Jiafu finished arranging the room as darkness fell. Hearing footsteps at the door, she turned to see Pei You'an entering. Joyfully, she went to greet him, helped him remove his outer garment, and brought over the medicine she had timed perfectly to cool. Watching him drink it, she rubbed his chest with her small hands and complained, "Lao Ding said you've been coughing for quite some time. You treat the horses' ailments, so why not your own?"
Pei You'an replied, "I have been taking medicine..."
"If you've been taking it, why is the cough getting worse?"
Remembering how she had seen him coughing painfully the night before, Jiafu's anger flared up.
"And another thing! You've been here for more than just a day or two. For so long, this house could have been fixed in half a day, yet you ignored it! That's not all—when I arrived last night, there wasn't a hint of warmth in the room. It was no different from falling into an ice pit..."
Pei You'an deflected, "You arranged the room? Fu'er is so capable—your husband is truly pleased."
Jiafu scowled. "I'm talking to you seriously!"
Pei You'an chuckled. "So am I!"
Jiafu pummeled him with her fists, but Pei You'an let her, simply holding her as he laughed softly.
Rolling her eyes, Jiafu pushed him away and ignored him, going to open the door herself to call for hot water.
In the fodder yard, aside from seven or eight old soldiers, there was also a local woman—the wife of Old Soldier Ding, who had opened the door for Jiafu the previous night. She was strong and usually handled cooking and other miscellaneous tasks. Today, upon seeing Jiafu for the first time, she had been awestruck, addressing her repeatedly as "Madam." Noticing that Tanxiang and Muxiang were also lovely young girls, she eagerly took on all the heavy and rough chores. Seeing Pei You'an bring in a bathtub, she knew it was for the madam's use and had heated snowmelt water in the evening, waiting to deliver it. Now, hearing the call, she and the maids brought in the water, filling the tub halfway. The two of them squeezed in together for a snowmelt bath. Afterward, Jiafu's skin glowed a faint pink. Wrapped in an ankle-length robe loosely tied at the front, she sat by the stove, drying her wet hair.
Pei You'an sat behind the table, continuing to sort through his account books, though he occasionally glanced up at her graceful, slender silhouette.
Gradually, her hair began to dry. Pei You'an stood and walked over, taking the comb from her hand to help her with her hair.
Jiafu, lazy and drowsy, nestled against him like a cat being stroked, nearly falling asleep in comfort. Suddenly, she heard him whisper in her ear, "Fu'er, Yang Yun told me everything. You endured so much hardship to come here, yet I don’t even have a proper house for you."
Jiafu opened her eyes and turned her head, meeting his gaze filled with remorse. She immediately shook her head. "I don’t feel any hardship at all. This place is wonderful!"
Pei You'an smiled faintly, tenderly stroking her smooth, flowing hair, his eyes brimming with even more tenderness. Softly, he said, "I was thinking... once this winter passes and spring brings warmer weather, I’ll have Yang Yun escort you back to Quanzhou. Don’t worry—from today onward, I’ll take good care of myself and never make you worry for me again..."
Jiafu, who had been smiling, gradually froze, staring at him. "Cousin, what are you saying?"
"Fu'er, I know how you feel about me. I’ll be fine, but this place truly isn’t suitable for you to stay long-term. I don’t want you to suffer with me...""What did you just say? Say it again." Jiafu's small face slowly darkened.
"Once it warms up in spring, I was thinking of having Yang Yun escort you back to Quanzhou first..."
Jiafu was silent for a moment before giving him a faint smile. "Send me back to Quanzhou for what? So I can marry someone else, is that it?"
Pei You'an paused but didn't respond.
Jiafu stared at him, her expression gradually turning cold. Suddenly, she shoved him away forcefully and nodded. "You want me to leave, don't you? If that's the case, there's no need to wait for spring. I'll have Yang Yun prepare a carriage for me tonight—I'll leave right away! No need to stay here and be a nuisance!" With that, she stood up, went to the door, yanked the bolt open, and called out loudly for someone.
Her sudden outburst seemed to stun Pei You'an at first. Only then did he react, darting after her and pulling her back inside before shutting the door. "Fu'er, listen to me," he said urgently. "It's not what you think. I just don’t want you suffering here with me—"
Jiafu's eyes were already red. Like a fish trapped in a net, she struggled fiercely, but he held her tightly, refusing to let go. Enraged, she lowered her head and bit down hard on his wrist.
Pei You'an hissed in pain, his grip loosening. Seizing the chance, Jiafu broke free and ran to the row of trunks that had been brought in earlier and placed against the wall. She flung one open—most of it was filled with books. She grabbed a stack and hurled them at him. "These are the books I specially picked from your old study before I left," she said coldly. "I can’t be bothered to take them back. If you think they’re worth keeping, then keep them. If you think I overstepped, tear them up or burn them—it’s none of my concern!" As she spoke, tears began streaming down her face.
The books hit Pei You'an in the face before falling to the ground, but he remained motionless, staring blankly at Jiafu. Only when he saw her tears did he seem to snap out of it, quickly stepping forward and pulling her into his arms.
Jiafu struggled again with all her might, but he held her even tighter. She opened her mouth and bit his shoulder this time, yet instead of letting go, he only embraced her more firmly. After a tense standoff, Jiafu finally exhausted her strength, releasing her bite as her body went limp.
Pei You'an lifted her and carried her to the bed.
"Fu'er... it's my fault... if you're still angry, bite me again..."
He kissed her repeatedly, pressing his lips to the tears spilling from her eyes, his voice filled with desperation."Pei You'an, you just said that you know my feelings for you. But have you ever truly known my heart? Do you know why I followed you across thousands of miles to this place? If I were afraid of hardship, I wouldn't have come! I know you reluctantly married me, and in your heart, you've never truly regarded me as your wife! Whenever something happens, you never tell me! Even such a life-threatening matter before, you kept it from me as tightly as a sealed barrel! You must have thought me a fool, believing that after arranging my future and clearing your debt to me, a simple letter would be enough to send me away, right? It's my fault too, overestimating myself, thinking that by following you here, you'd understand my heart and truly care for me, treating me as your wife. Turns out I was just being sentimental! Fine, I've seen your true colors now—you've always been this kind of person! Maybe it's for the best. I'll just go back, and we'll part ways. You live your life, and I'll marry someone else. It's not like no one wants me..."
She wept bitterly, her sobs choking her words, her body trembling slightly.
Pei You'an gazed at her, his eyes slowly reddening, before suddenly silencing her with a forceful kiss. Jiafu struggled at first, pounding his shoulders and back, but gradually stilled, closing her eyes as silent tears fell.
When Pei You'an finally released her, breathing unevenly, he murmured, "Fu'er, I was wrong. I shouldn't have thought that way. Will you stay?"
Jiafu opened her eyes, her gaze tearful. "Didn't you want me to leave? Why ask me to stay now?"
"I don’t want you to go."
His eyes were red as he stared unblinkingly at her. "Last night, when I saw you suddenly appear, I thought I was dreaming... I didn’t know how long this situation of mine would last. I couldn’t bear to see you suffer here with me. I know I was wrong. Fu'er, will you stay?"
"I want you by my side."
"If one day you truly leave me for another, my life... would lose all meaning..."
He spoke softly, his voice trailing off.
Jiafu gradually stopped crying, staring at him before suddenly pushing him away again. She sat up, slipped on her shoes, and went straight to a chest. After rummaging through it, she pulled out a letter and returned, tossing it at him. "Lord Pei, your literary talent is remarkable. This letter is well-written. Read it to me again, and I’ll let this matter go."
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