In the waning light of dusk, the ancient bell tower stood solemnly at the end of the long street in Jiangnan City. Despite the late winter chill, an unexpected snowfall graced the city, blanketing the red-tiled roofs and willow branches with a frosty sheen.

Beneath the frosted willows, Ye Nanqiao stood alone, her figure ethereal against the snowy backdrop. The gusting wind danced with the snowflakes, adorning her long robe in a cascade of white, while her red silk hair ribbon glowed like a crimson sunset amidst the snowy scene. The world around seemed to pause, as if just for her.

"Wuyue(may in chinese)?" Ye Nanqiao approached Cheng Wuyue, her voice a gentle whisper, as she gazed at his now chiseled features, a hint of recognition in her eyes.

Cheng Wuyue's gaze lingered on her, a smile breaking through as he brushed off the snow from her shoulder, softly speaking, "I hadn't expected winters in Jiangnan to be this cold."

"It hasn’t snowed like this for years," she replied. "Maybe it's because of your arrival; something had to be different."

His lips curved slightly, his stance relaxing, "You make it sound like I`m some remarkable character."

Ye Nanqiao didn't respond immediately, her curious eyes drifting to Xiang Nan, who stood obediently behind Cheng Wuyue.

Noticing her gaze, Cheng Wuyue turned, gently tousling Xiang Nan's hair, and explained, "A street urchin. I gave him some food, and he's been sticking around since."

"It sounds somewhat familiar," Ye Nanqiao teased lightly, only to see Cheng Wuyue look away.

"Then perhaps I should find a temple to leave him with others," he said, a hint of regret in his tone.

Ye Nanqiao moved closer, her eyes apologetic, "Are you still upset with me?"

He shook his head slightly, gazing deeply into her eyes. After a moment, he spoke, "After you left, I often thought you`d return on the fifteenth, like you always did with Wanqiu. But months passed, and you never came. I told myself, maybe you just forgot the way back, not me."

She reached out as if to touch his face, but then hesitated, letting her hand fall back to her side. "You know I wouldn't forget about you."

Seemingly reassured, Cheng Wuyue's demeanor softened as he studied her, "You’ve lost weight, and your hair has grown..."

As they spoke, the snowfall grew denser. Cheng Wuyue looked up, lost in the beauty of the falling snowflakes. "I never imagined the snow in Jiangnan could be this beautiful. It's so different from Luoyang."

Ye Nanqiao also looked up, admiring the snow. "As pretty as it is, I've never liked it. You always hated the cold, even a strong wind would make you ill."

"Not anymore," he replied.

"Indeed, you do look more like a man now," she noted.

They shared a smile, walking side by side down the street, with Xiang Nan trailing a few steps behind.

"You've changed a lot," Ye Nanqiao observed, glancing at Cheng Wuyue, her eyes twinkling with mirth, "When I left, you were about my height. Now I have to look up to you."

"People change," he replied, "Don`t you like how I am now?"

"I just miss how you were before."

"You left, and a doctor came to the temple. He taught me to read, write, and practice medicine. I'm no longer the frail boy I used to be..."

Cheng Wuyue chuckled softly, recounting his past as they aimlessly wandered the streets. Time slipped by unnoticed, and the evening deepened.

Feeling the cold, Xiang Nan shivered slightly behind them. Ye Nanqiao, sensing this, turned and suggested, "It's cold today. Let me take you somewhere warm for a meal."

With hope gleaming in Xiang Nan's eyes, she expertly navigated the alleys and soon led them back to Zui Sheng Lou.

Ye Nanqiao ruffled Xiang Nan's hair, smiling as she ushered him inside, then turned to Cheng Wuyue, "Do you remember Wanqiu?"

He nodded, "Of course."

"This Zui Sheng Lou is her creation. These years, we've been under her care—" she paused, guiding Cheng Wuyue inside the bustling inn, "Enough about that, tell me."

He looked puzzled, "Tell you what?"

"How did you find me? I don't believe in fate or destiny."

Cheng Wuyue, caught off guard, quickly adopted a mischievous smile. "You can't hide anything from me, sister," he said, leaning in closer to Ye Nanqiao. "It’s a strange coincidence. I just arrived in Jiangnan today and heard about a 'divine detective' in a teahouse. They described him as a handsome young scholar who solves cases the officials ignore. He’s quite famous around here. Guess what this detective is called?”

With a conspiratorial whisper, Cheng Wuyue said, “He's called Bing Chen, the legal name of the senior brother of Fu Hua Temple. How's that for a coincidence?”

Ye Nanqiao touched her nose, slightly embarrassed for using someone else's name. “It was a practical decision. With my unique identity, it’s easier to work under an alias.”

As they caught up with Xiang Nan, Ye Nanqiao led him to a window seat, while Cheng Wuyue sat opposite her.

Pouring her a cup of warm tea, Cheng Wuyue teased, “That’s quite an unimaginative solution for you.”

Ye Nanqiao chuckled softly, “Years have passed, and the name of Ye Mansion and the young miss of Ye family have faded from people's minds. I've grown accustomed to this identity, and now I find it hard to step out of it.”

Cheng Wuyue looked contemplative, sunlight dappling his face through the window. Ye Nanqiao instinctively reached out to touch his hair, and he closed his eyes, smiling.

“I often thought it was just a long dream. That upon waking, I'd find you waiting outside,” he said. Before Ye Nanqiao could reply, he quickly opened his eyes again. “Maybe this time, things will be different.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Tianwu Year One, late spring.

Wuyue sat on a low wall outside the temple hall, gazing seriously at Ye Nanqiao beside him.

“Where is Jiangnan? Is it very far?”

“I don’t know, maybe.”

“Will you come back? To attend the incense meeting with Wanqiu... Will there be a Fu Hua Temple in Jiangnan?”

“Perhaps there will be Bao Hua Temple, Guang Hua Temple... but there won't be another Fu Hua Temple.”

“Will there be another Wuyue in those temples?”

“There will never be another Wuyue. You, who have grown, should have a proper name.”

Wuyue nodded earnestly. Ye Nanqiao hopped off the wall and wrote three characters on the ground.

“From now on, your name is Cheng Wuyue – ‘Cheng’ for bearing, ‘wu’ for me,‘yue’ for delight. Cheng Wuyue, bearing my heart's delight.”

He looked at the name, not fully understanding but nodding happily.

Wanqiu waved to Ye Nanqiao from a distance. Ye Nanqiao waved back, then turned to Cheng Wuyue with a touch of sorrow.

“I have to go...”

Cheng Wuyue nodded, struggling to control his trembling body, unable to utter another word. He simply watched Ye Nanqiao walk towards Wanqiu.

In the eighth year of Tianwu, in the city of Jiangnan.

Wei ZhaoYang was driving his carriage slowly through the streets. A funeral procession approached from the opposite direction, carrying a coffin towards the outskirts for burial. The procession, numbering in the hundreds, was a grand affair with flags fluttering and drums thundering.

Wei ZhaoYang pulled his carriage to the side of the road, intending to let the procession pass. The curtain at the back of the carriage lifted slightly, revealing a man who seemed to be in his prime. His eyes were like deep pools, his gaze sharp yet sheathed - he was Chen Geng, the son of the Duke of Chen.

Chen Geng looked out onto the street. The hearse had passed, followed by a mourner's carriage from which the sound of a woman's weeping could be faintly heard. Suddenly, a gust of wind lifted the curtains around the carriage, revealing a glimpse of bright red beneath the mourner's traditional attire.

"Who is in the carriage?" Chen Geng asked softly.

Wei ZhaoYang glanced at the carriage and informed Chen Geng, "I heard that the Luo family lost their son yesterday. The woman inside must be his wife."

Chen Geng frowned slightly, his fingers lightly rubbing as if in thought. After a moment, the curtain was let down, and a voice from inside the carriage ordered, "Stop the hearse and take it to the Ganquan Temple for inspection."

Wei ZhaoYang, without questioning, nodded and stepped down from the carriage to approach the procession.

Standing silent on the stone road, Wei ZhaoYang resembled a solitary peak against the backdrop of Jiangnan City's bustling streets. The falling snow added a layer of white frost to the scene. His long sword cast a lonely shadow on the snow-covered ground.

Before Wei ZhaoYang, the Luo family's hearse, surrounded by their angry relatives, emitted a chilling aura. Amidst the falling snow, each person's breath left a trace of warmth in the frosty air.

The onlookers, who had been watching the commotion from a distance, quickly dispersed as the atmosphere grew tense, leaving only the Luo family standing their ground.

An elderly man in a dark green robe stepped out from the crowd - Luo Tianqi's uncle, Luo Yueping. His eyes were deep and confrontational as he faced Wei ZhaoYang, "Since ancient times, funerals are solemn affairs. Even officials must yield. Why then has this hearse been stopped without clear reason?"

The air between the two men became taut. Every word from Luo Yueping was edged with sharpness, but Wei ZhaoYang remained calm and resolute, unwavering in his stance.

"I've been ordered by the magistrate to halt this procession and have the coffin taken to the Ganquan Temple. Do not make trouble; the matter will be settled by the magistrate himself."

"Even the magistrate cannot interfere in funeral affairs. Step aside, and do not disturb my brother's peace," retorted Luo Yueping's son, Luo Tianjie, young and brash, stepping forward to argue, his tone laced with disdain.

The standoff continued on the street, neither side yielding. Unnoticed by all, a young boy took advantage of the chaos to slip away, his agile steps cutting through the cold wind towards the distance.

Suddenly, a large procession appeared at the far end of the street. A group of guards, swords in hand, swiftly cleared the way for a magnificent palanquin following behind them.

The palanquin halted between Wei ZhaoYang and the Luo family. Liu Changyu emerged from inside, clad in an official's robe with a jade pendant at his waist. His face wore a gentle smile, but his eyes quickly swept over Wei ZhaoYang with a sharp gaze before turning to Luo Yueping, "Elder Luo, what seems to be the problem?"

Luo Yueping pointed at Wei ZhaoYang and snorted, "This man appeared out of nowhere, stopping the funeral procession, insisting that the magistrate ordered an examination of the body. Since when do officials meddle in funeral matters?"

Liu Changyu's expression changed slightly, and he turned to Wei ZhaoYang with a dark look, "Who are you to make such claims? When did I ever order you to stop this procession? Stop causing trouble and leave at once."

As he spoke, Liu Changyu motioned to his guards to remove Wei ZhaoYang. Wei ZhaoYang, seeing Liu Changyu's refusal to listen and ready to act, shouted, "Hold it! It wasn't you that I was referring to."

Before the voice fell, a slender figure slowly emerged from the carriage, his steps not swift but firm and decisive. Wei ZhaoYang, seeing this, quickly positioned himself protectively behind the man.

The newcomer was none other than the newly appointed magistrate of Jiangnan, Chen Geng. He was dressed in a red robe, with a jade belt around his waist, and his gown was embroidered with exquisite cloud patterns, fluttering gently in the breeze. His eyes were bright and clear, sweeping over the crowd, “I am the humble new magistrate of Jiangnan, Chen Geng. It was I who ordered the procession to be stopped.”

Chen Geng took a decree from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Changyu.

Upon inspecting the decree, Liu Changyu's expression shifted. Recognizing the high status of the newcomer, although disdainful inside, he had no choice but to compromise, “I have heard of the new magistrate’s imminent arrival, yet I didn't expect such a young and distinguished figure. I am afraid I have been negligent. May I inquire as to the issue with the hearse? Why was it stopped?”

“Naturally, there are some concerns that require careful examination,” Chen Geng replied calmly.

Liu Changyu, seeing Chen Geng’s composed demeanor, turned to Luo Yueping, “I apologize, Elder Luo. This gentleman indeed is the magistrate. Since he has specifically ordered an inspection, there must be good reason. You will have to accompany me back to the county yamen. The magistrate himself will explain.”

Liu Changyu then signaled his guards, “Take the hearse to Ganquan Temple and ensure it is well placed.”

Luo Yueping grunted, reluctantly nodding to Chen Geng, revealing his right hand with an unusual feature - six fingers. Wei ZhaoYang observed this peculiar trait with surprise and curiosity.

Chen Geng nodded to Luo Yueping, and the guards promptly took the hearse away.

Liu Changyu then turned to Chen Geng, “Would the magistrate also accompany me back to the county yamen?”

Chen Geng simply nodded without further comment and walked towards the carriage with Wei ZhaoYang. Soon, Wei ZhaoYang driving the carriage disappeared down the street.

Watching Chen Geng's departing figure, Liu Changyu decided against taking his sedan chair and instead walked with the Luo family towards the county yamen. The weeping woman inside the carriage, unwilling to be seen, was sent back home by a few people.

As they walked, Liu Changyu softly explained to Luo Yueping, “Please be patient, Elder Luo. This young official is likely trying to assert his authority. Unfortunately, I am in a lower position and can only apologize for the inconvenience. I will visit to apologize another day. I hope you can bear with us today.”

Despite Luo Yueping's displeasure, he managed a forced smile under Liu Changyu's consolation.

Amidst the falling snowflakes, the group slowly moved down the street, disappearing into the snowy landscape.