Young Master Lang's expression turned dark and sinister the moment he saw the sword.
But when he looked up and saw Hongxiu choking Chu Ruoyan nearly to death, he immediately shouted, "Stop!"
With a flick of his sleeve, he sent Hongxiu flying back.
Chu Ruoyan clutched her throat, coughing painfully, while Hongxiu raged, "Master!! That's the Frost Snow Sword!! The very sword stolen by that traitor back then!!"
Yet Young Master Lang ignored her, whispering instead, "Are you alright?"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head weakly. Just then, Shopkeeper Du approached, his expression grave. "Master, I agree with Hongxiu. Had it not been for that traitor's betrayal, how could the prince and you have fallen to such a state? And this isn't just your family matter—it involves the lives of over a thousand from our Hundred Knowledge Pavilion and the complete annihilation of our shadow guards! Please reconsider!"
Young Master Lang's face darkened further. Without turning, he coldly replied, "I trust her!"
"Master—" Both Shopkeeper Du and Hongxiu tried to argue further, but at that moment, Old Divine Doctor Qin arrived in a carriage. Seeing the scene, he scolded furiously, "What did I tell you?! She must not catch a chill! Standing out here in the freezing night wind—are you trying to kill her?!"
Young Master Lang immediately helped Chu Ruoyan into the carriage. When he stepped out again, his icy gaze swept over Hongxiu and Shopkeeper Du. "I will investigate this myself. Let's go!"
The next morning, at dawn.
Yan Zheng woke groggily, instinctively reaching for the figure beside him—only to grasp empty sheets.
His mind snapped awake. "A-Yan? A-Yan?!"
He sat up abruptly. The bed was empty.
"A-Yan! A-Yan!"
Barely dressed, he rushed out. Meng Yang, hearing the commotion, approached while rubbing his temples. "Young Master? What's wrong?"
Even he, usually an early riser, had overslept—perhaps from too much wine the night before.
Yan Zheng demanded, "Have you seen my wife?"
"W-Wasn't she in your chambers?" Meng Yang was bewildered. A cold dread seized Yan Zheng's heart. He bolted out.
He turned the entire Yan residence upside down before mounting a horse and galloping straight to the Chu family's estate.
Chu Huaishan and Lady Jiang the Younger hurried out upon hearing the news. Frowning, Chu Huaishan said, "Impossible. Ruoyan is always sensible—she wouldn't vanish without reason... Did she say anything to you last night?"
Yan Zheng suddenly remembered. "She said... if she were to die..."
His voice trembled. An unprecedented terror gripped him as he roared, "To the Five City Garrison! Check if anyone left the city last night!"
Chu Huaishan swayed on his feet. Lady Jiang the Younger steadied him. "Lord Chu, take heart. The eldest young lady's illness was being treated by Old Divine Doctor Qin. Surely she'll be fine..."
The words reminded Yan Zheng. He spun around and sprinted toward the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion.
The Tianyi Tavern stood deserted.
Yesterday’s lively establishment now lay barren, as if it had never existed.
Yan Zheng clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked. Through gritted teeth, he spat a name: "Yun. Lang."
Who else but him could orchestrate such a disappearance?
Just then, Meng Yang rushed in. "Young Master! Old Xu found a letter in your chambers—from Madam!"
Before he could finish, Yan Zheng was already gone.
The bridal chamber in the Yan residence still bore its wedding decorations—red silks draped over windows and doors, the candles barely burnt out.
Yan Zheng stormed inside, where Old Xu stood hesitantly holding an envelope.
"Give it to me."
His tone brooked no argument.
Old Xu sighed and handed it over...
The letter unfolded, revealing delicate handwriting.
To my husband, Yan Zheng,
I suffer from a cold affliction, my life nearing its end. By Old Divine Doctor Qin’s guidance, I seek a witch doctor who may cure me—but the treatment requires ten years. I beg you, for the sake of our bond, raise Wenjing to adulthood. In ten years, I pray we meet again. Remember this!
The words "for the sake of our bond" were circled.
Yet Yan Zheng’s heart turned to ice.
If a witch doctor truly existed, why would she leave in secret?
If she truly meant to reunite in ten years, why mention raising Wenjing?
Recalling her words last night, this was no promise—
It was a farewell.
A hollow decade-long hope, as if he could forget her in time.
"Young Master! The South City Garrison reports someone used your token to leave the city last night!"
"And the Chu family sent a man named Wang Tong—he claims Madam fainted after the palace coup and was saved by Young Master Lang of the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion!"
Each word confirmed his fears.
The man turned woodenly. "Summon—"
Meanwhile, on the road outside the capital, a convoy of carriages raced like the wind.
The woman’s condition had worsened. Bundled in thick furs, she still shivered uncontrollably.
Young Master Lang couldn’t bear it. Reaching to transfer his inner energy, Chu Ruoyan weakly refused. "Don’t... waste your strength..."
He scoffed. "In this state, you won’t last to Yangzhou! Didn’t you want to see your grandfather?"
Her eyes dimmed with longing. "I did... but it’s alright if I don’t... Ah—!"
The cold pierced her bones, her teeth chattering as she forced out, "Thank... you..."
"Enough of that!" He barked, "Elder Qin, get in here!"
The carriage halted. Elder Qin climbed inside, felt her pulse, and scowled. "Foolish girl! With your condition, how dare you—?! The cold has reached your heart. Even the gods can’t save you now!"
Chu Ruoyan smiled faintly, but a sudden pain bent her double.
Young Master Lang ignored propriety, gripping her hand to channel his energy—yet it rebounded uselessly. The frost poison had taken root too deeply.
Shivering violently, she curled against him, murmuring deliriously, "He didn’t follow... did he?"
His heart ached, but he lied harshly. "He did! He wants to watch you die—then join you! Little fool, if not for yourself, hold on for him!"
She shook her head desperately. "Don’t... let him see me... please..."
Her fingers, white with strain, clutched his robes.
He turned away briefly before muttering, "Fine."
A fragile smile touched her lips as she whispered,
"Good... he’s alive..."
"Did I say too little...? Ten years... I should’ve said twenty..."
"But he might’ve suspected... Does he know?"
"No... he mustn’t..."
Her pupils dilated, unfocused. Young Master Lang hastily wiped his eyes—then came a soft clink.
Her arm fell limp.
A jade bracelet rolled free—pale green, carved inside with the character "Yun."
Elder Qin gasped. "Isn’t this—?!"
Before he could finish, Yun Lang bellowed, "Bring water!!"
Shopkeeper Du hurriedly passed a basin inside.
Yun Lang grabbed the jade bracelet and tossed it into the basin. A hissing sound followed, and soon the outer color of the bracelet faded away, revealing a pure white band with streaks of blood faintly swirling within—
"The Blood Jade Bracelet! Mother’s Blood Jade Bracelet?!"
If he had harbored even a sliver of doubt earlier because of the Frost Snow Sword, the sight of this bracelet now drowned all hesitation in overwhelming joy.
He immediately crouched down. "Miao Miao, it’s you, isn’t it?!"
It was his younger sister, Yun Miao—it had to be Yun Miao!
How could he have been so foolish, forgetting the words she once whispered to him: Eat some candy, and the bitterness will fade…
And just now, beneath that makeup, her features so reminiscent of their mother’s, and now this Blood Jade Bracelet!!
Yun Lang trembled violently, but the breath of the person in his arms grew weaker, fading bit by bit…
Old Divine Doctor Qin turned his face away. "Young Master Lang, the heavens have their own designs. You... you must learn to accept this..."
Yun Lang snapped his head up, his expression twisting into something monstrous. "Accept what?! This wretched fate stole Mother, stole Eldest Brother, and now, after finally reuniting me with Miao Miao, you tell me to accept it?!"
The old doctor flinched at the fury radiating from him, instinctively stepping back. "Young Master Lang, your condition—"
"Heh... You’re right. I am sick. These years of neither living nor dying—I’ve had enough! Qin Yiru, I will save her!"
He called him by his true name—Qin Yiru, the legendary physician of the fallen dynasty.
But the old man’s beard quivered as a horrifying realization struck him. "No! You can’t possibly mean to use that method—absolutely not!!"
