"Brother, we cannot let this person enter the capital, or the consequences will be endless," Yu Mingyue said after a moment of silence.
"Don't worry, he won't get out of Qinghe." Even if the Cui family falls, it's not difficult to kill one person with all their might.
Moreover, he was not the only advisor the Sage had placed in the Cui family; these people would not tolerate him shining alone.
"Alright, I will return to the capital with you. However, before we go, I have some personal matters to attend to. Brother, please give me a few days."
"Rest assured and recover, sister. Brother also has some matters to attend to," Yu Mingjing comforted her.
Seeing his sister like this, he felt heartache. He had wanted her to seek refuge in Qinghe, but instead, she had witnessed the catastrophe of the Cui family firsthand. It was likely she would never forget it in this lifetime.
Illness strikes like a mountain, and recovery is like drawing silk thread. In the end, it was a knot in her heart, a spiritual ailment.
Although Yu Mingjing had told her Gu Youyou was not dead, she would have to go far away and live under a false name. Even if they were both alive, they could not see each other whenever they wished, as they had before.
Separation in life and death, she had experienced it all these days.
Yu Mingyue continued to have a fever intermittently for two more days, only fully recovering at the end of the month.
Qinghe in late October was still lush and green, with no hint of desolation. However, the nights were as dark as in the north. Shortly after You Shi (7-9 PM), the sky had completely darkened.
When Yu Mingyue arrived at Xie Jia'an's room, he had not yet returned. The academy was newly established, and there were many matters to attend to. He would not sleep until Zi Shi (11 PM - 1 AM) and would have to wake at Mao Shi (5-7 AM).
"Please wait a moment, Sixth Lady. Young Master will be back soon," Liao Kong said.
Yu Mingyue placed the food box on the table. The Jiangzhou official academy was the first official academy established by the imperial court in the region, making its success particularly important.
After this parting, she did not know when they would meet again, so she wanted to say a proper goodbye.
Yu Mingyue heard footsteps outside. She knew he had returned.
Under the dim yellow lamplight, Yu Mingyue stood gracefully in the room. Seeing him enter, she bowed slightly, "Brother Jia'an."
She had visibly lost weight during her illness.
From the time the Cui family incident occurred, she had become increasingly polite to him. In just one day, the lively and smiling Sixth Lady Yu had vanished.
"Sixth Lady!"
"I have come to bid you farewell today, Brother Jia'an." Yu Mingyue said as she took out the dishes from the food box. "I will be returning to the capital tomorrow. I asked Chi Hua to pack these from a Jiangzhou restaurant. I don't know if they will suit your taste."
"I'm not a picky eater." He had traveled extensively with his father since he was young. Having food was good enough, and he was not particular about such things.
He had known she was returning to the capital the day Yu Mingjing arrived in Jiangzhou.
With the Cui family incident, Qinghe had no further connection to her. Leaving was for the best.
"Brother Jia'an, if I didn't want to leave, would you let me stay?" Yu Mingyue looked up at the person opposite her. In the lamplight, his face was illuminated by a faint halo, appearing beautifully unreal.
Xie Jia'an composed himself before steadying the chopsticks in his hand. "Returning to the capital now is just in time for the New Year. The capital must be very lively."
A bitter smile touched Yu Mingyue's lips. In truth, she knew this would be the outcome.
It was just that the thought of not seeing him for a long time made her unwilling.
"Yes, very lively," Yu Mingyue murmured as if to herself.
Youyou was not in the capital, Yuxi had become a Consort of the Crown Prince, and Sister Han had also left the capital with her father. Suddenly, the people around her had moved very far away.
Xie Jia'an stood up and took out an inkstone and a brush washer from the drawer. She had seen his in the study last time and liked it very much. Because it was an old item, he found it difficult to give to her.
After searching for a long time, he finally found suitable materials.
The inkstone was a very cute tiger, plump yet dignified.
"I will give it to you next year when you come of age, as I won't be in the capital," Xie Jia'an said in his usual gentle tone. "Sixth Lady, take good care!"
Since he was destined not to give her stability, he should not give her any false hopes.
Yu Mingyue liked the gift very much and understood his meaning.
Between them, they could only be friends, with clear and distinct boundaries.
"Brother Jia'an, you must also take care. I wish you good health, fulfillment of your wishes, and soaring success."
...
It was still raining the day Yu Mingyue left, much like her mood at that moment, drizzling and suffocating.
Xie Jia'an held up his oil-paper umbrella and watched the gradually receding boat for a long time without leaving. Liao Kong had never seen his young master look so dejected.
The rain grew heavier, and the wind picked up. The oil-paper umbrella could barely shield them from the wind and rain. "Young Master, the boat is no longer visible."
"I know!" Xie Jia'an said after a moment of silence.
Because he had stood for too long, a small puddle had formed at his feet. When he lifted his foot, it was covered in mud.
In the end, he had still made her sad.
After Xie Jia'an returned, he developed a high fever and fell unconscious. Ye Feisheng was extremely anxious and summoned the best physicians in Jiangnan, but the fever would not subside.
Xie Jia'an was the top scholar; his mind was his greatest asset. If it were damaged by the fever, how could the official academy be run?
The teachers at the academy were also worried. Besides the current scholars at the academy, many scholars from all over Jiangnan had come, attracted by the reputation of the top scholar. What would happen if he fell ill?
While Xie Jia'an was still ill, a murder case occurred at the academy. Mr. Chai, the newly appointed assistant tutor of the official academy, had died.
With a murder case at the academy, the authorities naturally came. After the coroner's examination, it was determined that it was not murder but death from heart palpitations.
Generally, heart palpitations are caused by emotional agitation. Excessive excitement or sadness can easily lead to sudden death from heart palpitations.
Soon, a colleague from the academy remarked that Mr. Chai had likely been excited. He had been in high spirits recently and had drunk a few extra glasses with everyone last night, talking about the possibility of entering the capital in the future. He must have been overly excited.
Xie Jia'an woke up on the day Chai Xinye was buried. He had intended to go, but Ye Feisheng stubbornly stopped him.
He, the dignified sect leader of Li Jing Men, was serving a junior by pouring tea. Now that the fever had finally broken and he was conscious, if he went out and caught a chill, he would have to continue serving him.
It was just a minor assistant tutor; there was no need for him, a Hanlin scholar, to go in person. Having Liao Kong go was already a great honor.
Xie Jia'an did not make Ye Feisheng difficult. He drank the medicine Ye Feisheng handed him in one gulp. Ye Feisheng quickly gave him tea to rinse his mouth.
Xie Jia'an recovered quickly, which would also make things easier to explain to the Sage.
A few days prior, Xie Jia'an had been critically ill, and he had almost thought he wouldn't wake up. So, he had written to inform the Sage.
"Thank you for your trouble this time, Sect Leader Ye."
"I offended you during the Cui family incident. This is my atonement. We are both serving the same purpose, so please bear with me." Ye Feisheng said sincerely.
"Sect Leader Ye is too kind. We are both serving the Sage, and our paths converge," Xie Jia'an's expression seemed genuine.
Seeing him like this, Ye Feisheng felt somewhat relieved.
Otherwise, it would have been truly awkward for him to stay by Xie Jia'an's side all day.
"I think you are troubled by love. When that young lady from the Yu family left, you fell ill," Ye Feisheng said, as if teasing, but also with a hint of probing.
"It's fine for the Sect Leader to tease me, but why would you tarnish the reputation of your own niece?" Xie Jia'an raised his eyelids and looked slowly at the stunned Ye Feisheng.
"When did you find out?"
"Recently," Xie Jia'an averted his gaze, unwilling to say more.
In fact, the person who betrays oneself first is always one's subconscious reaction.
Ye Feisheng paid too much attention to Sixth Lady and was too insincere.
He had initially thought... but later, after investigating, he discovered that this sect leader of Li Jing Men was actually the Fifth Master Yu from the Duke's mansion.