Chapter 16

The heavy snow that had fallen for three days finally stopped.

The war between the Fu Family Army and the bandits of Shiyang Mountain also came to an end.

Jiang Mei had been sitting by the window for an entire morning. The snow had stopped days ago, but it still lay thick on the mountain.

The wind outside was biting cold, but inside the room, it was as warm as spring.

Nanny Song ladled a bowl of bone broth, adding chopped green onions and cilantro. “Miss, please eat a little. If you keep going on like this, the Chief will be very worried.”

Jiang Mei took the bowl, tilted her head back, and gulped it down. She didn’t leave a single drop.

“Was Brother Gu here?”

“Yes, he just left. He didn’t come in. His injuries aren’t healed yet, and it’s hard for him to walk.”

“I’ll go see him.”

Wrapping a thick shawl around her head, Jiang Mei trudged through the snow to Gu Ming’s room.

His room was crowded with people—all his brothers. Seeing her arrive, everyone tactfully took their leave.

He lay there, smiling at her, his eyes so deep one couldn’t see the bottom.

He reached out to her. “Come sit. Winter in Shiyang Mountain is actually quite beautiful. When my leg heals, I’ll take you hunting.”

Gu Ming had thick eyebrows and large eyes, radiating a heroic aura much like Fu Yu. However, Gu Ming’s face always carried a hint of roguishness and a cheeky grin. Those who didn’t know him well never knew which of his words were true and which were jokes.

He was entirely different from Fu Yu’s cold, hardened demeanor.

He just looked at Jiang Mei with that lazy, persistent gaze.

“How are your injuries?” she asked.

“Flesh wounds, I’m fine.”

Jiang Mei poured him a cup of piping hot holly tea.

“He… isn’t dead,” Gu Ming suddenly said earnestly.

“Oh.”

The two fell silent.

Jiang Mei poked at the pine nuts roasting on the stove with her hand. Gu Ming stared at her, a melancholy look in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but ultimately swallowed his words.

“Let’s eat in this room today, it’ll be lively.” Gu Ming’s face brightened again.

“Alright.”

At noon, Gu Ming’s room was filled with food. Gu Ming’s most trusted brothers, Da Qing and Fengzi, were also there, along with Jiang Mei.

“This roe deer meat is smoked, Sister-in-law definitely hasn’t tried it before,” Da Qing said to Jiang Mei, pointing to a brimming basin of meat.

The meals on Shiyang Mountain weren’t as delicate as those in Fancheng; dishes were served in basins, but the flavors were natural and delicious.

With a smile on her face, Jiang Mei tasted everything.

Gu Ming watched her. Her eyes and brows were smiling, but it was a distant smile, a smile that kept people at arm’s length. She was no longer the girl whose every joy, anger, sorrow, and delight was written plainly on her face.

They drank aged wine and got slightly tipsy. Amidst the joyous singing and laughter, their hearts felt incredibly lonely. He and she—neither relied on the other.

Returning to her quarters, Jiang Mei sat blankly in the room, unmoving for half the night.

It was three days later when Gu Ming came to see Jiang Mei again.

That day, snow fluttered heavily from the sky. Da Qing had built a snowman outside Jiang Mei’s door. Jiang Mei placed her own hat on the snowman’s head. The snow blew down her neck, freezing cold.

Dressed thinly, she stood in the bitter wind, a smile on her face, but her eyes were ice-cold.

Gu Ming walked over, placed his own hat on Jiang Mei’s head, and pulled her into his arms. She was well-behaved, submissive, and obedient.

But looking into her eyes, they were hollow; he was no longer there.

“Xiao Mei, don’t scare me,” Gu Ming said softly, holding her close.

He carried her inside and placed her on the warm kang bed. A faint, elegant fragrance filled the room.

Unable to resist, he gently pecked her tender lips.

She didn’t refuse.

He leaned down, gripped her wrists, and tremblingly kissed her fair neck.

She lay there quietly, waiting. She owed him.

He buried his face behind her ear, kissing her delicate earlobe. The scent of pine was comforting.

She remained tepid and indifferent—neither refusing nor responding.

As if angered, Gu Ming increased the force of his kisses. She closed her eyes.

A man well-versed with women, he suddenly retreated.

Holding the woman beneath him, he said, “Xiao Mei, don’t hate me!” His voice was filled with agonized helplessness. Losing all further interest, he slumped off her and lay on his back on the kang.

“Brother Gu, tell me, that day… even if I hadn’t stabbed him, did you have a way to escape?”

Gu Ming’s body stiffened. He didn’t nod, nor did he shake his head.

Yes. Before Jiang Mei stabbed Fu Yu, they had already kidnapped Fu Yu’s mother. Fu Yu was arrogant and proud; he would never allow himself to let Jiang Mei be taken away. The only way was to make his heart die!

Gu Ming had only wanted to sever the ties between Jiang Mei and Fu Yu completely. He had simply underestimated the depth of their feelings and Jiang Mei’s intelligence.

Gu Ming got up and left.

After that, she fell ill. She refused to see a doctor and refused to see anyone. In half a month, her previously plump figure withered away, resembling a dying lotus in an autumn pond.

Gu Ming secretly stole a glance at her from outside the door every day, feeling as though she was going to die.

Finally, one day, Gu Ming kicked the door open and brought a doctor to examine her.

“Chief, the Madam is fine. She’s just almost two months pregnant.”

“…”

Two months later, Gu Ming led his brothers and submitted to the government.

He didn’t become the Military Governor of Haidong. Instead, he took his brothers to follow Wang Wei and became the Garrison Commander of Yancheng. Yancheng was on the absolute fringe of the Haidong region, the most remote place possible.

He also didn’t marry Jiang Mei.

Two years later, he got married. He married a maid named Lin Wan’er, and a month after the wedding, she gave birth to a son. He still had many women. Later, people called him ‘Gu San Duo’—much money, many women, many soldiers.

Fu Yu was severely ill for over three months, but he ultimately survived. He got his wish and became the Military Governor of Haidong. He never had another woman by his side.

When he and Gu Ming met, they never spoke to each other, but they never stood in opposition either. Moreover, during crucial battles, they actually provided cover for one another.

No one could decipher exactly what kind of relationship existed between them.

Three months after Gu Ming got married, Fu Yu moved into Shiyang Mountain.

He handed his affairs over to Liu Hao and spent all day on Shiyang Mountain. Because he had heard that a beautiful woman lived here. She knew medicine; not only could she cure physical illnesses, but she could also heal hearts.

He also heard that this beautiful woman had a two-year-old child.

The bandits had left Shiyang Mountain, yet it remained as picturesque as ever.

Springtime on Shiyang Mountain brought the revival of all things.

Jiang Mei was out hunting with her two-year-old son, Ping’er.

She aimed her exquisite small crossbow at a foraging pheasant. She fired, and the pheasant dropped instantly.

By now, she practically hit her target every single time.

Lately, she had been living at the foot of the mountain, treating people’s illnesses. While she loved the utter tranquility of the mountain in winter, it wasn’t good for Ping’er’s growth.

There were houses and businesses belonging to her all around Shiyang Mountain—left behind for her by Gu Ming.

Though Ping’er was young, he had a fierce personality and incredible strength. When the shot pheasant continued to flap its wings, he grew annoyed, grabbed its neck, and snapped it.

Jiang Mei inhaled sharply. “Ping’er, why are you so savage?”

“Mother, short pain is better than long pain. Wouldn’t the little chicken be miserable if it didn’t die right away?”

“You always have an argument.” Jiang Mei sighed.

Chasing a massive butterfly, Ping’er ran forward, only to come face-to-face with a wild boar that had blundered into the area. The boar spotted him. They were less than ten meters apart.

Jiang Mei’s face turned deathly pale. She raised her crossbow and aimed at the boar, but in her panic, she dropped the bolt. Trembling, she tried to pull out her pistol but couldn’t get it out.

The wild boar was already charging…

*Bang! Bang!*

Deafening gunshots rang out, and the wild boar collapsed to the ground.

A figure slowly walked over from ahead. He was tall with a cold, handsome face and eyes as dark as ink. He wore a dark, tight-sleeved jacket on top, paired with military trousers and boots. As he walked toward them against the sunlight, a golden hue bathed his face…

Jiang Mei stood frozen in place.

But Ping’er happily ran over. “Daddy!”

Fu Yu froze. He crouched down and picked Ping’er up. “What did you… call me?”

“Daddy! Mother has a portrait of Daddy, and it’s you.”

“What is your name?”

“Ping’er.”

“What is your surname?”

“Ping’er.”

“Oh. Well, from now on, if anyone asks your surname, tell them your surname is Fu!”

“Okay, Daddy!”

Fu Yu walked over, embraced Jiang Mei, and kissed her softly. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life missing you. I only want to be with you right here, right now. For the rest of my life, I only want you.”

Large tears rolled down Jiang Mei’s face. “Mr. Fu, for the rest of our lives, please take care of me.”

To win one person’s heart, and never part until our hair turns white.

The End.