"Master!" Han Zhong called softly.
Standing on the edge of the cliff, Han Xuzi took a while before he said, "We always presume to know what’s best for her, yet we never asked what she truly wants."
"Today, I probed her, thinking she was indifferent, but she cared so deeply and masked her vulnerability with feigned strength, how little she is..."
As Han Xuzi spoke, his voice choked up again, "I remember how she, so tiny and soft, would lie in my arms and sweetly call me grandfather for the first time, her laughter so innocent and pure. She would also quietly place a flower by my pillow and stretch her chubby little hands to massage my shoulders and legs. But when I think about it, what have I given her throughout these years?"
"I let her live such a hard life, so careful and grievous. She is the Han Family’s most precious child—how dare the Yun Family, how dare they..."
In his anger, Han Xuzi slapped his palm out, breaking a large tree in response.
"I will chop up every single one of the Yun Family’s members and feed them to the dogs, not sparing a single one. Go now and make a list for me of everyone in the Yun Family, their relatives, and what they all do. I want none within three degrees of kinship spared!"
Yun Jinnian was unable to sleep.
When she was in the valley, life was fulfilling, and she could sleep until dawn.
Back at Yingci’an, Yun Jinnian couldn’t sleep, so she sat up, pushed open the window, and gazed at the faintly luminous night sky.
Yun Jinnian extended her hand, allowing the snowflakes to fall on her fingertips—icy cold.
Above the roof, Chu Yu had already been sitting for a while.
He didn’t know when he started to have feelings for this underage girl.
Perhaps it was when she cried out her grievances in the Yun Family, or maybe it was during the Lantern Festival, or possibly the first time in the valley when he pinned her beneath him.
If he knew, he wouldn’t be sitting on the rooftop, keeping her company in the cold wind, watching the snowflakes flutter down from the sky.
He didn’t know how to make her laugh out loud or how to scare her into screaming and seeking refuge in his arms.
Yun Qi arrived in the middle of the night.
Stepping out of the carriage and seeing the snow on the ground, Yun Qi inexplicably thought of the snowman he had made for Yun Jinnian at the Yun Family that year.
Because Yun Jinnian was happy, she pulled Mrs. Han out to have a snowball fight, and then Mrs. Han reconciled with him.
Yun Qi directly used his energy to leap into the courtyard, and a dark shadow swiftly flashed out, but upon recognizing Yun Qi, it retreated.
This was a Hidden Guard protecting Mrs. Han.
After Yun Qi took a few steps, Bai Que came out to greet him, "This servant pays respect to the Second Master. The lady is not aware of the Second Master’s visit and has already retired for the night!"
Yun Qi was slightly disappointed, "It’s alright!"
"Please take a seat, Second Master, I will immediately go to wake the lady!"
"No need, let her sleep. I’ll just wait in the hall," Yun Qi said as he sat down in the hall.
This estate was originally the Yun Family’s, but Mrs. Han had bought everyone off and made them serve her.
Bai Que curtsied and withdrew.
Back in her room, Mrs. Han was engaged in some carving.
"Lady, the Second Master has arrived!"
Mrs. Han’s hand, holding the carving knife, paused, "Where is he?"
Mrs. Han put down the carving knife, stood up, and Bai Que immediately came forward to help her tidy her clothes and hair. Then Mrs. Han slowly made her way to the hall.
Hearing footsteps, Yun Qi stood up, his eyes adoringly fixed on her.
Soon, he saw Mrs. Han approaching slowly in her plain white skirt.
She was just as dazzlingly beautiful as before, every move she made was enchanting and intoxicating.
Yun Qi swallowed hard, having rushed over here because of a mere four words, yet now he didn’t know what to say.
Mrs. Han cast a glance at Yun Qi, concealing the hatred and resentment in her eyes, "Please sit down!"