Chapter 61 Growing Apart Only when you're here can I feel at ease. ...

Wang Yan turned to the side, sniffed, and said, "Listen."

Her memories of Yangzhou began at Yunxi Mountain. Gradually, the mountains, rivers, trees, streets, and alleys became clearer and more vividly depicted. No longer needing to walk in a rigid, conventional way, she learned the graceful, almost ethereal, steps of Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique). Linjiangxian was the first business she started, secretly competing with Mingyuelou for years, which added a lot of fun to her life. Manager Fu, Maizi… she even began to miss them.

As the music ended, Wang Yan gazed out the window, lost in thought. After a long while, he murmured, "The snow has stopped." But this winter has only just begun.

Shen Minghuai suddenly became so busy that he was nowhere to be seen for several days in a row. Although Wang Zhen came every day, he would leave after only a short while. Recently, Xu Ning'an had been frequently going out to make house calls, and it was common for him to be gone for three to five days at a time.

She didn't care what was happening outside; what she needed to know, she would find out eventually. Wang Yan felt a little better and began learning how to decoct medicine from Zhu Yu. Staring at the still-unboiled pot of medicine, her eyelids opened and closed, and her head slowly drooped. In her hazy consciousness, it seemed as if someone was catching her, and the bubbling sound faded into the distance. When she opened her eyes, she was already in bed. She hurriedly went outside and found the pot of medicine was gone.

Shen Minghuai carried two dishes into the courtyard and greeted her with a smile, inviting her to eat.

"Warm the medicine up a bit before you drink it."

Wang Yan ate a piece of pastry first, then asked, "What good thing happened?"

“Aying,” Shen Minghuai grasped her hand, “Father has been reinstated.”

With the matter of calming the mind resolved, it was only a matter of time before the case of the Dingguo Public and Private Publications was overturned. Now that the truth had been revealed to the world, the Prime Minister of Dayue was still an honest and benevolent official who served the people. Yet, she could not be happy.

Wang Yan forced a smile, withdrew his hand, picked up a clam, and said, "That's good."

Shen Minghuai put a lot of food into her bowl, "How about I stay and keep you company tonight?"

Wang Yan immediately focused his attention and refused, saying, "You've probably been so busy lately that you haven't even had a proper meal. You should go back to your residence and get some rest."

Shen Minghuai insisted on staying, saying, "Being with you is my rest. Only when you are here can I feel at ease."

"If you want to stay overnight, you need to propose marriage first." Li Changling appeared out of nowhere and stood at the door with his arms crossed.

Shen Minghuai's sweet words just now made Wang Yan blush instantly, "Eavesdropping is not the behavior of a gentleman!"

Shen Minghuai put down his chopsticks, slightly displeased, "Brother Lanzhi, what brings you here?"

"Anyway, I didn't come here to see you." Li Changling sat down directly between the two of them. "I'll make you steamed lamb tomorrow."

Shen Minghuai questioned, "Can someone who doesn't eat a single drop of mutton make delicious steamed mutton? I'll make it for you tomorrow."

Li Changling had learned a skill from the Jiang family's restaurant a couple of days ago, but he had never actually cooked it before. Shen Minghuai's cooking skills were on par with his, so he had no choice but to admit defeat.

"Do you know that Yiheng has been getting quite close to that lady from the Xie family lately?"

Wang Yan concealed a hint of disappointment, then pricked up his ears, "Which Xie family lady? My brother has never mentioned her to me."

Shen Minghuai was left out in the blink of an eye, and Li Changling was very smug, "It seems his name is Xie... Ji."

Wang Yan had heard the name before, but wasn't very familiar with it. Later, Shen Minghuai provided some details. Xie Ji was the only daughter of the Marquis of Anxi. The Xie family had two branches, one civil and one military. Most importantly, the Marquis of Anxi was not involved in factional strife.

Since it had nothing to do with profit, could it be genuine affection? She made up her mind to interrogate her brother thoroughly when they met tomorrow. Not long after dinner, drowsiness overcame her, so Wang Yan sent both of them out and turned off the lights.

Li Changling unknowingly walked to Jiang's restaurant again, where an old friend was sitting.

"Sir, our shop is already closed. Please come back tomorrow—"

"Changling," Jiang Wan stood up and called to him, "I'm leaving the capital tomorrow. Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

Li Changling stopped but didn't turn around. "There's nothing between us to say."

Jiang Wan pursed her lips, tears welling in her eyes, and smiled, "Thank you for all these years."

"Also, I'm sorry."

"Child, if there's any misunderstanding, go after them and clear things up. They've already left, how could they hear you?" Aunt Jiang stood beside Jiang Wan, holding a rag, and advised her.

“He heard me.” Jiang Wan saw that unwavering back and paused for a moment, but that one moment was enough. She placed the copper coins on the table. “Aunt Jiang, your steamed lamb is the best in the capital.”

Aunt Jiang smiled and pocketed the money, saying, "I'll come here often from now on."

"I won't come here again."

Yin Shicheng came to the city gate to see Jiang Wan off. Seeing her staring at the words "Going to the Capital" for a long time, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you reluctant to leave?"

"How could I be reluctant to part with you?" Jiang Wan composed herself and mounted her horse. "I was just wondering what's so great about this place. You can leave here with me."

Yin Shicheng ran to the front of the horse and blurted out everything on his mind.

“Last night I saw you with Li Changling at the Jiang family's restaurant. After what he did to you, you shouldn't be hung up on him. Jiang Wan, I—”

Jiang Wan looked down at him. "Although I saved your sister, I couldn't save her life. It's just a letter. You don't need to go to such lengths to make up for lost time. Trying to make up for too much will only hurt you."

Yin Shicheng still wouldn't give in, saying, "I like you not to repay my little sister's kindness."

Jiang Wan tightened her grip on the reins, her gaze already fixed on the distance. "I am no good match for you. I hope you meet someone better in the future. Farewell."

She turned the horse around, spurred it on, and galloped away, gradually disappearing from the capital city.

On his way back, Yin Shicheng encountered Aguo. He had initially worried that this Yi girl, who had never traveled far from home, would not be able to adapt to life in the capital. However, Aguo, dressed in a traditional Chinese dress, now seemed more like a Beijing native than he was.

A-Guo led Yin Shicheng to the Mei family's food shop, having heard since arriving in the capital that their desserts were exceptionally good. Upon reaching the shop's entrance, Yin Shicheng suddenly remembered that his young master particularly loved the shop's crispy pastries. A-Guo ate some and praised them highly. Seeing that he wanted to take some back, and having long been curious about the household he served, she asked if he could take her to their residence.

A-Guo only knew that her master was also a remarkable person. She had been in the capital for nearly a month, and apart from her new friends, the Princess Consort of Wei, and the woman on the wanted list, she didn't know anyone else.

Yin Shicheng looked up at the sky; the sun was shining brightly. After all, A-Guo was brought back to the capital by His Highness Prince Su, so there was no harm in going to see her. Thinking this, the two returned to the Duke of Dingguo's residence. As soon as he and A-Guo entered the garden, before they even saw anyone, Shen Minghuai's reprimanding voice pierced their ears.

"Who gave you permission to bring outsiders into the mansion?"

A-Guo hurriedly hid behind Yin Shicheng, afraid that she would walk out missing an arm or a leg. Yin Shicheng bowed to the people in the pavilion, cupped his hands in apology, "A-Guo is a distinguished guest of His Highness Prince Su, who wished to befriend you, so I took it upon myself to bring her here. I know I was wrong."

Aguo stepped in front of Yin Shicheng, saying, "It was I who wanted to get to know you and forced Brother Yin to bring me here. It has nothing to do with him."

Upon hearing this, Shen Minghuai relaxed his brows, picked up the jade cup, and said, "If you don't mind, my lady, please sit down and have a cup of hot tea."

A-Guo walked into the pavilion without any ceremony, sat down, picked up the jade cup, took a sip, and exclaimed, "Excellent tea!"

Shen Minghuai sent Yin Shicheng to fetch the hot water bottle, and chatted casually with Aguo about going to the capital and reminiscing about the past.

Aguo Daoyin Shicheng was the first friend she made in Sichuan. She talked at length about how they first met when she was only seven years old.

Shen Minghuai poured her some more hot tea. "I heard he was an orphan and lived a poor life before. Fortunately, he has friends like you."

A-Guo immediately put down her teacup and retorted, "Brother Yin isn't an orphan! It's just that his family is all gone."

"Gone?"

A-Guo picked up the jade cup and examined it closely. "Yes. Brother Yin's father was a fairly high-ranking official, but unfortunately he was later demoted and died of illness."

This was consistent with the information he possessed. The entire Yin family had died of the plague, except for this son. But Yin Shouchang's journey from the capital to Shamen Island and his wife and daughter's exile in Yongzhou were not the same route; how could they all have contracted the plague and died? He had kept this son of the Yin family alive to find out the truth.

The man was sent by Prince Su. At first, Shen Minghuai was wary of him, but later he found that the man was indeed loyal and diligent in his duties as a guard in the Shen household. Moreover, his communication with Prince Su did not only go through Yin Shicheng, so he gradually lowered his guard. However, Prince Su was far away in the southwest, and Yin Shouchang was the prefect of Danzhou before his death. What was the connection between the two?

Shen Minghuai pushed the white soft cake in front of Aguo, "Try this."

"I ate this at Prince Su's place." A-Guo picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. "It's delicious! The food here is delicious, and the scenery is beautiful too. Can I come again?"

Shen Minghuai laughed and said, "Why not? His Highness Prince Su's distinguished guest is also a distinguished guest of my Shen residence."

“What do you mean by ‘distinguished guest’?” A-Guo looked at him very seriously and said, “I’m here to make friends.”

"Brother!" A little dumpling ran over and hugged Shen Minghuai's hand. "Can Awan go see Sister Wenxuan today?"

"Heh!" A-Guo picked up Han Xiwan with some difficulty. "Where did this rice cake dumpling come from!"

Han Xiwan didn't shout or call out, but instead curiously looked at the person in front of her with her bright eyes, asking, "Who are you?"

“I’m your brother’s friend.” A-Guo put Han Xiwan down, took Yin Shicheng’s hot water bottle and placed it in her small hands. “Don’t get cold.”

"It's good that it's not your sweetheart. Ah Wan isn't cold, you can take it, sister." Han Xiwan handed her the hot water bottle and then tugged at Shen Minghuai's sleeve.

A-Guo was momentarily stunned, "My... sweetheart?"

Shen Minghuai carried Han Xiwan to a chair nearby, saying, "Little sister is talking nonsense, my wife, don't take it to heart."

“It’s not nonsense,” Han Xiwan explained to Aguo. “Mother and Awan said that a sweetheart is someone you like. My brother’s sweetheart is Sister Wenxuan.”

A-Guo was amused by her serious demeanor. "A-Wan knows so much. Don't worry, a friend isn't a sweetheart. Who is this Sister Wenxuan you're talking about?"

Han Xiwan recalled her first meeting with Wang Yan, her eyes sparkling, "She's a very beautiful and capable older sister. My brother likes her, and I like her too."

A-Guo didn't have many hobbies, but she loved making friends. So she asked enthusiastically, "How amazing is he? I'd like to see for myself. Could A-Wan bring me along?"

Han Xiwan was about to nod when she suddenly remembered Shen Minghuai's repeated instructions. She shook her head and said, "Sister Wenxuan is not feeling well. It's better not to disturb her these days."

A-Guo felt a little regretful, but then she thought it over again. Anyway, she would be staying in the capital for a long time, so it wouldn't be too late to visit "Wen-Xuan" when she was feeling better.

Yin Shicheng muttered to himself, "You didn't want to be introduced to Sister Jiang, but now you're all enthusiastic."

A-Guo picked up another type of pastry, "Who wants to know your sweetheart?"

Yin Shicheng's mouth stretched into a thin line, "Then why do you know my father-in-law—that Lady Wang?"

A-Guo disagreed, "Didn't A-Wan say that she's very capable and beautiful?"

Yin Shicheng was very unconvinced, "Jiang Niangzi is also very capable and beautiful."

Their playful bickering brought a lively atmosphere to the otherwise quiet and secluded Jianjia Garden. Han Xiwan led Shen Minghuai to the courtyard gate and handed him the Nine-Linked Rings, explaining that she had bought them a few days ago with her mother at the night market for Wang Yan to keep him entertained.

Shen Minghuai smiled and patted her head, telling her to go back to Jianjia Garden to keep Aguo company, but Han Xiwan said, "They are so childish, Awan doesn't want to play with them."

"Why are you acting like a little adult?" Shen Minghuai explained gently, "She is a guest of the household, so we must not treat her lightly. This lady comes from the southwest and has many stories that Awan has never heard before. Once we spend more time together, Awan will no longer find her childish."

Han Xiwan obediently listened to Shen Minghuai and turned to walk back. The days passed with farewells, leading into the depths of winter. Regardless of any minor storms or disturbances outside, Jishengtang remained a scene of peace and tranquility.

As the end of the month approached, Prince Su returned to the capital, and Shen Minghuai became increasingly busy. He had to discuss one thing or another, and with the various matters concerning his coming-of-age ceremony, he spent less and less time with Wang Yan, but he still spent every day with him.

The first day of the twelfth lunar month arrived as scheduled. Wang Yan got up early and looked out the window; it was a bright and sunny day. Now that the Duke of Dingguo was posthumously honoring the prime minister, his only son was coming-of-age ceremony. Although it wouldn't be a case of all the officials vying to attend, it was likely that half of the officials, big and small, from the capital would be there.

Xu Ning'an came to find Wang Yanyong early in the morning, saying, "It's unusually quiet outside today; there are hardly any people in the streets."