The autumn wind was desolate and the weather had turned cool; dead leaves carpeted the ground, topped with a layer of silver frost that glimmered under the sun.

Spring's sorrow, autumn's grief - autumn has always been a season that easily stirs feelings of nostalgia. Parting in such circumstances invariably brought with it much melancholy, and both Wan Lu and Xing's mother could not stop their tears.

Ran Yan's feelings towards Ge Lan were complicated. Deep down, she didn't trust Ge Lan completely, and instead maintained some guard against her, but at the same time, she admired her and never treated her as a slave.

Ge Lan's feelings towards Ran Yan were also mixed. Even though her initial manipulation had turned into gradually growing respect, she might be willing to die for the old Ran Yan, but not necessarily for the new Ran Yan. Moreover, she struggled to accept that someone else had taken over her former master's body. Even now, she was half loyal and half distant.

The Ge Lan that Ran Yan had heard about from Wan Lu was a woman skilled in the dance, graceful in social situations, and extremely thoughtful. However, after being imprisoned for two years, the torment of captivity, and learning that the master she had devoted everything to protect was already dead, turned her into someone much colder and more ruthless, including towards herself.

If it hadn't been for Li Dejian's exile, perhaps no one in this world except for herself would ever know that once, she had also fallen in love with this lord who had given so much for her and stubbornly refused to let go.

Ran Yan had Wan Lu and Xing's mother send Ge Lan out of the mansion. She watched their figures disappear before asking the nanny to bring all the children inside.

"Lady, your cousin Shilang has arrived," a servant rushed over to report.

"Quickly invite him to the hall," Ran Yan then called the nanny back and took the three children to the main hall.

Arriving at the hall, she ran into Ran Yunsheng. He held a boy in his arms, as beautiful as if he were an incarnation of a child deity from the lap of the Goddess of Mercy – impossibly lovely, making Ran Yan unconsciously smile at him.

"Call me aunt," Ran Yunsheng said with a tender smile on his face, bowing his head.

"Aunt," the child said clearly.

"Qing'er is really smart," Ran Yan commented as she squeezed his chubby little hand and ordered someone to prepare some of the child's favorite supplementary foods before going into the room with Ran Yunsheng.

The usually lively three tots at Ran Yan's side were now silent, each with wide eyes curiously staring at Qing'er. This was their first time seeing another child.

Qing'er moved slightly, and the small bell on his hand made a crisp ringing sound, immediately capturing the three children's attention.

Xiao Lao Er babbled on incoherently, his words unintelligible to anyone, but Qing'er actually cracked a smile.

Whether children have a unique language of their own was something Ran Yan did not know, but she was very interested in observing how they interacted.

Some say the three most terrifying things in the world are children, women, and madmen, because they do not act logically. Ran Yan, however, believed children possessed their own unique logic, and she was keen to study it.

Ran Yan played with the children for a while until a maid came to say that the food was ready. She then let the nanny take them to a side room to feed them.

With his hands free, Ran Yunsheng picked up his tea and took a sip before asking, "Has Jiulang gone to the Government Office?"

"Yes, he took a long leave this time. He had some affairs to take care of before he left. He will be back at midday, and Brother Ten must stay for lunch," Ran Yan said.

Ran Yunsheng looked at Ran Yan with the same gentle gaze as before, tempered with a hint of indulgent affection for a younger sister, and agreed, "Alright."

"Qing'er looks scholarly; have you started his education?" Ran Yan inquired.

"Yes, I plan to teach him myself until he's eleven or twelve, and then find a tutor for him," Ran Yunsheng replied.

Ran Yan could clearly sense Ran Yunsheng's expectations for the child. Given Ran Yunsheng's own learning and patience, teaching the child himself should be good indeed.

After some hesitation, Ran Yunsheng said, "Ayan, I have a somewhat presumptuous request."

"What are you saying, Brother Ten? It would be disheartening to be so distant," Ran Yan replied with a light smile.

Ran Yunsheng looked at Ran Yan, her eyes still clear and deep with coolness, but now her smile reached the corners of her eyes and brows, no longer as severe as before.

He said, "I have discussed it with father, and in a few years, we will leave the merchant class and acquire land on the outskirts of Chang'an City. However, leaving the merchant class may not be that simple, so I would like to ask Jiulang to look out for us."

Ran Yan replied, "I have thought about this matter before and even wanted to ask if uncle was willing to take up an official position. But due to recent turmoil and heart-wrenching changes at court, which make one weary in spirit, I had put it off. Naturally, there will be no issue with leaving the merchant class. Should you wish to hold office, there should also be no issue, though I fear the official rank might be somewhat low."

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