Chapter 64 -

Chapter 64: Chapter

They walked over to a quiet spot under a snow-covered pine tree. They were far enough from the others so no one could hear them, but still close enough for A-Cheng to see them.

Yimei stopped and crossed her arms. Her face was completely blank, her eyes cold as she looked down at the younger girl.

"Say what you want to say," Yimei said directly, not wasting any time. "What do you want?"

Su Lan fidgeted with her coat, her cheeks turning bright red. She hesitated for a second before bowing her head low to apologize.

"I... I came to say I’m sorry," Su Lan mumbled, her voice quiet and embarrassed. She kept her eyes on the snow, too ashamed to look at Yimei. "For what I said to you at the market that day... and how mean I was."

Yimei didn’t move, just silently waiting for her to continue.

"I really thought you were trying to steal A-Cheng from me!" Su Lan admitted quickly, her face burning hot. "That was the only reason I was so mean to you. I’ve liked him for a long time, and when I saw a pretty new girl walking next to him, I got jealous. I didn’t know you were already married..."

Hearing that, Yimei just shook her head at the girl’s absolute stupidity.

"That is a very dumb way of thinking," Yimei said flatly, her voice sharp. "So you are telling me that if another woman, someone who wasn’t married was walking with A-Cheng, your first reaction would be to attack her in public?"

Su Lan gasped, her mouth opening and closing as her face turned even redder under Yimei’s direct words.

Yimei stepped closer, her sharp eyes staring down at the trembling girl with absolute authority.

"That is not how a proper lady acts," Yimei lectured, her voice firm and direct. "You aren’t even sure if A-Cheng likes you back, yet you are already publicly trying to make him yours in front of the whole village. Acting so wild and possessive will only reduce the respect he has for you. Take it from me, and start acting better."

Su Lan bit her lower lip, tears of shame welling up in her eyes, but she didn’t dare interrupt.

"I understand why any woman would like him," Yimei continued smoothly. "He is young, smart, and has a very bright future ahead of him. But if you truly want him for yourself, stop acting like you are uneducated and mindless. You know very well he is leaving for the capital soon."

Yimei tilted her head, her tone dropping into a cool, reality-check whisper. "In the city, there are many young, noble, and far more beautiful ladies who would do anything to have someone like him as their husband. If he leaves this village without knowing how you feel, you will lose him forever. So you better change your behavior and confess your love to him before he leaves."

Su Lan stood frozen in the snow, Yimei’s blunt advice crashing over her like a bucket of ice water. The ugly jealousy in her heart completely vanished, replaced by a deep, frantic realization that Yimei was right.

Su Lan wiped her eyes quickly with her fur sleeve and bowed her head low, this time with real, genuine respect. "I... I understand. Thank you, Sister A-Yue. I will change."

Yimei simply gave a subtle nod, turning her back on the tearful girl and casually walking back toward A-Cheng and the herbs, her job done.

Yimei walked back over to A-Cheng, who was standing by the snow-dusted trail holding the basket of fresh herbs.

"Everything alright, Sister A-Yue?" A-Cheng asked, looking past her shoulder at Su Lan, who was quietly walking back toward the village with her head held low. "She didn’t give you any more trouble, did she?"

"No trouble at all," Yimei said smoothly, her voice returning to its calm, gentle tone. "We just had a short misunderstanding. Let’s finish up here and head back."

They gathered the last few bundles of medicinal roots and made their way down the mountain path just as the sun dipped completely behind the icy peaks, casting a deep purple shadow over the valley.

When they arrived back at the house, the cozy smell of simmering broth and toasted rice filled the hallway. Madame Zhang was already busy setting the heavy wooden table in the main room.

Yimei washed her hands, helped set out the clay bowls, and then went to bring Zhengyu out from his room. He walked slowly, leaning heavily on his wooden crutches, his face pale but determined as he took each step himself.

Soon, the small household gathered around the low dining table for dinner. A large clay pot of hot chicken stew sat in the center, steaming pleasantly in the chilly evening air, alongside fresh winter vegetables and warm steamed buns.

"Eat up, everyone," Madame Zhang said warmly, ladleing a hot portion of soup into Zhengyu’s bowl. "It’s cold tonight, and you will all need your strength for tomorrow."

As they ate, Yimei picked up her chopsticks, paused for a moment, and looked across the table at A-Cheng.

"A-Cheng," she asked smoothly, "what can you tell me about the late General Hu?"

A-Cheng froze with his spoon halfway to his mouth. He looked at Yimei in surprise, then quickly glanced over at his mother and father.

Beside her, Zhengyu paused his eating, a sharp frown instantly forming on his brow. He stared at Yimei sideways, wondering what stupid reason she could possibly have for bringing up a dead general during a quiet family dinner in a hidden village.

A-Cheng carefully placed his spoon down, picked up his tea cup, and took a slow drink of water before leaning forward.

"General Hu was a true hero of the nation," A-Cheng explained softly, his voice full of deep respect. "During the last great war against the opposing empire, he led a brilliant defense that saved the lives of more than ten thousand soldiers and citizens. He was the sword and shield of our border."

Yimei tilted her head, her face thoughtful. "But he wouldn’t have been able to do any of that, would he? In fact, he would have been dead long before that war even started."

A-Cheng nodded seriously. "You’re right, Sister A-Yue. Years before the war, when the general was traveling back home, his carriage was ambushed by bandits. He was badly wounded and fell off a steep mountain cliff. He was half-dead, bleeding, and stripped completely naked when an old physician found him lying in the snow in the dead of winter."

Zhengyu kept his eyes on his bowl, but his ears were sharp, listening to every word.

"The old physician brought him home and treated his severe injuries," A-Cheng continued. "Even though the general couldn’t speak a single word because of a throat injury, the physician took care of him for months. Once the general healed, he left in the middle of the night without revealing his identity. It was only years later, after he won the war, that General Hu returned to that tiny village and presented the old doctor with an imperial decree of honor from the Emperor himself."

Yimei picked up a small piece of steamed bun, her dark eyes glittering softly in the warm lantern light.

"The physician found him completely naked," Yimei said quietly, her voice echoing gently in the quiet room. "He had no clothes, no seal, and no words. The doctor couldn’t tell if he was a high noble, a poor peasant, or even a enemy soldier from the opposing empire. The physician didn’t care. He only saw a living person... a category that we all belong to beneath our robes."

She set her chopsticks down, looking at the warm steam rising from her tea, and recited softly:

"Strip away the silk and gold,

Beneath the ice, we share the cold.

No crown, no rag, no noble name,

In life and death, we are the same."

The dining table went dead silent.

Grandmaster Zhang stopped chewing, looking at Yimei over his tea cup , it was obvious she was trying to talk to him.