Two months after Bai Chaoke and his companions departed, Madam Qiao had a premature birth. If not for the old servant who braved the rain to fetch a midwife, it would have been a tragedy for both mother and child.
After a full day and night, the child was born, a delicate and fair-skinned boy.
However, Madam Qiao's body was severely weakened by the difficult labor, and she fell gravely ill. She held on, waiting day after day for the return of her beloved, only to receive a letter that hastened her death, ending her short and tragic life.
It turned out to be Bai Chaoke's letter of apology.
He wrote that he was ashamed of her affections, that his wife was now pregnant and could not be stimulated, so the matter of bringing them to Qiongzhou would have to be reconsidered. He also told her to take care of herself, but said not a single word about the child in her womb.
Madam Qiao wept all night with the letter, and passed away on the third day.
Until her death, she never knew why Bai Chaoke's heart had changed so quickly. Was it truly out of fear of her father's power that he became such a heartless man?
With a sigh, Bai Chaoke's mind was filled with sweet memories of their time together, his longing and affection for Madam Qiao overflowing.
If not for that trip to offer incense, he would not have met the eminent monk of Baofu Temple in Qiongzhou, nor would he have known that Madam Qiao's unborn child was so inherently incompatible with him.
His dream of reuniting with his beloved concubine and their son was shattered that day.
What followed was the news of Madam Qiao's death and his despair.
That child was indeed here to collect a debt, having caused his own mother's death not long after birth. If he had brought him to his side, would the monk's words have come true?
He did not know, but he understood one thing.
It had not been easy to reach this point. It was just one child; he and Madam Shen would have countless more children in the future!
Give up!
Give up!
This thought circled in his mind for several days. After receiving a letter from his father-in-law in Lingzhou, he completely abandoned the son he had never met.
Madam Shen watched her husband's expression shift from sorrow to determination, from pain to ferocity, and swallowed nervously.
After many years of marriage, she still could not fathom the man before her.
The sandalwood incense burning in the room crackled, pulling Bai Chaoke's thoughts back.
"This is the only time, and it won't happen again! If you dare to provoke that child again, I will divorce you!" His words were irrefutable, startling Madam Shen into nodding immediately.
After all, she had gotten what she wanted. She had no desire to be involved with that wretched woman's son.
Bai Chaoke spent the night in the study, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
When he heard news of Madam Qiao again, his longing for her grew even deeper.
That child must be fourteen now. He wondered how he was doing, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the moonlight outside the window in silence.
Shortly after the hour of the dog, lamps were lit one after another in the Duke of Wei's mansion.
In the study on the east side of Qinghe Courtyard sat a white-haired old man, the Duke of Wei himself.
He was alone, sipping tea and playing chess. He held a black piece for a long time before finally placing it. The game was decided; black had won, white had lost.
Before him stood a man in his forties, dressed in black, lean and strong. His appearance was unremarkable, and he stood with a slight stoop, quietly awaiting orders.
"Where is the person?"
"Reporting to the Duke, he has already arrived in Xuzhou."
The man's voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.
"Mm, remember to escort him back safely. The item he carries is very important and must not be leaked in the slightest."
"Yes."
With a swift departure, the man received his orders, turned, and vanished into the ink-like night.
Looking at the scattered white pieces, the Duke of Wei felt a sense of regret.
He closed his eyes and sat in meditation, muttering to himself.
"Feng Hai, do not blame this old man for his ruthlessness. Those who see what they should not see must naturally pay a price."
The sky over the Eastern Capital grew darker.
Xuzhou Wharf.
A government ship from Yuhang was docked. Outside, more than ten burly men, dressed as household retainers, stood guard around the ship, their faces stern, their eyes sharp, preventing any unauthorized personnel from approaching.
A man lay in the ship's cabin, resting with his eyes closed, but his mind was filled with the secret letter from the Duke of Wei.
The order to frame the Feng family put him in a difficult position. He had some friendship with Feng Hai and had once admired his upright character. It was a pity that he had offended the wrong person, choosing to offend the Duke of Wei.
With a deep sigh, he turned and forced himself to sleep.
The journey to the Eastern Capital was still long; he had to conserve his energy!
The night was as dark as the bottom of an unfathomable abyss, yet the wide river, illuminated by the moonlight, shimmered with ripples.
Suddenly, the man woke from his sleep, only to see thick smoke billowing outside.
The fire spread rapidly. The deck had been secretly doused with oil, and it ignited instantly upon contact with a spark, quickly erupting into a raging inferno.
"Help! Help!"
The man's desperate cries did not summon the rescuers he expected. He had no choice but to wet strips of cloth with tea, cover his mouth and nose, and rush out, shouting for help as he ran.
With a splash, he tripped and fell.
He looked down and saw that it was the men ordered to protect him. They were all lying on the ground, motionless.
This was bad. His whereabouts must have been exposed. Who would dare to oppose the Duke of Wei?
Was this fire meant to burn him to death, or was there another motive?
In his panic, the man thought he saw someone approaching. Fearing for his life, he cruelly slid down a nearby rope into the water.
The crackling of burning wood drowned out the sound of him deliberately splashing into the water. In the darkness, he could not be seen hiding in the water.
"Where is he? Why is he gone?"
"Search! Dig three feet deep to find him!"
"Yes!"
More than ten men in black scattered into the thick smoke. He knew that if he didn't escape now, he would be caught quickly. He took a deep breath and dived into the water, swimming towards the shore not far away.
There was a waterside private room there. If he could get up there, perhaps he could escape.
Perhaps it was his luck, or perhaps the men in black were too foolish, but he actually managed to escape.
The next day, he found some tattered clothes in a ruined temple outside Xuzhou, disguised himself as a refugee, and began his journey step by step towards the Eastern Capital.
The following morning, Feng Jinyao arrived at Feng Er's courtyard. However, before she could see the master of the house, she encountered Yin Canwen, who was staying there.
At that moment, Yin Canwen also looked up, his deep-set eyes filled with disbelief. It was her!
Looking at the figure of the woman standing tall in the wind and snow, slender yet not delicate, he seemed to understand something.
The few red-hearted plum trees rustled in the winter wind, while his heart was filled with turmoil.
The last time, a mere voice had haunted him to this day. Now, meeting face to face, he realized he had already fallen deeply.
"Miss Feng?"
"Young Master Yin is up early. Has my second brother risen yet?"
"Oh, he's up, he's up. Brother Feng has already practiced two sets of boxing in the courtyard to warm up. He's gone back inside to wash up."
Yin Canwen explained.