The sunlight struck the stone steps of Baoli Zong as Ye Dushen arrived, dressed neatly though his clothes bore traces of fatigue. He carried a polished wooden box filled with medicine, holding it firmly. His presence was quiet yet steady—enough to silence the murmurs of the disciples around him.
He was quickly let in by the guards upon seeing the Ye family crest, though unease was clear in their eyes.
Dushen said, "Do not worry. I am not one of the wicked Ye. I was entrusted by my elder sister from Fengming to deliver additional medicine here."
Inside, the Feng siblings and their companions were still busy after training when a disciple came rushing in.
"A man from the Ye family has entered Baoli Zong!"
Everyone exchanged glances. Yangguang nearly choked on his tea before breaking into a wide grin.
Yangguang (grinning): "A Ye?"
Mei'yin furrowed her brows, while Lingxi's sharp gaze cut through the air, carefully reading the situation. Xiao looked toward Yujing, unsure how to feel.
In the hall, they finally faced Dushen. He bowed respectfully and placed the box before a teacher. The moment Mei'yin saw that it was indeed Dushen the disciple spoke of, her face lit up with joy. The Feng siblings clearly knew him.
"From Lady Ye. Medicine for the disciples suffering from fever, as well as additional supplies. May Baoli Zong accept this small aid." There was no arrogance in his voice, only firm conviction. Yet everyone could feel the weight of the name he carried.
Lingxi gazed at him longer than the others, as though deep in thought. Meanwhile, Yuming lowered her head, unable to meet Dushen's eyes. Yijun noticed this immediately, glancing at her with a teasing look, as if to say he had caught her.
Teacher Xie Huang quickly expressed his thanks and offered hospitality.
"Master Lei already told me about you. Thank you very much. Please rest and join us for a meal, Young Master Ye Dushen."
Dushen bowed again and thanked him. His eyes then caught Mei'yin, who greeted him with a wide smile. Unable to help himself, he smiled back.
But Yuxi noticed—and narrowed his eyes at Mei in response.
After finishing his meal, Dushen decided to take a quiet walk before resting. His steps carried him through the winding paths of Baoli Zong until, in the distance, he caught sight of Mei'yin and Yangguang.
The sunlight filtered through the trees, falling over Mei'yin's bright smile as she laughed at something her brother said. For a moment, Dushen found himself simply watching — the liveliness in her expression, the way her presence seemed to brighten even the still air around her.
He smiled faintly before calling out.
"Lady Mei'yin!"
Both siblings turned at once. Mei'yin's face lit up as she hurried over, her steps light and eager.
"Ye Shen! I thought it would take a long time before I ee you again."
"I thought the same," he admitted with a small nod. His eyes softened as he studied her. "How have you been here, Mei? Do you not feel lonely?"
Mei'yin leaned a little closer, lowering her voice so that Yangguang would not overhear. Her tone carried the petulance of a child confessing a grievance.
"Of course I feel lonely! I can't even go chase birds anymore — they keep me guarded all the time."
Her little complaint made Dushen chuckle quietly, though he quickly straightened when his gaze met Yangguang's. With respect, he inclined his head in greeting.
"So you're Dushen, the brother of Madam Ye," Yangguang said, tilting his head as if studying him carefully. "At first glance, I didn't recognize you at all. You've changed so much."
Mei'yin, never one to let a moment slip without mischief, immediately chimed in with a sly grin.
"Tch! So sweet with your words, Brother Yang. Is it because you've fallen for Ms. Ye?"
Yangguang nearly choked, coughing in protest. "What nonsense are you saying, Mei!"
Dushen's lips curved, amusement flickering in his usually composed eyes. " Don't worry Young master Yangguang, I knew it."
"You should've seen his face just now," she teased, nudging Dushen's arm as if letting him in on a secret. "So red — like a boiled crab! Maybe I should tell Ms—".
"Don't you dare!" Yangguang exclaimed, his ears burning even hotter.
Dushen shook his head gently, the rare sound of his laughter escaping at their playful squabble.
Mei'yin clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head up at Dushen with a bright smile.
"Then I'll go with you. It's boring just staying in one place anyway!"
Her declaration was so sudden, so casual, that Yangguang froze mid-step. His brows drew together, a faint frown flickering across his features.
"You… want to go walking with him?" he asked carefully, his tone caught somewhere between a brother's protectiveness and an awkward reminder. "Mei, don't you think people might… misunderstand?"
Mei'yin puffed her cheeks, unconcerned. "Misunderstand what? Dushen is a friend. And besides, I've been cooped up for days. I need air!"
Yangguang glanced between them, his hesitation written plainly in his eyes. She's engaged to Yuxi, he thought, and she shouldn't be wandering too freely with another man — especially one who already draws whispers just by bearing the Ye name. Still, Yangguang lingered, scratching the back of his head, clearly reluctant. "If Yuxi hears…"
Dushen finally spoke, his voice calm, steady. "There is nothing for him to worry about. I'll see to it she returns safely."
The certainty in his tone left no room for doubt. Yangguang met his gaze, and though reluctant, he exhaled slowly. "…Fine. But don't take too long."
Mei'yin clapped her hands, her smile triumphant. She looped her arm lightly around Dushen's, pulling him forward before her brother could object again.
Yangguang watched them go, still uneasy but not entirely disapproving. Deep down, he knew Yuxi's understanding nature. And, though he would never admit it aloud, he could also see that Dushen treated Mei'yin with a kind of careful respect — a respect that, perhaps, would keep any mischief at bay.
Yet, as the two figures walked off together beneath the swaying branches.
Mei'yin walked with light steps, her arm still hooked into Dushen's as if afraid he might slip away if she let go.
"You know," she began, kicking at a pebble, "I thought life here would be more exciting. But it's all lessons, rules, and—ugh—being watched every second. No wonder I'm turning restless."
Dushen glanced at her, amused by her unfiltered honesty. "Rules are meant to keep order," he said. "But I suppose you've never been fond of cages, no matter how gilded."
Mei'yin tilted her head, pretending to pout. "That's because cages are for birds, not for me. If I were a bird, I'd rather fly until my wings broke than stay locked up."
His steps slowed, his gaze lingering on her profile — the way her eyes glimmered like sunlight dancing on water. For a moment, he thought her words carried a truth deeper than she realized.
The corners of Dushen's lips curved into a rare smile. "And where would you fly, Lady Mei?"
"Anywhere the wind takes me." She spread her arms dramatically, spinning in a slow circle on the path. Her laughter rang out, echoing against the silent halls.
Dushen watched her — not with indulgence, not with scolding, but with a quiet patience that felt oddly grounding. For all her mischief, there was a fragility beneath her rebellion, like glass hidden under silk.
As she twirled back toward him, nearly stumbling, he reached out instinctively, steadying her by the wrist. For an instant, their eyes met — her playful sparkle, his steady calm.
Neither spoke, but the silence between them was different now.
Finally, Mei'yin broke it with a grin, masking the faint heat on her cheeks. "Careful, Ye Shen. If you keep rescuing me like that, I might think you actually enjoy my company."
His reply came low, certain, and without hesitation.
"Perhaps I do."
But before Mei'yin could laugh or answer, a faint shuffle came from the edge of the path. Both turned sharply.
Standing beneath the shadow of a willow was Bai Linyan. Her posture was composed, her arms folded behind her back, yet her eyes gleamed with quiet calculation.
She did not speak. She simply observed — the closeness, the shared smile, the wrist still lingering in Dushen's grasp.
Mei'yin quickly pulled her hand away, color draining from her face. "Bai… Linyan—" she began, but her voice faltered.
Dushen, however, did not flinch. He straightened, meeting Linyan's gaze evenly, neither apologizing nor justifying.
The silence stretched, heavy as thunderclouds, before Linyan finally inclined her head slightly. "Lady Mei'yin and a nobody from Ye" Her tone was calm, polite — but behind it lay an edge sharp enough to cut.
Without another word, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing like a warning across the stone path.
The training courtyard was quiet that evening, the disciples already retired to their quarters. Lady Bai Linyan stood in the dim lantern light, her expression carved from stone as she faced Qin Yuxi.
"Earlier," Linyan began, her tone even but laced with judgment, "I saw Lady Mei'yin in the gardens. She was not alone."
Yuxi, who had been adjusting the bindings of his sword, stilled. His gaze sharpened.
"With Ye Dushen," Linyan replied without hesitation. "They walked together. Closely. Too closely, for an engaged woman." Her voice was calm, but the insinuation hung heavy between them.
Yuxi's brows furrowed.
"Oh, give me a break!"
Both turned sharply. There, leaning against a wooden pillar with arms folded, was Mo Yuming. Her eyes glinted with fire, her mouth curled into a mocking smile.
She pushed herself off the post, striding toward them with an almost predatory confidence. "Bai Linyan, you always sound like you're handing down judgment from the heavens. Do you really think watching two people talk is a crime worth reporting?"
Linyan's eyes narrowed slightly, her composure unbroken. "I state only what I witnessed. If Lady Mei'yin is engaged, she should act with propriety. Rumors grow from shadows, Lady Mo."
"Rumors?" Yuming scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You mean the rumors you're so eager to start. Don't pretend you're some noble watchdog. You just don't like seeing her smile at someone who isn't under your clan's leash."
Yuxi shifted uneasily, caught between the two. His lips parted to speak, but Yuming stepped closer, not giving Linyan the chance to regain ground.
"She's Feng Mei'yin," Yuming said sharply, her tone dripping with conviction. "She's wild, free, and stubborn as the wind. If you think you can bind her spirit with your 'proper etiquette' and 'good appearances,' then you've clearly never understood her at all."
Linyan's jaw tightened, but her voice stayed low and deliberate. "And what of her engagement? Do you suggest Qin Yuxi turn a blind eye?"
Yuming turned her gaze on Yuxi, her smirk softening into something gentler, but no less firm. "I suggest he trusts Mei'yin enough to know her heart. If she laughed with Dushen, it's because she considers him a friend. Nothing more." Her eyes flicked back to Linyan, sharp as daggers. "Unless, of course, you think you can read her heart better than she can."
The courtyard fell silent.
Linyan's expression remained composed, but her eyes betrayed a faint crack in her certainty. She gave a stiff bow to Yuxi, refusing to engage further, then turned on her heel and walked away.
Yuming watched her go, snorting under her breath. "Snake in silk."
Only when Linyan was gone did she let her shoulders relax. She glanced at Yuxi, who had been unusually quiet through it all.
"Don't let her poison sink in," she told him softly, almost like an older sister advising. "Mei'yin's your fiancée. Trust her, or someone else will twist that doubt into a blade."
With that, she patted his shoulder, gave him a cheeky wink, and strolled off as though the storm had never happened.
Yuxi stood there, staring after her. "I know." He murmured. Disciples moved about with their morning routines, sparring and practicing sword forms.
On the far edge of the courtyard, Qin Yuxi stood with Mei'yin, a rare softness still lingering in his gaze from the night before. She leaned in slightly, saying something that made him suppress a reluctant smile. Her hand brushed lightly against his sleeve — a small, private gesture, but enough to betray their closeness.
From the walkway above, Bai Linyan paused mid-step. She had been on her way to the elders' hall, but the sight below rooted her in place. Her eyes narrowed, her expression carefully neutral, though the faintest flicker of disapproval passed across her features.
It wasn't just the gesture — it was the change in Yuxi. The cold, aloof heir she had spoken to last night now looked… softer, touched in a way she hadn't expected.
Yuming's words echoed faintly in her mind, stinging all the more as she watched the scene unfold:
"Unless, of course, you think you can read her heart better than she can."
For the first time, Linyan hesitated. Was she wrong to warn him? Or worse… had her warning only pushed them closer together?
With a controlled breath, she turned sharply and continued on her path, but her jaw remained tight, her composure thinner than usual.
--------
Near the garden steps, Ye Dushen stood with a polite smile, hands folded behind his back.
"I should return to my residence," he said mildly. "There are matters I must attend to."
But before he could take another step, Mei'yin darted in front of him, eyes wide with mischief. "No! Don't go yet!" she protested, tugging lightly at his sleeve like a stubborn child. "You always run off so quickly. Just stay — just for today."
Dushen chuckled, a rare softness breaking his composed face. "Lady Mei'yin, I truly—"
"Please?" she interrupted, tilting her head, her voice dropping into a playful, almost pleading whine. "One class. Sit in one lesson with me at Baoli Zong. What's the harm? You're not drowning in work right now, are you?"
Dushen exhaled slowly, as though weighing duty against her persistence. Finally, he allowed a small laugh and a nod. "Very well. One lesson. You're impossible to refuse."
Mei'yin clapped her hands in delight, her smile blooming like spring. "I knew you'd agree!"
Just a few paces away, Qin Yuxi froze mid-step. He had been heading toward the main hall, his usual cold mask in place, when he saw them — Mei'yin practically glowing with joy, tugging on Dushen's sleeve, her laughter ringing too brightly in the morning air.
A shadow crossed his eyes. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, standing rigid as if rooted to the stones beneath him.
And then—
"Ohhh, now this is a sight worth waking up for!"
The voice cut through like a blade dipped in honey. Mo Yuming strolled in from the courtyard path, arms folded, a grin playing on her lips. She eyed the trio with deliberate slowness, her words dripping with mockery.
"Well, well," she purred, circling like a cat. "Our dignified Lady Mei'yin, pouting and begging like a spoiled child just to make a man stay? And look — he actually listened! How charming."
But Yuming only raised a brow, her grin widening. She turned toward Yuxi, who stood stiff as stone. "And you," she teased mercilessly, "look at that storm brewing behind your eyes. Careful, Qin Yuxi — people might think you're jealous."
Yuxi's glare flicked to her, but he stayed silent, his hand flexing at his side.
Meanwhile, Yuxi turned on his heel abruptly, muttering, "Enough," before striding off, his silence louder than any retort.
Yuming watched him go, her grin never fading. "Oh, this is going to be fun," she whispered to herself, delighted at the chaos she had just brewed.
Mei'yin laughed lightly, tugging once more at Dushen's sleeve. "Come on, you promised. One lesson. You'll see, it won't be boring with me—"
Before she could finish, Qin Yuxi's voice cut in, low and heavy.
"A'yin."
She froze. Slowly turning, she found Yuxi standing behind her, his arms crossed, expression unreadable but cold enough to still the morning breeze.
"Yuxi…" Mei'yin's voice faltered for a heartbeat before she forced a small smile. "You're here. I was just—"
Yuxi's gaze flicked to her hand still clutching Dushen's sleeve. His jaw tightened.
Yuming strode in, her grin wide and wicked. She gave Mei'yin a quick once-over, then without hesitation slipped between her and Dushen, looping her arm through his.
"Oh! Mighty Ye Dushen," she declared sweetly, "you did say you'd sit in a lesson today, didn't you? Perfect! Come with me. I'll show you the best seats — far away from this storm cloud brewing."
Mei'yin blinked. "Yuming, wait—"
But Yuming was already tugging Dushen away, flashing her a smug wink over her shoulder. "Don't thank me, Mei. I'm doing you a favor. Now, you and your beloved fiancé can talk without an audience."
Dushen hesitated for a fraction of a moment, caught in the mischief of her ploy, then inclined his head politely to Yuxi and allowed Yuming to drag him off.
And just like that, the courtyard was emptied — leaving only Mei'yin and Yuxi standing in the charged silence.
Mei'yin shifted uncomfortably, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yuxi…" she began softly, "don't be angry. It wasn't—"
Yuxi interrupted, his voice colder than she'd expected. His eyes burned, not with rage, but with something heavier. " Beg him to stay as though you need his presence more than mine?"
Mei'yin's breath caught. She hadn't thought he'd say it outright.
For once, she didn't tease, didn't laugh. She stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because he's a friend, Yuxi. Nothing more. You know that… don't you?"
Mei'yin clasped her hands behind her back, rocking lightly on her heels as she studied him. Qin Yuxi stood with his arms folded, lips pressed thin, refusing to look her way.
Inside, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of happiness. He's sulking… because of me. The cold and composed Qin Yuxi, shaken enough to pout like this — it made her heart secretly bloom.
But when she saw how tense his shoulders were, how heavy the silence felt between them, her smile faded.
She stepped closer. "Yuxi…" her voice softened. "I'm sorry."
That made him glance at her — sharp, surprised. Mei'yin lowered her gaze, fingers fiddling nervously with her sleeve.
"I didn't think," she admitted. "I shouldn't have begged Dushen to stay like that. I forgot how it might look… especially to you. I only thought about how happy I was to see a friend. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Qin Yuxi's expression shifted — the coldness in his eyes melting into something startled, almost vulnerable.
He exhaled slowly, then reached to lightly brush his hand over hers, grounding her fidgeting fingers. "...A'yin. That's enough."
Dushen stopped in his tracks, turning abruptly. His gaze locked onto Yuming's, steady and unyielding. For a moment, she held it, but the mischievous spark in her eyes faltered. She looked away, feigning indifference.
"You said you're Mo Tian," Dushen said, voice low but firm. "You lied."
Yuming whipped her head back, arms crossing in defiance. "I am Mo Tian! That's my name!"
His brows knit together, unimpressed. "Then why did I hear Mei'yin call you Yuming?"
Caught, Yuming froze for a heartbeat, her lips parting. She clicked her tongue, masking the slip with a shrug. "...Yeah! I'm Yuming. But my family calls me Mo Tian, so I wasn't lying. Not really."
Dushen narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. "Half-truths are still lies."
Yuming forced a grin, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Half-truths keep life interesting."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Dushen studied her intently, as if peeling away her defenses one layer at a time. Yuming, usually so quick to mock, shifted uneasily under the weight of his stare.
Finally, she muttered, "Does it even matter what you call me? Yuming or Mo Tian… I'm still me."