Chapter 76 Qing Ping Yue (Part Six) Have you been here before? ...
The candlelight, as small as a bean, timidly flickered on Ye Mu's trembling eyelids.
The details, just recalling that night of life and death, made her blush and her fingertips go numb. How could she possibly describe them in detail?
"That's how it is..." Ye Mu couldn't avoid his gaze so close to hers. Her voice was barely audible as she tried to be vague and evasive. "Aren't you very good at this yourself? In that situation, what else could you do? Just think about it yourself, and you'll understand..."
She spoke haltingly, her cheeks flushed as red as peach blossoms in March, her neck already tinged with a faint blush, as if she were about to burst into flames.
But the more Xie Yicheng saw her like this, the less willing he was to let her go.
"I just didn't know that Fourth Sister had such ability that even a knowledgeable and skilled physician, who dared to make a diagnosis of Yuan Chun's poison, would worry that I would develop a chronic illness."
He coaxed her gently, "I'm really curious, I want to hear the secret, how Fourth Sister displayed such skill?"
What abilities, what skillful performance—these serious words, when they came out of his mouth, suddenly took on a murky connotation.
"I, I..." Ye Mu met his mischievous smile, and suddenly realized that he was deliberately teasing her and amusing himself by watching her embarrassed and helpless appearance.
Ye Mu composed herself, thinking to herself, "Could it be that I can't even defeat a patient?"
With a plan in mind, she raised her wet eyelashes and looked directly at him. "Do you really want to hear it? I'm afraid you've just woken up and your body is still weak. You might not be able to handle it."
As Ye Mu spoke, he seemingly unintentionally sank his body further down from his relaxed sitting position.
That's downright provocative.
But her eyes were utterly innocent and frank. "Back then, I took off your clothes first..."
Her voice was soft and slow, and as she spoke, it swept over the collar of his neatly dressed undergarment, slowly tracing his words, "Then, she took off mine too."
Ye Mu was certain that he was just a paper tiger. Although his behavior was much bolder than when he was aloof and self-possessed, deep down, he was still very thin-skinned when it came to provocative words.
How dare he provoke her?
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Ye Mu felt a discomfort. Although her heart was burning with excitement, she still managed to remain calm and composed, saying, "I sat down."
His eyes suddenly darkened.
Ye Mu blinked, then pressed her advantage by adding, "Just like now."
Xie Yicheng released his hand from her chin, instead placing it on her waist, his arms tightening slightly.
Ye Mu felt even more smug about his successful prank.
She looked at him calmly, her delicate lips parted slightly, "Then I'll whisper 'brother' in your ear."
This was naturally a detail she added on a whim. At the time, he was unconscious and hanging by a thread, and she was filled with fear and anxiety; she had no mind for such romantic terms of address. But that didn't stop her from using it to retaliate against him now.
Sure enough, his breathing became a little erratic.
He wasn't nearly as at ease as she seemed.
Xie Yicheng finally gave in, loosening her grip and placing her on the footstool beside the bed. "Fourth Sister, go and have some food first. I need some peace and quiet."
He had intended to tease her and see her embarrassed and helpless, but unexpectedly, she managed to confuse him with just a few words.
His body was extremely weak upon waking, and his qi and blood were deficient. He could not withstand such direct verbal stimulation. Xie Yicheng felt that the restlessness that had been forcibly suppressed was about to reignite. He was truly reaping what he had sown.
"I haven't finished yet, I've only just begun," Ye Mu slipped on her embroidered shoes, stood by the footstool, and looked at him with a smile as he pursed his lips, where was the slightest trace of the composed teasing attitude he had shown just moments before?
She was overjoyed, and her earlier embarrassment vanished completely.
Instead of obediently leaving, Ye Mu bent down slightly, placed her hands on the edge of the bed, and leaned closer to him with a bright smile, her voice soft and sweet, "You can't hold on already? What happened next? It took me quite a while to find a good spot, since I'm not as familiar with it as you are, I'll hold on..."
"Ye Mu." Xie Yicheng finally interrupted her.
His tone was restrained, and even a little pitiful and weak.
Seeing his expression, Ye Mu knew she had teased him enough. Considering he was a patient, she decided to stop while she was ahead. She straightened up and scolded him, "You keep telling me what to say, Xie Yicheng. You're so hard to please."
Xie Yicheng's chest rose and fell slightly, but she didn't reply.
Ye Mu's lips curled up as he slowly backed towards the door, muttering to himself, "It seems the quack doctor's warnings weren't entirely unfounded. Is he already powerless?"
"Ye Mu! You stop right there!"
Ye Mu laughed heartily, turned and ran, her embroidered shoes making a light clattering sound on the blue brick ground.
Only a crescent moon, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back, hung on the branch.
In the following days, Ye Mu smiled at everyone he met. When he saw his neighbors in the alley, he would take out the candy he had prepared in advance from his sleeve and stuff it into their hands without saying a word.
"Aunt Li, have some candy! Yi Cheng is awake!"
"Uncle Wang, try this! Yi Cheng is all set!"
Even the neighborhood kids who peeked out the door as they passed by got a handful of sweet osmanthus candy.
When she went to Fuyou Pavilion, she not only brought Yun Niangzi the finest tea and snacks, but also solemnly submitted her resignation.
Before Yun Niangzi even came downstairs, she heard about Xie Yicheng's escape. Approaching her, she saw that Xie Yicheng's eyes were radiant with joy, and she teased with a smile, "Oh, has our Fourth Sister found a better place? Even I can't keep her here anymore?"
Ye Mu didn't hesitate, her eyes sparkling, "Please don't be offended, Lady Yun. Yi Cheng and I have discussed it. Once he's recovered a bit, we plan to open our own small clinic. He'll see patients, and I..."
She paused, then smiled contentedly, "I'll go be the accountant. We've already agreed that we'll split the initial investment in opening the business equally, and I'll also get a share of the profits and some stock."
Upon hearing this, Lady Yun nodded knowingly, her eyes filled with satisfaction. "So you've gone to be the head manager. No wonder you didn't care about the small change here. That's good. A peaceful life, running a clinic to help people—it's a virtuous thing to do. But when you have time, you must come back to visit often. The young masters in the pavilion miss you..."
"Definitely, definitely!" Ye Mu quickly agreed. "I will always remember Lady Yun's kindness."
As they were talking, the five Moshang lords, having heard the news, also came over and surrounded her, chattering amongst themselves.
Qin Jun said that running a husband-and-wife shop is the hardest, because they face each other every day and it's easy for arguments to arise.
Wu Jun rolled her eyes at him and laughed, "What do you know? If you ask me, working hard together to earn money during the day, sitting face to face under the lamp at night, counting the coins until they jingle, taking a hot bath, snuggling into the same bed to talk intimately, that's what you call a life of bliss."
The chess master frowned slightly. "The young couple counted the money and went straight to bed. Wouldn't it be a waste not to play a game of chess before going to sleep?"
The man simply pushed him aside and made him sit at the children's table.
The group kept calling each other "husband and wife" and "young couple," making Ye Mu's ears burn. It took him a while to escape from the teasing and he practically fled from Fuyou Pavilion.
On his way home, he happened to run into Zheng, the instructor from next door, who was coming off duty.
Ye Mu smiled and handed over a bag of newly bought pine nut candies. Instructor Zheng took it, asked a few questions about Xie Yicheng's condition, and seeing that her eyebrows and eyes were relaxed and a smile spread from her eyes to her eyebrows, he followed up by asking, "When does Madam Ye plan to go to Jimo to bring Miss Zijing back?"
Seeing Ye Mu's probing gaze, Instructor Zheng cleared his throat somewhat uncomfortably, his eyes darting around. "Ahem, it's nothing important. It's just that the schoolbags of a few children are worn out. After all, it's Zijing's skill in mending and sewing that the children are eagerly waiting for."
Ye Mu had written to Ji Mo earlier, but her mother and Zi Jing were at her maternal grandfather's house, collecting shells and catching crabs, watching the tide and sunrise, and enjoying the bright moon over the sea when they slept late. They were living a leisurely and carefree life and were quite reluctant to leave.
She smiled faintly, "Once I've sorted out everything I have to do, I'll go and bring them back."
Upon hearing this, Instructor Zheng's eyes lit up with joy, and he repeatedly said, "Good!"
Half a month later, the autumn sky was clear and the weather was fine.
Xie Yicheng was already able to walk, so Ye Mu couldn't wait to pull him to see the prepared house.
The house wasn't too far from Yuqian Lane, offering a quiet retreat amidst the hustle and bustle. Its spacious, square, and flat front yard was perfect for converting into a clinic.
Passing through the moon gate, the backyard is quiet and secluded, with the main house and side rooms neatly arranged. In the corner, an old locust tree stands tall and graceful, casting a cool green shade over the entire courtyard.
“Look,” Ye Mu said, holding Xie Yicheng’s hand, her fingertips tracing lines in the air, her cheeks flushed, “this is our clinic, bright and spacious. We’ll build a row of medicine cabinets over there, towering to the sky, very impressive. We’ll live in the backyard, the east wing will be our study, and we’ll keep the west wing for Mother and Zijing to stay in if they want, or if they want to stay in the courtyard. The kitchen will be here, and the cat house will be over there, so Tuantuan will have a place to run around…”
Her eyes flickered, and as if remembering something, she pulled him deeper into the backyard, her tone tinged with pride, "And there's more, I specially had the craftsmen build a small cowshed in the back."
Not long after returning from Wujiang, Ye Mu took the oxcart from the carriage shop and parked it in his small courtyard.
“The open space next to the cowshed,” Ye Mu pointed to the sun-drenched soil, “can be cleared out to grow some commonly used herbs or seasonal vegetables, so we can be self-sufficient. Wouldn’t that be great?”
She talked on and on, her eyes sparkling, as if she could already see the lush green fence and the verdant medicinal seedlings.
Xie Yicheng stared at her radiant profile, his heart softening. He suddenly reached out and gently grasped her wrist, which she was still gesturing.
Ye Mu was taken aback and turned to look at him. "What's wrong? Don't you like it? Or do you feel something's not right?"
Xie Yicheng shook her head, took her slightly cool hand in her palm, gently rubbed her wrist with her thumb, and looked at her, "If you like it, it's fine no matter what."
Ye Mu blushed under his gaze, her heart pounding, and then she heard him ask in a low voice, "Then why do you like me?"
Why does Ye Mu like him? She could give countless answers to this question: she liked the sincerity beneath his cool exterior, his unwavering loyalty in times of crisis, his occasional clumsy tenderness, and even his childlike questioning right now…
But under his sincere gaze, these thoughts turned into a burning shyness, stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. She tiptoed and nestled into his arms, whispering in his ear, "Can we say these things in bed tonight?"
Her words carried a hint of ambiguity, causing Xie Yicheng's breath to catch in his throat. He immediately thought of something else, turned to look at her, and his eyes darkened instantly. "You're clean again so quickly?"
He remembered her due date; it seemed like it would be a few more days before she felt refreshed.
Ye Mu immediately realized that he had misunderstood, and her face flushed even more. She said righteously, "What are you thinking! It's not over yet. Even if it's clean, you're not allowed to do anything reckless! Your vital energy has not yet recovered, and this is the time for you to rest and recuperate. You can't be careless at all."
She thought to herself that even if the quack doctor's concerns were just unfounded worries, a little more careful care would ensure that nothing went wrong.
Xie Yicheng looked at her charming appearance, a smile flashing in his eyes, and nodded in agreement.
Why do I like him? Jiang Si asked me this question later when he came to help me move.
They moved the day before they went to Jimo to pick up their mother. Xie Yicheng's small courtyard was no longer suitable, and it wouldn't be good for their mother to come back and see him living in her room.
With the new house settled, many small items need to be moved from the small courtyard in Yuqian Lane.
Jiang Si happened to be visiting her during his ten-day holiday, so he took the opportunity to help move the furniture.
Looking at the obviously not-so-spacious mansion, he put down a trunk and said to Ye Mu, who was tidying up the bedding, "Fourth Sister, why do you like a monk? What's so good about him? This mansion isn't even half the size of the top scholar's residence."
Ye Mu didn't even look up. "The deed to this house is in my name. Every brick, every tile, every table, and every chair here was earned by him and me together. It's clear, unambiguous, and every single penny belongs to me."
She picked up the neatly folded soft bedding, turned to look at Jiang Si, her eyes clear and bright, "No matter how nice your top scholar's mansion is, it has never had my name on it, it has never belonged to me."
Jiang Si was speechless at her words. The small stool he was lifting lost its grip, the leg slipped, and it slammed into his own instep with a "bang," causing him to groan in pain and gasp for breath.
After the pain subsided, he looked up at Ye Mu and said, "If you want it, I can transfer the Zhuangyuan Mansion to you back then. As long as you tell me, how could I refuse?"
"Didn't you say yourself that you wanted to ask for it?" Ye Mu walked past him carrying the bedding, her voice soft. "I can't afford it."
Jiang Si stood there, finally unable to hold back, "Then why are you able to accept what he gave you?"
Ye Mu didn't stop walking, but the corners of her mouth curved slightly, "Because I feel at ease."
She could accept Xie Yicheng's sincerity towards her without any hesitation.
Therefore, she never felt unworthy in front of him.
"So you really want to be a bookkeeper at this clinic in the future?" Jiang Si chased her out of the house. "His Highness the Crown Prince has quite a bit of praise for you because of the accounting case in Jiangnan. His Highness is already planning that in the next imperial examination, he might make an exception and allow some qualified women to register and take the exam, competing with men and earning official positions based on their talents. Don't you want to consider preparing and taking this opportunity to truly embark on an official career?"
Ye Mu was taken aback, then shook his head. "After this experience, I've walked on the edge of life and death, and many of my thoughts have changed. While I can certainly realize my ambitions in the officialdom, the lonely life at the top is not what I seek. To be able to run a pharmacy with my beloved, live a peaceful life, practice medicine to help people, and keep accounts in order, is already a fulfillment for me."
"Then do you regret making this trip to Jiangnan?"
"Of course not." Ye Mu smiled. "Look, isn't this the significance of my trip? There are so many talented and ambitious women in the world. There must be sisters who are more resilient and intelligent than me, more suitable to speak up for the people in the court. There are people who are more suitable to hold power than me. Someone has to walk this path first."
“I do feel sorry for you.” Jiang Si bent down and continued to lift a heavy book box, his voice muffled by the movement. “You clearly have the skills and the mind. If you were willing to continue down this path, you might have achieved great things and even made a name for yourself in history.”
"Isn't saving lives a good thing?" Ye Mu picked up a feather duster, turned his wrist lightly, and carefully dusted off the dust on the display cabinet. "Being able to enjoy the path I have chosen and walk it steadily, even if I am not recorded in history, is already a joy in life for me."
What she wanted was neither the empty fame of high office nor the immense wealth and power, but the right to choose her own path, independent of dependence and blind obedience, and to follow her heart. Whether that choice led her to a wider world or to stay in her hometown, she should do so with pride and a clear conscience.
A grand and majestic journey, true to oneself.
The room was quiet for a moment.
Jiang Si suddenly asked, "By the way, Fourth Sister, have you mentioned to Xie Yicheng that you were reborn?"
Whether it was his overthinking or not, ever since Xie Yicheng woke up, the way he looked at him always carried a chilling coldness. It wasn't just aloofness, but more like a suppressed hostility, a hostility that wanted to punch him a couple of times.
"I don't like to gossip like this." Ye Mu didn't turn his head, carefully dusting off the dust. "Those past dreams are very blurry. But when he came back from the brink of death, in his delirium, he remembered some memories of his past life."
"Oh? So, he knows that you and I were a legitimate husband and wife in that life?" Jiang Si felt inexplicably relieved. He suddenly understood where the deep-seated hostility in Xie Yicheng's eyes came from—it was jealousy.
It turns out that this seemingly aloof and detached man, who appears to be unconcerned with anything, is also capable of jealousy.
Jiang Si's lips unconsciously curled up. "He knows that I was once your husband? So, in any case, from your past life to this life, you have only ever bowed to heaven and earth with me, drunk the wedding wine, and had a marriage that was recognized by the world."
These words, spoken without bias, were overheard by Xie Yicheng, who was hurrying past under the corridor. He was on his way to the door to settle the remaining wages with the waiting coachman.
Xie Yicheng paused in her steps.
However, the coachman outside, needing to get to his next job, called out to urge him on. Xie Yicheng ultimately did not linger under the eaves, suppressing his suddenly turbulent emotions, and walked quickly towards the door with a blank expression.
Therefore, he missed Ye Mu's next rebuttal from inside the room.
"That was just Ye Mu from her past life. I told you before, she and I are just people with the same name and surname, and we just happen to have some karmic connection."
Ye Mu turned around and looked directly at Jiang Si, her gaze clear, without any resentment or lingering affection. "I am me, she is her. In this life, I will only marry Xie Yicheng."
"Then why hasn't he formally proposed to you yet?" Jiang Si slammed his book box down with a thud. "You two are living together now, planning for the future, yet he won't even give you a formal title? Does he think that since you're already by his side, there's no need to put in these efforts?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Ye Mu was both ashamed and angry, and picked up a feather duster to hit him without any politeness.
Ye Muming was clearly showing no mercy, making Jiang Si howl in pain, but Xie Yicheng, who was watching from afar, inexplicably interpreted it as a different kind of flirting.
His eyes suddenly darkened, and he turned his head away.
As dusk approached, the last rays of sunlight began to fade.
Ye Mu thought the relocation was over, but Xie Yicheng suddenly spoke up while inspecting the items, her voice devoid of emotion, "There's one more important old item in the old house in Yuqian Lane. I just remembered when I was taking inventory that I forgot to bring it. I need to go back and get it."
Ye Mu naturally agreed.
The two walked back silently along the familiar bluestone path.
Jiang Si's words stirred something in Ye Mu's heart like a pebble.
Although she firmly believed that her feelings for Xie Yicheng far exceeded a marriage certificate, what woman wouldn't long for a solemn ceremony? A title that would allow her to confidently introduce "this is my husband" to everyone?
Perhaps it started with Yu Shaobai's words in the carriage, "You are not yet married, anything can change," or perhaps it was the teasing of the five gentlemen of the Ink Palace as "young couple" or "husband and wife" that made her heart itch; a seed of hidden expectation had already been quietly planted.
Why has Hsieh Yi-cheng never formally brought this up?
Ye Mu secretly speculated, glancing at him furrowing his brows slightly, a rare occurrence for him, and his lips pressed together tightly, as if pondering some difficult problem. Was he also troubled by the same thing? Was he weighing the timing, or was there some difficulty at play?
In truth, what she asked for was not anything complicated or grand; she would be content if he just mentioned it once.
But Ye Mu told herself that she couldn't rush things. She couldn't be the one, a young woman, to ask or urge others about this.
She could only keep her composure and suppress these thoughts in her heart.
The two, who usually had endless things to talk about, were now preoccupied with their own thoughts, exchanging only a few meaningless words, creating a subtly tense atmosphere.
Just as they arrived at the entrance of Yuqian Lane, they saw a man pacing anxiously in front of the courtyard gate. It was none other than Manager Zhao of Baohetang.
He spotted the two returning hand in hand, and was overjoyed to see that Xie Yicheng was walking steadily. He quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Dr. Xie, Madam Ye. This is wonderful! Seeing that Dr. Xie can walk freely, I suppose you will be able to return to the clinic soon? Many of the old patients in the clinic are talking about you every day."
Ye Mu glanced at Xie Yicheng and said tactfully, "Manager Zhao, we were just about to inform you that we have recently moved out of Yuqian Lane and settled elsewhere."
Shopkeeper Zhao was taken aback, then waved his hands repeatedly, his expression becoming even more eager, "It's alright, it's alright! The house being a bit far is fine, I can send a carriage to pick up and drop off Doctor Xie every day! The consultation fee is negotiable too! As long as Doctor Xie is willing to go back and oversee things..."
Xie Yicheng stepped forward and said, "Manager Zhao, to be honest, Fourth Sister and I have found a house on Chunxi Road and are preparing to open our own pharmacy. It is quite far from Baohetang, so we will not interfere with each other's business and will definitely not steal your business."
Seeing the disappointment on Manager Zhao's face, he said gently, "I will remember your kindness. How about this, from now on, on the first and fifteenth of each month, if I am not in urgent need of treatment, I can take half a day to go back to Baohetang and sit in the clinic for half a day free of charge, as a way of repaying my former employer and the patients who trust me."
Upon hearing this, Manager Zhao was extremely grateful: "This is wonderful! Doctor Xie is kind and skilled. It is a great blessing for our clinic and patients to have your occasional guidance!"
He smiled broadly, his gaze shifting between the two of them, and casually remarked, "You two are sure to have a harmonious and prosperous life together."
Ye Mu's frustration about their official status was lingering, and upon hearing this, she almost subconsciously muttered, "They're not even a married couple yet..."
Although the voice was soft, everyone present could hear it clearly.
Xie Yicheng turned his head to look at her, his eyes deep and turbulent.
Manager Zhao realized he had misspoke, laughed awkwardly twice, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then hurriedly said goodbye and left.
Nighttime at the old residence in Yuqian Lane.
It turns out that the important old item he mentioned was the quilt she had given him years ago.
"You can remember to get a quilt when you're lying down, but why didn't you mention it when you were proposing marriage?" Ye Mu said irritably, "Alright, the bedding is ready, you can go back to the new house."
"Aren't you going back?" Xie Yicheng asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll stay here tonight, and head straight to Jimo from here first thing tomorrow morning," Ye Mu said in a low voice. "You don't need to come with me to pick up Mother."
"Why won't you let me go?"
"What are you going to do?" Ye Mu closed the window, her tone cold. "It's all illegitimate. What kind of talk is it for me to go back to my maternal grandfather's house with a man who is not related to me?"
A moment of silence.
"Ye Mu, are you saying I have no official status, right?"
Xie Yicheng approached step by step, his voice lowering. Jiang Si's words from that afternoon echoed in his ears, making him feel uneasy.
His gaze was intense, with a hint of ruthlessness. "Who has ever had a formal relationship with you? Hmm? Whose formal relationship do you want?"
"That's true." Ye Mu was forced back by his sudden approach, her back pressed against the cold desk. With nowhere to retreat, she stared at him defiantly, "Did I say something wrong?"
“I sent a formal invitation to Lord Liu Yueshu a month ago.”
Liu Yueshu, Ye Mu's maternal grandfather.
Ye Mu was taken aback. "What invitation?"
Xie Yicheng had already pressed himself against her, his hands braced on the edge of the desk, trapping her completely between himself and the desk. His breath was almost burning her lips. "Naturally, it's a marriage proposal invitation."
"I have already prepared the first batch of the three letters and six rites, and attached the gift list with the invitation. So tell me, should I go? Am I qualified to go back to Jimo with you, to pay respects to your maternal grandfather and your mother, and to marry you in a proper and respectable manner?"
Ye Mu stood there dumbfounded, staring at him with wide, almond-shaped eyes.
"Or do you think I don't deserve a title?" Xie Yicheng spun her around, making her turn her back to him, and lifted her skirt. "Hmm? Whose title do you want?"
Why are you being so jealous?
Ye Mu finally sensed the jealousy in his words. She thought he had never cared much about her past marriage, but she was secretly delighted and annoyed that she had misjudged him. He was a very considerate person, and she shouldn't have been so suspicious.
But she had seriously underestimated him. His jealousy pressed down on her, so intense it felt like she couldn't breathe.
Ye Mu's back twitched slightly.
"Did you hit him like this this afternoon?"
The light slapping sound came from behind; it didn't hurt, but it was incredibly humiliating.
"Who hit him like that?!" Ye Mu felt wronged and was further pressured by him, making her feel extremely aggrieved. Her eyes were brimming with tears. "Xie Yicheng, you're turning right and wrong upside down! If you were an official, you would definitely be a treacherous minister who lies through his teeth."
The more she talked, the more out of control he became.
Ye Mu felt as if his heart was being ripped out.
"You're deceiving heaven and man! Just wait to be besieged by the people!" Ye Mu cried incessantly, already driven to the brink of defeat.
Xie Yicheng found it amusing again; where did she get these quirky and whimsical ideas from?
Outside the window, the moonlight was silent, and the shadows of the trees swayed gently.
"Then I'll surround and eliminate you first." He persisted, moving even closer, his breath hot against his skin. "He..."
Xie Yicheng stared at her earlobe and thrust forward, "Have you been here before?"
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Author's Note: Ahhhh, I finally got to this part! [Sunglasses][Sunglasses]
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