Setting off firecrackers was always children’s favorite activity. The bright red firecrackers hung from trees, crackling and booming thunderously, making the children both frightened and excited as they clapped their hands with joy.
Zhao Yao didn’t actually like setting off firecrackers, but since Second Brother had come, she had to come too. She planned to pretend to be scared when the firecrackers went off, hiding behind Second Brother, and it would be even better if she could grab his hand. Though her plan was good, who could have predicted that before the firecrackers were even set off, Qi Le would run over to talk with her? While responding to him, she was pushed farther and farther from Qi Ying by the children, making her very anxious. As a result, when the firecrackers went off, she still hadn’t gotten close to Qi Ying. Even more hateful was that she wasn’t even scared yet, but Qi Le got frightened and pulled her to hide behind her, even knocking off the flower ornament from her hair. This made her absolutely furious.
Zhao Yao was truly angry and remained sullen even when they returned inside to keep vigil with everyone else. Qi Le knew he had offended his sister and felt somewhat embarrassed. Holding her trampled flower ornament in his hand with an apologetic smile, he couldn’t make too much commotion since many people were sitting in the hall, so he quietly apologized: “Good sister, please don’t be angry anymore. I’ll compensate you with a flower ornament tomorrow—or ten? Ten would be fine too!”
Zhao Yao glared at him, thinking that she wasn’t angry about some broken flower ornament, but about losing an opportunity to get close to her Second Brother. How could Qi Le compensate for that! The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Just as she was about to scold him, she saw Old Madam Qi entering the room supported by Yao Shi.
The room had no lamps lit, only a few candles burning. Though many relatives had come to the Qi family tonight, the more distant ones were keeping vigil in other rooms. This room contained only close family members—no more than ten people in total.
Old Madam Qi was advanced in age and her health hadn’t been good these past few years. By rights, she should have rested early, but tonight her spirits were good and she was in high spirits, so she came to keep vigil with the younger generation.
Old Madam Qi took Hui’er from Qi Yun’s arms. The little child was already getting sleepy, her eyes half-closed and head nodding. This appearance was also extremely endearing, winning the old lady’s full affection. After holding her for a while, she returned the child to her eldest grandson’s wife, Qi Yun’s wife Han Ruohui, saying: “Quickly coax the child to sleep first—look at her pitiful little state.”
Lady Han took the child, respectfully acknowledged, greeted Qi Yun, and went downstairs first carrying Hui’er.
Old Madam Qi looked around and, seeing Qi Ying sitting in a corner, beckoned to him: “Jingchen, come sit beside grandmother.”
Qi Ying stood up and walked to the old lady’s side as instructed. Seeing that the old lady was in high spirits, Qi Zhang and Yao Shi didn’t want to disturb her. They exchanged glances and made space for Qi Ying. The old lady pulled him to sit down.
Old Madam Qi looked emotional, holding her second grandson’s hand: “How quickly time passes. I still feel like I can see Jingyuan’s childhood appearance before my eyes, yet in the blink of an eye, he already has children.”
Everyone echoed her sentiments. The old lady patted Qi Ying’s hand and said: “After your elder brother, it will be your turn—Jingchen, you should also start a family.”
Hearing these words, Zhao Yao sitting in the hall unconsciously glanced at her mother Zhao Qishi, then secretly straightened her back. Qi Le, sitting beside her, muttered in confusion, “Why are you sitting so straight?” and received another glare from Zhao Yao.
Qi Ying had no particular reaction to these words, nodding calmly and answering: “It’s entirely up to the elders to decide.”
Old Madam Qi was very pleased to hear this and thought for a moment, then said earnestly: “I’m not being selfish, but the Fu family has indeed produced several girls who would match you well. In my opinion, the most outstanding of this generation is that girl Rong’er. In terms of character and appearance, she’s first-rate, and since you grew up together, your bond is naturally deeper. I’m thinking that after the New Year, you two could visit each other more often…”
Hearing this, Zhao Yao’s expression changed, and Zhao Qishi also frowned slightly, calculating in her heart: Rong’er? Was this referring to Fu Rong, the legitimate daughter of the Fu family? Old Madam Qi was a daughter of the Fu family, so Fu Rong would be the old lady’s great-niece. Did the old lady intend for her to marry Qi Ying?
Zhao Qishi felt gloomy: If so, then what about Yao’er…
Qi Ying listened silently. The old lady sighed again: “Actually, if the Shen family hadn’t met with disaster, I had originally considered asking for their daughter to match with you, but who could have predicted…”
These words stirred emotions among those present, each feeling their own sighs and melancholy: The Shen family had been extremely wealthy and powerful, at their peak capable of rivaling the Qi family, yet they were destroyed overnight. Most of the clan’s sons and grandsons were beheaded, while women and children were exiled to the borderlands. A hundred-year aristocratic family collapsed with a thunderous crash—how could this not make people beat their chests and sigh?
Qi Ying’s phoenix eyes lowered. Whether he was thinking of some matter or person, his expression showed a brief fluctuation, but quickly calmed down as he remained silent. Seeing his mother become emotional, Qi Zhang knew she was thinking of Old Madam Shen, who had died of a heart attack when the Shen family met disaster. They had been old sisters for half their lives, and Old Madam Qi had been heartbroken when she heard this news.
Qi Zhang comforted his mother: “These are all past matters. From now on, our Qi family will walk steadily with each step. Mother, please don’t worry anymore.”
Hearing these words, Old Madam Qi continued sighing, then even shed tears. She blamed herself for adding gloom on New Year’s Eve, but couldn’t stop her tears. Later, she even had trouble breathing. Everyone in the room was thrown into chaos. Qi Zhang and Yao Shi surrounded the old lady on both sides, while Qi Yun quickly called for household servants to find a doctor. Worried about his mother’s health, Qi Zhang simply didn’t care about keeping vigil anymore. He first instructed Qi Yun to manage the situation well, then helped Old Madam Qi into the inner room together with Yao Shi.
Qi Yun dealt with the relatives in the room while worrying about his grandmother. After waiting left and right without seeing the servant he had sent to find a doctor return with news, he couldn’t help becoming anxious. At this time, Qi Ying walked to his side and said: “On New Year’s Eve, doctors are probably hard to find. Elder brother, why don’t I go personally?”
Qi Yun first shook his head, then heard Qi Ying persuade: “Grandmother’s health is important. I’m just making a trip—it’s nothing.”
Qi Yun wavered, thought it over, and finally nodded, saying to Qi Ying: “Then go quickly and return quickly. Be careful on the road.”
Qi Ying nodded and turned to leave the room. Passing through courtyards and halls, when he walked through the central courtyard, he saw Bai Song still standing in the same place unmoved, with his eyebrows faintly white and seemingly covered with a thin layer of frost. Bai Song also saw Qi Ying and looked up at him, not knowing how to react for a moment. Qi Ying walked quickly past him, dropping a sentence as they crossed paths: “Why aren’t you leaving yet?”
Bai Song was stunned. In the blink of an eye, he saw Qi Ying had walked far away. Only then did he come to his senses, his eyes brightening as he limped to catch up.
Upon leaving the mansion gates, Qi Ying had household servants bring out two horses. The two mounted their horses, the steeds neighing loudly as they galloped urgently toward Qingji Mountain through the myriad lights and firecracker sounds of New Year’s Eve night.
At Fenghe Courtyard.
The night was desolate, with snow still piled in the garden.
In Shen Xiling’s side room, candles flickered, making her sickly face appear especially pale. The doctor from before still hadn’t left. Although the hour he had agreed upon with Bai Song had long passed, Liuzi absolutely refused to let him go and was now crouched at the threshold of the side room keeping watch, leaving the doctor truly helpless.
He had resigned himself to fate, knowing that tonight he probably had no chance to return home to keep vigil with his family. So he simply boiled another dose of medicine, still steaming hot, and used a small spoon to feed it into Shen Xiling’s mouth. Unfortunately, the situation remained the same—however much he fed in, she vomited out the same amount.
The doctor sighed and muttered to himself: “You child are also ill-fated. At such a young age, you’ve lost your will to live. Could it be that you have some inner demon…”
Halfway through his muttering, he suddenly heard Liuzi behind him exclaim “Young Master,” then heard someone entering the room. When the doctor turned around, he saw the travel-worn Qi Ying and Bai Song. He didn’t know that the young master with phoenix eyes before him was the renowned Qi Jingchen of legend—he only understood that he was the person in charge here. So he put down the medicine bowl and rose to pay his respects. Qi Ying helped him up with a gesture, his gaze already moving to Shen Xiling on the bed, saying to the doctor: “Doctor, no need for excessive courtesy. How is her condition?”
The doctor cupped his hands and hesitated for a moment. Looking at Qi Ying’s expression, he saw it was calm as water with no discernible joy or anger, so he could only answer truthfully: “Cold qi has entered her body, and she’s very ill. This is also due to excessive toil and worrying. Currently, ginseng slices are being used to sustain her life. If she can be made to take medicine, she might still be saved. If not, then I’m afraid…”
The doctor didn’t continue, but his meaning was clear.
Bai Song stood behind Qi Ying and the doctor, unable to see Shen Xiling or Qi Ying’s expression after the doctor said these words. He could only see the stern lines of his profile from behind, unable to fathom what he was planning at this moment. There was a moment of silence in the room. After a while, Bai Song heard Qi Ying say to the doctor: “Thank you for your trouble. I understand.”
The doctor cupped his hands again. Qi Ying asked: “I wonder if the doctor could spare time to make another trip to the Qi Mansion for a consultation? For such laborious effort, the Qi family will naturally provide generous compensation.”
The doctor was stunned upon hearing this. What kind of high-ranking family was the Qi clan? If not for tonight being New Year’s Eve with special circumstances, it probably wouldn’t be his turn to enter the mansion for consultation. This was a godsend—how could he refuse? The doctor immediately bowed deeply and repeatedly agreed.
Qi Ying nodded and politely said “Thank you for your trouble,” then turned back to Bai Song: “You escort the doctor over.”
Bai Song was startled. He looked at Shen Xiling on the bed, then at Qi Ying, silently nodded, and walked out of the room with the doctor. Liuzi was still at the door, watching the young master stand by that little girl’s bedside. After a while, he personally picked up the medicine bowl and sat on her bed, looking up toward Liuzi. Liuzi’s whole body trembled as he immediately lowered his head, then heard the young master instruct: “The room is getting cold. Go change the charcoal brazier for her.”
Upon hearing this, Liuzi immediately agreed, lowered his head and withdrew. When closing the door, he dimly saw the young master embrace the orphaned girl in his arms. He dared not look further and gently closed the door.
On the bed, Qi Ying helped Shen Xiling sit up, letting her lean against him as he held the medicine bowl, embracing her from behind. When she was in his arms, Qi Ying felt even more acutely how thin she was—shockingly thin, with delicate wrists that seemed like they would break with just a little force. Her breathing was also weak, as if it might stop at any moment.
Holding her, he suddenly thought of his younger siblings at home, such as Yao’er and Hui’er. They were all girls, but unlike Shen Xiling, they had all grown up under their parents’ protection, never experiencing any hardships in their lives. No matter when or where, they always had parents and elder brothers standing in front of them, shielding them from wind and rain. But Shen Xiling was different—she was her father’s illegitimate daughter who could never see the light of day, never enjoying any wealth or peace. Now with both parents deceased, she had to travel thousands of li alone to bury them together, fulfilling their lifelong wish. Tonight was New Year’s Eve—the Qi family children were listening to opera in the flower hall and setting off firecrackers in the courtyard, yet she lay alone in a stranger’s courtyard without a single relative by her side.
He saw chilblains on her hands, along with some thin calluses—they were hands accustomed to doing work. He remembered tonight when he handed the red envelope to Zhao Yao, the hands she extended to receive it were painted with cardamom, delicate and fair without a single scar. But Shen Xiling’s were like this.
Qi Ying sighed, lowered his eyes, used a spoon to scoop up the medicinal liquid and slowly brought it to her lips, saying softly: “Come, drink the medicine.”
Shen Xiling’s brows furrowed painfully, as if trapped in a nightmare. After the medicinal liquid was fed in, it flowed out along the corners of her mouth. She kept coughing and gasping heavily. Qi Ying frowned tightly, using one hand to protect the medicine bowl from being knocked over while the other gently patted her shoulder. A sentence suddenly escaped his lips: “It’s alright, everything’s fine now.”
These words stunned even himself—as if he hadn’t expected to so rashly speak what resembled a promise. He was silent for a while, looking at Shen Xiling’s gaunt face, sighed deeply, then his expression changed slightly, faintly revealing a look of relief.
He recalled how Shen Qian had addressed his daughter in prison, hesitated for a moment, then leaned close to Shen Xiling’s ear and said softly: “…Wenwen, it’s alright now.”
Shen Xiling had a dream.