Not only was Fang Che puzzled, but Jing Xiuyun was also completely at a loss.

After leaving, she quietly asked Zhao Ying’er, "Ying’er, why were you so bold today? You cornered Mr. Fang directly against the wall and wouldn’t let him avoid it... That’s intense! This isn’t like your usual self at all."

Zhao Ying’er’s gaze was somewhat dazed. She shook her head, smiled, and said, "It’s nothing, maybe I’ve just come to terms with something."

"Come to terms?" Jing Xiuyun was puzzled.

"Yes."

Zhao Ying’er said, "At our Guardian Hall, I’ve experienced a lot of things... First, a few unfamiliar deacons died inexplicably. Back then, the feeling wasn’t very clear, but when Ren Chang suddenly passed away, that’s when the sadness hit... "

"Even in the blazing summer, I often feel a sense of autumn’s desolation in my heart."

"Then I was attacked, a life hanging by a thread; I went back to recover, only to find out upon returning that Steward Zuo and the others were gone. Sister Xiu Yun, you might not understand how I felt; everyone was fine when I left, but when I came back, ten acquaintances had vanished. At that time, it felt like the entire Steward Hall was unfamiliar."

"And then after all that time... Tang Zheng was gone."

A desolate loneliness flashed across Zhao Ying’er’s face, "So I don’t know, perhaps at any moment, I might be gone too. And in this lifetime, there are still so many things I haven’t done, haven’t truly strived for... "

"How regretful would it be if I really were gone?"

"I’ve never even spoken a few heartfelt words to the person I like. Even up until death, I feel like my woman’s heart is floating in mid-air."

"Up until death, I will still carry the surname Zhao, and not take my husband’s name. In the Netherworld, for all eternity, I’ll always be a girl of the Zhao Family, unable to be like other women... buried in her husband’s family grave."

Jing Xiuyun lightly sighed, "Don’t think so pessimistically, we will all be fine."

Zhao Ying’er sighed softly, and said, "I’ve been dreaming lately, dreaming of my mom."

Jing Xiuyun asked in surprise, "Your mom?"

"My mom passed away eleven years ago. Eleven years ago, when the Beast Tide suddenly surged in Wanshou Jungle, both the Yixin Sect and Yemo Sect launched simultaneous attacks, the Southeast was on the brink of danger; and my mom, she died in that battle."

Zhao Ying’er’s voice was heavy, "I dreamt that my mom told me she was cooking for me, waiting for me to come home for dinner."

Jing Xiuyun felt a chill rise suddenly, stammering, "Dreams can’t be predicted, don’t think too much about it."

Zhao Ying’er said, "We’ve all heard the saying that... deceased loved ones, if they have awareness in heaven, are afraid of disturbing their children, so the closer the person who passed away, the less likely they will appear in the dreams of those who miss them the most. But once they do appear, there’s always something, and it’s something big."

Jing Xiuyun said, "That’s just nonsense made up by idle scholars, do you believe that?"

Zhao Ying’er smiled faintly, said, "So I suddenly feel time is really pressing, so, no matter what, I have to fight for myself once."

"But Mr. Fang already has someone at home."

Jing Xiuyun replied.

"Isn’t it normal for a man to have several wives and concubines?"

Zhao Ying’er said, "Besides, I’m just making sure I don’t have any regrets. Not necessarily needing a specific outcome."

Jing Xiuyun didn’t believe a word of that.

She pursed her lips and said, "Then let’s see Mr. Fang’s little home tonight."

"Hehe."

...

Mr. Fang organized an assessment in the afternoon, all in the Steward Hall were uniformly assessed.

Then everyone was nervous, and ended up sweating, some even got beaten until their noses were swollen and faces bruised.

Mr. Fang felt the need to divert Zhao Ying’er and the others’ attention, hoping they might forget about the visit to his home in the evening, so he caught the long-time-unbeaten lame Hong Er and gave him another beating.

Lame Hong Er was utterly bewildered. What did I do wrong again?