The inner city remained quiet and deserted, with only a few ornate carriages and tall, handsome horses occasionally passing by. Their presence was infrequent, making them all the more conspicuous on the silent streets.

Yan Ning's heart pounded. Touching Xiang'er's hand startled her, and she quickly hid her hand inside her warm sleeve. Only then did Yan Ning realize that the hot water bottle she had been using to warm her legs had left her hands, which had been exposed, icy cold.

Xiang'er has returned to her former foolishness, which makes Yan Ning somewhat realize that her quietness in front of the mansion gate just now must have been just a coincidence.

Once outside the inner city, peddlers selling miscellaneous goods roamed the streets and alleys. Perhaps because their goods were cheaper than those in shops, they attracted quite a few people.

As more people gathered, Yan Ning felt more at ease. You Yuanzhi's feelings for Xiang'er made her believe that he would wait for Xiang'er at the inn before giving up. Still separated by two streets, Yan Ning dismounted from the carriage and walked with Xiang'er, leaving the coachman to wait there.

The innkeeper's eyes lit up when he saw Yan Ning, as if he'd seen gold. He wore a grey cloth robe over a black vest, revealing a shiny forehead, and his small eyes gleamed. One glance was enough to tell that this innkeeper was a shrewd man.

This year, many independent travelers who stayed in the capital have returned to their hometowns. Business is tough, but rent is expensive right under the nose of the capital, so shopkeepers have no choice but to open their doors to customers every day.

When the shopkeeper heard that Yan Ning had come looking for someone, his face immediately turned cold, and he shook his head, saying that there was no such person. Yan Ning sneered inwardly; he was only doing this because he thought the two women were easy to bully. If it were Fukang'an, he would have to fawn over him. Thinking of Fukang'an, Yan Ning's heart started pounding again. She handed the shopkeeper a silver ingot that she had kept warm in her sleeve; the ingot was still steaming when they exchanged it.

Whether it was the warmth of the silver or the stench of money that warmed the shopkeeper's cold face, he nodded and led the two to the woodshed with a smile.

The woodshed was in the backyard, and you had to pass through the inn's wine cellar to get there. When Yan Ning entered the wine cellar, she saw two large vats full of ice water.

You Yuanzhi never liked to sleep in, so he got up early and washed his face and body with water mixed with ice and snow in the backyard. As soon as Yan Ning and the others entered the backyard, they saw You Yuanzhi with his upper body naked. Xiang'er screamed and tried to run away, but Yan Ning quickly turned around and pulled Xiang'er back.

You Yuanzhi was slightly taken aback when he saw Xiang'er. He forgot to put on his shirt and just stared blankly at her back. It wasn't until Yan Ning could no longer hold onto Xiang'er that he hurriedly put on his robe and chased after her.

Xiang'er was very averse to You Yuanzhi's advances, trembling as she hid behind Yan Ning. If Yan Ning didn't know You Yuanzhi's infatuation, she would never have dared to entrust Xiang'er to him. But when faced with the choice between the loneliness of the courtyard and the freedom of a carefree life, everyone would choose the latter.

The carriage that You Yuanzhi had prepared was still hidden in the inn's stable. Before they could exchange pleasantries, Yan Ning and You Yuanzhi got into the carriage and headed out of the city.

Along the way, Xiang'er's expression changed frequently. At first, she would cry and shake her head. In the end, she fell silent, looking at Yan Ning with complicated and obscure eyes.

The horse's hooves pounded, like a heavy bell tolling in Yan Ning's heart. She was Fukang'an's wife, yet she had secretly sent away his wives and concubines. She didn't know whether this was good or bad for Xiang'er. She had been devoted to Fukang'an, but now she had lost her son and her mind. But if she didn't leave, the courtyard walls were high and deep, and those outside would not know what was happening behind closed doors. Xiang'er could only spend her days in madness within the mansion.

You Yuanzhi's affection for her is as clear as the sun and moon. If he were to leave, he would search the world for renowned doctors to cure her of this mental illness. If she were to return, You Yuanzhi would certainly not stop him.

Yan Ning met Xiang'er's silent gaze, "It's better this way, that you can leave!"

Xiang'er turned her face away and looked out the carriage window. The day she used the secret of the deceased Consort Fang of the manor as a bargaining chip to persuade Heshen was precisely for this day of departure. The Fucha family was so powerful that the old lady would never allow such a mentally unstable person to remain, ruining Fukang'an's reputation. She only kept her in the manor now because she was Dejia's birth mother. Once Wuchun's child was born, the celebratory banquet in the manor would overshadow the grief of Qianyun, the child's loss in Furong Garden—that would be the day she was expelled to the temple to have her mind cleansed.

Yan Ning's intervention, while helping her leave sooner, ruined her reputation. But now that she's leaving, why should she care about her reputation?

She turned her gaze from the window, grasped Yan Ning's hand, and solemnly said, "Wu Chun, with her in the manor, there is no spring!" Then she smiled foolishly, which made the roses on her pipa-shaped dress lose their luster.

Yan Ning wanted to ask why, but Xiang'er's tone became serious as You Yuanzhi stopped the carriage.

The curtain was lifted, and You Yuanzhi looked at Yan Ning with gratitude. "Yan Ning, I, You Yuanzhi, have no way to repay your great kindness. I know your feelings. Rest assured, if Fukang'an does not push me to the brink again, I will never fight him with swords!"

Yan Ning nodded gratefully in return; You Yuanzhi was a man of his word.

As dusk fell at the ten-mile pavilion, Yan Ning alighted from the carriage. Xiang'er followed, crying and fussing, but Yan Ning's attempts to coax her failed. Looking at Xiang'er's tearful eyes, she couldn't help but hear Xiang'er's earlier words echoing in her ears, which seemed to be nothing more than a figment of her imagination. She mocked herself, wondering when she had grown so disgusted with Wu Chun.

Xiang'er fainted after being struck on the back of the head by You Yuanzhi. He picked her up and put her in the carriage. Only after making sure that the bumpy road would not hurt her in the slightest did he feel relieved and drive away.

Watching Xiang'er and You Yuanzhi ride away on horseback, Yan Ning actually wanted to chase after them. She had never asked how You Yuanzhi had escaped death, nor had he ever told her. She guessed it was nothing more than a coincidence—something he'd been rescued from the river while adrift.

Months ago, if Yan Ningfei hadn't insisted on going with Xiang'er to the prison to release You Yuanzhi, she would have left with him. Whether it was Buddha's mercy on You Yuanzhi's unrequited love or his own great fortune, the wheel of history would still turn back to its old course.

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