At this time, the sky was already bright, and the night watch maid had been concernedly inquiring outside the door upon hearing the commotion inside.

Xie Wanqing called someone in, "Where’s Ran’er?"

"At this hour, the young master should have gone to the academy," Granny Ma, seeing her complexion wasn’t good, exclaimed, "Madam, is there something wrong? Should we call the young master back?"

Xie Xiuran was already four years old and usually very close to Ji Chengfeng. At the beginning of the year, Ji Chengfeng personally began his education.

Later, Xie Wanqing couldn’t bear seeing a dignified prefect teaching a child’s lessons. Thinking children need peers to play with, she sent her child to an academy in Bianzhou City.

After gathering her thoughts for a moment, Xie Wanqing had calmed down a bit. She pondered for a few breaths and shook her head, saying, "There’s no rush. Go to the front courtyard first and see if Cheng Qian is at home. Invite him over."

After receiving care for four years, even if she had to return to the Capital, she should bid farewell properly.

Xie Wanqing couldn’t bring herself to leave without saying goodbye.

Granny Ma had an inconvenient timing in the front courtyard; Ji Chengfeng happened to have just left the residence.

When he returned, it was already afternoon.

Upon hearing Xie Wanqing’s invitation, he changed his course without hesitation and went to the inner courtyard.

After living under the same roof for four years, their initial unfamiliar formality had long disappeared.

Unless he was too busy with official duties to return to the residence, the two would dine together.

Not a married couple, but their bond was like that of very close family.

In the cold winter month, the afternoon sunshine was particularly precious.

Under the phoenix tree, there was a rocking chair; Xie Wanqing lay on it, covered with a thin blanket, with sunlight sprinkling over her.

Warm and peaceful.

The familiar scent of cool cedar filled her nostrils, and her eyelashes quivered slightly as she slowly opened her eyes.

A man as elegant as bamboo stood beside her, looking down at her with lowered eyes.

Meeting her gaze, he smiled slightly, "It’s such nice weather today; why didn’t you call for a game of cards?"

The clarity in his eyes no longer concealed the affection that had once been hidden in his heart. It was openly displayed, wholly for her.

Over the years, both knew well of his feelings.

The undercurrents were just waiting to be unveiled; once expressed, they should naturally be together.

Even the four-year-old Xie Xiuran could tell his uncle liked his mother.

And now, Xie Wanqing sat up straight, saying, "I have something to tell you."

She avoided his gaze.

Ji Chengfeng’s heart sank, and the smile at his lips faded a bit, "What is it?"

He squatted down to look into her eyes.

It was a somewhat low gesture, but he did it with familiarity.

Facing those gentle and affectionate eyes, Xie Wanqing felt like a sinner betraying true feelings.

Utterly unforgivable!

If, if only...

She closed her eyes gently, suppressing her guilt, and said, "I want to return to the Capital City."

With those words, the air froze for a moment, and Ji Chengfeng’s expression froze for a moment.

"... Why," after a few breaths of silence, he spoke with difficulty, "didn’t you say you wouldn’t go back?"

"I’ve changed my mind."

Thinking of that madman, Xie Wanqing’s heart was in turmoil, aching with confusion.

"... I’m sorry, I broke my promise," she sniffed, whispering, "I realized I still can’t let him go."

This ’him’ needed no clarification; both knew who it was.

Ji Chengfeng lowered his eyes, looking at her hand clenched tightly on the thin blanket.

Her delicate fingers were pale from applying pressure.

He watched for a while and then said, "Why so sudden?"

Yesterday, they were still having dinner together.

Except for not sleeping in the same bed at night, these past two years, they were like the most ordinary husband and wife. Including Xie Xiuran, it would be a happy family of three.

He could sense she wasn’t completely unwavering.

Even if just for a moment, she must have seriously considered accepting his feelings.

How can one just let the glimpse of hope fade away?

Even someone as composed and calm as Ji Chengfeng couldn’t easily give up on a loved one he had admired for years.

He wanted a reason.

Xie Wanqing opened and closed her mouth, "Last night, I had a dream, dreamed of some bad things, and then I realized that I couldn’t let him go..."

She looked up at the man squatting before her, and said earnestly, "So, I have to go back and find him."

Their gazes met, each seeing the emotions in the other’s eyes.

She had made up her mind.

After a long silence, Ji Chengfeng gently nodded, "Can you tell me what my ending was in that dream?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanqing’s pupils quaked; before she could speak, her wrist was clasped.

Ji Chengfeng gently pried open her fingers clutching the thin blanket, then grasped them, and smiled at her, asking, "In the spring six years ago, did I die from the plague after being betrayed by a close attendant?"

"Don’t be afraid," feeling her hand trembling, Ji Chengfeng gently squeezed it, soothing her, "I was just guessing; after all, your warning was spot on back then."

He wasn’t foolish.

After falling for her, he seriously inquired about her past engagement.

She and that person were childhood sweethearts, in mutual love.

The Lu Family had also agreed to dismiss the extramarital affair; emotionally and logically, she shouldn’t have so firmly broken off the engagement and hurriedly married.

There must be an unknown secret.

Combined with her almost prophetic warning, and now suddenly deciding to return to the Capital because of a dream...

Everything pointed to an absurd conclusion.

And now, her reaction confirmed his guess.

Ji Chengfeng didn’t press for details about the ’dream’; he just tightened his grip on her hand, "Have you decided, do you really want to go back?"

The gentleness in his tone was almost overwhelming.

Xie Wanqing felt somewhat uncomfortable.

She pressed her lips together, nodding.

"Alright," Ji Chengfeng smiled gently, "then go back."

After saying this, he suddenly leaned in, opened his arms, and embraced the girl on the chair.

This was their first embrace; before this, their feelings had always been restrained by courtesy, with not a single transgression. So, Xie Wanqing was totally unprepared.

When she realized it, her chin was already resting on his shoulder, completely enveloped in his cool cedar scent. She was momentarily stunned, about to push him away, when she heard him say, "Don’t say sorry."

"You are free; you’ve never promised me anything from beginning to end," he murmured softly, "it was just my one-sided love for you."

Xie Wanqing was taken aback, pressed her lips together uncomfortably, wanting to say something, but inexplicably felt a piercing chill.

Instinctively, she looked up, and there, at the courtyard gate, was a tall figure, both familiar and strange.

She didn’t know when he had stood there, but he was gazing unwaveringly in this direction.

He didn’t come in, just stood at the door, looking at her from afar.

Xie Wanqing couldn’t see his expression, couldn’t even see his face.

But she knew who he was.

Her whole body suddenly stiffened; once she realized, she hastily pushed the person beside her away.