The Lament of Autumn

Tao Ziyi let out a faint hum of indifference, casually tossing a powder puff into the vanity's powder jar. At the sound of the door opening, she didn't even turn her head, continuing to apply her CD lipstick while occasionally pressing her lips together to check if the color had strayed beyond their outline.

Jiang Xueting smiled slightly upon entering and seeing her like this. "You're up already? Why not sleep a little longer? You came back so late last night."

Tao Ziyi finally glanced back at him with a sidelong look. "Is Dean Jiang throwing his official weight around here, interrogating me about my affairs? I just went dancing at a hotel last night—is that not allowed?" Jiang Xueting gave a light smile. "Do as you please. When have I ever interrogated you? But Father and Elder Sister are coming over tonight. You should at least stay home to entertain them."

Tao Ziyi sneered. "My father and elder sister are family. Do they need me to entertain them? It's your brother and sister-in-law who've come more than once. Your brother insists on becoming the head of the Central Bank—a local money lender daring to make such a demand. Isn't that utterly ridiculous?"

Jiang Xueting looked at Tao Ziyi, who giggled and asked, "Am I wrong?" Jiang Xueting replied calmly, "No, you're absolutely right. The appointment for the bank head ultimately depends on Father's arrangements." Tao Ziyi adjusted her sapphire-blue georgette cheongsam in the mirror before turning to Jiang Xueting with a charming smile. "Do I look pretty?"

Noticing several yellow roses in a nearby vase, Jiang Xueting plucked one and offered it to her with a smile. "For you." Tao Ziyi looked up to see the vibrant yellow rose swaying before her eyes. Jiang Xueting gently tucked the flower into her coiled hair, saying warmly, "Absolutely beautiful."

Tao Ziyi immediately brightened, picking up her handbag and telling Jiang Xueting, "I've made plans with friends to see a movie. I might be late again tonight." Jiang Xueting said, "But Father and Elder Sister..." Tao Ziyi pouted. "How annoying. I'll call and tell them not to come."

Without another word, Tao Ziyi headed for the door, instructing the maid outside as she pushed it open, "Tell Old Wang to bring the car to the main entrance." Since their marriage, Jiang Xueting had indulged Tao Ziyi in every way, and she ruled the household with unquestioned authority. The maid hurried to carry out her orders. Just before stepping out, Tao Ziyi turned back to Jiang Xueting with a smile. "Your sister-in-law brought some pastries. I had the servants place them on your study desk. Go take a look yourself—I certainly won't be eating that sort of thing."

With that, she slammed the door shut and descended the stairs.

Jiang Xueting's gaze fixed on the door for a long moment before he casually grabbed the remaining roses from the vase, threw them to the floor, and crushed them thoroughly under his foot. His expression remained calm and detached.

From outside came the voice of his adjutant, Xue Zhiq: "Dean Jiang, there's an issue at the Small Mansion."Outside the window, a gentle breeze rustled, causing the entwined wisteria leaves on the balcony to sway in waves. Jiang Xueting slowly raised his head, gazing at the newly greened wisteria leaves, his eyes pausing slightly.

This three-story building, blending Chinese and Western architectural styles, was located on the south bank of Yuzhou. The Han River divided the city of Yuzhou into two halves. Compared to the bustling north bank, the south bank offered tranquility within the commotion. Most high-ranking officials and nobles from the north bank would purchase a small apartment here, their intentions naturally obvious and self-explanatory.

In March, the weather in Yuzhou was already quite warm. The balcony of the three-story building faced a small garden at the back, where several gardeners were busy on the lawn. Holly trees formed a wall-like hedge, alongside a row of White Jade Hairpin Flowers that had just sprouted buds, their jade-green leaves lush and clearly receiving the most meticulous care.

In the third-floor bedroom, beside a rosewood floor lamp with pleated silk shades stood a Western-style soft armchair. A maid entered carrying a tray of snacks and said obsequiously to a delicate woman in an overcoat seated in the armchair, "Miss, please have some snacks. These are Chicken Broth Soup Dumplings, which my master said are your favorite."

Ye Pingjun turned her head, her gaze sharp and cold. The maid continued smiling as she held the tray, but Ye Pingjun stood up, pushed the maid aside, and hurried out of the room. The maid panicked and cried out, "Miss Ye, you can't leave!"

Pingjun paid no attention and ran downstairs. But before she had taken more than a few steps, someone said, "Miss Ye, please wait." A few people had emerged from a door on the other side of the hall, led by a refined man who politely smiled at Ye Pingjun and said, "If Miss Ye needs anything, you can always ask the servants. There's no need to come downstairs yourself."

Pingjun said indignantly, "Who are you people? Why are you keeping me imprisoned here?"

The man smiled slightly and replied, "I am an attendant here, Zhou Zhenghai." Pingjun stood there, her gaze piercingly clear. "Where is this place?"

Zhou Zhenghai answered politely, "This is Yuzhou."

Pingjun was momentarily stunned. She lifted her head and looked outside the hall, where a few soft beams of sunlight streamed in through the main entrance. Sentries stood rigidly by the door. Zhou Zhenghai, standing beside her, said courteously, "Miss Ye, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest upstairs for now."

Ye Pingjun knew this place was a cage from which she could not escape. She turned back to see the maid coming down the stairs, offering her a gentle smile and a slight bow. "Miss Ye, I am Ruixiang, a maid here. Whatever you need, you can tell me."

Pingjun pushed past her and went upstairs, saying coldly, "Tell him to come!"

Zhou Zhenghai stepped forward, still very polite. "Miss Ye." Ye Pingjun turned her head and looked at Zhou Zhenghai with an icy stare, her lips parting as she enunciated each word with clarity and coldness, "Tell Jiang Xueting to come see me."

Jiang Xueting arrived at the Small Mansion just before evening.Zhou Zhenghai led a group of guards forward to greet him, but he waved his hand, dismissing them all. He walked upstairs alone, moving so swiftly until he pushed open the bedroom door. There, the heavy dark green curtains by the window were drawn back on both sides by golden hooks, and a vase of peach blossom branches sat on the side table. She sat sideways on the armchair, her profile softened by the blossoms, exuding a gentle, delicate beauty. Gazing at her, he felt as if he had stepped once more into that beautiful, innocent dream that once belonged to him, and he murmured softly, "Pingjun."

She finally turned her head, her fingers trembling uncontrollably, but her icy gaze pierced straight to the depths of his heart. Her words were cold as frost: "Jiang Xueting, how dare you treat me like this!"

Jiang Xueting replied calmly, "I only wanted you to come back."

She stared at him, the pair of jade pendants on her earlobes swaying incessantly. His eyes held a gentle warmth, fixed on her face as if seeing her again after a lifetime. He smiled softly, as if lost in a dream: "Pingjun, we're finally together again."

Ye Pingjun rose from the chair and said coolly, "Jiang Xueting, you're now a man of influence. You should act with integrity. What do you mean by kidnapping me here for no reason? I want to return to Golden Mausoleum!" Her gaze was frigid as she stepped toward the door. He grabbed her arm, holding it tightly. She turned back, and he gazed at her, smiling faintly. "Still so quick to anger. I remember, every time you were mad at me, you'd make me apologize first. Let me apologize to you again, alright?"

She struggled to shake off his grip, her voice furious: "Jiang Xueting, show some respect!" He stared into her angry eyes, a faint smile still playing on his lips, murmuring as if in a trance: "Pingjun, you have no idea how difficult things are for me now. Whenever I'm in pain, I long to see you. I've never felt such a wild, intense desire to be with you. I tell myself, you were always meant to be mine. I had to win you back."

His gaze sent shivers through her, her face pale but a fire burning in her chest. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand away, but he suddenly embraced her, one arm wrapping around her waist, the other cradling her head, holding her tightly against his chest. He whispered obsessively, "Pingjun."

Pingjun struggled for breath in his embrace, her hands pushing hard against his chest as she cried out angrily, "Jiang Xueting, you scoundrel!" Yet he still smiled tenderly and whispered, "Pingjun, for you, I'm willing to be a scoundrel. I thought I had the best of everything in this world, and even without you, it wouldn't matter. But now I realize, without you, the best of everything means nothing!"

She trembled all over. "That's all in the past. You've married Tao Ziyi, and I belong to Yu Changxuan now. You know perfectly well we've reached this point—there's no going back!"He stared intently at her face and declared resolutely, "If I say it can be salvaged, then it can be salvaged." Ignoring her resistance, he lowered his head to kiss her. Her face turned deathly pale as she pushed against his chest with all her might, throwing her head back and struggling fiercely. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. With a cry of "Ah!", she crumpled to the carpet, clutching her stomach tightly. Fine beads of cold sweat instantly covered her forehead. Jiang Xueting panicked, "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

Pingjun could barely catch her breath. The throbbing pain in her abdomen intensified, and cold sweat quickly drenched her temples. A wave of nausea rose to her throat. She bowed her head, curling into a ball as she retched miserably, her face devoid of any color.

Her hand was abruptly seized with such force it felt like her bones might shatter. She looked up in terror to see Jiang Xueting's furious face. His gaze grew icy as he stared at her pale, haggard features, spitting out each word with venom, "Ye Pingjun!"

She lowered her head again, retching violently, her body trembling as if shaken by chills.

Jiang Xueting turned and shouted toward the door, "Someone come in!" hurried footsteps echoed immediately, and Zhou Zhenghai called from outside, "Dean Jiang!"

Through gritted teeth, Jiang Xueting yelled, "Find a doctor, now!" Zhou Zhenghai rushed off to carry out the order. Jiang Xueting yanked Pingjun up from the carpet, disregarding her wretched state, and began dragging her toward the door. Ye Pingjun understood his intention—she knew she could no longer hide the truth. Her eyes flashed with clarity as she declared, "You don't need to have me examined. You're right—I am carrying his child! In life, I am his person; in death, I am his ghost!"

Jiang Xueting turned back, his eyes bloodshot, roaring, "Ye Pingjun, you ungrateful wretch!" Without another word, he slapped her hard across the face. Staggering from the blow, Pingjun fell against the bedpost. Ignoring her own safety, she desperately shielded her abdomen and glared back at him furiously. "Yes, I am an ungrateful wretch! I'm not worthy of you. Let me go!"

He sneered coldly, suddenly pointing at her with finality, "Dream on! Even if I have to tear you apart limb by limb and grind your bones to dust, I will never let you see Yu Changxuan again!"

She froze instantly, her entire body turning cold. He took another step forward, grabbing her forcefully. Her hair had come loose, strands flying wildly about her pale face. Her breathing was ragged, but her eyes remained sharp and piercing. "Jiang Xueting, treating me like this will bring you retribution!"

His face darkened with rage. Seizing the back of her head, he slammed it violently against the floor. A ringing filled her ears as warm liquid trickled slowly down her temple. Jiang Xueting yanked her up by the hair and said coldly, "Even if retribution comes, I'll deal with that bastard in your womb first!"