She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

When Meng Zhuo rushed back to the border town from the capital, his beloved Lanxiang had already been taken to the border town government office by Shen Man.

Lanxiang stood in the room in the backyard of the government office, her fingertips tracing the carved bed railing. The unique fragrance of sandalwood lingered in her nose, but it could not cover up the bewilderment in her heart.

The gilded candlesticks cast a warm glow on the gauze curtains, a stark contrast to the flickering oil lamps in the stone houses of the countryside.

She looked at her unfamiliar reflection in the bronze mirror—a gold hairpin that Shen Man had insisted on putting in her hair was tucked behind her ear, and her usual plain clothes had been replaced with silk embroidered with gold thread, making her look exactly like a Bodhisattva enshrined in a temple.

"Man'er, this is where the officials live. Would it be inappropriate for me to stay here?"

Her voice trembled, as if the ornate buildings before her might collapse at any moment.

Shen Man was pouring tea into a celadon teacup when she heard Lanxiang's question and couldn't help but chuckle: "Mother, your daughter is now the highest-ranking official in this city, and you are the mother of this high-ranking official. It's very suitable for you to live here!"

Lanxiang's gaze swept over the neatly trimmed artificial hill outside the window. Those stones were carved into strange shapes, but they couldn't compare to the familiar wild stones on the hill behind her old home.

She suddenly remembered the chipped earthenware bowl by the stove and the old hen in the yard that could never be fed, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Mother, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Seeing Lanxiang's suddenly reddened eyes, Shen Man felt anxious and quickly asked.

Lanxiang forced a smile, her throat tightening: "It's nothing, I'm just not used to life here."

As soon as she said that, she regretted it, fearing that her daughter would think she was ungrateful.

Shen Man sighed softly and placed the teacup in her hand: "Mother, don't worry, I won't let you stay here forever."

"The main reason I brought you here was to let you relax and unwind. Once Uncle Meng returns from the capital, I'll take you home."

The fragrance of orchids caressed the warm teacup, bringing a sense of warmth to my heart.

The way my daughter's eyes sparkled when she spoke was exactly the same as when she was a child and begged me to make her sugar cakes.

She secretly vowed that even if she had to immerse herself in this unfamiliar environment, she would not let Man'er worry about her.

"Man'er, you go ahead with your work. I'll stay a little longer and get used to it."

"Okay, I'll come back to keep you company later!" Shen Man said, and then left.

After Shen Han left, there was no one to take over the job of managing the government treasury accounts, and she had to arrange for someone to fill in as soon as possible.

That afternoon, Lanxiang was staring blankly at the neatly trimmed flowers and trees in the yard when she suddenly heard footsteps coming from the corridor, followed by a clear male voice at the gate: "Aunt Lanxiang!"

She turned around and saw Zhu Jing standing outside the hanging flower gate.

Beneath the jade crown that bound his hair, his face still bore the shadow of the boy who squinted with joy when he first tasted honey, but now there was a touch of composure in his eyes, and the cloud patterns embroidered on his black brocade robe indicated that things were different now.

Lanxiang gripped the hem of her skirt tightly. The scene of her first meeting with him at the Yu Family Clinic more than ten years ago resurfaced in her mind. Back then, little Zhu Jing pestered her, wanting to take Man'er home...

Those memories that had been buried deep in her heart for so long suddenly came alive, making her eyes sting with tears.

This young man almost became her son-in-law.

Unfortunately, he later got engaged to another woman for the sake of his future, which ruined what she thought was a wonderful marriage.

"Young Master Zhu, what are you doing here?" Lanxiang asked curiously.

"Aunt Lanxiang, didn't Man'er tell you? I returned to the border town from the capital more than half a year ago and have been working in the government office ever since."

I heard today that Man'er brought you here, so I came to see you specially..."

As Zhu Jing spoke, she handed her two large gift boxes, saying, "It's just a small token of my appreciation, but I hope Aunt Lanxiang will accept it!"

Lanxiang was taken aback upon hearing this.

It seems that ever since Zhu Jing got engaged to that woman named Lu Jing, she has never heard any news about him from her daughter.

Perhaps from that moment on, his daughter had already removed him from the most important place in her heart.

"Look at my memory! Man'er told me, but I just don't remember! Come on, come inside and sit down!" Lanxiang led Zhu Jing into the house and had the servants serve him tea.

"It's been a long time. How is your father, Master Zhu?"

"My dad is doing well, thank you for your concern, Aunt Lanxiang!" Zhu Jing replied with a smile.

He picked up the celadon teacup, and the tea reflected his hesitant expression at the bottom of the cup.

Lanxiang looked at the familiar stubbornness between the boy's brows and vaguely saw the scene of him insisting on taking Shen Man home back then.

“Aunt Lanxiang,” Zhu Jing suddenly slammed her teacup down, “over the years I’ve often thought, what if back then…”

"Come, come, have some tea. Man'er says this is a special cloud and mist tea from the border town, and it's very delicious!"

Lanxiang guessed what he wanted to say and hurriedly interrupted, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the intertwined floral pattern on the edge of the teacup.

Zhu Jing seemed not to notice her avoidance and got up to walk to the window.

Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled shadows on his dark brocade robe: "Does Aunt know why I insisted on returning to the border town? I resigned from my official post in the capital and broke off my engagement with Lu Jing..."

His gaze was intense as he turned around. "Over the years, I've met many daughters of prominent families, but every time I see Man'er, I always feel that they are all missing something."

Lanxiang suddenly felt as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping her throat, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

The scene of her daughter learning about Zhu Jing's engagement kept replaying in her mind, as if everything was still vivid in her memory.

That day, my daughter rode her scooter at breakneck speed all the way home, only slowly returning home as night fell.

Her eyes were filled with despair and sorrow, as if the whole world had collapsed at that moment.

After returning home, the daughter locked herself tightly in her room. The door seemed to become a barrier that isolated her from the outside world and buried her pain deep within.

Lanxiang knew how heartbroken her daughter must have been back then! Her heart felt like it was being pierced by countless tiny needles at once, the pain almost unbearable.

She desperately wanted to share some of her daughter's pain, but she was powerless to do so. She could only stand silently outside the door, listening to her daughter's sobs from inside the room, the sound like a sharp blade, piercing her heart again and again.

“Young Master Zhu,” Lanxiang forced herself to calm down, but her voice still trembled, “Man’er has a strong personality. Over the years, she has been able to support the Biancheng Prefecture entirely because of her inner strength.”

Some hurdles, once overcome, can never be turned back.

Zhu Jing's expression instantly darkened, but she still stubbornly said, "I only ask Auntie to give me a chance. If Man'er is willing, I will cherish her and protect her with all my heart, and I will not let her suffer the slightest grievance..."

Looking into Zhu Jing's sincere eyes, Lanxiang knew he was speaking from the heart. But his sincerity could never win back Shen Man's affections.

Lanxiang sighed and said slowly, "Young Master Zhu, to be honest, Man'er already has someone she loves. Although that child is thousands of miles away, they are of the same mind."