Water rippled, and the night was serene. Far away, the Qinhuai River outlined the most splendid scene in the city, with lights stretching for miles, a golden shimmer in the air. Surrounding buildings, their eaves overlapping like scales, extended into the distance, making the river resemble a golden dragon lying on the ground, nurturing the prosperous Jiangning landscape. However, at this tributary, everything was still peaceful. Because it wasn't the main course of the river, the development on both sides of the waterway near the suburbs wasn't extensive. Occasional houses and manors dotted the area, adding touches of light. Pleasure boats traveling on the Qinhuai River only came here when they were extremely bored, like small floating palaces in the darkness. They passed by the small building, illuminating its platform for a moment, then gradually moved away, leaving behind small lanterns to light this confined space.

"...After you left, Mingyue Pavilion was the first to open. We bought several shops around the old one. The two next door didn't want to sell, so we invited them to join us. After Mingyue Pavilion, it was Qingyuan..."

The night wind blew, soaking Yunzhu's gentle voice in the sound of the wind and water. The lights were dim, making the platform appear somewhat dark. After all, they had been separated for too long, and the relationship between Ning Yi and Yunzhu wasn't a private meeting. The scale of their interaction could only hover between ambiguity and forced naturalness. After meeting, they came to the small building. There were actually many things they could say to each other, but because there were too many things to say, it was difficult to think of what to say first, especially with Yuan Jin'er present.

After dismissing Hutao and Kou'er, who came to greet them, they came to this small platform where they often spent time together and hung up small lanterns. Yunzhu quietly savored the complex feelings of finally meeting again. After Jin'er returned to the building to prepare tea and change clothes, she spoke softly about the development of Zhuji. Actually, she was absent-minded. Ning Yi found a chair and sat down, watching her talk about these things, occasionally lowering her head, occasionally smiling. Her masculine attire couldn't hide the soft and beautiful figure and tranquil temperament of a woman. He thought that if he were really a talented scholar, a fan might be more suitable for this atmosphere, and he couldn't help but smile.

Saying the names of Mingyue Pavilion, Qingyuan, and Yilan Residence in front of Ning Yi, Yunzhu didn't feel that there was anything she should be ashamed of. Ning Yi's subtle, knowing smile also made her feel at peace. Apart from hurriedly asking, "When did you come back?" at the beginning, and receiving Ning Yi's reply that he had only entered the city in the afternoon, the only things she could talk about were trivial matters, such as the scholars at Qingyuan arguing again at night, or the wall of Qingyuan being knocked down. In her heart, what she really wanted to say were other things.

"Actually... uh... Jin'er always likes to say those strange things. Li Heng, you also know, she said... she said that the reason she kissed her was because..."

The kiss with Jin'er at Qingyuan tonight hadn't bothered her at all, but now that she had seen Ning Yi, and Jin'er had announced it so flamboyantly, her mind had become a little complicated, and she couldn't help but feel worried. She felt it wasn't necessary to say it, but couldn't help but want to clarify, but after she spoke, she felt even more that she didn't need to say these things. Ning Yi laughed, and then his figure loomed over. In the dim light, Yunzhu leaned against the back of the chair and saw his face close at hand. Her expression, which had been somewhat embarrassed when talking about the kiss with Jin'er, calmed down at this moment.

"How did you kiss? Like this..."

"It's... uh..."

Her slender fingers moved slightly at her side, and then gently grasped Ning Yi's palm. Two figures merged together on this dim platform, and the night breeze was warm. At the entrance to the platform on one side, a slender figure wearing goose-yellow embroidered shoes was stepping in, and then paused slightly. The figure watched for a while, and finally quietly turned and left.

Sometime later, in the dimness, there were two soft whispers: "Jin'er saw it."

"Mmm... I know..."

Yuan Jin'er quietly returned to the living room, carefully put down the tea tray, looked back at the faint light from the platform, slumped her shoulders, and sighed silently. Then, pouting and lowering her head, she slowly walked out of the house, occasionally looking back, until she left the door, and then walked back and forth under the eaves.

At this time, she had changed back into women's clothing, a long dress and trousers, a plain white gauze robe with simple patterns, and a plain vest. Having been with Yunzhu for a long time, the color of her clothing was inevitably influenced. Recently, Jin'er preferred a cleaner and brighter look, and the red, yellow, and green dresses she used to like were worn less often, but the style was still clean and neat, still the Jin'er girl who was popular with so many people in Jinfeng Building.

However, at this time, she couldn't help but reveal a melancholy and troubled expression. If you ignored the women's clothing and long hair, the raised face looked somewhat like a tomboy troubled by love. Of course, if it fell into the eyes of those talented scholars who had pursued her, they might notice the unique charm that the always lively Yuan Jin'er brought about because of this sorrow. The girl who had seemed to never know the taste of sorrow was finally troubled by love. If she had had this temperament in the past, she might have become the top courtesan long ago.

Of course, what our Jin'er girl was troubled by at this time might not even be clear to herself. Whether she really liked Yunzhu, or really hated Ning Yi, or felt like she had been abandoned, or mourned for herself because Yunzhu had found a home—in short, people's feelings were never pure. After walking under the eaves for a while, she had no choice but to sit down on the steps, tapping the branch and drawing circles aimlessly on the steps.

If time went back one or two years, that guy named Ning Yi would often run past here in the morning. There was warm light under the eaves, and he would often sit on the steps here for a while, talking to a girl named Yunzhu. That's how the two people's feelings developed. Jin'er gradually learned about these things in her past conversations with Sister Yunzhu.

Thinking about these messy, upsetting things, Ning Yi came out unknowingly. Jin'er glared at him with a hint of hostility. He smiled slightly and sat down beside her.

"Hmph."

That smile was too hateful. Jin'er snorted coldly, hugged her knees, turned her head, and continued to draw circles with the branch, not planning to pay attention to him. Ning Yi simply sat on the side and looked at the surrounding night scenery. After a while, a carriage drove past on the road. The coachman looked at the pair of men and women sitting under the eaves and waved his whip with a strange look.

Jin'er's eyes glared at the coachman like a cat.

The carriage quickly disappeared into the distance.

"Hmph, anyway... I've kissed Sister Yunzhu."

In the end, it was Jin'er who couldn't help but turn her head to look at Ning Yi, raise her chin, and Ning Yi glanced at her as well: "Is that so? So have I."

Shameless, saying it so openly. Jin'er cursed in her heart, and then said: "You're a man, I'm a woman."

"So what."

"Mine is more difficult." Jin'er said, turning her head to look at the shadows of the trees in the darkness ahead, "So Sister Yunzhu will be mine sooner or later."

Ning Yi was silent for a moment, looking at her: "Then why didn't you come over to make trouble just now?"

Jin'er hugged her knees, feeling a little depressed, and after a long while, she said: "But she still likes you more now. She's been waiting for you to come back for a year. Although I don't like it, I won't mess around at this time. Hmph, anyway... anyway..." She mumbled something, probably saying that Sister Yunzhu would still like her in the end. Ning Yi looked at her for a while from the side and rear, then smiled, wanting to say something but ultimately feeling that it was unnecessary. The Yuan Jin'er in front of him was someone who truly liked Yunzhu. Perhaps it wasn't love, but she was indeed the most sincere protector.

After a while, Jin'er turned her head and asked: "Where's Sister Yunzhu? What did you do to her? Why did you come out?"

Ning Yi said: "What could I do? She went to change clothes."

"Oh."

Probably feeling that Ning Yi didn't have any hostility this time, Jin'er sulked for a while, and finally felt that she was quite bored. After a while, Yunzhu, who had changed back into women's clothing, came out of the door: "What are you doing sitting here?"

"He's seducing me." Jin'er turned her head, pointing her finger at Ning Yi.

Ning Yi laughed: "Talking about the things in Hangzhou."

"Hmm?"

Yunzhu also sat down between the two of them. Kang Xian had told them about many things that Ning Yi had done in Hangzhou, but the various specific details were not clear. At this time, she listened to Ning Yi tell them from the beginning. Yunzhu cared about his affairs, and Jin'er was quite curious about the "Yongle Court" that appeared briefly in Hangzhou to the south, and those who participated in the rebellion, who were like Mischief Kings in other people's mouths. Ning Yi had actually confronted these people in person. She felt it was quite unreal when she heard Kang Xian talk about it, and at this time, she loudly asked Ning Yi about the process.

Ning Yi had also told them about things like "Martial World" before. At this time, he added fuel to the fire and embellished it, such as the leader of the Demon Cult, Sacred Lord Fang La, the left and right guardians, the Four Heavenly Kings, and so on. The three of them were sitting under the eaves after all, which was a little awkward. Before long, they returned to the living room, eating snacks, drinking tea, and cracking watermelon seeds while continuing to talk. Yuan Jin'er was interested in many things, such as who was the most powerful person in their Demon Cult, who would be better if Fang Qi Fo fought Wang Yin, and what would happen if Fang La encountered Dugu Nine Swords.

After listening to Ning Yi's many deeds, she also asked: "Then now... do many people know about your nickname, 'Blood Hand Butcher'?"

"It's simply as loud as thunder and extremely famous... Let me tell you, there are not many people who can escape unscathed after forming a feud with people like Shi Bao and Li Tianrun. The guy I killed named Tang Kou should also be quite famous. I later went to inquire, and the kung fu he practiced was also very famous, called... but he was still tricked to death by me, no, he was defeated by me... But now there's not enough time, and I don't know how far it can spread..."

"Why are you like this, always cheating, not a hero. And according to what you said, the only one you fought head-on was that unknown Tang Kou..."

"What are you kidding me, Taiping Lane also counts."

"But you won that Taiping Lane with gunpowder. It was not a glorious victory. Moreover, it was a war at that time, and everyone won't admit it."

"I took down all of them by myself, what's not to admit? You little girl doesn't understand at all." Ning Yi argued for his reputation, and then threw watermelon seeds at her.

"It's strange that I don't understand." Yuan Jin'er smiled happily, throwing watermelon seeds back, "I guess the most famous thing about you is marrying that watermelon and becoming a驸马. I heard that the Watermelon Princess is a really powerful person. How is her martial arts, how did she practice it? Can she beat Fang La..."

"Classmate Yuan Jin'er, you should face the fact that I am a martial arts master. If my Blood Hand Butcher wasn't as loud as thunder, how would Liu Xigua have taken a fancy to me, right? I was in the enemy camp at that time and there was nothing I could do. I was forced to associate with them. This matter will be sung in operas in the future, and I will be described as a great hero like Xue Pinggui. You don't know, no matter how powerful she is, she will be beaten into madness by me in front of me..." Watermelon seeds were thrown around.

"I wouldn't believe you. Let me tell you, in the time you were gone, Sister Yunzhu often asked people about the things in the south. When some people who travel the Jianghu came to Zhuji, Sister Yunzhu would also ask people to ask if there was any news about that Blood Hand Butcher. People all said, what Blood Hand Butcher, I've never even heard of it, hahahaha, you've blown your own horn..."

"Jin'er, if you want to argue with him, why are you pulling me in..."

"Hangzhou was still under siege at that time, so it's normal that Jianghu people going north wouldn't know..."

Yuan Jin'er happily talked about Yunzhu inquiring about Ning Yi's news. Yunzhu, who had been smiling and listening on the side, couldn't help but blush at this time. The topic in the room continued. Ning Yi argued with Yuan Jin'er, occasionally pulling Yunzhu into the water. Regardless of whether Ning Yi did it intentionally or not, Yuan Jin'er, who had the upper hand, finally became truly happy. There were only two girls in this room in the past, and even if they bickered, it always seemed a bit deserted. Tonight, it finally became truly lively, like there was an atmosphere of home.

After a long time, after eating something and temporarily finishing what they wanted to say, after arguing to their heart's content, Yunzhu and Jin'er sent Ning Yi out the door. Starlight spread across the Milky Way. As the carriage gradually moved away, Yunzhu put her hands together and placed them next to her mouth, completing the prayer in her heart.

Thank you, Bodhisattva, for blessing him to return safely...

The wishes she had made day after day had finally come to fruition, and her heart was finally able to settle down a little, just like he used to run past her door every morning, say a few words, and chat for a while. How great it would be if the days could continue like this. Even if he was far away, she hoped that he could safely run past a certain street corner, and that he could be safe and sound day after day.

Seeing her smile at this time, Yuan Jin'er lowered her head and sighed. She knew what Sister Yunzhu was thinking, but... it didn't matter, there was still a long time to go. It was always herself who was by Sister Yunzhu's side, and she could still defeat that Ning Liheng who was always a Son-in-Law and snatch Sister Yunzhu away. So she started cheering herself up again.

When the carriage went away and Yunzhu turned to walk towards the small building, she began to follow excitedly beside her, saying bad things about Ning Yi and proclaiming the tingling feeling when they kissed. The night was not yet deep, and she still had plenty of time to pester Sister Yunzhu to change her mind...

The days of worrying about gains and losses were finally over, and a happy and leisurely time was about to begin... (To be continued.) Please vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)