If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

The Xi family mansion was located on the banks of the Qingxi River. Although it was second only to the Wuyi Lane of the Wang and Xie families, it was still a place where powerful and wealthy people gathered.

The banquet ended, and it was still early.

As the hostess, Xi Lingxian invited Zhou Shuhuai to stroll and admire the flowers in her own residence.

Zhou Shuhuai readily agreed.

The magnificence of the Xi residence far exceeded Zhou Shuhuai's imagination.

The bluestone path winds its way into the depths of the flowers and trees, where hundreds of flowers vie for attention. At the end of the path is a stone arch bridge, beneath which flows a clear, babbling stream, with a few koi occasionally leaping out of the water. At the other end of the bridge is an octagonal pavilion with upturned eaves, its carved beams and painted rafters. On the pillars inside the pavilion is a couplet, its characters vigorous and powerful, clearly the work of Xi Jian.

My gaze shifted from the couplets to the artificial hill behind the pavilion. The hill was piled up in a staggered and orderly fashion, with green bamboo planted among the rocks, rustling in the wind.

Although the Xi family rose from humble beginnings as a leader of displaced people, their wealth and influence are now unmatched by ordinary people.

Looking at the pavilions, terraces, flowers, trees, and willows that filled the garden, Zhou Shuhuai suddenly felt a strange, indescribable feeling welling up inside him.

Its magnificent and luxurious appearance is probably no less impressive than that of the Wang and Xie families.

He thought of his own family, the Zhou family of Yixing, which had once been a prominent and respected clan.

Our ancestors pacified Jiangnan three times, and the Zhou family was the only one to be respected in Jiangdong. How glorious it was!

Unfortunately, life is unpredictable. My uncle was caught up in the Wang Zhang Rebellion and surrendered the city on the eve of the battle. He was caught between the imperial power and the aristocratic family, and the destruction of the family was just a matter of a single thought by the person in power.

Zhou Shuhuai took a deep breath.

He hadn't reminisced about the past for a long time, but today he broke his habit for some reason.

He thought it might be out of shame.

I felt ashamed that I stood in such a magnificent and luxurious mansion, yet I could not produce a status that matched it.

The girl before him was beautiful and charming, yet he felt an inappropriate sadness welling up inside him.

Zhou Shuhuai took a deep breath. "I was a bit out of line. Please forgive me, young lady."

Xi Lingxian also knew some of the Zhou family's past. At that time, the Zhou family was almost completely slaughtered, and Zhou Shuhuai was able to survive by sheer luck, which must have been after he suffered a lot.

"Young Master Zhou, if a person lives in the past, he will not be able to walk the path in the present well."

Zhou Shuhuai smiled brightly, "Young lady, you seem to have a lot of survival wisdom at such a young age."

Xi Lingxian tilted her head. "Am I wrong? If it hasn't happened yet, there's no point in you hesitating or being anxious about it; if it has already happened, then worrying and feeling melancholy are even more useless."

Zhou Shuhuai was speechless for a moment, "...If we follow your advice, how should we face the ever-changing world?"

As Huang Tingjian said, "Govern by non-action, and follow the natural course of things."

Xi Lingxian chuckled, "You might say I'm talking without understanding the situation."

Zhou Shuhuai paused for a moment, then shook his head: "No, what you said is quite interesting. I really shouldn't live in the past all the time."

Xi Lingxian paused for a moment, then said, "Young Master, I have something to say, which I fear may offend you, but I must say it."

"Miss Xi, please don't be so polite, please speak."

"Young master saved my life, and I must repay him both out of gratitude and obligation; may I ask if you are interested in entering officialdom?"

Zhou Shuhuai paused, his expression solemn, "One should not expect anything in return for a favor. I have never intended to use your body to seek anything external."

"Young master, there is no need to be too cautious. You come from a distinguished family and have exceptional insight. Your talent and eloquence were evident at the discussion that day."

A gentle breeze blew, and osmanthus blossoms fell all over my shoulders.

Zhou Shuhuai gently brushed the petals off his shoulder, his voice returning to its usual gentle tone, "Excuse my intrusion, but does the young lady wish to have no further involvement with me?"

Xi Lingxian asked in surprise, "Why do you say that?"

The girl immediately offered a reward, as if she were trying to avoid me at all costs.

"Young master, you are overthinking it. I didn't think that much about it. Repaying a debt of gratitude is naturally about giving something good in the eyes of the world. It's not that complicated."

Zhou Shuhuai was surprised by the girl's straightforwardness.

"In that case, I was just overthinking it."

Xi Lingxian glanced at him sideways. "This matter is indeed not something to be rushed. Young master, you can take your time to consider it. My father has already agreed to introduce you to someone at any time."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Xi and Miss. I will consider it carefully."

He shifted his gaze from the osmanthus tree to the girl before him, whose beauty was even more captivating than the blossoms. "There will be a philosophical discussion at the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside the city the day after tomorrow. Would you be interested, young lady?"

He paused, his gaze lingering on her face before quickly shifting away, his ears slightly flushed. "Among the distinguished scholars who have come this time, there is said to be a highly accomplished monk from Mount Lu, fewer than last time. The fewer the participants, the more interesting the debate becomes. Would you be interested in listening, young lady?"

The Crown Prince's affair served as a warning to others; no one should dare to cause her trouble again.

Xi Lingxian looked at Zhou Shuhuai standing under the osmanthus tree with gentle eyes and a shy smile. Perhaps she had some unspeakable worries, but she made people feel very comfortable to be around her.

"Okay." She nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Then I'll take my leave."

Zhou Shuhuai's eyes lit up slightly. "Then I will come to pick you up the day after tomorrow at 9:00 AM. The road to the ten-mile pavilion is quite far; it will take about half an hour to ride a horse."

The two walked along the corridor for a while longer, as dusk deepened.

"It's getting late, so I should take my leave."

"Please wait, young lady. I will go and bid farewell to Master Xi myself."

Xi Lingxian stood under the corridor, watching his figure disappear through the back door of the moon gate, before turning around and walking back.

Taozhi, who had been holding it in the whole way, finally couldn't help but ask, "Young lady, why are you still going to the discussion meeting? Didn't you find it boring before?"

"I want to go out and race horses; the talk shows and such are just excuses for going out."

Taozhi chuckled, "I knew it!"

Xi Lingxian returned to the front courtyard, where Xi Rui was standing under the eaves, holding a cup of tea. Hearing footsteps, he turned around, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Big brother?" Xi Lingxian walked up to him, and seeing his expression, she asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Xi Rui handed the teacup to the maid beside her, waved for her to leave, and then lowered her voice to speak: "I heard from the servants that you promised Zhou Shuhuai that you would go out of the city with him to some kind of intellectual discussion the day after tomorrow?"

Xi Lingxian nodded: "Yes. He invited me to listen, and I accepted."

Xi Rui frowned.

"Do you know that this could harm him?"

Xi Lingxian's fingers paused slightly.

"The matter of the Crown Prince has only just been settled. Who in the entire court couldn't see through Wang Jue's actions? By deposing the Crown Prince, the Wang family is telling the whole world that you are the one they have chosen and protected."

"You're going out with Zhou Shuhuai so openly. What will Wang Jue think? What will the Wang family think? They won't think you're just going to listen to a philosophical discussion. They'll think Zhou Shuhuai is after you, and that you two have a close relationship. A scion of a fallen aristocratic family, powerless and without even a proper official position, what makes him think he can fight the Wang family? For Wang Jue to deal with him is just a matter of lifting a finger."

Xi Lingxian: "Zhou Shuhuai isn't a three-year-old. He dared to invite me, so he knew what the consequences would be. He didn't avoid it, so why should I avoid it for him?"

"Besides, why should I stay home and not go anywhere just because I'm afraid of upsetting Wang Jue?"

"Alright," he reached out and ruffled his sister's hair, his tone softening with a hint of helplessness and heartache, "Go if you want to. I'll keep an eye on things and figure out a way. Wang Jue wouldn't force you to do anything."

Xi Lingxian's hair was slightly askew from his rough handling. She reached out and slapped his hand away. "What method? You think you can outsmart him?"

Xi Rui was speechless, "I can't outmaneuver him, but he can't beat me."

"...That's not necessarily true."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Xi Rui exclaimed anxiously, "With his skinny arms and legs, how could I, a dignified General of the Cavalry, possibly be no match for him?"

Xi Lingxian smiled.

The phrase "thin arms and thin legs" sounds strangely funny when applied to Wang Jue.