Shuo Li Garden.

He Wanyu was passing by a pavilion in the garden when she heard the laughter of children. Curiosity led her to walk over and see what was happening.

Five children were rolling around and playing like little kittens in the garden, while He Wanyu stood aside, watching them in fascination.

As the sun set behind the western hills, the children grew tired of their games and were led away by palace attendants, leaving behind only a six-year-old boy who was solemnly tidying up the chaotic scene.

Wooden swords, balls, and books were all neatly arranged and put back in their places.

He Wanyu approached, and Su Xinwu looked up. Their gazes met.

“Who are you?”

Su Xinwu blinked his big, sparkling eyes and asked.

He Wanyu folded her arms and retorted, “Haven’t your parents taught you? You should introduce yourself before asking someone else’s name.”

Su Xinwu bowed his head in thought and muttered quietly, “Daddy didn’t say that, but Uncle Yu Shu did.”

Then, imitating an adult’s manner, Su Xinwu earnestly replied, “My name is Su Xinwu.”

Buzz-

He Wanyu’s mind felt like it was exploding, shattered memories slowly piecing together, becoming clear.

“Fengyao, let’s name our son Xinwu and our daughter… Qiu Jin, how about that?”

“Is there any special meaning to the names?”

Chu Yue shook her head.

“No, not really. I just picked them randomly, just like my own name. I picked words that came to mind.”

Su Fengyao firmly opposed: “No, my child’s name can’t be random.”

…

The child in front of her had eyes like Su Fengyao, and his mouth and nose resembled hers a lot.

He Wanyu’s eyes grew moist as she squatted in front of Su Xinwu, taking his little hand gently and asking softly, “Why are you cleaning up all by yourself? Where are the palace attendants? Why aren’t they helping you?”

Su Xinwu replied, “I am not a prince, nor am I from the Imperial Palace. They don’t take care of me.”

He Wanyu suddenly understood. Su Xinwu was her and Su Fengyao’s child. Su Fengyao wasn’t a prince, and neither was she. The people in the palace were opportunists who only attended to the princes and princesses. For the others, whether they lived or died didn’t matter to them.

He Wanyu felt a surge of murderous intent. Seeing her child being treated so unfairly made her want to confront Su Fengyao and settle the score. However, more than anything else, she felt heartache and guilt. Despite being so young and treated poorly, the boy didn’t complain or throw a tantrum; he was exceptionally sensible.

Su Fengyao, do you even know your son is being bullied?

“Xinwu, what about your younger sister?”

“How do you know I have a younger sister?”

He Wanyu scratched her head and explained, “I guessed. I saw a little girl around your age earlier. Is she your sister?”

Su Xinwu nodded, “Yes, that’s Qiu Jin, my younger sister.”

“Your biological sister?”

“Yes, my half-sister. Same mother, different father.”

“Then why didn’t you go back with her? She was taken back by someone.”

Su Xinwu pouted, “They won’t let me live with my sister. They said there are rules in the Imperial Palace. My sister is a princess.”

He Wanyu clenched her fists tightly, her face darkening.

“Little Xinwu, my name is He Wanyu. I live in the imperial hospital. If anyone bullies you in the future, come to the imperial hospital and find me. I’ll help you get revenge!”

Su Xinwu politely thanked her and continued tidying up.

Watching his sensible figure, He Wanyu’s heart ached.

She wiped away her tears and started helping Su Xinwu clean up.

“Let me help you.”

That night, several servants’ quarters inexplicably caught fire. The blaze was fierce, reducing the buildings to ashes in one night.

Fan Zian ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

Thanks to the day-and-night treatment by He Shiwen and others, Fan Zian was gradually recovering. Ning Zhirou planned to host a grand banquet for the Senior brother and sister of the He Clan to express their gratitude.

Given He Shiwen’s repeated refusals, Ning Zhirou knew they disliked noise and requested a small banquet instead, to be held in Shuo Li Garden.

Fan Zian and Ning Zhirou invited Fan Zhi to attend.

At the banquet, the attendees included the four members of the He Clan, Fan Zian, Ning Zhirou, and Fan Zhi.

After the songs and dances, Fan Zian and He Shiwen engaged in polite banter about official matters.

“Sage Doctor He, I toast to you. Without the rescue from you and your fellow doctors, I would have perished.”

“Your Majesty.”

Ning Zhirou hurriedly stopped Fan Zian’s reckless talk.

Fan Zian gently patted Ning Zhirou’s hand and apologized softly, “I was wrong, I misspoke. I’ll punish myself with a drink.”

“Your Majesty, you’re just recovering from a serious illness. Don’t drink too much alcohol.”

Ning Zhirou and Fan Zian’s mutual respect and love for each other made others envious.

He Shiwen remarked, “Your Majesty and the Empress have a great relationship. It’s been said that Your Majesty once vowed to have only one wife for life, and that there would be no one else in the harem. Seeing it now, it seems this was no idle promise.”

Fan Zian clasped Ning Zhirou’s hand and said, “My Empress has quite the temper and is very assertive. When we married, she told me that I could only have her as my wife for life. If I ever had a change of heart, she would end her life to uphold our marital vows. I’ve remembered those words ever since.”

Hearing this, He Wanyu thought to herself, “Ning Zhirou is talented enough to be a strategist. Marrying you was quite the fortune for you, kid.”

…

While He Shiwen and Fan Zian chatted about various topics, He Wanyu seemed indifferent, facing a plate full of meat. Next to her, He Qing’an was busy peeling shrimp and serving meat, almost treating He Wanyu like royalty.

He Yi watched lovingly as He Wanyu ate with gusto, even handing over the meat from her own plate.

He Wanyu’s way of eating was quite ferocious, which Fan Zhi found highly entertaining.

Ning Zhirou’s gaze followed Fan Zhi’s and landed on He Wanyu. Watching He Wanyu eat, Ning Zhirou was reminded of Chu Yue.

Ning Zhirou understood why Fan Zhi was interested in He Wanyu. In certain ways, she resembled Chu Yue. But Ning Zhirou feared that Fan Zhi might project his feelings for Chu Yue onto He Wanyu.

Satisfied after the meal, He Wanyu wiped her mouth and heard an announcement from outside.

“Cold Sparrow Sword Master and Sect Leader Su have arrived-“

He Wanyu jolted and quickly found an excuse.

“Qing’an, I’ve eaten too much. I’m going out for a walk to digest.”

He Qing’an nodded, and He Wanyu sneaked out.

As soon as she stepped out of the pavilion, she saw Su Fengyao walking towards her. She quickly changed direction, moving around the side of the pavilion, and with a light step, leapt into the air.

Su Fengyao caught a glimpse of a pale pink figure, but the movement technique was unmistakable to him.

“Crane Riding!”

As Su Fengyao was about to ponder further, Yuexia Yu Shu interrupted with a loud call, and Su Fengyao temporarily put the matter aside.

“Yuexia Yu Shu and his wife Bai Tan pay respects to Your Majesty and the Empress.”

“Rise.”

Su Fengyao arrived fashionably late, “Greetings to Your Majesty and the Empress.”

Fan Zhi chimed in playfully, “Why not pay respects to me as well?”

Yuexia Yu Shu and Su Fengyao exchanged a glance, then clenched their fists in a threatening manner. “Feeling itchy, are you?”

“My Shadowless Fist hasn’t been practiced in a while. Care to spar with me?”

“Hmm, my Blue Phoenix Sword hasn’t seen much use either. It’s probably rusting. Fan Zhi, got some time to practice with me?”

Fan Zhi rolled his eyes.

“Enough, you brothers can catch up later. We have guests. Please, take your seats,” Ning Zhirou interjected.

Yuexia Yu Shu carefully helped Bai Tan to her seat, treating her as a fragile treasure.

After everyone was introduced, Bai Tan noticed He Wanyu was missing and asked He Shiwen, “Young Master He, where is your junior sister?”

He Qing’an replied, “Oh, my Little junior sister ate too much and went out to play.”

Fan Zhi, who had seen He Wanyu sneak out, couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of her wolfing down food.

A gentle breeze fluttered the silk curtains, drawing everyone’s attention to a figure dressed in white.

With an aura as ethereal as an immortal, Hu Ji arrived, stepping as lightly as a feather.

“Commoner Hu Ji, paying respects to Your Majesty.”

Hu Ji raised his gaze, eyes sparkling like stars, a mischievous smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth.

“What are you doing here?” Fan Zhi crossed his arms, clearly not pleased.

Hu Ji snorted lightly, “Not here for you.” He then turned and bowed to He Shiwen, “He, it’s been a while.”

He Shiwen and his companions stood up and returned the greeting, “Hu.”

The four of them seemed to know each other well.

Hu Ji looked around but didn’t see the person he was hoping to find.

“Well then, He, where’s the little darling?”

“She’s gone out to play. She’ll be back soon.”

For some reason, Hu Ji calling her “little darling” made Fan Zhi and the others quite uncomfortable.

“Little darling” was a nickname Hu Ji had exclusively used for Chu Yue. Hearing him call someone else by that name now filled Fan Zhi and the others with a sense of unease.

“Hu Ji, are you that close to her? Calling her ‘little darling’ so freely.”

There was a note of resentment in Fan Zhi’s voice.

Hu Ji knew what they were thinking but was determined to rile up Fan Zhi and Su Fengyao.

“Why not? She is a little darling.”

A year ago, Hu Ji had passed by a dilapidated temple and heard some commotion inside. When he checked, he saw He Wanyu, fingers poised in the Orchid Fingers¹ stance, delivering strikes that instantaneously dismembered three or four burly men. Blood splattered the temple walls, painting the place crimson.

Hu Ji recognized it as the Guanyin² Hand, a technique only Chu Yue knew. But why was this little girl practicing it?

To unravel the mystery, Hu Ji found an excuse to stick close to He Wanyu. Over the course of a year, he observed that her habits and preferences were identical to Chu Yue’s, despite their starkly different personalities. Hu Ji became convinced that she was Chu Yue.

The little darling constantly denied it, but Hu Ji remained steadfast in his belief.

Footnote:

1. Orchid Fingers(兰花指):A gesture where the thumb and middle finger form a circle, the index finger is slightly curved upward, and the ring finger and pinky are gently bent downward, resembling an orchid.

Guanyin(观音): A significant bodhisattva in Buddhism, often depicted as a compassionate female figure, holding a “Orchid Fingers” gesture, with a vase and willow branch, symbolizing purification and healing.