Fortune Across the World

Chapter 160: A Quiet New Year's Eve at the Spring Pool (Part 1)

Unlike the harmonious atmosphere of Qingliu Garden, elsewhere in Yinzhou, Lu Weixi was spending her first New Year alone, without family or her beloved. Earlier that day, she had sent someone to inquire at Qingliu Garden, only to confirm that Qiyu had not yet returned to Yinzhou.

Standing by the window, Lu Weixi watched the fireworks blossom in the night sky, her gaze unfocused on the vibrant colors. Instead, she stared wistfully at the silhouetted peaks of the Jiangnan Seventy-two Mountains through the dazzling display. She recalled how, a year ago, her brother had mentioned that Qiyu would be joining them at Canghuan. Back then, her feelings for Qiyu were vague and faint. She never expected that within a year, her heart would be so wholly occupied by Qiyu, her emotions deepening with time and longing, becoming impossible to sever.

As she stood in silence, Qing'er, her maid, heard her mistress softly reciting, "The bright flames fade, distant peaks stand tall. Time swiftly passes, why do you not return?" The impromptu poem encapsulated her current sorrow and longing.

Memories of Canghuan flooded her mind, particularly the day the academy ended, when she lost Qiyu... She had endured illness and struggle, carrying her hopes to a foreign land, determined to pursue her beloved, yet she had not seen Qiyu, nor received any news. Furthermore, she sensed a complex connection between Miss Fu and Qiyu, which added to her heartache.

Canghuan had grown unsafe, and her brother had joined the Lu family army. Their parents were reluctant to send their cherished daughter to the academy alone, especially since Lu Weixi had lost her enthusiasm for it. Thus, this year, the Lu siblings would not return to Canghuan Academy.

...

Similarly, the Yun siblings would not return to Canghuan this year. Their identities no longer suited attending the academy. In an unassuming house in Yuanjing, Yun Yi sat at her desk, editing her brother's essays. Her brother was busy with important matters, making New Year's Eve indistinguishable from any other day. Mischievous children outside lit firecrackers by the wall, breaking her concentration. She paused, glancing at a painting hanging by the window, a bittersweet smile crossing her lips before she resumed her work.

...

There were others who did not experience the festive spirit, including Ding Qiyu's family in Xingcheng. Their home was silent, a stark contrast to the bustling city outside, as mother and daughter quietly shared their New Year's dinner. Lian'er had prepared a feast of dishes that Ding Qiyu loved, only to realize, as they sat down, how the table full of food felt lonelier than the simple meals of beans and pickles they once shared in Hejia Village.

They received Ding Qiyu's letters from Qianli Palace and Fu Ruqing's letter as well. Though the second letter announcing Qiyu's absence for New Year had not arrived, the reality was already apparent.

The letter from the eldest daughter of the Jiangnan Fu family surprised both mother and daughter. Upon reading it, Lian'er instinctively sensed that Qiyu, after arriving in Yinzhou, had become entangled with Miss Fu. Qiyu was always extraordinary; whether with the general's daughter or the richest family's daughter, she was never truly hers.

Compared to these dazzling women, Lian'er felt she was nothing. Sometimes she wondered if they would have been happier living a peaceful life in Hejia Village. But Qiyu could never be confined to a small village; those days of just the two of them were gone forever.

Despite trying to move on, Lian'er found it impossible to let go. Her youthful feelings spiraled into an inescapable whirlpool. She cried and thought until she found some peace, realizing she didn't need a title or response. As long as she could be by Qiyu's side, see her, cook for her, even if always as a sister, that would be enough.