Back at their residence, Ding Liu and the others hadn't gone to bed yet—they were all waiting for the results of the Wu-Zi Tian-Qian. Opinions had split into two camps. Ding Liu rolled her eyes: "It's always like this with fortune-tellers—they never make things clear. There's an old saying: 'Having money means one has burdens.' My sister-in-law is surrounded by gold and jade, so surely she must have burdens. As for the second part, though, it's pure nonsense. What's so hard about being decided in a single thought?" Gao Shen spoke with careful caution: "My father used to be a fortune-teller..." Indeed, his father was a true jack-of-all-trades. "He said that to entice guests, one must speak in a vague, ambiguous way—something that sounds good but also not quite good, possible yet uncertain, capable of being interpreted as either a success or a failure. One can either deliver a fatal verdict or offer a hopeful one. So, really, this result holds little value." "Only Fei Tang acts against the current, just as if he were blindly faithful to official pronouncements—he holds fast to the prestige of names: 'But the "Heavenly" incense sticks they call them aren't just ordinary wooden ones...' His voice grows quieter and quieter, until it fades as if the flow of water has been cut off. Ding Liu doesn't mind when he's scolded, but when Chang Dong does, he feels a little uneasy. "Say I get nothing at all. I've thought and thought—those external things, if they're gone, well, that's fine. But what about you? Who did you run off with?" Chang Dong looked at her for a long time. "Liu Xi, isn't it a bit ahead of its time? Everyone else waits until autumn to settle accounts. I've only just planted little saplings this spring, and already you're coming to me questioning why the fruit isn't sweet in autumn—how could I possibly know?" Ye Liu Xi replied, "I understand the logic. But the terms of the contract clearly state we should be proactive—some things need to be settled in advance. As for myself, I never insist on anything. If you want to leave, you go—never mind me." Chang Dong said, "So it's about your legs?" Ye Liu Xi held up two fingers. "Two." "Why doubled?" Last time it was just one. "You kissed me." Chang Dong looked at her for a while. "Alright. But in life, fairness matters. If it's you who leaves with someone else, what do you leave me with?" "...My hair?" "She hadn't finished speaking when a tightness seized her waist, and Chang Dong sat up, almost lifting her off the ground as he carried her toward the door: "Come on, come on, just come on—I've been having headaches ever since I saw you." When they reached the door, he pushed her outside and slammed it shut with a loud *thud*. In the dark, Ye Liuxi laughed until she gasped, leaning against the door and sliding down to sit on the floor, feeling that though her answer was rather unseemly, it was absolutely perfect. Just as she was about to rise, the door opened a crack. She turned to see Chang Dong kneeling down—his light shining on him, while she remained in shadow. Ye Liuxi asked, "What's wrong?" Chang Dong extended his index finger, lightly brushing it against her jaw, as if feathers were gently stroking the surface: "Don't worry—I'm yours now. I won't be running off with any other woman." With that, he gave a gentle push, and the door closed again. The tingling sensation of warmth and light tickle that had just begun on her neck made her ready to play the fool with him—yet suddenly, it Her forehead pressed against the doorframe, her fingers curled inward, nails scraping gently across the surface. One day, she would scrape him just like this. —— The next morning, Fei Tang rose as usual to practice her sword, her peripheral vision catching someone else bringing breakfast. Her expression darkened, and she was about to toss the tray aside with a scowl—only to realize that among the visitors, there was no Ahu. Fei Tang sighed: She’d been left with a wasted expression. The breakfast was quite generous—thick rice porridge, golden-fried dumplings, and a dozen small dishes of various meats and vegetables, all thinly sliced and perfect for wrapping in delicate lotus leaf pancakes. While Yefei accidentally knocked her chopsticks to the floor, bending down to retrieve them, her gaze swept across and suddenly noticed Chang Dong had kicked Gao Shen in the shin. Yefei sat up. Chang Dong drank his porridge quietly, as if nothing had happened, while Gao Shen’s face flushed and paled repeatedly, his chopsticks lifted and then set down again. After a pause, he finally gathered his courage: “Ding Liu, I have something to say to you. Please, "Gao Shen has always called her 'Xiao Liu'er,' never using her full name. Ding Liu was initially puzzled, but when she heard something like 'be my witness,' she grew both restless and embarrassed. How could it be that someone, so eager to express their feelings in front of everyone, only showed their enthusiasm on one side—without any grace or awareness, and thus only invited disapproval? With a sharp motion, she pushed her bowl away and said in a fierce tone, 'Go ahead and eat your meal!' Gao Shen hesitated, Chang Dong cleared his throat and picked up another pan-fried dumpling with his chopsticks. Ye Liuxi guessed that there must have been another quiet wave of tension beneath the table, since after Gao Shen's slight wobble, she spoke again. 'Master Qi once told me that when you grow older, he would like to marry you...' Fat Tang nearly spilled his porridge: what on earth? Was this really a case of arranged marriage? 'At the time, I thought it was quite wonderful. But now, I've come to realize that such things must be mutual—when others force it, it simply won't work.' "It didn't quite match what I expected," Ding Liu was slightly stunned, listening on. "After I go back, I'll clearly explain to the seventh uncle that we're not a good match—forcing things won't benefit anyone. You can rest assured about that. That's all. Let's just have dinner." By the time she finished the last sentence, a bead of sweat had already formed on her forehead. Ding Liu stood there, stunned, before finally said calmly, "Oh." She looked down and stirred the porridge with her spoon, which seemed to be struggling as if hit by a sudden flood, swirling and circling in the bowl without finding its way. Chang Dong felt a bit stiff, still holding the posture of tapping the turtle shell, pausing as he heard Li Jinao chuckling. He looked up to see him feeding the chickens just a few steps away—apparently he had witnessed the whole thing. Chang Dong said, “This… is the plum tree?” It was simply unimaginable—plum trees growing turtles beneath them? Living turtles, no less! Didn’t turtles usually live in water? Li Jinao replied, “You’ve only just noticed, haven’t you? The very first night I moved in, I noticed this. The trunks of these plum trees are twisted like dragons—called ‘Dragon-Wandering Plum.’ During the Song Dynasty, a scholar named Zhang Gongfu summarized that to truly appreciate plum blossoms, one needs a harmonious setting. He listed four such scenes: ‘Gentle shade under morning sun,’ ‘Light cold in fine drizzle,’ ‘Delicate mist under a fine moon,’ and ‘Sunset with light snow.’ The plum trees in this courtyard are more refinedly known as the ‘Four Ranks of Dragon-Wandering,’ while the common name is ‘Turtle-Back Snake Plum.’ As for the scene of ‘Sunset with "Chang Dong said, 'Then this light drizzle—does that mean it's actually a clear, sunny day, with a light rain falling even on this plum tree?' Li Jinao nodded vigorously: 'Exactly! And after the flowers bloom, the turtle will emerge from its shell and be able to crawl around, supporting the plum tree as it moves. If you're too busy to visit, it will simply crawl off on its own to show you the beauty—like flowing light, a variety listed in the first volume of "Bo Gu Yao Jia." Chang Dong stood up. He didn't like getting involved in other people's emotional matters either. Ye Liuxi hummed softly, still feeling as though he'd forgotten something. After a while, he finally remembered, his expression darkening. "Why did you just say one sentence when you opened the door last night, and then close me out?" Was she really that easy to handle? She wouldn't let it go that easily. Chang Dong said, "I was teasing you." That explanation—actually quite reasonable. Ye Liuxi gritted his teeth. "Then go all out and do it properly." Chang Dong replied, "Sure, I'll be there. Let's set a time." Ye Liuxi looked at him with a challenge. "Fine, how about tonight? I'll leave the door open—don't think I'll be afraid to see you come." Chang Dong answered, "Just don't be afraid to open the door yourself." The two stood facing each other, neither willing to yield, locked in a tense standoff. Suddenly, Fei Tang burst past them from the side, creating a gust of wind. When Ye Liuxi looked up, he had already reached the entrance gate. Ye "The figure had vanished halfway through the words, leaving only the voice drifting in: 'I'll go fetch the bowl.' How bold—he'd dared to leave alone in a city so unfamiliar, without even asking for a companion. Leaf Liu Xi frowned. But Chang Dong reassured him: 'Don't worry, the Yulin Guard will send someone to monitor him.'—Feng Tang had just arrived at the Yulin city gate when he was stopped, simply because he needed to report up. Once he reported, however, the matter escalated and brought in Ah He. Feng Tang rolled his eyes so hard, his eye sockets nearly disappeared: 'Why are you here again?' Ah He, in turn, looked down her nose: 'Did you think I wanted to come? This is specifically what Master Zhao has instructed—whenever you go out or come back, we must accompany you.' Feng Tang found her tiresome: 'Then why not send someone simple, like a messenger with a white dove? I want someone with an eagle on their insignia!' Someone with an eagle, after all, would be more imposing and give him a sense of security. Ahé said, "The hawk team always protects people of standing. You're not even up to par—this is just me giving you the benefit of the doubt. Don't let me down, I'm leaving now." She made to leave, but the guard at the door drew his face even more like a disgruntled mother-in-law, clearly refusing to let her pass without someone accompanying her. Fei Tang said, "Oh, well, then, you'll do." He treated her like a visitor with a door card. Once at the market, the crowd was thick and bustling, and he promptly pushed her aside again! By then, Zhao Guanshou would surely scold her severely—maybe even deduct her salary—just as a way to settle his own grudge. Fei Tang felt truly clever. Ah Huo was so bored he even yawned, rubbed his eyes, and gave his neck a stretch before turning to look at the shop nearby. Fei Tang took off running. Fei Tang arrived with a bright expression and hurried steps, reaching the porcelain shop from yesterday in no time. As soon as he saw the owner, his eyes sparkled: "That chicken-heart bowl..." The owner smiled warmly, stepping out from behind the counter and gently placing a small wooden box on the glass counter surface, handling it with care. "I've checked it again, and there's not a single scratch or dent. Honestly, brother, if you've walked the entire West Market, you might not find anything as good as this..." Didn't this sound just like his usual sales pitch? It seemed that whether inside or outside the region, the tactics of deceiving customers remained unchanged. Fei Tang nodded eagerly, agreeing: "I'll take a look first—price can be negotiated..." Just as he lifted the lid of the box, a sharp, angry voice from behind suddenly erupted: "Fei Tang, I think you're trying to kill me!" At the same time, a deep reddish smoke surged out of the box. ... Last time, during the attack at the underground garage of the Red Blossom Tree Inn, he had desperately tried to block the broken windows with the cover blanket, fearing even the faintest scent would Now, at last, he has firsthand records of his experience. There's no taste, just a throat irritation, aching, and constant tearing of the eyes. As the tears flow, he suddenly feels dizzy and goes blank—nothing remains. Even more frightening is the strange dreams he begins to have.