In the depths of winter, the north wind cuts like a knife.

Su Luo clenched a handkerchief and stood at the door of Chen Heng, the son of Marquis Zhenning. Whether it was the wind or something else, she shivered slightly.

"How did Su girl come again? You know that the Crown Prince doesn't like you, yet you insist on coming here every day. This has been going on for five years, and the Crown Prince hasn't changed his mind. Aren't you tired? I'm so tired just watching you."

A person lives with a face, so Su girl should at least save some face.

The old woman in charge of sweeping and tidying Chen Heng's courtyard stood on the veranda, looking down at Su Luo from three or five steps above. Her eyes were filled with disdain and impatience, her words blunt and harsh.

Su Luo bit her handkerchief, taking several breaths. Her heart ached as if someone had plunged a knife into it.

He ignored the woman, his eyes fixed on the closed door. It was just a wooden door, but he could hear everything that was said outside, even if it were just whispers from inside.

This woman's words were so harsh, but there was no reaction in the room, which meant it was acquiesced to.

Chen Heng is her fiancé. Five years ago, when Su Luo was ten years old, the engagement was made.

Taking a deep breath, she swallowed the sourness and forced back her tears. Su Luo stood straight, with a stubborn glint in her eyes. "Zi Mu's fever is severe, he hasn't gotten any better even after five days of medicine. Could Your Highness please ask for a physician to come take a look?"

The room was still as quiet as ever.

Instead, a sneer came back.

"Su Guiren wants to have her younger brother examined by a physician, so she should go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and ask for an imperial physician. What's with all this pretense of coming to my place?"

Back then, it was your father who, with ulterior motives, rescued the Marquis from the pile of corpses. The Marquis, kind-hearted, remembering that both your parents died in that plague, took you and your younger brother back to the Marquis of Zhenning's residence to raise them.

Even a dog knows how to show gratitude. As for Miss Su, she's playing the hand of taking advantage of kindness.

Your uncle has never liked you. Don't you feel embarrassed by clinging to him like this?

"A forcibly squeezed melon isn't sweet, you don't understand this principle either?"

Speaking is Chen Heng's cousin, the niece of the wife of Lord Zhenning, Gu Yao.

Five years ago, Marquis Zhenning was in charge of handling the plague in Qianzhou. Because the plague was rampant, Marquis Zhenning collapsed among the disaster victims. It was Su Luo's father who found him, pulled him out from the pile of dead bodies, and saw that he still had a breath. He gritted his teeth and carried the man back to his own home.

That epidemic was truly fierce.

Suo Luo's father, despite tending to the ailing Marquis Dingning with all his care, succumbed to the plague along with his wife before it could run its course.

At that time, Su Lu was only ten years old, and her younger brother, Su Zi Mu, had just been born, not yet full term.

The Marquis of Zhenning, remembering this life-saving grace, brought Su Luo and her younger brother Su Zi Mu back to the Marquis of Zhenning's mansion and betrothed Su Luo to Chen Heng, the heir apparent of the Marquis of Zhenning's mansion.

For the past five years, Chen Heng has been the man on Su Luo's mind.

At ten years old, she didn't understand much, she only knew that Chen Heng would be her husband from now on, and this place would be her home.

Orphaned at a young age, he and his younger brother lived in constant fear within the Ninghou Marquis's mansion. Everything revolved around this man; if he was pleased, they were pleased. If he was displeased, their lives became unbearable. They used every means possible to appease him.

After chasing for five years, as the day of her marriage was in sight, Lady Ninghou brought her nephew from her family to see Chen Heng's birth chart.

It is well known throughout Kyoto that Su Luo is the young mistress raised in the Zhenning Hou Mansion.

Now, Madam Hou of Zhenning unexpectedly wants to have Chen Heng and Gu Yao's birth charts compared for compatibility, and throughout the entire Fu Mansion, except for Su Luo, no one else even mentions the previous marriage agreement.

Gu Yao finished speaking, brushed past Su Luo, and with a sneer of disdain, went up the stairs, pushed open the door to Chen Heng's room, and a moment later, Gu Yao's sweet voice came from inside, "Brother, I want to go to the garden to see the plum blossoms. My aunt said it will definitely snow tonight, so wouldn't it be nice to admire the plums in the garden tomorrow?"

Su Luo didn't hear Chen Heng's answer, but she heard Gu Yao burst into laughter, "I knew my cousin was the best."

Her throat suddenly constricted with a searing pain, her nose filled with a sourness that brought tears to her eyes. Su Luo staggered back half a step, lifting her head towards the gray sky and blinking rapidly, forcing the tears back down.

Remember, you are my fiancée. If anyone dares to mistreat you in the future, just tell me!

Su Luo stumbled toward her own courtyard, the scene from five years ago echoing in her ears and mind.

As a newcomer, I was bullied by the young ladies of the Hou Mansion. It was Chen Heng who stood in front of me and gave those people a severe reprimand. After scolding them, he turned his head and looked down at me, saying these words as he put the stolen necklace back into my hand.

Originally... all I had to do was keep that sentence in mind.

A forced melon is not sweet, and if it's not sweet, then... just give up.

From Chen Heng's courtyard to Su Luo's own small courtyard, walking back all the way, she was blown by the northwest wind, making Su Luo thoroughly sober.

Five-year-old Su Zimu had a high fever, her forehead covered with a handkerchief, asleep in bed. Her face was flushed red from the heat.

Su Luo pushed the door open and came in. The maidservant, Chun Xing, who was guarding Su Zi Mu, immediately stood up to greet her, "What did the young master say?"

Su Luo clenched her fingers, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of her lips as she shook her head.

Chun Xing widened her eyes, "Young Master won't agree? He's still angry about yesterday? Did Miss not explain? That necklace was extremely important to Miss. Miss Gu destroyed it for no reason, surely Miss can be angry?"

Su Luo didn't tell Chun Xing, not even seeing Chen Heng's face.

Before today, I was still resentful of Gu Yao for ruining the necklace. In reality, it was just an ordinary chain. The reason it was valuable was because Chen Heng had fought to get it back that year. It held a different meaning here.

Yesterday, Gu Yao inexplicably and suddenly pulled the necklace from her neck and threw it to the ground, stomping on it twice.

<>

Gu Yao cried and complained to Chen Heng.

He was also wronged, wanting to explain, and he explained that the necklace was valuable. But Chen Heng frowned, his face solemn, looking at him with impatience, "It's just a necklace, no matter how valuable it can't be used to hit people. I've already told you about the marriage, I will handle it properly. What are you making a fuss about? Aren't you tired of this?"

Yes.

What's all the fuss about?!

>A forced melon isn't sweet, just leave it alone if you don't want to twist it.

"Please go to Madam's place for me and tell her that I am grateful for her years of nurturing. I should have gone myself to say goodbye, but Zi Mu is seriously ill. I'm afraid that going there might bring illness upon Madam."

Chunnv's face was filled with astonishment, "Miss?"

Su Luo held Chun Xing's hand, "You have served me and Zi Mu for five years. I keep this in my heart. However, there are two reasons why I hesitated. Firstly, your contract is with the Hou Mansion. Secondly, if you leave with me and Zi Mu, you will likely face hardships."

Before Su Luo could finish speaking, Chun Ying's tears fell like beads on a thread, shaking her head desperately. "Miss, the Young Master has you in his heart. I'll go beg the Young Master again."

Su Luo raised her hand to wipe Chun Xing's tears. "This is for me to ask you to do one last thing. If I went myself, Madam wouldn't necessarily want to see me. Why make things awkward on both sides? You go instead, deliver the message, and you'll know my meaning. Naturally, I will also make other arrangements for you."