Zong Wenxiu felt that his life was particularly wonderful.
Though his childhood in the slums was tough, he had his mother by his side, along with other relatives like his aunt and cousins.
When he was nine and a half years old, he and his mother were brought back to the Marquis Manor, where he gained many more relatives, as well as the best younger brother in the world and the best aunt, who not only helped save his mother but also provided him with the finest educational resources.
At thirteen, he achieved the second-highest score in the imperial examinations of Great Chu.
He joined the Hanlin Academy as one of the most promising young officials.
By fourteen, just when he thought life couldn’t get any better, his father, who had been presumed dead for years, suddenly returned.
Zong Wenxiu had glimpsed his father from afar—he was ill but still tall and imposing. His father bore a resemblance to his uncle, which made him feel an instant familiarity.
At first, while his father was still recovering, Zong Wenxiu would tiptoe outside the courtyard, too hesitant to disturb him.
Later, his uncle told him: "Your father wants to see you."
Zong Wenxiu was so overwhelmed that he stood outside the door for half an hour, taking deep breaths to steady himself before finally knocking and greeting his father.
As his uncle and grandparents had said, his father was exceptionally kind—though not as lively as before his illness, he was patient and gentle. He would take time to teach Zong Wenxiu archery, craft small hidden weapons for him to play with, and even design an invincible war chariot and several formidable weapons just to boost his son’s reputation.
Zong Wenxiu’s admiration for his father grew with each passing day.
Gradually, the whole family adjusted to his father’s current state.
But then, after being shut out of his mother’s room—
"Bang—"
Zong Wenxiu began to hear laughter and lively chatter inside, along with his father speaking more and more, almost mirroring the talkative Jin Cheng.
Zong Wenxiu was stunned.
He wanted to keep eavesdropping, but Shunzi, squinting at him, promptly ushered him out.
Zong Wenxiu: "..."
Father, is this where our father-son bonding ends?
Yan Suxue’s cold only took a few days to recover from.
As Zong Yan had said, his strong constitution kept him from catching it. But even after Yan Suxue had fully recovered, Zong Yan would still visit her first thing every morning.
Sometimes he tended to her daily needs, sometimes he crafted little trinkets for her to play with, and other times he simply kept her company, chatting for hours on end.
The old madam teased him, "Yan’er, isn’t it tiring to run over here every day? Should I have your belongings moved back?"
At this, Zong Yan immediately glanced at Yan Suxue, noting her expression—only confusion, no resistance or displeasure.
He nodded and said, "Alright."
Yan Suxue shyly lowered her head.
The old madam was astonished. She had only said it offhandedly, yet Zong Yan didn’t object at all—this was clearly a promising development!
The move was swiftly arranged.
Originally, Zong Yan’s courtyard was next to Zong Zhao’s, but he was still uneasy around the sound of a baby’s cries, so the old madam had him relocate to Yan Suxue’s courtyard instead. The manor was spacious enough for the young couple to live wherever they pleased.
With the servants’ help, the move was completed that very day.
"Just sit there and wait for me," Zong Yan told Yan Suxue before busying himself again.
Soon, he returned with a string of colorful wind chimes, hesitantly offering them to her. "Do you like these?"
Yan Suxue took the chimes and gave them a gentle shake. The clear, melodious sound brought a smile to her face.
"They sound lovely. I like them very much."
Zong Yan exhaled in relief and sat beside her. "When I was little, I adored wind chimes like these, but my mother refused to buy them, saying they were for girls. But because she saw how much I liked them, she told me that when I grew up and married, I could buy them for someone I loved—that way, we could enjoy them together."
Yan Suxue swayed the chimes, her lips curving into a smile—until she suddenly processed the last part.
"Someone you loved?"
She had heard correctly.
Not just a wife, but someone he loved.
A faint pink tinted Zong Yan’s cheeks. Though bashful, he mustered his courage and affirmed, "Yes, someone I love."
The two sat side by side in rare silence.
Just as Zong Yan was racking his brain for something to say, Yan Suxue stood up. He froze, thinking she was leaving, and a pang of disappointment crept into his heart—until she turned her back to him and remarked, "Zong Yan, I’ve looked around the room, and there doesn’t seem to be a good place to hang these wind chimes."
Zong Yan blinked, then broke into a grin.
He sprang up eagerly. "The clothes rack has space. I’ll hang them there."
"Mm!" Yan Suxue smiled, handing the chimes back to him.
Together, they went to hang the wind chimes. After securing them, Zong Yan turned and saw the evening sunlight streaming through the window, casting a warm glow on Yan Suxue’s fair cheeks—radiant and beautiful, impossible to look away from...
Zong Yan averted his gaze, his eyes flickering.
He thought: She probably doesn’t love me yet. I shouldn’t overstep—it’d be rude.
Then he asked her, "What book would you like to read today? I’ll find it for you."
"I’d like to revisit the Book of Songs," Yan Suxue said, watching his back as he searched. "Zong Yan, you don’t enjoy these, do you?"
She remembered that only Zong Zhao was equally skilled in both literature and martial arts, while Zong Yan had studied at the military academy—a true warrior’s son.
Zong Yan truly didn’t care for it.
He disliked the convoluted classics and the flowery verses.
But the person he loved did.
After a pause, he said, "I can learn to like it."
Yan Suxue laughed softly. "You don’t have to force yourself." Glancing outside, she added, "I think there’s a lantern festival tonight. Should we go for a walk?"
Her mother-in-law had mentioned that Zong Yan loved lively places, yet since returning to the manor, he hadn’t stepped outside once.
He must be longing to explore, right?
Zong Yan’s brows lifted. "Do you enjoy lantern festivals?"
Yan Suxue nodded. "Very much. My sister-in-law used to take me often—the bustling vendor calls, the dazzling lanterns, everything lifts the spirits."
Zong Yan grinned. "Then let’s go see the lanterns."
They set out together.
Xu Wan had thoughtfully arranged a small decorated boat for them—the very "Bride on the Boat" that Jin Cheng had once bought for two hundred and fifty taels, so exquisite it looked fit for a wedding.
Zong Yan adored it at first sight.
Yan Suxue teased, "You really do share Jin Cheng’s taste. Your personalities are quite alike too."
Zong Yan, who had only heard of but never met the boy raised in their household for over a decade, asked curiously, "Do you like him a lot?"
Yan Suxue nodded. "Of course. Jin Cheng is adorable—everyone who knows him adores him. And Wenxiu dotes on him endlessly. The moment Jin Cheng whines, Wenxiu caves and gives him whatever he wants."
Zong Yan listened with an unwavering smile.
Noticing his gaze, Yan Suxue remarked, "Zong Yan, you smile so often. It suits you."
Both she and Wenxiu were naturally reserved, their smiles subdued and restrained, lacking the unrestrained joy that Zong Yan radiated.
She envied people like him.
