Ye Pingjun nodded in agreement. Jiang Xueting washed his hands and came over to grab some Osmanthus Cake from the table, eating several pieces in a row without even using chopsticks. Madam Ye laughed, "Even after four years abroad, you haven't changed a bit. You loved these since you were little, and it seems you still do now that you're grown up. Don't eat so fast—Ping'er, go pour him some tea!"
Jiang Xueting's hands were fragrant with the sweet scent of Osmanthus Cake as he looked up and smiled, "Only Auntie's Osmanthus Cakes are truly delicious. I wouldn't even glance at anyone else's." Ye Pingjun brought over a cup of tea and set it before Jiang Xueting, teasing, "Stop with your smooth-tongued flattery of my mother."
Madam Ye watched the young pair, thinking what a perfect match they made—the talented scholar and the beautiful lady—and felt genuinely happy, a smile gracing her slightly improved complexion. "Ping'er, I'm going out to buy some groceries. Xueting, can you stay for dinner tonight?"
Jiang Xueting immediately agreed. Once Madam Ye had left, Pingjun sat in a chair on the other side of the table, watching Jiang Xueting eat with an amused smile before slowly picking up a piece of Osmanthus Cake herself. After a moment's thought, she said, "You just returned today—how can you not have dinner with your brother and sister-in-law? What if they get upset?"
Hearing this, Jiang Xueting replied lightly, "It's fine. They don't bother with me. They'd be happier if I didn't go back."
Noticing the half-eaten Osmanthus Cake in Pingjun's hand, he reached over, held her wrist, and leaned in to take a bite. Pingjun's face instantly flushed crimson, and she tried to pull her hand back. In the midst of this tugging, the door was pushed open, and in walked their neighbor Mama Zhao. Taking in the scene, she exclaimed, "Oh my—!" Covering one eye with her hand while waving the other, she said, "What's this? Nothing going on here! I just came to check in. Go on, eat, eat!"
As Mama Zhao hurried out on her bound feet, Ye Pingjun's face turned completely red. She glanced up and saw Jiang Xueting still laughing, which made her so angry that she threw the remaining half of the Osmanthus Cake at him. Jiang Xueting caught it with a smile and ate it. Just then, the door opened again—Madam Ye had returned from the market with some groceries.
When love endures, magpies bridge the way home.
As summer deepened, the weather grew increasingly hot. To escape the intensifying Chu-Mou factional strife within the central government, Yu Zhongquan used poor health as a pretext to retreat to the Yu family's summer residence, Fenghua Manor. His departure gave Yu Changxuan considerable freedom; he stopped going to the Army Ministry altogether and paid no attention to either Tao Ziyi or Jun Daiti, spending his days merely practicing shooting at the Parade Ground or riding horses.
One afternoon, under the scorching sun, Yu Changxuan returned from target practice at the Parade Ground with Li Boren and a few others. With nothing else to do, he pulled two staff officers from the Ninth Army into the small drawing room of the Yu residence for a game of mahjong. After several rounds of clattering tiles, the pile of money in front of Yu Changxuan gradually grew. He knew Li Boren and the others were deliberately letting him win, a practice he particularly disliked, and it only made him feel more disinterested.Li Boren noticed Yu Changxuan’s indifferent expression as he idly tapped a seven-dot tile on the table, producing a rhythmic clacking sound. He chuckled and asked, “What’s the matter, Fifth Master? You seem so listless. Are there any unresolved military affairs troubling you?”
Without even bothering to lift his eyelids, Yu Changxuan replied with a faint smile, “What unresolved military affairs could I possibly have? With my father handling everything, it’s like the Jiaqing Emperor ascending the throne with the retired Emperor standing behind the dragon throne!”
Immediately, a colleague flattered him, “Why would you say that, Fifth Master? You’re young and accomplished…” Yu Changxuan snorted, cutting him off. “I dare not accept such praise. I’m merely relying on my father’s influence. Becoming a staff officer in the Army Department at twenty-four—I’m afraid my back is about to be bent from all the criticism.”
Another person at the mahjong table laughed and said, “Fifth Master, there’s no need to be so self-deprecating. Everything is ready; all we need is the right opportunity. Once you return from the battlefield with a resounding military achievement, those critics will be left speechless.”
The stream of flattery only fueled his irritation. Yu Changxuan casually tossed the seven-dot tile into the pile on the table, his expression turning slightly displeased as he said, “Are we playing or not? Enough with the nonsense!” Seeing how unusually irritable Yu Changxuan was that day, Li Boren feared that nothing he said would satisfy him and quickly interjected, “Exactly, stop dawdling! I’m still waiting to win back my losses. Let’s play another round!”
As he shuffled the tiles haphazardly on the table, Yu Changxuan suddenly stood up and walked out of the hall without a word. Gu Ruitong and Wu Zuoxiao were taken aback, and Gu Ruitong hurriedly led the guards to follow him. Li Boren grabbed Wu Zuoxiao and asked, “Wu Deputy, what’s going on? Why is Fifth Master so angry? Give us a heads-up.”
Wu Zuoxiao turned around with a pained expression and said, “It’s all because of that Miss Ye. She’s been humiliating Fifth Master repeatedly, and his temper has been terrible lately. When he loses his temper, none of us have an easy time. I’d advise you all not to provoke him further and head back quickly.”
Finally understanding, Li Boren chuckled and said, “So that’s what it is. This instant attraction has turned into something explosive—he’s lovesick! So our Fifth Master has been unable to conquer Miss Ye’s defenses, no wonder he’s so furious.”
Noticing the smug smile in Li Boren’s tone, Wu Zuoxiao asked, “Judging by your expression, Staff Officer Li, do you have a good idea?”
Li Boren grinned and replied, “Well, I might have a plan or two.”
Wu Zuoxiao’s eyes lit up as if he had found a savior. “As expected! Only you, Staff Officer Li, could come up with a flawless plan for such a despicable deed.” No sooner had he spoken than Li Boren kicked him in the calf. The surrounding officers burst into laughter, as this kind of banter was commonplace among them. Wu Zuoxiao added, “Hurry up and tell us, so the rest of us don’t have to suffer the consequences endlessly because of Fifth Master!”
Li Boren replied leisurely, “Don’t worry, Wu Deputy. Leave this matter to me. Who do you think our Fifth Master is? If he wants someone, there’s no way he won’t get them!”On this day, just after classes had ended at Mingde Girls' School, Ye Pingjun was packing her schoolbag to go home when Bai Liyuan approached with a cheerful grin. Waving a box seat theater ticket, she exclaimed repeatedly, "Pingjun, look, look! A Jade Spring Garden theater ticket. My cousin's wife was showing off with it yesterday, but I snatched it from her. Let's go watch the opera tonight—it's Mei Jianqiu of North New Peking Opera performing 'Jade Hairpin' here in Golden Mausoleum, and this is the final show!"
Mei Jianqiu, the renowned Peking opera star from North New, was extremely famous, and "Jade Hairpin" had been heavily promoted in the newspapers for a long time. Although Ye Pingjun had long wanted to see it, she declined the ticket apologetically, "Jiang Xueting is coming to my house tonight, so I can't go." Bai Liyuan's face immediately fell with disappointment. After staring at the ticket for a moment, she suddenly looked up and smiled, "Then it's even better! Take this box seat ticket—you and Jiang Xueting can go together. I won't join you."
She shoved the ticket into Ye Pingjun's hand, but Pingjun quickly refused, "No, this ticket is expensive, and besides, it doesn't make sense for us to go without you. I can't accept it."
Bai Liyuan stuffed the ticket into Pingjun's schoolbag, giggling, "Don't be polite with me! I'll have my father take me to the cinema instead. Thinking about it, you and Jiang Xueting watching the opera together must be much more fun than going with me. I won't be your third wheel." Her words made Ye Pingjun blush deeply. Pingjun picked up a nearby book and playfully hit her with it. Bai Liyuan yelped "Ouch!" and turned to run out of the classroom, laughing gleefully.
Ye Pingjun brought the box seat ticket home and found Jiang Xueting had already arrived. He was sitting with Madam Ye under a locust tree in the courtyard, enjoying the cool shade. A small table was set with assorted dried fruits, some spiced beans, and a plate of fresh, glistening grapes. Their neighbor Mama Zhao was also there, sitting and mending something, creating a scene of tranquil harmony. Mama Zhao, seated facing the gate, was the first to see Pingjun enter and said with a smile, "You're back early today, miss."
Pingjun acknowledged her and, noticing Jiang Xueting smiling at her, she pursed her lips into a slight smile but didn't engage with him. Instead, she went to sit by Madam Ye, pulled out the box seat ticket, and placed it openly on the table, saying, "This is a box seat ticket Liyuan gave me. Let's all go to Jade Spring Garden to watch the Peking opera tonight."
Mama Zhao, who was sewing, ran her needle through her hair and chuckled, "An old lady like me can only listen to Bai opera or such—this Peking opera is beyond me, I wouldn't understand it."
Madam Ye picked up the ticket and glanced at it, "So it's 'Jade Hairpin'." Jiang Xueting, sitting nearby, added, "That's a famous opera; in Sichuan opera, it's called 'Two Lifetimes of Fate'." Hearing this, Mama Zhao expressed confusion, "'Two Lifetimes of Fate'? Why such a name? Can a person live two lifetimes?"
Ye Pingjun, eating grapes, found Mama Zhao's remark amusing and thought for a moment before saying, "It probably refers to human relationships and worldly affairs. I think the idea of a 'lifetime' isn't necessarily about birth, aging, illness, and death. Every time you meet someone or go through a story, it can count as a lifetime."Mama Zhao continued, "There's such a saying? If that's the case, then being with the three of us, young lady, could be said as having lived three lifetimes?" Jiang Xueting, standing nearby, remarked, "I understand this saying. Knowing a person and understanding them counts as one lifetime." As he spoke, he glanced at Ye Pingjun's features with a slight smile. Pingjun lowered her head to pick up a grape to eat, though the corners of her lips also curled into a smile.
Madam Ye placed the box seat tickets on the table and said with a laugh, "I've had a headache these past few days and can't go to such a lively place. You and Xueting go watch the show, just come back early." This suited Jiang Xueting perfectly, and he repeatedly agreed, unable to contain his laughter. Seeing him so carried away, Ye Pingjun shot him a glare and chided, "What are you laughing at? Go by yourself." Blushing, she stood up and turned to go inside to put away her schoolbag. In the blink of an eye, she saw Jiang Xueting follow her in. The blush on her face hadn't faded yet, so she turned away, only to feel a slight tremble in her bun. Reaching up, she took it down to look—it was a flawless white jade hairpin, its top shaped like an elegant Hosta flower, entirely pure white with a slightly pointed end.
Seeing her staring blankly at the white jade hairpin, Jiang Xueting smiled and said, "This one is better than the last. Don't lose it again."
Ye Pingjun sighed regretfully, "No matter how good it is, it's not the original one." Hearing this, Jiang Xueting felt an inexplicable discomfort in his heart but still smiled and said, "Who cares which one it is? In any case, it's from me."
Pingjun held the hairpin, nodding slightly with a smile. Jiang Xueting took the jade hairpin and slowly pinned it into her hair. The contrast of black hair and jade hairpin made Ye Pingjun's face appear even more delicate and elegant. Jiang Xueting smiled gently, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You're much more beautiful than the Hosta flower."
Embarrassed, Pingjun turned her body away, her back to him. Lifting her head, she saw the Hosta flowers blooming in the courtyard—a large cluster of tender green, dazzling to the eye, with slender white blossoms exuding fragrance. They truly resembled jade hairpins adorning the tips, their long stems and delicate buds swaying gracefully like emerald clouds in the breeze, an exquisite sight.
In the evening, Jiang Xueting stayed at the Ye residence for dinner before going with Ye Pingjun to the Jade Spring Garden to watch the opera. The two entered the upstairs box and saw a large, three-sided stage below, with a row of elegant seats in front. Wealthy families who preferred not to sit in the upstairs boxes naturally occupied those seats. The opera hadn't started yet. Sitting in the box, Pingjun glanced down and spotted Madam Li in one of the elegant seats. Looking further, she saw Li Boren next to her, with an empty seat beside him.
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