chapter 57

The root problem was that they were poor.

Yue Zhiheng had originally not planned to return to the mansion today.

The snow was falling heavily, and after the Chitian guards finished their shift, one by one, they left. Despite their infamous reputation in the dynasty, most of them had families to return to. Some were concerned about their elderly parents at home, while others had just-born sons or daughters.

Afterwards, even Chen Ye brought a pot of wine to warm him and then went home.

Chen Ye had a younger brother who was physically disabled.

On this snowy night, everyone had loved ones they were thinking about. The snow had piled up around their boots. Even though they walked through the snow with each step deep and shallow, the little room with a dim light was far more comfortable for rest than the cold and desolate Chitian Mansion.

Yue Zhiheng stared at the heavy snow under the eaves. The direction of Fenhe County was blocked by the red towers and green tiles of the dynasty, and he couldn't see anything. Yet, he suddenly had the impulse to return to Fenhe County.

It wasn't until he boarded the Ghost Crane and was hit by the cold, biting wind and snow that he realized how ridiculous the thought was.

The mute girl had already gone to sleep, and there would be no one else waiting for him at the Yue family mansion.

Before he was eight years old, he had once fantasized that there was a place in the world that was his home. But that fantasy was quickly crushed. Years of imprisonment had made his heart grow cold and indifferent.

He wasn't a mute girl, and he never entertained impossible fantasies.

However, the faint hum of the Ghost Crane reminded him that he had, in fact, done just that. Perhaps it was because he had drunk too much tonight, but Yue Zhiheng didn't even know what he was thinking.

He closed his eyes, truly confused.

More than an hour of wind and snow had sobered him up somewhat, but it was too late to turn back to the Chitian Mansion.

The waters of Fenhe County had frozen, and on this snowy night, there were no stars. Everything seemed dim and dark.

The people had long extinguished their lanterns and gone to sleep, and Yue Zhiheng's thoughts gradually calmed down. When he saw the Yue family mansion's gate just ahead, his expression became even colder.

There were not many lanterns around the mansion, and the gatekeeper, having heard that he wouldn't be returning today, had already closed the gate.

The world was silent and lonely. Yue Zhiheng guided the Ghost Crane closer, but as they flew forward, he saw a faint light in the distance.

It was the glow of spiritual energy. His cold gaze turned in that direction, and the Ghost Crane let out a low, warning hum.

Yue Zhiheng lowered his gaze and saw a strange face.

Although she quickly withdrew her spiritual energy, Yue Zhiheng had already seen her clearly.

She was a young girl, her face pale from the cold, her veil in disarray and draped over her shoulders, with one shoe fallen in the snow. She looked unfamiliar, but her eyes—bright and familiar—struck him.

The Ghost Crane was still flying forward, and he thought he wouldn't care about a stranger.

But many things, like tonight's pot of wine and the wild thought of returning to Fenhe County, made him stop.

Clearly, he shouldn't have any expectations. He kept telling himself it was impossible, yet he still walked toward her step by step.

The wind was so loud that he could barely hear his own heartbeat.

It wasn't until he finally embraced her that he realized how cold she was. He tightened his arms around her. He had never dared to dream like this, even on the day he escaped from Du'e City.

The warmth from his body soon reached her, and the sound of the town's bell grew faint as the midnight hour approached.

The girl in his arms slowly woke from her daze, saying softly, "Lord Yue, I almost forgot to wish you a happy birthday."

He paused for a moment. In fact, very few people knew that today was not his actual birthday.

The children born in the underground palace had no clear recollection of their birth dates. Madam Xuan, who was half-crazy, never told him which day he was born on. The family just picked a random day, which was merely for the sake of his official duties in the dynasty.

But he didn't want to tell her that. He couldn't help but smile, "Mm."

This was the best birthday of his life.

Months later, Zhan Yunwei returned to the Yue mansion.

The world was silent, and most of the people in the mansion had gone to bed. She was draped in Yue Zhiheng's long cloak. He was tall, and the cloak almost dragged on the floor when she wore it, but at least she wasn't cold anymore.

Yue Zhiheng asked her, "Are you hungry?"

Zhan Yunwei hesitated for a moment and then nodded. Since the night before, when she had planned to sneak into the Yue mansion, she hadn't had any time to eat. She had waited the whole day, unable to leave the Ghost Crane.

Yue Zhiheng took her to the kitchen. "Wait for me here."

Because he had already informed them he wouldn't return, the cook had left at dusk.

Zhan Yunwei watched for a while before realizing that Yue Zhiheng was personally lighting the fire to cook for her.

She blinked in disbelief.

She sat on the fire-warming stool, the warm glow illuminating her pale face, leaving her looking somewhat stunned.

Zhan Yunwei realized how little she knew about Yue Zhiheng. She had once thought that what she saw was everything, but now she realized how arrogant that assumption was. The Yue Zhiheng she had come into contact with was only the tip of the iceberg.

She knew that in both the dynasty and the immortal sect, when they trained noble young men, they adhered to the principle that a gentleman should avoid the kitchen.

"Did you learn to cook when you lived with Miss Qingluo?"

Yue Zhiheng seemed to know what she was thinking. After a brief pause, he explained, "Elegance is something you can only aspire to after surviving."

Zhan Yunwei couldn't help but nod. Indeed, a person like Yue Zhiheng could survive anywhere.

She sat by the stove for a while, helping him add firewood. Soon, her entire body was warm. Yue Zhiheng moved quickly, and before long, he had made the noodles.

It was too cold outside, but luckily, there was a table in the kitchen.

A few months ago, Zhan Yunwei could never have imagined that one day she would sit in the kitchen with Yue Zhiheng, eating a simple bowl of noodles.

Those hands, which were condemned for murder by the world, had actually cooked for her.

There were two eggs in her bowl, and Yue Zhiheng's cooking skills were surprisingly good. Zhan Yunwei was so hungry that she quickly ate most of her bowl.

Yue Zhiheng discovered that Miss Zhan had a special ability—whatever she did, she could always find a way to taste a bit of happiness in it.

He had only drunk a pot of wine today, but now, watching her eat, he surprisingly felt a pang of hunger.

By the time they both finished eating, Yue Zhiheng glanced at Zhan Yunwei. Her appearance-altering pill had worn off, and she had returned to her original face.

It had been several months since they last met, and she had clearly lost weight.

Her once flawless, fair face now had a faint, shallow scar on it.

She looked even more fragile than when he had "imprisoned" her in the dynasty.

He frowned ever so slightly, but didn't say anything more. He simply prepared hot water for her to wash up.

After they were done with their business, Zhan Yunwei returned with him to the room. The snow outside had gradually lessened.

As Yue Zhiheng walked down the corridor, he noticed that Zhan Yunwei was walking with him, and he couldn't help but hesitate for a moment.

Sometimes, habits were a very frightening thing. Miss Zhan seemed to have already forgotten that they were no longer partners.

He turned his face slightly, concealing the faint smile on his lips.

In truth, Yue Zhiheng understood why Zhan Yunwei had returned. It was likely because she still hadn't given up on persuading him to leave the dynasty.

But the fact that she returned on his birthday was already enough.

He had originally thought that if Zhan Yunwei asked where she would stay tonight, he would suggest she either go to the mute girl's room or the guest room.

However, Zhan Yunwei seemed to be thinking about something else. Yue Zhiheng remained silent and didn't offer any suggestions.

The room was warm, and Zhan Yunwei was lost in thought about Yue Zhiheng's birthday gift from Yue Qingluo.

The pastries had long since cooled and were no longer edible.

Zhan Yunwei's gift to Yue Qingluo was a delicate, beautiful silk handkerchief. She had infused it with spirit techniques that could ward off evil spirits and also help with calming the mind.

She took out the handkerchief, and Yue Zhiheng immediately knew it was meant for the mute girl.

"Lord Yue, do you think Miss Qingluo will like it?" Zhan Yunwei asked.

Yue Zhiheng glanced at it and replied, "She will."

Zhan Yunwei felt reassured. "It's getting too late today, so I'll give it to her tomorrow."

Her face showed a hint of hesitation, and Yue Zhiheng immediately knew that, given Zhan Yunwei's personality, she was probably agonizing over what gift to give him.

The room's soft pearl light wasn't very bright. She wore a new cloak, sitting at the desk, her expression slightly uncertain.

Yue Zhiheng quietly waited.

He really wanted to tell her that he didn't lack anything, and that the best gift he had already received tonight. She didn't need to worry so much.

After a long pause, Zhan Yunwei seemed to make a decision. She took out a piece of jade.

It was a piece of pink jade, translucent and lustrous. Even in the dim light, one could tell it was extraordinarily valuable.

Unlike the jade worn by men, this warm jade seemed more suited for a woman.

Yue Zhiheng remained calm. "For me?"

"Yes." She handed it to him. "This is... my life jade. Would you accept it?"

Yue Zhiheng suddenly looked up.

Although he didn't understand everything about Spirit Masters, he knew what life jade was.

He remained silent for a long time, his voice hoarse. "Miss Zhan, do you know what you're doing?"

Zhan Yunwei nodded gently.

Yue Zhiheng lowered his gaze, his eyes fixed on the life jade in her hand. He finally realized what Zhan Yunwei had been doing these past few months. This piece of life jade had originally been with Pei Yujing.

And now, she had taken it back.

Yue Zhiheng had known for a long time that the marriage granted by the dynasty would never be acknowledged by the immortal sect to which Zhan Yunwei belonged.

They hadn't exchanged life jade, nor had they shared the sacrificial wine. From the beginning, it had been absurd. He had never treated Zhan Yunwei as his partner.

But today, she had returned in the snow and offered her life jade to him.

What was this?

Yue Zhiheng fell silent, the life jade before him feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds. These hands of his, unafraid of fire, capable of wielding swords and whips, now felt a strange, sweet, suffocating tightness when faced with such a small jade pendant for the first time.

He closed his eyes. "I want to accept it, but Miss Zhan... if I tell you that I still won't go to the immortal sect with you, that I'll still do everything the Emperor asks of me, will you still give me the life jade?"

The room was silent.

Yue Zhiheng knew the answer. If he could survive in the end, this jade would be part of his flesh and blood and he would never lose it. But, ironically... even he wasn't sure of the outcome. He paused for a moment, wanting to tell her it didn't matter and that she should keep the life jade, but before he could speak, Zhan Yunwei spoke helplessly.

"But if I don't give you this, I won't have a single spirit stone left."

She had spent all her spirit stones buying a gift for Yue Qingluo. Asking her to give him another gift as a birthday offering would be too much of a burden.

As Shen Shujing had said, Yue Zhiheng lacked nothing. As the head of the dynasty, there was nothing that would catch his interest.

Besides, if she didn't give him the life jade, Zhan Yunwei wouldn't give it to anyone else. If he was willing to come to the immortal sect, that would be great. If not, there were other paths she could walk. She had known for a long time that things in this world didn't always have a clear ending.

Yue Zhiheng lowered his gaze. The heaviness in his heart dissipated. The road ahead was unclear, but even without looking at her expression, he could hear the frustration in her tone.

He couldn't help but wonder—who had Zhan Yunwei been with these past few months? What had become of her?

If he hadn't known that she wouldn't deliberately play with his feelings, stirring up his emotions, he might have almost laughed out of exasperation.

So, it turned out that the thing causing him so much pain and hesitation, the root of all his confusion, in Zhan Yunwei's eyes, was simply that she was poor.