"Where is Yu'er's memorial tablet? I cared for him, and I wish to offer him a stick of incense," Consort De said, rising.
Madam Jin wiped her tears and led Consort De to the small ancestral hall. Only Jin Yu's memorial tablet was enshrined there. On a nearby desk lay a half-finished sutra, the characters on the paper faintly red.
After offering incense, Consort De's gaze fell on the sutra. "Did Sister-in-law write this?"
"Yes. Yu'er died an inexplicable death. As his mother, I am powerless to avenge him. I can only transcribe scriptures to guide his soul, hoping he will be reborn into a good family soon and no longer suffer."
Consort De's nose tingled with emotion. She clasped Madam Jin's hand. "Sister-in-law, rest assured. Yu'er's vengeance will be served. No matter who the culprit is, I will find them!"
"If Yu'er knew this in the netherworld, he would surely be deeply comforted. This humble subject thanks Your Highness on his behalf."
Nangong Yi sat quietly in the reception hall, his gaze fixed on Jin Rong. Jin Rong remained as humble as ever. Despite being the undisputed young master of the Jin family, he was neither arrogant nor impatient.
"Your Highness Prince Qi, please have some tea." Jin Rong respectfully offered hot tea, his demeanor like that of a servant.
"You need not be like this. You are the young master of the Jin family, and we are related by blood," Nangong Yi said softly. In the past, he had looked down on Jin Rong, considering him the son of a lowly slave, unworthy of being his cousin. But now, he had fallen from the high position of a prince to a hidden illegitimate son, even inferior to Jin Rong. Especially after learning that he was the son of Minister Jin, and Jin Rong was his blood kin, his state of mind had changed considerably.
"There are distinctions between superiors and inferiors," Jin Rong said humbly.
However, these four words, to Nangong Yi's ears, sounded like mockery. He couldn't help but look at Jin Rong, but Jin Rong's face showed no cracks, his humble demeanor stirring a sense of disgust in Nangong Yi's heart.
"I detest obsequious people the most. You are the young master of the Jin family, of noble status, and we are relatives. You need not be like this in front of me. Even in front of others, you should stand tall and not bring shame to the Jin family."
"Your Highness Prince Qi instructs wisely. This commoner has noted it."
Nangong Yi's head ached. He realized that no matter what he said, Jin Rong remained unmoved, as if humility was etched into his very bones. Even if he forced him up a wall, he would fall down.
"Jin Rong, do you hate your father?" Nangong Yi changed the subject. He had witnessed Jin Rong's upbringing firsthand. Even though he himself had lived a life of luxury, he harbored resentment towards Jin Xiao for making him a laughingstock.
"I do not hate him."
"Lies. How could you not hate him for treating you that way?"
"I truly do not hate him," Jin Rong said calmly. "Someone once told me that the trials life throws at us are meant to make us better. They told me not to resent life's injustices, but to bravely embrace everything."
"Who said that?"
"A girl."
Nangong Yi's spirits immediately perked up. "The girl you like!"
Jin Rong smiled bashfully. "Your Highness, please don't tease me. That girl is so wonderful; how could I possibly be worthy of her?"
"Why are you not worthy?" Nangong Yi said earnestly. "You are the young master of the Jin family, and my brother. What kind of girl is not worthy of you? Tell me, whose daughter is she, and I will have my mother help you arrange a marriage."
Jin Rong shook his head and refused. "If she and I are mutually in love, that would be best. If she does not like me, I cannot force her, for if she is unhappy, I will also be sad."
The smile faded from Nangong Yi's face. "Her happiness will be your happiness?"
"Yes. As long as she is happy, I will be fine, no matter what."
Nangong Yi fell silent. As long as she was happy, he would be fine?
"But my thoughts are different from yours. I believe that when you like someone, you must protect her, possess her exclusively, and present the most beautiful things in this world to her, all for the sake of her smile."
"Your Highness, that is not love," Jin Rong said softly. "That is merely possession."
"Is not loving someone a form of possession?"
Jin Rong shook his head. "In my view, loving someone is about fulfillment."
"Will you not feel unbearable pain if you cannot obtain the one you love?" Nangong Yi asked incredulously. "When you see her being intimate with another man, does your heart not ache?"
"If she is happy, my heartache is nothing. I will only be happy for her."
"Foolish!" Nangong Yi rebuked. "How do you know others can give her happiness? How do you know she wants a happiness that you cannot provide?"
Jin Rong was stunned. He had never considered this question. Could he provide her with the happiness she desired? Could he provide her with the life she wanted? After thinking for a long time, Jin Rong could not find an answer.
"I do not know."
"Then have you asked her?"
"I dared not ask."
"You... what can I say about you!" Nangong Yi said with a look of disdain. "You haven't even asked the girl, so how do you know you cannot give her the happiness she wants?"
"What if I ask, and I still cannot give it to her?"
"Then find every way to create the life she desires!" Nangong Yi reached out and patted Jin Rong's shoulder. "Never be like me; I understood too late."
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. Jin Rong is deeply grateful."
Nangong Yi sat down again, crossed his legs, and asked with interest, "You still haven't told me, whose daughter is the girl you like?"
Jin Rong merely smiled and did not answer. Nangong Yi scoffed, "How boring, still hiding it. Do you think I would snatch your beloved?"
"Your Highness is joking."
Nangong Yi sighed. "I heard that Xiao Man came to pay her respects?"
Jin Rong immediately thought of the rumors between Nangong Yi and Xiao Man, and how they seemed to be growing further apart. "She did. Fortunately, she came, otherwise, my mother and I would not have known how to deal with the collateral branches of the Jin family."
"These people are becoming more and more unruly," Nangong Yi said slowly. "Before my uncle's remains are even cold, they are thinking of dividing the family property. Do they truly think the Jin family has no one left?"
Jin Rong did not reply.
Nangong Yi hesitated for a long time, then mumbled, "She... does she look well?"
"Princess Yongning looks very spirited. Your Highness need not worry."
"Then I am relieved." Nangong Yi could not describe how he felt. Ever since he got married, Xiao Man and he had drifted apart, becoming almost strangers. They had been so close before, yet now they were like familiar strangers.
"Jin Rong, if you like someone, never give up easily. Otherwise, you will end up like me, loving but unable, desiring but unable to obtain." Nangong Yi's eyes held too many emotions, so many they seemed to overflow and drown everything.