Lan Yin Bi Yue

Chapitre 3

Qin Yu looked at the poem Lin Suyang had written over and over again, murmuring to herself, "Gone and thin, who can ask, only the flowers know, tears fall in vain... It must be very sad, right? Just like my mother." Qin Yu's eyes reddened slightly, but she quickly blinked to hide the tears that were about to spill. She said to Lin Suyang, "Wait for me here, I'll be right back." Actually, Lin Suyang wouldn't have left even if she hadn't said so, because he saw his lost BMW Yi leisurely circling not far from him.

After Qin Yu left, Lin Suyang walked over to Yi: "You little rascal, you actually managed to leave without a word and find your way back?" Yi snorted excitedly as soon as it saw Lin Suyang. Lin Suyang gently stroked its head and said, "How have you been? Haven't you suffered much these past two days?" Yi obediently lowered its head, letting him stroke it, occasionally turning its head to let him move to another spot. Lin Suyang thought to himself, a horse like Yi, which already understands human nature, wouldn't run away on its own unless someone forced it. Now that the horse is here, perhaps the thief is among those seemingly powerless scholars. I want to see who's so bold as to steal a horse and then flaunt it everywhere.

Qin Yu, breathless, rushed over and grabbed him, pulling him towards the high platform. When he came to his senses, he found himself standing in the middle of the platform, surrounded by people staring at him. On the platform, an elderly man with a white beard, who seemed to be of considerable status, looked at him incredulously: "You are Lin Suyang?" Seeing Lin Suyang nod, he unfolded the Xuan paper in his hand, pointing to the poem inscribed on it, and asked, "Did you write this poem about peach blossoms?" Lin Suyang hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. "Truly remarkable literary talent, worthy of the title of the number one talent in Yundu," the old man said with a smile, stroking his beard.

Lin Suyang, bewildered, asked Qin Yu, "What's going on?" "Didn't you hear? You're now the number one talent in Yundu!" Qin Yu said, glancing smugly at the white-robed man who had been sitting next to Lin Suyang. Only then did Lin Suyang realize that the man's appearance was in no way inferior to Qin Yu and his sister's. His gentle humility seemed completely at odds with the imposing aura he exuded, and it felt as if he had indeed seen him somewhere before. Seeing that the man was also staring intently at him, Lin Suyang slightly curved his lips and nodded in return with a faint smile.

After the conference ended, many people came to congratulate Lin Suyang. He then learned that the person whose work came first at the Peach Blossom Banquet would be awarded the title of the Number One Talent in Yundu. However, he didn't understand why the decision was made so quickly, given that it had only just begun. Later, he heard from Lin Ziyan that after Qin Yu read his poem on stage, the audience fell silent, pondering its meaning, followed by a chorus of praise. Several qualified writers even requested to abstain, acknowledging their inferiority. Lin Suyang said self-deprecatingly, "Then didn't I get a huge advantage?" "That's because you outshone everyone else," Lin Ziyan retorted. Lin Suyang didn't want to continue the topic, so he asked Lin Ziyan, "Where's Qin Yu?" Lin Ziyan looked around and said, "Huh, he was just here, but now I don't know where he went."

Lin Suyang was unconcerned about Qin Yu's ostentatious efforts to make herself famous; she wondered what tricks the girl was up to now. Lin Suyang had never had a sister in either her past or present life, therefore she doted on and indulged Qin Yu immensely, which destined their lives to be inextricably intertwined.

Volume One, Chapter Eight: King Qin Ke of Yin

After explaining the post-meeting matters, Feng Hanyu asked Lin Suyang, "Suyang, will you be coming back to Guangyue Pavilion with me?" "Of course," Lin Suyang replied immediately. He didn't want to be with his old man before the imperial examinations were over. "Oh, right, my horse!" Lin Suyang suddenly remembered that Yi was still in the woods. "Wasn't Yi lost?" Lin Ziyan asked curiously. Lin Suyang smiled, "It missed its master and naturally came back. You all wait here for a bit."

Lin Suyang breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yi still munching on the newly sprouted grass. He walked over, stroked its fur, and said, "At least you haven't forgotten me."

"Is this your horse?" A gentle voice came from behind. Lin Suyang turned around and saw the man sitting next to him. "Of course it's my horse. Could it be yours? Perhaps... you're the horse thief?" Lin Suyang asked mischievously. The man was taken aback when he saw him, then chuckled softly, "You're still so... special." "What?" Lin Suyang didn't hear clearly. "That day, I suddenly had urgent business and needed to travel quickly. I saw an ownerless horse by the roadside and borrowed it for a while. Who would have thought I'd find its owner here?" the man explained, raising his voice.

A horse without anyone to look after it is considered a stray? Then there must be plenty of stray horses in the world, Lin Suyang thought to himself, rolling his eyes. Just then, a man who looked like a soldier ran over and called out in a low voice, "Your Highness..." and then whispered a few words in the man's ear.

Your Highness? Lin Suyang recalled hearing people say that the Ninth Prince would be coming. Could he be the highly praised Prince Yin, Qin Ke? No wonder, the person Qin Yu knew must be extraordinary. He never expected it to be the famous wise Prince, the Ninth Prince, and so young.

Seeing that they had finished speaking, Lin Suyang spoke first, "Since Your Highness has other matters to attend to, this humble subject will take his leave. As for the horse, let's leave it at that." With that, he took the horse and left. He hadn't gone far when he heard someone behind him say, "So your name is Lin Suyang. We'll meet again... Ice Doll." Lin Suyang's hand holding the horse trembled, and his face turned deathly pale. He turned around abruptly, but only saw the figure of Prince Yin disappearing into the distance.

Qin Ke smiled happily, "Lin Suyang, I've finally found you."

Su Qingwan passed away in the winter when Lin Suyang was seven years old. Because she was a woman from an art troupe, she was not allowed to be buried in the ancestral grave according to custom. The evening after Su Qingwan was buried on the mountain, a heavy snow fell. For the first time, Lin Suyang wore women's clothing and braided her hair, kneeling quietly before the grave. Su Qingwan had never seen Lin Suyang dressed as a woman before, so Lin Suyang wanted to show her today, even though she would never see it again.

"I, Gu Xiao'an, kneel to heaven, kneel to earth, kneel to my own parents. Now, here, you are my mother. This is the first and last time I kowtow to you in the name of Gu Xiao'an. From now on, there will be no more Gu Xiao'an in this world." The cold words flew far away with the goose feather-like snow.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, but Lin Suyang remained kneeling there until the white snow before him turned black.

When she woke up, she opened her eyes to see a handsome boy with a string of sandalwood prayer beads around his neck looking at her happily: "You're awake?" The boy was only eight or nine years old, his face full of childish excitement. Lin Suyang gave him a cold look, sat up, and then realized that she was covered with a thick child's cloak. She pulled the cloak off and returned it to the boy, saying a faint thank you. Then she rubbed her frozen legs and struggled to stand up.

"You're so pretty. Like the ice dolls they make. Can I call you Ice Doll?" The boy wasn't deterred by Lin Suyang's coldness. Lin Suyang remained silent. She rubbed her cold little hands together, then turned and walked down the mountain without looking back. Leaving the boy behind, shouting, "Remember. My name is Ke'er. My mother calls me Ke'er."

Lin Ziyan saw Lin Suyang approaching with a troubled expression. Worried, she asked, "Brother, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Feng Hanyu, seeing that he didn't seem sick, remained silent despite his suspicions. He simply told Lin Ziyan, "He's probably just tired. Ziyan, why don't you take your brother home to rest?"

After Lin Ziyan and Lin Suyang rode away, a masked man in black appeared before Feng Hanyu. Feng Hanyu calmly asked, "Who did Lin Suyang just meet?" "King Qin Ke of Yin," the man in black replied in a hoarse voice. He then recounted the conversation between Lin Suyang and Qin Ke. After listening, Feng Hanyu waved his hand and said, "Go down." The man in black immediately disappeared into the peach grove. Feng Hanyu gazed at the gloomy sky. A storm was brewing.

Lin Suyang couldn't concentrate on the book. He wasn't sure if Qin Ke had recognized him. Nearly ten years had passed; Qin Ke probably wouldn't remember clearly. Perhaps she just vaguely thought Lin Suyang looked like the little girl from back then. Besides, now only the nanny knew he was a girl disguised as a boy. And Qin Ke had only seen a girl. So he didn't need to worry about that right now. Thinking this, Lin Suyang put down the book and lay down on the bed, feeling at ease.

Lin Suyang stayed home for three days. Lin Cheng forced him to even bring a book with him while eating. He initially considered going to Feng Hanyu's place to avoid him, but then thought it wouldn't be good to trouble others. Lin Ziyan, on the other hand, was too busy at the Xin residence these past few days with his exams and couldn't come back. So he stayed in his room, ostensibly reading, but actually sleeping. Several times he couldn't resist sneaking out, but Lin Cheng caught him before he could even leave the house, followed by another severe scolding.

Seven days passed in this manner. Finally, the Prince Yin's residence sent someone to invite Lin Suyang to a banquet. Upon hearing that it was the Prince Yin who had invited him, Lin Cheng thought to himself that his unfilial son had finally come to his senses and understood how to associate with important figures. So he immediately told Lin Suyang to leave, even instructing him not to return too early. Lin Suyang, however, was greatly startled by Qin Ke's "invitation." How could a prince condescend to invite the son of a Minister of Rites to dinner? It seemed the banquet was far from pleasant.

When Lin Suyang's carriage arrived at the Prince's mansion, servants were already waiting at the gate. As soon as he got out of the carriage, one of them came over, bowed, and said, "You must be Young Master Lin. The Prince has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me."

Lin Suyang followed him, turning left and right through the vast mansion. Lost in his own thoughts, he didn't pay attention to where they were going. Soon, the person leading the way stopped. Lin Suyang looked up, and the man turned to him, saying, "This servant can only escort you this far, young master. The study is not far ahead; the Prince is waiting there. Please go there yourself, young master." Lin Suyang nodded his thanks.

Lin Suyang knocked on the door and heard a voice say "Come in." He pushed the door open and saw Qin Ke standing behind his desk writing.

"What business does Your Highness have with this humble subject?" Lin Suyang couldn't help but ask when Qin Ke hadn't responded for a while. Just then, Qin Ke finished writing the last stroke, picked up the paper, blew on the ink to dry it, and beckoned Lin Suyang over to take a look. Lin Suyang went over and took it.

The handwriting was vigorous and powerful, the strokes decisive and clean, each character precise and elegant. Upon closer inspection, the content was the peach blossom poem Lin Suyang had written that day.

"How does it compare to what you wrote?" A voice suddenly came from above, and a warm breeze brushed against his neck. Lin Suyang was startled and looked up sharply. His lips lightly brushed against Qin Ke's chin, and Lin Suyang immediately took several steps back.

Qin Ke smiled and pointed to the chair closest to him, saying, "Sit down." Lin Suyang was still reeling from the earlier surprise. He looked around and saw that the only chair in the entire study was the one next to Qin Ke, which was reserved for guests. Since Qin Ke was still standing there, he had no choice but to say, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. I'm not tired." Qin Ke didn't allow him to refuse: "Do you want me to stand with you?" Lin Suyang reluctantly sat down. Only then did Qin Ke turn around and sit back in his armchair.

"Now, Lin Suyang's reputation as the number one talent in Yundu must be known to everyone." The room was dimly lit, so Qin Ke's expression was not clear. Lin Suyang could not tell whether his words were praise or criticism, so he decided to wait and see what Qin Ke said next.

"My purpose in attending the Peach Blossom Banquet was actually to keep an eye out for talented individuals for the court... If you're willing, you can directly apply to the Hanlin Academy as a Beisi (a junior official position)." Beisi was a unique official position in this era, equivalent to a modern-day advisor. Beisi in the Hanlin Academy didn't hold a high rank; their duties were limited to accompanying the emperor during visits from foreign envoys, answering their questions when necessary. Being a Beisi required not only literary talent but also quick wit, let alone working directly under the emperor's nose.

"What if I say I don't want to?" Lin Suyang asked. "No one can force you. But wouldn't that be letting Jingyang down?" Qin Ke said meaningfully.

Qin Yu? What does being a sergeant have to do with Qin Yu? Lin Suyang looked completely bewildered.

"That's enough for today. You can go back and think about it some more," Qin Ke said, a hint of joy in his voice. "Someone, prepare dinner."

Volume One, Peach Blossoms, Chapter Nine: Many Actions Lead to Losses

It was just getting dark when they left the Prince's residence. Qin Ke had originally wanted to send Lin Suyang back by carriage, but he politely declined.

Judging from today's conversation, Qin Ke didn't mention the events of ten years ago at all, perhaps Lin Suyang really guessed that Qin Ke had simply mistaken him for someone else that day. However, he always gave Lin Suyang a strange feeling, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what was strange, he just felt somewhat uneasy. Also, what did he mean by "Qin Yu's good intentions"? Could it be that Qin Yu had helped him get the position of Hanlin Academy Compiler? Lin Suyang suddenly thought of Qin Yu's recent gaze and actions towards him, and his attitude towards others, and his heart began to pound. Could it be what he was thinking? No, no, he must be overthinking it. Lin Suyang comforted himself as he wandered around trying to calm the turmoil brewing in his mind. However, he hadn't noticed that Qin Ke referred to himself as "I" instead of "this king" when speaking to him.

Before he knew it, Lin Suyang had leisurely arrived at the East Market. As night fell, the small shops and stalls lining the road were still bustling with people. Looking at this lively and prosperous scene, Lin Suyang's depressed mood improved considerably.

He saw a calligraphy and painting shop not far away and strolled over. Suddenly, a startled carriage in front of him neighed and rushed towards him. Lin Suyang couldn't dodge in time and was about to lose his life under the horse's hooves. At this moment, a dark figure swept past him, grabbed his waist, and floated towards a less crowded place.

"Are you alright?" A familiar voice asked. Lin Suyang opened her eyes and saw Qin Hao. "Ah, thank you so much for saving my life, Your Highness." Lin Suyang thanked him as she subtly left Qin Hao's embrace. She had guessed that Qin Hao knew martial arts, but she never expected his lightness skill to be so good. However, it would be best to avoid dealing with people with the surname Qin in the future.

Seeing Lin Suyang's reaction, Qin Hao felt a surge of irritation. He frowned and said, "Why are you suddenly being so distant? Just call me Qin Hao from now on." "Well, since Brother Qin says so, I'll gladly accept," Lin Suyang replied with a laugh.

"Were you going to look at calligraphy and paintings? I'm going too, let's go together." With that, she walked ahead. Lin Suyang had no choice but to follow.

The shop was small, with a plaque hanging on the wall of the main hall that read: Qi Xuan Zhai. The walls were covered with calligraphy and paintings, and a table against the wall below displayed many writing implements. The portly owner, seeing two elegant young men enter, immediately greeted them with a beaming smile: "Please feel free to browse, gentlemen. Though our shop is small, our selection is absolutely complete."

Lin Suyang nodded and looked around before finally stopping in front of a traditional Chinese ink painting. "Young master has a good eye. This is a masterpiece by Gong Ji, a famous painter from the previous dynasty," the shopkeeper introduced. "Gong Ji? The one whose calligraphy and painting were unmatched, yet who died in poverty and illness?" Qin Hao asked in surprise.

"Yes, that's him. Alas, he died in his early twenties. What a pity for such a talented man." The boss couldn't help but feel sorry.

This was a painting of a moonlit night. Lin Suyang wasn't very knowledgeable about painting, but he felt that the brushstrokes were fresh and natural, and the ink washes were layered and distinct, perfectly capturing the vastness and tranquility of the moonlit countryside. Lin Suyang noticed a large blank space next to the painting. He pointed and asked the shopkeeper, "Why is this...?" "Young master, you may not know, but Gong Ji had a peculiar habit. He would leave a blank space next to his paintings for people to write poems on. If the poem pleased him, he would give it to that person for free; otherwise, even a thousand pieces of gold wouldn't be enough to acquire a painting by Gong Ji." No wonder Gong Ji ended up impoverished. "Now that Gong Ji is gone, is this rule no longer valid?" Lin Suyang asked with great interest.

"Young master, you jest. Although I am a businessman, I still understand some principles. Since this is a rule set by the host, it will not change whether he is alive or not," the shopkeeper said seriously.

That's the sentence they were referring to. Lin Suyang smiled and said, "Then please prepare paper and pen, boss."

The shopkeeper immediately laid out a sheet of fine Xuan paper on the table. Lin Suyang dipped his brush in ink and began to write on the paper:

The moon shines deeper into the night, illuminating half the houses.

The Big Dipper leans against the railing, while the Southern Dipper slants.

Tonight, I feel the warmth of spring.

The chirping of insects newly penetrates the green window screen.

The moonlit night in Liu Fangping's painting perfectly complemented the scene. "Young master, you truly have excellent literary talent. Of all the poems I've read, this one is the most fitting. Would you like it wrapped up?" The shopkeeper was quite kind; seeing how fitting Lin Suyang's inscription was, he thought he had finally found a suitable owner for the painting.

"I've heard from Yu'er that you won the title of the number one talent in Yundu at the Peach Blossom Banquet. It's truly well-deserved." Qin Hao stood behind Lin Suyang without her noticing. The two were very close, and Lin Suyang could even feel the heat emanating from Qin Hao.

"So you are Lin Suyang, the most talented scholar in Yundu?" the plump shopkeeper said with delight. "It is an honor for my humble shop to have you here today." The shopkeeper became even more respectful and attentive.

"You flatter me, sir. It's all too kind of you to have such a title. I have other matters to attend to, I'll come again next time." Lin Suyang was worried that the shopkeeper would cling to the title of "First Talent," so he immediately picked up the painting he had just wrapped and pulled Qin Hao towards the door. "Take care, Young Master Lin, you must come back to our shop again next time," the shopkeeper said reluctantly from behind.

Qin Hao looked at Lin Suyang holding his hand and felt the warmth of her palm. A faint fragrance wafted from in front of him, unlike the strong sandalwood scent of ordinary men, or the ambergris scent he usually used. It was a scent he had never smelled before.

Lin Suyang glanced at the sky; it was already quite late. He turned to Qin Hao and said, "Brother Qin, it's getting late, I must take my leave. Could you please keep this painting safe for me, and I can pick it up another day?" Looking into Lin Suyang's bright eyes, Qin Hao unconsciously replied, "Sure." If he went back so late with a painting he'd taken from the art shop, Lin Cheng would surely scold him again. Lin Suyang was thankful to have met Qin Hao here. Even if he was the Crown Prince, leaving a painting with him wouldn't matter. So, Lin Suyang gratefully placed the painting in Qin Hao's hand and then headed towards the west of the city.

Seeing Lin Suyang leave like that, Qin Hao felt a pang of disappointment. He picked up the painting in his hand, looked at it, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. Not long after returning to the palace, Qin Yu came looking for him. "Brother, could you accompany me to Minister Lin's house tomorrow?" she asked as soon as she entered. "What for?" Qin Hao frowned. "I...I want to see Lin Suyang about something. Brother, you can, right?" Qin Yu looked at Qin Hao expectantly. Actually, Qin Hao also wanted to see Lin Suyang again, but his father had summoned him to the Wenzhi Hall to help process memorials the next day, so he told Qin Yu, "I have something to do tomorrow and can't go. I'll give you the token; you can take two guards with you."

"I knew my brother was the best." Qin Yu hugged Qin Hao happily, and Qin Hao shook his head affectionately. Suddenly, he smelled a fragrance coming from Qin Yu and asked him curiously, "Yu'er, what fragrance are you using? It smells so good." And the scent seemed familiar.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu immediately blushed: "Brother, what are you talking about? This isn't something you use; it's a woman's natural fragrance."

"Daughter's fragrance?" Qin Ke dropped the painting he was holding with a "thud" to the ground. "Brother, what's wrong?" Qin Yu asked worriedly when he saw him so distraught.

"It's nothing. It's too late, you should go back to sleep. I'll send someone to deliver the token to you tomorrow." Qin Hao casually picked up the painting from the ground and placed it on the table. "Oh, okay." Qin Yu walked out happily, unaware of the strange expression on Qin Hao's face behind her.

Qin Hao stared blankly at the painting on the table, slowly raised his right hand and smelled it, as if the faint fragrance had not yet dissipated.

Lin Suyang got up early in the morning. It was rare that he hadn't been scolded for coming home so late last night, which allowed him to get a good night's sleep. Just as he finished dressing, he heard someone knocking on the door: "Young Master, Master wants you to go to the front hall quickly. A distinguished guest has arrived." Who would come to see him so early? Lin Suyang was a little puzzled.

Upon entering the main hall, he saw a woman in red standing with her back to him in front of the head seat, examining the couplets on the wall. Judging from her figure, he could tell that it was Qin Yu.

"Where is my father?" Lin Suyang asked the servant beside him. "Reporting to the young master, the master just went to the residence of Vice Minister Li on business. Before leaving, he instructed the young master to treat the distinguished guest well," the servant replied, bowing.

Lin Suyang felt a headache coming on. He dismissed the servants and walked up to Qin Yu. Upon seeing him, Qin Yu blushed slightly and lowered his head, asking, "You...you've already met Uncle Jiu, haven't you?" "Yes," Lin Suyang replied calmly. "Then you..." "I don't want to," Lin Suyang interrupted Qin Yu before he could finish speaking.

"Why?" Qin Yu asked in astonishment.

“Because I don’t like life in officialdom. What I like is freedom,” Lin Suyang said slowly.

"But aren't you preparing for a scientific expedition?" Qin Yu asked, disbelieving.

“That was for my father. Besides, do you think that just by participating in the imperial examinations you will become an official? That's too naive.” Lin Suyang paused, then continued, “Also, Your Highness, please spend less time with commoners in the future; it's unbecoming of a royal family.”

Qin Yu had never seen Lin Suyang so unfamiliar. In her eyes, he had always been a person who was sometimes gentle and refined, sometimes unrestrained and dashing, but always took good care of her. Why was he like this today?

"Lin Suyang...you, did something happen to you? Are you kidding me?" Qin Yu's face was full of disbelief. "If Your Highness has nothing else to say, please allow me to take my leave." Lin Suyang acted as if to see him off. Qin Yu couldn't help but rush out the door.

"I'm sorry, I don't want you to put your heart into someone who shouldn't be there." Lin Suyang silently said to himself as he watched her disappearing figure. Lin Suyang wasn't oblivious; judging from Qin Yu's recent attitudes towards him, he could tell that she had developed different feelings for him. Since it was impossible, he should end it before it was even officially confirmed to avoid future troubles.

Volume One, Peach Blossoms, Chapter Ten: I Will Marry No One But You (Part 1)

Qin Yu thought Lin Suyang was just joking with her that day to make her happy. Who knew that later it was rumored that the number one talent in Yundu frequented brothels and often stayed out all night at Zui Lou Fang on Ping'an Street, which made Minister Lin so angry that he shouted that he wanted to break off relations with him.

Upon hearing this, Qin Hao felt a sense of relief. If Lin Suyang were a woman, she naturally wouldn't have accepted Qin Yu. He wasn't angry for Qin Yu at all; in fact, he felt a sense of relief, unsure whether it was because he was certain Lin Suyang was a woman or because Lin Suyang had rejected Qin Yu.

The most pitiful one was Feng Hanyu, who was dragged by Lin Suyang to this brothel, filled with the scent of women and their perfumes, to "drink and make merry." The reason given was that he lived nearby, and at night when no one was around, he could secretly take Lin Suyang back to Guangyue Pavilion. Feng Hanyu felt utterly guilty about it.

"It seems Su Yang is in a good mood." Feng Hanyu looked at Lin Su Yang, who was drinking and listening to music.

"Not at all, but having beautiful women, wine, and friends is indeed one of life's greatest pleasures," Lin Suyang said without blushing.

"When do you think Lord Lin will come looking for Zui Lou Fang with a broom?" Feng Hanyu leisurely picked up his wine and took a small sip, pleased to see Lin Suyang's slightly upturned lips stiffen. That day, after hearing about Lin Suyang's "glorious deeds," Lin Cheng immediately grabbed a broom from a servant and swept it at Lin Suyang. Fortunately, Feng Hanyu arrived in time to prevent a scar from being left on Lin Suyang's devilishly handsome face. However, seeing the dignified Minister of Rites lose his composure like this made Feng Hanyu secretly laugh for quite a while.

That day, Lin Suyang put on a show at Zui Lou Fang. Seeing that it was getting late and he figured no one would come looking for him, he quietly slipped out of Ping'an Street and headed towards Liu Ci Lane. Just as he reached the entrance of the lane, he was met by someone blocking his way. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Qin Yu.

After not seeing him for several days, Qin Yu had become even thinner, and his deep black eyes were now squeezed smaller by his swollen eye sockets. Seeing Qin Yu like this, Lin Suyang asked with some guilt, "Are you... alright?" Qin Yu didn't speak, but just looked at him quietly. After a long while, he said to him, "Come with me, I have something to tell you."

Lin Suyang followed her through street after street. All around was quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps and heartbeats echoing in the silence.

Finally, they stopped in front of an abandoned City God Temple. Qin Yu pushed open the dilapidated door, took out a tinderbox from his pocket, and lit a candle that was only half-burnt on the ash-covered offering table.

"Am I that annoying to you?" Qin Yu asked softly, his back to Lin Suyang. "No," Lin Suyang replied immediately.

"Then why did you do this to me?" Qin Yu suddenly turned around and stared straight at him. Lin Suyang felt a lump in his throat and couldn't say a word.

"To avoid me, you're willing to be an unfilial son and go to the brothel for pleasure." Qin Yu approached Lin Suyang step by step. "I...I didn't." Lin Suyang sighed.

"Yes. You didn't. You were just putting on an act to reject me, to make everyone in Yundu think you, Lin Suyang, are a charming and romantic young master! If that's the case, why were you so good to me in the first place? Why did you give me hope only to leave me in despair? Why, why..." Qin Yu collapsed to the ground. The tears she had been holding back for so long finally poured down like a flood. "You men are all the same. My father is. You are too. Is this the fate of women?" Qin Yu cried until she was hoarse.

"It's precisely because I'm a woman that I treat you this way." Lin Suyang gritted her teeth and decided to reveal this secret.

"What?" Qin Yu raised her tear-streaked face. "What did you say?" she repeated.

“I said. I’m a woman too.” Lin Suyang said, raising her hand to remove the turban and hairpin from her head. Her long, flowing hair instantly appeared before Qin Yu’s eyes, its black sheen almost blinding. “Look closely. The person you love is a woman, just like you.” Lin Suyang then reached for her waist, slowly untying her belt. She then removed her elaborate clothing piece by piece. When she stood naked before Qin Yu, Qin Yu felt a chill run through her.

Lin Suyang saw that Qin Yu was staring at her body without speaking, her eyes unfocused and unfocused. After a long time, Qin Yu slowly stood up, picked up the clothes Lin Suyang had taken off from the ground, and gently dressed her piece by piece, murmuring, "It's cold, dress well so you don't catch a cold." After she was dressed, Qin Yu turned around, stared blankly at the nearly burnt-out candle, and said, "Go, I never want to see you again."

Lin Suyang lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, listening to the rumbling thunder outside. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw that lively yet sometimes melancholic pretty face. He had always treated Qin Yu like a younger sister, but he never imagined that it would cause her so much harm. Perhaps he really had made a mistake.

The next day, Lin Suyang, sporting dark circles under his eyes, was about to leave when Qin Hao rushed into Guangyue Pavilion looking for him. "Have you seen Yu'er?" Qin Hao asked anxiously. "We talked for a while last night and then parted ways. I haven't seen her since," Lin Suyang replied. Sensing something was wrong with Qin Hao's tone, he immediately asked alertly, "What's wrong?"

“Yu’er hasn’t returned to the palace last night. I don’t know what you two talked about yesterday, but I hope you can help me find her.” Qin Hao looked at Lin Suyang meaningfully. Upon hearing that Qin Yu was missing, Lin Suyang disregarded the other meaning in Qin Hao’s words and immediately called Feng Hanyu, saying to the two of them, “Let’s split up and search. Wait for me at my house when you find her.” After saying that, he quickly ran towards the place where he and Qin Yu had talked last night.