When Ning Yi left the house in the early hours of the morning, Xiao Chan was already in her room, rustling about as she packed. Juan'er and Xing'er were also up, helping her with preparations.
For the past few days, Ning Yi's morning exercise route always ended at Nie Yunzhu's small residence. There, he practiced breathing techniques and other exercises taught by Lu Hongti, barely breaking a sweat. When he arrived at Nie Yunzhu's place this time, she was already waiting outside, with the faint glow of yellow light spilling out from the window behind her.
"Xiao Chan's father passed away, so she'll be heading back to her family for a few days," Ning Yi explained. "She'll probably return after the seven-day mourning period and the burial. I won't be able to run over here during that time."
"I-I wasn't waiting for you or anything…" Nie Yunzhu blurted out, only to look embarrassed as she lowered her head. "Well, maybe a little, just to chat with you. But honestly, sitting here, sipping tea, and waiting for dawn is quite pleasant. I'm used to it now." She smiled faintly, then paused for a moment. "But heading out of the city at this time... What if more refugees show up and the city gates get sealed?"
"That shouldn't happen so soon. The flooding in the nearby counties isn't severe yet. Farther away, in Jiangzhou, it'll take time for people to travel here. If the gates are sealed, it's more likely to happen in about two weeks, or by the end of July. As for Xiao Chan and me, we'll be back in five days, including today. Even if the worst happens, military escorts will still lead relief efforts outside the city gates at first. With Su family connections, we'll have no trouble getting back in."
Nie Yunzhu nodded. "Still, the refugees might cause trouble. Some might rob travelers along the way. You should be careful."
Hearing her concern, Ning Yi chuckled. "Don't worry about me. I'm a martial arts master now, renowned in the pugilistic world as the Blood-Handed Butcher. You'll see. Besides, we'll have Yeng the Bodyguard with us, wielding his golden-ringed saber. No one will dare to mess with us."
As he swung his bandaged left hand in a dramatic gesture, one of the loose strips of cloth fluttered in the air. Nie Yunzhu caught it instinctively, paused briefly, then silently took Ning Yi's hand and rewrapped the bandage neatly. Once finished, she withdrew her hand and turned slightly away, her movements natural yet leaving her face flushed. Her heart raced, but she was grateful the dim light masked her expression. She muttered softly, "You shouldn't be joking about this..." hinting at her lingering worry over his injury.
Ning Yi smiled as he sipped tea. After a moment, he asked, "Yunzhu, what was your family like before?"
"Hmm?" Nie Yunzhu looked at him, startled.
"Sorry, I know it's a personal question. I just want to understand you better."
Nie Yunzhu's face turned red again. Normally, she avoided speaking of her past, but something about Ning Yi's tone made her feel differently. She hesitated before answering.
"Our family originally hailed from Xuanzhou. We were an official household. Father doted on me, hiring tutors to teach me poetry, songs, and other arts. When I was young, people used to call me a prodigy. But when I was ten, Father committed a crime, and... I ended up in the Imperial Music Bureau. So... What exactly do you want to know?"
Her voice trailed off as her expression turned complicated. Although she didn't mind being candid with Ning Yi, her words came haltingly.
"Do you still have any family members left?" Ning Yi asked gently.
She shook her head. "No one I can find… Both my parents passed away on their way to exile. I heard one of Father's concubines remarried, and there might be other relatives, but... I never went back to Xuanzhou to check. My parents are gone, after all..."
Her voice wavered, and her eyes filled with tears. Ning Yi waited for her to regain composure before speaking again. "You know the old man who runs the chess stall near the market? The one I used to pass every day with my cart? And the one called Kang, a former imperial son-in-law? You've met them both, right?"
Nie Yunzhu sniffled, her nose slightly red as she smiled faintly. "Yes, I greet them when I see them. Mr. Qin is always kind, and Mr. Kang has come to the shop a few times for porridge."
"Mr. Qin is a scholar with a good reputation. A kind and respectable man," Ning Yi said. "Recently, I was thinking—if he's willing to take you as his adopted daughter, what would you think?"
"Me?!" Nie Yunzhu's eyes widened, and she looked completely bewildered. "That's... impossible…"
"I'm serious."
"But… but… that's absurd!" Nie Yunzhu said anxiously, frowning. "I used to live in Jin Feng Tower… You're putting him in an awkward position with this suggestion!"
Ning Yi chuckled. "Actually, he brought it up himself."
"That's even more impossible!"
"Why not? A few days ago, we were chatting about you—about how you learned to butcher chickens and sell pancakes. One thing led to another, and Mr. Kang even mentioned wanting to adopt you. However, granting you a title like 'county lady' would be too much trouble. Mr. Qin is a simpler option. He has two sons—one a scholar and the other a military man—both serving as officials elsewhere. With those two brothers, no one would dare mess with you."
Nie Yunzhu looked at him in stunned silence before lowering her head, her expression unreadable. "Why… why would you go to such lengths for me, Liheng?"
"Tch, they brought it up. What does it have to do with me?" Ning Yi spread his hands with a grin. "They admire your character and resilience. I'm just being opportunistic. Honestly, I'd like to be adopted by Mr. Qin myself—having a powerful father is the best shortcut in life. But after all these chess games, it seems that ship has sailed for me…"
Nie Yunzhu burst out laughing, her smile radiant and infectious. But as she laughed, tears began to flow again. She lowered her head, resting her forehead on her arms. Ning Yi waited, seeing her shoulders tremble as she cried softly, the faint lamplight catching the tears on her cheek.
After a while, he broke the silence. "Hey, that's not the reaction I was hoping for."
"I... I… I'm afraid my background will only bring trouble for the old man…"
"No, it won't. For most people in officialdom, it might be an issue, but not for him—and not for you. I'm telling you, there's no problem!" Ning Yi's tone was firm, as though he could bend the world to his will if needed.
"Think about it while I'm away. This isn't about social climbing—it's about becoming family. If you accept, he'll treat you like a daughter, and you must treat him like a father. Take care of him when he's old or unwell. You'd choose him as a father because he's kind and deserving, not for some title or proof of worth to others. It's just… having a home, that's all."
Ning Yi sat quietly as Nie Yunzhu sobbed uncontrollably. He raised a hand, intending to pat her on the back, but hesitated and withdrew it, choosing instead to sit silently and wait for her emotions to settle. As the dawn began to break, Nie Yunzhu finally wiped her eyes and sat upright, a smile emerging on her face. Her tears were not born of sadness, so her smile appeared natural, though her eyelids were tinged with redness.
After a while, Ning Yi prepared to leave. As they parted and he had taken a few steps away, Nie Yunzhu suddenly called out to him from behind.
"Um... um... I just thought of something..."
"Hmm?" Ning Yi turned back to see the woman, her eyes still slightly red, smiling sheepishly.
"Um... you and Elder Qin and Prince Consort Kang... you're on equal terms, right?"
"Yeah, when we play chess and chat, we don't really bother with formalities."
"Then... if I were to truly recognize Elder Qin as my foster father, wouldn't that mean I'd have to call you Uncle Ning?" She tilted her head, her expression playful yet troubled. "If the three of you were chatting one day and I came over to greet you, would I have to say, 'Hello, foster father. Hello, Uncle Kang. Hello, Uncle Ning'? And then would you respond with, 'Good girl, Yunzhu'? But I'm older than you…"
She stifled a laugh, her face a mix of amusement and mock seriousness. Ning Yi opened his mouth slightly, stunned for a moment, before his lips twitched a few times in exasperation. Pointing at her, he muttered, "You're just looking for trouble." He turned and continued walking.
A soft laugh drifted from behind him. In the morning light, the cheerful, bell-like sound carried a playful joy. Though he didn't look back, Ning Yi could vividly picture Nie Yunzhu covering her mouth with a hand, her expression both mischievous and radiant. He chuckled to himself and kept walking.
"Be careful these next few days," she called out. "Don't get hurt again."
Her voice carried through the air. Ning Yi raised his right hand and waved it behind him. "Got it!"
Uniting two families was no trivial matter. With Nie Yunzhu's affairs explained and her given a few days to consider, the next priority was accompanying Xiao Chan out of town for her father's funeral.
Back at the Su residence, the necessary preparations had already been made. A carriage was loaded with supplies, including many items specifically for the journey. Joining them were Geng, a bodyguard accustomed to life on the road who carried a large blade, and Dongzhu, a young man who had started working at the household last year and would serve as the driver. Xiao Chan was dressed in a plain white dress with a black ribbon prepared to signify mourning. Her delicate, pitiful appearance as a maid lent her a sorrowful charm. However, her crying seemed to have ended the previous night, and after a sleepless evening, faint dark circles marred her complexion. Ning Yi patted her gently on the head, prompting her to sniffle before managing a small smile.
"Don't worry about me, Master. I'm fine."
The four of them gathered, and after bidding farewell to Su Tan'er, who gave instructions on what to do if the city gates were closed and reminded Ning Yi to take care of Xiao Chan, the carriage departed from the Su residence. Leaving Jiangning behind, they headed toward Xiao Chan's hometown, a small mountain village named Nanting Village.