Chapter Thirteen: Promise

When Lian Sheng arrived and heard him speak with a thick tongue, he couldn't help but mock, "Senior brother, why are you gaping like a dog?"

Yu Hualiang shot him a glare, "My tongue hurts."

Lian Sheng stopped laughing at him. He was late today, and the moon hung bright and clear. Though spring had begun, the wind remained biting.

Despite knowing this, Lian Sheng still tugged him outside. Yu Hualiang was a hundred times unwilling, wondering what on earth he was dragged out for in such cold.

Lian Sheng pulled him along in silence, heading into the bamboo grove. Yu Hualiang asked, "Where are we going?"

"Don't ask, just follow me," Lian Sheng replied.

Yu Hualiang, bewildered by his insistence, only realized where they were when they stopped and his vision brightened.

Before them lay a small lake, its snow-covered banks shimmering in the moonlight. Several plum blossoms dotted the shore, alluring and beautiful.

By the lake stood a small, dilapidated house, looking more like a storage shed than a dwelling.

Lian Sheng led him over. Yu Hualiang saw a locked door and tried to pull Lian Sheng back, "Let's go, we can't get in."

"We don't need to go in through the door," Lian Sheng said, signaling him to look behind the house.

Yu Hualiang didn't know what trick he was up to, but as he approached, his foot suddenly sank half a leg deep into the ground.

Startled, he cried, "What's happening?"

Lian Sheng pulled him out and dug at the spot he'd stepped on, uncovering a small wooden box.

Yu Hualiang leaned in and asked, "What's this?"

Lian Sheng calmly took out a key from within.

He unlocked the back door and entered. The dust inside was choking, and Yu Hualiang coughed, peering into the moonlit room that held nothing but a pile of miscellaneous items.

Lian Sheng searched through the heap for a long time, stirring up even more dust. Yu Hualiang thought he'd need a bath soon.

"What are you looking for?"

"Something," Lian Sheng replied.

That much was obvious! Yu Hualiang sighed and crouched beside him to help search.

"It's so late—what exactly are you looking for?"

Suddenly, Lian Sheng's face lit up with joy as he unearthed a wooden box, blowing the dust off. "This was something you once gave me, senior brother."

"What? What is it?" Yu Hualiang asked.

Lian Sheng sighed, "Ziliang, did that illness really damage your mind? You don't even remember this?"

"I..." Yu Hualiang was at a loss for words, but Lian Sheng shoved the box into his hands.

Yu Hualiang opened it, and inside lay a pair of jade bracelets, clear and pristine in the moonlight. Even Yu Hualiang, who knew nothing of jade, could tell they were of excellent quality.

Yet one of the bracelets was broken, split in two, while the other remained whole. As Yu Hualiang picked up the broken halves, the sound of jade shattering echoed in his mind.

Then Lian Sheng spoke, "This is the jade passed down by Madam Yu to the daughters-in-law of the Yu family."

Yu Hualiang was stunned. Such an important heirloom... How did it end up in his hands? And Lian Sheng said Yu Hualiang had given it to him... Could it be Yu Hualiang truly harbored affection for him?

Or was there another story?

"This jade was a birthday gift you gave me when you were ten. Madam Yu discovered it, became furious, and demanded it back. You fought her for it—one bracelet fell into the water, the other shattered in two..."

With Lian Sheng's explanation, Yu Hualiang felt at ease—it was just childish ignorance.

He continued, "That night, you were punished to kneel in the ancestral hall. I fished the jade out of the pond, wanting to persuade you to admit your mistake to Madam Yu, but you insisted on giving it to me."

"When I grew older, I tried to return it, but..." Lian Sheng paused, gazing at him with wounded eyes, "But you indulged in debauchery, entangled with all sorts of women and men. How could I trust you with this?"

Yu Hualiang nodded. He could only agree that Lian Sheng had done right. He asked, "So why give it to me now? Aren't you afraid I'll give it away?"

Lian Sheng's expression changed as he turned away, "Now you have someone in your heart. Take it."

Yu Hualiang smiled, taking the intact bracelet and handing it to Lian Sheng, who looked at him in confusion.

His smile was like spring, "You are my good brother. You know people say I prefer men, so it's hard for me to find a wife. Keep this. Master Yu has long regarded you as his own son—save it for your wife!"

"I'll keep the broken one. It can be repaired and used." Yu Hualiang gazed at the broken jade in the box, thinking that Ah Liu would surely be happy to receive it.

When he looked up, he saw Lian Sheng with tears brimming in his eyes. Before Yu Hualiang could say anything, Lian Sheng threw himself into his arms.

"What’s wrong?"

"Ziliang... why..." Lian Sheng choked on his words, leaving Yu Hualiang unable to decipher them. He could only pat his back in comfort.

It was a long time before Lian Sheng released him, returning to his cold, debt-collector expression.

"Don’t tell anyone!"

"Huh?" Yu Hualiang was stunned. He hadn't realized Lian Sheng could be so adorable, like a child.

Yu Hualiang nodded, "I swear, I absolutely won’t tell anyone."

"Let’s go, it’s late. Time to sleep," Yu Hualiang yawned.

But Lian Sheng held him fast. "Today is my birthday..."

Yu Hualiang turned back, "Your birthday? No wonder you’re not as fierce today, haha..."

He laughed awkwardly. Lian Sheng was in a good mood and didn’t mind. "It’s my twentieth birthday, and I haven’t received a courtesy name yet. Could you choose one for me, senior brother?"

Yu Hualiang was puzzled. In ancient times, receiving a courtesy name meant coming of age—it was like getting an ID card. Shouldn’t he tell Yu Ming instead?

Why confide only in him? Was it really a matter of the eldest brother acting as a father?

"Um..." Yu Hualiang didn’t know what name to give...

He glanced out the window at the bright moon and at Lian Sheng’s delicate features, pure as pear blossoms after rain.

"Let’s call you Qingli—‘Qing’ for clarity, ‘Li’ for glass," Yu Hualiang said with a smile.

Lian Sheng’s face twisted a little, "The name is good, but the way you say it makes it sound rather unpleasant..."

Yu Hualiang laughed awkwardly. He was hardly as refined as the ancients. Seeing Lian Sheng’s odd expression, he thickened his skin and called out a few times, "Qingli! Qingli..."

"Enough, really shameless. Let’s go back to sleep," Lian Sheng said.

Yu Hualiang had barely entered his room when he saw Ah Liu’s resentful gaze. He sat at the bedside, pouting unhappily, making Yu Hualiang uneasy.

"Ah Liu, it’s late—you should go back to sleep," Yu Hualiang said.

Ah Liu pouted, "Why were you out so long, Hualiang?"

"I was talking with my junior brother," Yu Hualiang admitted.

"But... don’t you know today is the fifteenth?" Ah Liu’s cheeks reddened slightly.

Yu Hualiang only then realized—so that’s why the moon was so round tonight.

He laughed, "Oh, the fifteenth is nice, the moon is beautiful. It’s even rounder on the sixteenth, so let’s enjoy it tomorrow... I’m tired tonight."

Ah Liu brightened, "If you’re tired, come over quickly."

"No... I’m going to sleep, you should go back to your room," Yu Hualiang clarified.

Ah Liu raised tearful eyes, "You redeemed me, so I am yours. Husband and wife should sleep together on the night of the full moon..."

As he spoke, his voice grew softer and his cheeks redder, while Yu Hualiang grew more anxious.

He truly wasn’t interested in men. He couldn’t bear to do such things with a man! Yu Hualiang tried to defer, "Ah Liu, I have to go to the Prince of Seven’s residence tomorrow. Maybe next month."

Ah Liu slid off the bed and threw himself into Yu Hualiang’s arms, looking up at him with sorrowful, teary eyes, clinging like a kitten.

"Then... let me go with you to the Prince of Seven’s residence. I can do anything—wash clothes, cook, I’m as good as Mo Cai."

"This..." Yu Hualiang looked troubled.

"If you go, you’ll be gone for a month at least, maybe half a year. I won’t see you, and I’ll be restless... It’s no different than before."

Ah Liu spoke pitifully, and Yu Hualiang had no choice. He thought a moment, "I’ll talk to the Prince tomorrow. For now, you should go back to sleep."

"Yu Hualiang..." Ah Liu lingered, unwilling to leave. Yu Hualiang frowned, then softened his tone.

"Be good, Ah Liu. Go back now—we’ll have plenty of time together later."

His words finally persuaded Ah Liu, but lying in bed, Yu Hualiang couldn’t sleep at all. Going to the Prince’s residence was enough trouble—now, bringing Ah Liu along...

His plans to woo women had fallen through. He had to find a way to send Ah Liu away, and also how to guide the Prince onto the right path. He spent the whole night contemplating, unable to sleep.

He awoke even before the roosters crowed, dressed himself, and opened the door, only to run into Mo Cai bringing hot water.

Mo Cai smiled, "Young master, you don’t look well today."

Yu Hualiang didn’t feel like talking. He nodded and looked at the basin, "Leave it here... I’ll wash myself."

With the water, Yu Hualiang finally felt awake. He touched the broken jade halves in his sleeve pocket, lost in thought.

About to go for a walk, he bumped into Lian Sheng, who was about to leave.

"Senior brother, you’re up early... Did you not sleep last night? You have great stamina," Lian Sheng teased, making Yu Hualiang blush.

What was this kid thinking! He hurried to explain, "It’s not what you think!"

Lian Sheng stopped joking. "Senior brother, I have to go now. I won’t keep you. Be careful at the Prince of Seven’s residence. I can’t see you off today, but I’ll visit you there another time."

Yu Hualiang felt a warm glow inside. He hadn’t expected Lian Sheng to care so much. As Lian Sheng turned to leave, Yu Hualiang called out, "Qingli! Safe travels."

Lian Sheng paused, didn’t turn back, but replied softly, "You too..."

Boarding the carriage, Lian Sheng gently stroked the jade bracelet in his hand, wondering—did Yu Hualiang really not understand the meaning of this jade?

No... He had understood since childhood. That year, when the snow was heavy, Yu Hualiang pulled him beneath the plum tree and personally placed the bracelet on his wrist.

He was young then, but handsome, his smile as radiant as a blossoming red plum, enchanting Lian Sheng. He grasped his small hand and said, "Wear this! Senior brother will take care of you for a lifetime."