Liu Ming'an finally broke into his own house and entered the courtyard. He initially thought about sweeping away the incense ashes at the doorway, but considering he would only stay for two days, he decided against it.
The small courtyard looked much the same as when they left, except it was now covered with dead leaves and bird droppings. Spider webs adorned the eaves and windows, and everything inside was coated in dust. Jiang Ning couldn't even find a clean place to sit.
"I think we should stay at an inn instead..." Jiang Ning touched the musty bedding, which felt damp and had small spiders crawling on it. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep there.
Liu Ming'an nodded in agreement.
They stood in the courtyard for a while, taking a careful look at what was once their home, then closed the door and headed toward the Fusheng Restaurant, taking the opportunity to observe the streets of Lingshan Town along the way.
Although a year had passed, time hadn't left much of a mark on this small town. The shops remained largely unchanged, just as Liu Ming'an remembered them.
The couple walked hand in hand at a leisurely pace until they both stopped simultaneously at a particular spot.
The two-story building that once housed the Gold Jade Hall had been converted into a shop selling fabrics, silk, and ready-made clothes. The shop doors were wide open, with someone who appeared to be the owner enthusiastically greeting customers.
What made them pause was the shop assistant measuring and cutting fabric with scissors and a wooden ruler – it was none other than Zhao Qiang.
Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning exchanged surprised glances.
Zhao Qiang had been tricked by Monkey and Old Six Hu into going to Lotus Flower Village to drug people, planning to steal money at night. He had been sentenced to forty strokes of the cane and one year in prison, with his descendants banned from official positions for three generations. He had lost his position as a training instructor at the magistrate's office, and by their calculations, he must have just been released from prison recently.
"He had good martial arts skills. I thought he would become a bodyguard or security guard, but I never expected him to become a shop assistant."
Jiang Ning took a couple of looks and pulled Liu Ming'an away when she noticed Zhao Qiang beginning to look toward the door.
It was already afternoon when Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an arrived at the Fusheng Restaurant. They booked a room and then sent Qi Feng and Chen Hao to buy some spirit money and incense.
"Buy some sugar-filled pastries too," Liu Ming'an added after some thought.
"Yes, sir." The two servants departed while Liu Ming'an took Jiang Ning back to their room. After dinner, they enjoyed a comfortable bath with hot water before going to bed.
"I wonder how everyone in Lotus Flower Village is doing now?"
Liu Ming'an idly played with Jiang Ning's hand, his voice filled with anticipation.
"We'll see them tomorrow. Let's get some rest now."
Unlike Liu Ming'an, Jiang Ning was always somewhat detached when it came to others. She didn't share the same sentimentality and just wanted to sleep now.
"Alright, let's sleep." Liu Ming'an understood her personality and said no more, pulling her into his embrace before quietly closing his eyes.
Early the next morning, a horse-drawn carriage stopped at the entrance of Lotus Flower Village.
A man carrying a hoe on his way to the fields looked on curiously as two guards stepped down from the carriage carrying some packages. Then the carriage curtain lifted, and a striking couple emerged, both exceptionally good-looking and well-dressed.
Just as Liu Ming'an helped Jiang Ning down from the carriage, they heard a "thud" a few steps away. Turning their heads, they saw He Wu dropping his hoe and kneeling before them.
"This humble citizen pays respects to Princess Hening and the Prince Consort!"
"Brother Wu?" Liu Ming'an quickly stepped forward to help him up. "There's no need for such formality. We're just here for a visit."
Just as Liu Ming'an helped him up, Aunt Lin Er, who was carrying a basket, saw them and also dropped to her knees: "This humble woman pays respects to Princess Hening and the Prince Consort!"
Liu Ming'an felt a bit of a headache. He had deliberately chosen this time thinking everyone would be busy in the fields, but who would have thought they'd be greeted with kneeling right upon entering the village.
Jiang Ning helped Aunt Lin Er up, knowing that such gestures would be inevitable during their visit, so they might as well have them spread the word.
"Please go about your business, and if you see others, please let them know there's no need for formal greetings."
"Yes, yes, yes..." He Wu and Aunt Lin Er nodded repeatedly but remained rooted to the spot. Only after Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an headed toward the foot of the mountain with their two guards did they pick up their things and take a deep breath.
On their way to the mountain's foot, they encountered several more villagers, all of whom immediately knelt upon seeing them. Liu Ming'an initially tried to stop them but eventually gave up when he realized it was futile. At least he hadn't seen Third Great-Uncle and Third Great-Aunt among them.
Those kneeling in the fields heard only a "no need for formalities" and dared to look up, seeing the group of four walking steadily toward the green mountain.
They watched Liu Ming'an's retreating figure with mixed emotions. Just last year, he had been one of them, an insignificant villager, but now he had transformed into an untouchable noble. Even though his voice remained gentle and his manner friendly, things were undeniably different...
After their initial amazement, the villagers felt mostly relief that they hadn't mistreated Liu Ming'an before, sparing themselves from potential retribution. Otherwise, they might have ended up like the two women from the Li family, who had fled with their tails between their legs.
Liu Ming'an didn't notice these complex gazes or know their thoughts. With each step toward the burial ground at the mountain's foot, his heart grew heavier.
He had established himself and married well, wanting for nothing, yet his parents, who should have been enjoying their golden years and family happiness, were now buried in yellow earth. He couldn't even fulfill his basic filial duties.
Qi Feng and Chen Hao handed the packages to Liu Ming'an and tactfully remained on the small mound at the edge of the burial ground, keeping away the villagers who had followed to watch.
Jiang Ning stood before the tombstone, unconsciously looking up at the verdant mountain. It stood there silently, like a long-sleeping giant. Occasional birds flew in and out of the forest, their wing beats bringing brief sounds that only emphasized the mountain's tranquility. Like gentle rain falling into the vast sea, stillness was the mountain's true nature.
Liu Ming'an was also gazing at the mountain, but he wasn't seeing the trees or birds. His gaze was unfocused, his eyes filled with deep nostalgia.
If not for that accident, what would their family be like now?
Liu Ming'an stared for a long while, his eyes unconsciously growing moist, when he heard a soft, somewhat cool voice.
"Father, Mother, I am Jiang Ning, your daughter-in-law. Ming'an and I have come to visit you."
The voice brought Liu Ming'an back from his thoughts. Looking down, he saw Jiang Ning had already lit the incense and was slowly burning the spirit money piece by piece.
"Ning..." Liu Ming'an crouched down beside her, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor.
Seeing him like this pained Jiang Ning. After burning all the spirit money in her hands, she reached out and squeezed his hand firmly. "You should talk to your parents. I'll wait for you over there."
Liu Ming'an nodded, watching her walk to the low mound before slowly taking out some spirit money and lighting it.
"Father, Mother, a lot has happened this year. Let me tell you everything..."
"Let me start with the good news. Father, Mother, I achieved the highest score in the imperial examinations, and I married Ning. She's now Princess Hening, and thanks to her, I became a Prince Consort with a comfortable position in the Hanlin Academy..."
Liu Ming'an's eyes and lips curved into a slight smile as he continued: "Ning is pregnant. Father, Mother, I'm going to be a father too! If you were still here, you'd be so happy, wouldn't you?"
The flames licked at the yellow spirit money, consuming it to ashes in moments.
Liu Ming'an opened the paper package, revealing a full bag of sugar-filled pastries, and placed them before the tombstone.
"Father, I never knew you loved sugar-filled pastries until..." he hesitated over the form of address before continuing, "until Madam Lou told me."
"Father, I met the Lou family. I know who you are now, and I know what you went through."
The faces of the Lou family members flashed through his mind, finally settling on Wang Lanzhi's lifeless face at her death.
"I didn't return to the Lou family. I've kept the surname Liu, and my children will be Liu too."
"I used to call them Grandfather, Uncle, and Cousin, but later I thought it better to make a clean break. Now the Lou family members are just colleagues to me."
"I helped decline the Grand Tutor's wish to scatter the Old Madam's ashes on this mountain. I figured since you haven't mentioned them even once in all these years, you must have completely cut ties with them in your heart. Since boundaries were drawn, they're strangers now, and why should strangers disturb your peace..."
"Father, do you think I was too heartless?"
A mountain breeze gently swept by, lifting several half-burned joss papers. The bright yellow papers swirled in the wind, dancing in the air before falling back to their original spot, where they were consumed by the flames.
Liu Ming'an stared at the joss papers that had twirled in the air, and suddenly smiled: "Father, Mother, is this your way of speaking to me?"
The heaviness in his heart dissipated at that moment. Liu Ming'an stopped burning the papers one by one, instead dumping the remaining stack directly onto the flames. The fire suddenly blazed brighter, casting a warm glow even on the cold tombstone.
"Oh yes, Father, Lou Lianyu asked me to tell you that he'll always remember your teachings."
"I'm actually quite jealous of him. You taught him for eight years, but only taught me for six. You were so learned - if only you could have taught my children too, our Liu family might have produced a few more top scholars..."
"If only you were still here..."
Jiang Ning waited with Qi Feng and Chen Hao for about half an hour, watching as Liu Ming'an formally knelt before the tombstone and kowtowed three times before rising to join them.
Liu Ming'an returned to Jiang Ning's side and habitually took her hand: "Let's go see Third Great-Uncle and Third Great-Aunt."
Jiang Ning pointed to the nearby woods, and when Liu Ming'an looked up, he realized almost everyone from the village had come.
The village chief, noticing Liu Ming'an had spotted them, approached with a beaming smile. He bowed somewhat nervously to the couple, but before he could speak, Liu Ming'an cut him off: "Village Chief, no need for formalities. We're just here for a visit and don't need any special treatment. Please go about your business. We'll just visit Third Great-Uncle and Third Great-Aunt before leaving."
The village chief repeatedly nodded, saying "alright," but when he heard the last part, he responded: "Your Grace, you won't be able to see them."
"Why not?" Liu Ming'an's heart tightened as some unpleasant possibilities flashed through his mind.
"Third Great-Uncle passed away last winter. Third Great-Aunt was left alone, so her daughter, worried about her, took her to Apricot Blossom Village."
Liu Ming'an didn't know whether to feel relieved or remain anxious. He barely noticed how the village chief and the villagers departed, his mind consumed by the thoughts that "Third Great-Uncle had died" and "Third Great-Aunt had left."
"Is Apricot Blossom Village far from here? If you want to visit her, I can go with you."
Jiang Ning's voice rang beside his ear. Liu Ming'an looked at the concern in her eyes and smiled slightly, saying nothing else except, "Let's return to the inn first."
The four of them walked toward where their carriage was parked at the village entrance. After walking for a while, Jiang Ning sensed someone following them. Looking back, she saw it was the Mute Woman, and behind her was a kind-faced man carrying an adorable child, though the man walked with a limp.
"Mute Woman? Why are you following us?" Jiang Ning stopped and asked.
Hearing this question, the Mute Woman broke away from her husband and child, rushed forward, and when still a few steps away from Jiang Ning, fell heavily to her knees and kowtowed.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Ning was puzzled: "Is there something you need help with?"
The Mute Woman hurriedly shook her head, afraid Jiang Ning might think she was trying to curry favor.
The man behind her answered on her behalf: "She's thanking the Princess."
Jiang Ning understood and helped her up: "That was so long ago, and besides, didn't you already thank us by bringing us vegetables? No need to thank us again."
Back at the inn, Liu Ming'an tried to figure out the connection between Jiang Ning and the Mute Woman but couldn't piece it together. Fortunately, he wasn't one to dwell on such matters, so he let it go.
Later, they visited Aunt Hui. Perhaps because Lan Xu had once made a living selling osmanthus cakes too, Jiang Ning now felt particularly close to this kind-hearted woman.
Aunt Hui was both surprised and delighted to see them. She personally prepared a table full of dishes, offered many caring reminders during the meal, and when it was time to part, knowing she might never see them again in this life, she couldn't help but shed tears.
"Ming'an, you and the Princess must take good care of yourselves!"
Liu Ming'an nodded solemnly.
Jiang Ning knew that besides Aunt Hui, Third Great-Aunt was the person Liu Ming'an cared most about in Lingshan Town. She wanted to accompany him to Apricot Blossom Village to visit the kind-faced old lady, but Liu Ming'an refused.
"The road to Apricot Blossom Village isn't easy to travel. Ning, please wait for me at the inn."
Jiang Ning said she wasn't that delicate, but Liu Ming'an insisted. In the end, Qi Feng accompanied him while Chen Hao prepared for their return to the capital.
Liu Ming'an set out for Apricot Blossom Village before dawn and returned at dusk.
"Third Great-Aunt is doing well, spending her days taking care of her little grandson. She's living a comfortable life." Liu Ming'an was relieved to see the old lady still as cheerful as before.
"Oh, and Third Great-Aunt told me something else. After news spread that you had become a princess, He Zhenhu and Li Xiangyun's family, worried about our revenge, moved to another county."
Liu Ming'an couldn't help but laugh when he heard this news, and Jiang Ning also burst into giggles: "Such small-minded people, who even remembers them?"
"That's what happens when you have a guilty conscience."
Liu Ming'an poked her little dimple and kissed it several times: "Now that we've seen everyone we needed to see, we can return to the capital."
"Yes, let's go back to the capital!"
