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He suddenly stopped talking, but his fist was clenched so tightly that it cracked, and the veins on his forehead bulged out.

The old doctor was speaking enthusiastically when he was startled and stood there motionless.

Danmei sighed and looked at the old doctor, saying, "Does Your Excellency have a solution?"

The old physician then came to his senses, stroked his beard, and said, "The poison of Yin Kui Lan is extremely insidious, and its harm is endless. Judging from the young man's current symptoms, he is seriously poisoned. It could take at least two or three months, or even a year and a half. I have never encountered such a poison before. I will try my best, but I cannot guarantee that I can completely expel the remaining poison from his body. If..." He stopped speaking.

"Please feel free to speak."

Xu Jinrong, seeing that things had been settled, looked at the old physician and said in a deep voice.

"This substance is far too poisonous. The young man is young and weak, and has been fed it for a long time. In addition, this poison was not diagnosed before, and the medication was incorrect. The poison has already seeped into his heart and lungs. Even if he survives, he will probably be weaker than a normal person in the future and will have to be on his body with medication all the time..."

The old doctor shook his head and sighed.

Danmei's heart skipped a beat. She looked at Liang Ge and saw him lying there on the verge of death, his face covered with a layer of ashen demeanor. Where was the vitality that a child of his age should have?

This morning, when she saw Liang Ge's illness relapse, she noticed that it was somewhat similar to the symptoms of drug addicts in later generations after they stopped taking drugs, which is why she thought of this unintentionally.

Poppies already existed at this time, though they were now called "rice pouch flowers" and used only as an analgesic, unlike in later generations when they were refined into opium to harm the people. Even when mentioned in poems, they were all used in a laudatory way. Therefore, she wasn't entirely sure, which is why she relayed her thoughts to the old imperial physician. Little did she expect that although it wasn't the rice pouch flowers that caused the problem, it was the Yin Kui Lan, which was even more toxic than opium. And according to the old imperial physician, even if Liang Ge survived, he would be a cripple for the rest of his life. She felt a little sad and couldn't help but look at Xu Jinrong. She saw that he had turned his gaze to her at some point and was looking at her intently, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow, gratitude, and some other unreadable emotions.

After the old doctor finished speaking, he went to Liang Ge's bedside, carefully examined the whites of his eyes, and took his pulse. Then, while shaking his head, he sat down and began to write a prescription. After making revisions for half a day, he handed it to Xu Jinrong and said, "Take this prescription for a while and see how it goes."

It turned out that Liang Ge had been secretly poisoned for a long time, which was why he was in this state. No sooner had the old imperial physician left than the maids and servants who had come with Zhou Shi in the past few months were all summoned to the side hall and made to kneel on the ground. Especially those who served daily meals, they were all terrified, their faces ashen, fearing that they would be accused of murdering their mistress. After a few questions, one of them said, "Young Master used to eat white honey every day. Cuiyu from Aunt Zhou's room served him. A few days before Aunt Zhou left the capital, Cuiyu suddenly disappeared. When we asked the gatekeeper, she lied and said that she had been ordered by Aunt Zhou to go out to buy some things to take with her when leaving the capital, so she was let out. But she never came back. It seems she ran away. We even went to report it to the authorities. At that time, the maids all secretly wondered why Cuiyu would want to become a runaway slave instead of living a good life. Now it seems that she must have poisoned him."

"Brother Liang... my poor son..."

Suddenly, a cry came from the doorway. Aunt Zhou, supported by someone, stumbled into the room, knelt on the ground, and cried, "Third Master, please, do justice for Liang-ge! It's bad enough that I'm disliked by others, but who is so heartless as to be so cruel as to not even spare Liang-ge? He's so young, and he's done nothing to offend anyone, yet he's become a thorn in everyone's side, and we have to remove him..."

She had suffered burns in many places, and even her head and face were still covered in scars, making her look rather unsightly. When the servants saw that she had been lying there groaning just a few days ago, but now she had struggled to get up like this, her voice hoarse, they immediately moved aside.

"Send her back home to recover properly. From now on, she is not to be allowed to leave this place unless I'm there!"

Xu Jinrong stared coldly at Aunt Zhou, his voice as cold as ice. Aunt Zhou fell silent, bowing her head and sobbing softly on the ground, but dared not speak again. The few people who had initially helped her over shuddered and hurriedly surrounded her, practically carrying Aunt Zhou away with all their might.

Xu Jinrong dismissed the crowd, then called over Steward Xu and whispered some instructions. After Steward Xu nodded in agreement, he quickly left. The chaos subsided, and Xu Jinrong leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and pondered for a moment. Finally, he rubbed his temples and got up to head towards the east courtyard.

After Liang Ge fell asleep, Danmei returned home and, seeing the cool air outside, stood in front of the railing of the small building, looking up at the nearly full moon.

It's now August, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, with its full moon, is just a few days away. But this Mid-Autumn Festival is destined to be a turbulent one. Within these high walls, I'm afraid no one will have the heart to appreciate the moon or the osmanthus blossoms anymore.

A month has passed since Chunniang's arson attack. Her remains should have been buried in the Xu family ancestral cemetery by now. But if people in the afterlife truly know, I wonder if this has somewhat eased the soaring resentment she felt before her death?

Recalling her last words, "Third Master, I have no regrets," Danmei couldn't help but feel a chill again.

A faint fragrance of osmanthus drifted in from somewhere on the breeze in the courtyard. Danmei closed her eyes, took a long breath, and felt the pent-up frustration in her chest dissipate somewhat. When she opened her eyes, she looked down and saw a person walking down the courtyard path. The hem of his blue robe fluttered slightly in the wind with his steps. He was tall and slender with straight shoulders, but the moonlight cast a long, solitary shadow on the ground in front of him.

"We are going to be husband and wife for life."

Suddenly, it seemed as if he had said those words to her many times before, and Danmei felt a lump in her throat. She turned around and went into the house.

Liang Ge's life was spared, which could be considered a small way of repaying him for what he had done for her. No matter what happens in the future, she felt that she could finally find some peace of mind.

***

Having found the root cause of the illness, and with the old physician's careful treatment, Liang-ge's complexion improved significantly after a month or so. The intervals between his attacks also lengthened, from once or twice a day at its worst to once every two or three days. The servants in the household gradually regained their smiles, all praising the old physician's miraculous healing skills and believing that their young master would soon recover completely. Only Zhou-shi remained, reportedly becoming increasingly confused. Not only was she confined to her quarters, but even when summoned, she seemed reluctant to come out. Once she could walk a little more, she would hide in the ancestral hall all day, refusing to come out. The maids said she would mutter to herself incessantly, and even Liang-ge seemed to have stopped asking about it.

After the Double Ninth Festival, the weather turned cool again. When Xu Jinrong returned to his room that night, he was somewhat surprised to find several delicate dishes, a pot of warm wine, and two small cups on the table. Danmei greeted him with a smile and helped him change his clothes. He couldn't help but look at her closely; her eyebrows were delicate and her lips were red, as if she had been made up.

After the two returned from Suzhou, Liang Ge fell ill, Zhou Shi went mad, and Chun Niang committed suicide. For several months, the entire backyard was filled with fear and a deathly atmosphere. Xu Jinrong himself could not see his own face, only Danmei. However, he could see clearly that when the two were together, although there was no sorrow or misery on her face, even when she smiled, there was a hint of forced smile. But tonight, she was so delicate and pitiful that he felt as if he had been transported to another world. For a moment, he was stunned by her beauty.

Xu Jinrong was still staring blankly when he saw her turn around and sit down at the table, beckoning to him. His feet followed her involuntarily, and he sat down in the chair next to her.

"What are you doing...?"

He glanced at the food and wine on the table, then looked at her with some confusion.

Danmei rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of her fair wrist adorned with a jade and gold-carved bracelet. She had already filled the wine jug in front of him with wine, and poured one for herself as well. Only then did she look up and smile, saying, "Third Master, you're really getting senile. Today is your birthday, have you forgotten all about it?"

Xu Jinrong was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "It's kind of you to remember. Another year has passed, and I'm another year older. I must be getting senile."

Danmei reached out and covered his mouth, laughing, "Today is your birthday, so you're not allowed to sigh and groan and bring bad luck. I'll punish you with a drink first."

Xu Jinrong chuckled and drank it down.

Danmei poured him another cup of wine before picking up her own and looking at him slowly, saying, "Last year at this time, I was still in the capital. I remember you had just returned after being away for half a year, and we were still arguing. I wasn't in the mood to celebrate your birthday. This year is different, though; I must celebrate no matter what. May Third Master have many happy returns of the day, and may peace, joy, and good fortune always be with you. I'll toast you first." She tilted her head back and drank it down, then smiled and refilled her own cup, raising it again to him, saying, "Third Master treats me like a precious gem. How can I possibly deserve such treatment? I have no way to repay you, so I'll toast you again." She then drank it down in one gulp. As she was about to pour a third cup, Xu Jinrong pressed her hand down.

"I'm so happy that you remembered this day to congratulate me. You're still taking medicine, so you shouldn't drink too much..."

Xu Jinrong smiled.

Danmei was taken aback, then said, "It's just a few drinks in one night, what's the big deal? I've been taking medicine for so long and there's been no improvement. Maybe I'll be happy and have a few drinks with you, which will be good for me." As she spoke, she forcefully lifted his hand away and poured herself another glass.

Seeing that she was in such a good mood, Xu Jinrong couldn't bear to disappoint her, so he shook his head helplessly and said, "Alright, you can have another drink. But no more."

Danmei glanced at him, then covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Yes, sir, Lord Xu."

Seeing her beautiful appearance and playful smile, Xu Jinrong's heart stirred, and he sighed, "It's all thanks to the many books you read in the past that Liang-ge's illness has been saved..."

"Today is a good day. I told you not to sigh, and you forgot again. You're punished with another drink!"

Danmei interrupted him, smiling as she brought the wine cup in front of him to his lips.

Xu Jinrong chuckled, and after drinking his wine, he took her hand and gently pulled her from behind to sit on his lap. He lowered his head and deeply inhaled the fragrance of her hair, which had been falling over her neck after her bath. He rested his face against hers, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a moment before whispering, "From now on, you must always smile like this. From now on, we two must always live happily like this..."

Danmei stared blankly at the golden liquor in the cup before her for a long while. Looking down, she saw his thick, bony hands clasped together, tightly embracing her waist. She released his hands, turned around to face him, and gently stroked his cheekbones, which looked as if they had been sculpted by a knife in recent days. She whispered, "From now on, I will live happily like this, and you will too."

Chapter 72

Xu Jinrong grasped her hand that was resting on his face, kissed it, and said with a smile, "How could I not be happy if you celebrate my birthday like this every year from now on?"

Danmei gazed at his face for a moment, then whispered, "If I could, I certainly would." With that, she rose from his lap, went to the window, opened it, and leaned against it, looking out. She saw the bright moonlight in the night sky, casting dappled shadows on the flowers in the courtyard, and the red glow of lanterns swaying in the breeze along the winding corridors—a scene of tranquility.

She was inside, dressed rather lightly. A night breeze blew by, and just as she started to get goosebumps, she felt a warmth behind her. Xu Jinrong had already come over and pulled her into his arms.

"It's been a long time since I've felt like enjoying the moon with you like this. Even the last Mid-Autumn Festival was rushed by. I know you've been working hard these past few days..."

Xu Jinrong followed her gaze up at the bright moon for a moment, then lowered his head and sighed in her ear.

Danmei remained silent, simply leaning herself completely against him, her eyes slightly closed, slowly savoring the cool, still air of this late autumn night.

Xu Jinrong picked her up and placed her on the couch, gently embracing her. He quietly unbuttoned Danmei's clothes, letting them fall loose. Danmei nestled tightly in his arms, her eyes closed, and whispered, "Ziqing, in my hometown, there's a custom on birthdays where people make wishes while facing birthday candles, and it's said they'll come true. I suddenly remembered this, but unfortunately I forgot to prepare birthday candles for you, so I simply took the liberty of making a wish for you under the moon..."

"What did you wish for?"

Xu Jinrong stopped and looked up.

"If you say it, it won't work."

Xu Jinrong held his breath for a moment, then leaned down and kissed her eyebrows, her lips, her cheeks, her neck... his movements were extremely gentle and careful, as if afraid of disturbing the rare tranquility and gentleness of the night...

The next morning, Danmei woke up first. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw him lying on her side, still asleep, his brows relaxed. It was rare to see him sleep so peacefully for months.

Danmei gazed at him quietly for a moment, thinking about what she had been pondering for so long, about the unguarded smile he had shown her last night, about his words, "How could I not be happy if you celebrated my birthday like this every year?" A sudden sadness welled up inside her, and she became somewhat hesitant. The words she had thought of countless times before suddenly seemed impossible to utter. After a while, she saw his eyelids flutter slightly, as if he were about to wake up. Her heart pounded wildly, and she quickly closed her eyes.

As soon as Xu Jinrong opened his eyes, he felt incredibly refreshed, even his mind seemed much clearer. Turning his head, he saw her curled up on his side, fast asleep. Recalling the tender caresses of the previous night, a sense of tranquility welled up within him. He couldn't resist leaning over and giving her a light, fleeting kiss on the forehead. Just as he was about to get up and let her sleep a little longer, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside. Listening closely, he realized it was Steward Xu talking to Xiqing. Although their voices were low, he immediately detected a hint of urgency in their tone.

Butler Xu had followed him for many years and had experienced countless trials. He was a steady and reliable person. If it were an ordinary matter, why would he let him barge into his bedroom like this?

Xu Jinrong frowned slightly, glanced at Danmei, then quietly got off the bed, quickly dressed, opened the door, and went out.

After Xu Jinrong left, Danmei sat up and listened carefully to the sounds outside, but soon there was no sound. She got out of bed and opened the door, and saw the two of them heading towards the study together, their backs looking somewhat hurried.

What on earth could have happened to make Steward Xu come here so early in the morning to intercept someone? Danmei was full of suspicions but couldn't figure it out. In the evening, she saw Xu Jinrong, but unexpectedly, he said goodbye to her, saying that he had some urgent business to attend to and had to leave temporarily, and would not be able to return for at least half a month, or more than a month.

"Nothing else, except that this matter is a bit special and I have to go there myself to handle it. I will feign illness at the prefectural government office, and if anyone comes to visit, you can stop them all."

Faced with Danmei's surprise and doubt, he looked at her with a slight smile, his expression very calm.

Hearing him say this, Danmei felt a little relieved after a day of worry. Seeing that he was already dressed in casual clothes and looked like he was about to leave, she nodded and said, "Don't worry, I know. I'll take good care of Liang-ge."

Xu Jinrong reached out and pulled her into his arms, giving her a tight hug before quickly letting go and turning to leave.

Danmei watched his figure disappear into the slanting rays of the setting sun at the end of the courtyard, and a sense of melancholy and unease welled up in her heart.

Although she didn't usually pay much attention to his affairs outside, the fact that he had to go there in person, no matter how casually he made it sound to her, meant it was definitely not a small matter, and... she had a feeling it wasn't a good thing. He wasn't telling her, firstly because it was his usual temperament, and secondly, because he was afraid she would worry if she knew.

She sighed.

Now her own thoughts seemed insignificant; she only hoped that he would return safely and soon, just as he had said to her earlier.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and Xu Jinrong still hadn't returned. Danmei was increasingly worried and found it difficult to eat or sleep. Fortunately, although Liang Ge was still weak, his condition had stabilized, and it seemed that much of the poison in his body had been removed. She would surely be happy to see him when Xu Jinrong returned.

Xu Jinrong did not return, but an extremely unexpected and rare guest arrived.

Danmei was in the garden that day. She hadn't been interested in it for the past few months. Although the maids who looked after the garden had been tidying it up, they didn't know the proper way, and now the whole garden looked a bit messy, so she went to do it herself. Firstly, out of interest, and secondly, only when planting flowers did she feel she could concentrate and completely abandon all other chores, seeking peace of mind.

Danmei was carefully pruning the newly sculpted branches of Xiaozhuang when a maid came over and handed her an envelope, saying, "Madam, someone just delivered this letter to you, asking you to make sure it is delivered to you."

Danmei was somewhat surprised. Who would send her a message at this time? After washing her hands in the basin of water beside her, she opened the seal, and a fragrant, gold-flecked message raft fell out and floated to the muddy ground at her feet.

Danmei bent down and picked it up, but after just one glance, she froze.

The letter was simple, with neat handwriting, containing only a few words.

"How have you been lately, my sister? I have been thinking of you since we parted in the capital last year. I have prepared a cup of wine in Danfeng Pavilion and hope that you will come and have a chat when you see this letter." The signature was Princess Yuyang of the Chongwang Mansion.

I only met Yu Yang once last year when I was in the capital. Since Danmei left the capital with Xu Jinrong and came here, so many unpleasant things have happened, and I've been so overwhelmed with worries that I'd completely forgotten about her. Now, suddenly receiving a letter from her, I've remembered her and am filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Danfeng Pavilion was an adjoining building in Huaichu City, connected to Jiangxin Tower. It was specifically designated as a gathering place for the wives of officials or the ladies of wealthy families in the city. Danmei had been there a few times before when invited. But why would Yu Yang travel so far to invite her over for drinks and reminiscing now?

It must be related to Xu Jinrong.

The thought immediately popped into Danmei's mind.

“Madam, the messenger also mentioned my master, saying that his master and my master have a long-standing friendship, and that his special visit is also related to my master.”

As if to confirm her idea, the girl added.

Danmei returned to her room and slowly read the letter again. Finally, she stood up, called Xiqing in, and prepared to go out.

Princess Yuyang arrived in Huaichu at just the right time to invite him to meet, which means she must know that Xu Jinrong is not in Huaichu.

What was the matter that made Xu Jinrong act so nonchalant in front of me before leaving in such a hurry? And what did Yu Yang want to say to me after coming all this way?

Although she usually didn't pay much attention to Xu Jinrong's affairs, this mystery was weighing heavily on her mind. Seeing that Yu Yang was coming for her, she figured even if she ignored her, Yu Yang wouldn't really give up and leave. She might as well go and see what Yu Yang had to say.

When Xiqing heard that she was going to Danfeng Pavilion, she was somewhat surprised, but she quickly sent word to have the carriage ready, and she helped Danmei change her clothes.

***

Danfeng Pavilion is surrounded by the river on three sides, with green bamboo railings reaching low to the windows, and emerald curtains and beaded screens hanging high above the doors and windows. A few autumn reeds are dotted in the corners, making the layout extremely elegant and the perfect place for a small gathering or drinking session.

Danmei entered the private room on the top floor and removed the flowing veil from her head. She saw a young woman gazing out the window, her back slender, her black hair tied in a bun, with only a gold hairpin slanted behind her head, revealing half of her jade-like neck. When she turned her head, it was none other than Princess Yuyang.

Danmei's impression of this woman was that she was dressed in fine clothes and heavy makeup, with a seductive and alluring demeanor. Now, seeing her dressed simply and with a dignified expression, she was completely different from the woman she had seen before. She was slightly surprised. Seeing that the woman was also looking her up and down, she guessed that the woman was also making an assessment, so she nodded slightly to her in greeting. Yu Yang returned the greeting, and then they each took their seats.

"A year has passed since I parted ways with my younger sister in the capital. Seeing that she looks even better than before fills me with joy, yet I also feel a pang of sadness. My sister is in the prime of her life, while I, her elder sister, have grown old..."