Yun Ni had thought that she would be able to see Shen Tinglan when she went to the post station that night. But when she hurried all the way there, she found only a group of soldiers in black armor and Wei Lingfeng, the leader of Shen Tinglan’s personal guards—the same man who had once draped his outer robe over her.
Wei Lingfeng spotted Yun Ni from a distance and respectfully called out, “Miss Yun.”
After all, she was the person who had saved his master’s life. Wei Lingfeng knew his manners and would never show her any disrespect.
Yun Ni rarely had dealings with powerful or influential people. Even though Wei Lingfeng was merely one of Shen Tinglan’s household guards, seeing him dressed in armor still made her feel somewhat intimidated.
She remembered that Shen Tinglan had called Wei Lingfeng by his name before, so she politely bowed.
“Young Master Wei.”
Wei Lingfeng knew that Yun Ni came from a poor rural household and looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. She was still just a young girl.
He didn’t want to frighten her, so he gestured to the soldiers under his command, ordering them to put away their swords and weapons. Then he said kindly, “Miss Yun, I’m only a guard. I really don’t deserve to be called ‘Young Master.’ Just call me Xiao Wei.”
Wei Lingfeng wasn’t being overly formal with Yun Ni, but Yun Ni would never casually offend someone.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “You look older than me. If you don’t mind, may I call you Big Brother Wei?”
Wei Lingfeng scratched his head.
“Sure. Just call me whatever feels natural to you.”
After all, Yun Ni was the person who had saved his master’s life and would be treating his illness. Wei Lingfeng sincerely hoped that he could get along well with her.
“Big Brother Wei, where is your master?” Yun Ni asked.
“Young Master is still dealing with some official business. He left word that Miss Yun should rest first. Two days from now, we’ll set out for Longzhou.”
“I see…”
Yun Ni hugged her bulging bundle. She had been about to follow the innkeeper to her room, but after taking two steps, she stopped.
She quietly asked Wei Lingfeng, “What kind of family does your master actually come from?”
The moment he heard this, Wei Lingfeng was dumbfounded.
He stood there in complete shock.
Who in the world didn’t know Shen Tinglan, head of the Shen family of Longzhou?
He was the Chancellor of Wu, a man with tremendous power at court. Ever since birth, the people of Wu had regarded him as a divine child born carrying Heaven’s destiny.
But Yun Ni lived among ordinary villagers and common folk. Every day, she worried about having enough food to eat and had never even learned to read.
How could she possibly understand the affairs of the powerful families in the capital of Wu?
Naturally, she knew almost nothing about politics or the noble circles.
Besides, who would ever believe that someone as noble and aloof as Shen Tinglan could actually end up living among ordinary people?
Thinking of this, Wei Lingfeng patiently explained matters to Yun Ni.
The Shen family of Longzhou held an extremely prestigious position. They were, in fact, the foremost aristocratic family in Wu.
He also kindly reminded Yun Ni that Shen Tinglan’s status was extraordinarily noble, that he was decisive in everything he did, and that he placed great importance on etiquette and proper conduct.
She absolutely must not behave recklessly or offend him, lest she provoke someone of such distinguished status.
After saying all that, Wei Lingfeng became worried that Yun Ni might be dazzled by wealth and status once she learned that Shen Tinglan was actually a nobleman.
It was only human nature, after all.
But his master was no ordinary man.
If Yun Ni insisted on clinging to him, she would only end up getting hurt.
Wei Lingfeng had a favorable impression of Yun Ni, so after thinking it over, he quietly offered her one more warning.
“Although our Young Master’s status is extremely distinguished, and he is the Chancellor of Wu, a marriage in a family of such high standing has to be carefully discussed and decided by the elders of the clan.
“I’ve heard that the Wang family of Hexi has a long-standing favor with the Shen family. Their legitimate daughter, the Third Miss Wang, has already been chosen as the Young Master’s future principal wife.”
“The two families have been close for generations and visit each other frequently. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Third Miss Wang was practically raised under the care of the Shen family’s Old Madam.
“Sometimes during the New Year, Third Miss Wang even stays at the Shen residence for several days, spending New Year’s Eve together with the young masters and young ladies of the Shen family…”
After hearing this, Yun Ni’s palms unconsciously grew sweaty.
Her heart felt slightly bitter, and her throat seemed to have a sour plum lodged in it, making it difficult for her to say anything.
She gave Wei Lingfeng an awkward smile.
“So that’s how it is. Then… can this Third Miss Wang be considered Young Master Shen’s fiancée?”
“I suppose so. Although nothing has been formally decided yet, the two families have already exchanged their birth details as part of the marriage negotiations. They were originally planning to arrange the marriage.
“Unfortunately, Young Master suffered his misfortune and disappeared for a year, so the matter was put on hold…”
Wei Lingfeng opened his mouth, intending to say more.
But before he could speak, a bone-chilling cold suddenly swept over him from behind, making his hair stand on end.
A martial artist’s instincts allowed Wei Lingfeng to sense danger almost immediately.
He turned around.
It was Shen Tinglan.
He was dressed in a heavy crane-patterned cloak, his handsome brows sharp and his eyes cold.
“Young Master!”
Wei Lingfeng called out happily.
When Yun Ni saw Shen Tinglan’s familiar features, the corners of her lips instinctively lifted into a smile, just as they always had before.
It was the unconscious understanding that existed between husband and wife. It wasn’t something she could simply control.
But then Yun Ni remembered that Shen Tinglan was no longer the husband who used to wait for her at their doorstep every day with a smile.
The smile froze on her face.
She lowered her lashes and called out awkwardly and painfully,
“Young Master Shen, you’re back.”
Although Shen Tinglan had pain-relieving pills, the love parasite within him was fierce. He still needed to stay close to Yun Ni to calm the dull pain that tore and twisted violently inside his chest.
Suppressing his illness, Shen Tinglan glanced indifferently at Yun Ni.
“Miss Yun.”
Yun Ni was not shameless.
If she had known from the beginning that Shen Tinglan already had a childhood sweetheart and a fiancée waiting for him at home, she would never have become entangled with him.
She certainly would never have consummated their marriage or shared a husband’s and wife’s intimacy with him.
Guilt filled Yun Ni’s heart.
She lowered her voice and apologized.
“I’m sorry, Young Master Shen. I didn’t know you already had a fiancée at home… I never intended to take another woman’s husband.”
Hearing this, Shen Tinglan’s brows drew together slightly.
When had he ever agreed to a marriage?
But there was no need for him to explain too much to Yun Ni.
Given his status and family background, he would naturally marry a woman from a prestigious family in the future.
If Yun Ni could understand the situation and withdraw on her own, that would be for the best.
“There’s no need to apologize… From now on, it would be better for us to keep our distance.”
“All right.”
Yun Ni answered softly.
Then she hurriedly rummaged through her bundle and pulled out a piece of fox fur.
“This white fox fur is something I specially hunted for you, Young Master Shen. You get cold at night, and your hands and feet become cold easily. When you go outside, you should wear an extra fur collar around your neck…”
“If you don’t mind it, please take it. At least then… we can part on good terms.”
Yun Ni knew that someone as distinguished as Shen Tinglan would probably look down on such a shabby piece of fox fur.
But this was the New Year’s gift she had wanted to give him.
She still wanted him to have it.
However, Shen Tinglan did not immediately accept the fur.
Instead, he lowered his eyes and examined the somewhat uneven, mottled hide.
Yun Ni was skilled at preparing fur for winter clothing.
She had cleaned the fox hide thoroughly and even used fire to burn away the remaining scraps of flesh and fat.
After being left in the sun for more than ten days, it would be ready to be made into clothing.
Even when giving him a gift, she had taken care of every detail.
She was afraid that Shen Tinglan would find it troublesome and refuse to accept it, so she had prepared everything for him in advance.
Shen Tinglan’s fingertips twitched.
Perhaps he had thought of something.
His fingers slowly curled into a fist.
“Miss Yun, since we’re going to part ways, it’s better for us to have as little connection with each other as possible.
“This fox fur is quite good. Keep it for yourself and have it made into a fur collar to protect you from the wind.”
With that, Shen Tinglan stepped past her and walked through the snow into the post station.
He did not look back.
Yun Ni said nothing.
She carefully folded the fox fur and placed it back into her bundle.
Shen Tinglan’s attitude had been cold, but it had also been perfectly clear.
After recovering his memories, he didn’t want to have even the slightest connection with her.
He also hoped that Yun Ni would know when to stop and would no longer regard him as the husband he had once been.
Yun Ni knew her place.
Since Shen Tinglan was determined to distance himself from her, she would not shamelessly chase after him and make herself unwelcome.
However, she still occasionally fell back into her old habits.
For example, whenever she went to the post station’s kitchen at night to cook noodles, she would instinctively put in an extra handful.
A portion for Shen Tinglan.
Yun Ni stared blankly at the two bowls of steaming noodles topped with pickled vegetables and minced meat.
For a long time, she couldn’t bring herself to pick up her chopsticks.
Later that night, Wei Lingfeng was on night duty. As he passed through the main hall of the post station, Yun Ni called out to him.
“Big Brother Wei, are you hungry? I accidentally cooked one bowl of noodles too many. If you don’t mind, you can have it.”
Wei Lingfeng usually patrolled through the night on an empty stomach.
Hearing her mention food, he suddenly realized just how hungry he was.
He didn’t stand on ceremony with Yun Ni.
He took the fragrant bowl of meat noodles and smiled gratefully.
“Thank you, Miss Yun. I’ve been patrolling all night, so I’m actually pretty hungry.”
Yun Ni sat down with Wei Lingfeng, and together they finished the noodles.
……
That night, after washing the bowls and chopsticks, Yun Ni returned to her room to rest.
After bathing and drying herself, she climbed into the soft, fluffy bedding and took a deep breath.
This was a high-class post station.
All the furniture in the room was made from expensive fragrant wood. Even the bedding was made of smooth silk, while the floor was covered with small animal-skin rugs decorated with auspicious floral patterns.
Even an inn meant for receiving guests was decorated so luxuriously.
Naturally, life in a prestigious household like Shen Tinglan’s would be even more extravagant.
With such a comfortable life waiting for him, it was no wonder Shen Tinglan was so eager to return to his wealthy and luxurious home.
Yun Ni tossed and turned in bed like a pancake on a hot griddle.
She couldn’t sleep.
Eventually, she got up, opened her bundle, and began searching through her belongings.
Before long, she pulled out a small painted clay figurine baked in a household stove and held it carefully in her palm.
It was a little clay doll with two black buns of hair on either side of her head.
Some of its paint had already faded, but Yun Ni still couldn’t bear to part with it.
She kept examining the doll, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upward into a faint smile.
She remembered something from the past.
Half a year ago, during the scorching summer, Yun Ni and Shen Tinglan had been lying together after making love, their bodies damp with sweat as they chatted casually.
As they talked in bed, Yun Ni told Shen Tinglan about her childhood.
When she was young, Yun Ni had lived in poverty and could only work in other people’s homes.
At the time, she was so busy trying to fill her stomach that she rarely had any chance to enjoy herself or rest.
If someone had asked what she had longed for the most as a child, it would probably have been the small clay figurines sold by traveling peddlers.
Yun Ni had suffered from poverty since childhood.
She had never had a toy of her own.
Those little dolls represented the things she had wanted desperately as a child but could never have.
Yun Ni had only mentioned it casually.
But Shen Tinglan had remembered.
The next morning, when Yun Ni woke up, she saw an exquisite little clay figurine sitting on the table.
It was a girl with her hair styled into two buns.
She held a lotus leaf in her hand and carried a small basket for fish on her back.
She was dressed exactly like Yun Ni usually dressed when she went outside during the summer.
The figurine had also been painted with colored flower mud and grass mud, giving it a sweet, fragrant floral scent.
Yun Ni didn’t know what to do.
She held the little clay figurine in both hands and climbed into the arms of Shen Tinglan, who had returned to the room around midnight to get some sleep.
Stammering, she asked,
“T-This… is this for me?”
Warmth filled Shen Tinglan’s dark eyes.
He gently stroked the top of her head and smiled.
“Since this was something you lacked in your childhood, as your husband, it’s only right that I make it up to you.”
Yun Ni was overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness.
Her heart began beating faster.
She wanted to thank him, but before she could speak, her nose suddenly stung and tears rolled down her cheeks.
……
Yun Ni carefully rubbed the little clay doll with her fingers.
She had deliberately wrapped it in moisture-resistant oiled paper, afraid that it might soften, break, or lose its color.
After Shen Tinglan regained his memories, he had kept none of the things Yun Ni had given him.
Yet she treasured his gift as if it were priceless.
She secretly kept it hidden away.
This was a sweetness that belonged to Yun Ni alone, even if Shen Tinglan could no longer accept that sweetness.
And she only dared to take it out and secretly savor it in the dead of night when no one was around.
Yun Ni suppressed the smile at the corners of her lips.
She looked at the little clay doll reluctantly for another moment before carefully putting it back into her bundle.
Then she tucked it underneath her clothes, at the very bottom.