Upon hearing her name called, Pingjun hastily threw on a robe and stumbled toward the door, nearly tripping in her haste. When she opened it, the corridor was brightly lit, and she was surprised to see not just one or two people outside—even Bai Liyuan’s parents were there. The moment Bai Liyuan’s father spotted Pingjun, he immediately said, "Miss Ye, your family has suffered an unexpected calamity. A fire broke out suddenly in the middle of the night. The fire brigade arrived too late, and your mother... tragically perished in the flames."
It struck like a bolt from the blue!
Pingjun was instantly shattered, her face turning ashen. She cried out, "Mom..." and pushed past the crowd to rush outside. But before she had taken more than a few steps, she reached the carpeted staircase, missed her footing, and her weakened body spun like a top. The world seemed to whirl around her, and then she tumbled headlong down the stairs...
...
Withered by autumn, the mandarin ducks scatter
At noon, a car pulled up in front of a small courtyard’s black-lacquered gate. The driver hurried out to help Bai Liyuan, who had just stepped down, with her numerous bags. But she waved him off, saying, "Take the car and wait for me up ahead. Don’t block the way here."
The driver quickly drove off, and Bai Liyuan carried her things herself, pushing open the courtyard gate. Inside, she saw Xie Zhaohua under the eaves, having removed his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves. He was crouched before a small kerosene stove, fanning it vigorously with a palm-leaf fan. The sound of his coughing echoed through the yard, which was filled with the bitter scent of medicinal herbs.
Bai Liyuan paused in surprise, then smiled faintly. "Brother Xie, you’re here earlier than I am, and working so hard. Where’s Pingjun?"
Xie Zhaohua, having grown up abroad and trained in Western medicine, had never prepared traditional remedies before. He looked up, his face smudged with soot, and exclaimed at the sight of Bai Liyuan as if she were a savior. "Sister Bai, you’ve come just in time! Miss Ye is burning with fever, lying inside. Please go check on her."
Hearing this, Bai Liyuan set everything else aside and hurried into the house. In the main room facing the entrance, Madam Ye’s Spirit table was set up, bearing her Memorial tablet. A wave of grief washed over Bai Liyuan, and when she heard Ye Pingjun coughing from the inner room, she called out anxiously, "Pingjun, how are you?"
She lifted the curtain and entered to find Ye Pingjun lying weakly on the bed, her face pale and lips colorless. Dressed all in white, she looked even more haggard. Li Yuan stepped forward and pressed a hand to Pingjun’s forehead, gasping in alarm. "Pingjun, you’re so ill—you must go to the hospital."
Pingjun shook her head slowly and whispered, "Brother Xie said the same earlier, but I don’t think it’s necessary. I’ve bought medicine; once it’s brewed and I take it, I’ll be fine." Seeing her in such a state, Bai Liyuan clasped her hand, her eyes reddening. Ye Pingjun took a soft breath, glanced up at Li Yuan, and instead comforted her gently, "I’m all right. Don’t worry about me."
As they spoke, Xie Zhaohua’s voice suddenly rang out from outside, "Who are you people? How dare you barge in here like this?!"A domineering voice rang out, "Mr. Xie, I recognize you. I'd advise you to stay out of this. Our police department has never been lenient with Western-educated types like you. Tell this family to bring out their household register - we need to inspect it."
Upon hearing this, Pingjun struggled to rise from the bed. Li Yuan held her down, saying, "Don't move. I'll go see what's happening." Pingjun shook her head, "Don't provoke these people. I'll just show them the household register." Li Yuan helped her retrieve the register from the drawer, and they walked out together to find several policemen standing in the courtyard.
Xie Zhaohua turned and saw Bai Liyuan supporting Ye Pingjun as they emerged. He hurried forward, "Miss Ye..." Ye Pingjun handed the household register to Xie Zhaohua and said softly, "Please show it to them. Don't argue with them." Xie Zhaohua then presented the register to the policemen.
Unexpectedly, the lead policeman glanced at the register, then looked up at Ye Pingjun before suddenly tearing the document into several pieces with a loud rip. Pointing at Ye Pingjun, he declared, "Do you think I'm blind? This household register is fake! Where did you come from, you troublemaker? Get out of Golden Mausoleum immediately!"
This action infuriated Xie Zhaohua, who angrily retorted, "What are you doing? How can you determine its authenticity based solely on your word? Is there no law anymore?"
The man laughed, "Law?! We in the police department are the law." He gave Ye Pingjun a meaningful look and said lightly, "Miss Ye, you'd better pack your things and leave Golden Mausoleum. We'll come back this afternoon to check on you. If you're still here, we'll personally help you move."
Watching the group swagger away, Ye Pingjun felt dizzy with anger and collapsed into a chair, unable to speak. Bai Liyuan was even more furious, "These people are clearly here to bully us. Don't mind them, Pingjun. I'll go back and ask my father for help."
Xie Zhaohua suggested, "Let's not bother Uncle Bai for now. I have some friends in the police department. I'll go seek their help first. Li Yuan, please stay here and look after Miss Ye." Bai Liyuan thought this was a reasonable approach and nodded in agreement. Xie Zhaohua grabbed his suit jacket and hat, quickly heading out the door.
Bai Liyuan stayed with the pale and weary Ye Pingjun. By noon, when Xie Zhaohua still hadn't returned, Bai Liyuan said she would go out to make a phone call. Shortly after she left, the sound of a car came from outside the courtyard gate. Several guards carrying rifles pushed open the gate and entered, followed immediately by Jiang Xueting.
Pingjun slowly rose from her chair. Jiang Xueting walked directly to the front of the mourning hall and knelt silently on the ground, bowing three times. Having lost his parents young and been rejected by his elder brother and sister-in-law, he had regarded Madam Ye as his own mother, deeply grateful for her care and upbringing.
Pingjun walked to the spirit table to return the ritual courtesy. Jiang Xueting gazed at Ye Pingjun's haggard appearance for a long moment before saying, "When aunt was buried, I was in Yuzhou, so I couldn't come."Pingjun stood to the side, politely saying, "It's nothing really. With Liyuan and her friends helping me, everything has been properly arranged." Jiang Xueting nodded slightly, then shifted his gaze to Madam Ye's memorial tablet, speaking indifferently, "Then pack your things. I'll take you to Cloud Province right away."
Pingjun was slightly taken aback. "What do you mean? Were those police officers sent by you?"
Jiang Xueting asked, "What police officers?" His confusion was clearly genuine. Pingjun glanced at him and turned her head away. Exhausted both mentally and physically, she felt dizzy and faint, speaking softly, "I've said I won't go to Cloud Province. Please leave."
Jiang Xueting retorted, "Whether you go to Cloud Province isn't for you to decide!"
Pingjun slowly raised her head to look at him. He appeared quite triumphant now, with a trace of pride and self-satisfaction even between his brows. She then noticed the guards stationed in the courtyard. The mourning hall was silent, with three incense sticks burning before Madam Ye's memorial tablet, their curling smoke drifting between her and him.
Ye Pingjun's gaze remained calm. "Minister Jiang, if you still remember our past affection, allow me to presumptuously call you elder brother. If you don't... then once you step out this door, the connection between our Ye family and you ends here."
Jiang Xueting suddenly flared up in anger. "Enough of this nonsense! Today, you must come with me!"
As his words fell, they heard Bai Liyuan's astonished voice from outside the door, "Pingjun." Pingjun turned to see the guards had already stopped the worried-looking Bai Liyuan outside. Bai Liyuan shouted angrily at Jiang Xueting, "Jiang Xueting, I came to take Pingjun to my home. If you dare lay a finger on her, our Bai family will never let you off!"
Jiang Xueting merely snorted coldly, completely unmoved by Bai Liyuan's words. With a stern expression, he said coldly to Ye Pingjun, "Don't think I can't do anything to you!"
Ye Pingjun lowered her eyes, turned calmly, and retreated behind the spirit table. Jiang Xueting's expression turned extremely unpleasant as he stepped forward without another word to grab her. Unexpectedly, Ye Pingjun suddenly turned around, her eyes blazing brightly, already holding Madam Ye's memorial tablet in front of her.
Jiang Xueting froze instantly as if doused with cold water.
Dressed in mourning clothes, Ye Pingjun held Madam Ye's memorial tablet with both hands, her gaze sharp as she stared at Jiang Xueting, enunciating each word clearly: "Jiang Xueting, think about how my mother treated you! How dare you force me like this?!"
Seeing Jiang Xueting standing rigidly with an indecisive expression, Ye Pingjun, who understood his nature perfectly, added calmly, "Jiang Xueting, let me give you some advice."
Jiang Xueting responded stiffly, "Speak."
Enduring her headache, Ye Pingjun said slowly, "I know your wedding with Second Miss Tao is approaching. Someone of her status will undoubtedly be nothing but beneficial to your political career. The Tao family is a prominent clan in Golden Mausoleum, and they must be paying close attention to your words and actions right now. Don't let a woman like me make you act impulsively and ruin your own future."Her words struck right at Jiang Xueting's core, making him even more furious. He coldly retorted, "My future is none of your concern!"
Ye Pingjun withdrew her gaze and silently walked past Jiang Xueting, holding the memorial tablet as she headed toward Bai Liyuan outside the gate. The small courtyard was utterly silent. Listening to her fading footsteps, Jiang Xueting's face darkened, his breathing grew increasingly rapid, and he clenched his fists tightly, feeling as if his heart had been brutally carved out.
Seeing Jiang Xueting's livid expression and recognizing the signs of an impending outburst, his adjutant Xue Zhiq, who was waiting outside the gate, stepped forward and whispered, "Mr. Jiang, the Tao family is watching so closely. This woman... let it go. Your future is what matters."
No sooner had he spoken than a sharp pain shot through his chest—Jiang Xueting had shoved him aside. In the next moment, Jiang Xueting drew his pistol from its holster and aimed it at Ye Pingjun, who had already reached the courtyard. A bloodshot gleam flashed in his clear eyes as he gritted his teeth and shouted, "I know you're going to him!"
This sudden, frenzied act stunned everyone in the courtyard. Bai Liyuan, barred outside, trembled in fear and cried out in alarm, "Pingjun!"
Ye Pingjun turned back. The dark muzzle of the gun was pointed at her from a distance. Her gaze fell on Jiang Xueting's suddenly enraged face—he held the pistol with a trembling hand, his chest heaving violently. The wind sweeping through the courtyard lifted the hem of her mourning robes, and the newly sprouted branches of the old locust tree swayed silently above his head.
Pingjun's eyes held a serene expression as she looked at him, as if gazing at a complete stranger.
She said softly, "If I go to him, would you really shoot me dead?"
A gunshot rang out.
Ye Pingjun's shadow fell on the bluestone pavement of the courtyard. He had fired at her shadow. She remained facing him, her slender back straight and unwavering.
Jiang Xueting was utterly despaired, knowing it was all over.
His voice was stiff: "Ye Pingjun, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other."
Ye Pingjun turned and walked out of the courtyard gate.
Bai Liyuan rushed forward and grabbed her hand. She lowered her head slightly and left the place with Bai Liyuan. When they reached the end of the alley, a military vehicle was parked there. Bai Liyuan's heart raced in panic, "This isn't our car. Where is our car?"
As she looked around, she suddenly felt a heavy pull on her arm. Turning back in shock, she saw Pingjun—still holding the memorial tablet—slump weakly against her arm and collapse to the ground, pale and unconscious.
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