FYM - 106

That night, the city of Jinling was unusually lively.

Thousands of people had arrived from the Central Plains. The nobles needed places to stay, and those who were astute had sent their servants south during the Taiqing era to purchase residences and properties in the new capital. Those less perceptive lagged behind and now found themselves without a foothold. Consequently, the former group leisurely moved into their meticulously prepared mansions, while the latter scrambled to settle their families amidst complaints and makeshift arrangements. Chaos reigned as each household dealt with the situation differently.

The Song family, being the most prominent clan in Jiangnan, naturally owned the most luxurious ancestral estate in Jinling. However, Song Mingzhen had long severed ties with his family and thus had to seek alternative accommodations for himself and his family. After much effort, they finally settled into a modest new residence. By the time everything was arranged, night had fallen. Lou Tong began organizing the servants to bring dinner to the table, but Song Mingzhen announced he would be going out for a while and instructed her and their son, Han, to eat first.

“What business do you have going out at this hour?” Lou Tong frowned slightly. “Everyone is busy settling in—surely there can’t be any social obligations at this time?”

Song Mingzhen sighed but couldn’t tell his wife that scenes of his sister and third brother together on the ship kept flashing through his mind. Even Fang Xianting’s gaze toward Wangshan Tower after she left today stirred an inexplicable sadness in him. He felt uneasy and believed he needed to do something to ease his troubled heart.

“I’m just going to see Third Brother,” he replied lightly, masking his inner turmoil. “I’ll be back soon.”

In Jinling, where every inch of land was precious—comparable to Chang’an in its heyday—the mansion prepared for the Fang family by the Song clan was still grand and opulent, clearly taking into account Lord Yingchuan’s exalted status. However, when Song Mingzhen arrived, the estate was eerily quiet. Most of the Fang family’s sons were still stationed in key positions in the Central Plains. Even Fang Yun Chong and Fang Yun Hui were still assisting the Xie family in defending against enemies in Youzhou. The majority of those who had relocated to Jiangnan were female relatives, giving the place an air of desolation.

The servant informed him that the master wasn’t home, so Song Mingzhen turned his horse and went elsewhere. The bustling streets were crowded and noisy, with only the quietly flowing Qingxi Stream offering some tranquility. He glanced silently at the brilliantly lit right bank and, after a moment’s thought, headed toward the memory-laden Jiangyun Pavilion.

…And sure enough, he was there.

Ten years ago, Jiangyun Pavilion had been the most popular tavern in Jinling, renowned far and wide with seats always in demand and guests filling the place day and night. Now, a decade later, newer establishments had risen, and it no longer held its former glory. As Song Mingzhen followed the innkeeper upstairs, he noticed that the once-scarce seats were now sparsely occupied. A sense of nostalgia inevitably welled up within him.

And there sat Fang Xianting… alone by the carved window where they had once dined with the Song family ten years prior.

“Third Brother…”

Song Mingzhen approached him, his footsteps light but his heart heavy. Up close, he saw that Fang Xianting was drinking alone. The elegant room was filled with the aroma of wine, with over a dozen empty bottles scattered around. Yet, his gaze remained clear, devoid of any sign of intoxication.

Yes… the wines of Jiangnan were mild and soft, hardly capable of intoxicating anyone.

Fang Xianting hadn’t expected him to come. He raised an eyebrow slightly before nodding for Song Mingzhen to sit. Song Mingzhen complied and poured himself a cup of wine, saying, “Third Brother, why are you drinking alone? You should have called me.”

He downed the cup in one gulp, the familiar taste evoking deep emotions. “Is this Bamboo Leaf Wine?”

It was the same wine they had drunk here ten years ago—light like water, far less potent than the famed Xin Feng wine of the Western Capital. Yet, Shuyan had choked even on a small sip, coughing for a long time afterward.

“Mm,” Fang Xianting responded faintly, a trace of a smile in his eyes. “You have a wife and child to take care of—it wouldn’t be convenient.”

These words, though spoken lightly, weighed heavily on Song Mingzhen’s heart. All their childhood friends had long since started families and careers, yet Third Brother remained alone. After the passing of his parents, even his sister had embraced a religious life. It seemed he truly had no one left to talk to today.

“I... I’m not inconvenienced…” Song Mingzhen struggled to keep his composure, feeling a sudden sting in his eyes. After composing himself, his voice remained low, tinged with forced cheerfulness. “If Third Brother calls, I’ll always be ready to accompany you.”

His sincerity was evident, and Fang Xianting understood his goodwill. They lightly clinked cups, and no further words were necessary. Song Mingzhen drank another silent toast, hesitating for a while before finally speaking. “Third Brother… earlier on the ship, I…”

He wanted to apologize for covering for his sister, allowing her to secretly meet with him in the cabin. In the heat of the moment, his actions had been impulsive, but upon reflection, he realized how inappropriate it was. That meeting had done nothing to help and instead made things worse for both parties.

Fang Xianting already understood. Outside the carved window, oar sounds lingered, and flickering lamplight blurred in his eyes. Life’s myriad phenomena passed swiftly; ultimately, everyone was merely a transient guest.

“There’s no need to mention it again—it might complicate matters further.”

His response was as bland as the wine in the cup, yet wine was still wine, with lingering aftertastes.

“Besides, she…”

He paused here, his thoughts drifting farther with that single word. Normally, he wouldn’t allow himself such indulgence, but tonight, having consumed some wine and sitting beside a close friend, the tide of longing for her was overwhelming. His defenses crumbled, and he knew he was vulnerable.

—Yet, he found it hard to let her go.

Life was fleeting, like dust resting on fragile grass. After the deaths of his parents and his sister’s retreat into religion, she might be his last tether to this world. When they met again in the Eastern Capital palace, she only saw his cold demeanor, refusing her embrace. She didn’t know that after she left, he painstakingly gathered the shattered pieces of the white jade comb, piecing them back together.

…He had even thought countless times about taking her away.

Especially in those early years, almost every day. Even when all seemed normal during the day, at night, alone, irrational thoughts churned in his mind. She was supposed to be his wife. If only they had a bit more luck, their fate wouldn’t have ended this way. Moreover, he knew she wasn’t happy—becoming empress had never been her true wish.

He sat by the lamp all night, until the wick burned out and the room fell into darkness, still unable to sleep. After her, faces of his father and sister kept flashing before his eyes. He remembered his father’s final words: “If one’s conduct is upright, commands will be obeyed without enforcement; if one’s conduct is not upright, even enforced commands will not be followed.” And his sister’s repeated cries in the deep palace: “I can’t afford to make mistakes.” Everything had been fate’s cruel foreshadowing, relentlessly pressing him.

Later, he met the late emperor.

They had known each other since childhood and walked side by side. Beyond the roles of sovereign and subject, there was always a bond of friendship. At that time, after the war had just stabilized, the emperor fell gravely ill from exhaustion, only recovering gradually after the New Year. Summoning Fang Xianting to the palace, they toured Yufei Garden together, and even… talked about her.

“Yizhi, I’ve always lamented fate’s unfairness and my own misfortune—a broken body and a foolish father emperor… Now, thinking back, perhaps everything has its destined course. Heaven doesn’t owe the same person forever.”

Wei Qin’s expression was gentle then, his usually pale face seemingly flushed by the blooming plum blossoms throughout the garden.

“When you weren’t here, I was utterly disheartened, believing the Zhou dynasty’s days were numbered… But then I met the Empress. Perhaps this was a turning point.”

“She treats the Crown Prince as her own, and our relationship is respectful. The Song brothers are indecisive, yet they produced such a noble-minded daughter…”

He looked up at the blooming branches, gently touching the stamens of the Jade Butterfly flowers. This scene tightened Fang Xianting’s heart, stirring indescribable feelings of jealousy and pain.

“I’ve never admired anyone in my life, but she makes me feel good… Yizhi, your sister is right: one must marry the person they love, otherwise, happiness will elude them forever.”

“I will treat her well… Together, we’ll raise the Crown Prince, ensuring he doesn’t repeat my past mistakes—naturally, I’ll also teach her well, so she can govern behind the curtain and stabilize the nation after my death…”

“I need her.”

“The people of the world… also need her.”

Reflecting later, perhaps that conversation extinguished the recurring delusions in his heart.

He cherished the lingering blossoms on the cold branches, wanting to hide them in his courtyard. Yet, she had already become the emperor’s wife, diverging irreversibly from him. How could he take her away? The towering palace walls were insurmountable. Even if they managed to escape, they would remain trapped in a lifelong prison. She would lose her name, dignity, and freedom, living yet dead in essence.

Similarly… he couldn’t do that.

The world was in chaos, with wars raging everywhere. His father’s dying words echoed in his ears. How could he ignore his responsibilities and selfishly live with her? The Fang family’s duties couldn’t be abandoned, and the hands of countless civilians reaching out for help couldn’t be ignored. Moreover, he carried the blood of ten thousand elite soldiers lost in Shangxiao Valley. In the half-year of hidden secrets following that defeat…

Many things were inexplicable. Perhaps their connection was meant to end here. No one needed to know the torment he endured every time he knelt and addressed her as “Empress Dowager.” She didn’t need to know how many times he suppressed his increasingly audacious desires when they met.

Now, he feared… everything was about to collapse.

She didn’t understand the weight of calling him “Third Brother,” nor the pain and despair her tears caused him. He knew precisely how his defenses were shattered when she said, “I don’t scheme for the long term, nor do I want… too long a future.” He nearly pulled her into his arms, shamelessly begging her to recreate the dream of Qiantang.

…He only wanted her to endure.

After the departures of his parents and loved ones… he solely wished for her to endure.

Under the cover of night, the scent of wine permeated the air. Though Jiangnan wines might not intoxicate the body, they could certainly intoxicate the heart. Waves of obsession surged and receded, finally ebbing as he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the Qingxi Stream still flowed outside the window, and countless painted boats dotted the dimly lit waters.

“Rather than me, spend more time accompanying her in the palace…”

He set down his wine cup and rose, steady despite having consumed countless cups. Song Mingzhen was certain that Third Brother must have been drunk, otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned his sister in such a tender and profound tone.

“She has never liked Jinling… Now, alone in Taicheng, she will be very lonely.”