A hand stopped Xin Dao. While Rui was preparing herself for another burst of pain, it never came.

"Who are you? How did you get in?" Xin Dao sharply questioned with rage.

Looking up, she saw Yu Jian standing tall like he always does. He was domineering and cold. His back straight, opened shoulders, and chin tilted towards the sky in arrogance. Her father beneath his shoes.

Immediately forgetting about her busted lips, she was worried about him. His wounds have just started to close! How could he come here like that?

Yu Jian gave his typical smile and nodded towards Rui, "I'm this stupid girl's husband."

"Stupid—never mind, Yu Jian-ah, how did you get in here?" she hoarsely asked, throat dry from howling at her father. The guards will outnumber them. How will he escape?

He rolled his eyes, "I may be your husband, but I did not marry your stupidity."

"Hey!"

"Minister Xin, not even a tiger would eat its own cubs. I can see now that the morality of Nangong is even lower than animals." Yu Jian said emotionlessly, while still gripping tightly on her father's wrist. That made the man wince a little.

"Watch your mouth, peasant. You dare compare me to an animal? Release me at once! Xin Rui, I never thought that you could disappoint me any more than this. To go as far as marrying a mere, low-class cripple? What can he provide for you? Can he even afford the wedding and gifts? The Xin family will never raise someone as disgraceful as you." Her dad sneered with disgust, staring with judgmental eyes at Yu Jian's injuries.

Rui laughed without menace; rather, it was pity, "Do not worry, for I have raised myself and saw beyond the horizon without the Xin family. I don't need a grand wedding or gifts to be a wife. With him, it is more than enough. Even disgraced, Rui will always be more humane than you will ever be."

"You—"

"You, Third-Ranked Minister Xin Dao, no longer have a daughter with the name of Xin Rui. You have never loved or married a wife with the name of Han Muzhang; only Madam Lin, Xin Meihua, and Xin Hong. From now on, our ties are cut. As for my crimes, I will take them with me." Rui took Yu Jian's small dagger out of her sleeves—in case she needs to make a run at the last moment—and cut off a dense strand of hair. She held out her fist of long hair that took many years of cultivating, and let it fall to the floor like feathers.

The moment it touched the floor, she stood up from her position, stumbling a little. Yu Jian finally let go of Xin Dao's hand to steady Rui. She leaned her body against his for support, while Yu Jian massaged her shoulders softly. It warmed her heart and she smiled softly as she rested her head on him.

His stoic eye met with Xin Dao. Even with just one eye, he was intimidating. Perhaps, it enhanced his domineering aura. "I will take care of the problem once we reach to Wujin. You can live happily with your wife and children. Afterwards, you will never hear from us again."

Xin Dao said nothing as he looked at the two. Rui reminded him so much of Muzhang. So stubborn and fierce.

Forget it. He grabbed a brush and pulled out a maroon covered scroll. He stamped the red signature, rolled it up, and threw it at Yu Jian. With fast reflexes, he caught it without batting an eyelash.

The middle aged man said nothing as he saw the two walk away. He could tell that this man is not as simple as he seems.

Xin Dao sat down tiredly at his chair and rested his head in his palms. His voice bounced back to him in the now, quiet room, "Zhang-er, is this my retribution you spoke of?"

It wasn't long before the silence was disturbed, as Madam Lin stepped in with her red dress and a hidden smile on her red lips. He could hear her coming in the room by the sound of her golden bracelets chiming together and by the familiar smell of her perfume. "Master, I heard that Rui-er has returned. Please don't punish her too harshly. Although she was wrong and shouldn't refuse Master's generosity, she's still young—"

"Save it."

"A-ah? But..." Her plucked and redrawn eyebrows knitted in confusion at the sight of her husband. He seemed tired—like he had given up—and did not meet her expectations, where he would be seething with anger directed at Xin Rui.

"Don't concern yourself with this anymore." He said with final resolution, ending the conversation.

Madam Lin concealed her displeasure by lowering her head, causing her golden ornaments to jingle together, "...Yes."

While the two were on their way out the large doors, a girl was waiting outside with a horse. Rui instinctively took a step back when she saw the horse, but immediately recognized the girl when she saw her face. "Xiaoxiao?"

"Eldest miss!" she smiled happily, seeming a lot thinner than before. Xiaoxiao was her personal servant since young, but was reduced to a kitchen maid after Madam Lin found an excuse to remove her from her side. She claimed that Xiaoxiao bumped into her servant, knocking her favorite tea set to the floor.

"You're so thin...did they even feed you?" she asked worriedly and caressed the girl's cheek. She reminded her of Liling, and her eyes pricked with tears a little.

"Don't worry Miss! Hurry, take this horse and leave before Master sees." Xiaoxiao shoved the leash into her hands, "Mister, please take good care of miss! She's really afraid of insects, hates dirty things, doesn't like fish, and—"

"Xiaoxiao!" Rui scolded and knocked the girl's head lightly.

"Ho? I would have to make a mental note of that then." Yu Jian smiled, but it didn't seem very friendly. It was filled with wicked ideas and she hit him in embarrassment as she mumbled, "That's in the past now..."

Xiaoxiao eyes darted between the two of them and she smiled warmly like a mother—comically since she was only a few years older than her mistress. Rui looked at the reins in her hand and back at her servant, "But Xiaoxiao, the guards in front of the gate..."

When she snuck a glance at the guards, she was surprised to see that they were staring at their feet intensively. Even the stewart that accidentally passed by the gates turned around like he didn't see them with a horse that belonged to his stable. She even swore that she heard him whistle as he tiptoed away sheepishly.

Xiaoxiao tugged Rui's hand and embraced her, "Everyone here knows that you've been wronged. We watched you grow up with us. How can we betray you? Although you're a spoiled brat at times, you're still very lovable. Now, you can finally be happy and leave this place."

Rui's cracked lips turned downwards and she began to crumple apart in the girl's embrace. Her facade had finally collapsed. She was so, so exhausted.

Yu Jian swept her off her feet and mounted the horse swiftly without a struggle. Rui continued to weep quietly in his chest and waved a goodbye silently as they rode off. Once they were out of sight, Rui returned to snuggle in Yu Jian's warm and strong body that shielded her from the world. He planted a soft kiss on top of her head and she fell asleep within seconds.

When she woke up, she found herself against a tree in the middle of a large green field. She was surrounded by sleeping flowers of all sort—all under the soft glow of the moonlight. Amazed, she failed to notice that Yu Jian was admiring her like she admired the flowers.

Finally, she turned to him and asked where they are. He smiled at her gently and stroke her cheek with his long finger. "We are in Wujin right now. You slept through the entire day while we passed the borders. You are safe here."

Confused, she felt like it was too easy. How could the border patrollers not recognize her face or question their travel? What did she miss?

Seeing her busy thoughts in her eyes, he pulled her head to his shoulder and kissed her forehead, "Don't think too much about it."

So she didn't. She didn't want to think. She just wanted peace, even if it was just for a minute.

"Yu Jian, look..." Rui sleepily said as she lifted her hand and pointed with her index finger, "Fireflies."

Like a command, they lit up one by one like little lanterns, floating up the starry black river to the sky. She recalled her seventeenth birthday and almost laughed at herself. At that time, she had foresaw herself with Yu Jian. Now, she is with him. Blinking slowly, her eyes rested as she fell to the sweet slumber once more.