Shortly after Wei Luo returned home, someone delivered Zhao Jie’s shoe pattern.

  The servant girl, who delivered the item to her, was a tea-serving servant that had recently entered the residence. She was about twelve to thirteen years old with a delicate appearance. She was wearing a yellow jacket and green ru qunskirt. Her brightly smiling face was very lovable. “This servant is called Yue Li. Fourth Miss, if you have any orders in the future, please directly summon this servant.”


  Wei Luo hadn’t expected that Zhao Jie would be so brazen. He had actually planted one of his people in Duke Ying’s residence. To put it bluntly, this Yue Li would be used a messenger for them. If there was something she wanted to say to Zhao Jie, she could mention it to Yue Li. His courage was really big! Wasn’t he afraid that Duke Ying’s people would discover her?

  Fortunately, there weren’t many people in her room at this time. There was only Jin Lu and Bai Lan. Other people didn’t dare to casually enter her room. Wei Luo stared at shoe pattern on the small, vermillion-lacquered table carved with spirals and outlined with gold. Her face could still be considered calm as she said. “I understand. You can leave.” In actuality, she was already wishing that she could poke Zhao Jie’s face with a needle. She had given him an inch and he wanted a mile.

  After Yue Li left, Bai Lan hastily closed the door, walked back to Wei Luo’s side, and said, “Miss, why did His Highness Prince Jing give you this? That girl…”


  Jin Lu’s mind was cleverer. She interrupted Bai Lan’s words, “That girl doesn’t seem simple. She’s probably reliable.”


  Wei Luo treated the shoe pattern as Zhao Jie and glared at it for a moment. Then, she said to Jin Lu and Bai Lan, “I promised him that I would make him a pair of shoes. Put this thing away. You’re not allowed to tell anyone else about today’s matter.”


  Jin Lu and Bai Lan were both people who understood appropriate behavior. They wouldn’t casually gossip with other people. Moreover, Wei Luo and Zhao Jie were already engaged. It wasn’t overstepping the bounds of what was proper for Wei Luo to make shoes for her fiancé. It would be okay even if other people found out. The outrageous thing was that Zhao Jie had secretly planted a spy in Duke Ying’s residence. This was really watching Wei Luo too closely.

  It wasn’t surprising that Wei Luo was feeling unhappy.

  If she were to ever find out that Zhao Jie had Yang Hao closely follow and watch over her, she would definitely have a falling out with Zhao Jie.

  ——–


  It was still raining outside, but it wasn’t as heavy as before when they had just returned home. The raindrops dripped and dropped onto the window frame and splashed onto the back of her hand. Outside in the courtyard, patches of water accumulated next to the pine trees and inverted their images. It was difficult to tell if reality was real or fake. There wasn’t any movement in the main room. Wei Kun hadn’t returned yet. Otherwise, there would have been a servant going forward to bring an umbrella to meet him at the entrance of Pine Courtyard.

  Jin Lu stepped forward. As she closed the window, she said in concern, “Miss, you were wet from the rain when you came back. It would be better if you take a warm bath to drive away the chillness. Otherwise, you might be sick the next day.”


  Wei Luo nodded after she finished drinking a cup of red date and ginger tea.

  A few drops of osmanthus essential oil made by Han-shi were added to the bath barrel. The scent was simple and elegant. After Wei Luo finished bathing, her entire body was faintly scented in sweet-smelling osmanthus. She put on a bluish green outer robe with Su style embroidery that consisted of clouds and grapes and a decorative lace border. Her dense, wet black hair was draped behind her back. Sitting on a couch that was facing the southern window, she casually asked, “Has my daddy returned?”


  Jin Lu walked forward, gathered her hair, and gently used a double-edged fine-toothed comb to brush her hair until it was tangle-free. “To respond to Miss, Master returned shortly after you started your bath.”


  Wei Kun’s face didn’t look good when he returned. It looked gloomier than the weather outside. The servants in Pine Courtyard had never seen him like this and they didn’t know why he was angry. The servants serving him were all trembling with fear and didn’t dare to make the slightest mistake.

  Jin Lu quietly glanced at Wei Luo. She couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked, “Miss, the person on the street from before…”


  Jin Lu had heard the conversation between Wei Luo and Jiang Miao Lan. The words, “Sweetie, I’m your mother.” had greatly shocked her and Bai Lan. But, seeing that Wei Luo wasn’t willing to talk about this, the two of them didn’t dare to ask questions at the time. They restrained their feelings and only guessed in their minds.

  Right now, Wei Luo’s expression had eased a lot, so Jin Lu dared to bring this topic up again.

  Wei Luo hugged her knees with her chin resting on a knee. She stared at the outside scenery through the window and lazily said, “Don’t ask too many questions. Just do your work.”


  Knowing that she had overstepped her authority, Jin Lu hastily said, “Understand. This servant has said too much.”


  ——–


  A moment later, something happened in the main room. Wei Kun called Third Master Wei Chang to the main room. Their exact words were unknown, but she could vaguely hear Wei Kun’s angry voice.

  After Wei Luo’s hair was dried, she got up from the couch, put on shoes embroidered with white flowers and decorated with pearls, and walked outside. Standing outside, she coincidentally heard Wei Kun’s voice coming out from the main room’s windows. “Why did you say those words to her? Why did you lie to her?!”


  The servants standing outside the doorway deeply buried their heads. Their bodies were stretched taut. Under this atmosphere, they didn’t to make any sounds.

  Wei Luo leaned against the gates that were craved with birds of prey. Her head was slightly tilted back and her tired drooping fan-like eyelashes cast half circles shadows on her white jade face. When she raised her head again, she saw Wei Chang Hong walking towards her. He was wearing a woven sapphire robe with an auspicious cloud pattern. He asked, “Who’s daddy arguing with? Why is he so angry?

  She thought that Chang Hong had probably also heard something and this was why he had especially returned from Mister Qi’s place earlier than usual.

  Wei Luo look up and slowly said, “Daddy is speaking with Third Uncle.” She tilted her head to look at Chang Hong, blinked, and asked, “For daddy to become this angry, who else could it be?”


  Chang Hong furrowed his eyebrows. He figured something out from Wei Luo’s words.

  Holding a gilded ivory dagger in his hand, Wei Kun cut off a corner from the black table carved with lotus flowers and had curved edges, and unflinchingly said, “Just like this table, let’s make a firm resolution to break off our relationship. We’re no longer brothers!”


  Not long after, Wei Chang expressionlessly left the main room. He looked calm, but he was clenching his teeth so hard that it looked like blood would come out.

  Wei Luo and Wei Chang Hong silently watched this scene. They didn’t know if they should try to persuade or wait and see.

  Wei Kun’s anger obviously hadn’t disappeared. He ordered people to bring to bring Du-shi over from Gingko Courtyard. Du-shi hadn’t left that courtyard for many years. Now, she furtively looked around Duke Ying’s residence with each step she took. Everything had become completely unfamiliar and no longer looked the same as before. Du-shi was wearing a grey outer robe that had been discolored from repeated washings. Step by step, she followed the servants. She made the mistake of meeting Wei Luo Luo’s eyes in the verandah and hastily looked away. Her previous confidence and dignity was already gone. She couldn’t even compare to a woman from an ordinary family.

  Du-shi originally didn’t know why Wei Kun had called her over here. She held hope that Wei Kun found his conscience and was going to let her out of Gingko Courtyard. However, a single sentence from Wei Kun’s dispelled all of her joy. She asked, “What did you say?”


  Wei Kun had made up his mind from the beginning. At the moment, he didn’t even want to look at her. He repeated, “Have someone bring me a brush and ink. I’m going to divorce you.”


  Divorcing a wife wasn’t a trivial matter in Da Liang. If a woman was divorced and had to go back to her parents’ home, her entire life was ruined. It would not only humiliate her parents’ family, it would also adversely affect all of the unmarried girls in her parents’ family. Moreover, the woman wouldn’t have good days after she went back home. At Du-shi‘s current age, it would be impossible for her to remarry. She would only be a great aunt. As time passed, her parents’ family would only become more fed up with her.

  In addition, after Du-shi returned to her parents’ home, she would no longer have the chance to see Wei Chang Mi. Wei Chang Mi was fourth branch’s young master. He wouldn’t be going to Count Zhong Yi’s residence with her. If Du-shistayed in Duke Ying’s residence, she would still have a chance to see Wei Chang Mi every month. If Wei Kun divorced her, then wouldn’t be able to see Wei Chang Mi for the rest of her life.

  So, it wasn’t surprising that Du-shi would have this reaction.

  However, Wei Kun was determined to divorce her. He picked up a brush and wrote the two words on a paper, “Divorce Letter”. Then, he started to write that Du-shi had “a vicious heart and was treacherous and resentful towards good-hearted people”. Of the seven allowable reasons to divorce a wife, this was the most serious offense. It seemed that Wei Kun didn’t have any intentions of keeping any sentiment and feelings between them at this point or cared about the relationship between their two families. He only wanted to punish Du-shi, this wicked person, to vent the hatred in his heart.

  Du-shi looked at Wei Kun with a deathly pale face. After he finished writing the divorce letter, she hopelessly shook her head, “Wei Kun, don’t…”


  Wei Kun placed the divorce letter inside his lapel and walked out of the main room. “I’m going to the front courtyard to speak with mother and have Count Zhong Yi’s people bring you back home.”


  Du-shi returned to her senses, ran after him, and said, “Then, give me back Mi-er. Let me take him with me!”


  Wei Kun didn’t turn around as he said, “Mi-er is Fourth Sister-in-law’s son. I’m not Fourth Sister-in-law’s master.”


  Du-shi mournfully said, “Mi-er is mine. I gave birth to him in October. Wei Kun, stand still!”


  Wei Kun walked farther away and said to the servant boy next to him, “Watch Du-shi. Don’t let go anywhere.”


  The servant boy nodded, turned around, and ordered the other servants. Two servants immediately stopped Du-shi and brought her back inside.

  ——–


  Pine Courtyard finally returned to calmness. The sky cleared after the rain and the courtyard became extremely quiet.

  After Wei Luo finished watching the good play, she rubbed her eyes and said, “Chang Hong, guess who I saw today.

  Wei Chang Hong was standing next to her. He had long grown into the appearance of a young man with splendid future prospects. In a calm tone, he asked, “Jiang Miao Lan?”


  Surprised, We Luo turned her head to look at him with an expression of “How did you know?”


  “I saw her when we went to Ci Temple last time. You were inside the main hall requesting protective charms and I was waiting outside.” Wei Chang Hong had also seen Jiang Miao Lan’s portrait. Although Wei Kun tried to hide the painted scroll from them, he took it out too often. It wouldn’t have been possible for other people to not see. When Wei Chang Hong saw Jiang Miao Lan for the first time, he only looked at her blankly. He had originally only thought she looked similar to the painting. But today, after Wei Luo deliberately asked him that question and combined with Wei Kun’s reaction, it wasn’t difficult to guess what had happened. “Will she come back to this household? Have you talked to her?”


  Wei Luo flattened her mouth. With a voice that seemed as if they were discussing the weather, she said, “She’s already married. She probably won’t return.” She blinked, smiled, and asked Chang Hong, “Chang Hong, do you want a mother? Do you want her to come back?”


  Wei Chang Hong lightly said, “I thought about it when I was younger. But now, I don’t need one.”


  Wei Luo faintly smiled, “Me too.”


  Jiang Miao Lan didn’t appear when Wei Luo was sold by Du-shi or when Wei Luo died in her previous life. She didn’t appear when Li Song and Li Xiang jointly destroyed Chang Hong’s future prospects. So, there was no need for her appear in the future.

  Cotton-padded jackets in winter. Palm-leaf fan in winter. A mother’s belated love. All of these things were unnecessary.

  On the same day, two things happened in Duke Ying’s residence. One matter was that Fifth Master divorced Du-shi and people from Count Zhong Yi’s residence came to pick up Du-shi. The other matter was that Third Master sent Third Madam off to a temple. He said it was so that Liu-shi could mediate and pray to Buddha. However, everyone in the residence knew that Third Master had separated his heart from Third Madam and could no longer live with her. If he wasn’t concerned about Ya-er not being married yet and looking after her future marriage prospects, Wei Chang might have also divorced his wife.

  After Du-shi and Liu-shi were sent away, Duke Ying’s residence finally became quieter and more peaceful.

  The weather became colder and colder and gradually became winter.

  It was early morning. Wei Luo had a red stain cloak embroidered with peony flowers and lined with fox fur draped over her shoulders. Standing barefoot on a fine woolen rug, she pushed open the window and saw that the courtyard was covered in a layer of white. It was the first snowfall of the year.

  Jin Lu opened the door and came inside. Seeing that Wei Luo was barefoot, she hurriedly fussed over nothing, “Miss, why aren’t you wearing shoes? The ground is very cold. It won’t be good if you’re too cold.”


  Wei Luo tilted her head and revealed a bright smile. “There are so many brazier burning in the room. How can I feel cold? It actually feels too warm.”


  Even so, Jin Lu was still worried. She helped Wei Luo to the couch facing the southern window and kneeled down to put on embroidered satin shoes for Wei Luo. When she looked up, she inadvertently saw that shoe pattern. She couldn’t resist jokingly saying, “It’s been so long. Miss, have you only finished the soles? His Highness Prince Jing probably won’t be able to wear new shoes until next year’s spring.”


  Wei Luo picked up the soles and looked at him them. She deliberately said, “I was planning on giving him shoes in spring to begin with. I don’t know how to make thick, winter shoes. I’m afraid that I’ll have poked a hole into my fingers by the time I finish.”


  Jin Lu burst out in laughter. She knew that her Miss was extremely delicate. If His Highness Prince Jing knew that her Miss had stabbed herself several times to make him a pair of shoes, he would probably feel heartache.