In a secluded chamber lit only by lanterns, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. The Four Masters sat across from each other, each bearing the weight of what had just unfolded at the event.
Master Qin's face was calm but his jaw was set, his silence louder than any outburst. Beside him, Master Bai's expression was tight, his pride clearly stung by Mei'yin's public declaration and the way it had dragged his daughter's name through whispers.
Master Mo broke the silence first, tapping the table lightly with his fan.
"So," he said smoothly, though his eyes glinted with sharp amusement, "the engagement of Qin Yuxi and Feng Mei'yin is not just a rumor after all. Quite the spectacle, to let it slip in front of all our clans."
"Spectacle?" Master Bai snapped, his tone edged. "Your words make light of a humiliation. My daughter, Bai Linyan, was publicly shamed—mocked—before everyone. Is this how the Qin and Feng raise their children? To trample on the dignity of others?"
Master Feng Lei's expression darkened, his voice firm. "Enough. Mei'yin is my daughter, and if she spoke out, it was out of desperation. The fault lies not with her heart, but with how the truth was allowed to fester in shadows. If blame is to be placed, perhaps it is on us—for keeping the engagement private for too long."
The air chilled.
Master Qin finally spoke, his voice calm, measured, yet commanding.
"The engagement was decided between our clans in private. It was meant to be kept discreet until the right time. But now, with the matter exposed before the eyes of all, we can no longer treat it lightly. If the Qin family does not acknowledge it, we will be accused of dishonor. If we do acknowledge it, then…" His gaze flicked toward Master Bai. "We risk fueling resentment."
Master Bai's hands tightened on the armrest. "Resentment? My daughter's reputation is already in tatters because of this. If you insist on binding Qin Yuxi to Mei'yin, then what of Linyan? Do you expect her to carry this disgrace silently?"
Master Feng Lei's gaze hardened. "If anyone thinks they can cast aside my daughter after this, they are mistaken. The Feng do not raise children to be pawns thrown away when convenient."
The room grew heavier, each master weighed by the storm that had been unleashed.
The chamber had grown stifling with tension when another voice cut through—silken, firm, and edged with authority.
Madam Su, leaned forward. "If we are to speak of engagements, then let us not pretend the past never existed. Qin Yuxi was once promised to my Linyan. That bond was never properly severed."
Madam Yan of the Feng clan frowned, her tone clipped. "That was years ago, Madam Su. It was canceled. Whatever tie you speak of, it no longer binds them."
Madam Su's gaze hardened. "Canceled? Perhaps in your eyes. But our Bai clan never gave consent to that decision. My daughter's place was stolen before it was secured."
At that, Master Qin finally rose to his feet, his voice steady as iron.
"Enough. The truth is simple: Bai Linyan and Yuxi both agreed to cancel it. A forced bond means nothing if the hearts within it refuse to remain."
Madam Su's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Both? My daughter was barely more than a child. She could not possibly understand what she was discarding. Do you truly claim a girl so young had the wisdom to decide such a fate on her own?"
The silence was broken by a sharp, mocking laugh.
Mo Yuming stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with mischief and defiance.
"Oh, come now. We all know why it ended. Bai Linyan's heart was never truly with Yuxi in the first place. She was already in love with another long before their betrothal was spoken. That is the truth."
The words struck like lightning. The chamber stirred with shock. Even the seasoned masters exchanged looks of disbelief.
"Yuming!" Qin Yijun's voice cut firmly, his hand gripping her arm before she could say more. His gaze was cold, commanding her to hold her tongue, but the damage was already done.
All eyes turned to Yuxi, whose face had darkened, his voice low but resonant.
"I will not—cannot—marry a woman who loves two men at once, who would make me nothing more than an option. If Bai Linyan's heart was elsewhere then, it proves what I have always known: we were never meant to be."
The chamber fell silent, the weight of his words pressing into every corner. Bai Linyan lowered her head, her hands trembling against her robes.
Master Qin's gaze swept the room. "This matter is closed. The engagement of Yuxi and Linyan is void, and will remain so. Whatever storms it stirs, the Qin clan will stand by its decisions."
With that, the meeting adjourned, leaving behind fractured silence, wounded pride.
Several days had passed since the settlement gathering unraveled in whispers and scandal.
Mei'yin had not returned. Word came quietly from Ms. Ye, who reassured everyone that the girl was safe in the company of her younger brother, Ye Dushen. Still, the absence left the household muted, as though laughter and mischief had been stolen from its halls.
In the back courtyard, the air was calmer. A breeze rustled the bamboo leaves as Madam Yan sat beneath the pavilion, teacup in hand. Ms. Ye knelt across from her, speaking softly of herbs and tonics, her tone carrying the careful weight of a healer.
"…I will prepare another draught for your headaches, Madam Yan. The stress of these past days must not be allowed to linger on your health."
Madam Yan studied her, eyes sharp yet weary. "You speak as though I were your patient, not your mistress."
Ms. Ye lowered her gaze. "It is in my nature. To care."
For a moment, silence stretched. Then Madam Yan set her cup down, her voice quiet but edged with steel.
"I warned you once," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly, "because I knew where this path would lead. You and Yangguang… both of you will be hurt if you continue."
Ms. Ye's hands faltered against her lap, her breath catching. "Madam Yan—"
"Do not deny it." Madam Yan's gaze did not waver. "I have watched my son since he was born. I know the look in his eyes when he lingers too long on someone. And I have seen the way you lower your gaze when his name is spoken."
Ms. Ye's lips trembled, but she forced herself to speak. "I… never wished for this. He is a young master, and I—" Her voice broke slightly. "I am no match for him. My place is at the shadows of this household, not by his side."
Madam Yan leaned back, exhaling slowly, though her gaze softened with something almost like pity. "Do you think I disapprove because of your station? Foolish girl. If love alone were enough, I would not have warned you. But tradition, duty, and power—these things crush even the strongest hearts."
Ms. Ye's eyes shimmered, her hands tightening against her robes. "And yet… I cannot stop mine from choosing him."
For the first time, Madam Yan's expression faltered, a shadow passing over her features. She turned her face slightly away, as though recalling some long-buried memory.
Quietly, almost as though speaking to herself, she murmured:
"That is what frightens me most… because I know exactly how it feels."
The bamboo leaves rustled louder in the wind, carrying the weight of unspoken truths between them.
The mountain retreat was quiet under the night sky. Lanterns hung dimly from the eaves of a secluded pavilion, their glow reflecting off a half-filled cup in Mei'yin's hand.
She sat cross-legged at the low table, her usually lively eyes dulled by drink. Her fingers toyed with the rim of the cup before she tilted it back, swallowing the bitter liquid with a wince.
Across from her, Ye Dushen frowned deeply, arms folded. His composure—calm and steady as always—was strained by the sight before him.
"Young lady" he said firmly, reaching across the table to pluck the jug from her side. "Enough."
Mei'yin pouted, reaching to snatch it back. " Ye shen, don't be stingy. Just one more."
He pulled the jug out of reach, eyes narrowing. "You've had more than enough. What are you trying to do—drown yourself?"
She leaned back with a sharp laugh, though it cracked halfway. "Maybe I should. At least then I won't have to think."
Her voice, usually bright with mischief, trembled.
Dushen's frown deepened. "Think about what?"
Mei'yin slammed her empty cup down, the sound too loud in the still night. Her eyes burned, her lips curling in a bitter smile.
"About how I stood there like a fool while everyone watched. About how she—Bai Linyan, with her angel face—looked at me as if I were nothing. About how he…" Her voice broke. She buried her face in her hands. "…how Yuxi didn't say a word."
For a moment, silence pressed between them. Only the soft chirp of crickets filled the air.
Dushen sighed, his sternness softening. He shifted closer, gently prying the empty cup from her fingers. "Lady Mei'yin… you've been stubborn since you were a child, but even you can't fight your pain with liquor."
Mei'yin peeked up at him, tears clinging to her lashes. "Then how, Ye shen? Tell me. How do I fight when it feels like I've already lost?"
His chest tightened at her broken voice. He reached out, placing a steady hand on her head, smoothing down her hair like he used to when she was small.
"You haven't lost," Dushen said quietly. "Not unless you give up. And the Mei'yin I know—the little girl who used to chase birds through the mountains, who never bowed to anyone's rules—she doesn't give up. Not for anyone."
Her lips trembled. For the first time, she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his shoulder. The wine on her breath stung, but the weight of her sorrow stung more.
"…But it hurts so much,"
Dushen's eyes softened, "I know."
The candlelight in the Qin residence flickered uneasily, mirroring the tension in the room.
Qin Yijun sat at the head of the table, his calm but piercing gaze fixed on Mo Yuming. Across from him, Qin Yuxi rubbed his temples, clearly exhausted from the day's events.
Yijun's voice was the first to slice through the silence.
"Do you even realize what you've done, Yuming? Because of your loose tongue, Mei'yin lashed out at Bai Linyan in front of everyone. Now the Feng and Bai families are both enraged—and all of it points back to us."
Yuming straightened, her eyes flashing.
"Loose tongue? I only told Mei'yin the truth—that Yuxi once loved and lost before. I never gave a name. She's the one who threw daggers at Linyan with her words, not me."
Yuxi sighed heavily. "Yuming…"
But Yuming turned sharply to him, her voice sharper than a blade.
"Don't 'Yuming' me! I was protecting you, Yuxi. If Mei'yin knew nothing, she would have gone to the Bai family herself, demanding answers. At least this way, the damage was… controlled."
"Controlled?" Yijun's tone deepened, his patience thinning.
"You call this controlled? The entire assembly witnessed Mei'yin declare an engagement, accuse Linyan, and storm out. That was chaos, Yuming. Chaos that could have been avoided."
Yuming pushed back her chair, standing in defiance.
"And what did you expect me to do, Yijun? Sit silently while Mei'yin devoured Yuxi's heart with jealousy? You act like strategy is the only thing that matters, but we're talking about people here, not chess pieces!"
Yuxi finally stood, placing himself between them. His face was weary, but his voice carried weight.
"Enough. Both of you. Yuming, you shouldn't have told her."
For a moment, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of their breathing.
Yuming crossed her arms, still fuming.
"If I were your enemy, Yuxi, I would have exposed everything with names attached. Instead, I kept Linyan's dignity intact. If Mei'yin can't control her jealousy, that's her battle, not mine. But it's your fault you let Bai Linyan hold you and wrapped her hands into your arm."
Yijun's jaw tightened, but he said nothing more. Yuxi only closed his eyes.
The gates of Baoli Zong creaked open as the Feng siblings stepped through, their robes dusted with the long journey. The setting sun cast long shadows over the courtyards, but what drew attention was not their return—it was who wasn't at their side.
No Mei'yin.
Servants and disciples whispered behind their sleeves as the siblings passed.
"Did you hear? She left during the gathering…"
"…She hasn't been seen since."
"Shameless. Running away after shaming the Bai girl like that."
"No—others say she was betrayed by Qin Yuxi himself."
The rumors tangled like wildfire, spreading faster than anyone could stop.
But the Feng siblings—Feng Yangguang and Feng Lingxi—walked on, faces calm, eyes cold, as though the noise did not exist. They didn't flinch at the stares, nor pause at the barbed whispers. Their silence was sharper than words.
Inside the main hall, their attendants rushed forward with questions, but Yangguang raised a hand, silencing them.
"See to our things," he said evenly, his voice a thin shield against the undercurrent of chaos.
Lingxi followed behind, her gaze low, her lips pressed tightly together. She heard every word in the whispers, every accusation that tried to pin blame on Mei'yin, but she didn't answer. She didn't need to.
The siblings had already made their choice.
The world outside could writhe in chaos, but within Baoli Zong—they would not let Mei'yin be consumed by it.
The courtyard of Baoli Zong had grown quiet after the day's lessons, the last voices of the disciples fading into the distance. Lingxi lingered near the stone lanterns, adjusting her sleeve as though busying herself, though in truth she was waiting.
She thought she was alone until a calm voice broke the silence.
"Still here?"
Lingxi turned, startled. Qin Yijun stood a few paces away, scrolls in one hand, his posture straight as always. His expression was composed, but there was a faint softness in his gaze.
"I was just… taking my time," she said quietly, her voice low and steady.
Yijun walked closer, stopping in front of her. "You're always the last to leave."
She lowered her eyes, not answering.
A rare, amused breath left him. "Do you stay behind because you enjoy silence? Or… because you're waiting for something else?"
Lingxi's eyes flickered up at him, sharp yet uncertain. "You think too much, Young Master Qin."
He set the scrolls down on the railing beside them and leaned slightly closer. "And you think too little of yourself."
Her lips parted, but no words came. She looked away, ears warming, unsure how to respond.
Yijun reached out suddenly, brushing a stray petal from her hair — the gesture precise, almost too careful. "There. Perfect again."
Lingxi froze at the touch, her composure wavering. "You didn't have to—"
"Maybe," Yijun interrupted softly, "but I wanted to."
Silence stretched between them, heavy yet strangely comforting.
Finally, Lingxi turned her face away, feigning coolness though her heart was unsteady. "…You say such things so easily."
"Not easily," Yijun replied, his tone low, sincere. "Only when it's you."
Her breath caught, and for the first time, Lingxi allowed herself the faintest smile — small, fleeting, but real.
The training ground was lively with servants preparing decorations for the coming days. Qin Yuxi walked briskly across the courtyard, his eyes sharp, searching.
He spotted Feng Yangguang leaning lazily against a pillar, arms crossed, watching the preparations with an unreadable face.
"Where is Mei'yin?" Yuxi asked, his voice steady but edged with impatience.
Yangguang barely turned his head, his smirk cold. "Why? Planning to hurt her again?"
Yuxi's brows furrowed. "I only want to speak with her."
Yangguang gave a short, humorless laugh and looked away, deliberately ignoring him. "She doesn't need more storms in her life. Especially not from you."
Yuxi's jaw tightened, but before the tension could grow sharper, a soft voice broke in.
"Enough, Yangguang."
Feng Xiaoyan approached, her steps graceful, her tone calm yet firm. She looked at Yuxi with the maturity of an elder sister, eyes steady.
"Mei'yin is safe. She's with someone she trusts." Her words carried no judgment, only quiet assurance. "But you must give her time. Right now… her heart is unsettled."
Yuxi lowered his gaze, guilt shadowing his features. "I can't let her misunderstand. Not like this."
A sudden voice chimed in from behind them.
"Then you won't."
Mo Yuming strolled up, her grin sly but her eyes sharp with intent. She clapped Yuxi on the shoulder dramatically. "Don't worry, Qin Yuxi. I'll help you make up with Mei. After all, who knows her stubborn little heart better than me?"
Yangguang rolled his eyes. "You meddle too much, Mo Yuming."
Yuming stuck her tongue out at him playfully. "And you sulk too much, Feng Yangguang. Someone has to fix this mess, and clearly, it's not you."
Xiaoyan sighed softly, though her lips curved faintly. Yuxi, caught between exasperation and gratitude, finally allowed himself the smallest nod.
The courtyard had quieted, lanterns flickering against the stone walls. Yuxi lingered, his gaze fixed on the horizon as though he could will Mei'yin to appear.
Yuming approached him with her usual lightness, but her expression was more serious than usual. She folded her arms, tilting her head.
"You're still brooding, aren't you?"
Yuxi didn't look at her. "I don't have the luxury of brooding. I need to find her."
Yuming sighed, then leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Well, you're in luck. I've been… let's say, keeping track of Mei for you."
That made Yuxi snap his head toward her, his eyes sharp. "What do you mean?"
Yuming smirked faintly. "Relax. I didn't stalk her. But I did ask around. And I know exactly where she's been hiding these past days."
Yuxi stepped closer, intensity burning in his eyes. "Where?"
Yuming's grin faded, her tone softening. "With Ye Dushen. At the Ye residence in Yunhai."
The name struck him like a blow. His chest tightened, but he wasted no time. His decision was instant.
"I'm going," he said firmly, already turning.
"Wait—" Yuming reached out, catching his sleeve. "Yuxi, listen. Mei's hurting, and Dushen—he's not just her brother, he's her shield. If you go charging in like a general storming a gate, you'll only push her further away."
Yuxi paused, his jaw tight. "…Then what do you suggest?"
Yuming smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming with both mischief and sincerity. "Go. But don't fight her. Don't argue. Just show her that you're not letting go. Mei'yin… she wants to run, but deep down, she wants someone to chase her."
Yuxi's expression softened, his usual composure cracking with quiet determination. "…Thank you."
Before Yuming could tease him further, he turned sharply and strode out of the courtyard, his robes sweeping behind him like a restless wind.
She watched him go, shaking her head with a sigh. "Honestly… you two will drive us all insane."
The Ye residence in Yunhai was quiet, nestled at the foot of the mountains. Wind carried the scent of pine, and the calls of wild birds echoed in the distance.
Ye Dushen sat in the courtyard with a cup in hand, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, always watching over the little sister who had stormed into his home days ago.
Mei'yin returned from the trees, her cheeks flushed from chasing after birds. In one hand she carried a small cage, triumphant.
"Look, Ye shen! I caught another one." She grinned proudly, eyes glittering with the same childish mischief she had always had.
Dushen chuckled, shaking his head. "You're not a child anymore, Lady Mei'yin. You're supposed to be a young lady now."
"Who says I can't be both?" she shot back, setting the cage down before plopping onto the bench beside him. Without hesitation, she grabbed the wine jar and poured herself a cup.
Dushen's brow furrowed. "That's enough for today."
But Mei'yin ignored him, raising the cup to her lips. "If you won't drink with me, then I'll drink alone. Again."
He sighed, knowing arguing with her was useless. With a resigned shake of his head, he took the cup she pushed toward him. "Fine. One. No more."
Her eyes lit up in victory. "Deal!"
The two clinked cups, the sound sharp against the quiet night. Mei'yin downed hers in one go, then leaned back, her laughter bubbling out—laughter that carried just a little too much sadness underneath.
"Do you know, Dushen… I told you this already, but I'll say it again—he promised me. He promised he wouldn't cancel the engagement. I believed him. And yet—" her words slurred slightly, her voice breaking, "and yet he still looks at her. Still remembers her. How am I supposed to fight against a ghost?"
Her brother's hand tightened around his cup. "mei'yin…"
But she was already pouring herself another drink, leaning closer with a crooked smile. "Drink with me, and listen again. I'll keep telling you the story until I forget it myself. Maybe then… maybe it won't hurt so much."
Dushen stared at her for a long moment, the tough, composed man reduced to silence by the sight of his sister forcing laughter through her tears. With a quiet sigh, he raised his cup and drank.
"Fine," he murmured. "Tell me again."
And Mei'yin did—her words tumbling out, the same tale of betrayal, of a promise broken, of love that made her foolish. She laughed, she cursed, she nearly cried, repeating the story over and over as if repetition could dull the pain.
And Dushen sat beside her through it all—listening, drinking, spoiling her the only way he knew how.
"And then—hah!—she looked at me with those wide eyes, like she was the angel of heaven. But I told her, no—no angel is going to take my spot!"
Ye Dushen sighed, shaking his head as he reached for the wine jar she was clutching protectively. "That's enough, Mei'yin. You're drunk."
"So what?" she slurred, hugging the jar like a treasure. "If I'm drunk, I don't have to think about him."
Dushen's jaw tightened. He was about to scold her again when the sound of footsteps reached the courtyard.
The heavy gates creaked open.
Two figures stumbled inside, the night air carrying the faint but unmistakable scent of wine.
Qin Yuxi—robe slightly loosened, eyes sharp even in his drunken haze. And beside him, Mo Yuming, cheeks flushed, her mischievous smile even brighter in her tipsy state.
"A'yin—" Yuxi's voice was rough, low, almost desperate.
Mei'yin froze. Her eyes widened, the wine jar slipping from her grasp and crashing against the stone floor, shards scattering.
Dushen immediately rose, his protective instinct flaring, his sharp gaze locking onto Yuxi. " Who are you?!"
Yuming, swaying slightly, waved her hand dramatically, laughing. "Peace, peace—oh mighty Ye Dushen. We come in… good faith. Don't we, Yuxi?"
But Yuxi wasn't listening. His eyes never left Mei'yin, his chest heaving as though he'd run the entire way despite the wine in his veins.
Mei'yin stumbled back a step, her heart pounding, the burn of betrayal mixing with the sting of alcohol. "You—why are you here? You shouldn't—" Her voice cracked. "You shouldn't have come."
Yuxi stepped forward, his balance faltering.
The courtyard fell silent, save for the soft creak of the swaying gates and the pounding of Mei'yin's heart.
Dushen's glare darkened. " Yuxi?... You have a lot of nerve."
Yuming flopped down dramatically onto the bench, waving her sleeve as though dismissing the tension. "Oh, let them talk, Dushen. Let them shout or cry or… whatever." She hiccupped, then smirked. "Better to spill it all out than drown in wine."
Mei'yin's lips trembled, her eyes locked with Yuxi's. For a moment, the drunken haze around them all only made the emotions sharper—unfiltered, unguarded.