I never imagined this day would come so soon.
The summer of August, the cicadas buzzing, a game of chess—the beautiful tranquility was suddenly shattered.
"Who are you people?" Xuanling hurried to intervene, but she was pushed aside. She clenched her fists and held her ground.
"We have come to escort the Second Young Lady back to the estate. All idlers, stand aside."
"Master, why are you not focusing?"
"The day has finally come, after all."
"Are you so sure I will go back, Master?"
"It is a matter of time. There is little left that I can teach you. Remember: be patient and humble. You are a capable child; even in a strange land, you will adapt. You will surely be able to secure greater prospects for yourself."
"I am not going back."
"Sigh..."
"Uncle Mu, drive them away."
"As you command."
"There is no 'Second Young Lady' here as you call it. You have the wrong person. Please leave, or do not blame me for being discourteous. Xuanling, step back."
"How dare you speak so recklessly! Seize her!"
Uncle Mu kicked them out one by one, and silence returned only after they were all gone. Yet, these days, a new group would arrive almost every few days.
Meanwhile, at the Prime Minister's Estate in the Capital:
"Prime Minister, the man inside claimed we had the wrong place and threw us out."
"Did you not produce the token of recognition?"
"I was kicked out before I even had the chance to take it out, sir."
"Useless! Send another group. State our identity clearly and bring the Second Young Lady back to the estate."
"Yes, sir."
"Why must you be so angry, my lord? If she does not wish to return, is it not fine for her to remain away?"
"What do you know? That is womanly ignorance! She is my legitimate daughter. She is soon to reach her coming-of-age ceremony; how can she remain away? Recently, people have been impeaching me at court. Furthermore, the Defender-General of the State and his family will soon be returning. They mentioned that girl and even petitioned the Emperor to arrange a marriage for her."
"With whom? Which prince?"
"Not a prince. It is the Heir Prince, Xiao Jue of the Xiao Prince's Mansion."
"No! Father, you cannot! Xiao Jue is the one I love!" Wen Ziqi ran out and knelt at Prime Minister Wen's feet.
"Utter nonsense! What kind of behavior is this?"
"My lord, do not be angry. Qier, get up and speak properly to your father."
"Speak of what? I have said, any of my daughters could marry a prince; why would I let you marry an Heir Prince?"
"Xiao Jue is a master of literature and martial arts, a brilliant strategist. Father, I have long admired him! Do not marry that sister I have never even met to him!" Wen Ziqi pleaded, weeping, but he remained unmoved.
Prime Minister Wen was thinking: the Emperor had not yet issued a decree—did that mean he disagreed? Things were at a stalemate. The only way now was to bring that daughter back quickly. If he could win over Xiao Jue, that would be acceptable too, for he held real power and the Emperor's favor.
"Remember your duty. You are the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's Estate," he said, flicking his sleeves as he walked away.
"Mother, we cannot let her marry Xiao Jue. We cannot!" Wen Ziqi said, her voice full of malice.
"Qier, be good. Don't cry. Mother will find a way."
"Thank you, Mother. I only want Xiao Jue. Father makes me interact with princes, and it disgusts me. I study all these arts every day without complaint—Mother, I only want him, only him!"
"I know, I know. I will find a way to solve this. Just focus on being your young lady."
Madame Wen sneered to herself: *Little bitch, I should have killed you when you were small. I truly regret it.*
When night fell, another group of men in black set off for Nanhua Mountain...
"We are servants of Prime Minister Wen from the Capital. We have come to bring the Second Young Lady home."
"I have already said there is no 'Second Young Lady' here! Are you deaf?" Xuanling said, growing impatient.
"Young lady, this is our token. The Second Young Lady has one as well, given to her by her mother—one with her, and the other with her twin brother. We have brought the elder brother's jade pendant today."
Xuanling took it and went inside to show it to Wen Jiu.
"I have a brother?"
"Xuanling did not know."
"Master, do I have a brother?"
"I suppose you do. Even I know very little."
"Even so, I am not going back. Tell them I intend to live in the mountains and that they should not disturb me."
"Yes, Miss."
"That is how it is. Our miss has never seen this."
"Is it possible we really have the wrong place? May we ask to see your young lady in person?"
"You steward! Even in the Capital, one's young lady is not someone to be seen by just anyone, not even in a humble household! If you lack manners, we do not. Please leave, I will not see you out."
"Steward Zhang, have we really mistaken the place? Otherwise, who would turn down such boundless wealth?"
"You speak sense. Let us stay at the foot of the mountain for the night and plan tomorrow."
"You cannot keep stalling like this. You will have to face it sooner or later," the old man said, looking at her.
"But I only want to stay with you all. A life without schemes, carefree and happy. I love hunting, picking fruits, and catching fish in the river every day."
"I wonder if this way of raising you was the right thing to do."
"It was, it was, definitely right! Master and Uncle Mu don't know, but Miss is always smiling. She is very happy."
"Xuanling, your tongue is getting sharp. Did you sneak the honey I gathered?"
"Miss, I did not!"
"Dinner is served!"
"Coming, Uncle Mu! What did you make today?" Xuanling made a sharp turn and ran out.
"The lotus leaf cakes and roast chicken you love, the Dongpo pork for our little girl, the lotus porridge for the master, and for me—the big pork knuckle!"
"Wow! Uncle Mu, you are the best!" Xuanling hurried inside to bring the food, along with some vegetable dishes.
"Master, let us go eat as well."
"Yes."
"Uncle Mu, such a feast today?" Wen Jiu asked as she sat down.
"It is nothing. It is just... Uncle Mu and I have decided to go traveling. Perhaps we will cross paths in the Capital one day."
"Master, are you leaving because you are afraid I will be caught in a difficult spot?"
"What are you thinking? I am just getting old and want to see the scenery of the mountains and rivers. I have raised you to this age; it is time for me to retire."
"Does Master not want me anymore?" Wen Jiu asked softly.
The old man did not answer.
Wen Jiu knew he was afraid that Prime Minister Wen would apply pressure, and he wanted her to return to the Capital with peace of mind.
"You have a brother; returning will give you someone to rely on. Your maternal grandfather's family has spent their lives fighting on the borders; they are about to return to the Capital to retire. You can visit them often."
"My maternal grandfather?"
"The Defender-General of the State is your maternal grandfather. I wonder how that old man's health is holding up."
"Master, you are not planning to come back, are you? You are telling me everything, even things you refused to speak of before."
"You were too young then. Now you are grown. I am relieved that I did not fail in raising you."
"Enough. Let us eat."
"Coming, coming! Bamboo Leaf Green wine for the Master and Uncle Mu, and plum juice for the Miss and me!"
Wen Jiu felt as if the old man were making his final arrangements, or perhaps he believed that if they parted now, it would be difficult to meet again. Was that why he was giving her these instructions? Her heart began to ache again, and involuntary tears welled up.
She did not want to ask about the Prime Minister's Estate. She only wanted to stay with her master and the others, living a simple life. Nothing more.
"Silly girl, all good things must come to an end. After you return, remember my words: be patient and humble. If you have any trouble, go consult your grandfather's family."
"And what about you, Master?"
"I shall be wandering the world. Letters will be hard to reach me."
"When will you leave?"
"After you depart, we shall set out."
"Then you must return early to attend my coming-of-age ceremony."
"Very well."
"Old Man, it is a promise."
"How insolent... call me Master."
"I know, Old Man."
The gloomy atmosphere among them immediately vanished, replaced by a sense of cheer.