, "Did you hear what he called me? He called me 'Mom.' My child, this means he acknowledges you—he doesn’t look down on you."
Pingjun pressed her lips together. Madam Ye struggled slightly to catch her breath, tears falling as she choked out, "Ping'er, stay with him. I can tell he truly cares for you. Don’t think about Xue Ting anymore. At this point, you and Xue Ting... it just wasn’t meant to be. Why dwell on it now?"
Her arm shifted as Madam Ye gently shook it, as if pleading. Pingjun felt a surge of grievance and simply sat there, turning her head toward the window. Outside, a few sparrows seeking winter shelter perched on the small ledge, trembling as they tucked their heads beneath their wings for warmth. The edges of the windowpane were coated with a delicate layer of frost.
In the blink of an eye, half the winter had passed.
The strand of hair at her temple had grown out. She now tucked it behind her ear, combing it together with the rest of her hair, still able to fashion two neat little buns. It was impossible to tell which parts had been cut and which hadn’t.
And really, there was no need to distinguish anymore.
Her mother said to her, "Child, I know he’s waiting for you outside. Go out and say something to him."
She remained rigid in her seat. Madam Ye grew anxious, coughing several times before clutching her chest and gasping, "Why must you be so stubborn!"
Slowly, Pingjun released her mother’s hand, stood up, and turned to leave. Pushing open the door of the hospital room, she saw several Guards standing in the corridor. It was clear that with someone like him present, the entire floor had been secured. A military doctor stood before him, speaking in low tones. He stood tall and straight as a sword, the heavy dusk light pouring in through the window behind him like a thick fog.
Pingjun walked steadily down the hallway. At the corner was the staircase, and she hurried down. But the sound of footsteps behind her grew closer and more urgent. Her heart tightened, pounding wildly. As soon as she reached the bottom step, she turned around in a fluster, only to feel warmth envelop her shoulders as he reached out and pulled her firmly into his embrace. His voice was soft as he murmured, "Don’t be angry with me."
For some reason, a stubborn anger surged within her, and she struggled against him. He, in turn, held her tighter. The two of them stood silently at the foot of the stairs, locked in a wordless tug-of-war, until he maneuvered them into a corner, leaning against the wall as he held her even more securely. Unable to contain her embarrassment and irritation, she exclaimed, "Let go of me!"
Yu Changxuan chuckled. "You’ve backed me into a corner. Where am I supposed to go?"
His response only fueled her frustration. "How dare you twist things around?" she retorted. Yu Changxuan laughed lightly, defending himself with confidence. "I didn’t." Pingjun began prying his fingers away one by one. "Nonsense, you clearly—" She broke off as she felt a sudden warmth on her cheek—he had leaned down and kissed her. Startled, she froze as he whispered by her ear, "Since you’ve said it, I might as well take a bite. No point in being accused for nothing."
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