Chapter 1: Three Years of Parting

Chapter 1: Three Years of Parting

It had rained that night.

The damp quilt felt heavy and stifling when placed on her body.

The room was sparsely furnished with decrepit items: a square table, a rickety wardrobe, and two crooked stools—that was all.

Shi Yuanxi lifted her eyes slightly. The only decent things in the room were the thick quilt covering her and a locked chest by the bed.

She dimly recalled that the chest contained all the belongings she had brought from the capital.

They were called her belongings, yet all they amounted to were a few thin pieces of clothing.

Beyond that, the Shi family had allowed her to take nothing else.

Just before she left, her father secretly entrusted someone with a bag of silver for her.

Years had passed, and seeing these old items again stirred a faint movement in her eyes.

"Miss?" Mother Zhang, her eyes red and swollen, gazed at her, wanting to speak but afraid of startling her.

Her hands, which held Shi Yuanxi's, were trembling.

Three long years.

Since Shi Yuanxi was driven out of the capital, her mind had never been quite right.

Mother Zhang, Shi Yuanxi's former wet nurse, had accompanied her to the remote countryside of Yuezhou and had lived there for three years.

During these three years, Shi Yuanxi had been like a person lost in dementia, unable to cry, laugh, or recognize those around her.

Mother Zhang had gone to great lengths to find a doctor to treat her.

The doctor said that Shi Yuanxi had suffered a shock that caused mental impairment.

It was feared that her recovery would be difficult, if not impossible, in the future.

After such a major event, the Shi family servants who had accompanied them abandoned them in the rural countryside of Yuezhou.

Mother Zhang wrote to the master and mistress of the Shi family in the capital, but they were unable to help.

As time passed, there was no change in Shi Yuanxi.

The capital slowly forgot her existence.

The master and mistress had not sent any letters to Yuezhou in almost a year.

Mother Zhang learned from one of the mistress's maids that the master had fathered a boy, who was now being raised in the mistress's name.

With the young master's arrival, they were even less likely to remember Shi Yuanxi, far away in Yuezhou.

But Mother Zhang refused to give up.

Until last month, the money they had brought with them had run out. They no longer had the funds to call for a doctor, let alone money for food and daily necessities.

In these days, Mother Zhang had been embroidering day and night, relying on the silver earned from selling the embroideries to barely sustain them.

"Mother!" Someone rushed over and pushed the door open with a loud clap.

Le Shu was so out of breath when she ran back that she could hardly catch her breath. She called out urgently, "Young Miss? Is it really true that she has recovered?"

Once she stopped and saw Shi Yuanxi's expression clearly, tears immediately streamed down her face.

After three long years, the once dull and lifeless eyes that couldn't recognize anyone now sparkled with life.

Le Shu took two steps forward but hesitated greatly. With tears in her eyes, she asked, "Does Miss still remember me?"

Shi Yuanxi's gaze gently landed on her face, and she slowly said, "Le Shu."

Having not spoken for a long time, her voice was rough and hoarse, but the words were clear and distinct.

Upon hearing this, Le Shu could no longer hold back. Together with Zhang Mama, she hugged Shi Yuanxi and broke down sobbing.

Shi Yuanxi slightly paused and gently patted her back.

She hadn't expected that on the way to Yuezhou, when she closed her eyes, she actually went to a completely unfamiliar time and space.

She spent fifteen years living and learning there, and when she opened her eyes again, she was mysteriously sent back.

Fifteen years had passed there, while only three years had gone by here.

During these three years, she had been living like a living corpse.

If not for the two loyal servants by her side, who knows what state she would have ended up in.

After a long while, Zhang Mama finally managed to dry her tears and recounted in detail the situation of the past few years to Shi Yuanxi.

Shi Yuanxi looked at the whitening strands in Zhang Mama's hair and remained quiet for a long time.

Upon learning of her 'foolishness,' the capital never concerned themselves with her again. In three years, only her mother had sent some money to Yuezhou once.

But by the time it reached Zhang Mama, it was only a few small taels of silver, not even enough for a few prescriptions of medicine.

Shi Yuanxi held Zhang Mama's hand and said in a low voice, "You've had it hard, Mama."

Hearing this, Zhang Mama almost started crying again but shook her head, "...because we were so tight on money, and the doctor said Miss's illness was an emotional one, that she might recover on her own one day."

"I had no choice but to halt Miss's treatment."

When they left the capital, they only had a few dozen taels of silver.

Most of it was spent on medical treatment, so stopping the medicine was a last resort.

But no matter how frugal they were, the money would eventually dry up.

Shi Yuanxi gently comforted her.

With the attitude from the capital and her being like a living dead, in such a hopeless situation, Zhang Mama still hadn't abandoned her.

She truly treated Shi Yuanxi as if she were her own daughter.

Zhang Mama tightly held Shi Yuanxi's frail body in her arms, her voice trembling as she said, "It's good that Miss has recovered."

Shi Yuanxi gently leaned on her shoulder.

Her experience was too miraculous and too difficult to explain clearly in a few words about the era she had been to.

But one thing was certain.

No matter what she had experienced over there, she was ultimately a person of this time, and returning was inevitable.

After reassuring Mama Zhang, Shi Yuanxi's gaze landed on the bowl of medicine.

They had too little money to continue paying for her medical treatments, but this bowl of medicine was clearly freshly decocted.

The medicine stove in the corner, though used several times, still looked quite new.

Shi Yuanxi asked, "The medicine?"

Mama Zhang replied, "It was sent from the capital."

The Shi family had sent twenty taels of silver and invited a renowned doctor from the capital to treat Shi Yuanxi.

"Is there anything unusual?" Mama Zhang lightly furrowed her brow, quite surprised when she received the items. But it was a hard-won opportunity, and she didn't want Shi Yuanxi to miss it.

Shi Yuanxi lowered her eyes and downed the medicine in one gulp, "It's fine."

She had just woken up and, being weak, drank the medicine and ate half a bowl of porridge before going to bed early.

Over the past three years, Mama Zhang had done her utmost to care for her health, but compared to a healthy person, she was still quite frail.

So after Shi Yuanxi woke up, she did not leave the confines of this dilapidated courtyard, nor did she voluntarily mention meeting the people sent by the Shi family from the capital.

She could remain patient, but the Shi family could not.

Two days later, early in the morning, someone arrived at the door.

The visitor was Wang Shi, the steward of Shi Yuanxi's eldest aunt.

Guided by Le Shu, Wang Shi spotted Shi Yuanxi watering wildflowers outside the courtyard.

Even though she was prepared, seeing Shi Yuanxi in person still surprised her.

When they first heard that Shi Yuanxi had lost her mind, many in the household believed it was a ruse.

But she had been insane for three years.

Shi Yuanxi was already eighteen when she left the capital, and a woman's youth is fleeting.

Especially someone like Shi Yuanxi, who had always aimed to marry into a higher position, how could she have pretended to be insane for three long years?

The doctor who accompanied Wang Shi confirmed this as well.

Moreover, four days ago in this very courtyard, she had seen Shi Yuanxi with vacant eyes and a numb expression.

Today, there was a glimmer of life in her eyes, but there was also something distinctly different from three years ago.

"Hearing that Third Miss has recovered, this servant has come to offer congratulations," Wang Shi said, a look of joy on her face, "Before leaving the capital, the First Madam repeatedly instructed that no matter the cost, Third Miss had to be cured."

"The First Madam often thinks of you and would be extremely pleased to know that your health has greatly improved."

Shi Yuanxi looked at her, "Thank you for the First Madam's concern."

Seeing that Shi Yuanxi had indeed returned to normal and was quite amiable, Wang Shi's smile grew even wider, "Third Miss was watched over by the First Madam as she grew up, and even though... she couldn't bear to see you suffer outside."

Mama Zhang asked, "What does Steward Wang mean?"

Zhang Mama said, "I am here on the Madam's orders to come and fetch Third Miss back to the capital."

Back to the capital.

Zhang Mama's heart jumped, and she hurriedly looked up at Shi Yuanxi.

Taking the chance, Wang Shi observed Shi Yuanxi's expression.

The Shi family had left her, who was said to have gone mad, in Yuezhou, neglecting her for three years. Now that they suddenly wanted to bring her back, Wang Shi had thought Shi Yuanxi would throw a tantrum.

But when she looked up, she heard Shi Yuanxi say, "Then I would ask a favor of Wang Guanshi."

The prepared speech Wang Shi had ready caught in her throat.

She was stunned for a moment before recovering from her surprise, saying, "Third Miss is so reasonable, it's no wonder the Madam cares for you so much."

With this, she rose to leave and prepare for Shi Yuanxi's return to the capital.

After Wang Shi left, Zhang Mama's expression became serious.

Back then, the Madam of the estate had sent Shi Yuanxi to this remote Yuezhou after she was rejected in marriage for the third time.

Now, how could she be so kind as to send a doctor and proactively bring her back to the capital?

Who knew what awaited Shi Yuanxi in the capital.

Shi Yuanxi grabbed her hand and smiled, "Don't worry."

She would have to return to the capital sooner or later.

Even if the Madam hadn't sent for her, she would have found a way back.

Staying in Yuezhou, she had nothing except this dilapidated estate of the Shi family and her status as a Shi family daughter. Should the Shi family remember her, they could betroth her with just a marriage contract.

Shi Yuanxi was not someone who left things to fate.

She had never been, and even more so now.

Now that they had sent her back, her life would be hers to decide.

Three days later.

Wang Shi prepared a boat, and Shi Yuanxi, with only a few pieces of luggage, along with Zhang Mama and Le Shu, left the small courtyard.

Before they left, Shi Yuanxi looked back at the dilapidated courtyard.

The Shi family didn't care much for her, and the small courtyard had fallen into disrepair, with the surrounding environment not much better.

Still, they had managed to live here peacefully for three years.

Shi Yuanxi withdrew her gaze and boarded a green sedan chair, reaching the dock, where she changed to a boat.

Yuezhou was remote, and even by water, it took almost half a month to sail into the capital's territory.

By the time the boat arrived at the dock, it was dusk.

The orange-red sunset set the water ablaze, and the rippling water reflected the flickering lights from a luxurious painted boat.

The sound of stringed instruments filled the air, accompanied by the boat full of flower lanterns, giving people the sensation of falling into a dream.

Xie Yuwei made his way onto the deck amidst this stunning sunset backdrop.

Although it was a pleasure boat outing today, he hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, only quietly giving orders to the page boy beside him.

Suddenly, he heard a commotion coming from the shore. Xie Yuwei lifted his gaze to look.

In that glance, a simple plain color caught his eye.

The wind was strong at the dock, and there was a huge decorated barge anchored nearby. People on the shore were all looking that way.

Shi Yuanxi heard Le Shu’s exclamation beside her and turned around to see.

In that glance, she saw Xie Yuwei standing on the deck.

The discussions of the people on the shore still reached her ears, with words like ‘overwhelming power,’ ‘of royal blood,’ and ‘Lord Xie’ reaching her ears.

The golden sunset behind her slowly descended, like a fine brush, accentuating her features.

Zhang Mama followed the sound and looked back, also seeing Xie Yuwei gazing intently.

Her pupils shrank, her expression tense, as she cautiously glanced at her young miss.

Xie Yuwei, Lord Xie, was now a prominent figure in the capital, an unparalleled powerful minister.

He was the third fiancé who had once been in love with Shi Yuanxi but had suddenly broken off the engagement, leaving her disgraced and banished to Yuezhou.

It had been three years since they parted.

Xie Yuwei remained as dazzling as ever, and the barge adorned with flower lanterns overshadowed their small boat.

His tall figure stood on the deck, as unattainable as he had been years before.