21 A Crimson Apricot Branch Extends Beyond the Wall

“Thump, thump.”

Yu Liuzhu clearly heard the beating of her heart, like the startling thunder in spring that awakens all living things to sprout and stir.

She stood respectfully, admiringly, gazing at the man nearby who was as upright and slender as the bamboo around them, nearly unable to contain her emotions.

In her past life, after a miscarriage, she was neglected by Mu Lin, and her mother-in-law paid her no heed. Even the great-grandmother, who had once treated her kindly, offered no comforting words—only cold, indifferent reminders to take care of her health.

The servants gossiped and whispered behind her back. On snowy days, when she wanted to place an extra charcoal brazier in the room, she had to watch the expression of the stewardess who managed the estate’s storehouse.

That stewardess was loyal to her mother-in-law, leaving Yu Liuzhu with no one to appeal to. Just when she was both angry and humiliated, she heard that the man before her had stood up for her, disregarding her mother-in-law’s face, and ordered the stewardess to be publicly flogged thirty times.

Since then, no servant dared to gossip about her or kick her when she was down. Even the mother-in-law, who had lost face, said nothing.

Yu Liuzhu clenched the handkerchief tightly in her hand; the smooth silk was twisted into a crumpled ball, mirroring the tension tightening her heart.

“Forgive my rudeness, Uncle Mu Jiu, for disturbing you,” she said respectfully.

“Do you know me?” Mu Hanshi’s voice was light and fleeting like snow, drifting down as if carried by the wind, scattered in all directions without a trace.

He stood with one hand behind his back, the joints distinct like jade bamboo, slowly curling his fingers until they formed a fist.

Shen Qinglu couldn’t see his expression, but from his slightly tense posture, it was clear he was emotionally unsettled.

Yu Liuzhu, standing before him, could feel this unrest as well.

Her contracted heart suddenly relaxed.

So, from the very first time he saw her, Uncle Jiu...

She was moved and grateful—excited that even if she lived again, she was still a special presence in his eyes. She was thankful she could start anew and not miss the one who truly cared for her.

“Last year during Mid-Autumn Festival, I came to the Hou residence with my elders and caught a distant glimpse of you, Uncle Mu Jiu. You probably didn’t notice me.”

Mu Hanshi took two steps closer, nearly touching her.

The place was quiet and deserted; they seemed like lovers meeting in secret, close yet restrained by etiquette and the eyes of the world, forced into stealth.

That was Shen Qinglu’s impression of them.

From her perspective, Yu Liuzhu’s gaze betrayed her feelings, and Mu Hanshi was clearly very interested in her.

“Who are you?” Mu Hanshi’s voice shifted, as if the drifting snow turned into a sudden rainstorm, carrying urgency.

Yu Liuzhu’s heart pounded harder with his approach, a flush spreading swiftly across her temples and the corners of her eyes, her ears burning vividly.

“I am the daughter of the Yu family, named Yu Liuzhu. My father is Yu Zhiheng, a scholar at the Jixian Hall.”

“Yu Liuzhu, daughter of the Yu family.”

The sudden rain slowed, leaving only ripples spreading in the water.

His fist slowly opened, returning to calm.

Shen Qinglu, for some reason, felt as if influenced by him; as his hand relaxed, the breath she had been holding also escaped.

Yu Liuzhu, still blushing, tried to maintain a composed appearance. “I did not intend to disturb you, Uncle Mu Jiu. My cousin came along to the Hou residence this time as well. Our elders feared we might be bored, so they told us to get some fresh air. My cousin is different from others; I lost sight of her for a moment, and I don’t know where she ran off to. I was looking for her and accidentally stumbled here. Please forgive me.”

“......”

That Yu Liuzhu was using her as an excuse!

Shen Qinglu lowered her eyes and looked down at her peach-red dress. Even hidden deep within the sea of green, it shone brilliantly, refusing to be overshadowed or reduced to mere background.

The spring chill remained; the forest breeze carried not only cold but also the fresh scent of bamboo leaves.

She reached out and caught a bamboo leaf that had fallen in the wind.

Footsteps approached swiftly.

Mu Lin walked hurriedly, circling the bamboo grove, and stopped to see Mu Hanshi and Yu Liuzhu standing together. The scene seemed strange, even eerie in some indescribable way.

After greeting Mu Hanshi, he asked Yu Liuzhu, “I heard Miss Ali came with you. Why haven’t I seen her?”

Yu Liuzhu turned slightly, eyes lowered but polite. “I don’t know where she ran off to. I’m looking for her.”

“She’s missing?” Mu Lin’s sharp brows furrowed, his tone edged with concern and urgency. “Did you see where she went?”

Anyone with ears could hear the worry in his voice.

For a moment, Shen Qinglu felt as though she was seeing through him to another person.

Both he and Yu Liuzhu bore a certain familiarity in their appearance—a familiarity that made one believe in reincarnation and destiny.

Yet, when they looked at each other, there was no trace of bond, as if two unrelated lines were forcibly drawn together.

“Uncle Jiu, I heard from Jingliang that Miss Ali fell into the water recently. I’m truly worried…”

“She is a guest of the Hou residence; nothing must happen to her here. Your concern is justified. Send more people to search,” Mu Hanshi said coldly, his icy gaze flicking toward where Shen Qinglu was hidden.

Among the dense bamboo and overlapping leaves, their eyes briefly met.

Like lightning striking and earth splitting.

Shen Qinglu felt a chill rise from her feet, her whole body stiffening.

She had been discovered!

But then she thought, in some people’s minds, she was already considered scheming and calculating, prejudice had formed; what was there to fear? She would simply ignore him and continue with her plan.

With that thought, her gaze met his without avoidance or fear, her dark eyes unblinking.

“Mu Shi Zi must be blaming me. I... I didn’t expect Ali to run off like that,” Yu Liuzhu said after Mu Lin left, her eyes slightly reddened—not from sadness, but from hatred.

She hated it!

Afraid Mu Hanshi would see through her, she took her leave, saying she needed to continue searching.

Mu Saishi’s gaze was deep and inscrutable. It was unclear if he was looking at her or through her at someone else. He said, “I am elder to A Lin. Your relationship with him will run deep in the future. If anything happens, come find me. Don’t hold back.”

She pressed her palm to her chest and softly responded, “Mm.”

Such shyness, such satisfaction, like a devoted wife to her husband, leaving with lingering reluctance, all tangled in bittersweet affection.

Shen Qinglu also wanted to leave, but could not.

Because Mu Hanshi was already walking toward them, standing just outside the bamboo grove, commanding coldly, “Come out!”

Among the layers of green, a stroke of peach color slowly emerged, like a red apricot branch breaking through the wall, gradually stunning the scene until fully revealed.

Mu Hanshi’s eyes, as cold as snow, settled on her.

Her radiance starkly contrasted with Yu Liuzhu’s plainness, threatening to steal the spotlight.

Such disregard for order would be seen by anyone as the insolence of one who did not understand propriety, lacked humility, and was unmindful of decorum.

If it were merely to show off within the estate, it might be excusable, but to outshine the host when visiting was clearly intentional, with impure motives and ill intent.

She knew the man before her likely thought the same.

Mu Hanshi’s gaze was icy, like a frozen lake—calm yet sealed under miles of ice.

“I told you to stop. It seems you didn’t listen.”

Stop? What had she done?

Why did this Mu Jiu look at her with such disdain from the start? Did he have something wrong with his eyes?

“Uncle Mu Jiu...”

“Who gave you permission to call me Uncle Jiu?”

Fine, she wouldn’t call him that.

“I don’t care if you believe me or not, I have no other intentions toward Mu Shi Zi.”

She was merely drawn to his face, wanting to look a little longer—was that a crime?

“Do you believe yourself?” Mu Hanshi retorted.

“Of course I do. Mu Shi Zi is a friend of my second brother. In my heart, he is also my brother...” She hurriedly swallowed the last word.

Yet even so, her heart was tugged sharply—whether in pain or longing, she could not tell.

Suddenly, a chilling aura pressed down, like a bright sunny day darkened by gathering black clouds, heavy and suffocating.

Shen Qinglu was startled by Mu Hanshi’s intimidating presence and instinctively stepped back two steps.

He advanced step by step, looking down on her, his voice as cold as ice: “He is not your brother!”