When he ran out the door at dawn, Xiao Chan had already returned to her room and was busily packing her things. Juan'er and Xing'er had also gotten up to help.

These past few days his exercise route stopped at Nie Yunzhu's small building. Combined with the breathing rhythm and training methods Lu Hongti had taught him, he basically didn't break a sweat. When he arrived, Nie Yunzhu was already waiting in front of the building, pale yellow light spilling from the rear windows.

"...Xiao Chan's father passed away, so I'll probably accompany her back home these few days. After the seventh day ritual¹and the burial, we'll return. I probably won't run over here these few days."

"I... I wasn't waiting here for you..." Nie Yunzhu blurted this out, then looked slightly embarrassed and lowered her head. "Um, I was also waiting for Liheng to come chat, but sitting here drinking tea and waiting for dawn is actually quite interesting. I'm used to it now." She smiled slightly, then paused. "But you're leaving the city at this time—what if refugees increase in a few days and they close the city gates?"

"It shouldn't happen that quickly. The floods in nearby counties aren't that severe. Further away toward Jiangzhou, if they're coming this way, it'll take some time. If they really close the gates, it'll probably be after half a month or by the end of July. For Xiao Chan and me, including today it's just five days before we return. Even if the worst happens, initially there'll be daily military escorts going out to distribute porridge and rice. With the Su family's connections, we can follow them back in. No problem."

"Mm." Nie Yunzhu nodded. "But since they're disaster victims coming over, there might be troublemakers or robbers on the road. You still need to be careful."

Hearing her mention this, Ning Yi laughed heartily. "No worries, no worries. I'm a martial arts expert now—they call me Blood Hand Butcher in the martial world. You'll know about it later. Besides, we have Guard Geng with his golden ring broadsword accompanying us. Not a big problem."

He waved his bandaged left hand in the air, looking quite dashing. One strip of cloth flew up, and Nie Yunzhu, sitting beside him, naturally caught it. She paused slightly, then blinked and silently pulled Ning Yi's left hand over, rewrapping the bandage properly before letting go and turning to sit a bit further away. Though it all looked natural and smooth, her face was actually burning hot, her heart thumping wildly. Fortunately the light was insufficient at this hour—Ning Yi probably couldn't see much. He only heard her soft muttering: "Still talking..." She still seemed somewhat resentful about his left hand's injury.

"Heh." Ning Yi smiled, picked up his teacup for a sip. After a while, he finally asked, "Yunzhu... what was your family situation like before?"

"Hm?" Nie Yunzhu's eyes widened as she looked over.

"Heh, I know it's somewhat presumptuous, but... I'd like to understand."

Nie Yunzhu's face reddened again. In the past, she absolutely wouldn't discuss such things with others, but now that Liheng said he wanted to understand, the situation seemed somewhat complicated. She thought for a while.

"My family originally came from Xuanzhou, also an official family. Father doted on me—when I was young he hired people to teach me poetry and music... When I was little, people also called me talented. But when I was ten, Father committed a crime... I entered the Court Music Bureau, then... What does Liheng want to know..."

Though her feelings were complex and she didn't mind being frank with Liheng, when the words reached her lips, there were only these simple sentences. She asked what Ning Yi specifically wanted to know. Ning Yi thought, then said softly, "Your family... are there any relatives you can still find?"

Nie Yunzhu shook her head. "Can't find them... Father and Mother, I heard they both died on the road to exile. One concubine supposedly remarried. Maybe there are other relatives... Actually these past few years I could have returned to Xuanzhou to look, but... but Father and Mother are dead anyway..."

By the end she spoke quietly, nearly in tears. Ning Yi waited for her to calm somewhat before saying, "That old man who sets up the chess stall, pushes a cart past every day, and now walks back and forth—Yunzhu should know him by now, right? The other is the Prince Consort, Kang Xian. You've delivered century eggs to him and helped as a shill during Dragon Boat Festival."

Nie Yunzhu sniffled, her nose slightly red, but smiled softly and nodded. "Mm, we greet each other when we meet now. Old Master Qin is very kind, and the Prince Consort has also come to the shop several times for congee and food."

"Old Master Qin comes from a scholarly family, good character, cultured. I've been thinking recently—if he were willing to adopt you as his daughter, what would Yunzhu think?"

"I... me?" Nie Yunzhu froze, eyes wide. After a moment, she seemed at a loss. "This... how is that possible..."

"If I say it's possible, it's possible."

"But... of course Liheng you'd say that!" Nie Yunzhu became somewhat anxious, frowning. "I... I was at Golden Wind Tower before... Liheng, saying this just makes things difficult for people..."

Ning Yi smiled. "They have this intention too."

"How... how is that possible..."

"Heh, a few days ago when we were all chatting together, your name came up. I told the two old gentlemen about you learning to kill chickens and sell pancakes, then... the conversation went in this direction. Prince Consort Kang also said he wanted to adopt you as his daughter, but honestly, getting a commandery princess title would indeed be troublesome. Things would be simpler with Old Qin—the old man has a good temperament. He has two sons, one civil and one military, both serving as officials elsewhere. With these two older brothers, absolutely no one would dare bully you in the future."

Nie Yunzhu sat there looking at him. After hearing all this, she lowered her head, her expression hidden. "Liheng... why would Liheng go to such lengths..."

"Tsk, we were talking and they brought it up themselves. What's it got to do with me?" Ning Yi spread his hands, then smiled. "But they actually admire your character and integrity. My motives are more pragmatic. Old Qin, you see, was a high official before. He also committed some offense and was dismissed—spends his days playing chess there. But his connections are broad, his influence... maybe not many in Jiangning know about it, but it's definitely not weak. Plus you'd gain two older brothers. After that, doing business selling century eggs or whatever, absolutely no one would dare cause trouble. We're friends—I benefit from this too. Honestly... I also wanted them to adopt me as their son or something. In this world, nothing beats having a powerful father no matter what you do. But we've been playing chess too long—it's not really appropriate anymore, no chance..."

Nie Yunzhu burst out laughing. After starting to laugh, she seemed unable to stop, tilting her head back then lowering it. Honestly, her uncontrollable laughter was beautiful. After lowering her head, she rested her hands on her knees with her forehead against her arms, sitting there laughing. But as she laughed, something seemed off. Ning Yi waited a while and saw her sitting there with her forehead pillowed, crying. The lamplight from behind illuminated the tear drops on part of her profile.

Ning Yi sighed. After she'd cried for a while, he finally spoke. "Hey, this reaction isn't good."

"I... I... my status... will cause trouble for the old gentleman..."

"No trouble. For others, those desperately climbing the official ladder might have trouble. But for him, for you, there isn't any. If I say there isn't, there isn't!" Even if people really gossiped, Ning Yi could create stories and use publicity methods to guide public opinion in the needed direction.

"I'm going out of the city these few days—you think about it. Don't feel like you're reaching above your station or anything. Acknowledging this adoptive father means becoming family. From then on he'll treat you as a daughter, and you'll need to serve him as a father. When he's old and sick, you'll need to care for him regularly. Old Qin has good character, he's a good person—that's why you'd choose him as an adoptive father. If he weren't, you wouldn't need to bother with him. It's not about... having a powerful adoptive father to prove something to others. It's just... having a family from now on."

Nie Yunzhu sat there still sobbing continuously. Ning Yi raised one hand, wanting to pat her back, thought about it, then withdrew it and sat there waiting for her to finish venting her emotions. Soon after, dawn began breaking. Nie Yunzhu finally wiped her eyes and sat up, showing a smile. Her crying hadn't been from sadness, so this smile was natural too—just her eyelids were red.

Before long, Ning Yi prepared to get up and go home. After they said goodbye and he'd walked two steps, Nie Yunzhu called from behind: "That... that... I just thought of something..."

"Hm?" Ning Yi turned back. The woman stood there with her red-rimmed eyes, smiling somewhat bashfully.

"That... Liheng, you interact with Old Master Qin and Prince Consort Kang as equals, right..."

"Mm, when we usually play chess and chat, we don't really distinguish seniority."

"Then... if I really acknowledge Old Master Qin as my adoptive father, wouldn't I have to call you Uncle Liheng?" She tilted her head, thinking about it somewhat mischievously. "If one day you three are chatting there and I come to pay respects, wouldn't I have to say: 'Greetings Adoptive Father, greetings Uncle Kang, greetings Uncle Liheng,' and then wouldn't you have to answer 'Good girl, Niece Yunzhu'... I'm older than you..."

She held back laughter, looking distressed. Ning Yi's mouth opened slightly as he stood there stunned for a long moment. Then the corner of his mouth twitched a few times. He pointed at her somewhat helplessly: "Looking for trouble." He turned and walked forward.

Behind him came a "pfft" of laughter. In the morning light, it rang out like silver bells of happy laughter. Though he didn't look back, in his mind he could vaguely "see" Nie Yunzhu covering her mouth with that mischievous and happy expression. Ning Yi smiled and walked straight ahead.

"Be careful these few days, don't get hurt again."

Her shout carried over. Ning Yi raised his right hand and waved backward: "Got it!"

Two families becoming one family wasn't a small matter. Having explained things to Nie Yunzhu and given her a few days to consider, next came accompanying Xiao Chan out of the city for the funeral.

Returning to the Su residence, everything that needed preparing was already prepared. A carriage was loaded with many items. Accompanying them was Guard Geng who carried a broadsword and was accustomed to traveling. Driving the cart was someone named Dongzhu, a young man who'd entered the household last year. Xiao Chan wore plain white clothes with black ribbons prepared on her person—a pitiable maid's appearance. But her crying was probably only last night, and she likely hadn't slept well, with somewhat tired dark circles. Ning Yi patted her head and she sniffled, smiling at Ning Yi.

"Young Master, I'm fine."

The four set out. After saying goodbye to Su Tan'er and receiving her instructions about what to do if the city gates closed and to take good care of Xiao Chan, the carriage left the Su residence, left Jiangning, and headed toward Xiao Chan's hometown—a small mountain village called Nanting Village...