A’Yuan, the knee pads you sent to younger brother have been received. He was still wearing a cold expression a few days ago, saying he never wanted to speak to you again. But now he's already gone out to buy you the newest playbooks in the capital.—From Zhiwei, with regardsWhen Ye Nanyuan returned, she saw someone who absolutely should not have been there.The rain was falling harder now, a torrential downpour accompanied by thunder that seemed almost eager to pound against people's bodies. The man stood there in the rain, his sky-blue robe soaked completely through.Even his usually gentle face had turned deathly pale in the rain."Have you lost your mind!" Ye Nanyuan could hardly believe her eyes when she saw that face.The person beneath the eaves turned to face Ye Nanyuan, his already bloodless lips growing even paler.It was summer—even in the rain, the air carried a hint of warmth. Yet this man wore a snow-white silver fox cloak over his sky-blue robe."I think you're the one who's lost her mind." He lifted his eyelids and replied coolly, but no sooner had he spoken than he covered his mouth with his hand and coughed several times in quick succession.The fingers he revealed were frozen blue even at the tips.Ye Nanyuan's gaze fixed on those fingers, her brow twitching tightly. She shot a fierce glare at the person in the wheelchair, then roared at the young servant beside him: "Are you tired of your young master living too long? You still let him come out in the rain!"The servant was startled by the shout, scratching his head with a look of utter innocence. How could he be blamed for this? As a servant, could he really control his master?"Miss," the servant said, holding up the umbrella with a bitter, troubled expression, "the young master insisted on coming. This servant had no choice. Perhaps you could persuade him instead?"The rain beneath the eaves fell urgently, as if slamming against the bluestone slabs, the crackling sound disturbing one's peace of mind. Ye Nanyuan wanted to sneer coldly, but looking at that handsome, refined face with not a trace of color on those thin lips…She took a deep breath and finally softened her tone somewhat: "I know why you've come. It's useless now. Go back.""Ye Nanyuan." The man raised his head from the fox-fur cloak, his usually gentle eyes carrying a hint of harshness: "Do you know what you're doing?""Who is the Fourth Prince? How many days do you think you can deceive him? If you're discovered later, do you think you'll live to see another day?"The oil-paper umbrella overhead couldn't block the wind, and a steady stream of fine rain still blew in from outside. His sky-blue robe was already half-soaked.He extended his pale fingers and pushed his wheelchair toward her.Ye Nanyuan suddenly thought of their childhood. The Jiang family had many children, and before Ye Nanyuan's identity as the legitimate daughter had been exposed, she had been a little tyrant in the Jiang household.Jiang Zhiwei, as the eldest sister, was gentle as water, yet insisted on bringing her everywhere. At the time, Ye Nanyuan was mischievous and resented her sister's discipline, so she set her sights on someone else.After much deliberation, she chose Jiang Zhihan. He was a concubine-born son of the Jiang family, his birth mother of extremely low status—a personal maidservant who attended to Jiang Lin. He received no favor from his father.He was only two days younger than Ye Nanyuan. The two had been born almost back-to-back. Jiang Lin doted on Ye Nanyuan's mother immensely and feared that Jiang Zhihan's arrival might displease her, so from childhood, he never treated this concubine-born son well.In the winter of their fifth year, the boy fell into an ice hole and nearly froze to death. Fortunately, Ye Nanyuan, who had gone out to build a snowman, spotted him and saved his life.From then on, his body could never withstand the cold. Whenever it rained, his knees would ache with a pain that pierced to the bone.Ye Nanyuan watched him draw closer, her gaze fixed on his knees. The rain had come on so suddenly—the cloak he wore must have been hastily grabbed from the carriage. He clearly hadn't even put on his knee pads.Her eyes stung with warmth until her hand was taken. Jiang Zhihan's fingers were so cold they made her shiver. The man in the wheelchair, as if he'd done something wrong, stiffened at the touch and quickly let go.Ye Nanyuan turned her head away, refusing to look at his suddenly dimmed eyes: "That letter from Liu Jie—you wrote it.""It was me."Jiang Zhihan covered his mouth and coughed twice. Even his fingertips touching his cheek were icy cold. He laughed bitterly to himself—with hands this cold, even he would pull away.He withdrew his stiff hands into his sleeves, his voice growing hoarse: "I'll investigate the cause of elder sister's death. You need to go back to where you came from, immediately.""Too late." Ye Nanyuan lowered her eyes.Meeting those red-rimmed eyes, she curved her lips into a deliberate smile: "If I ran now, the Fourth Prince would likely chase me all the way to Jiangnan."She was truly beautiful—standing there with her head lowered, innocent and pure. But the words that left her mouth left no room for mercy, each one a blade stabbing into his chest.Having said her piece, Ye Nanyuan didn't spare him another glance. She turned and went inside.A clap of thunder sounded overhead. The man still stood beneath the eaves, the oil-paper umbrella offering little protection as the rain pounded down on his tall, slender figure.Banxia stood behind the door, peering through the crack at the scene outside."Miss, Young Master Zhihan is still there. His health is poor—he won't be able to hold out much longer." On the soft couch, Ye Nanyuan flipped through the script in her hands with irritation, though not a single word registered in her eyes."Miss…" The figure in the wheelchair was still gazing this way, and Banxia's eyes reddened with urgency.Ye Nanyuan tossed aside the book and fretfully rubbed the Buddha-Lotus Jade Bead around her wrist, counting each bead one by one until she reached the last, and only then did her mood settle.She lowered her head and said flatly, "Don't worry. He'll leave."If he refused to go, lingering too long would invite suspicion. The Fourth Prince was currently at the Sanqing Temple up ahead—if he caught sight of him, suspicion would naturally fall on her. Jiang Zhihan wouldn't dare risk her life.Sure enough, not long after, the sound of wheelchair wheels rolling came from outside the door.Banxia let out a sigh of relief. "He's gone. He's gone." Only then did Ye Nanyuan rise, gazing through the window at the gradually receding figure.Only when the silhouette had completely vanished did she lower her eyelids and say calmly, "Send word down to Liu Jie.""Tell him," her lashes flickered slightly, her eyes cold as ice, "that I intend to marry him."
Three days later, Yinzhen arrived to fulfill their three-day appointment.After two days of rain, the sky had suddenly cleared. The weather today was excellent—neither too hot nor too cold—and he was in high spirits.Ye Nanyuan had set up a banquet in the pear garden, saying it was to thank him for saving her life that day. Her wet nurse had also returned from home, and upon learning that this man was the one who had saved her young mistress, she had been showering him with gratitude since his arrival."The wet nurse was frightened when she heard the news. Please don't mind her, sir." Ye Nanyuan rose and personally poured wine for him. From the clear glass cup came a faint fragrance of pear blossoms.Yinzhen looked at the table and suddenly smiled. "Still the pear blossom brew from Bright Moon Pavilion?That day when he was injured, she had said that pear blossom brew should be drunk from glass cups."Sir didn't taste it properly that day. You mustn't miss it today."Ye Nanyuan let out a soft laugh, tucked back her sleeve, and poured a cup for herself as well. The pear blossom brew was mellow in flavor with a lingering sweetness. This pot of wine had been brewed by Ye Nanyuan herself, infused with the pear blossom dew she had distilled, so its taste was naturally even better than that day's."The wine of Bright Moon Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation." The Fourth Prince drank it in one gulp, a hint of pleasure softening his stern features."I'm glad sir enjoys it."A faint smile curved at the corners of Ye Nanyuan's lips. Pear blossom petals fell onto her shoulder from behind, lending her an air of tranquil grace.She rose to pour the Fourth Prince another cup. Yinzhen watched her and teased, "At this rate, I'll be drunk before I even hear the zither."Ye Nanyuan pretended not to hear, letting the fine, lingering stream of wine fill his cup until it was brimming. "Today I must toast you with three cups, sir. You mustn't stop me.""Oh?" The Fourth Prince's fingers turned the cup in his hand as he looked at her. "And what are these three cups?"Ye Nanyuan stood, raised her full cup, and downed it in one go. The wine hit her throat, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly before she set the cup down."The first toast is to the fate that brought us together."She drank a full cup, and her face immediately flushed red.Yinzhen felt that something was off about her today. Noticing her slightly reddened earlobes, he paused for a moment before rubbing his jade thumb ring and replied, "Then this cup, I have no choice but to drink."His temperament was actually gentle, and when he smiled, much of the coldness on his face receded. Yet in his eyes, there always lurked hidden currents, revealing nothing of his true emotions.So she could only gamble!Ye Nanyuan watched him drink, then refilled both their cups. "This second toast is to thank you for saving my life. Nanyuan is deeply grateful."She moved too quickly—before he could open his mouth to stop her, the second cup was already down.It was clear she had little tolerance for alcohol. After setting the cup down, tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes, making the red mole beneath all the more alluring and captivating.Yinzhen said nothing and drank his cup as well. Only after the cup was empty did he suddenly lift his gaze, his tone turning flat. "And what is the third toast?""The third…"The person across from him murmured with a smile, yet the bitterness on her face was impossible to hide. She tugged at the corners of her lips, quickly suppressing it, then took a deep breath before bending down to pick up the wine pot.Her hand, delicate as a scallion segment, rested on the glazed glass cup, appearing even finer than jade.She leaned forward, a faint scent of pear blossoms wafting from her as the aroma of wine from the pot rushed to meet him. Yinzhen was about to reach out, but she quickly withdrew.Her waist, willowy as a willow branch, bent as she raised her cup and gently tapped it against his.A soft ding sounded. From beginning to end, she had avoided his gaze—but now, at last, she looked him in the eyes and spoke formally."The third toast is to the fate we share but cannot fulfill."Her lips curved, tears seemingly about to fall from the corners of her eyes, yet her face still wore a smile. "Nanyuan wishes sir peace, joy, and smooth sailing in all things."She suddenly raised her head and downed the wine in one gulp. The tear at the corner of her eye fell swiftly, then vanished without a trace.The cup was empty. She set it down on the table with a soft clink.She stared at the clenched fist, white-knuckled across from her, and said, "From this day forth, Nanyuan and you, sir, shall never meet again!"