He cursed his daughter in a fury. Seventeenth Miss gradually calmed down, watching helplessly as the person she loved was taken away by her family. She was furious but powerless, her gaze going hollow.
When Miss Yuan disappeared from sight, she knelt and begged her father, “Don’t look for me anymore. Just pretend your daughter is dead, alright?”
“I can pretend you’re dead. But can you guarantee you won’t go looking for that girl of the Yuan family?” Sixth Master Yan asked her coolly. “If I pretend you’re dead and you go find her, you’ll disgrace the Yan family. The Yuan family will think it was you who seduced her, that you’re the one pestering her. In that case, I’d rather you truly were dead.”
His words struck her like a blow to the head, leaving Seventeenth Miss silent for a long time. Even if she died, she and Ah Yuan could never be together.
She closed her eyes and wept bitterly, collapsing to her knees in a frenzy, her form bordering on madness.
But Sixth Master Yan was unmoved. He waved his hand and ordered his people to take her away. “Lock her up. We return to Jinling tomorrow.”
The Yuan family left first. To avoid them, the Yan family chose to leave the next day, so the two families would miss each other. No one wanted to expose such a matter. What could be covered up would be covered up, as if it had never happened, as if the two daughters of the two families had merely run away from home to play.
Sixth Master Yan locked his daughter up and immediately wrote a letter home to conceal the matter, saying only that the Seventeenth Miss had gone out to play and had now been found, and would return shortly—thankfully safe and sound.
The winter night was bitterly cold, and the wind on horseback stung the skin. Xunqi’s riding was only average, but she pushed on with all haste and finally reached the town.
By the time she arrived at the Post Station, the Yan family had already left. She immediately turned her direction and headed toward Jinling. She dared to snatch people from Sixth Master Yan, but she didn’t dare go up against the Old Master.
After two more days of travel, she finally caught up to the Post Station, but the Yan family wasn’t there. Instead, a group of people were staying at the Post Station, looking hurried.
Xunqi grew alert and immediately sent someone to question the station master.
“They’re from the Jinling Yuan family,” the station master dared not hide it.
Xunqi asked, “Has the Jinling Yan family been here?”
“No,” the station master replied.
Xunqi waved her hand, and the station master withdrew. She thought seriously. Logically, the Yan family had left a day earlier and should have reached the Post Station by now. What were the Yuan family’s people up to?
She immediately summoned Wuqing. “Go sneak into the Yuan family’s quarters tonight and see what they’re playing at.”
Night reconnaissance was a simple matter for Wuqing. She nodded and accepted the order. “Young Mistress, rest well tonight. I’ll be back in the latter half of the night. If there truly is something going on, I’ll block them before they leave.”
Wuqing had followed Yan Zhi’an for many years, had earned her deep trust, and was highly skilled at investigating cases.
Xunqi was exhausted from traveling day and night, so she lay down to rest at those words. She was so tired that her head touched the pillow and she was asleep.
When the sky was just beginning to lighten, Wuqing carefully woke the Young Mistress. “I’ve found out. The Yuan family also lost a daughter and came specifically to look for her. Their route seems to match the one we took to get here.”
“Find an excuse to detain them.” Xunqi was instantly awake, her expression calm. “Say my jade pendant is lost, and demand that the Yuan family submit to a search.”
Why would the young ladies of the two families run away together to this place, only to be caught and taken back together?
Wuqing immediately acknowledged the order, took her people, and surrounded the courtyard where the Yuan family was staying within half an hour.
“My Young Mistress’s jade pendant has been lost. Please stay.” Wuqing hugged her sword and walked up to the Yuan family’s people, deliberately putting on an arrogant air. “Please submit to our search.”
The Yuan family’s people flew into a rage. “Who are you?”
“Young Heir of the Yan Family, only daughter of the Left Prime Minister,” Wuqing stated their identities.
The other party’s anger vanished at once, their faces turning awkward. The person in charge immediately smiled and spoke to Wuqing. “So you’re from the Left Prime Minister’s Residence. We are the Jinling Yuan family—in-laws, after all.”
The Four Families of Yan Xie Wang and Yuan were all bound by marriage, which was why the four families were so deeply entrenched, supporting one another and standing tall for so many years.
Hearing this, Wuqing glanced toward the tightly shut door and said, “So it’s the Yuan family. What’s going on here?”
The Yuan family’s people kept tight-lipped, only saying they were passing through and would hurry back to Jinling today.
Clearly, they weren’t telling the truth. Wuqing didn’t stand on ceremony either, and said darkly, “My Young Mistress’s belongings can’t be recovered, so I’d ask you all to wait patiently.”
With that, Wuqing left, leaving the Yuan family’s people stunned and helpless. How had a Young Heir of the Yan Family appeared out of nowhere halfway along their road? Helpless, the Yuan family immediately sent someone to deliver word to Sixth Master Yan.
The Yuan family couldn’t leave and was delayed there for a day. In the evening, the Yan family’s people arrived, and conveniently, all three parties gathered together.
Upon hearing the news, Xunqi went to see her Sixth Grand-Uncle. The man was speechless—a family scandal should not be aired in public. But Xunqi stepped forward with a smile. “Mother sent me to take the Seventeenth Aunt to the Capital City. Her marriage will be decided by the Head of the Family.”
“Absolutely not.” Sixth Master Yan’s expression changed at once.
Xunqi was puzzled. “Sixth Grand-Uncle, let’s talk inside.”
Sixth Master Yan had just been thinking the same thing. At those words, he strode inside, and Xunqi followed, closing the door behind them.
Xunqi asked in confusion, “Why did you change color so drastically, Sixth Grand-Uncle? What did the Seventeenth Aunt do?”
Sixth Master Yan found it hard to speak of, but the Head of the Family had already intervened—and fortunately, Xunqi wasn’t returning to Jinling, so it wouldn’t hurt for her to know. Helpless, he recounted the matter. As he spoke, Xunqi was so shocked she couldn’t speak for a long time.
It really was an elopement! But the elopement partner wasn’t a young lord—it was a young lady of the Yuan family.
Xunqi made a prompt decision. “Leave it to me. My mother will find a way to make her change her mind. If you take her back to Jinling like this, it will become known all over the city, which goes against your intentions. Once she’s in the Capital City, no one will know her past. What do you think?”
“But…” Sixth Master Yan was uneasy. The Head of the Family was simply unreliable, acting on whims. What if she set the girl free? What could be done then?
While he hesitated, Xunqi assured him, “In the Capital City, my mother can find her a better marriage. In Jinling, would she be willing to marry at all?”
“Fine. I’ll hand her over to you. But you must promise me—guarantee her safety.” Sixth Master Yan said decisively. “Xunqi, you’re the Young Mistress, and you have a sense of responsibility. I’m handing her over to you today only out of regard for your mother.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t disgrace my mother.” Xunqi patted her chest in assurance. “Go get some rest. I’ll have a word with the Seventeenth Aunt.”
Sixth Master Yan was at his wit’s end. If he took her back like this, word would inevitably leak out. Better to take her to the Capital City—perhaps the Head of the Family would have a solution.
He left with sighs. Xunqi slowly let out a breath and quietly went to see the Seventeenth Aunt.
The once lively woman now sat dully on the edge of the bed, her expression desolate, as if her soul had been drained away.
Xunqi approached slowly and handed her a cup of water. “Seventeenth Aunt.”
Shiqi seemed to be jolted awake. She looked up at the sound, and seeing Xunqi, she smiled faintly. Yet the next moment, she couldn’t hold back her tears. Xunqi said, “She’s in this very Post Station.”
At that, the Seventeenth Miss’s sobs gradually ceased, a manic light in her eyes. “Xunqi, let me see her, just once. I promise I won’t cling to her anymore after this.”
“Can you bear to let go?” An inexplicable ache rose in Xunqi’s chest, because she saw the breath of death upon the Seventeenth Aunt.
The Madwoman said that life was the most important thing. Forget the laws of heaven and the king’s decrees—you had to live.
“I… I can’t bear it.” Shiqi covered her face and wept, her whole body trembling, unable to stop the tears.
Xunqi pressed the cup into her hands and asked her only, “After you see her, are you going to die?”
The Seventeenth Miss fell silent.
Then Xunqi said, “Then I can’t let you see her. Living is what matters most. As long as you’re alive, there’s hope.”
“Living…” Shiqi let out a mocking laugh and looked up. In the year since they’d last met, the Xunqi before her seemed like a different person—fair, delicate skin, clear eyes. Her mother had protected her well. From head to toe, she carried a composed, unhurried air. Her confidence, her backing—all of it made Shiqi envious.
“Xunqi, if you end up like me one day, you’ll want to die too.”
Xunqi blinked in confusion, confident in her heart. “My mother won’t force me.”
“But you’re the Young Heir of the Yan Family, the hope of the Yan family. How could you ever end up alone? Didn’t your mother eventually have you?” Shiqi’s heart was full of resentment, and she mocked her freely, finding her naive and foolish.
She said, “Xunqi, that day will come for you.”
“Shiqi, I’m trying to help you. How can you treat me like this?” Xunqi was a little angry. “No matter what happens to me in the future, right now I have the power to save you. Your father handed you over to me, and I’m taking you to the Capital City. I believe my mother will help you.”
“What makes you so sure she’ll help me?” Shiqi sneered.
Xunqi frowned. “When I left, she said to tell you—if you want to marry, she’ll arrange it. Whoever it is, she can help you.”
“Even if the other party is a woman?” Shiqi curled her lips, an unbridled look on her face. “Xunqi, you’re not a child anymore. Can’t you see through their hypocritical facades? The promises they make now are all lies. Later, they’ll turn their backs and refuse to acknowledge anyone. My father said the same—I could marry whoever I wanted. But I want to marry Ah Yuan. Is it forbidden only because she’s a woman?”
Xunqi was at a loss. These questions caught her completely off guard. So it was true—not marrying really could become an enormous problem.
She stared blankly at Shiqi, horrified and dazed. The other pressed on relentlessly. “Xunqi, you’re still young. In another two years, your family will use marriage alliances as an excuse to force you into marriage. The Yan family may look glorious, but its girls are all used for marriage alliances.”
“Let’s not talk about that. I’m helping you.” Xunqi was determined. “Whatever happens to me in the future is none of your concern. I only know that I can rescue you right now.”
“Don’t save me.” Shiqi’s face was bleak and dejected. “Even if I gain my freedom, what use is it? Ah Yuan won’t gain hers. Xunqi, you can’t save me.”
Xunqi felt despondent. It was true—she could take Shiqi to the Capital City, but what way could she possibly save the Ah Yuan Shiqi spoke of from the Yuan family’s hands?
“So let me see her. After that, you go. Don’t worry about me, alright?” Shiqi suddenly stood up and knelt before Xunqi. “You don’t have to take me back to the Capital City. No one can save me. Just let me see her once, please? Xunqi, Xunqi, just one look.”
Startled, Xunqi stepped back and hastily pulled her up. “Don’t do this. Shiqi, trust my mother.”
“I don’t trust anyone, Xunqi. I only trust you. Xunqi, Xunqi.” Shiqi cried out in pain, calling Xunqi’s name. “You don’t know the Yuan family’s rules. She’ll die.”
The Yuan family’s rules?
Xunqi couldn’t help but think of Headmaster Yuan—such an erudite, gentle woman.
