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  "'Conditions?' Han Xiu sneered, his laughter tinged with a hint of indignant melancholy and despondency. Undoubtedly, Ming Xuan's undisguised wariness and disdain had struck a sore spot in him."

  After a brief silence, he lifted his face as stern as the wind and frost, with eyes deep like an unfathomable pool of water. He said self-mockingly, "The only regrettable thing in this world is that, to be honest, when I heard the news of Pei Gongzi being poisoned, my heart was overjoyed. How could someone like me not take advantage of it and give away the poisonous herb for nothing?"

  The words were clearly harsh, but Ming Xuan felt a strange feeling in her heart. She secretly wondered if Han Xi had originally been kind and she had hurt him with her attitude. Although it made her feel uncomfortable, at this time and place, she had no choice but to continue on.

  If she had to ask him, then she also wanted to get it over with more quickly, settle accounts with each other, and at least that was better than dragging things out.

  Ming Xuan made up her mind and looked straight at Han Xiufor a moment before asking, "Then what are the conditions?"

  Han Xi's eyes were slightly sunken, and his tone was resolute. "I've heard that Madam Pei has a talent for writing in the regular script style. I'm afraid I'll be embarking on a long journey soon, and the road ahead is uncertain. If Madam Pei could kindly stay in this small courtyard and copy out the Hundred-Character Heart Sutra for me, praying for my good fortune, I will have someone present her with the Jade Branch and Green Mulberry. The Hundred-Character Heart Sutra can be completed in just a few days, and it's said that it can bring about a cure for Lord Husband's illness. What does Madam Pei think?"

  He paused, then added, "Don't worry too much, Madam Pei. I'm busy with official duties and won't be staying here for long. The old woman who just left is called Dan PoPo, she's in charge of things around here. If you need anything, just let her know. Although she may look frail and elderly, the people outside on the streets are not all as harmless as they seem."

  He called her Mrs. Pei.

  He had her copy out the Heart Sutra in its entirety a hundred times here...

  Ming Xuan was both shocked and suspicious, but she immediately thought of Han Xiuzhi's abilities. If he really wanted to do something to her, how could she still be standing here safely? He was a powerful and strong general, while she was just a weak and delicate woman, if he wanted to use force, how could she possibly resist?

  But he didn't.

  She thought about it and calmed down, focusing on the most important thing. It would be best if she could get Yuexi Baisang, but everything else could be put aside for now; after all, it was just a matter of rewriting the Heart Sutra, which she had copied before with great effort. Without sleep or rest, in at most two days' time, she should be able to finish writing it out, even if it would worry Pei Jingchen and Changgeng.

  But for now, as long as she could get a chance to clear things up, Ming Xuan was not afraid. She had faith in her husband and believed that she could explain everything clearly.

  She thought for a moment and finally nodded heavily. "Lord Han, you must keep your word!"

  Han Xiuzhen did not speak and led Ming Xuan into the study in the west wing.

  The house is not spacious, a narrow room, but it's decorated very tastefully.

  The bookshelf made of purple sandalwood was neatly arranged with books, pressed down by a sheep fat jade carved into the shape of a mountain, and the paper was half new and half old. It didn't look like it was just for decoration, as there was a yellow pear wood carved flower desk placed beside it, with pen, ink, paper, and inkstone all ready to use. Next to the desk stood a tall vase that reached up to the waist, made of Qinghua porcelain, depicting a hazy landscape, with a few scrolls inserted sparsely inside.

  Ming Xuan's face showed increasing surprise, the furnishings in this house seemed to have a few hints of the Yu Ge study, even the ink wash paintings on the walls were the same style...

  She suppressed the doubts in her heart, sat upright and began to copy Buddhist scriptures. For the past three or four years, she had been copying scriptures almost every day. The Heart Sutra was already familiar to her, so after a moment's thought, she spread out paper and ink, picked up her brush, and started copying as if no one was around.

  Han Xi didn't disturb her, leaning against the wall silently watching her, seeing that her eyebrows and eyes were becoming increasingly calm, gradually becoming as still as an ancient well. In his heart, endless bitterness was spreading, this kind of suffocating feeling like a huge stone pressing on his chest had been stuck in his heart for a long time, every time he saw her it became even more intense, but at this moment, he only felt that he was already battered and bruised, unable to bear the slightest weight.

  Her quiet appearance was beautiful, but she was getting farther and farther away from him.

  Even if I thought it was good to let go once and for all, but in the end, I still can't bear to.

  Han Xi's lips moved slightly, and he couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "About the disappearance, Pei Jingchen will definitely send someone to look for her. With his patience, he will eventually find out that we are together at this time today. This is my property, if we really stay here for two days, aren't you afraid that he will suspect something?"

  He paused for a moment and added another sentence, "A woman's reputation is at stake, it's a serious matter, what if he harbors suspicions and becomes prejudiced?"

  A man and a woman living together in the same room is likely to lead to suspicions of an improper relationship.

  Han Xiu and Ming Xuan had such a complicated relationship of love and hate, many things can't be explained clearly. Even if she is doing this to save her husband's leg, people won't say she is loyal, but will despise her for not guarding her own reputation. Ordinary men, even if they acknowledge the husband-wife bond, still plant a thorn in their heart.

  Ming Xuan didn't answer.

  She sat upright with her body bent over the desk, copying scriptures stroke by stroke, as if she had heard nothing.

  A quiet and deep autumn afternoon, with wind blowing leaves into waves, a cold room.

  Han Xiuzi gazed at the slender woman who was ignoring him, her calm demeanor like a fairy in a painting, yet she seemed as unreachable as if separated by nine layers of palace walls, no matter how far he stretched his arm.

  It seems like I'm really destined to have no fate with her...

  He let out a deep sigh and finally stepped away with heavy footsteps.

  That sigh seemed still in her ears, Ming Xuan's hand holding the pen paused, and her chest felt as if something had shattered, making her unable to bear a wave of pain.

  She gazed around the study in a daze, carefully comparing every detail, and finally confirmed that this was a replica of her own Xiyu Pavilion study. Not only were the furniture and decorations identical, but even their positions were exactly the same. Connecting this to the inexplicable palpitations she had felt earlier in the courtyard, she couldn't help but speculate that this place might hold some memories for Mingxuan and Hanxiu from the past.

  One is a young lord, one is a noble lady, even if they wanted to meet in secret, they shouldn't have chosen this place...

  The eastern suburbs are home to the poor, where dragons and snakes are mixed together, the environment is noisy and disorderly. Most of the residents here are ordinary people who are not very rich, small business owners, or outsiders who have just come to Shengjing to make a living. The dignitaries in the inner city would never set foot here.

  Ming Xuan shook his head violently and whispered softly, "These are not things to consider now, I have to seize the time and write faster."

  She lowered her head and began to copy the scriptures with all her heart and mind.

  But at the third watch, Han Xiu walked under the starry moon to the small alley in the eastern suburbs. He pushed open the door and entered, waking up Aunt Dan, who came forward to greet him, "Sir, why have you come over at this hour?"

  Han Xi's gaze fell upon the window of the study, where the candlelight still cast a reflection, and the shadow of a woman's slender figure was visible, her body slightly bent, still in the posture of writing. He furrowed his brow and asked, "Is she still writing?"

  The old woman nodded with a worried face, pointed to the window and said, "That girl is really disobedient. I've advised her to rest several times, she smiled and responded in front of me, but never listened. Look, sir, she hasn't slept for so long, even an iron man would be tired, let alone her weak body. It's just right that you're here, please go and persuade her yourself."

  She sighed, seemingly hesitant, but after a long pause, she finally spoke carefully, "Sir, you've always been kind to me, so I'll be bold and say something presumptuous. That person inside may look gentle, but they have a bad temper. As the saying goes, 'a forced marriage is not sweet.' A man and woman must be well-matched, or it won't work out."

  "She paused slightly, 'Besides, the one inside is already married, what's the point of keeping her here?' "

  Mrs. Tan was originally an old servant brought by Han Xiu from Xining, a slave in the courtyard of his mother's childhood home. The Han family later fell into decline, and only this old woman remained loyal and stayed at the old house in Xining. Therefore, when Han Xiu found her later on, he treated her with extra courtesy and respect. Since she was not used to being an idle guest in a large mansion like Pingchang's government office, Han Xiu invited her to come here to take care of the courtyard.

  It's quiet here and it's also a forbidden place for Han Xiu, with Grandma Dan coming to take care of him, he also trusts her.

  The day before yesterday, Ming Xuan entered the courtyard, and Dan PoPo had already guessed her identity. Although she felt sorry for Han Xiu not marrying the one he loved, she still thought that what he did was wrong. No matter what, since they were already married and had a husband, such absurd things should not be done. He is now an official, and this kind of behavior is unseemly. If someone with ill intentions were to report it, it would not be a trivial matter.

  She didn't dare to have a different opinion on the master's affairs, but over the years, Han Xiu had treated her with increasing courtesy and intimacy, just like his own grandmother. As time passed, she also came to regard him as an ordinary grandson, so the words she spoke earlier, although somewhat excessive, were all sincere and heartfelt.

  Han Xiu smiled wryly and comforted Dan's wife, "I know."

  For these two nights, although he was not in this small courtyard, his heart was always thinking of her, and he wished to ride over and take a look at her, even if it was just a glance through the window. However, with the court in turmoil, the Emperor summoned him along with other trusted officials like Duke Jian'an for an all-night discussion, ultimately deciding to still go to war against Western Xia. He was busy to the point of exhaustion, having not slept for two nights already, and now he rushed over before dawn to take a look at her, actually having already made up his mind to let her go.

  What cannot be detained will not be detained no matter how hard one tries.

  Although he was heartbroken, he had already figured it out.

  Han Xiu sighed softly and said to Dan PoPo, "She probably doesn't want to see me again either. I won't go in then. Trouble you to prepare some food and persuade her to eat something. If she exhausts herself, that's not my intention..."

  No sooner had he finished speaking than a knock at the door was heard, "Knock! Knock! Knock!" The iron ring on the door made a rhythmic sound on the door panel. (Thank you for your support, it's my biggest motivation.)

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