Such an answer.

"Master?" Mingyue snapped back to her senses. She and Qin Shi had followed Wang Huan back to the Wen residence, but she still couldn't help sighing. "Who would have thought? Neither Wen Yan nor Wang Huan could have imagined that Chu Xuan was actually the fourth prince! If those two in the imperial city had known that Wang Huan tried to drown Chu Xuan all those years ago, the Wen family in Yinzhou would never have survived."

Mingyue and Qin Shi followed Wang Huan all the way to Wen Yan's boudoir, where they overheard Wang Huan placing Wen Yan under house arrest.

For the first few days, Wen Yan was indeed well-behaved—she didn't try to sneak out or lose her temper, but obediently followed her tutors in learning music and painting.

"Qin Shi, why do you think Wen Yan is being so compliant?" Mingyue asked.

Qin Shi paused, then replied, "I suppose she wants to see what Chu Xuan really thinks. It's been four years, and he's never shown her even the slightest sign of friendship."

Mingyue nodded, biting into a piece of fruit. Sure enough, half a month later, Wen Yan finally ran off, heading straight for Chu Xuan's small courtyard, where the money Wang Huan had left behind that day still remained. Wen Yan grabbed the box of jewels and hurled them fiercely at Chu Xuan's door.

"So this is why you've been avoiding me? Because of this? She's my mother! No matter how much I dislike her, I can't change that, and I have no right to demand she act according to my wishes! I met you when I was nine, and now four years have passed—do you really not understand how I feel?"

Mingyue tossed a broken bronze ball up and down, shaking her head and murmuring, "Silly girl, you really met him when you were six."

As Chu Xuan opened the door, Mingyue turned to Qin Shi and said, "I'm hungry. Let's get dumplings from Old Wang's place."

Qin Shi leapt down from the rooftop and headed into the city. Meanwhile, Wen Yan, not noticing Chu Xuan had come out, threw a silver ingot at the door, only to hit the right side of Chu Xuan's forehead. Blood trickled over his right eye, making his face appear even paler, like some creature drained of all its blood.

Wen Yan froze, wanting to go to him, but Chu Xuan had already pulled out a plain handkerchief from his sleeve to staunch the wound.

Wen Yan bit her lip, stubbornly refusing to let tears fall.

Mingyue casually tossed her fruit pit behind her and heard Chu Xuan say, "Miss Wen, you're still young and have never experienced the ways of the world, so you've developed a fondness for me. But honestly, do you know anything about me? Aside from this face and this courtyard, what else do you know?"

Wen Yan lowered her gaze, biting her lip.

Chu Xuan continued, "One day, Miss Wen, when you meet the right person, you'll understand what I mean today."

"Fine! From tomorrow on, I won't come see you again—until I find this so-called answer!" Wen Yan wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, shouted this, and ran off.

Mingyue didn't rush after her, but instead watched Chu Xuan in the courtyard for a while.

Chu Xuan let his hand drop, the bloodstained handkerchief falling to the ground and, caught by the wind, drifting out of the yard. Only then did Mingyue notice how disheveled Chu Xuan looked today—his usually tidy hair was tied carelessly with a ribbon. When he lowered his head, his hair fell around his face, making it impossible for Mingyue to see his expression. She only heard him murmur, "Silly girl, I don't even understand myself—how could you? It's better this way, better to end it..."

Just as Mingyue was about to look for Wen Yan, she saw the old nurse who had cared for Chu Xuan hurrying over with a coat, worry etched on her face. As the nurse turned, the Illusory Realm of Blue Waves began to shift, reflecting Wen Yan's memories, just as Qin Shi returned with a bowl of steaming dumplings.

Mingyue watched Qin Shi walk through the bamboo grove outside Chu Xuan's courtyard, then the peach blossoms in Wen Yan's garden, before handing the hot dumplings to Wen Yan.

Mingyue held her porcelain bowl, unmoving, because through the window she saw Wen Yan sitting before her dressing table. Wen Yan seemed older now, her clothing and ornaments more dignified than before, and the spirited mischief in her brow now concealed beneath her increasingly beautiful features.

"Miss, your father and mother are waiting for you at the banquet," a maid announced.

Wen Yan nodded, pinned a jade hairpin into her hair, rose, and followed her maid to the hall. The room was crowded with guests, and Wen Yan was led through the throng of officials and their families.

Amidst the bustle, Mingyue, eating her dumplings, learned that today was Wen Yan's fifteenth birthday. According to the customs of the Lu Kingdom, she was now considered an adult—eligible for marriage. Many noble ladies at the banquet mentioned this to Wang Huan. From a distance, Mingyue could see that, though her prime had passed, Wang Huan's beauty remained striking.

Surrounded by ladies of high standing, Wang Huan greeted each with a gentle smile and a nod, never rushing to settle Wen Yan's marriage. Having lived in the Wen family for many years, Wang Huan understood the importance of a husband's status, and as her only daughter, Wen Yan could not be lightly promised to anyone. Even as outsiders, in Yinzhou, no one dared overlook them.

In the midst of the toasting and chatter, Wen Yan suddenly spoke out loudly, instantly quieting the hall.

"Father, Mother, your daughter has something to say."

Wang Huan fixed her gaze on Wen Yan, her elegant brows knitting together. "Today is a happy occasion, Yan'er. Don't spoil your uncles' and aunts' enjoyment. If it truly is important, let's discuss it later."

Wen Yan slowly shook her head, stubbornness shining in her eyes. She knelt before Wang Huan, bowing deeply as she said, "Today is my fifteenth birthday. The debt I owe you for raising me all these years I can never repay, so I offer three bows here to express my gratitude. But—today, I also have a wish. Whether you agree or not, whether it can be fulfilled or not, I must try."

Wang Huan seemed to realize what Wen Yan was about to say and immediately struck the table, rising in anger, but she was still too late to stop her.

"I wish to marry Chu Xuan," Wen Yan declared calmly, paying no mind to the uproar that followed. "Chu Xuan once said my feelings for him were mere curiosity, that I didn't truly know him, and you, Mother, never wanted me to get too close to him. So for the past two years, I haven't seen him at all: partly to set your mind at ease, partly to understand my own heart. Now, after two years, I am more certain than ever. My feelings for him are more than curiosity. The love I want, only he can give me. The life I wish for must include him. So, I want to try. If I succeed, it will be the greatest happiness of my life; if I fail, I will have no regrets. If he will not marry me, I will marry no one else." With these words, Wen Yan bowed once more to her parents, then hurriedly fled the hall, running toward Chu Xuan's courtyard.

Mingyue and Qin Shi rushed after her, arriving to find Chu Xuan coughing up blood in the courtyard, while Wen Yan, anxious and in tears, was nothing like the composed young lady she had been at home.

It was as if Chu Xuan had never seen anyone cry before; he stared at Wen Yan, lost and helpless. After a long moment, he reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Why is it that, after two years, the first thing you do when you see me is cry like a little tabby cat?"

Wen Yan flung herself into Chu Xuan's arms, but the force of it sent them both tumbling to the ground. Clutching his collar, she said, "It's been two years, and I've thought it through. I just like you. I want to marry you. Don't say I don't understand you—even if it's true... Chu Xuan, will you marry me? Even if you refuse, I'll still cling to you!"