Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

"Miss, the water temperature is ready," Zhu Ling said, testing the water temperature in the bathhouse.

Yun Chu walked in wearing her undergarments.

"Miss, you must have suffered a lot; you've lost so much weight," Zhu Ling said with concern.

"I'm fine. Seeing you all makes me feel better," Yun Chu said with a smile.

“Miss, I’ll be waiting outside. Please call me if you need anything,” Zhu Ling said.

"Why don't you move a chair over there and talk to me?" Yun Chu pointed to the door.

"Okay!" Zhu Ling said happily.

When Yun Chuxin placed herself in the warm water, she felt incredibly refreshed. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the peace and tranquility.

"By the way, have the children arrived yet?" Yun Chu asked.

“The children arrived a couple of days ago. Sister Nanrao arranged for them to stay in the back courtyard of Shili Pu. By the way, Miss, business at the shop has been pretty good these past four months. We have a lot of goods, and with the orders you brought back, we all figured we needed a place to store them. The shop owner was short of money and wanted to rent out the back courtyard and the neighboring shops, so Sister Nanrao took the opportunity to rent them out and even negotiated a good price.” At this point, Zhu Ling hesitated slightly, “Miss, you won’t blame Sister Nanrao, will you?”

"How could I? She did a great job," Yun Chu said with a smile. She had indeed made the right choice; Nan Rao was calm and responsible.

"Our Shili Pu has expanded, it's huge now. My embroidery is all kinds of styles, and it's very popular! Miss, many neighbors come to me for advice! I've even recruited some girlfriends to do embroidery with me," Zhu Ling said proudly.

"Where are Liu Da and the others?"

“A few days ago, Liu Da and the others went to the escort agency to complete the formalities. When Sister Nanrao saw that you hadn’t returned yet, she gave them time off to go home and visit, since they don’t know when they’ll be able to return if they go on a long trip. Sister Nanrao also told them that if they wanted, they could move their whole family here, as there are quite a few empty rooms in the backyard of our shop!”

"Miss, you don't know that Ping An is quite a little adult now! Yesterday I saw him teaching those children to count and recognize words!"

As Zhu Ling chattered on, Yun Chu sighed. They were all truly growing in their own way, none of them holding her back. They could live well without her, which put her at ease no matter what the future held. Yun Chu closed her eyes, a hot towel on her face. Here, she could finally relax.

At dinner, the six people from Qingfeng Courtyard gathered together again. The table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes, and everyone's face was beaming with joy, their eyes sparkling.

"Alright! Let's eat!" Yun Chu gave the order. Watching everyone happily enjoying their meal, Yun Chu sincerely felt that it was wonderful to have them all.

After dinner, Yun Chu sat on the swing in the yard, letting her hair air dry.

Summer was drawing to a close, and the night breeze rustled the leaves. A crescent moon hung in the sky, its silvery light casting a gentle and beautiful glow.

Yun Chu looked around. April had passed, and the banyan tree in the courtyard was still standing tall, only its branches were more lush, swaying gently in the wind, as if welcoming her long-absent family. The medicinal herbs in the corner had grown much taller; judging by their growth, Nan Rao had probably already harvested a batch. The sapling she and Ping An had planted in the west that spring had already sprouted new buds and was now growing lush and verdant. The flowers planted beside the corner were blooming in patches. Every brick, tile, blade of grass, and tree here was so familiar.

Four months had passed, and something seemed to have changed, yet nothing seemed to have changed at all. Yun Chu swayed on the swing and couldn't help but smile.

"Knock knock knock!" A knocking sound came from the courtyard gate.

"Who is it!" Xu Li hurried forward.

"it's me."

Xu Li hurriedly opened the door, "Lord Luo, please come in."

Luo Yan stepped inside and rushed over to Yun Chu in the corner of the courtyard.

"You're back?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm back," Yun Chu said with a smile.

Luo Yan looked Yun Chu up and down, and the next second she pulled him into her arms.

Yun Chu was stunned and suddenly didn't know what to do, while Mo Han on the roof was about to rush over.

Fortunately, Luo Yan released Yun Chu the next second. "Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.

Yun Chu shook her head, invited him to sit down on the bamboo chair, and poured him a cup of tea.

“After Xu Li returned, I sent people to keep watch for news of you at the city gate every day. Today, I was busy with palace affairs and left the palace late, which is why I only found out you were back,” Luo Yan explained.

"My return isn't a big deal, there's no rush," Yun Chu said with a smile.

“But I’m afraid it will be too late,” Luo Yan blurted out.

Yun Chu paused for a moment and looked at him.

"I heard from Xu Li that you were in danger and it was the Prince who saved you?" Luo Yan asked.

"Yes, it was by chance that we met, and the prince came to our rescue," Yun Chu said, taking a sip of tea.

"You..." Luo Yan hesitated before speaking.

“I think even if they were just strangers I met by chance, the prince would still help me,” Yun Chu added.

"I've heard that our Lord Luo is now the Minister of Revenue?" Yun Chu joked with a smile, trying to change the subject.

Luo Yan smiled sheepishly, "It is my honor to be favored by His Majesty. I heard that Manager Yun Chu brought back many orders and business opportunities from her trip to the Northern Region. I'm afraid we will have to rely on Manager Yun Chu's guidance for our trade."

Yun Chu chuckled; this person was even teasing her now.

Luo Yan stared at Yun Chu's smile, slightly stunned. Under the silvery moonlight, Yun Chu's smile made his heart flutter.

Nan Rao brought over a plate of pastries. "Miss, these are freshly made pastries with osmanthus flowers. Please try them. If you like them, we'll sell them in Shili Pu."

"You should give it a try too," Yun Chu said to Luo Yan.

Yun Chu reached out, her fingertips lightly touching the soft, chewy osmanthus cake. She gently picked up a piece and brought it to her lips. The delicate texture spread instantly as the cake touched her lips and teeth. She took a small bite, and the softness of the cake intertwined with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus in her mouth, as if a thousand osmanthus blossoms were blooming on her tongue, releasing an intoxicating aroma. The fragrance was both fresh and rich, both delicate and mellow, immersing her in this unique taste experience. With each chew, the sweetness of the osmanthus cake gradually spread throughout her body, making her feel light and carefree.

Yun Chu nodded, quite satisfied. She clapped her hands lightly and asked, "How was it?"

"It's delicious," Luo Yan said with a smile. "Have you named it yet? What's it called?"

"Not yet. Miss, could you please get one?" Nan Rao replied.

Yun Chu thought for a moment and then said, "How about you come and get it, Luo Yan?"

"I?"

“Well, I don’t have much knowledge, you can do this,” Yun Chu said with a smile.

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, "Since it's made with osmanthus flowers, how about we call it Osmanthus Alley?"

"Osmanthus Lane, okay, let's call it that." Yun Chu said with a smile.

"Then this maid will prepare accordingly." Nan Rao withdrew.