"Gentleman Yu Jian, may we have some time to talk?" Cai Zhi offered with a kind smile, one that looked a little too kind. Yu Jian glanced suspiciously at him before nodding wordlessly.

The two sat down under a pavilion that was located next to a pond covered with premature lotus leaves. The atmosphere was rather peaceful compared to the heavy tension between the two men.

"What would Gentleman Cai Zhi like to talk about?" Yu Jian got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

Cai Zhi smiled elegantly, "A straightforward man, hm? I like it. Since you're direct, I will not hesitate to be honest either."

Yu Jian said nothing as he let Cai Zhi speak, however, what he said next nearly stopped his heart. "Rui and I are getting married. My father have already approved and there's no doubt that Minister Xin will also approve. I hope Gentleman Yu Jian can give us your blessings as well, since you're Rui's savior."

Yu Jian remained silent by lowering his head to sip on a cup of tea. He blinked slowly and his face remained emotionless. With a neutral tone, he answered, "Is that so? Then I'll have to congratulate you. You talk about parental approval, but have you received Rui-er's approval yet?"

Cai Zhi's face frosted over with ice and he laughed dryly, "Of course, I did. I would never force her to do something she wouldn't want to." He smiled to himself as if he recalled a pleasant memory, "She blushed and nodded when I proposed to her. Her blushing face was enticing, and very adorable. If you don't believe me, look at this. She personally handed this to me."

He pulled out a green jade with Rui's name engraved on it. It was her birth identification jade. Rui showed it to Yu Jian once and even tried giving it to him as thanks for being her savior and a good man. However, Yu Jian refused it and told her to give it to someone she wants to spend the rest of her life with. He thought that she was just being naive and clueless about giving someone their birth jade.

At that time, Yu Jian failed to notice the fading smile on her face as she lowered the hand that held the jade. Under the table and hidden by his sleeve, Yu Jian clenched his hand tightly into a fist.

That's impossible! There's no way Rui-er would hand that over...Did she really want to be with him? No matter how many times he denied it in his head, the real jade was there. Taking a silent deep breath, he forced his muscles to relax. He slowly nodded, "If she is happy, then that is good."

Cai Zhi smiled, "It is good that you are so understanding, Gentleman Yu Jian. Rui will definitely appreciate your blessings to our happy marriage. She will stay safe in my manor and she will no longer need to hide from her family. I don't even need to mention this, but I hope that Gentleman Yu Jian can understand this reason: you cannot protect her. Only I can help her mend her relationship with her family and let her return to her righteous high society. Don't take my words harshly, but you are not qualified enough to stand by her side."

Yu Jian did not reply, but he had a small glint of ridicule in his eyes. Since Cai Zhi had already said what he wanted, he stood up and dusted his sleeves, "I know you want the best for Rui. You want her to be happy, right? Then let her be free from hiding and live comfortably. I'm sure you know what to do next. It is better if she forgets about the time she spent with you."

Just like that, Cai Zhi left the pavilion, leaving Yu Jian to sit alone and silently think over the conversation.

It is true. When they met, he had heard stories from Rui about her loving Zhi-gege. She was always daydreaming and zoning out, smiling foolishly while thinking about him. He knew that she was in love with Cai Zhi. He let out a sigh and tucked his head in his hands.

It pained him. It really did. To let her go and become happy? But he wants her for himself. He wants their adventures to be forever. Yu Jian shook his head and whispered to himself, "Don't be selfish. If you love her, then her happiness is first."

When he returned to his room, he sat down with a brush and paper. For a long time, he stared at the blank paper. Finally, he wrote in silence:

"Rui-er, I'm glad you found happiness. It is better for you to live comfortably. Going with me will not be fun. I'm always moving and I cannot provide you a lavish life. Since you already agreed to Cai Zhi's proposal, then I no longer need to be here. You will be safe and we will return to our normal lives. Nevertheless, you will not be forgotten. Rui-er, you would be in my heart forever. Though this rock cannot be compared to your pure jade, I hope that you can see how priceless our time was together. Farewell, Yu Jian."

While Rui went out for a walk, Yu Jian secretly entered her room and found her pillow. He place his letter under a heart-shaped rock he carved for her next to the pillow, and left as quietly as he came. Then, he packed his belongings and with one last reluctant gaze, he left the manor.

Meanwhile, a servant entered Rui's closed room and grabbed the letter. She gave the letter to a man and he opened it with a cold smirk.

"Get me my brush and paper."

When Rui came back, she dug around her belongings and chest boxes. She called out with suspicion, "Liling, have you seen my birth jade? It is a green jade with my name engraved on it."

Liling shook her head and began to help her search the room.

Originally, she wanted to go find Yu Jian and tell him the truth. To finally tell him her true feelings for him. She rushed back to find her birth jade, as she planned to give it to him again; this time, with sincerity so he can understand how serious she is. With a large smile, she ran to a secret chest that she stored away her precious treasures in. It was hidden in a small hole of a wall she found while she took refuge here. However, she couldn't find it. Maybe she took it out and perhaps played with it?

When Rui's eyes landed on her bed, she thought she had saw her jade so she smiled in relief as she reached for it. However, it turned out to be a smoothed stone with a letter underneath it. Her eyebrows crinkled as she lifted the objects.

"Yu Jian?" she whispered in confusion as she opened the letter. Inside, his handwriting said:

"Rui-er, it is good that you found happiness. You can live comfortably with good fortune. Going with me will not be fun or suitable for a high person like you. Our statuses do not match. I am a poor merchant and you are a high class lady. We are impossible. Since you're marrying Cai Zhi, then it is time for me to leave. I don't have to take care of you anymore. We will return to our normal lives and forget about the time we spent together. It was simply a fleeting moment—nothing more. Farewell, Yu Jian."

A stray of tear fell from her eye. Rui smiled coldly as she reread the letter again and again. When the words finally registered, she crumbled the paper and whispered, "Was I that much of a burden to you, Yu Jian-ah? You were so ready to get rid of me that you didn't even personally say bye to me...Were we really nothing?"

Suddenly, there was a call from outside, "Rui, it is Ge-ge. Can I come inside?"

Shaken by the events, Rui pinched her skin and wiped her streaming tears away. She threw the letter into her sleeves. After she checked her appearance, she went outside with Liling to greet him. The two sat down and Rui silently poured him some warm tea.

"Rui, you don't mind that Ge-ge took your birth jade, right? We're about to be husband and wife anyway. What is yours is mine and what is mine is yours. You won't blame me, right?" Cai Zhi skillfully convinced her with his words as he manipulated the situation. He then glanced at Liling, who stood on the far side with her head lowered.

"Ah? Zhi-gege took it...?" Rui was shocked and even suspicious, but she only nodded her head, "Ah, okay."

No wonder why she couldn't find it. However, she really doesn't remember taking her birth jade out of the secret hole. So, how did he get it? Rui could not think straight with so many questions filling her mind and a pounding headache coming her way. Her mind keeps going back to Yu Jian and his letter.

Since he wanted to leave so badly, then it doesn't matter anymore. She would just bury her feelings six feet deep and "forget" about the time they spent together—as Yu Jian requested. Rui inwardly scowled with anger. She can't believe he actually left her and said that it was "simply a fleeting moment".

Cai Zhi held her hand and smiled sweetly, "My father approved. Soon, we will send the proposal to Minister Xin. Afterwards, we can mend your father-daughter relationship and you can be filial again."

Rui gazed at their intertwined hands with unknown feelings as she half-heartedly nodded to his words. If she keeps on nodding, will he leave?

He held her lovingly in her arms as they spoke, "Rui, I'll take very good care of you. You will be happy as the main wife."

"Main?" Rui shifted her body and squinted her eyes at Cai Zhi.

Cai Zhi curved his lips into a bewitching smile, luring her into another unwanted entrance, "Of course. Since you're the legitimate daughter, I would wrong you if I were to give you any other position. This way, the concubines can't bully you and you will have power. However, you still need to be merciful with your punishments, all right?"

Rui mumbled a forced 'yes' before she lowered her eyes and hid the discomfort behind them. She was going to have other women in the household? She thought Cai Zhi was different. Turns out, he still goes with the saying that men should have three wives and four concubines. Perhaps, he had tasted women already, and became brainwashed by power and lust.

Wait, did he already take in concubines—

She glared at the ground and concealed her disappointment.

The two chatted lightly for a bit before he excused himself for work. He left a soft peck on her forehead—which, she cringed inwardly—and then departed.