After three rounds of wine, the candles had nearly burned out, and the grand banquet was finally drawing to a close.
Beneath the eaves of Chengqian Palace, two figures—one tall, one short—stood shoulder to shoulder, their heads bent together as they busied themselves with something.
“Write it here! Clumsy fool… Your handwriting still looks like a dog’s crawl.”
“You call this dog-crawl?”
“Stop talking. If we’re any later and it starts snowing, the lantern won’t fly properly.”
“I know, I know. It’s just a sky lantern. Why make such a fuss?”
Yan Huaijin carefully steadied the Kongming lantern with both hands, the warm glow softening the cold sharpness of his features. A smear of ink still stained his fingertips.
“Done yet? I’m letting go.”
Pei Yunting finished lighting the flame, straightened up, and dusted off her hands.
“Done. Let it go.”
Standing side by side, the two watched as the lantern slowly drifted into the sky.
Yan Huaijin suddenly remembered that two years ago, they had also sat beneath the eaves of Chengqian Palace like this, wrapped in blankets while keeping vigil for the New Year.
His nose had been filled with Pei Yunting’s faint, lingering fragrance.
Every time he turned his head or lowered his gaze, he could clearly see the tiny soft hairs on her face.
Their eyes met.
Those bright eyes were dazzling.
Lowering his gaze, he asked softly,
“Do you still remember? One New Year’s Eve, you told me you wanted to travel across the land and see the world. I’ve always wondered… why did you suddenly have that wish?”
His reminder brought back the memory.
At the time, she had read Cian Temple’s travel journals over and over until she became completely captivated.
She longed to wander throughout the empire, to cross every river and mountain of Great Qi, and witness all the prosperity the world had to offer.
The heavens were vast, the universe boundless.
Why should one remain confined to a single place and live only by convention?
That was why she had made that wish.
That was why the two of them later made the promise they both treasured.
After she explained everything, Yan Huaijin quietly studied her profile beneath the moonlight as white as flawless jade.
His voice unconsciously softened, carrying an unmistakable hint of temptation.
“Then… what is your wish this year?”
Pei Yunting lifted her head.
The bitter winter wind slipped mercilessly through her clothes.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“I wish for peace through all four seasons.”
“I wish my family and friends could meet one another year after year.”
Then she turned toward him.
“What about you?”
Yan Huaijin did not answer immediately.
Leaning lazily against the railing, he gazed up at the starlit heavens.
Only after a long while did he finally speak.
“I was thinking… if you had too many wishes…”
“…then I’d make them for you.”
Turning his head, he met her gaze.
“As for my own wish…”
“…I can make it come true myself.”
A burst of fireworks bloomed into the night sky, illuminating the endless darkness.
Their changing colors reflected the brief daze on Pei Yunting’s face, yet could not conceal the flutter rising from the depths of her heart.
The Kongming lantern glowed with a warm golden light as it floated ever higher until it merged with the countless stars.
Snowflakes drifted softly into the loose strands of hair upon her forehead.
Her heartbeat pounded as fiercely as fireworks exploding for the very first time.
After a long silence amidst the festive clamor, she smiled gently.
“Yan Huaijin…”
“Happy New Year.”
The carriage slowly departed from the palace gates.
After Pei Yunting had been taken away by Yan Huaijin, only Pei Yaosheng and Lin Shuyu remained in the carriage, returning to the Marquis Manor to keep the New Year’s vigil with their family.
At this hour, every household was gathered together to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new.
The streets were completely deserted.
Only the crisp, rhythmic sound of horses’ hooves echoed through the empty roads.
Mother and daughter chatted idly.
Suddenly, the sound of galloping horses approached from afar before gradually slowing beside their carriage.
Someone gently knocked on the carriage wall.
Lin Shuyu immediately opened her eyes and cast Pei Yaosheng a teasing look.
She said nothing.
Yet somehow, she had said everything.
Heat instantly rushed to Pei Yaosheng’s cheeks.
Both women already knew who had come.
Lifting the curtain, Pei Yaosheng deliberately avoided the man’s burning gaze, staring only at his black boots.
A low chuckle sounded above her head.
“It’s only been a few months. Why has Ah Yao become so shy? Nothing like before—”
Before he could finish, Pei Yaosheng shot him a glare.
Reading the warning instantly, he obediently shut his mouth.
“I’ll stop.”
Her face remained expressionless, her voice calm and detached.
“My memory is poor. I don’t recall having any acquaintance with Your Excellency.”
“I barely remember people I met a month ago, much less several months ago.”
“Please don’t joke with me like this anymore.”
“If word spreads, it will damage my reputation.”
It was an outright lie.
Such formal language was appropriate only between strangers.
It had no place between two lovers who had already pledged themselves to one another.
Knowing she was still angry, he made no attempt to rush her.
Instead, he played along.
“In that case…”
“May I ask whether Sister Ah Yao is already betrothed?”
“If not…”
“…would you marry me?”
“And if you are…”
“…why not abandon that man?”
“I promise I would never let you suffer.”
Pei Yaosheng shot him another glare.
“How shameless.”
Thinking about it, she and Pei Yunting truly were sisters in misfortune.
Yan Huaijin, at least, had only been one night late.
The urgency with which he rushed home, covered in dust from travel, could not possibly be faked.
But the man before her…
He remained completely unhurried.
He had found time to exchange messages with the Emperor and Empress and even plan this elaborate “surprise,”
yet never once informed her where he had gone.
Months ago, he had left only a brief message before hurrying out of the capital.
Their marriage had consequently been delayed for months.
If she did not know his character so well, Pei Yaosheng might have believed he intended to break off the engagement and flee.
Though sharp-tongued and soft-hearted, she had waited countless times for a letter from him—
Even a few words would have been enough.
Unfortunately…
None ever came.
Now he appeared before her as though nothing had happened.
How could she possibly pretend everything was fine?
Smiling softly, he looked at her.
“Ah Yao.”
“The moon is beautiful tonight.”
“I imagine heavy snow will fall before long.”
“I haven’t seen Yanjing covered in snow for a very long time.”
“When I visit tomorrow…”
“…would you honor me by watching the snow together?”
Before she could refuse, he continued,
“If you don’t answer…”
“…I’ll take it as your agreement.”
She had never met someone so outrageously unreasonable!
Unable to hold back any longer, Pei Yaosheng finally exploded.
“Wen Jingxu!”
The young man called Wen Jingxu showed neither embarrassment nor annoyance.
Instead, he smiled gently, his voice carrying both apology and helplessness.
“Big Sister…”
“I was wrong.”
“Please don’t stay angry anymore.”
“When the time is right…”
“…I’ll tell you everything I can.”
“Will that be enough?”
Hearing those words, the knot that had long been lodged in Pei Yaosheng’s heart finally loosened a little.
Silence followed.
Only the steady rhythm of hoofbeats continued.
After a long while, the freezing night wind carried her quiet sigh.
She raised her eyes and carefully examined Wen Jingxu’s face.
After months apart, he somehow seemed unfamiliar.
The little boy she remembered—crying with tears and snot streaming down his face while stumbling toward her—had quietly grown beyond her sight.
He had become a tall, handsome young man with an elegant bearing.
“The world is forever trapped by the sorrow of parting…”
“…and by the pain of unattainable desires.”
His quiet murmur drifted into the wind.
“The affairs of this world have always been unpredictable.”
“Ah Yao…”
“Fortunately…”
“…you’re still here.”
“In this vast world…”
“…I’ve finally found the place my heart belongs.”
At daybreak, when Pei Yunting opened her eyes, the world outside her window had become a blanket of white.
Only the red plum blossoms blooming in one corner of the courtyard still stood proudly against the snow.
After releasing the Kongming lantern with Yan Huaijin at Chengqian Palace the previous night, she had hurried back to the Marquis Manor to keep the New Year’s vigil with her family.
The sound of firecrackers and fireworks had continued without pause until late into the night.
Yin’er and the others had all changed into festive new clothes.
The moment they heard her wake, they filed into the room one after another, chattering excitedly.
“Miss, you’re finally awake!”
“Early this morning, that young master from the Duke of Jing’s Manor came with gifts to pay a visit.”
“He’s talking with the Eldest Young Master right now.”
“They said they’ll wait until everyone’s here before having breakfast together.”
Yi’er fastened her collar as she spoke.
“Miss, he was gone for so long. We all saw how heartbroken Eldest Miss was.”
“I doubt she’ll forgive him so easily.”
Pei Yunting was awake, but her mind had yet to fully catch up.
Only after listening to them chatter for quite some time did she finally process their words.
“…The person you’re talking about…”
“…is Duke Wen Jingxu?”