Yu Yang went to see Su Yingqian, who was surrounded by several people, yet everyone remained quiet.
The blush on the painting was faintly visible.
She didn’t disturb Su Yingqian and went downstairs with Xie Chi.
Just as they reached the entrance of the Lin Residence, they encountered a tall man with large eyes.
The man bowed to Xie Chi and said, “Young Master.”
Xie Chi told Yu Yang, “This is my personal guard, Xiang Ming. You should go back and have breakfast first. I need to leave for a while and will return later.”
Yu Yang asked, “For Young Master Su’s birthday gift, should I prepare one for you, Shixiong?”
Xie Chi smiled and replied, “Since we were invited upon our first meeting, it’s only right to put thought into it. I’ll prepare it myself.”
Yu Yang said, “Alright.”
Xie Chi and Xiang Ming walked away, talking.
From the side, a gentle smile could still be seen on his face.
Yu Yang stared, captivated.
Come to think of it, the Shizi’s temper was truly good—he was kind and approachable to his subordinates and those around him.
He appeared gentle, harmless, and innocent…
Innocent?
Yu Yang frowned slightly but didn’t dwell on it further.
During the day, she went to inspect the businesses under her name.
She had set up special rooms for “literati” at the inn, holding sessions every three days. Anyone who could produce calligraphy or artwork that satisfied the county school instructors and the magistrate would receive free room and board.
She also purchased a batch of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to donate to the county school for impoverished students to use.
The identity of Lin Yan primarily leveraged the reputation of the Qiyuan Hermit, aiming for fame rather than profit. The earnings were modest but stable.
The Yu Family’s business, on the other hand, operated on a model of mutual support between officials and merchants. It was large and powerful, generating substantial profits but also attracting the attention of many competing forces.
Since she used different identities, her business styles naturally differed as well.
She didn’t know what Xie Chi was busy with—he was away for the entire day and didn’t return until evening.
He happened to run into Yu Yang, who was also returning home after finishing her work, so the two shared a carriage and headed to the county office.
Night fell at the county office.
The magistrate’s family lived in the rear courtyard of the government office.
By the time Yu Yang and Xie Chi arrived, the county office was already filled with laughter and chatter, with clerks and officials drinking in the front.
They were led to the rear courtyard.
There, they met Magistrate Su and his wife, Madam Li.
Magistrate Su was in his forties—tall, thin, and dark-skinned, but spirited, with features that still hinted at the handsomeness of his youth.
Madam Li, on the other hand, was petite with a gentle and graceful demeanor. She wore a smile on her face and, though around the same age as Magistrate Su, appeared much younger.
Yu Yang and Xie Chi bowed to the couple.
She introduced Xie Chi to Magistrate Su and his wife.
Magistrate Su laughed heartily and said, “Excellent! Young Master Qi is dignified and handsome, with clear, spirited brows. At first glance, he and A Yan are both fine young men of our Li Dynasty.”
Early that morning, Xie Chi had listened to Yu Yang describe Magistrate Su and imagined him as a stern, resolute, and unsmiling scholar.
The man before him—dark, thin, aged, and grinning with a wide, toothy smile—was indeed somewhat unexpected.
But upon further reflection, the magistrate Yu Yang had described seemed to fit this image perfectly.
The corners of his eyes curved slightly as he said, “I’ve heard A Yan speak of Magistrate Su’s governance of Fuyang County since this morning and have been eager to pay my respects. Now that I have the chance to meet you, I am truly delighted.”
Magistrate Su chuckled foolishly.
“Don’t mention it. Hearing such a handsome young man praise me makes me stand a little taller.”
Madam Li gave her husband a reproachful look and said to Xie Chi, “Young Master Qi, please don’t mind him. When he’s not on duty, he acts rather foolish.”
Yu Yang smiled and asked, “Why haven’t I seen Brother Yingqian?”
Madam Li replied, “Yingqian went to pick up A Yin and bring her home. He left a while ago and should be back soon.”
No sooner had she finished speaking.
Su Yingqian’s cheerful voice rang out from behind.
“A Yin and I are back!”
Qu Manqing stood behind Su Yingqian.
Her face had been expressionless at first.
But upon spotting Yu Yang and Xie Chi, her eyes instantly brightened.
She said to Su Yingqian, “Was it that young master who saved you?”
While speaking, her gaze was clearly fixed on Xie Chi.
Su Yingqian walked between Yu Yang and Xie Chi.
First nudging Yu Yang’s shoulder lightly, he said, “It’s this one—this is Lin Yan, the brother I’ve told you about several times.”
Then he smiled at Xie Chi and said, “This is Lin Yan’s senior brother, Young Master Qi Zhao.”
Qu Manqing looked somewhat surprised.
After all, though Yu Yang was disguised as a man, she was playing the role of an eighteen-year-old youth who appeared somewhat thin and sickly, with a height similar to Su Yingqian’s—hardly looking like someone capable of rescuing others from bandits.
She said, “Then I misunderstood. Jia Yin pays her respects to Young Master Lin and Young Master Qi.”
Madam Li said with a laugh, “Now that everyone’s here, I’ll go check on the soup I’ve been simmering in the kitchen. You children can play together.”
Magistrate Su said, “I’ll go with my wife.”
After the two elders left, only four people remained in the courtyard.
Yu Yang handed the box she had been holding to Su Yingqian and said, “Brother Yingqian, this is the birthday gift I prepared for you. Wishing you joy on your birthday and happiness year after year.”
Xie Chi also presented the box in his hand.
“A small token of my feelings. Wishing Young Master Su robust health, peaceful sleep, good appetite, and endless joy.”
Su Yingqian accepted both gift boxes, his eyes crinkling with a brilliant smile.
“Thank you, A Yan, and thank you, Brother Qi.”
He turned to look at Qu Manqing, and seeing her staring at Xie Chi, his smile stiffened slightly before he called out, “A Yin, let’s go to the study together. I want to show you something.”
Qu Manqing was noticeably much colder toward Su Yingqian.
She merely responded with an “Mm” before following behind him.
Yu Yang sighed inwardly.
She could see the overlapping shadow on Qu Manqing’s body.
That shadow was of an exquisite and beautiful slender maiden, appearing to come from a wealthy family.
But the Black Ledger behind that shadow seemed to be emitting black smoke, within which a ghostly hand appeared to be constantly erasing the four characters [“Remaining Lifespan Not Yet Exhausted”], as if trying to wipe them away bit by bit.
Yu Yang froze.
What was that ghostly hand…
“A Yan? Little Junior Brother?” Xie Chi called out twice.
Yu Yang looked up, meeting Xie Chi’s puzzled gaze.
“What’s wrong?”
Yu Yang snapped back to reality and said, “It’s nothing, just feeling somewhat regretful.”
Childhood sweethearts separated by life and death.
How could one not regret it?
Just as they were speaking, they heard a loud “bang” from the study.
Followed by a woman’s furious roar.
“I want to break off the engagement, can’t you understand?!”
Yu Yang and Xie Chi exchanged glances, but ultimately didn’t rush to the study, quietly retreating under the corridor instead.
Soon, Qu Manqing pulled open the study door and walked out.
She glanced at Yu Yang and the others, took a deep breath, and said to the room, “Su Yingqian, don’t blame me either. When I was nearly coughing myself to death, you weren’t by my side. This is something I’ll never get over. I know that when my father passed, he entrusted me to you and must have given you my family’s wealth too. Return the money sooner rather than later… don’t think you can inherit from a family with no male heir!”
After saying this, she quickly walked out the door.
Just as Yu Yang frowned,
Xie Chi grabbed her arm.
She looked at him in confusion.
Xie Chi released her arm.
“I thought you would rush out…”
Yu Yang: “…Senior Brother, are you taking me for some reckless youth?”
What would she rush out for?
According to the Black Ledger, this Transcendent wasn’t a good person.
Yet regarding their emotional choices, there wasn’t much to criticize. After all, transmigration was an undeserved calamity—one couldn’t expect Transcendents to strictly follow the original host’s way of living.
She simply felt this person had gone too far using the original host as an excuse to break off the engagement.
Her gaze followed Qu Manqing’s retreating figure.
Suddenly, she noticed the characters “Remaining Lifespan Not Yet Exhausted” on Qu Manqing’s Black Ledger were fading.
She fell into thoughtful contemplation.
Clearly, once those four characters disappeared, Qu Manqing would be unable to return.
This was rather strange.
What was that ghostly hand, actually capable of eroding one’s lifespan?
Could it possibly belong to that girl whom Qu Manqing had bullied into suicide? Come to think of it, Qu Manqing’s judgment was “Submerged in the Ghostly Path.”
A shiver ran through her.
Could this world truly harbor ghosts?
She walked toward the quiet study.
Inside the study, Su Yingqian was crouched on the floor, staring blankly at a torn painting—a sunrise scene.
Only now, several circles of ink had been smeared across the painting.
An inkstone lay near the doorway, ink spilled across the floor.
Suddenly, Su Yingqian let out a low chuckle.
He picked up the torn painting, holding it up to the moonlight.
“A Yin…”