Lan Lan had Long Junhao and the two children pay respects to Chen Shen. The children immediately became affectionate, remembering how Chen Shu and Chen Shen had always doted on them.
“Zhen’er, Xin’er, from now on you’ll call her Grandma, understand?” Lan Lan instructed. The children immediately called out “Grandma!”, delighting Chen Shen and easing her grief.
After the ceremony, Lan Lan announced to everyone that Chen Shen was now her adoptive mother, asking everyone to take good care of her. The servants were moved by her generosity, recognizing her principle of repaying kindness and respecting others.
Chen Shen had been scared and uncertain until finally being found through a familiar guide. Now her situation was resolved.
Sitting in the pavilion, looking at the exotic flowers and butterflies, Lan Lan sighed, wondering about another person and when she might hear news of them.
She called Xiao Yue to bring her guqin, an instrument Ling Feng had taught her to play. She had loved music since childhood and had become remarkably skilled, with a voice like a celestial being.
She leaned against the railing, reminiscing about her time with Ling Feng. “Moonlit and Misty Birds” was one of her favorite songs, and Ling Feng loved hearing her sing it.
He would say, “You’ve sung my heart drunk with this song.” Adjusting her instrument, the piano sound accompanied her voice, filling the surroundings, and memories plunged her into that romantic emotion.
Moonlit and misty, fireflies illuminate the night sky; mountains misty, autumn insects murmuring; flowers misty, evening breeze knocking on the hazy curtain; lights misty, wishing to enter dreams together.
Long Junhao stood outside the pavilion, gazing at her, dressed in white, ethereal, playing. Sometime ago, his Lan had also acquired such melancholy. She continued singing and playing, immersed in her thoughts, not noticing him there for a long time.
Long Junhao gently approached and sat beside her, experiencing the sorrow emanating from her. His mood was sorrowful, watching her reminisce about another man, feeling helpless. The people he sent to search for Ling Feng had not returned, and he wondered where he could be.
When her hands finally felt sore, Lan put down her instrument. Turning her head, she discovered Long Junhao quietly sitting beside her, his gaze deeply and tenderly looking at her, yet not disturbing her.
Seeing Lan set down her instrument, her gaze confused, Long Junhao smiled softly, revealing white teeth. When he smiled like this, he was incredibly handsome, a pity he rarely smiled.
“Lan’er, you play so well! I didn’t know you had such talent. You must play for me often; listening to you is a pleasure,” he said, leaning against the railing with a relaxed expression.
“Really? Okay, I’ll play for you every day.” Lan smiled charmingly, her mood recovering as she looked at him.
Sometimes she found herself amusing. When with Ling Feng, she hadn’t felt such longing. Now that he was gone, she often thought of him. Was this “what cannot be obtained is the best”? Great Grandfather said he would return, so she should cherish the person before her and grasp the present happiness. Recently, her low emotions had impacted Long Junhao, who felt a constant sense of failure in making her happy.
“Are we going to Long Yi’s place tomorrow?” Long Junhao asked, gently stroking her hair.
“Mm, we’ve already made plans.”
Lan lazily leaned against Long Junhao, closing her eyes to experience his tenderness.
“I’ll accompany you. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a drink with Long Feng. It’s a good opportunity to gather,” Long Junhao said, kissing her.
“Okay!” She agreed, rarely seeing him show such interest, and nestled against him.
Suddenly, a crisp voice broke the silence. “What are Mom and Dad doing?” Behind the rockery, two little ones were peeking out.
“Shh, they’re hugging. Brother, I want a hug too!” Their innocent chatter startled the couple.
“Zhen, Xin, what are you doing?” Lan called to the siblings.
“Oh no, Mom discovered us! Xin, run!” Zhen pulled Xin away, their laughter echoing. Lan smiled, her heart filled with happiness.
The next day, Lan rose early. The family of four, including little Yue, set off towards Long Yi’s residence, about two li from the palace. Chatting and laughing, they quickly arrived at an elegant residence marked by a plaque reading “Fu Ma Fu” (Consort’s Mansion). Before they could knock, the door opened with a creak. A portly Long Yi emerged with a warm smile, accompanied by the suave Long Feng, whose gentle demeanor warmed hearts.
Long Feng held a cute, chubby-faced boy with big eyes who resembled Long Yi, presumably their son, Long Lei.
“Zhen’er, Xin’er, go call Brother Lei and Aunt Xiaoyue; we’re going shopping.” After days at home, the children had been restless. With nothing else planned, Lan Lan decided to take them out. Long Lei was only a month older than siblings Long Zhen and Long Xin, and they were always together.
“Okay!” The two excitedly dashed out, happily calling for Long Lei and Xiaoyue.
“Mom, look, there are monkeys! Let’s go see!” Once on the street, the children were lively, making Lan Lan and Xiaoyue breathless. Spotting a crowd ahead, Long Zhen pulled Lan Lan forward to see a monkey show. The three watched in wide-eyed fascination, while Lan Lan found it uninteresting and looked around. Suddenly, a familiar figure caught her eye. Heart warmed, she pushed through the crowd, not hearing the children’s exclamations. But when she emerged, the familiar figure had vanished.
“Ling Feng?”
Was I seeing things? Or is he also in Beijing? If he is, why hasn’t he come to find me?” Lan Lan turned around dejectedly and walked back to the children.
“Madam, what’s wrong?” Xiaoyue asked, noticing Lan Lan’s downcast demeanor.
“Nothing, I thought I saw someone I knew, but it wasn’t him,” Lan Lan replied, shaking her head lightly.
“Mom, I think I just saw my godfather,” Long Zhen’s words startled Lan Lan.
“Zhen’er, is it true? Did you see clearly?” Lan Lan asked.
“It’s true, he even smiled at me before walking away,” Long Zhen said confidently. If Long Zhen believed it, she must not have been mistaken. But why hadn’t he met her? Lan Lan felt lost.
After they turned away, a man emerged from the street corner. A long scar crossed his handsome face, adding an evil charm to his beauty. His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his expression filled with sorrow. The light in his eyes brightened his face momentarily, then vanished, leaving an indifferent expression. After the group was out of sight, he disappeared again.
The bustling market continued unchanged, with people coming and going, unaware of the small drama.
Lan Lan walked home dejectedly, with Xiaoyue looking at her worriedly but unable to speak. She had noticed something was off with Wang Fei, whose behavior had been strange and now seemed downcast. As a servant, Xiaoyue couldn’t inquire about her master’s troubles, prompting her to hold back her questions.
Meanwhile, the three children remained carefree, skipping and playing. Approaching a street corner, they encountered a large crowd blocking their way.
“Mom, there are so many people! Let’s go see!” Zhener exclaimed, prompting Lan Lan to investigate. She discovered a young girl selling herself to bury her father. The girl, with her small, delicate frame, displayed a stubborn resilience as she hid her face.
Despite the onlookers, no one stepped in to help. A fat middle-aged man in fine clothes approached; Lan Lan recognized him as a local wealthy man with a repulsive, rat-like appearance. He lifted the girl’s head, revealing her delicate features and large, pitiful eyes that evoked a protective instinct in onlookers.
The man began to touch the girl’s face, making “tsk tsk” sounds.
