The Zhou residence was located in the eastern part of Yangzhou City. Unlike the bustling southern district, this area was enclosed by high walls and gates, adorned with dark blue bricks and black tiles, as if an indescribable barrier separated them from the occasional passersby.
Madam Lu had arranged for Zhou Chibai to accompany Feng Wenyu on a tour of Yangzhou City today.
But Feng Wenyu had matters weighing on her mind and felt little anticipation for the so-called sightseeing. As the sunset approached the western horizon, a maid came to Wen Shi Courtyard to summon her:
“Young Master is already waiting for you in the reception hall, Miss Cousin.”
Not wanting to dampen the mood, Feng Wenyu glanced at her reflection in the bronze mirror. She wore a rouge-colored Su Brocade dress embroidered with hundreds of flowers, her hair ornaments and comb neatly arranged without a single strand out of place. Finding nothing improper about her appearance, she withdrew her gaze and headed to the reception hall with Jinshu and Shuyao.
Shuyao asked cheerfully, “Would you like to go Releasing River Lanterns later, Miss?”
In Jingcheng, there was a curfew. Unless it was a festival, the markets would fall completely silent by evening, unlike the lively scenes in Yangzhou City.
Seeing that her mistress didn’t object, Shuyao’s voice carried a trace of longing:
“They say if you make a wish while Releasing River Lanterns, and the lantern stays lit without going out, it will come true.”
Feng Wenyu smiled. “If you like it, we can go later.”
However, Feng Wenyu herself didn’t believe in such things. If Releasing River Lanterns could truly make wishes come true, the riverbanks would have been crowded with people throughout history.
As soon as the three of them stepped into the reception hall, they heard voices inside:
“…He didn’t come back all night?”
The voice carried suppressed anger.
Feng Wenyu recognized it as her cousin’s voice. She paused for a moment before hesitantly peeking inside, taking in the scene in the hall.
A servant stood trembling with repeated bows. Zhou Chibai’s face showed clear anger, which he deliberately suppressed upon seeing her. His brows remained furrowed as he called out to her apologetically:
“Sorry for making you witness this, Cousin.”
Feng Wenyu shook her head, somewhat confused. She carefully asked, “What happened?”
Zhou Chibai’s expression turned cold, but knowing this matter couldn’t be concealed, he didn’t hide it from her, though the anger in his voice remained:
“Third Brother didn’t return all night. It wasn’t until the academy sent people looking for him that his servants finally reported it.”
Zhou Chibai had two brothers besides himself, both born of concubines. The “Third Brother” he referred to was Zhou Chiyu.
Feng Wenyu was astonished.
He didn’t return all night? Even missed his academy schedule?
Feng Wenyu glanced at the servant, then at her cousin. After a moment’s thought, she guessed the situation.
Zhou Chiyu hadn’t returned last night, and his servants, unwilling to cause trouble, hadn’t reported it. Only when the academy came looking and it became impossible to hide did the servant hurriedly report it. Moreover…
Feng Wenyu subtly observed her cousin. The fact that the servant came to him instead of her aunt showed that the servants viewed Zhou Chibai as easy to deal with.
Having such a reputation among subordinates wasn’t necessarily good—to some extent, being easy to deal with also meant being easy to fool.
Feng Wenyu guessed her cousin probably understood this too, which explained his anger.
As a guest, Feng Wenyu couldn’t interfere in family matters. She could only say hesitantly:
“There’s trouble at the manor, cousin. You should deal with household matters first. We can always postpone our outing to another day.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Lu’s voice came from behind her, sounding perfectly normal: “No need, A-Yu. You and your cousin should go ahead with your plans as scheduled. Leave the household matters to me.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Feng Wenyu noticed the servant trembling violently.
Guessing at her aunt’s strict methods, Feng Wenyu didn’t say anything more and instead looked to her cousin for guidance.
Zhou Chibai seemed about to speak but was cut off by a sharp glance from Madam Lu, whose face was cold: “It’s precisely because you’ve all been too lenient with him that he’s turned into this disgraceful good-for-nothing!”
Zhou Chibai fell silent. He sighed before turning to Feng Wenyu with a nod: “Let’s go, cousin.”
Feng Wenyu didn’t refuse again. As she walked out of the reception hall with Zhou Chibai, she could still hear her aunt’s voice behind them:
“Send people to find him. The moment he’s located, bring him back immediately. As for these servants—since they can’t tell who their real master is, they have no place in this household. Sell them all through the slave brokers!”
Servants sold off by their masters like this usually met with terrible fates.
Feng Wenyu left the pleading voices behind. Noticing her cousin’s unusually quiet expression, she asked softly: “Are you worried about our cousin?”
These complicated blood ties were always messy. Feng Wenyu could only feel grateful that her own family had no half-siblings.
Zhou Chibai gave a bitter smile:
“Mother has planned so carefully for my sake. I wouldn’t be so ungrateful.”
He was worried—but not about Zhou Chiyu. He was worried about his mother.
His mother had always been strict in managing the household, treating the children born of concubines with cold indifference. While she never mistreated them, she showed no warmth either. In his father’s eyes, husband and wife were one entity, while concubines were merely servants allowed closer proximity. Therefore, his father never interfered, leaving everything to his mother’s management.
But his grandmother had some reservations about his mother’s methods. Moreover, his grandmother had always doted on Zhou Chiyu. If his mother punished Zhou Chiyu too harshly this time, it might incur his grandmother’s displeasure.
Still, these were things Zhou Chibai found difficult to explain to Feng Wenyu. Deep down, he understood that while he was Feng Wenyu’s cousin, Zhou Chiyu was also her cousin.
It wasn’t a matter of who was closer or more distant.
Hearing this, Feng Wenyu didn’t press further. Everyone had their biases.
Though she was staying at her uncle’s house, her uncle held an official position and was constantly busy outside. All household matters, big and small, were handled by her aunt, who also hosted her and attended to her needs daily. Regardless of whether her aunt’s affection contained any ulterior motives, Feng Wenyu naturally felt closer to her aunt.
Moreover…
Feng Wenyu secretly held some prejudice regarding legitimate and illegitimate children.
Legitimate and illegitimate children truly couldn’t be treated as equals. To her, her only proper cousin was Zhou Chibai.
But she wasn’t foolish enough to voice these thoughts aloud.
Feng Wenyu comforted him: “Aunt has managed the household perfectly all these years. She’ll handle today’s matter well too.”
Hearing this, Zhou Chibai showed a hint of guilt and embarrassment:
“I should be the one accompanying you to lift your spirits, yet here you are comforting me instead.”
By the time they reached the Twenty-Four Bridges, night had completely fallen. However, the market streets were hung with red lanterns, and the lake surface was covered with floating river lanterns, making everything as bright as daytime.
As Feng Wenyu stepped down from the carriage, this was the scene that greeted her—
The arched bridge of blue bricks and the painted boats on the lake formed a picturesque scene. A scholar leaned against his boat, letting it drift beneath the arch, casually reciting a poem. From an upper-floor pavilion, an entertainer tossed down a handkerchief while a charming girl peeked out, covering her mouth with a light laugh that carried far across the water: “Master Song, could you compose a song for me next time?”
Feng Wenyu was momentarily stunned by this vibrant spectacle before regaining her composure. Of the moon’s radiance under heaven, Yangzhou claimed two-thirds—and indeed, the reputation was well-deserved.
Zhou Chibai, noticing her reaction, chuckled softly:
“Well? Have I disappointed my cousin?”
Feng Wenyu shook her head, finding her voice again after the awe: “Far from disappointment.”
Remembering Shuyao’s request, she followed the crowd toward the lakeside, completely unaware that someone in the pavilion had spotted her and was hastening in her direction.
After much effort, Feng Wenyu squeezed through to the waterfront. Zhou Chibai had bought three river lanterns for her—one for each of her two maids, leaving none out.
He stood by the lake, constantly mindful of the crowd. His cool-toned skin now bore a faint flush, and a light sweat glistened on his forehead. Though jostled and somewhat disheveled by the press of people, he instinctively shielded a small space for her, his own robe hem dampened by the lakewater.
As Feng Wenyu crouched down, she couldn’t help glancing back at him.
Zhou Chibai happened to turn at that moment, and their gazes met mid-air. He froze abruptly—there, amid thousands of glowing lanterns like a shower of stars, the young woman’s face appeared softly veiled, yet her eyes shone with exceptional clarity and brilliance, eclipsing the surrounding scenery.
Zhou Chibai averted his gaze slightly, lowering his eyes and pressing his lips together to conceal the sudden racing of his heart.
Just then, someone finally caught up to them, calling out breathlessly: “…Feng Guniang.”
Recognizing the newcomer, Feng Wenyu’s expression cooled imperceptibly. She nodded slightly, her tone polite yet distant:
“Young Master Pei.”
Pei Yan sensed her aloofness and faltered momentarily. Pausing to steady his breathing, he spoke as calmly as he could: “My mother’s actions that day were not my intention.”
Seeing Feng Wenyu remain unmoved, his eyes dimmed slightly, but he continued:
“Young Master Feng once did me a great kindness. No amount of repayment would be excessive.”
Feng Wenyu found this rather baffling. She replied directly: “Madam Pei has already sent gifts of gratitude. There’s no need for Young Master to mention this again.”
She had never intended to have any further connection with Pei Yan.
Pei Yan’s face paled slightly. He understood clearly—without this so-called debt of gratitude, he and Feng Wenyu would have no ties whatsoever.
Their encounter had been but a chance meeting. If he didn’t act, they might truly remain passing strangers.
Noticing the river lantern in Shuyao’s hand, Pei Yan asked somewhat awkwardly: “Is Feng Guniang planning to release river lanterns? This rabbit lantern—I won it at the poetry gathering just now. I’d like to offer it to you.”
Only then did Feng Wenyu notice the rabbit-shaped lantern in Pei Yan’s hand. Exquisitely crafted and lifelike, it appealed to her—the rabbit was her zodiac animal, and she had always held a particular fondness for rabbit motifs.
But after just a glance, Feng Wenyu withdrew her gaze, her stance unambiguous:
“I thank Young Master Pei for his kindness.”
With that, she crouched down again, lit her lotus-shaped river lantern, and gently pushed it onto the lake surface, watching as it drifted slowly away.
Pei Yan stood motionless. It was rare in his life to be so plainly refused. He remained rooted to the spot, utterly at a loss.
The light was somewhat dim. Feng Wenyu sighed helplessly and looked up at Pei Yan. “Young Master Pei, could you move aside a little?”
Pei Yan hesitated and took a step back.
Yet he ended up blocking even more light, completely shrouding Feng Wenyu in his shadow. She found it puzzling—was this man a fool?
Just as Feng Wenyu was about to say something more, her peripheral gaze inadvertently swept over the person on the opposite side of the bridge. She abruptly froze, her words trapped in her throat.
Gu Yushi stood on the other side of the arched bridge, his gaze dark and heavy as he stared in this direction. It was unclear how long he had been watching.
At that moment, two river lanterns collided on the lake’s surface, stirring faint ripples across the water.
Mu Fan exclaimed, “Ah! Master’s river lantern!”
Feng Wenyu instinctively glanced over. When she recognized that the lantern that had been struck was hers, her fingers trembled imperceptibly within her sleeves.