Fortune Across the World

Chapter 103: Gift of the Wind Chime, Comfort for the Heart

Fu Ruqing stood and walked back along the flower-lined path to the courtyard gate, addressing the two waiting for her, "Let's go." Her voice was softer than usual, though her expression revealed no change.

Seeing the little girl's slightly unsteady steps, Ding Qiyu wondered why Yinsuo didn't assist her mistress. After a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward to support Fu Ruqing's arm. Since Ruqing knew her true identity, this shouldn't be inappropriate, right?

Startled by the sudden contact, Fu Ruqing tensed but heard Ding Qiyu softly say, "Young lady, you know who I am. You've been kneeling for so long; let me help you for a bit. Once your legs regain circulation, I'll let go."

It wasn't about identity—it was Fu Ruqing's habitual distance from others and her aversion to physical contact that made Yinsuo hesitant. But today, the prolonged kneeling had left her legs numb, and the strength from Qiyu's supporting hand gradually eased her resistance. Perhaps it was the busy days or the recent visit to her mother's resting place that brought out her vulnerability. She finally dropped her guard, accepting Ding Qiyu's goodwill.

Yinsuo hadn't heard what Ding Qiyu whispered to her mistress, but she felt a mix of surprise, admiration, and gratitude. Every visit to her mother's grave saw her mistress kneeling for hours, and she could do nothing to help. Today was different. A spark of hope ignited in Yinsuo's heart, wishing this person aiding her mistress could continue to support, protect, and guide her away from past shadows, helping her become the vibrant person she once was.

...

The next day, while busy with Jiyuan Pavilion's affairs, Ding Qiyu couldn't shake the image of the lonely, helpless silhouette. Unable to focus, she set aside her tasks and, after some thought, crafted something special for the "little girl." By evening, estimating that Ruqing had finished her business, Qiyu headed to Fumeng Courtyard with her creation.

Yinsuo wasn't in the study; only Fu Ruqing sat at the desk, reading. The previous day, Qiyu hadn't brought anything, and after longing for her mother, Ruqing had retired early. Today, as business picked up, the familiar anticipation crept back, and she found herself wondering several times when Qiyu might arrive.

"Young lady, guess what I have today," Ding Qiyu approached the desk with a mysterious smile.

Fu Ruqing set her book aside, shaking her head, and replied plainly, "I can't guess." Though she said this, her mind was already swirling with possibilities.

Unfazed by her bluntness, Qiyu placed a box on the desk, opened it, and revealed an exquisitely crafted wind chime. At the top was a carved wild goose, carrying a letter in its beak, wings spread wide. Below hung several long tubular silver bells, each strung with a delicate thread ending in a carved flower, identical to the white flowers Qiyu had seen behind Chan Jue Temple the previous day, painted to match their real counterparts. As Qiyu lifted it, the bells chimed melodiously.

Fu Ruqing's eyes were immediately drawn to the small white flowers hanging from the wind chime, her mother's favorite Yunruo flowers.

Qiyu presented the wind chime to Fu Ruqing with a warm smile, "This is a wind chime. When the wind blows, it makes a clear, melodious sound." She tapped the bells, letting the pleasant sound ring out, "Hear that? No matter who you're missing, it carries their greetings to you."

Listening closely, Fu Ruqing felt she could hear her mother's gentle voice amidst the chimes, just like the stories she used to tell by her bedside. She cupped a small Yunruo flower in her hand, a pure smile spreading across her face like that of a little girl.