In the capital of Laifeng Kingdom, the pitch-black night added a touch of coldness to the solemn and majestic General's Mansion.

Si Chengfeng was dressed in a plain brocade robe. He stood alone by the window in Yueting Nanshe, where he had lived for nine years, gazing quietly towards the direction of Fufeng County with a gloomy expression and his mind wandering far away.

Today was already the first day of July, and he had been back in Beijing for several days. The matter was urgent, and he had left in a hurry, so he hadn't had time to say goodbye to the woman. He wondered if she would be worried if she couldn't find him at Chengfeng Villa.

After a long moment of reverie, Si Chengfeng finally withdrew his gaze, collected his thoughts, and then walked to the desk. He rolled up his sleeves with his left hand, held a wolf-hair brush in his right, and wrote on the rice paper with a flourish, writing for the woman he had been thinking about day and night. In a moment, he had written a new poem:

Recalling Jiangnan: Longing

The fragrance of the distant sound, the dream of many times. Curling smoke rises from the ancient courtyard, the rustling of fallen leaves falls in the courtyard pond. Returning geese rest on the empty branches.

Fine clothes and delicious food are common, but peace and tranquility are rare. Si Chengfeng, who grew up in privileged conditions, actually envied Hua Qingcheng's husbands for their leisurely wanderings in the countryside. Most importantly, she was there.

He has plenty of money and power if he wants it. But for Yu Sichengfeng, the one thing he longs for most, even though he can't reach it, is the woman who has opened the door to his heart, the woman who has injected life and vitality into his bleak life.

The first eight years of his life were incredibly difficult. With a cold mother and a resentful father, Si Chengfeng experienced little family affection during his childhood at the Si Mansion. After his father's death and the arrival of his treacherous stepfather and stepson, his life became completely bleak.

Si Chengfeng, who had narrowly escaped death, was adopted by the General's Mansion. However, for the past nine years, he had lived without a single day without hatred, and had to endure the pain brought by monthly cold attacks. Although Si Chengfeng usually appeared gentle and warm on the outside, his heart was already full of scars and darkness.

The appearance of Hua Qingcheng disrupted his life, but also injected vitality into his stagnant life. He instinctively wanted to grab the light that illuminated his gloomy and dull life.

"Brother, are you missing Sister Qingcheng again?"

Feng Qiyan's arrival broke Si Chengfeng's thoughts. Feng Qiyan, dressed in white mourning clothes, looked more mature and less childish.

"What are you doing here so late? Why don't you go to bed earlier?"

Si Chengfeng placed the wolf-hair brush in his hand on the table and stood up to greet Feng Qiyan who walked in.

"If you miss her so much, go back and find her."

Eight-year-old Feng Qiyan stared at Si Chengfeng with her bright, clear eyes. She had already caused her grandfather's death in an accident, and she couldn't bear to see her elder brother separated from his beloved.

Upon hearing this, Si Chengfeng looked at Feng Qiyan with a little heartache.

This little girl has been having trouble eating and sleeping lately, living in guilt and self-blame every day, and has lost a lot of weight. Her originally pouty face is now a little deflated, looking very pitiful.

"Silly, it's not your fault!"

Si Chengfeng leaned over and squatted, looking Feng Qiyan in the eye, and raised his hand to wipe away the tears on her face.

"Although the old man is not my biological grandfather, he treats me no differently than his own grandson. It is only natural that I should observe three years of mourning for him."

"But……"

After hearing what Si Chengfeng said, Feng Qiyan's tears fell even harder.

Her handsome and handsome elder brother is already seventeen years old this year, which is already past the age of fifteen stipulated in the emperor's decree that requires marriage. If he delays for another three years, he will be twenty years old by then. Wouldn't that make him an old bachelor?

"Brother, the mourning period should be carried out by me, the legitimate granddaughter."

She was only eight years old now, and in three years she would be eleven. It was a pity that she was too young, otherwise she could marry this older brother when she grew up. It was a pity that the older brother couldn't wait that long, so Hua Qingcheng had to marry him.

"Feng'er, Qiyan is right."

Just when Feng Qiyan's mind was full of wild thoughts, a strong and powerful voice came from inside.

"grandmother!"

Feng Qiyan put away her messy thoughts, walked quickly to the door, and helped Feng Jingyun into the room and sat down in the upper seat.

"Chengfeng pays his respects to the old general!"

Si Chengfeng then saluted.

"Feng'er, no need to be so polite."

Feng Jingyun's hair, once frosted, had turned a pure white in just a few days. Her once stern eyes were now filled with sadness and grief. Her eyes welled up at the thought of the old man she had been with for decades.

"Feng'er, you are already seventeen. A man's youth is short and cannot be wasted. If that old man Mulan were still alive, he wouldn't want to see you miss your life because of him."

Looking at the lonely Feng Jingyun, Si Chengfeng felt a pang of discomfort. Although General Feng was a dignified figure, he was very kind to his father. Although she usually looked disdainful, she actually loved Mulanjin in her eyes and heart.

For decades after their marriage, Feng Jingyun had never taken a concubine or maid, always marrying only Mulanjin. Even her daughter, Feng Cailan, followed her example. Before giving birth to Feng Qiyan, even after years of childlessness with Yu Jingyang, she never took a concubine, let alone a maid. The family tradition of the Grand General's Mansion in marrying a man was truly enviable.

Si Chengfeng lowered his eyes slightly. He had feelings for Hua Qingcheng, but the General's Mansion also held a bond with him. Si Chengfeng smiled bitterly, lamenting the cruel ways of fate. Besides, he didn't mind whether he had a legitimate relationship with Hua Qingcheng. Filial piety was paramount, so their relationship would likely have to be postponed for a few more years.

"Chengfeng is a drifter. For so many years, I have had a roof over my head and a new life. It was all thanks to the General's Mansion. Chengfeng will never forget the gratitude. As for marriage, let's just let it go. What's mine will always be mine, and what's not mine cannot be kept even if I want to."

Seeing Si Chengfeng like this, Feng Jingyun sighed softly. This child is indeed filial, but unfortunately his father, like Lingyan, is unlucky. Meng Lishi and Lingyan were old friends back then, and Feng Jingyun also loved his orphan very much, raising him as her own grandson.

"Silly child! You are being foolishly filial! Our General's Mansion is not a pedantic place. If you have a woman you like, marrying her within a hundred days is not considered a violation of filial piety."

"In the past, your adoptive mother and father and I always wanted to find a woman who matched your family background, character, and appearance. Now I have come to understand that when a person dies, it is like a light going out, and everything else is just a passing cloud."

"We in the General's Mansion have plenty of food and drink, and there's no need to curry favor with the rich and powerful. As long as the person is of good character, treats you sincerely, and doesn't have three wives and four concubines, even if she's a peasant girl, it doesn't matter."

"Grandma, but..."

Hearing Feng Jingyun's words, Feng Qiyan couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Hua Qingcheng. The mere fact that Hua Qingcheng didn't have three husbands and four concubines was enough to send her into a deep abyss. Feng Qiyan wanted to endorse Hua Qingcheng, but when Si Chengfeng shook his head at her, she had no choice but to give up.

Feng Jingyun's heartfelt words moved Si Chengfeng, but he was also helpless. Hua Qingcheng was indeed a peasant girl, but she already had a husband and three other husbands.

The road of love is long, and Si Chengfeng can only take one step at a time, but it is impossible for him to give up.