The quiet night had grown deep.
All around was pitch-black, only the solitary lantern before his eyes still illuminated the surroundings, offering him a sliver of light.
He silently blew out the lantern in his hand, looking at the lone lantern, he couldn’t help but reminisce about the woman’s past appearance.
That stubborn little woman, who once had her lively, adorable, and innocent monts, used to be always around him, looking up with admiring eyes.
When had everything changed?
He sighed.
Looking up by chance, he saw the tightly closed door being silently pushed open from the inside, as Su Xian’er stepped out.
Staring at the lantern under the eaves, Su Xian’er stood dazed for a long ti before she tiptoed and gently took it down.
She couldn’t recall who told her that what travelers feared most was not finding the way ho.
She had thus made it a point to keep this lantern lit under her eaves; every night, it shone persistently, regardless of how others mocked and ridiculed her, she never wavered. Insisting on keeping this lantern alight also kept her heart’s obsession illuminated.
Suddenly lowering her head, she blew out the lantern herself.
She felt as if sothing had been abruptly torn from her heart, leaving a gaping void.
Empty and exceedingly uncomfortable.
Unconsciously, Lui Muyi took a few steps forward, erging from the shadows.
The unexpected footsteps startled the woman, causing her to whirl around suddenly.
Their eyes t.
Both of them were lost for words.
He had changed a lot; the once suave young gentleman had transford after the arduous journey across the sea, his skin now tanned and his cheeks fleshier, yet this only added to the charm of a mature man!
Ti is always especially forgiving to n!
While the years pass quietly and won turn haggard, it is often the pri of n. With such good looks, every gesture exudes the charm of a mature man, no wonder won find him attractive.
While Su Xian’er sized up Lui Muyi, he was also taking in her appearance.
She had lost a lot of weight!
And looked haggard.
She was still wearing the sa outfit from the day, her slender fra unable to fill out the clothes, hanging loosely on her, accentuating her fragile figure that seed too weak to stand a breeze.
Yet that frail body stood still and straight, like a bow drawn taut...
"Don’t be nervous, I just ca to see you."
Lui Muyi broke the silence between them: "I originally wanted to introduce you to An’er during dinner. An’er is new to Great Zhou and unfamiliar with everything here, without anyone to talk to. You and she are both won, you should have common topics to talk about..."
Su Xian’er’s hands suddenly clenched tightly.
Oblivious, Lui Muyi continued: "Also, I wanted to discuss Huai’an with you. In the blink of an eye, years have passed and Huai’an has grown up, he’s already six. We can’t let him continue to be this unruly. It’s ti for him to start learning, and we shouldn’t let the child’s potential go to waste."
"Huai’an has already begun his education."
Su Xian’er’s voice was very soft.
"Really?"
Lui Muyi was unaware of this, as he had heard that there was no teacher at ho and thus assud Huai’an had not begun his education.
"He’s read a few books, but does he know the ’Three Character Classic’?"
Lui Family’s sons may not need to pursue academic achievents for official titles, but they must not be completely illiterate either.
Su Xian’er lowered her gaze, her dense lashes like a fan of shells veiling the hurt in her eyes.
"’Three Character Classic’, ’Hundred Family Surnas’ and ’Thousand Character Classic’ — An’er has finished all those, and now he’s studying ’Standards for Being a Good Pupil and Child’. He only started this recently. As for writing, he doesn’t have enough strength in his hands yet, so his writing is not good at the mont."
Speaking of her own An’er, Su Xian’er spoke fluently and fondly, as if reciting precious treasures.
Over these years, she had poured all her care into her child. One could say An’er was her lifeline!
"That’s no reason to let him lead such a lax life, though. He needs to be supervised and taught carefully!"
While happy that An’er had already learned so much, Lui Muyi still insisted on his view: "Starting from tomorrow, let An’er live in the Butterfly Garden. I will find a good tutor to teach him. You’ve worked hard all these years; you should rest. An’er will be my responsibility from now on."
Su Xian’er’s body swayed! The lamp in her hand slipped and fell to the ground with a "thud".
Nearly falling over.
He was actually, truly trying to take An’er away from her!
She had nothing left, she had given up everything, all she had was An’er!
"You can’t! Muyi..."
A mother’s protective instinct drove Su Xian’er to rush forward, grabbing hold of Lui Muyi’s sleeve.
But Lui Muyi was not accustod to her touch and instinctively pulled away.
Su Xian’er paused, a pang of heartache spreading inside her.
But she quickly reacted, resolutely moving forward again, recapturing his sleeve, tears sparkling in her eyes: "Mu... Young Master Lui, An’er is my lifeline, the child I’ve raised from a young age! I can give up everything else, just not my An’er. I’ll return everything to you; if you’re not satisfied, tomorrow I’ll move out of i Garden and go live in the Rose Court at the back. I only ask you, please leave my An’er..."
"What nonsensical thing are you talking about? What do I want your court for!"
Lui Muyi angrily waved his sleeve: "Don’t forget, An’er is also my child! Could I possibly harm him? After all these years, how can you still be like this? With a mother like you, how could you possibly teach An’er right? How can you expect An’er to stand tall as a man? How can you expect An’er to face the world when he grows up, to tell others he has a mother with a heart of a snake?"
Every word a pearl, piercing Su Xian’er deeply, causing her to involuntarily retreat a few steps.
She gritted her teeth with a sound of grinding, tears brimming but not falling.
Enough already!
Lui Muyi felt he had endured enough!
"Let’s not discuss other matters for the mont, but concerning An’er, there will be no change!"
A single sentence completely extinguished the hope in Su Xian’er’s eyes.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.
Lui Muyi felt a twinge of pity, but rembering the wrongs she had done, he ultimately withdrew his hand.
"Right, these past years of hardship, I’ve heard from father and the steward. You’ve done well, especially with raising An’er. It’s getting late; I have to go to the palace to express thanks early tomorrow, so I won’t stay any longer. You should rest as well."
Having said this, he looked at the unmoved Su Xian’er, sighed deeply, and walked away.
Su Xian’er sat woodenly on the ground, wanting to cry but unable to, instead letting out a light laugh.
Years of hard work had earned her a single word of approval!
Worth it!
She clenched her teeth and staggered back to her room, even leaving behind the lamp she once treasured, now abandoned and slanted on the ground, swaying with the night breeze.
Crossing the threshold, she turned back to gently close the door, also shutting the door to her heart.
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