The night breeze was chilly, and Minglan let out a small sneeze. The bear-like man was holding a jug of wine for the woman with excellent swimming skills to drink. Seeing Minglan shivering, the woman handed her a small cup. Carried by the cool river wind, Minglan caught a faint whiff of wine aroma. The woman smiled and said, "If you don’t mind, have some to warm yourself up."
Minglan immediately looked up at Gu Tingye—children should listen to adults. Seeing Minglan’s clear, bright eyes fixed on him, Gu Tingye felt a surge of contentment and nodded slightly. Only then did Minglan extend a small fist from her cotton quilt cocoon, take the wine cup, tilt her wrist back, and down it in one go. Returning the cup, she said cheerfully, "Thank you."
The wine was rich and mellow, and a wave of warmth immediately spread through her body.
The woman and the other men on the boat seemed slightly surprised. They had seen young ladies from noble families before, all delicate and reserved, but this girl, as pretty and tender as a doll, carried herself with an open and unpretentious grace. The bear-like man was the first to raise his thumb and praise in a rough voice, "Our little niece is truly straightforward!"
The woman also smiled and introduced herself, "Don’t mind him, miss. My husband has always made a living in the martial world and lacks manners. I am Che San Niang."
Minglan took a closer look at the woman. She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, with a slightly dark complexion, large eyes, and a wide mouth, giving her a lively and charming appearance. She pointed to the people on the boat one by one: the bear-like man was her husband, named Shi Keng; the slightly shorter, sturdy boy beside him was his younger brother, Shi Qiang; the fair-skinned, handsome youth standing at the bow was Yu Wenlong. They were all from the Water Transport Gang. Beside Gu Tingye stood a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar, who had been smiling all along, named Gongsun Baishi. Behind him was a young man who resembled him, with an alert and clever expression, named Gongsun Meng. The two were uncle and nephew.
Minglan struggled to extend her other small hand from her cotton quilt cocoon, then clasped her plump little fists together and bowed slightly to everyone, saying politely, "Though I’ve never heard of you before, I’ve long admired your reputations."
The Shi brothers, being straightforward and simple, likely didn’t understand the irony and enthusiastically returned the gesture. Che San Niang and the Gongsun uncle and nephew couldn’t help but chuckle. Yu Wenlong stole a glance at Minglan, thinking her features were as exquisite as a painting, radiant beyond words. His face flushed, and he lowered his head. Gu Tingye turned around, his expression unchanged, but the starry sky paled in comparison to the brightness in his eyes.
Just then, another small boat approached. Except for the Shi brothers, everyone else jumped onto it. Che San Niang sat beside Minglan and said with a smile, "Your family’s boat should be clean by now. Let’s head back first so you can change your clothes. They’ll take care of the remaining petty thieves. The gang’s brothers are excellent swimmers and will surely retrieve all your maids."
Minglan thanked her repeatedly, though she couldn’t help wondering when the Water Transport Gang had become a river patrol squad.
By then, the fighting on the river was gradually subsiding. The Shi brothers guarded the small boat from the front and back, while Che San Niang held Minglan tightly, keeping a vigilant watch. As Minglan watched their boat slowly approach her family’s larger vessel, she couldn’t resist looking back. She saw Gu Tingye standing with one foot on the bow of the boat, holding a large bow. Drawing the string, he arched his ape-like arm and straightened his wasp-like waist. With a few swift shots, blood immediately stained the water in several spots on the river’s surface. The other men around him followed suit, shooting arrows as well. As for the heads already bobbing on the water, they became moving targets.Under the pale moonlight, Gu Tingye's face was shadowed and grim. His tall frame loomed over the river as he looked down at the corpses floating to the surface. Whenever he spotted someone still struggling and wailing in agony, he would coldly finish them off with an arrow. His gaze was sharp and predatory, filled with a bloodthirsty killing intent that made Minglan shiver involuntarily.
The Shi brothers handled the boat with remarkable skill. With barely a ripple disturbing the water, the small vessel sped swiftly and silently toward the larger ship. Along the way, Minglan chatted idly with Che San Niang. The woman from the martial world was bold and straightforward, and within a few sentences, Minglan had managed to extract some startling information. She was taken aback to learn that Shi Keng was actually the newly appointed deputy leader of the Water Transport Gang. Given how he had been addressing Gu Tingye as "big brother" earlier, she had assumed he was just an ordinary martial artist.
Minglan sighed softly, murmuring to herself, "To have the deputy gang leader himself poling my boat—I suppose this ordeal wasn’t a total loss." Che San Niang’s fiery eyes sparkled with amusement as she laughed, "Aren’t you going to politely refuse such an honor?" Minglan spread her hands and replied honestly, "I don’t know how to steer a boat. If I refused, who would pole it? Better to just thicken my skin a little."
Che San Niang laughed heartily, her body shaking with mirth as she playfully patted Minglan a couple of times.
The Sheng family’s ship had not suffered much damage. As soon as Minglan boarded, she spotted the dazed Xiaotao standing by the railing, looking around anxiously, while a pale-faced Danju stood beside her, frantic with worry. Minglan stared in surprise as the two maids rushed over, clinging to her and alternating between tears and laughter. Once they entered the cabin, Minglan urgently asked, "Why are you still on the ship? Are you... unharmed?" She scrutinized them carefully, puzzled to find them completely unscathed.
Xiaotao puffed up with pride. "With Danju in tow, how could we swim quickly? So I made her hold her breath, and we hid under the ship. We came up for air now and then. Those water bandits were too busy chasing others to check beneath the ship. Plus, it was dark—no one noticed us. We thought about swimming to the opposite shore, but then a group showed up and drove the bandits away, so we came back."
Minglan gazed at Xiaotao for a long moment without speaking, inwardly marveling: Now that is true courage and wisdom!
Danju helped Minglan change into a fresh set of clothes from head to toe, then brought a dry cloth to wipe her hair and simply tied it up. Since Che San Niang was slightly taller and broader than Minglan, Xiaotao went to fetch one of Yun’er’s outfits for her to change into. Afterward, Minglan summoned someone to take a headcount of those on board. Most of the Sheng family’s servants and guards were safe; only two boatmen had died, and about seven or eight were injured. Minglan instructed Danju to record their names so that compensation could be arranged later.
Then two servants dragged three elderly women in and threw them to the ground. At the sight of them, Danju gnashed her teeth in fury. "Miss, these are the three who betrayed us!"
Minglan sat upright in the seat of honor, her sidelong glance falling on the hastily procured oil lamp beside the desk. Its flickering, dim light cast eerie shadows across the room, making everything appear ghostly. She lowered her head, fingers stroking the slightly raised patterns of her Brocade Velvet Coat. The fabric felt cool and smooth to the touch—a fine Jiangnan brocade. Below, the three kneeling women had disheveled hair and were kowtowing desperately, their faces streaked with tears and mucus.
Minglan asked calmly, "What exactly happened back then?"One of the old women glanced at the other two, then gathered her courage to plead, "Young lady, please understand! Those bandits captured us but couldn't find any valuables. In their rage, they threatened to kill us! This old woman was truly terrified, that's why I spoke... Young lady, we never intended to betray our masters! Have mercy!"
The three women continued to beg and plead incessantly. The servants nearby, angered by their behavior, kicked them several times. Danju, recalling the terror from earlier, felt her own anger surge. She raised her voice, "It would have been worth dying for your masters! Otherwise, what's the point of all that silver spent on supporting you mothers? I've already inquired—the bandits only threatened you at first. If you had just followed the young lady's instructions and claimed the masters had taken the valuables to the opposite shore by boat, leaving this vessel empty, wouldn't that have sufficed? But you were too afraid to die, and in your panic, you revealed everything, nearly costing the young lady her life!"
Minglan remained expressionless, her head bowed as she continued to stroke the patterns on the fabric. Slowly, she looked up and sighed, "Enough. Take these three into custody. When we return to Youyang, I'll let Old Madam decide their fate." The three women tried to beg again, but Minglan waved her hand wearily and said plainly, "What you did wrong in your panic is understandable. However, your lives are lives, and so are others'. I won't punish you, but I cannot keep you either."
After speaking, she ordered the three women to be taken away. Just then, Che San Niang entered and, witnessing the scene, laughed, "My dear niece, you're truly lenient! If this had happened in our gang, betraying brothers and leaking secrets would immediately lead to a tribunal before Lord Guan, resulting in Three Cuts and Six Holes!"
Danju, who had been fuming, hesitated upon hearing this. "So... severe?" Xiaotao, who had followed Che San Niang in, quickly chimed in, "Sister, you're being soft-hearted again! Earlier, when you were choking on water and coughing as if your last breath was near, you swore to punish them severely! Seems you've forgotten the pain once the wound healed!"
Minglan observed Danju's embarrassed expression and said seriously to both Danju and Xiaotao, "So, this teaches us: if you're not a true hero, don't join a gang; those in gangs are all heroes and champions!" She took the opportunity to flatter without effort.
Che San Niang burst out laughing, taking Minglan's hand affectionately. "My dear niece, you're truly a marvel! I've traveled north and south and seen many young ladies from great families, but never one as amusing as you!"
Minglan blushed and muttered a few modest words like "Not at all."
Shortly after, heavy footsteps sounded, and Shi Keng strode in. The moment he saw Che San Niang's indigo Precious Lotus Pattern Intertwined with Silver Thread Tapestry Coat, his eyes lit up, and he laughed, "San Niang, that outfit looks wonderful on you! It makes you appear less dark and much slimmer!"
Minglan's jaw dropped. This fellow really had no tact—he'd surely be punished by his wife with kneeing on a washboard when he returned. To her surprise, Che San Niang wasn't angry and chuckled, "It's the clothes that are good—clothes make the man!" Shi Keng tugged at his wife's sleeve, examining her from all angles, and nodded repeatedly. "Let's go to the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion to get more clothes made! It's just silver, after all." Che San Niang smiled cheerfully and agreed.Seeing that the couple had finished speaking, Minglan rose respectfully and said solemnly, "If not for your rescue tonight, along with the brave fellows from your gang, Minglan and these girls would likely have faced dire circumstances. Such great kindness is beyond mere thanks—please accept my bow!" As she spoke, she gathered her sleeves and performed a deep curtsy, her knees nearly touching the ground. Xiaotao and Danju quickly followed suit with their own bows.
Mr. and Mrs. Shi hurried to help them up, with Shi Keng repeatedly saying, "No need for such formalities, no need! Since you're our elder brother's niece, you're like our own niece. How could we not rescue you?"
Minglan offered repeated thanks before finally rising. Che San Niang, fearing Minglan might express more gratitude, quickly changed the subject and asked, "Husband, where is our younger brother?" Shi Keng replied, "I asked him to help outside. He's most skilled with external injuries."
With the ship bustling with activity, Minglan instructed Danju to go out and direct the maids to tidy up the thoroughly ransacked cabins. Xiaotao was sent to fetch firewood to boil water for tea. Then Minglan invited the Shi couple to sit and chat.
Minglan spoke with wit and a cheerful demeanor, her tone both humble and courteous, putting Mr. and Mrs. Shi at ease. Soon, they were chatting freely.
Shi Keng had grown up in the martial world, with elders who made their living on the docks. Che San Niang was originally a fishergirl from the coast; after her hometown suffered disaster, she followed her master to perform acrobatics for a living. Later, she met Shi Keng, and they married. Minglan found their tales of the martial world novel and fascinating, listening with keen interest. When Xiaotao brought tea and snacks, Shi Keng moistened his throat and continued.
About two years ago, they met Gu Tingye, who had run away from home, and they hit it off immediately, becoming sworn brothers. Shi Keng praised Gu Tingye's skills and character effusively, vividly recounting how heroically Gu Tingye had acted and how he helped Shi Keng's uncle secure the position of gang leader, speaking with great animation. Though rough around the edges, the Shi couple were perceptive; aside from some critical gang matters, they spoke openly.
"...Ah, our elder brother's life is too hard. Even if he's no longer the heir of a marquis' household, he now has wealth and reputation. Why must he still..." Shi Keng began to sigh. "In my opinion, Sister-in-law Man Niang is quite good. She followed him all this way, willing to endure hardship with him, and she's kind and warm to all us brothers, taking care of everything. Yet our elder brother ignores her, preferring to brave the elements outside!"
Che San Niang frowned and quickly nudged her husband, stopping him. "Don't talk nonsense!" She glanced uneasily at Minglan, as if worried her husband had said too much. Minglan asked with interest, "Man Niang is here too? Wasn't she in the capital? Did she bring the children?"
Seeing that Minglan already knew, Shi Keng shot his wife a look and relaxed. "See, our niece knows about it too." Then, grinning broadly at Minglan, he said, "Niece, do you know why our elder brother dislikes Sister-in-law Man Niang so much?"
Minglan lowered her head, pondered for a moment, and said lightly, "She... did something wrong."
A glint of understanding flashed in Che San Niang's eyes, but Shi Keng remained unconvinced and grumbled, "But our elder brother faces wind and rain all the time—he needs a woman to look after him. I think Sister-in-law Man Niang is quite good; why doesn't he just give her a proper status? The match his elder brother arranged wasn't any better—it fell through anyway..."Che San Niang jabbed her husband forcefully and scolded sharply, "You foolish man, what do you know?! Stay out of Eldest Brother's personal affairs. Last time you called her 'sister-in-law,' Eldest Brother didn't speak to you for half a year! Have you forgotten? He hates it most when she clings to him, and yet you still join in the commotion!" Upon hearing this, Shi Keng, with his bear-like physique, shrank back and shook his head without saying a word.
Che San Niang, exasperated by her husband's lack of sense, poked him again and muttered softly, "You just can't keep your mouth shut. Once you get excited, you dare say anything!" Turning to Minglan, she smiled and said, "Dear niece, don't listen to his nonsense."
Minglan smiled faintly and reassured her gently, "It's alright. Was the marriage proposal Second Uncle mentioned from the Peng family of Gannan Qingcheng?" Over the past year, to observe mourning for the Late Emperor, most entertainment activities in the capital had been banned. The resulting void in leisure life had led to a thriving gossip industry. Minglan tentatively asked, "Did the marriage proposal not work out?"
Che San Niang glanced uneasily at Minglan and, seeing her kind expression, sighed and whispered, "It was Eldest Brother's Marquis brother who proposed the match. We looked into it—the Peng family may not be of high status, but their young lady is gentle and refined. Who would have thought... Hmph!" San Niang snorted coldly and continued, "The Peng family is utterly infuriating. If they weren't willing, they should have just said so. Instead, they... they actually tried to pass off a collateral branch's illegitimate daughter as a substitute! Do they think our Eldest Brother can't find a wife and needs their pity?!"
The Peng family of Gannan Qingcheng were originally descendants of the Marquis of Jinxiang. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Taizong era, they fell from grace, were stripped of their title, had their property confiscated, and were sent back to their ancestral home. Although the Late Emperor did not restore their title upon ascending the throne, he did grant them some rewards. The family had been striving relentlessly to regain favor, but the Marquis of Jinxiang title was eventually given to a new aristocrat, dashing their hopes of restoration. However, the Peng family still maintained old marital connections with powerful nobles in the capital, and with some family members holding official positions, they had not completely declined. But in terms of actual influence, they were not even as powerful as Sheng Hong, who could oversee all officials below and report directly to the emperor above.
Gu Tingye's marital prospects seemed far too troubled. After hearing this, Minglan fell into thoughtful silence, first nodding slightly, then shaking her head. Shi Keng, puzzled, boomed in his loud voice, "Dear niece, why don't you say something?"
Minglan had not intended to speak, but the straightforward Shi couple pressed her insistently. Unwilling to say something insincere, she carefully chose her words and slowly replied, "The Peng family trying to substitute another young lady is indeed an insult. However, their refusal to agree to the marriage is somewhat understandable."
Shi Keng's face flushed red, and his neck thickened as he immediately prepared to retort, "What do you mean, dear niece? My Eldest Brother, he... Ow, what are you doing?" San Niang kicked him, and Shi Keng yelped in pain, bending over to rub his shin. Just then, he noticed a tall, sturdy figure standing at the doorway—Gu Tingye, with his full beard, had arrived unnoticed.
Che San Niang had already risen anxiously to her feet. Shi Keng forced a dry chuckle and walked over to Gu Tingye, asking solicitously, "Eldest Brother, you're back. Those petty thieves must have been dealt with—that was quick!" Che San Niang quickly added, "Of course! With Eldest Brother handling it, what couldn't be accomplished?!"The couple sang in perfect harmony, their flattery laid on thick in an attempt to mask the embarrassment of being caught gossiping behind someone’s back. Minglan also felt deeply uncomfortable, as if she had done something wrong. She stood obediently to the side, forcing out a few awkward, silly laughs.
Gu Tingye quietly swept his gaze over the Shi couple, causing beads of cold sweat to instantly form on their foreheads. Without a word, he slowly entered the room, hands clasped behind his back, and said in a deep voice, “The situation outside has been handled. You should set off now. I’ll join you shortly after giving a few instructions.”
The Shi couple seemed to hold Gu Tingye in great awe. Upon hearing his words, they hastily bid Minglan farewell and hurried out of the room, leaving only an awkward Minglan and her heavily bearded second uncle.
Gu Tingye found a chair near the door and sat down with a composed demeanor, a good ten steps away from Minglan. From his elevated position, he issued a command: “Sit.” Minglan immediately complied, sitting properly as she awaited further instructions.
Gu Tingye spoke in a gentle tone, slowly articulating two matters. “First, no one outside will learn of your fall into the water tonight. Handle your own servants when you return home. As for the others who saw you, I will take care of it.”
Minglan suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with joy, a faint pink hue blooming at the corners of her lips. Two small dimples appeared on her fair skin, sweet as locust flower candy in June. Gu Tingye’s mouth twitched slightly, but his thick beard concealed the movement. He continued, “...Second, do not speak of my involvement to anyone. Simply say that the Water Transport Gang came to your rescue.”
Minglan nodded repeatedly. No matter how highly Shi Keng praised Gu Tingye’s achievements in the martial world, the martial world remained just that—the martial world. In the eyes of high-ranking officials and nobles, those who made their living in the streets were nothing more than lowlifes, either serving the powerful as guards or acting as Pawns for hidden forces, fighting and killing.
For the son of a marquis’ household to become a martial world leader was hardly a glorious matter. No matter how formidable Chen Jialuo, the leader of the Red Flower Society, might be in the martial world, to the prestigious and noble Chen family of Haining, he was nothing but a prodigal son who had failed to live up to expectations—a fool who had even dabbled in rebellion, a topic they preferred not to mention.
“Second Uncle, rest assured!” Minglan declared with determination, nearly thumping her chest for emphasis. “Aside from calling out to you once on the small boat, I haven’t mentioned you at all since. No one will ever know.”
Gu Tingye nodded in satisfaction.
Then, an awkward silence fell over the room. Minglan glanced at Gu Tingye, who remained seated and unmoving, unsure of what to say. She could only stare blankly at the oil lamp beside her. Its faint, yellowish flame flickered, with only the tip tinged in a pale blue halo, like the furrowed brow of a young girl. Suddenly, Gu Tingye spoke again, his words abrupt and fragmented: “...Why is it excusable?”
Strangely, Minglan seemed to have anticipated that he wouldn’t be able to resist asking this question. He was still the same person—whether as the flamboyant, reckless youth of the capital or the down-and-out wandering noble in the martial world—he retained the same inquisitive nature he had displayed back in the Xiangyang Marquis’ residence.Minglan had long prepared a bellyful of responses, guaranteed to delight both heart and mind, and was just about to begin her glib persuasion when Gu Tingye cut in first, softly adding: "If you still hold any regard for the kindness I've shown you, speak the truth. I've heard twenty years' worth of empty pleasantries."
His face, obscured by a thick beard, was as somber as midnight river waters. With a slight tilt of his eyes, he unexpectedly revealed traces of desolation.
Minglan caught her breath, her prepared mental draft interrupted. Anxiously fiddling with the embroidered patterns on her sleeve, from Gu Tingye's perspective only a slender, fair section of her neck was visible - as moist and white as tender lotus root, with several fragile blue veins appearing soft and delicate beneath nearly translucent skin in the dim lamplight.
The girl suddenly spoke, her voice unexpectedly clear and cold: "Second Uncle, when you repeatedly sought with sincere intentions to marry Eldest Miss Yu back then, what was your true reason? Surely there were no shortage of other refined maidens in the capital."
Gu Tingye was taken aback, not expecting Minglan to suddenly ask this. Before he could respond, she continued on her own: "That's because Eldest Miss Yu has always been gentle, virtuous, modest, and frugal, willing to prioritize her family in everything. Such a wife would surely tolerate Man Niang and treat your illegitimate children well."—Moreover, Lady Yu was a stepmother and might not wholeheartedly protect her stepdaughter.
Hearing Minglan calmly articulate his original intentions, Gu Tingye fell into silence. Minglan tilted her head slightly: "Women are confined to the limited sphere of the inner household, spending their days pondering such matters. Even I can understand this logic, let alone others?" She chuckled lightly, "Given this, how would parents who genuinely cherish their daughter consent? If they didn’t deeply understand Second Uncle’s character yet still eagerly and joyfully sought marriage with you, one would instead suspect ulterior motives."
Minglan’s words were tactful yet pointed. With Gu Tingye’s intelligence, how could he not grasp it? With his notorious reputation for recklessness and his record of unfilial and dishonorable conduct, how could he expect to find a good wife who would tolerate his mistress and illegitimate children? What gave him the right?! Families who truly cared for their daughters would not want him; those who did were merely after his status and family background. Though, truth be told, he didn’t hold any remarkable power or position himself.
Observing Gu Tingye’s somber expression, Minglan hesitated before speaking softly: "Forgive my presumption, Second Uncle, but why not simply marry Man Niang? After all, you share years of affection and have children together." Gu Tingye let out a light scoff and said coldly, "The Sheng family’s upbringing is truly commendable, raising such a magnanimous and kind-hearted daughter."
Minglan detected the sarcasm in his tone but replied earnestly: "Regardless of what Man Niang has done in the past, she has always been sincere toward you, Second Uncle. She seeks neither wealth nor influence—only you as a person. That already makes her better than many others."
Gu Tingye laughed briefly: "You’ve changed quite quickly." Minglan spoke bluntly: "Previously, Second Uncle relied on the Ningyuan Marquis Household. Benefiting from it, you had to abide by its rules. But now, everything you have was earned by yourself. You’re free to marry the woman you love—why be constrained by others?"
Gu Tingye’s expression remained stern as he slowly shook his head. Minglan watched him with interest, a thread of irony surfacing in her heart:
—This man, no matter how rebellious he appeared on the surface, was at his core still a nobleman’s son. That innate pride and dignity were etched into his very veins. A woman of lowly origins, a former actress from a disreputable background—he was willing to dote on her, to keep her as a mistress, but he was still unwilling to entrust her with the responsibilities of a wife. He still hoped to marry a well-bred lady from a suitable family, to find an elegant and virtuous wife who understood propriety, could support her husband, raise children, and be presentable in society.
Minglan found it amusing and remarked coolly: "Second Uncle, though you appear full of defiance and scorn for worldly conventions more than anyone in the capital, deep down, you are the most conventional of all."—At least he remained clear-headed, unlike other young nobles who, once infatuated, would cast all caution to the wind.
Gu Tingye looked up and caught the faint mockery in Minglan’s eyes. He narrowed his eyes slightly and, before she could speak again, raised his hand decisively to stop her. He stated plainly: "Enough. Man Niang’s character is already corrupted."In that split second, a thought flashed through Minglan's mind, and she blurted out, "Could Second Sister Yu's death be related to her?"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than she regretted them. She hastily covered her lips, thinking this was the downside of working in the judicial system—constantly searching for inconsistencies and flaws in others' words, and pointing them out the moment they were found. How could she casually speak of someone's private affairs?
Gu Tingye's voice was as icy as the river Minglan had just bathed in, chilling her to the bone. He fixed her with an authoritative glare and said, word by word, "If you continue to act so recklessly, you'll lose your life sooner or later!" Minglan hung her head and mumbled an apology, "I'm sorry."
Gu Tingye rose to his feet and turned to leave. But at the doorway, he paused, glancing back at Minglan.
"Let me offer you some advice in return," Gu Tingye said mockingly, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Though your every move appears perfectly proper, deep down you scorn such conventions. You can usually maintain the facade well enough, but the moment something unexpected happens, your true nature shows! I only hope you can keep up the act for a lifetime, without anyone exposing you!" With that, he strode away decisively.
The half-open door left only a chilling draft in its wake. Outside, the night was gradually receding, the sky slowly turning pale blue. At the horizon, a faint reddish glow mingled with the gray clouds, creating a mottled, soft-colored tapestry.
Minglan stood rooted to the spot, silent for a long time.
Truth be told, she had long been aware of this fatal flaw of hers. Growing up in a simple and uneventful environment, she was naturally timid and cautious, yet a spark of passion simmered within her chest. She yearned to act heroically, to step forward bravely in times of need.
That was why she had foolishly volunteered for border support work, why she had meddled in Yanran's affairs like a dog chasing rats, and why she had recklessly stayed behind on the ship to handle the aftermath, committing all sorts of half-baked, foolish deeds.
Yao Father had once comforted his daughter with biased affection: "A life without mistakes isn't truly lived, and memories without regrets hold little meaning. In the long journey of life, it's quite meaningful to follow your heart and do some harmless foolish things."
Minglan lowered her head dejectedly: "Dad, I even died in the line of duty—can that still be considered a minor foolish act? Who knows what might happen the next time I make a mistake? I'd better change all of this."
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