Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

JingYi wore a sullen expression as she glared at the small boy in front of her with frustration. Then, she turned her head away in annoyance.

“A-Yi, what's wrong?” asked the other child.

“A-Yuan doesn’t want to play with me. I’m going to tell Aunt Wei,” JingYi said angrily.

The little boy called A-Yuan tilted his head in confusion. He wanted to grab his friend’s hand, but JingYi avoided him.

“Why is that?”

“Because after this, we won’t be able to play together anymore. I’ll be made to learn etiquette and manners as a girl.”

A-Yuan splashed some water at JingYi, “Then just become a boy. That way, we can play together every day.”

JingYi's face lit up with a bright smile, “You’re right! A-Yuan is so smart!”

A-Yuan proudly replied, “Of course!”

...

16 years later.

JingYi ran through the corridor with enthusiasm, not caring about the scolding he received. He stopped in front of a door and tried to catch his breath. Without knocking, JingYi opened the door and immediately shouted, “SiZhui!”

His voice startled the young man who was painting. The young man turned, smiling, and set aside his painting tools. He had been painting the view of the fish pond in his backyard. JingYi glanced briefly at the painting but chose to ignore it. He entered the room of his master and childhood friend, lying down on the soft bed and sighing, “Your bed is definitely more comfortable than mine.”

SiZhui chuckled once more. He took a seat beside JingYi, folding his hands gracefully in his lap, “So, what’s up?”

JingYi, “Let’s go hunting! We can catch a deer or something else!”

SiZhui shook his head gently, “I can’t. Today, I have to go inspect some lands that are being leased and check on the harvest.”

JingYi pouted but said nothing. He jumped off SiZhui’s bed and huffed in frustration, brushing off his clothes from dust that wasn’t even there, “Then I’ll go to the forest alone. I’ll bring back the best catch!”

With those words, JingYi dashed out of SiZhui’s room, leaving his childhood friend alone. SiZhui called for a servant to prepare a carriage for him and informed them that he would be inspecting the family’s lands. SiZhui donned his outer robe and walked out of his room. When he entered the carriage, he saw JingYi mounting a horse with hunting gear. His friend truly loved hunting; sometimes, they would hunt together to pass the time. But SiZhui had become increasingly busy ever since his parents decided to hand over responsibilities to him, while they went off to enjoy their old age—or so they said—in a peaceful village far from home.

Overseeing the lands leased by his family was something SiZhui often did. He made sure the farmers were working well without overburdening them. He also listened to the complaints of some tenants and tried to resolve their issues. After checking the land, he would also visit the family’s shops to handle any problems before returning home. By the time he returned, the sun was almost setting. He ordered a servant to prepare hot water for a bath, then walked sluggishly to his room. He removed his robe and sat at his desk to begin reading a book.

Right at dinnertime, JingYi entered his room with excitement, carrying a tray full of food. He laid it out on the table and smiled proudly, “I caught two young deer today! The meat is still so tender! You have to try it!”

SiZhui smiled, tying his belt before approaching JingYi.

JingYi had been his friend since childhood. They had spent so much time together, their bond close like siblings. JingYi never acted politely around him, and SiZhui never minded. Since they grew up together, they knew each other well enough. Though SiZhui always felt like JingYi had been hiding something from him since their teenage years, he didn’t make a fuss about it. Even if they were close, they still had secrets they didn’t want to share.

JingYi was cheerful, talkative, and sometimes annoying. But SiZhui was glad to have him as a friend.

JingYi, “Oh, there’s a letter from your parents. I happened to meet the courier when I got back. Here.”

JingYi handed SiZhui a still-sealed envelope. On the envelope was his mother’s handwriting. SiZhui carefully opened it. The letter from his parents mostly inquired about his well-being and daily life. They also told him about their own life. However, the last part of the letter made it difficult for SiZhui to swallow his food.

His mother wrote, “A-Yuan, my dearest child. As you know, your father and I are no longer young, and we hope you will soon find a wife and build a happy family together.”

He felt helpless whenever he saw or heard these words. He was still very young, not yet ready to start a family, and still had some dreams he wanted to achieve. But on the other hand, he wanted to make his parents happy. However, so far, no woman had managed to capture his attention. So, after dinner and after JingYi had returned to his room, SiZhui took a piece of paper and began writing back to his parents.

"My dear Father and Mother,

My days have been fine, as you know. I have also gained some lessons from the work I've been doing. Some farmers are difficult to deal with, while others are more obedient. But I can assure you that, up until now, I’ve still been able to handle them well.

As for your request for me to find a life partner, I must apologize for that. Up until today, I haven’t found someone who matches my heart.

I apologize if this letter is rather brief.

Warm regards,  
Lan SiZhui."

SiZhui sighed. He waited for the ink on the paper to dry before folding it and placing it into an envelope. Then, he called a servant, asking them to send the letter in the morning. SiZhui lay on his bed, deep in thought. He couldn’t remain single for his entire life. Maybe he should let his parents choose a partner for him. About three weeks later, SiZhui had almost forgotten about the matter of finding a life partner. He went about his days peacefully and calmly. That is, until his grandfather arrived at his residence. SiZhui had just agreed to JingYi’s invitation to go fishing when a servant ran to him, hurriedly announcing his grandfather’s arrival. SiZhui handed his fishing gear to JingYi and ran to the front gate of his residence as fast as he could.

With an awkward smile, SiZhui greeted his grandfather, "Gra-Grandfather, it’s truly a good day to see you."

Lan QiRen snorted. He glanced at his youngest grandson from head to toe, assessing his appearance. This young man had grown to be as graceful and elegant as his father, although he inherited more of his mother’s face. Lan QiRen said, "Where is your room? We’ll talk there."

"Y-Yes, please follow me."

SiZhui directed a servant to bring tea and some small snacks to his room, feeling as if he might die right there. His grandfather was known for his strict nature and high discipline. He resided in the main family home and ran the family business effectively. Lan QiRen had never visited him personally like this, which is why SiZhui was so shocked, his heart feeling like it was about to leap out of his chest.

As he poured tea for his grandfather, his hands trembled, but he did his best not to spill it.

Lan QiRen only glanced briefly, "I won’t beat around the bush. I’m sure your father and mother have already mentioned it to you. We want you to get married soon."

SiZhui clutched the fabric of his pants tightly, pinching himself, "Grandfather, I haven’t thought about marriage yet. Besides, I don’t know who I should marry."

Lan QiRen responded, "SiZhui, you know I only have three grandsons. The eldest is unreliable, crying over his dead lover every day. The second has joined the military, and I don’t even know if he’s still alive or not. You’re the only one left to continue the Lan family line."

SiZhui desperately wanted to shout that his father and mother could still give him some younger siblings, couldn’t they? Or his uncle and aunt could have more little cousins, couldn’t they? That way, he wouldn’t have to feel this pressure. He also still had a female cousin! Why wasn’t his grandfather relying on her?!

Ah, he forgot that women would follow their husbands’ families when they married.

Lan QiRen ignored the suffering expression SiZhui displayed and continued, "I have a friend who has offered his 17-year-old daughter to you. I’ll give you a month to get to know each other before the wedding takes place. You can’t cancel it unless you’ve found someone else you want to marry."

SiZhui forced a smile. After a few more words, Lan QiRen decided to leave. SiZhui offered for him to stay a few days, but Lan QiRen declined. The old man cast a brief glance at the young man tending to the horses. This boy, wasn’t he the one who always followed SiZhui around when they were kids? He’s grown up, it seems. However, there seemed to be something off about the boy. Lan QiRen pondered as he entered the carriage. Yet, because he couldn’t figure out what was wrong, he decided to forget about it. Meanwhile, SiZhui crouched on the ground, thinking how unlucky he was. Why were his two cousins so unreliable like this? If only his eldest cousin hadn’t fallen in love with someone who had died, and his second cousin hadn’t run off to join the military, he wouldn’t have to feel this way.

Those two irresponsible people, he really wanted to chop them up. His parents only had him, and now he really wished they had one or two more brothers.

JingYi, his merciless friend, laughed at him.

"JingYi, what am I supposed to do now? That girl will arrive here in four days, and I’ll be married to her in a month. What unforgivable sin did I commit in my past life?" SiZhui groaned.

JingYi patted SiZhui’s back, trying to comfort him, but mostly just laughed.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m sure she’s a beautiful girl. You’ll fall in love with her the moment you see her!" JingYi said enthusiastically. SiZhui tried to console himself. Even if she wasn’t a beautiful girl, at least she should have a pleasant appearance—

"Miss Du Yue is here."

—Or not."

SiZhui’s shoulders slumped, and he fell back into his chair, staring at the girl—or whatever it was that sat in front of him—with an expression that screamed, 'You’ve got to be kidding me'.

JingYi froze for a moment before he instructed a few servants to help Miss Du Yue down from her sedan chair. The atmosphere was quiet and slightly awkward. SiZhui still couldn’t find the words as the girl called Miss Du Yue sat down beside him.

One of the servants who had come with Miss Du exclaimed, “Our young lady is very beautiful, isn’t she, Young Master?”

SiZhui didn’t respond. He was still too shocked. A few of his own house servants began to nod and echo the same sentiment. Soon after, the servants left, leaving the two of them alone.

SiZhui cleared his throat, “Mi-Miss Du Yue, right?”

The girl turned to him, her face displaying a shy expression that made SiZhui feel queasy. This girl—or how could SiZhui describe her? She had a round face and a plump body. Her stomach protruded, and she was short. There were a few coarse hairs on her face, which seemed to have been shaved hurriedly. Her eyes were narrow, and SiZhui began to wonder how she could even see. Her nose seemed to sink between her chubby cheeks. With one glance, SiZhui could tell that this was an ugly fat man in disguise!!

How could the Du family send this impostor woman to him?! And did his grandfather know about this?

Also, why was everyone calling this impostor woman beautiful? Was he the only one seeing her true form? Or were his eyes deceiving him?

The impostor woman glanced at him, making SiZhui feel incredibly pressured. He couldn’t just insult this woman's family. If the Du family were acquaintances of his grandfather, their status must be quite high. Creating a rift between the two families wouldn’t be a good idea.

After dinner with Miss Du Yue, SiZhui returned to his room. He threw himself onto his bed and began pondering whether he had committed some great sin in his life. The next morning, for the first time in his life, SiZhui wished he hadn’t woken up. He changed his clothes sluggishly, stepped out of his room, and saw the impostor woman sitting with her servant.

SiZhui forced a smile in greeting before running off to the back courtyard. He sat under a tree, contemplating his fate. Soon after, JingYi came.

“Good morning,” he said cheerfully. SiZhui’s face fell even further. He didn’t respond to JingYi’s greeting and instead began picking up stones and throwing them at whatever was in front of him.

JingYi chuckled beside him, “How did you sleep last night?”

Once again, SiZhui didn’t reply, but JingYi wasn’t discouraged. Instead, he looked around curiously, left and right.

“Where’s your impostor lover?”

SiZhui sighed, “She’s with her servant.”

The two fell into silence. Until SiZhui realize something.

SiZhui grabbed JingYi’s shoulders and stared at him in horror, “Did you just say she was an impostor?!”

JingYi panicked, “No! I didn’t say that! You misheard!”

SiZhui tightened his grip on JingYi’s shoulders, “Yes! You clearly said she was an impostor!”

JingYi tried to push SiZhui away, “No! You misheard!”

SiZhui moved his hands to JingYi’s neck and started choking him, “You said she was an impostor! Tell me the truth! Say it!”

JingYi cried out, “Alright! Alright! I saw her as an ugly man disguised as a woman!!”

SiZhui released his hands, and his face went blank, “So that's true...”

He shook his head, then turned around, his back facing JingYi, who was still clutching his neck.

“So, it’s not just me who saw it. But why didn’t anyone say anything and instead praise her as a beautiful girl?”

JingYi straightened his clothes, "The Du family holds considerable influence in the capital. One of their daughters became an imperial concubine and is quite favored by the emperor. Although they rank lower than the Lan family, their status cannot be underestimated. Offending them would cause chaos."

SiZhui began to think, "Aren’t they also offending us by doing this?"

JingYi nodded, "Yes, you could say that. You are the only child of Master Lan WangJi and Madam Wei WuXian. Your status within the Lan family is far from low. Especially since both of your uncle’s sons gave up their rights to inherit the position as the head of the family, you’re the only one left."

SiZhui, "Could they be intentionally trying to provoke a conflict between the two families?"

JingYi, "It's possible. From what I’ve heard, some members of the Du family aren’t particularly fond of the Lan family. But this move is reckless. Not only would they be offending the Lan family, but they’d also be offending your mother’s family, the Jiang family. And as far as I know, the head of the Jiang family isn’t a patient man."

SiZhui smiled weakly, "Yes, you’re right. Uncle Cheng isn’t a patient man."

JingYi glanced left and right, making sure the place was quiet and no one was listening. He approached SiZhui and spoke in a low voice, "Let’s just kill her."

SiZhui jumped in shock, while JingYi clicked his tongue and crossed his arms in front of his chest, "There’ve been a lot of murder cases recently. We could just put poison in her food, or push her down the stairs. Or, we could stage it to look like she was killed by an assassin."

"That’s cruel!"

JingYi snorted, glancing at SiZhui with frustration, "So what? The life of a lowly person has never been worth more than a piece of gold. If we do it carefully, no one will know."

SiZhui, "But it’s still cruel!"

JingYi, "Then what, are you planning to live with that fake woman for the rest of your life?"

"Y-yeah, of course not."

"Then let’s get rid of her while we can."

SiZhui sighed inwardly. He had never known that JingYi was capable of being so ruthless. They had grown up together, and JingYi had always been by his side. Yet he doesn't know his friend can be this cruel.

Before dinner, JingYi handed him a small bottle, saying it contained a deadly poison that was tasteless and odorless. It couldn’t be detected and had no cure. The poison spread slowly, and the person would die gradually, as if from a chronic illness.

"She’s round like a pig. People will think she died of a heart attack!" JingYi said, seeing SiZhui’s hesitation.

However, SiZhui was a gentle young man, raised with great care by his father and mother. He had never even told a lie as a child, and now he was being asked to kill someone? Of course, he felt conflicted, and even more so—fearful and guilty. Still, JingYi was right; there was no way he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this fake woman. If he told his grandfather, the Du family might be wiped out immediately. He couldn’t let innocent people suffer the consequences. But how could he endure such humiliation?

It was better to eliminate one life rather than risk hundreds of innocent lives.

And why hadn’t the people he sent to investigate this matter returned yet? SiZhui felt stressed.

During dinner, SiZhui had already mixed Miss Du Yue’s drink with the poison JingYi had given him. The man impersonating Miss Du Yue ate greedily, which made SiZhui lose his appetite. He only managed two bites of rice before he stopped eating. For the rest of the meal, he just sat and watched. He grew increasingly frustrated as the fake Miss Du Yue hadn’t touched her drink at all.

“Um, Miss Du Yue, it would be good if you drank some water. You might choke on your food if you keep eating like that.”

The fake Miss Du Yue laughed, her fat, greasy hand reaching for the small cup filled with the poisoned water. But due to her slippery grip, she dropped the cup, spilling its contents.

SiZhui think, "Am I that unlucky?"

The first murder attempt failed.

Chapter Text

SiZhui sat in his study room, feeling distressed. The book in his hands was left unread. He sighed for what felt like the hundredth time today. It had been a week since the arrival of the fake Miss Du Yue. Apart from eating and sleeping, this imposter hadn't done anything suspicious. SiZhui had ordered the guards to keep an eye on her and her servants in case they were plotting something against him and his family.

SiZhui massaged his throbbing temples, wondering what he could do to prevent a conflict between the two families.

Should he tell his father and mother about this? He thought better of it—his mother wasn’t a patient woman. If she found out SiZhui had been humiliated like this, she would bring a group of assassins to attack the Du family and sever ties with the Lan family.

If only he could find a way to have the marriage canceled without disgracing the Du family or embarrassing his own. 

The best way would be to tell his grandfather that he had found a woman he loved and wanted to marry her instead. That way, the engagement would be canceled, and no one would be hurt. But where could he find this woman, he supposedly loved to marry?!

The more he thought about it, the more his head hurt.

“SiZhui!” The door to his study burst open abruptly, and JingYi entered, panting heavily.

“JingYi, where have you been?”

“Trying to kill a pig.”

SiZhui frowned, then looked at JingYi with a shocked expression. “Don’t tell me you’re still trying to kill her!”

JingYi huffed. He really wanted to stab his sword into the heart of that creature.

“She was lucky to escape my trap this time. Next time, I’ll make sure she dies immediately!”

SiZhui said helplessly, “Just give it up, JingYi. I don’t know what else to do.”

JingYi replied, “You’re just going to let yourself and your family be humiliated?”

SiZhui sighed, “I’m not saying that, but what else can I do now? What about the people I sent to investigate? Have they returned or sent a message?”

JingYi grumbled, then pulled out a letter and handed it to SiZhui. As SiZhui read it, his hand clenched around the paper, and he looked furious. When he slammed the paper onto the desk, JingYi flinched in surprise.

SiZhui said, “The Du family didn’t do anything wrong. They really did send their daughter, Du Yue, to meet me. But on the way, the girl ran off with her servant and replaced herself with that man. Using a debt owed to the Du family, they forced him to take Du Yue’s place.”

SiZhui clenched his fist—why hadn’t she just come to him and said she was in love with her servant and didn’t want to marry him? SiZhui wouldn’t have stopped her and wouldn’t have forced her. He would’ve even felt relieved and helped her. But now, this irresponsible action of Miss Du’s had put the entire Du family in trouble. Had she not thought about the consequences of her actions?

Did she think so little of SiZhui’s status because he didn’t live in the main house with his grandfather and uncle?

Had she not thought of her family when she acted? SiZhui could have destroyed her family in a single night if he wanted.

JingYi said, “I told you, just kill him. I’ll kill him along with the servants.”

SiZhui replied, “Don’t do that; he’s also a victim in all of this. The only one to blame is Du Yue.”

JingYi protested, “But the servants who followed him are also guilty. Why didn’t they say anything? I’ll kill them.”

Before SiZhui could answer, a sound of something bumping into something made them rush outside. JingYi held his sword while SiZhui stood in the doorway, looking around. But he found no one. Unlike SiZhui, JingYi’s sharp gaze landed on the giant dragon statue that stood firmly near SiZhui’s room.

SiZhui watched as JingYi drew his sword and leaped behind the dragon statue. SiZhui didn’t know what was happening, but soon JingYi reappeared, this time with an old man whom he remembered had come along with the fake Du Yue.

The old man knelt in front of him, “Young Master SiZhui, please have mercy and forgive this lowly one.”

SiZhui sighed. He never liked having anyone bow before him, but this time, it felt different. These people had deceived him, and it made him wonder if being compassionate led others to think he was easily fooled.

JingYi snorted but remained silent, glancing at SiZhui as he awaited his decision.

SiZhui directed JingYi, “Please summon this ‘Miss Du Yue’ and all the servants who came with 'her'.”

JingYi nodded and left the room. Shortly after, he returned with several people, one of whom was the false Miss Du Yue. The old man remained prostrated on the floor, as SiZhui hadn’t given permission for him to lift his head. Some of SiZhui’s household servants had grown curious and peeked in. SiZhui glanced at them dismissively as the false Miss Du Yue and 'her' servants knelt on the ground, crying and pleading for his forgiveness.

After letting them plead for a few minutes, SiZhui finally spoke. “Do you consider me so lowly that you could do something like this to me?”

As he spoke, his eyes scanned the crowd with a detached gaze and a strange smile on his face. His tone was as gentle as ever, but somehow it hid a cruelty that no one wanted to acknowledge.

The people kneeling immediately begged for forgiveness. Seeing this, SiZhui almost felt like a tyrant. Clearing his throat, he gestured for them to stop kneeling and pleading.

SiZhui said, “I understand that this situation arose due to Miss Du Yue’s irresponsibility. I can’t blame you for that. But rather than replacing her with someone else, it would have been better if you’d just told me the truth. I wouldn’t have demanded anything in that case. But now, you’ve humiliated me and made me look like a fool.”

The eavesdropping old man quickly responded, “We didn’t dare, Young Master. This is indeed our fault for allowing the young lady to run off with A-Jin.”

SiZhui sighed, “I don’t know what else to say.”

Then he turned his gaze toward the false Du Yue, instructing a servant to clean the makeup from his face and replace his clothes. When they finished, SiZhui felt that it was much better. At least now, he wouldn’t have to stay up at night in fear, haunted by the substitute’s face.

“What is your name?”

The man posing as Miss Du Yue flinched. He lowered his head and replied, “Cao Yun.”

SiZhui nodded, smiled, and walked over to him. “What debt do you owe to the Du family?”

Cao Yun hesitated, glancing at the old man and the other servants around him. He looked at SiZhui and then at JingYi, who made a throat-slashing gesture with his hand. After an internal struggle, Cao Yun finally spoke, “I… I borrowed a great deal of money from Master Du but couldn’t pay it back. Master Du grew angry, but Miss Du Yue said that if I took her place, she would ask her parents to forgive my family’s debt.”

SiZhui nodded. He called a servant and ordered him to investigate a few things, then refocused on the people before him.

“I’m not going to blame any of you. I just wish everyone could have a happy ending. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll write a letter to my grandfather, informing him that I’m refusing the marriage. I won’t mention what you’ve done, and I’ll extend my apologies to the Du family. And Mr. Cao Yun, please learn to curb your appetite.”

Cao Yun forced a stiff laugh, while JingYi slapped his forehead. SiZhui and his forgiving nature.

…

That night, Miss Du Yue’s servants and Cao Yun left the residence. That same night, SiZhui wrote a letter to his grandfather, explaining that he was rejecting the arranged marriage because he had met someone he loved and hoped his grandfather would not stand in the way of his heart.

SiZhui gazed out the window, feeling the need to calm himself. He walked toward the backyard and suddenly stopped, staring in surprise. A girl, her long hair flowing down to her shoulders, sat at the edge of the pond, bathed in moonlight. Though her head was lowered, SiZhui could see the gentle look in her eyes.

At that moment, SiZhui was mesmerized by her. Without realizing it, he took a step closer and accidentally stepped on a branch, creating a sound that startled the girl. She turned to look at him, wide-eyed, and then fled.

“Wait!” But the girl ran swiftly, disappearing into the night. SiZhui smiled, feeling a strong desire to know who she was.

The next day, SiZhui was painting when JingYi entered his room. JingYi lay lazily on the floor while SiZhui continued painting calmly.

“SiZhui, how do you plan to handle this issue? If you tell Master Du that you’re the one refusing the marriage, won’t he feel humiliated? It will still bring us trouble, right?”

SiZhui chuckled softly, pausing for a moment before resuming his brush strokes. “I know. That’s why I told Master Du the truth. I explained that his daughter ran away from her responsibilities, disgracing me. However, I didn’t mention Cao Yun replacing her. I don’t care what Master Du thinks.”

JingYi merely snorted. Suddenly, SiZhui stopped painting, staring at his canvas with a slightly puzzled look. “JingYi… last night…”

JingYi looked at him curiously. “Last night?”

SiZhui, "I’m not telling you. You’ll laugh at me."

JingYi, "Alright then."

SiZhui turned around in frustration. He put down his painting supplies and walked over to where JingYi was still lying on the floor. "You should have forced me to tell you!"

JingYi, "Why should I?!"

SiZhui, "JingYi!"

JingYi growled in irritation. "Yes, what?"

With that, SiZhui smiled happily. He lay down next to JingYi and said, "Actually... last night, I saw a girl. It was a bit dark, so I couldn’t see her clearly. But her eyes... they looked so gentle. I’d never seen eyes like that before."

JingYi went silent. After a moment, he said, "Let’s kill her. She might be a spy."

SiZhui, "Why are you so cruel?!"

JingYi, "What if she’s a spy with bad intentions toward you?"

SiZhui, "I fell in love with her at first sight."

JingYi shook his head. "You’re delusional."

Nothing more was said. JingYi stayed in SiZhui's room until a servant came and asked him to go to the market to buy some things. Left alone, SiZhui looked at his painting with a complicated expression. The girl's eyes felt familiar. SiZhui knew he’d seen them somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember where.

About two weeks later, two luxurious carriages stopped in front of SiZhui's residence, shocking the people around and leaving the residents in awe. One of the carriages brought their master, Lan WangJi, along with his wife, Wei WuXian, while the other one carried the Grand Master, Lan QiRen.

It was well-known that Madam Wei WuXian and Grand Master Lan QiRen never got along. They could sit in the same room only if Lan WangJi was present; without him, they would be at each other’s throats. When SiZhui received the news of his parents and grandfather’s arrival, he was stunned, almost falling from his chair.

SiZhui, "What brought them here?"

Servant, "They want to meet their daughter-in-law. The Grand Master, Lan QiRen, informed your parents that Young Master has found a woman to marry, and they agreed to come and meet their daughter-in-law. Madam Wei WuXian even prepared many engagement gifts for her."

SiZhui choked. He hadn’t expected that the nonsense he’d written in his letter to his grandfather would cause this much trouble. He bit his finger, unsure of what to say or do in front of his family. He simply instructed a servant to take his parents and grandfather to the main hall to wait for him.

JingYi, "What are we going to do?"

SiZhui was in full panic. He had received a reply from his grandfather three days ago, saying that they would visit in three months to meet his future wife. Why did they come now? Isn’t that too soon?!

SiZhui, "Why did they come so quickly?! And why did my parents come too?!"

The same servant who delivered the message replied, "Madam said she wanted to see her daughter-in-law soon and witness Young Master’s happiness. The Grand Master, Lan QiRen, said the same."

SiZhui paced back and forth before looking at JingYi. "JingYi, go to the market or the street and find a beautiful girl willing to play along with me."

JingYi, "Are you crazy? If I bring her now, your parents will notice. Don’t forget, your mother has placed guards all around the house for her visit! How am I supposed to find someone that quickly?!"

SiZhui said with desperation, "Then... you be the girl!"

JingYi, "What are you talking about, huh?!"

Ignoring JingYi’s protests, SiZhui grabbed his friend’s hand and led him to his room, ordering a servant to bring the best woman’s outfit they could find. The servants brought it to SiZhui’s room and handed it to their young master.

SiZhui examined the outfit closely. Though simple, it was actually quite nice. Besides, he hadn’t said that the woman he loved was from a rich or poor family. Although he didn’t know where they got the woman’s dress, that wasn’t the issue now.

SiZhui said with an innocent look, "I hereby permit you to be my lover."

JingYi, "What?!"

Before he could protest further, SiZhui had already started undressing JingYi, ignoring his friend’s struggles to break free.

JingYi pushed SiZhui’s face away. "SiZhui, you’re insane! They’ll know it’s me right away!"

SiZhui, "Cover your face with a veil. And if they still notice..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, instead focusing on restraining JingYi’s hands and starting to undress him. Too panicked to notice anything unusual about his friend’s body, he muttered, "My parents and grandfather wanting to meet their daughter-in-law is scarier than being tricked by a man dressed as a woman!"

As SiZhui pulled the final layer of clothing off his struggling friend, he froze. Stunned. Unable to believe what he was seeing. "JingYi... why do you have... a chest?"

Meanwhile, the other looked away, face red and a tear in the corner of his eyes.

...

Wei WuXian tapped her fingers impatiently on the table. She wanted to go to her son’s room, but the servants told her SiZhui was waiting for his lady to get ready. Wei WuXian thought this was reasonable; Lan WangJi had often waited for her to finish dressing up.

Soon after, a servant announced their arrival. SiZhui entered, accompanied by a girl with a veil covering her face. The girl kept her head lowered, walking slowly. Wei WuXian could see that she was nervous, or perhaps scared. He noticed SiZhui holding the girl's hand affectionately, which widened her smile. The young couple greeted them. With Lan QiRen seated at the head chair and Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian on the right side, SiZhui and his "girl" were to sit on the left.

Both Wei WuXian and Lan QiRen eyed the girl with scrutinizing gazes. SiZhui felt a little nervous. Then, he noticed his mother smiling.

"Sweet girl, why are you covering your face with a veil?"

The girl flinched slightly. She looked at SiZhui as if asking for his help. SiZhui cleared his throat, drawing attention to himself. "Mother, she's rather shy and insecure about her appearance."

Wei WuXian smiled coolly, "Oh, I'd like to see her face."

SiZhui wanted to refuse, but he was an obedient son. More importantly, he never denied his mother’s requests. Whatever she asked, he would do. So, with a heavy heart, he asked the girl by his side to remove her veil.

The girl clenched her hands into fists, then removed her veil as Wei WuXian had requested. The people in the room were stunned. Lan QiRen couldn't hide the surprised expression on his face, and Lan WangJi raised his eyebrows.

After a moment, Wei WuXian exclaimed, "A-Yi! Is it you, A-Yi?!"

The girl nodded, feeling shy. Wei WuXian laughed, tapping the table, which caused Lan QiRen to glare at her with displeasure. His daughter-in-law was being very rude.

Wei WuXian said, "I can't believe it, after all these years, you’ve finally come out looking like this. No wonder my A-Yuan fell for you. You’re truly beautiful now that you've grown up."

The girl called A-Yi wished she could hide her face now. She felt deeply embarrassed, while SiZhui remained silent, not saying anything to ease her discomfort. Wei WuXian began teasing her, but it didn’t last long because Lan QiRen quickly turned the discussion to the reason for their visit.

SiZhui spoke seriously, "Grandfather, this is the girl I love and want to marry. Please give us your blessing."

Seeing the seriousness in his grandson's eyes, Lan QiRen knew that SiZhui was genuinely in love with this girl. Besides, he knew it was unwise to impose his will on SiZhui. His goal in asking SiZhui to marry was simply to ensure the continuation of their family line, to preserve the Lan family. He hadn’t set any conditions for what kind of woman SiZhui should choose. After all, he had learned much from Lan XiChen and Lan WangJi, who both chose wives that went against his expectations.

Lan XiChen's wife was still quite suitable. She was calm, hardworking, and a very good mother to her children, fulfilling her responsibilities as a wife. But Lan WangJi's wife was a bit different. Due to her very complicated background, Lan QiRen had once opposed her. And she had made sure to return the favor in a rather terrifying way. He didn’t want a repeat of that situation now. Additionally, he was getting old; he just wanted a peaceful life. Perhaps he might still live to see his great-grandchildren born and bless them.

And seeing how Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi so easily agreed, he knew that his grandson had chosen the right woman to be his life partner.

Chapter Text

That night, SiZhui and JingYi sat together in SiZhui's room. SiZhui glanced at JingYi and noticed how JingYi, who usually sat in a messy posture, now sat gracefully beside him, like a well-trained noblewoman.  

SiZhui asked, "Since when did you become a girl?"  

JingYi replied irritably, "Since birth. Haven't we often bathed together as kids?"  

SiZhui put on an expressionless face. "I really don't remember."  

JingYi grew even more annoyed. This young man, besides treating her poorly, dared not to remember their past together? She turned her face away, unwilling to look at SiZhui anymore.  

SiZhui smiled mischievously. He stood up and walked toward JingYi, leaning slightly to observe the face of someone who had been with him since childhood. "You were the one in the pond that night, right?"  

"Yes, why?"  

SiZhui shook his head. "Nothing."  

JingYi said nothing further. She simply huffed, stood up, pushed SiZhui aside, and walked toward the bed. She threw herself onto it and sighed. "Get out. I want to sleep."  

SiZhui said, "This is my room, in case you forgot."  

JingYi retorted, "I’m your 'future wife,' in case you forgot."  

SiZhui choked on his spit. He observed JingYi, who had closed her eyes. Perhaps she was already asleep. SiZhui studied JingYi's face and smiled. JingYi had been by his side since childhood. Because he never saw her wearing a dress and her behavior was always boyish, SiZhui never thought of her as a girl. Though he was somewhat suspicious of JingYi’s development during their teenage years, he didn’t pay much attention to it.  

No wonder his mother scolded him whenever he hit JingYi or told him to always yield to her. Even during their teenage years, his mother often dragged JingYi away to do something SiZhui didn’t know about. When SiZhui asked his father, Lan WangJi only replied with two words, "Their secret."  

...  

The next day, Wei WuXian dragged JingYi to the market and bought her many gifts. She also dressed JingYi up, transforming her from a rough boy into a soft and beautiful young woman. SiZhui choked on his tea upon seeing JingYi’s appearance, which was a complete 180-degree change from what he had always known.  

"A-Yuan, look! Your little wife is very beautiful, isn’t she? Such a shame she prefers to be a wild boy, running around shouting about hunting big animals in the forest," Wei WuXian said with a mocking expression, making JingYi glare at her angrily.  

"Hehe, A-Yi, now you can’t escape anymore. You must start learning how to be a good wife. And first, you have to be a proper woman. I can’t wait to teach you seriously, my dear daughter-in-law." When Wei WuXian said this, she had a grin on her face that even made SiZhui shudder.  

Wei WuXian grabbed JingYi’s arm and dragged her away. JingYi screamed and struggled, even pleading with SiZhui to save her. But SiZhui could only shake his head. He could never go against his mother. Wei WuXian was too terrifying. All he could do was smile in encouragement for JingYi.  

Shortly after, SiZhui heard JingYi’s screams. He wondered if his mother was committing murder on his future wife.  

SiZhui told his father about the fake Du Yue. Lan WangJi’s reaction was that he was ready to start a massacre. Fortunately for the Du family, SiZhui managed to calm his father and convince him that he was no longer angry about what they had done to him.

...

SiZhui was sitting in his room, reading a book as usual when the door swung open, and a figure collapsed inside. SiZhui immediately stood up and rushed over to the person.

"JingYi, what happened to you?" SiZhui asked worriedly.

JingYi weakly replied, "Your mother tried to kill me."

Did his mother really try to kill her future daughter-in-law?

JingYi continued, "She forced me to learn embroidery, dancing, makeup, and how to speak like a proper nobleman's wife. She’s truly trying to end my life."

SiZhui simply laughed, patting JingYi on the back. "Of course, you need to practice being a good wife."

JingYi snorted, "How long do I have to be involved in this ridiculous charade of yours?"

SiZhui knelt beside her, gently stroking the hair of the girl lying on the floor with tenderness. His gaze softened, and his smile was full of affection. "Forever. Stay just like this."

JingYi: "..."

.

.

.

.

Huh?!

.

.

.

.

Wei WuXian clapped her hands happily as she recounted everything she had done with JingYi to her husband. Lan WangJi smiled faintly, listening attentively to his wife's enthusiastic chatter.

"I've liked that child ever since she was little. When A-Yuan said no one had captured his heart yet, I was already planning to pair him with A-Yi. Turns out, they fell for each other before I could even start my plan. Lan Zhan! I'm so happy!"

Lan WangJi replied, "Mmm, happy."

Wei WuXian laughed. "Lan Zhan, imagine—two or three years from now, there will be the cries of a baby in this house again. This home will come alive once more, just like when A-Yuan was born. We’ll become grandparents!"

Lan WangJi nodded his head.

...

“Cousin!” A 17-year-old girl leapt out of her carriage and ran excitedly towards SiZhui. She embraced the older youth, who returned her hug warmly.

The girl was Lan Fei, the third child of Lan XiChen. She was a beautiful girl with a radiant smile and a gentle, polite demeanor. Though usually composed and cheerful, she could occasionally become so energetic that it was difficult for her to calm down. Skilled in dancing and music, many young men had fallen for her and sought her hand in marriage. Unfortunately for them, Lan XiChen wasn’t ready to let go of his daughter just yet.

Lan Fei was closer to SiZhui than to her two older brothers.

Lan Fei asked, "So... where’s my sister-in-law?"

SiZhui laughed and showed her the way to the main hall, where Wei WuXian and JingYi were currently practicing embroidery. Wei WuXian wasn’t letting JingYi off the hook. He had banned her from hunting and made her focus on her lessons. JingYi was constantly caught whenever she tried to escape. His mother was truly terrifying.

“Aunt Wei!”

“A-Fei!” Wei WuXian exclaimed excitedly upon seeing her niece. She rushed over and hugged the girl. Both of them laughed together. Then, Lan Fei turned her gaze to JingYi, who seemed to be trying her best to destroy the fabric she was currently embroidering.

“Sister-in-law!” Lan Fei exclaimed cheerfully, kneeling beside the older girl. "You’re even more beautiful than I imagined in women’s clothing. Of course! That’s why my cousin fell for you."

JingYi smiled stiffly. "Miss FeiFei."

Lan Fei clicked her tongue. "Don’t call me ‘Miss.’ Call me Sister Fei. You’re about to become my sister-in-law!"

JingYi laughed awkwardly. Her life had changed drastically since her disguise was revealed. She could act normal around Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi because they had always known she was a girl. However, she still felt awkward around the rest of SiZhui’s family, whether they were from the Lan or Jiang families.

Especially when she was with SiZhui, she felt even more self-conscious these days. After all, SiZhui had said he didn’t want her to disguise herself as a man anymore and had expressed his serious intention to make her his wife.

Wei WuXian suddenly invited Lan Fei outside, leaving JingYi alone with SiZhui. The two of them exchanged awkward glances. SiZhui cleared his throat softly, trying to ease the sudden dryness in his throat. Then, he sat across from JingYi, gently removing her embroidery tools and softly taking her hands in his.

JingYi’s hands were small, but they were rougher than his. Callouses marked her palms from years of activities she had done while living as a man.

JingYi’s heart raced, her face slowly turning red, nearly matching the color of the skirt she was wearing. SiZhui smiled tenderly at her.

They stayed like that for a few seconds until JingYi turned her gaze away, unable to bear it any longer. She quickly pulled her hands back. It felt so embarrassing and far too intense.

JingYi asked, “SiZhui… are you sure you want to marry me?”

SiZhui replied, “Haven’t I already told you that I fell in love with you the moment I first saw you?”

JingYi countered, “You said that about the girl you saw at the pond, not about me.”

SiZhui smiled. “But that girl was you. And I love you.”

JingYi had no idea how red her face had become because of SiZhui. Still, she wasn’t ready to give up on making him reconsider their relationship. They had been friends for so long, growing up together and sharing countless experiences. She just didn’t want SiZhui to regret his decision after they were married. That would be too painful for her to bear.

JingYi stammered, “I-I’m not a good woman. I don’t know how to do housework, I can’t sew, I can’t embroider. My dancing is terrible, and my manners are just as bad.”

SiZhui stayed silent, listening attentively. He nodded a few times, agreeing with what JingYi said. Then the young woman continued, “I prefer hunting in the forest over staying at home. I enjoy horseback riding more than dancing or sewing. Sword fighting and archery are my passions. I don’t want to lose that just because I’m a woman. I’m not good at makeup and don’t know how to please my husband. I’m not even that pretty, just ordinary. I don’t know how to raise children, and I’m terrified of pregnancy and childbirth. Are you sure you still want to marry me?”

This made SiZhui smile. He took JingYi’s hand again, gently squeezing it, and said, “I’m absolutely certain of my decision. We grew up together, did so many things together, and I know almost all your habits. I accept both your strengths and your flaws. None of that will change, even if our status changes. When I said I love you, it meant I’m ready to accept you for who you are. I don’t know how to raise kids either, but hey… I know we’ll learn together. I’ll be there to take care of you during your pregnancy, and I’ll be by your side when you give birth. Don’t worry about that, okay?”

JingYi responded, “But I’m... just a servant.”

SiZhui laughed. “When have I ever cared about that? My parents, even my grandfather, have already accepted you. JingYi... why are you doubting yourself?”

JingYi shook her head and gave SiZhui a small smile in return.

...

Two months later, SiZhui’s residence was adorned with red. Red lanterns hung along the hallways alongside various other ornaments. Firecrackers and fireworks had been prepared especially for this joyous day. Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi, who only had one son, made sure everything was perfect for their son’s wedding.

Every detail of the wedding was handled with great care and came at an exorbitant cost.

“No! Put that over there and be careful!” Wei WuXian ordered some servants arranging the decorations. She clicked her tongue impatiently, watching their every move. She didn’t want any mistakes during her son’s wedding. After all, this would only happen once in her lifetime. She trusted SiZhui wouldn’t dare to take a concubine—unless he wanted JingYi to break his legs or cut off his manhood.

SiZhui had been honest with him, admitting that, at first, he had only asked JingYi to pretend to be his fiancée because of Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi’s sudden arrival. He even confessed that he didn’t know JingYi was a woman at the time. But as time passed, he began to fall for his childhood friend and confessed to Wei WuXian that he was serious about making JingYi his lifelong partner.

Wei WuXian was delighted to hear SiZhui’s conviction. She was confident SiZhui and JingYi would make the perfect couple.

...

The wedding day arrived. Wei WuXian was in her son’s room, combing his hair while reciting blessings for the couple. The woman carefully pinned an ornament into her son’s hair.

“My son, you look so handsome,” Wei WuXian praised.

SiZhui responded with a smile.

...

SiZhui lifted the red veil covering the face of the woman who was now officially his wife. JingYi lowered her head, a small smile on her lips. SiZhui knelt in front of her, calling out lovingly, “My wife.”

“My husband.”

And then they both laughed. Their wedding night was spent playfully teasing each other, much to the disappointment of Wei WuXian, who had been eavesdropping and sighed in frustration at the childish behavior of her son and daughter-in-law. With this attitude, when would she get grandchildren?!

She complained to Lan WangJi, but her husband simply said it was up to SiZhui and JingYi to do whatever they wanted. They just had to be patient.

Still, the next day, Wei WuXian ended up scolding SiZhui.

Three weeks after their wedding, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi decided to return to their own residence, leaving the young couple to enjoy their days peacefully. JingYi finally breathed a sigh of relief after seeing off her in-laws. She quickly ran to the room she shared with SiZhui, removing her long gown and tight waist bindings, wiping off all the makeup from her face, and taking off every accessory she had worn.

Although she sometimes dressed like other women, she never liked wearing long gowns or heavy makeup for extended periods. During Wei WuXian’s stay, she had to wear gowns and makeup all day, learn etiquette, and practice being a proper woman. She knew her in-law meant well, but JingYi didn’t enjoy any of it. She was too used to living freely like a boy, running around without worrying about dirtying her clothes.

Of course, Wei WuXian didn’t mind her acting like a boy or running around without regard for manners, but she worried that if JingYi didn’t start adjusting now, she would struggle when faced with the Lan family. JingYi knew all too well how strict the rules of the Lan clan were. Even the rules of the imperial court weren’t as rigid as the Lan family’s.

One day, she and SiZhui would have to move to the main family residence, as SiZhui was declared the head of the Lan family. The thought alone gave JingYi chills, she knew there was no escaping it. Now, she truly hoped SiZhui’s older brothers would fight for their rights as Lan XiChen’s sons to claim the position of clan head. She knew SiZhui would happily step aside, preferring a peaceful life in their village without having to worry about the main family and its burdensome affairs.

Sometimes, she wanted to slap Lan XiChen’s first son to wake him up and stop mourning his lost lover, or drag the second son out of the military and make him focus on the family.

But she knew that wouldn’t happen. Oh well, she would adjust in time.

...

Time flew by. It had been six months since SiZhui and JingYi’s wedding, and three months ago, JingYi was confirmed to be pregnant. SiZhui had cheered with joy, even crying when he found out about the pregnancy. He began forbidding JingYi from doing heavy work, riding horses, practicing swordsmanship, or going hunting.

Although JingYi wasn’t happy with her husband’s restrictions, she complied. The physician had said her pregnancy was fragile. A single mistake could lead to a miscarriage, and she didn’t want that to happen. So, even though she disliked it, she followed the advice.

SiZhui developed a new habit of caressing JingYi’s belly and talking to it. The man was beyond eager to meet their first child.

And yes, SiZhui kept his promise. He was always there for JingYi, tending to her every need and ensuring her wishes were fulfilled. As her pregnancy reached five months, her cravings became strange, and her emotions grew unstable.

“SiZhui,” JingYi called out, gently rubbing her now-rounded belly. When there was no answer, she called again, this time pinching her husband’s arm to wake him up.

“SiZhui!”

SiZhui woke up from the pain, looking at JingYi with sleepy eyes and asking what she wanted. “I want an apple,” she said.

SiZhui nodded. “I’ll ask Auntie Li to buy some tomorrow. Go back to sleep; it’s late.”

Then he closed his eyes again. JingYi clicked her tongue in annoyance. “But I want it now!”

SiZhui replied helplessly, “My dear wife, it’s already late at night. No shops are open. Where am I supposed to get an apple for you?”

JingYi pouted in annoyance. “How should I know? I just want an apple.”  

SiZhui gave a weak smile. Reluctantly, he got out of their bed and grabbed his robe from the hanger. “I’ll go look. I’ll go look.”  

They had run out of apples today and had forgotten to buy more. SiZhui thought perhaps one of their neighbors might have some apples and be kind enough to spare two. Unfortunately, JingYi made things more complicated. “I want one that tastes like bananas.”  

Huh?!  

SiZhui looked at his wife helplessly. “My dear, where could I possibly find an apple like that?”  

JingYi pouted again. “You just have to find it!”  

SiZhui wanted to reply but held back, remembering JingYi’s very unstable emotions. Stepping out of their room, SiZhui began to wonder where he could find this magical banana-flavored apple.  

But after searching all night, he found nothing. When he returned, JingYi was casually eating an orange and said she no longer wanted the banana-flavored apple. SiZhui sighed deeply and rubbed his chest in patience. And of course, this didn’t just happen once, and the requests were not always limited to banana-flavored apples.  

Pregnancy had truly made JingYi’s emotions unpredictable.  

Like now, she was scrutinizing her reflection in the mirror, displeased with several things. She then turned to her husband, who was busy reviewing the financial reports from their shop.  

“Do you think I look fat?”  

Without looking up, SiZhui replied, “Yes, fat and healthy.”  

JingYi’s eyes started to water, and she began crying. “SiZhui, you’re so mean to call me fat. I’m carrying your child right now, but you called me fat. You’ve never loved me. You’ve just been using me.”  

SiZhui turned to her in shock. He immediately abandoned his work and approached JingYi, doing his best to comfort her. It required a great deal of effort.  

At other times, JingYi would happily show off her weight gain to SiZhui. Pregnancy emotions were truly terrifying!  

When it was time for the birth, SiZhui stayed by JingYi’s side, offering his hand for her to squeeze during the pain and whispering words of encouragement to her as she labored to bring their child into the world.  

When they heard the cries of their newborn, it was the most beautiful sound they had ever heard.  

Their child was a girl, and they named her Lan XiaHe, which meant pure and elegant. She was a beautiful baby girl. Wei WuXian was overjoyed when she found out her first grandchild was a girl. She declared that she would spoil Lan XiaHe and make her the most beautiful girl, surpassing her aunt, Lan Fei. JingYi shook her head at her mother-in-law’s ambitions.  

Even though Lan XiaHe was thoroughly spoiled by her grandparents and father, JingYi refused to do the same. Overindulged children often grew up with poor attitudes and a lack of respect for those of lower status. She made it a point to teach Lan XiaHe about sharing and empathy, encouraging her to interact with everyone, not just the children of wealthy families. She was also firm with her daughter, correcting her mistakes and providing guidance.  

When Lan XiaHe was four years old, JingYi became pregnant again and gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Wei WuXian clapped with joy, saying she now had two adorable and lovable grandchildren.  

They named the boy Lan Chen, meaning generous and brave man.  

Despite having two children, JingYi still loved hunting and sword practice. She even taught these skills to her daughter. JingYi didn’t want Lan XiaHe to be a weak girl. At the very least, Lan XiaHe should know how to protect herself. No one objected to her decision. Wei WuXian was particularly supportive, insisting that her granddaughter should be strong and beautiful.  

“SiZhui! Look!” JingYi jumped off her horse and ran toward her husband. Her clothes were dirty with mud and blood stains. SiZhui waved to the servants to bring a wet towel.  

JingYi proudly announced, “I caught a deer! And I also caught some fat fish!”  

SiZhui smiled and nodded. He reached out to tidy JingYi’s hair. When the servant brought the towel, SiZhui took it and began cleaning JingYi’s face.  

JingYi said, “I love Mother’s fish soup. Do you know how to make it?”  

SiZhui replied calmly, “I do. But I can’t promise it will taste as good as hers.”  

JingYi grinned. “Then you’ll have to make it for me.”  

“Of course.”  

The years passed, and SiZhui found himself loving his wife more deeply. In recent years, JingYi had started to act more like a noblewoman. Of course, her tomboyish nature, developed over the years, couldn’t completely disappear. But now she behaved more gracefully and gently, especially in front of others.  

SiZhui understood; perhaps it was the influence of his appointment as the head of the Lan family a few years ago. He didn’t mind JingYi’s changes, whether she was still as feisty as before or had become more refined and elegant. He loved JingYi.  

So when he held her hand, crossing a small bridge, he smiled happily. The man kissed the back of his wife’s hand. “I’m so happy to be married to you.”  

JingYi laughed softly, still playfully tapping SiZhui’s chest whenever her husband teased her. SiZhui cherished this habit, glad it had never changed. Gently, he stroked her face. To him, her face was still beautiful, even though it no longer held the bloom of youth, even as white streaks appeared in her hair and wrinkles began to form.  

He rested his forehead against hers, closed his eyes, and smiled contentedly. JingYi cupped SiZhui’s face, closed her eyes, and smiled as well. She was truly happy with SiZhui.  

SiZhui said, “I will always be with you.”

...

The two hands intertwined tightly. SiZhui gave a bittersweet smile to his wife, who now could only lie in bed. JingYi looked back at him and smiled.

“Mother, we’ll leave you and Father alone,” said Lan Chen, their son. The handsome young man wrapped his arm around his sister’s shoulder, comforting her as she cried. Their two children had grown up. Lan Chen had become a brave and valiant young man, joining the army and becoming a general at a young age. Many parents hoped their daughters would marry him, but Lan Chen had no interest in settling down.

Lan XiaHe, on the other hand, was the envy of many women and the desire of many men. Her beauty was unmatched, and her courage made her a strong and resilient woman. Even the emperor had taken notice of her, but she boldly declined his invitation to join the imperial harem. The harem, to her, was nothing more than a gilded cage. She had inherited her mother's free-spirited nature and preferred adventure over confinement.

After their children left the room, silence filled the space between them until JingYi forced a weak laugh. She coughed a few times before sighing sadly. “In the end... we still have to part ways.”

SiZhui reluctantly nodded. “Separation is inevitable, no matter how much we wish it weren’t.”

JingYi weakly nodded in agreement. SiZhui’s grip on her hand tightened, especially as he saw her beginning to close her eyes. JingYi spoke softly, “I once thought I would continue pretending to be a man, staying by your side as your friend and servant. I never imagined I’d end up as your wife, revealing my disguise.”

SiZhui chuckled. “I didn’t expect it either, but I’m glad it happened. I love you, JingYi.”

JingYi smiled faintly. “I love you too.”

With a weak exhale, JingYi said, “SiZhui, lie beside me. I feel... so cold.”

SiZhui’s smile trembled as he blinked back tears. Slowly, he climbed onto the bed, lying beside her. His hand still clasped hers tightly as he extended his other arm to embrace her. His voice, hoarse with sorrow, asked, “Is this better?”

JingYi replied with a faint hum, “Mn. It feels warm.”

SiZhui whispered, “Sleep. I’ll stay here with you.”

JingYi didn’t respond; her eyelids had already closed. Her breathing grew weaker with each passing moment. SiZhui didn’t know how long he lay beside her until he felt her final breath leave her body. His smile faded, and tears began to fall. Even though he had known this moment would come, he couldn’t stop the overwhelming grief and sense of loss.

SiZhui stayed beside JingYi’s lifeless body, only moving when Lan XiaHe and Lan Chen persuaded him to.

JingYi was buried in their hometown, the village where she and SiZhui had grown up together. SiZhui purchased a plot of land large enough for her burial site and built a small cottage beside her grave, choosing to live there.

SiZhui decided to pass the title of Lan Clan Leader to Lan Zheng, the eldest son of his second brother.

He spent his days planting flowers and vegetables and often sat by JingYi’s grave, talking as if she were still alive and listening to him. Lan XiaHe visited him frequently. The young woman had grown to resemble her mother more and more, dreaming of freedom and adventures.

Eventually, Lan Xia He married a wealthy merchant and traveled extensively with her husband. SiZhui lived long enough to see his first grandchild before peacefully passing away.

His grave was arranged to rest beside JingYi’s, their final resting places side by side.

...

SiZhui found himself standing in a field of beautiful flowers. A clear river meandered through the field, not too deep nor too shallow. A small bridge crossed over it. On the bridge stood a woman in a long blue dress, her hair tied loosely, reaching down to her back.

Without realizing it, SiZhui began walking toward her. The woman turned to him, flashing a grin he had longed for over the years. She opened her mouth and said, “I’ve been waiting for you.”

SiZhui ran to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. “I’m home.”