After sending off the people from the Pang Residence.
Qi Yubai did not immediately return to Songzhi Courtyard but instead had someone summon Yunkuo.
At that moment, he stood by the study’s window, holding his plump orange tabby cat in his arms, absentmindedly scratching its multiple-layered chin. The fat cat purred contentedly in his embrace. Hearing footsteps behind him, Qi Yubai continued gazing at the scenery outside and issued his command without turning his head, “Go to the Water Defense Camp later and inform Instructor Li there that a ship from Jinling will be arriving soon. The owner of the vessel is surnamed Wang. If his subordinates catch sight of it, have them look after it a bit. Make sure those blind river bandits don’t disturb the old man’s peace.”
The Wang family of Jinling.
Yunkuo instantly guessed who it was and quickly acknowledged the order.
“Has Zhusheng returned?” Qi Yubai asked again.
“I was just about to report to you.” Yunkuo replied, “We received a letter this morning. Zhusheng already returned from Lin’an a few days ago and should arrive in a few more days. His letter mentioned that the Marchioness of Changxing has already obtained Miss Gu’er’s divorce document, but the second young master of the Fang family has gone missing.”
Qi Yubai’s hand paused for a moment before he resumed stroking the fat cat. After a brief silence, he asked, “Does it have anything to do with Madam Wang?”
“Yes,” Yunkuo lowered his voice. “The Marchioness of Changxing has attempted to hire assassins to kill that Fang second young master more than once. However, since there has been no news of his death, he must still be alive, though our people have yet to locate his whereabouts.”
After speaking.
Yunkuo hesitated briefly before asking Qi Yubai, “Should we intervene in this matter?”
In the past, Yunkuo wouldn’t have asked such a question. But now, even he, no matter how slow-witted, had discerned their master’s intentions. After all, that Marchioness of Changxing was still Miss Gu’s mother. If something happened to her, Miss Gu might inevitably be affected.
“There’s no need to concern ourselves with Fang Huaiye’s life or death. As for Madam Wang—” Just at the mention of that name, Qi Yubai felt an intense nausea rising in his chest. His pitch-black phoenix eyes carried unconcealed disgust, and his thin lips pressed into a taut line. In truth, there were few things in this world that he harbored strong feelings of like or dislike toward. Having lived two lifetimes and encountered many people, both good and bad, he had grown indifferent. Whether it was the way his grandmother’s family treated him in his youth or the colleagues in court who had schemed against him, none of it had been enough to make him truly loathe anyone.
That was simply the way of the world—not worth dwelling on.
Only Madam Wang.
Only when he thought about everything she had done to Lanyin did Qi Yubai feel an uncontainable revulsion.
Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs; even beasts know how to care for their young. Yet Madam Wang, as a mother, did nothing but push all the blame onto her own child, never once considering that Lanyin had only been six years old that year—a time when she most needed her family’s love and protection.
She had cast Lanyin off to her maternal grandparents’ home, leaving her life and death to fate, forcing a mere child to grow up watching people’s faces to survive. Later, because she doted on her younger daughter, she disregarded Lanyin’s suffering, repeatedly reprimanding her in favor of her younger daughter, humiliating Lanyin’s reputation in Bianjing. Even after Lanyin was wronged, Madam Wang forbade the Gu family from sending people to fetch her home, abandoning her outside without a care for whether she lived or died.
How was such a woman even fit to be called a mother? Could she still be considered one?
No.
He had misspoken.
Madam Wang was indeed a mother. She knew exactly how to care for a child—but only for Gu Qing, not Lanyin. When he thought of the stark contrast in how she treated Gu Qing and Lanyin, Qi Yubai still felt a chill on Lanyin’s behalf. When Gu Qing suffered grievances, Madam Wang could go so far as to hire assassins just to restore her daughter’s dignity.
But what about Lanyin?
When Lanyin was injured, when she was wronged, when she needed someone to stand by her, where was Madam Wang? She had done nothing but scold her. She thought Lanyin was shameful, that she had tarnished the Gu family’s reputation, that she was unworthy of being a Gu daughter.
Qi Yubai’s tightly pressed lips did not relax in the slightest. The usual elegance of his face was now tinged with a sharp and murderous aura.
Even if she later regretted it, what use was that? The person was already gone, and no amount of remorse could ever make up for the pain Lanyin had suffered.
More than once, he had wondered—if Madam Wang had treated Lanyin better, would her ending have been different? Even if she had never received a husband’s love, even if she had been scorned by the world, at the very least, she would still have had family who cherished and protected her.
As long as there was even one person in this world whom she held dear, how could she have chosen to die with such peace, even relief?
Just how deep was her disappointment in that life, for her to see death as liberation?
The image of Lanyin amid the flames in that past life surfaced in his mind, and Qi Yubai closed his eyes. Under the blazing sun, his thick lashes trembled uncontrollably.
“Meow.”
He had remained motionless for too long. The fat orange cat opened its eyes and let out a disgruntled sound.
Qi Yubai finally pulled himself out of his thoughts. His hand resumed its previous motions, yet beneath the intense sunlight, his usually cold and distant features appeared even more profound. His voice was also lower and more somber. “Send news of Lin’an and Madam Wang’s actions to Yanmen Pass.”
“As for the matter of hiring assassins—” Qi Yubai truly did not want to concern himself with Madam Wang, yet he worried that Lanyin might be implicated. With a heavy tone, he ordered, “Send a message by carrier pigeon to Zhusheng. Have him keep people in Lin’an to watch over things. As long as it doesn’t become a public scandal that drags down the Gu family’s reputation, we don’t need to interfere.”
“Understood!”
Yunkuo responded at once.
Perhaps sensing his master’s attitude toward Madam Wang, he hesitated slightly before continuing, “…Master, there is one more matter.”
Hearing the hesitation in his voice, Qi Yubai turned his gaze slightly, his emotionless eyes falling on Yunkuo. “What is it?”
“That Marchioness…” Yunkuo dared not meet Qi Yubai’s eyes. He lowered his head and spoke softly, “A few days ago, she boarded a carriage bound for Lin’an. She will likely arrive soon.”
Almost the moment his words fell, the air in the room turned chillingly cold.
It was as if everything had frozen in place.
Under such an atmosphere, Yunkuo felt his back stiffen. He dared not lift his head, nor utter another word.
The room was eerily silent. Qi Yubai’s gaze remained cold, and he said nothing.
The fat orange cat, perhaps sensing his sour mood, refrained from seeking his attention. Instead, it leaped onto the rosewood window frame with uncanny awareness, then swiftly made its way from the flower vase stand down to the floor.
In the blink of an eye, the cat had disappeared, yet Qi Yubai remained standing before the window in silence, hands clasped behind his back.
Rarely was he ever this displeased—this sharp and filled with unrestrained hostility. If he could, Qi Yubai would have preferred for Madam Wang to never appear in this world again. After years in office, though he had never personally committed such deeds, he was not without means to make someone disappear without a trace. In truth, making a person vanish was simple—a single accident, and there would be no remains left behind.
He truly did not want the peace Lanyin had finally found to be shattered once again.
But he dared not.
He was not afraid of bearing the weight of sin, but he feared… that Lanyin would find out.
That was, after all, her mother. Even if she no longer held any familial affection for her, even if she no longer harbored any expectations, she could never be with someone who had killed her mother.
Even if he was certain he could handle it cleanly and leave no trace…
What if?
What if he failed to keep it from her? What if she found out? He had no way to guarantee it, and he could not accept even the slightest accident.
Qi Yubai lowered his gaze.
The ever-composed Assistant Minister Qi, who navigated the treacherous waters of the court with ease, now rarely showed a hint of exhaustion. He raised his hand to lightly massage his brow, but in the end, he merely uttered a few simple words.
“I understand.”
Fortunately.
The Old Madam of the Wang family was coming as well.
She had always doted on Lanyin and would never sit idly by while she suffered.
“You may go.”
With his order, Yunkuo took his leave.
After Yunkuo left, Qi Yubai stood motionless for a while longer before finally walking toward the study desk, where a brocade box lay. Inside was a meticulously woven longevity thread.
Last night, his grandmother had told him that the longevity thread symbolized peace and prosperity.
On the Dragon Boat Festival, gifting someone a handwoven longevity thread meant bestowing upon them wishes of safety and smooth sailing through life.
It looked simple, yet in reality, it was quite intricate.
Under the lamplight last night, he had tried again and again, failing repeatedly, until he finally succeeded as dawn broke.
Peace and prosperity.
That was his only wish for Lanyin.
He wished for her to live a long life, one of smoothness and happiness.
The orange-red sunlight filtered through the latticed windows, casting warm hues over the spacious room. Qi Yubai’s fingers lightly caressed the longevity thread, and the sharpness in his expression finally softened.
He picked up the box and made his way back to Songzhi Courtyard. Just as he arrived, he heard the familiar sound of laughter from within.
Hearing that laughter, the dark cloud that had settled in his heart after learning of Madam Wang’s arrival in Bianjing finally began to dissipate.
Qiuran was standing by the entrance. Seeing him return, she smiled and said, “Young Master is back.” As she spoke, she lifted the bamboo curtain for him.
Qi Yubai nodded slightly and lowered his head as he stepped inside.
Inside, Lanyin was sitting with his grandmother on the Luohan bed, both engaged in conversation, their faces adorned with warm smiles.
Seeing this scene, the coldness in his gaze softened considerably.
Not wanting to disturb such a peaceful moment, he did not approach immediately. Instead, he stood quietly by the bamboo curtain, watching them.
Looking at Lanyin’s gentle smile, Qi Yubai couldn’t help but wonder—if she knew Madam Wang was already on her way, how would she react?
At the thought of Madam Wang, the brief smile that had just risen in his eyes instantly darkened once more.
Lanyin, feeling a bit parched from chatting, reached for her tea cup, but as she lifted it, she caught sight of Qi Yubai standing at the curtain’s edge in his dark green robes, his head slightly lowered, lost in thought.
She paused her action, then smiled and called out to him, “Brother, you’re back.”
That familiar voice reached his ears, sweeping away the heaviness in his chest. Qi Yubai suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind, pressing them deep down before lifting his eyes to look at Lanyin.
His gaze fell upon her, and he responded with a light “Mm.” As he walked toward them, he casually asked, “What were you two talking about that had you so happy?”
He directed the question at Lanyin.
Lanyin smiled and replied, “Grandmother and I were just talking and realized that Yanhuan and Ting Yun are getting married on the same day. We thought it’d be livelier if we held the celebrations together.”
She had only just learned today that Yanhuan wasn’t around because she had taken Tianqing back home to visit her parents.
Later, while chatting with Grandmother Qi, they discovered that Yanhuan and Ting Yun were getting married on the same day. In truth, there was no such thing as an auspicious date for a maidservant’s wedding—usually, the household would simply pick a random day. However, both Ting Yun and Yanhuan were valued first-rank maids, and neither Grandmother Qi nor Lanyin wanted to slight them. So, they had someone calculate an auspicious date well in advance. Since there were only a few such days each month, it just so happened that both weddings were set for the same day.
This was something Qi Yubai had not known.
But it was a good thing, so he made no comment. He was only concerned that Lanyin might overexert herself in managing everything, so he reminded her, “You don’t have to handle everything alone. There are plenty of people in the Qi residence—just assign tasks to them as needed.”
Lanyin smiled and agreed.
A maid came over to serve tea.
Grandmother Qi, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed the object in Qi Yubai’s hand and asked, “What are you holding?”
It wasn’t until then that Lanyin also took notice. She saw a small, palm-sized black wooden box in his grasp but didn’t think much of it. Smiling, she continued sitting beside Grandmother Qi, peeling an orange at a leisurely pace.
Until Qi Yubai walked up to her and extended the box toward her.
Lanyin was momentarily stunned, then belatedly realized what was happening. She paused her movements and looked up at him. “…For me?”
“Mm.”
Qi Yubai looked at her, his thin lips parting slightly. “A return gift for the sachet.”
Lanyin was helpless. “You didn’t need to return the favor. Brother, you’ve helped me so many times—how could I still accept a gift from you in return?”
But Qi Yubai’s attitude was firm, and with Grandmother Qi urging her to accept it as well, Lanyin could only comply. She set the half-peeled orange back on the table, wiped her hands clean with a handkerchief, and reached out to take the box. As she did, she murmured, “Thank you, Brother.”
As she took the brocade box, she noticed a few strands of yellow fur clinging to Qi Yubai’s sleeve. They looked like animal hair, though she wasn’t sure from which creature.