A heavy snowfall.
The land was cloaked in white for miles, as if the world itself had grown hoary.

Chen Ji didn’t know how he had returned to the medical clinic, nor did he remember if he had said “I’m back” this time. Only when he neared the clinic did he finally drop the numb smile from his face.

Tomorrow, at the Welcoming Immortal Pavilion, he would host a banquet for dozens of colleagues to celebrate his promotion to Haidongqing. According to Golden Pig, from now on, even a county magistrate would treat him with courtesy, and a prefect from a small city without a powerful background wouldn’t dare to be disrespectful.

Should he be happy?

Of course he should be happy; he had finally established himself in this world. He should be extremely happy, openly and unreservedly happy!

But what after the happiness?

Old Yao stood behind the counter, looking at the snow on Chen Ji’s head and shoulders. “Lost your mind? Go light the stove in my room.”

Chen Ji quietly hummed in agreement and walked inside.

Just then, a carriage stopped outside the door, and someone politely asked, “Excuse me, may I ask who Chen Ji is?”

Chen Ji slowly turned around. “I am. What’s wrong?”

A shopkeeper, leading a young apprentice, walked in, his face beaming with smiles. “I’m the manager of Li’s Tailor Shop. Do you remember? The Princess ordered several outfits for you from us: two high-collared, large-lapel robes, two pairs of winter cotton trousers, two pairs of black boots, a ridged gauze cap, and a fox fur greatcoat. According to the Princess’s instructions, she said you don’t like to show off, so the fox fur is sewn on the inside, and the outside is made of fine cotton fabric…”

Chen Ji stared blankly at the clothes the apprentice held in his arms, failing to react for a moment.

The shopkeeper continued, “Oh, and the Princess also instructed us to sew six golden melon seeds inside the clothes as weights, to make the robes hang more elegantly. She said it was for your emergency use.”

The apprentice stepped forward and placed the clothes in Chen Ji’s arms.

The shopkeeper chuckled, “The Princess has already paid. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. If the clothes don’t fit perfectly, our shop offers free alterations forever.”

He waited for Chen Ji’s reply, but Chen Ji only looked down at the clothes in his arms, remaining silent for a long time. It wasn’t until Old Yao tossed a piece of broken silver over, saying, “You can go now,” that the shopkeeper quickly acknowledged and turned to leave.

Old Yao stood, watching Chen Ji’s retreating back, and suddenly let out a long sigh. “Boy, are you still eating dinner at home tonight?”

“No, Master,” Chen Ji said, carrying the clothes into his room. When he came out, he looked at the red ribbon on the apricot tree, a bit dazed.

After a long while, Chen Ji brought a ladder, climbed the tree, and slowly unfastened the ribbon that belonged to Bai Li. Inside, he saw a line of elegant small script: “May we be together year after year, every year.”

He gazed at the small script, his eyes seemingly piercing through the heavy snow, meeting the gaze of Princess Bai Li under the apricot tree that day. The red from the apricot tree blossomed in his mind, like an anchor point in his memory, transforming into the rings of time in his thoughts. From that moment, the past and the present diverged.

Chen Ji tucked the red ribbon into his pocket, went out, and mounted his horse. The spirited steed and the young man galloping through the heavy snow were like characters from a storyteller’s tale, all wanderers who never return to their origins in the martial world.

At 48848 Cuiyun Lane.

The steward of the Chen Residence was directing the servants to clear the snow. “Sweep the snow thoroughly. If the master slips when he returns from the yamen, you’ll be in trouble.”

At that moment, a carriage slowly entered Cuiyun Lane. Chen Liqin lifted the curtain and stepped out. He was dressed in a bright red official’s robe, but his brows lacked their usual dignity; instead, they were somber and burdened. The Liu family rebellion had been suppressed, but the declaration against the rebels he had written had disappeared along with Mr. Feng. This matter could be significant or trivial. If someone truly used the declaration to pursue it, he would be considered an accomplice in the rebellion with the Liu family. Chen Liqin didn’t know whom to discuss this with, nor could he discuss it, so he could only keep it suppressed in his heart.

Seeing him return, the steward quickly called out to the residence, “The Master is back!”

Inside the Chen Residence, a dignified and elegant woman came to greet him. She stood just inside the threshold and said softly, “Master, you’ve had a cough lately. I’ve already had someone stew some white fungus and pear soup. Please come in and drink it while it’s warm.”

Chen Liqin nodded silently. The woman gently added, “Master, Wen Zong has locked himself in his room and won’t even let his maids in. Perhaps you could talk to him tonight and see if there’s anything troubling him.”

Chen Liqin responded with a sound of acknowledgment.

The next moment, the sound of hooves came from outside the lane. Chen Liqin turned, astonished to see Chen Ji on horseback. “Why are you back?”

The woman inside the threshold also saw Chen Ji and softly asked, “Is there something urgent that brought you back suddenly? Are you short on money?”

Under everyone’s gaze, Chen Ji’s horse did not stop.

The steward blocked Chen Ji’s path. “The Master and Madam are speaking to you, you…”

Chen Ji’s face was calm. With a pull of the reins, his warhorse suddenly reared its front hooves, stomping violently towards the steward! The steward frantically rolled sideways, barely dodging the stomp! Chen Ji said coldly, “Get lost.”

He rode past them and dismounted in front of the Zhang Residence. Chen Ji handed the reins to the young servant at the gate. “Please inform them that Chen Ji is visiting.”

Meanwhile, at the Chen Residence, Chen Liqin, the woman, the steward, and the servants all watched silently. Their minds were slow to process: wasn’t this their Third Young Master from the Chen family? Why had he gone to the Zhang Residence? And why was his demeanor so intense? He didn’t look like a medical apprentice at all; he looked like a ruthless warrior from the border army!

The woman gently asked, “Master, why did Chen Ji pass by our door without entering? Did I do something wrong to offend him again…?”

Chen Liqin said with a serious tone, “It has nothing to do with you; don’t overthink it.”

The woman frowned in confusion. “But what is he doing at the Zhang Residence? I seem to recall hearing that he had some acquaintance with Second Miss Zhang. But now, for a man to rashly visit Second Miss Zhang, wouldn’t that be improper and compromise her reputation?”

Just then, Zhang Zhuo’s voice came from within the Zhang Residence, “Oh, you came? I was just about to change out of my official robes and come find you at the clinic.” As he spoke, Zhang Zhuo ran out, wearing only a pair of white socks. Immediately after, Zhang Zheng, the legitimate son of the Zhang family, also rushed out. Zhang Zheng pulled Chen Ji by the arm and walked him inside. “Good brother, I was just telling A-Xia that we should go find you together. It’s cold outside; quickly come in and warm up.”

But Zhang Zhuo glanced at Chen Ji, then turned to Zhang Zheng and said, “Chen Ji must have important business here. You go back inside first.” Zhang Zheng paused for a moment, then turned and left, taking the young servant at the gate with him, so that no one else could hear his father’s conversation with Chen Ji.

Once it was quiet outside the gate, Zhang Zhuo looked at Chen Ji. “Did you come for Prince Jing?”

“No, I came for the Crown Prince and the Princess. Master Zhang, I saved you once and Zhang Xia twice. Now, I need you and Zhang Xia to do something for me tomorrow. Will you?”

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard. “Whatever it is, my Zhang family accepts.”

***

An incense stick’s time later, Chen Ji once again braved the wind and snow, galloping towards the East Market. It wasn’t until dusk that he stopped in front of a large mansion on Tongji Street. This was a wealthy household. Tonight, the old madam of the house was celebrating her seventieth birthday with a grand performance, but it had suddenly started snowing in Luocheng.

Chen Ji arrived at the gate, where a smiling steward was greeting guests. “Esteemed guest, do you have an invitation from our household?”

Without turning his head, Chen Ji walked inside. “I’m looking for your family’s stage-building worker. I’m his friend.”

The steward’s face immediately turned cold upon hearing he was looking for a worker. He reached out to block Chen Ji’s path. “Looking for a worker at the master’s house? Get lost! Tonight is the old madam’s seventieth birthday; I don’t have time for you.”

Chen Ji glanced at him, then pulled out a Secret Directorate waist token from his sleeve. “Three days from now, go to the Secret Directorate’s yamen in Huanjing Alley and receive ten strokes. If you don’t come looking for me, I will come looking for you.”

The steward’s face suddenly turned ashen.

Chen Ji exhaled a puff of white breath into the heavy snow and remarked, “Authority is indeed useful… Just kidding, take me to the performance stage.”

The steward, bowing low, led the way. “Please be careful of the snow on the ground; do not slip.”

Once outside the stage area, Chen Ji waved to dismiss the steward. He watched from the side as She Dengke and a group of workers carried timber, gradually setting up the stage. When She Dengke saw him, he ran over in surprise. “Chen Ji, what brings you here? Tonight is Madam Tang’s seventieth birthday. You can hide backstage with me later, and I’ll take you to get a good meal!”

Chen Ji stood in the snow, silent for a moment before speaking. “Senior Brother She, you like Chun Hua, don’t you?”

She Dengke hesitated. “Yes, I do.”

Chen Ji asked, “Why do you like her?”

She Dengke recalled, “The first time I entered the prince’s manor, I made a lot of mistakes, and all the other maids laughed at me. Only she carefully reminded me, and later she secretly taught me manners and gave me snacks from the manor. During my days off, I took her home to help set up the stage for performances, and she didn’t show any disdain. Chen Ji, she’s actually a good person.”

Chen Ji looked at the distant stage. “Do you remember when you and she framed me? At that time, she paid me money, precisely thirty taels of silver and thirty-six copper coins.”

She Dengke’s spirits dropped. “I remember. I’m sorry.”

Chen Ji turned to look directly at She Dengke and calmly said, “At that time, I told you that you owed me a life, and that you would have to pay it back when I asked.”

“I remember.”

“Now, it’s time to repay that life.” She Dengke struggled for a long time. “Alright.”

Chen Ji smiled and patted the snow off She Dengke’s shoulder. “Senior Brother She, I’m not taking this life from you for nothing. Chun Hua is currently in the inner prison. Helping me is helping her. If you survive this, I’ll help you both escape far away.”

She Dengke’s heart tightened. “What if I don’t survive?”

“Then that’s fate.”