At this time, it was only just after dawn, the streets still quiet with few passersby.
The young owner of Zixuan Tavern, wishing to let his beloved wife sleep a little longer, rose quietly, tidied himself, and went to the tavern door. He pulled out the bolt and opened the doors with both hands. Usually, there would be no customers so early, but as soon as he opened the door, he saw a carriage blocking the entrance. A man and a woman stepped down from it.
“Who are you?” he asked in surprise.
Pei Tan and Jing Wan’er stood in the dim morning light, facing the bewildered young tavern master.
Pei Xian wasted no time. After halting the carriage, he immediately raised the official token and said coldly: “This is the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Our lord has business with you.”
No one in Chang’an dared not know the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. The man’s face changed at once.
Pei Tan folded his hands politely, his manner refined: “Forgive the intrusion. I only wish to speak with your wife before the tavern opens.”
For those in business, opening late was considered unlucky. They had already come later than ideal. His wife had only recently been to the Court, which made the man even more sensitive to the title “Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.” His pale face met Pei Tan’s gaze before he finally stammered: “P-please, my lord, come inside…”
Jing Wan’er noticed the man’s shock and his youth, and she caught Pei Tan’s deliberate use of the words “your wife.”
Inside, Pei Tan glanced around. Only two servants were present, both bewildered. The tavern was about to open, yet the mistress was nowhere to be seen.
The man steadied himself: “My wife… has not yet risen. Please wait, my lord. I will go and call her.”
Pei Tan remained courteous: “Much obliged.”
The man’s face shifted again, hesitating before he steeled himself and went through the inner door.
Pei Tan had already stated he wished to see the wife. To refuse further was impossible.
Zichan’er, however, was already awake. Though her husband was considerate, hoping she could rest longer, she had long grown used to rising early to help manage the tavern. She had noticed his quiet movements but chose not to speak, her heart warm with affection.
She had once been a woman of misfortune, but now, having met such a man, she had no complaints left in life. When her husband returned, she turned in surprise, seeing the pallor still lingering on his face.
“Wenlang, what is wrong?” Years in the palace had sharpened her perception; she saw at once that something serious had happened in the brief time he had been gone.
He took her hand: “Zichan’er, outside is a lord of the Court of Judicial Review.”
There could be only one such lord—the Minister himself. And she had only recently been to the Court.
Zichan’er understood immediately. Yet neither her face nor her heart showed panic. What must come, would come. After calming her husband, she accompanied him to the tavern hall.
Pei Tan was someone she recognized. Upon entering, she smiled faintly and curtsied: “This humble woman, Zichan’er, greets my lord.”
Pei Tan turned to her. When she rose, her expression was deliberately calm. She knew there was no avoiding this, so it was better to face it openly.
Pei Tan understood her thoughts. He turned instead toward another figure standing aside: “You need not pay respects to me. The one I wish you to meet today is her.”
Zichan’er’s eyes shifted, slowly turning toward that direction.
Jing Wan’er still wore Pei Tan’s cloak. Indoors, she revealed her face. She gazed at Zichan’er. Zichan’er had been fourteen when rescued, her features already formed, so Jing Wan’er recognized her at once.
Zichan’er’s expression changed as she stared, but she remained silent for a long time.
It was Jing Wan’er who smiled: “You are married?”
Zichan’er’s eyes showed a trace of dazed emotion. The events of five years ago were vivid still. For the one who had saved her life, even if she was startled at first, she recognized her in the end.
“Yes…”
And she had married a man upright and courteous, with rare property. Even for an ordinary girl, such a match would be enviable.
So Zichan’er lowered her head, wiped her eyes, then looked up again and smiled at Jing Wan’er, saying no more.
Though they had exchanged messages by carrier pigeon, it was only for crucial moments—like the letter that had warned Jing Wan’er to flee the servants’ quarters. Beyond that, separated by palace walls, they could not know each other’s lives over the past five years.
Jing Wan’er slowly stepped to Pei Tan’s side: “My lord, Wan’er wishes to arrange her own fate. I do not intend to implicate anyone.”
After all, the crime of fleeing the palace was hers alone. No one could bear it for her. If it were only about survival, there were countless struggling souls in Chang’an, and she did not mind being one of them.
Pei Tan glanced at her, then turned to Zichan’er: “If I asked you to shelter Jing Wan’er for a few days, would you be willing?”
At these words, everyone’s expression changed.
The tavern owner, Zichan’er’s husband, looked utterly bewildered. Perhaps sensing something instinctively, he stepped forward and held his wife’s shoulders tightly.
Jing Wan’er’s gaze dimmed.
Zichan’er looked at Pei Tan. Being such a perceptive woman, she knew that asking questions now was unnecessary. Instead, she chose to smile gently: “This humble woman understands. I am willing to shelter Miss Jing.”
Beyond the debt of having her life saved, her current happiness was all thanks to Jing Wan’er. If she refused to take her in, it would be a betrayal of human decency.
This was exactly what Pei Tan wanted to hear. The Court of Judicial Review could not shelter Jing Wan’er, so the vast city of Chang’an itself was the best hiding place. And naturally, he thought of those palace maids who had already escaped, assumed new identities, and had ties to Jing Wan’er.
For some reason, when Jing Wan’er looked at the young man who did not understand the situation but still stood firmly by his wife’s side, she suddenly felt a wave of despair.
“My lord, Wan’er thanks you for your protection, but I do not wish to remain here.”
She had done all this without fear of perishing alongside Zong Huo. But seeing this couple, who had clearly rebuilt their lives, she could not bring herself to shatter it.
The more one has lived through despair, the more one understands how precious hope is.
Pei Tan narrowed his eyes, studying Jing Wan’er’s expressionless face.
In the tavern, only one person could clearly see through Jing Wan’er at that moment—Zichan’er.
She smiled faintly, gently removed her husband’s hands from her shoulders, and walked step by step toward Jing Wan’er. She reached out and enclosed Jing Wan’er’s hands in her own: “It’s all right.”
Jing Wan’er stared at her in astonishment.
Zichan’er, now a married woman, wore a smile of gentle reassurance: “Trust me. You can stay.”
Their eyes met, and the emotions within them were strikingly similar.
No matter how much time had passed, no matter how different their lives had become, in their very bones they were destined to be kindred spirits.
Jing Wan’er’s eyes suddenly blurred with tears.
Zichan’er turned, still holding Jing Wan’er’s hand, and said to her husband: “This is a cousin from my family. We have not seen each other in many years. Would you allow her to stay with me for a time?”
Faced with such a tender plea, few men could refuse. The tavern owner’s eyes grew moist: “Of course. Since she is your kin, she may stay as long as she wishes.”
Zichan’er’s eyes filled with grateful tears: “Thank you, Wenlang…”
Pei Tan turned his gaze aside and said after a pause: “Everything concerning Jing Wan’er here will be my responsibility. You need not worry.”
This was the assurance of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Even if trouble arose, he would bear it first.
Only Jing Wan’er and Zichan’er truly understood the weight of his words. The tavern owner looked at Pei Tan with fear. As his wife’s closest companion, he perhaps knew that the “family” and “hometown” she had spoken of were fabrications. But he did not care—he only wished to protect her as she was now. He had never stopped worrying about her visits to the Court. And now, the young Minister himself had come, bringing another girl. What did this mean for him and his wife?
At that moment, Jing Wan’er secretly squeezed Zichan’er’s hand. Then she stepped forward, lifted her head, and looked earnestly at Pei Tan: “My lord, may Wan’er speak with you alone?”
Since Pei Tan had taken her from the palace, the only time they had been alone was in that small pleasure barge.
Pei Tan studied her face and easily saw the cautiousness within. After all, this was only their first day of acquaintance.
“Pei Xian, have everyone withdraw for now.”
The ones asked to withdraw were only three people: Zichan’er and her husband, and Pei Xian. The couple, needless to say, instinctively lowered their heads and walked toward the inner rooms upon hearing Pei Tan’s words. After a brief hesitation, Pei Xian chose to step outside to guard the tavern door for his master.
Pei Tan looked at Jing Wan’er. Before the girl could gather her thoughts to speak, he said calmly: “The words you wish to say to me—I already know them.”
Jing Wan’er lifted her head in obvious surprise.
Pei Tan’s gaze rested on her: “You want me, no matter what I do, to ensure that this tavern couple is never implicated.”