After returning home, Lanyin felt a lingering trace of frustration surge within her once more.
The house was empty. She sat on the soft couch, recalling her loss of composure in front of Qi Yubai today. Unable to suppress her annoyance, she rubbed her face with her hands. However, just as she made this motion, Ting Yun lifted the curtain and entered. “Master—”
Her voice abruptly stopped upon seeing Lanyin’s gesture.
Ting Yun stared at Lanyin in a daze.
Lanyin, only realizing the situation belatedly, felt a slight headache. It seemed she truly had not checked the almanac today, leading to one mishap after another. But facing her own maid was still better than facing outsiders. She merely cleared her throat lightly, placed her hands back on her lap, and swiftly regained her usual dignified composure, sitting upright on the soft couch as if nothing had happened. She then asked calmly, “What is it?”
“Ah…”
Ting Yun finally came back to her senses. She lowered the fabric curtain in her hand and replied, “It’s nothing. I just came to inform you that tonight’s late-night meal for the master has already been delivered.” She then asked, “Tonight, the kitchen made fermented rice dumplings and five-spice cakes. Would you like to have some?”
Lanyin did not have the habit of eating at night. Originally, she intended to decline, but after a moment of thought, she said, “Bring me some fermented rice dumplings. No need for the cakes.”
Ting Yun nodded, turned to leave, and gave instructions outside. As she walked away, she couldn’t help but glance back at her master. She saw Lanyin sitting on the couch, her posture still as dignified as ever, yet her fingers unconsciously kneading the space between her brows. That beautiful face, exquisite like fine jade, still held traces of frustration.
Naturally, Ting Yun was surprised. How long had it been since she had seen her master act in such a childlike manner?
Too long. So long that she could no longer remember.
Yet, her heart softened at the sight. Her master’s abilities and competence often made people overlook her actual age. But in truth, she was only twenty years old this year. Being able to witness this rare, different side of her filled Ting Yun with delight, but also curiosity—just what had happened tonight to make her master behave like this?
Carrying this question, she went outside to ask Shi Yu.
Shi Yu was ironing the clothes Lanyin would wear tomorrow. Upon hearing the question, she shook her head in confusion. “Master didn’t seem any different today. Why do you ask?” Seeing Ting Yun shake her head as well, she didn’t think much of it and was about to continue ironing when she suddenly remembered something from earlier that evening.
Turning to Ting Yun, she said, “Oh, right. Master was walking along the corridor earlier today, and for some reason, she suddenly started walking very fast. Lord Qi and I were both left behind.”
The corridor. Lord Qi…
Ting Yun pondered for a moment but couldn’t make sense of it, so she let it go for the time being.
—
That night, Lanyin went to bed unusually early. She tossed and turned before sleeping, but perhaps because of the fermented rice dumplings she had eaten, the aroma of the wine gradually lulled her into slumber.
As she slept, she started dreaming again. She rarely dreamed, and on the few occasions she did, they were always about her past life.
Rather than dreams, they were more like memories.
Unexpectedly, this time, it was a dream from her childhood.
In the dream, she had just been brought to the Wang family by her maternal grandmother. The once-familiar surroundings no longer gave her any sense of security. She was still trapped in the terror of being abandoned by her mother, who had left her on a busy road and driven away. Even with her grandmother by her side, she remained anxious and uneasy.
But as the head of the family, her grandmother had many responsibilities and couldn’t always be with her. Not wanting to worry her, Lanyin tried her best to act as if nothing was wrong.
But how could she possibly be fine?
Her once-loving aunts now resented her for potentially taking a share of the Wang family’s wealth. Her cousins believed she had stolen their grandmother’s affection. Even the servants whispered behind her back… She dared not reveal the slightest sign of distress in front of others. When she returned to her grandmother’s room, she had to appear calm and composed to reassure her.
So, she could only find her own ways to deal with her sadness.
She truly did find such a place.
On the western side of the Wang residence, there was an abandoned garden, overgrown with weeds, where even the servants rarely ventured.
Thus, this deserted place became her personal refuge, where she could freely release all her sorrow and grievances.
Lanyin had thought this was merely a dream revisiting the past, but unexpectedly, within this dream, she discovered a detail she had never noticed before or had long forgotten—on that rainy day, the umbrella she had been holding was not hers at all.
Someone had left it outside the door.
…
So, who exactly had placed that umbrella there all those years ago?
Even after waking up, Lanyin was still pondering this question. But after all, it had been too long ago, and that person likely had no ill intent. They had placed the umbrella there without stepping inside to disturb her, even ensuring that she never noticed their presence—perhaps out of fear that she would feel awkward… Could it have been a kind-hearted old servant of the Wang family?
Lanyin couldn’t come up with an answer, so she simply let it go.
She called Ting Yun and Shi Yu to attend to her and sat up in bed. Ever since leaving the Earl Manor, she had been waking up later and later, and today she had slept past mid-morning. By the time she woke up, the skies outside were already bright and clear. Even through the gauzy white curtains over the windows, she could tell that the weather was splendid.
She pushed open the window.
Welcoming the warm summer breeze.
A vast expanse of blue sky, boundless and cloudless.
Gazing at such beautiful weather, Lanyin’s mood also lifted. The wind made her squint slightly, but the corners of her lips still curled up unconsciously.
—
However, at this very moment, in the Daqing Hall within the palace, dark clouds loomed heavily.
The Daqing Hall was where the court ministers gathered for the morning assembly. Today, like any other day, the emperor allowed officials to present their petitions. After several matters had been discussed, court was supposed to be dismissed. Yet unexpectedly, someone suddenly stepped out from among the ministers and spoke:
“Your humble servant wishes to impeach the Commander of the Palace Guards and the Minister of Revenue, Lu Boting.”
The speaker was a young man.
His official rank was not high, but today he wore a red robe—a different shade from the crimson robes of senior officials. Since the era of the founding emperor, it had been established that whenever a Censorate officer donned a red robe, it signified that an impeachment was imminent.
Even before the morning court session began, some had speculated about who would be impeached today.
Now that the moment had arrived, although all the officials kept their heads lowered, their hearts were filled with curiosity.
The target of the impeachment was none other than the heir of the Chengbo Manor, Young Master Xiao. This did not surprise them. They had already heard about the recent happenings in the Chengbo Manor. However, Xiao Ye was currently in high favor with the emperor due to his past merits in saving the imperial carriage. Most dared only to gossip in private and never expected that the censors would be so audacious—boldly speaking out before the emperor himself.
And what was even more unexpected was that they had also implicated Lu Boting.
The Ministry of Revenue was a lucrative post—few responsibilities, plentiful benefits. If Lu Boting were to be removed from his position, the vacancy would be highly coveted… A stir of ambition quietly spread through the court.
The reigning emperor, Zhao Gan, was in his early thirties. He had been frail since childhood, his frame lacking the robust build of the late emperor. His figure was tall and slender, and in his black and red imperial robes, he appeared slightly thin and gaunt—like a long bamboo reed swaying in the wind. The jade-beaded fringe of his ceremonial crown framed a face that bore the striking beauty typical of the imperial family, though today, it was somewhat pale.
Upon hearing these words, he furrowed his brows slightly.
It had been years since such an impeachment had occurred in court, and the two individuals being accused were significant—one was his trusted palace guard commander, the other a key minister overseeing state finances and household registries.
Although Zhao Gan was weak in health, he was far from a foolish ruler. Last night, he had caught a cold, and at this moment, his throat was itching. He had originally intended to adjourn the court and take his medicine, but upon hearing these words, he remained seated. Raising a hand, he accepted the cup of tea handed to him by his attendant, took a sip to soothe his throat, and then spoke:
“Proceed.”
That young Censorate official, undeterred by the many eyes fixed on him, remained fearless and unwavering.
He strode forward to the front of the assembly and relayed, word for word, all the rumors circulating among the common folk in recent days. When he finished, he delivered his final statement with resounding force:
“Years ago, His Majesty already decreed that if both parties in a marriage agree to a separation, they need only draft a formal document and submit it to the Ministry of Revenue for approval. Yet, it has been over half a month since the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Changxing submitted her petition for separation, and she has yet to receive a response. Time and again, she has sent household servants to the Ministry of Revenue, only to be turned away each time.
These two officials, as high-ranking ministers of Great Zhou, ought to serve the people with utmost diligence. Instead, they have colluded for personal gain, shielding each other in corruption, ignoring the pleas of the common folk, and even disregarding the laws of the land and His Majesty’s golden decree as if they were nothing!”
“How can such officials be deemed worthy of serving as Great Zhou’s high ministers? I implore Your Majesty to mete out severe punishment to these two men as a warning to others!”
The Censorate officials were known not only for their skillful writing but also for their sharp, unyielding rhetoric. This young official’s speech, delivered with measured cadence and unwavering conviction, caused Zhao Gan’s expression to change instantly.
He turned his gaze toward Xiao Ye and Lu Boting, who stood among the court officials, his voice deep and solemn. “Is this true?”
Lu Boting’s face had already turned pale the moment the Censorate official spoke. Now, questioned by the emperor, he was even more flustered, unsure of what to say. He stepped forward, knelt, and struggled to explain, but he had no excuse.
It was indeed he who had suppressed the matter. When Gu Lanyin had repeatedly sent people to the Ministry of Revenue, his subordinates had found ways to obstruct her efforts.
Now—
“Your servant…” He stammered, trembling, sweat forming on his forehead. Just as he was at a complete loss for words, the military officer standing a few ranks behind him, Xiao Ye, stepped forward.
Xiao Ye walked to Lu Boting’s side, knelt down as well, and faced the emperor.
“This matter has nothing to do with Minister Lu,” Xiao Ye said, pressing his lips together. “It was I… It was I who requested Minister Lu to grant me a few days of delay.”
“A delay?”
The young Censorate official, who had shown no deference to the emperor while making his accusation, wasted no time in questioning Xiao Ye directly.
“I ask the Heir of Chengbo, was this petition for separation personally written by you?”
Xiao Ye fell silent for a moment before answering, “…Yes.”
“Since you wrote it yourself, why are you now requesting a delay?” The young Censorate official let out a cold laugh. “Marriage is supposed to be a joyous union, and if a couple can no longer live together, separation is understandable. You drafted the petition, yet you refuse to finalize the separation. Are you treating the laws of Great Zhou as a mere joke?”
His sharp words left Xiao Ye speechless.
Kneeling on the floor, Xiao Ye’s back remained taut like a bowstring pulled to its limit—seemingly unbreakable, yet already on the verge of collapse. He knew that his best course of action now was to admit his mistake, accept the emperor’s punishment, and finalize the separation with Lanyin as soon as possible…
But the moment he thought about separating from Lanyin, his heart felt as though countless needles were piercing it, an unbearable, suffocating pain. It was as if a wound had been torn open in his chest, letting the cold air rush in.
Unwillingness.
He did not want to separate from Lanyin.
He could not bear to watch her walk away from him. He wanted her to stay by his side forever.
The emperor sat just a few paces away, the court ministers were all behind him, yet an absurd thought suddenly emerged in Xiao Ye’s mind. His heart pounded fiercely, hot and erratic. Before the emperor could speak, he clenched his fists tightly and declared:
“Your Majesty, this humble servant acknowledges his guilt. I should not have treated the laws of Great Zhou as a game. Whatever punishment or reprimand Your Majesty deems fit, I will accept!”