Chapter 7: I Swear to Heaven

“Yueyue, rest assured, I will definitely find your jade pendant for you. It’s just too late today; first thing tomorrow morning, I will submit a notice to the palace and make sure it’s found.”

Though anxious, Shen Xianyue understood there was no other way. She could only suppress her impatience and nodded absentmindedly.

“In that case, thank you, brother. I’ll go back and rest first.”

Turning to leave, Xiao Liyang called after her.

“Yueyue, about today’s arranged marriage...”

Shen Xianyue paused but did not turn back. “Thunder and rain, both are blessings from heaven.”

She didn’t see Xiao Liyang’s shoulders slump at her words.

“I mean, if you’re unwilling...”

“I’m willing.”

With that, Shen Xianyue ignored him, memories of her past life flooding back. She was determined never to repeat those mistakes.

Early the next morning, Yingxia came in excitedly holding a jade pendant.

“Miss, someone has sent the Hibiscus jade pendant.”

The mention of the hibiscus pendant instantly sobered Shen Xianyue. She took it and examined it carefully; the texture was smooth and warm, the hibiscus flower vividly lifelike—it was the very one she had lost.

“Thank heavens, it’s finally found. Who sent it?”

Holding the pendant tightly, she felt its warmth.

“The gatekeeper said a stranger delivered it, asking to give it to Miss Shen.”

Her eyes reddened with tears shimmering as she murmured, “It’s alright, it’s back, it’s back.”

“Quick, put it away carefully and keep it safe.”

After holding it to her cheek for a moment, she handed it to Yingxia to store. But upon closer inspection, something seemed amiss.

“The jade pendant’s necklace seems to be missing.”

“The servant said it was like that when she received it—perhaps the necklace fell off and wasn’t found.”

“It doesn’t matter; the pendant itself is most important. Put it away—we should get going.”

They had planned to visit her parents in Nanshan today. Shen Xianyue had barely slept the night before, staring wide awake until dawn. Just as she began to doze, Yingxia returned with the pendant.

Once packed with incense, candles, and paper money, Shen Xianyue boarded the carriage, with Xiao Liyang riding alongside.

She hadn’t intended to speak, but thinking of the pendant, she lifted the curtain.

“What’s wrong? Feeling unwell?”

“About the pendant... thank you.”

Xiao Liyang was momentarily stunned, then fondly ruffled her hair. “Your matters are mine too; no need to thank me.”

Shen Xianyue, evidently uncomfortable with such closeness, leaned back with a polite smile. “You’ve helped me so much—I should still thank you.”

Before he could reply, she lowered the curtain.

The carriage rumbled forward, stopping halfway up the mountain. From there, the rest of the way was by foot. After several gloomy days, the sun had finally come out.

Early spring was still cool; walking up the mountain didn’t cause much sweat.

“Every so often, I have someone thoroughly clean this path. Uncle and Aunt’s resting place is always kept spotless.”

Shen Xianyue said nothing, instinctively reaching to touch the pendant at her waist. Her hand found nothing—she had already put it away.

“Surely, Father and Mother can rest easy seeing I have such good family in the afterlife.”

“Family...” Xiao Liyang murmured the word, then smiled softly. “How do you know I want more than just to be family to you?”

“What?”

“Nothing. We’re almost there.”

Shen Xianyue didn’t dwell on his words and followed the paved stone path to a large graveyard.

Stone walls enclosed the area, tall pines planted around. Two solitary tombs stood there, and the sight made Shen Xianyue’s nose sting with tears.

She hadn’t cried through three years of torment from false accusations.

Nor did she cry at the betrayal by kin and friends.

But now, seeing her parents turned to mere earth, she could no longer hold back.

Her shoulders trembled as overwhelming grief threatened to drown her. Her ears roared; her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.

Xiao Liyang hurried to help her up, and even Yingxia, seeing her mistress’s deep sorrow, wept.

The young lady’s life was hard—losing her parents so young, dependent on others, always cautious of others’ moods. Only here could she briefly release her emotions.

Yet Shen Xianyue remained still, ignoring the dirt beneath her, kneeling before the graves with tears streaming down her face.

“Father, Mother, your daughter has been unfilial, coming to see you so late.”

Three years—three whole years in her past life—she was unable to come down the mountain or visit her parents.

She lit a candle and, kneeling, moved forward to place it on the stand.

Her eyes caught a nearby jar of wine.

“This jar... seems freshly placed. Could someone have visited before us?”

Xiao Liyang picked up the jar, which was still clean beneath.

“It rained three days ago. If it had been there longer, it would be dirty. Looks like someone came yesterday or today.”

Shen Xianyue nodded. While her father lived, many soldiers came to Nanshan to pay respects—perhaps one of them left it.

She said no more and quietly finished burning the paper money. Xiao Liyang knelt as well, taking the gold ingots from Yingxia’s hands and tossing them into the bronze basin—the flames leapt up.

“Uncle and Aunt, rest assured. Yueyue has me to care for her. I will protect her fully—no harm will come to her.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Xianyue suddenly smiled, though it was tinged with bitterness.

“Brother, don’t make rash vows; they may backfire.”

Xiao Liyang immediately raised three fingers. “I, Xiao Liyang, swear to heaven: if I ever wrong Shen Xianyue, may I be torn apart a thousand times.”

She never looked up to stop him, silently burning all the gold ingots.

Anxious, he tugged her sleeve. “Yueyue, don’t you trust me?”

She gently pulled her sleeve away. Yingxia promptly kowtowed thrice and helped her up.

“Does it matter whether I trust you? If you hurt me, then such a punishment is deserved. If you don’t, then it’s just empty words.”

Xiao Liyang was speechless, his face flushed, unsure what to say.

He could only follow a short distance behind her.

When they reached halfway down the mountain, as Shen Xianyue was about to enter the carriage, she suddenly heard a chorus of cheers nearby.

“Yingxia, what’s happening over there?”