When Du Yunluo opened her eyes, it was already bright outside.

The eyes are like light gauze curtains embroidered with fallen flowers, just like the vibrancy of spring when a gentle breeze blows.

Du Yunluo was startled. She hadn't used such a tone in years? Ever since her husband died, the curtains above her bed had always been a somber gray-blue.

Sit up, hands light, fingers on the tulle white and slender, nails painted with fairy colors, bright.

Du Yunluo's eyes widened suddenly, and she took a closer look at her own hands.

This is definitely not the hand of a senior citizen. A senior's hands should be yellowed nails and wrinkled, this is...

She gasped, flung back the curtains and peered out.

A rack by the bed held clothes ready to wear, a vase of flowers graced the corner shelf, and a screen depicting carp swimming adorned the passageway.

Here is the unmarried maiden's boudoir.

Du Yunluo was stunned. What on earth was going on?

"Is the girl awake?"

Perhaps hearing the stillness in the room, a maid girl walked around the screen and to the bed, casually hanging the canopy over the lotus hook.

Du Yunluo raised her eyes and looked. Her melon-seed face, willow leaf eyebrows, and crystal-clear eyes seemed to speak. When she smiled, there was a slight dimple on her cheek. This look surpassed that of a painted beauty.

"Jinling," Du Yunluo whispered.

"Miss, it's getting late. Today you have to go to Old Madam's place to pay respects, we can't be late. I will help you cleanse your face and when Jin Rui arrives, she can comb your hair for you." Jin Ling said as she helped Du Yunluo up.

Du Yunluo's mind was a blank. She moved mechanically, as if in a daze. Only when the warm cloth passed over her cheek did she jolt awake, like from a dream, and straighten her neck.

Jin Ling was quick to notice, "Miss, isn't the water a bit too cold?"

Du Yunluo shook her head, wanting to ask Jinling so many things but not knowing how to start. She could only sit down beside her at the dressing table.

Jin Ling deftly applied the makeup to her face, Du Yunluo gazing at her reflection in the mirror. The hands she had clasped on her knees trembled uncontrollably, barely managing to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape her lips.

The person in the mirror is still a young woman, with delicate features. Her skin is smooth and even, her eyelashes long, and her cherry lips are naturally rosy.

This is not the aged Du Yunluo, this is of old.

Once upon a time, in the seclusion of her boudoir...

She stared for a long time, imprinting the reflection in her eyes onto her mind. Although she kept a calm expression, only Du Yunluo herself knew how turbulent her heart was at this moment; her fingers even trembled uncontrollably as they lightly tapped against something.

,Are you really back?

Unconsciously, tears streamed down my cheeks and landed on the back of my hand.

Jin Ling didn't know why she suddenly started crying, so she quickly took her handkerchief and said anxiously and concernedly, "Miss, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare last night? Oh, miss, look outside, the sun is shining brightly, it's warm! Let's go for a walk in a while, even the worst nightmares will be forgotten."

Du Yunluo blinked, tears wetting her lashes, her vision blurred. She turned her head and looked out the window opened by Jinling.

Chun Ming, the low giggles of the young maidservants sounded like yellow orioles.

Upon receiving the handkerchief, Du Yunluo slightly curved her lips and managed a smile: "Jinling is right, it was just a nightmare. It's over now, it's all in the past. I'm awake, and from now on, I will be clear-headed."

Jin Ling felt that there was something more to those words, but she didn't know how to ask. She simply nodded and said, "Yes, it's good that the dream is over."

Du Yunluo held onto Jinling's hand.

In that nightmare, I did so many wrong things and apologized to too many people. When I saw Jinling, the guilt in my heart welled up uncontrollably.

Jin Ling's beauty was too captivating, with many in the household having their eyes on her. The matter came to Zhao Guan Shi's wife, who had requested several times and finally received approval. Jin Ling was then betrothed to Zhao Guan Shi's nephew.

However, this pushed Jin Ling into the fire pit. In just two years, she went from being beautiful and vibrant to fading away.

In my old age, reminiscing about the past, I often think: if Jin Ling were still here, she would have surely stopped me, dissuaded me from getting angry with Mu Lianxiao and plotting against him. She wouldn't have let her messenger cause Mu Lianxiao to leave on campaign burdened with guilt and longing. She wouldn't have allowed those vicious wolves to devour everything. She wouldn't have let me live a lonely life.

Jin Ling, Jin Ling is the one who truly cares for your heart and lungs.

"Jin Ling'er, no need for Jin Rui anymore. You comb my hair for me instead," Du Yunluo said softly.

Jin Ling was taken aback. The young lady only acted like this when she was teasing. Usually, it was more Jin Ruier, Jin Ruier... who was closer and more amusing. If the mothers heard this, they would tease them like this whether there was something or not.

The girl was still playful, so things were probably alright.

The young lady's hair had always been styled by Jinrui. The young lady liked Jinrui's skill, and she wouldn't try to do it herself, leaving everything to Jinrui.

Today I took this job, and I don't know what Jinrui will think.

But, the girl gave the order, and I can't refuse, can I?

Jin Ling longed to return, but she still obeyed. She carefully and gently combed Du Yunluo's hair and chose a few hairpin flowers from the jewelry box to adorn it.

"Miss, have a look."

Jin Ling took out a copper mirror and looked at herself from all angles. The young lady was always picky, and when it came to hairstyles, she never seemed satisfied with the results. Only after Du Yunluo nodded without hesitation did Jin Ling feel relieved.

Casting a furtive glance at Du Yunluo's features, it was clear that he was familiar with her appearance. Yet, today, the young lady seemed different.

He's not so picky anymore, a bit more air about him, the whole person seems calmer...

When Jin Rui entered from outside, she saw Du Yunluo was already dressed and groomed. She was slightly taken aback, glanced at Jin Ling, then smiled and said, "Miss, I'm late."

Du Yunluo glared at Jinru and said, "You're late, so you have to take your punishment. Go to the garden and pick two pots of peonies."

Jin Rui giggled, "Miss, that was raised by the young lady herself. It only bloomed yesterday and is already brought back today. The young lady will surely be anxious to see it with you."

Upon hearing this, Du Yunluo's heart sank.

Jin Rui called the eldest sister "Big Miss," so it seems, the eldest sister hasn't gotten married yet?

Du Yunluo remembered very clearly that her elder sister, Du Yunru, got married in August of Yong'an eighteen years. Now that peonies were just beginning to bloom, it must be late March or early April spring.

This year, is it eighteen years, seventeen years, or...

Du Yunluo pondered for a moment, then said: "What belongs to my elder sister is also mine. If you don't give it to me now, won't you take it to your in-laws' house later?"

"Young lady! There's no need to bring up matters of family ties like this. Aren't you afraid? The eldest daughter is quite a delicate person. Even if the eldest daughter marries in half a year, there's no need for such teasing." Jin Rui said anxiously.

Jǐnlíng suddenly raised her head, her eyes flicking to Dù Yúnluó for a moment before dropping back down.

That's right, this is the kind of temperament a young lady should have. That's what she wants.

Du Yunluo's attention was not on Jin Ling, she could only hear the frantic beating of her own heart.

Okay, this is spring in the year 18 of Yong'an.

This was the first time during this period that Dingyuan Hou Mansion sent someone to deliver a message, probing Duke Du's intentions.

These matters between the elders were not supposed to be known by Du Yunluo, but some information leaked out. After hearing what her sisters had said, Du Yunluo disliked the life-and-death fighting style of the martial artists in Dingyuan Hou's Mansion and stormed into Lianfuyuan to make a scene.

Although the marriage eventually took place, both Lady Dowager of Dingyuan Houfu and Zhou Shi, Mu Lianxiao's mother, were extremely unhappy about it. After all, in the eyes of the Houfu, they had already married down, yet their choice was still so disliked, which truly tarnished their reputation.

This time, I'm done listening to all that gossip.

My heart, I've already given it to Mu Lianxiao. No matter if it's five years, fifty years, or a lifetime, two lifetimes, since I can see him again, why would I do something as foolish as this?

Du Yunluo looked at the person in the mirror and smiled slowly.

<< My Lord, I swore beneath the archway. I swore an oath before that very gate that has shackled me my whole life. >>

If I could go back in time, I would never let you die in vain, never let them...

Now, I'm back.