When Hanyue and his men approached, Bairan stood upright, adjusting her clothing with her uninjured hand while holding the other against her chest. She could move her fingers now, but a dull, steady ache still throbbed through them.
Hanyue glanced at her first, then toward the trail of dust fading in the distance. Zhouyan was already far away. Without a word, Hanyue signaled for several of his men to go after him, then dismounted and hurried to Bairan.
With a tone carrying both concern and heaviness, he asked, "Miss Bairan, are you alright?"
Bairan looked at him for a long moment without answering.
Hanyue lowered his head slightly. "I'm deeply sorry. It was all my fault."
Bairan's mocking laugh sounded; "It's the second time you've apologized to me.. I think for the third, I might be peacefully resting in my grave."
Hanyue understood her anger add in a gently tone, "You're hurt. Let me take you to a doctor first."
Bairan simply nodded.
He offered his horse to her, but she shook her head.
"Not horse. One broken hand is enough for today."
Hanyue paused, taking in her stubborn expression. "If you won't ride with me, I'll send someone back to bring a carriage. But it will take some time… and you're in pain."
Bairan didn't let him finish. "I can wait."
Hanyue said nothing more and gestured for his men to hurry.
Before long, Dongpo also arrived with Baian. The moment Baian saw Bairan, his eyes reddened, and he ran to her.
"Bairan-jie! What happened? Did you get hurt?!"
He hadn't seen Zhouyan break her hand—he had only seen Zhouyan take her and ride off, then Hanyue calling after him helplessly. He had feared something terrible had happened to his Bairan-jie.
Bairan placed her uninjured hand on his head; "It's alright. I'm fine. Just a misunderstanding."
Baian sniffed, wiping at his eyes. Bairan teased him lightly, her tone softening, and Baian's fear eased.
She didn't even glance at Hanyue.
Hanyue watched in silence. He thought, "Her softness—she showed it only when she chose to. But her heart was far stronger than she ever let anyone see. She could be gentle, warm, hard, and cold at the same time."
The carriage arrived after some time. Hanyue tried to help Bairan onto it personally, but she still refused to take his hand. She stepped in on her own, Baian following close behind her.
It was already sunset. The city clinic was quiet at this hour. The scent of medicinal herbs lingered in the air.
An elderly physician examined Bairan's hand carefully.
He pressed lightly along the bone, his brows lifting in mild surprise: "The bone already set back into place... Well done. Whoever did it has skilled hands."
Bairan smiled, lowering her gaze. She thought, "Yes, he was skillful enough to break it first."
The physician continued wrapping her hand carefully, binding it with practiced movements.
"There will be pain for a few days. Avoid lifting or gripping anything. Let it rest."
Bairan smiled faintly. "Thanks, I'll do what you said, but...do you have any herbs to cure a crying child?" She glanced at Baian, who puffed out his cheeks and still wiped away tears.
The old physician laughed, looking at Baian. "You're already a young man. Your sister is that strong, but all you do is cry. The only herb to treat you is to become stronger. Don't let your jie jie get hurt again."
Baian nodded strongly. He thought, "If I were stronger, no one could hurt my Bairan-jie."
Hanyue, who stood nearby, spoke in a quiet voice:
"Thanks so much, old man. We'll make sure she rests."
The physician finished binding her hand and stepped away.
Baian helped Bairan to sit more comfortably in the carriage, whispering, "If it still hurts, tell me."
Bairan shook her head. "It's alright."
Hanyue stood a short distance away. He wanted to speak… but she was not looking at him.
He finally stepped forward.
"Miss Bairan....about earlier… we underestimated you. That was our fault. I hope you will allow me to apologize properly."
Bairan looked at him, her gaze measuring his sincerity.
She asked in a slow tone, "Are you apologizing for your master or for yourself?"
Hanyue's fingers curled slightly at his side.
Bairan continued, "If it was for him... no need, he did it himself."
Hanyue said gently, "No, I am apologizing for myself."
Silence lingered for a moment.
This time, Bairan replied casually, "It's all good. Now let's head back; it's already too late."
Hanyue smiled. He said warmly,
"Once we get there, I will explain the situation to your father. Please don't worry about it."
Bairan nodded.
When the carriage gets near of Lin Courtyard gate.
Bairan could see at the gate that three figures were waiting.
Bao'er's eyes swollen and red. The moment she saw the carriage, her lips trembled.
Qing'er stood beside her, motionless, staring at the road without even blinking.
Ruoyu had her head lowered, but her steps were restless. She kept pacing infront the gate, unable to stay still. When she finally caught sight of Bairan, she froze mid-step.
Bairan stepped down slowly. Baian supported her at her elbow, careful not to touch her injured hand.
Bao'er rushed forward first. Her voice cracked.
"Miss... what happened to you... why are you hurt...?"
Bairan lifted her injured hand slightly, her tone light as always—calm, almost careless.
"It's nothing serious."
Bao'er covered her mouth, tears spilling again. Took her side.
Qing'er finally exhaled too, her shoulders dropping. She stepped forward and took Bairan's hand. "Miss, let me help you."
Bairan looked at her. Their eyes locked for a moment, but it was enough for Bairan to understand her thoughts. She said jokingly, "Why do I need someone to hold me? It's not my foot that's broken; it's only my hand. The physician treated, so don't make a big deal out of it."
Ruoyu raised her head last. Her eyes were red, but she didn't shed any tears.
Her voice trembled slightly as she asked;
"Ruolan-Jie… what happened to you?"
Her gaze swept over Bairan's dusty clothes, the bandaged hand, and then to Hanyue's tense expression. She whispered, "Where did you go? Why are you like this…?"
Bairan lowered her voice as much; "I'll explain later."
Then, in her usual calm tone, she said, "It's over now. Let's go inside."
They entered the courtyard.
Ruoyu exchanged a brief look with Qing'er, and Qing'er gave a slight nod.
Ruoyu stepped closer and took Qing'er's place, gently taking Bairan's arm.
"Ruolan-Jie, let me help you."
And Bao'er was on her other side. Bairan did not refuse this time. She gave a small nod.
As they went through the gate, Bairan made sure to tell Baian, "Go get some rest, Baian; you've been busy all day, and I'm good. Don't stress about me."
Baian hesitated, wanting to stay, but in the end, he nodded and left.
Bairan was between them as they continued toward her courtyard.
Hanyue walked behind as well. He intended to follow only until he confirmed she needed nothing more, and then leave.
As they walked, he leaned slightly toward Dongpo and whispered, "Any news about my master?"
Dongpo shook his head; "No signal yet… With his Highness's riding skills, it'll be difficult for the men to catch up to him so soon."
Hanyue nodded once; "What about Dongyan? Did he find the letter in Lin Bowen's study?"
Dongpo paused, his brows raising slightly; "When we went after Miss Bairan, he went there, so he should have found it by now…"
He glanced around, suddenly realizing something; "But he isn't around. I will go search for him"
Hanyue nodded, and Dongpo went away
Halfway to the courtyard, Ruoyu suddenly stopped.
Her expression changed, and she held Bairan back; "I… I almost forgot. We can't go back like this."
Bairan blinked. "Why?"
Ruoyu swallowed hard; "Young Master Lu… he's waiting for you in your courtyard. If he sees you like this, he… he might misunderstand."
Bairan stared at her. Inside her heart, she rolled her eyes. "Misunderstand? What's there to misunderstand? Can I not fall and break my hand?"
But outside, her eyes widened, grabbed Ruoyu's hand and said in a pleading tone; "Sister—what should I do?!"
Hanyue looked at this sudden change and wondered, "Is she acting as a scary bunny or what?"
Ruoyu panicked as well. She looked around desperately. Her gaze landed on something at the side of the path. Lin Bowen once used the old, abandoned storage shed to store goods, but stopped doing so long ago.
They hurriedly went toward the shed. As the door creaked open, dust swirled in the dim light.
Ruoyu instructed Bao'er, "Go ensure the gatekeeper has not reported this matter to the steward."
However, Bao'er remained in place, directing her gaze toward Bairan.
Bairan nodded, "Do what my sister told you to do."
Bao'er didn't want to go, but her young miss said so she had no choice.
Ruoyu then looked at Qing'er and said hurriedly, "Let's head back to my sister's place. You bring a new set of clothes to change into. And I'm making Young Master Lu busy so he doesn't notice you."
Turned to Bairan and holding her hand; "Ruolan-Jie, you stay here and wait for us "
But Bairan, grip her hands trembled; "But here is dark and... so hot "
When she said "hot," Ruoyu's eyes sparkled, but she asked gently, "Hot... Ruolan-Jie, do you feel hot?"
Bairan yawned tiredly nodded "I don't know, but I'm suddenly hot all over, and I felt scared and tired."
Ruoyu smiled; " It's nothing… we won't take long beside Master Pei is outside "
Bairan looked at Hanyue outside the door. Then let Ruoyu's hand go; "Okay, you go, but don't take too long "
When Ruoyu looked at her for the last time, Bairan yawned again and touched her clothes restlessly
A flash of excitement went through Ruoyu's eyes as she walked away with Qing'er.
After they went away, Bairan's tired face vanished, her lips curving into a playful smile.
When Hanyue saw her like that, he could stop himself asked gently, "Was it all acting?"
Bairan curved her eyes smiled; "do you like playing along?"
Seeing that she started talking to him as before, Hanyue chuckled softly; "If that helps you.. then yes."