That day, Gu Heng cried several times during the funeral.
Only when she saw her grandmother finally laid to rest did she realize—she no longer felt any attachment to the Gu household.
Although she had grown up here, the only people who had truly cared for her were her Yiniang and grandmother. Now that both were gone, she was left alone, surrounded by a pack of wolves.
Even Qin Momo, her loyal servant, had fallen ill. Ziyun was still around, but she was too young—Gu Heng often had to take care of her instead.
She remained in this mansion only to uncover the truth behind her Yiniang’s death. Everyone who had wronged her Yiniang—she would make them pay.
Seeing how heartbroken she was, Ah Zheng felt a tightness in his chest and instinctively wanted to hold her.
But with so many eyes around, he had to suppress the urge.
After returning to the residence, Gu Heng didn’t have the energy to distribute porridge herself. She sent Ziyun and a few servants instead. As soon as she laid down, she quickly fell asleep.
***
Time flew by. Half a month passed in a flash.
Gu Heng and Ah Zheng welcomed their first Lunar New Year since reuniting.
In recent days, the plague in the town had finally subsided. The dead were mourned, but the living gradually recovered their vitality.
The worst days were over. Gu Heng no longer handed out porridge.
That day, they had a lively meal in the main hall.
Strangely, Qin Rou and Gu Yue had been much quieter lately. They no longer constantly found ways to jab at her.
Still, Gu Heng often felt like someone was watching her. Whenever she turned around, it was Gu Yue’s gaze.
In those eyes, there was confusion, unwillingness, resentment—but mostly, suspicion.
Gu Heng found it unsettling, but since Gu Yue hadn’t acted out yet, she could only smile politely.
As long as they didn’t stir up trouble—for now, that was enough.
After the meal, Gu Heng and Ah Zheng returned to their courtyard.
From afar, the sounds of fireworks began.
Gu Heng looked up just in time to see one bloom in the sky and gasped in delight. “Wow, how beautiful!”
Hearing this, Ah Zheng followed her gaze. Under the light of the fireworks, her face looked especially gentle and lovely. His heart stirred.
“Do you like it?”
Gu Heng nodded. “Mm, I do. Every year, the fireworks shop in town sets off fireworks like this. It’s beautiful. My Yiniang used to watch them with me.”
As she spoke, a shadow of sorrow passed through her eyes. “But now… Yiniang is gone.”
Seeing her like this, Ah Zheng hesitantly took her hand. When she didn’t pull away, just looked at him with mild confusion, a secret joy welled up inside him.
“Then from now on, I’ll watch them with you. Is that okay?”
Hearing this, Gu Heng burst out laughing.
“Really? You’ll keep me company this year—but will you be around every year? Won’t your future wife get jealous?”
At those words, Ah Zheng felt like he’d been struck on the head, caught completely off guard.
“Future… wife?”
Gu Heng nodded. “Of course. We’re good friends, but someday you’ll regain your memory and walk your own path. We’ll each marry and live our separate lives.”
As she said that, she remembered the violent, domineering crown prince from her dreams, and her mood darkened again.
A wave of unease swept through Ah Zheng’s heart.
He wanted to say he would never marry anyone else—that he only knew her, so how could she try to give him away?
But when he tried to speak, the words caught in his throat.
Right now, Gu Heng only saw him as a friend. Would saying such things be too forward?
In the end, he just tightened his grip on her hand and forced a smile. “Marriage and all that… it’s too far away. I haven’t thought about it yet.”
The next moment, Gu Heng pulled her hand away.
Panic surged in Ah Zheng.
Did he still say something wrong?
But in the next second, he saw a smile bloom on her face. “You’re right—things like that can wait. For now, we’ve just reunited after all these years. I have something for you.”
Seeing that he wanted to ask, she raised a finger to his lips.
“Don’t ask yet. Just wait here. I’ll go get it.”
As Gu Heng disappeared into the house, Ah Zheng stood alone in the courtyard, watching the fireworks in the distance. At that moment, a rare peace settled in his heart.
How he wished time could stop right here.
Moments later, Gu Heng returned carrying two boxes—one long and one short—and gently placed them on the table.
“Open them and see.”
Ah Zheng first opened the closer, shorter box. Inside was a set of clothes—pure white, soft to the touch, clearly expensive.
“You loved that black outfit you always wore. You haven’t worn it in a while—probably because it’s ruined, right? But we’re no longer as poor as we were at the manor. If something’s ruined, we can just replace it.”
Ah Zheng was touched. “Thank you.”
That black outfit had, of course, already been burned.
That night, after killing so many people, though he remained unharmed, his clothes had been drenched in the assassins’ blood. There was no way he could keep them.
Now, holding the new clothes from Gu Heng, he suddenly felt a bit guilty.
He swore to himself: the next time he killed someone, he wouldn’t wear the clothes she gave him.
They weren’t worthy.
Seeing him holding the clothes with a dazed look, Gu Heng thought he was just too happy and gently tapped the longer box. “Open this one too.”
The moment he opened it, a beam of light reflected from within.
Looking closely, Ah Zheng saw—it was a sword.
His pupils dilated in shock.
For a moment, he even wondered if she had found out about him killing people with a sword.
“Ever since we reunited under the cliff, I knew—you were no longer just a scholar. You’re skilled now. How could you go without a proper sword?”
Ah Zheng asked in a low voice, “You don’t mind that I’m no longer gentle like I used to be?”
Gu Heng smiled. “People change. You were wonderful then, and you’re wonderful now. I don’t have much money right now, so I could only get you a common sword. But in the future, when we’re better off, I’ll get you an even finer one.”
Ah Zheng held the sword in his hands, tears flickering in his eyes. He lowered his head somewhat sheepishly. “…Today is New Year’s Eve, such a wonderful day. You’ve given me so many wonderful gifts, but I didn’t prepare anything for you. I’m sorry.”
“What’s there to be sorry about? Don’t feel burdened.”
Ah Zheng gave a shy smile. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a pair of wooden carved dolls, handing the girl doll to Gu Heng.
“I finished carving these dolls a few days ago. I just hadn’t found the right time to give them to you—so here you are.”
As he said this, he looked a bit nervous. “…I didn’t carve them that well. You won’t dislike them, will you?”
Gu Heng took the doll, and a look of amazement instantly appeared in her eyes.
“Ah Zheng, how come I never knew you were so talented? First it was straw weaving, and now wood carving. Everything you make is so lifelike—probably better than many masters!”
Ah Zheng smiled faintly. “Maybe I learned it during the time we were apart. When I pick up these things, I seem to know instinctively how to do them. It just… feels familiar.”
He often had the feeling that in some previous period of his life, he had passed countless lonely, endless nights, relying only on carving to get through.
“I really like it. Thank you!”
Hearing that, Ah Zheng finally felt relieved.
Right now, he didn’t have much he could give her—but in the future, he was determined to give her more, and better.
Just then, Ziyun came back from the small kitchen with a plate of delicately made pastries.
That night, the two of them ate, watched the fireworks, and only returned to rest when the midnight drums rang.
***
The next morning, Gu Heng and Ah Zheng went to the main hall for breakfast.
As soon as they sat down, they heard Gu Changfan speak warmly, “Three days from now, the Chen Junshou will be visiting our county. Among the nearby counties, our Changle County has handled this recent epidemic the best. I imagine the Junshou will be quite pleased with us.”
Hearing this, Gu Yue immediately smiled brightly. “Congratulations, Father! That’s wonderful news!”
In high spirits, Gu Changfan stroked his beard and nodded. “Good girl, Yue’er.”
Seeing this, Qin Rou quickly chimed in, “Since the Junshou is coming, we must treat him well—serve the finest delicacies and wine. We must be sure he’s thoroughly impressed.”
“Indeed! In addition to that, I also plan to have a stage built in the most bustling area of the county, so we can invite the Junshou to enjoy an opera—and get a taste of our local customs and culture.”
Around the breakfast table, they chatted back and forth.
But in Gu Heng’s heart, there was a faint sense that the time had finally come—to reveal the truth about Yiniang’s death.
After the meal, Gu Heng was about to head out when she happened to run into Ah Zheng.
“Ah Heng, where are you going?”
Gu Heng looked up at the sky. The weather was clear today—if she moved quickly, she might return before nightfall.
“It’s been half a month since I last visited Qin Momo. I’m going to check on her.”
Upon hearing this, Ah Zheng quickly said, “Then let me go with you? I can take you on horseback—it’ll be faster.”
Since that time he had dealt with that family, he had indeed gone back every few days to check on them.
Each time, they’d behaved well enough.
But now, if Gu Heng were to go alone, he still couldn’t feel at ease.
What if that man complained to Gu Heng? Even if she didn’t believe him, she might start to doubt a little.
He couldn’t let that happen.
Hearing his reasoning, Gu Heng found it made sense and agreed.
Gu Heng had never ridden a horse before. Sitting behind Ah Zheng now, she felt somewhat afraid.
She was terrified she might fall.
Looking around, she saw that they’d taken a small path toward the village—there was barely a soul in sight, so no one saw them.
With that, she gathered her courage and wrapped her arms around Ah Zheng’s waist. With something to hold on to, she didn’t feel quite as scared.
“This path… is a bit bumpy. I want to hold on to you for a while—is that okay?”
