第一百零七回 决绝一书旧家成隔世 模糊双影盛事忆当年 (Chapter 107: A Parting Letter Severs Old Ties, Blurred Shadows Recall Past Glories)

After Jin Yanxi divorced Leng Qingqiu, he often felt remorseful, but it was beyond repair. One day, he received a parting letter from Leng Qingqiu, in which the words were resolute, stating that from then on, all ties were severed and the old family had become a world apart.

Yanxi read the letter and could not help but shed tears like rain. He walked alone into the courtyard. There, he saw the moonlight like water and the shadows of trees swaying. In a trance, he seemed to glimpse the figure of himself standing side by side with Leng Qingqiu in years past.

Memories flooded in like a tide. He recalled the grand events of the Jin Family in those days. The halls were brightly lit, the guests as numerous as clouds, and his wedding with Leng Qingqiu had been so splendid. Now, the family fortunes had declined, relatives were scattered, leaving only blurred dual shadows lingering in memory.

Yanxi heaved a long sigh and returned to the house. He carefully stored away the parting letter. He knew that what was past was past and could never be retrieved.

The next day, Yanxi went to Leng Qingqiu's residence, hoping to see her one last time. But he learned that she had moved away, her whereabouts unknown. He stood before the empty house, his heart filled with boundless desolation.

Back at Jin Residence, he found the mansion cold and deserted. The former prosperity had long vanished like smoke. Siblings had gone their separate ways. His father Jin Quan had passed away, and his mother spent her days in tears.

Yanxi strolled in the garden. Every corner evoked memories. Under that willow tree, he had first met Leng Qingqiu. By that swing, they had laughed joyfully. Now, things remained but people were gone, with only the rustle of wind through leaves.

In the evening, Yanxi drank alone. In his drunken haze, he seemed to see Leng Qingqiu's figure again. But when he looked closely, it was only the shadows of trees swaying outside the window.

He took out cherished old items. They included the four pieces of Hunan Embroidery embroidered by Leng Qingqiu. He gently caressed them, as if he could still feel the warmth of those days.

That night, Yanxi tossed and turned. His dreams were filled with scenes of past joy. Upon waking, only emptiness remained. He resolved to leave this place of sorrow and seek a new life in distant lands.

Dawn broke. Yanxi packed his belongings and took one last look at the Jin Family compound. Then, without turning back, he walked away. He knew that from then on, the old family had become a world apart. Only the blurred dual shadows in memory would occasionally surface in his heart.