Upon hearing these words, Xie Yun’s expression changed. She voiced her displeasure, “How can you think of your sister like that? I already know what happened. She didn’t realize Song Shizi and his group were behind her when she was chatting with you. The blame should fall on Wei Yun. He heard your conversation but remained silent. He’s probably still holding a grudge against me for helping you request the divorce letter, and deliberately waited to humiliate you!”
Chu Yu remained silent. She sat at the head of the table, pouring tea for Chu Jianchang, Chu Lingyang, and Chu Lingxi.
Chu Jianchang seemed impatient but restrained himself. Based on Chu Yu’s understanding, he had likely already argued with Xie Yun on the way and didn’t want to engage in further disputes.
Seeing Chu Yu’s lack of response, Xie Yun furrowed her brow. “What do you mean by not speaking? If something’s bothering you, just say it. What’s the point of a family keeping their thoughts hidden? Jin’s mistake was unintentional. I’ll bring her up to apologize. It’s not a big deal. Once she apologizes, let it go. Don’t be so petty about it. But I do want to ask you about the divorce letter. Wei Yun has already written it, and the Wei family’s funeral is over. When do you plan to leave? Surely you don’t intend to mourn for Wei Jun for three years? By then, you’ll be eighteen, and it might not be easy to find a good marriage prospect.”
Chu Yu patiently listened to Xie Yun’s words. When she finished, Chu Yu turned to Chu Jianchang and calmly asked, “Father, what are your thoughts?”
“It’s entirely up to you,” Chu Jianchang pondered for a moment before replying. “The Wei family is known for their loyalty and righteousness. Whether you choose to stay or leave, I think both options are acceptable. Eighteen isn’t that old. Don’t listen to your mother’s nonsense. If you can’t get married by then, I’ll grab someone from the army camp for you. Lingyang, don’t you have someone called Wang Hezhi under your command? If our Yu doesn’t get married, keep him single too!”
Hearing this, Chu Lingyang couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Father is being childish again,” Chu Lingyang remarked. His temperament had always been gentle and steady, quite different from the fiery nature of the Chu family men. He carried himself with the composed dignity of a young master from a centuries-old noble family.
His gaze fell on Chu Yu, filled with affection. “Mother has a point. Yu, if you mourn for Wei Jun for three years, it might be challenging to remarry. On one hand, you’ll be a bit older, and on the other, outsiders might view your loyalty to the Wei family as too deep. If you want to find someone you love, it could become a lingering concern in their heart. The Wei family has stabilized now, and you’ve fulfilled your obligations of kindness and righteousness. If you stay longer, you need to consider carefully if it’s worth it.”
Chu Lingyang had always cared deeply for her.
Since childhood, Chu Lingyang had followed Chu Jianchang on military campaigns across the land. When Chu Yu was little, she would trail behind this brother. His generous and gentle nature always unconditionally accommodated her, which led to her later developing an unruly temperament.
Chu Yu looked into Chu Lingyang’s eyes and pressed her lips together before earnestly replying, “It’s worth it.”
Chu Lingyang wasn’t surprised. He probably understood this sister’s nature better than anyone else. He nodded and said, “If you’ve thought it through, then it’s fine. After you turn eighteen, I’ll help you find someone you like to marry. If we can’t find a suitable match, you can stay in the Chu residence. Having one more mouth to feed at home isn’t a big deal.”
“That’s right,” Chu Lingxi chimed in, moving closer to tug at Chu Yu’s sleeve with a grin. “With Big Sister back, I’ll have someone to exercise with. The dragon tassel spear at home has gotten rusty!”
“What nonsense are you all spouting?” Xie Yun pushed Chu Lingxi away and looked at Chu Yu seriously. “Yu, they’re all rough men who can’t understand a woman’s hardships. You alone… you alone…”
“Being alone is fine,” Chu Yu calmly interjected, not wishing to dwell on this topic with Xie Yun any longer. She turned her gaze to Chu Jin. “As long as my little sister causes fewer troubles for me, that would be good.”
“I was wrong,” Chu Jin said, her eyes reddening as Chu Yu looked at her. “I didn’t understand Sister’s intentions and mentioned the divorce letter to the Song family. I never thought Song Shizi would invite Sister over… I truly had no intention of spreading the news about Sister’s elopement. I was just asking casually at the time, never imagining so many people were behind that tree…”
As Chu Jin spoke, tears streamed down her face, crying like a fragile flower in the rain. Xie Yun’s heart ached, and she quickly said, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Your sister will understand.”
Chu Jianchang and Chu Lingxi also looked somewhat helpless, as a woman’s tears had always been the weakness of these two men.
Only Chu Lingyang sat calmly beside Chu Yu, his expression serene as he sipped his tea in silence.
Chu Yu observed this chaotic scene, remaining quiet for a moment. When Chu Jin’s sobs subsided, she finally spoke, “Do you know why I’ve never mentioned what you did in front of others?”
Chu Jin looked up in confusion at these words, seeing Chu Yu’s somewhat resigned expression. “Because you’re my sister. I always thought that our Chu family members were pure-hearted and straightforward. I believed that your actions must have been a misunderstanding on my part, so I gave you two chances.”
“The first time, you lured me into eloping with Gu Chusheng, yet pushed all the responsibility onto me. I didn’t want to speak out because I didn’t want our family to be disappointed in both daughters. One recklessly eloped with a criminal’s son, tarnishing the family name, while the other schemed heartlessly, pushing her elder sister into a fire pit without any familial affection.”
“I didn’t…” Chu Jin hastily interjected, shaking her head. “I didn’t!”
“Wasn’t it you who begged me, saying you didn’t want to suffer with Gu Chusheng? Wasn’t it you who said Gu Chusheng had feelings for me and helped him pass messages to me? Wasn’t it you who suggested I marry into the Wei family in your place, deceiving our parents?!”
“Elder Sister!” Chu Jin raised her voice. “How can you slander me like this?!”
“Is it me intentionally smearing your name, or is it the truth? You and I both know in our hearts,” Chu Yu replied calmly, each word spoken with certainty. She looked up at Chu Jin, her gaze sharp as an eagle’s. “That time was my own choice, so let it be. But this time, when you invited me over, you’ve been to the Song residence many times, haven’t you? You know every blade of grass and tree in the courtyard so clearly, so how could you not know that spot concealed people?”
“I didn’t know,” Chu Jin insisted firmly. “How would I know people were there? Sister, you’re paranoid. Don’t assume Jin is like that too.”
“Yes, little sister is always innocent,” Chu Yu smiled lightly. “So I’m the one who eloped, I’m the one whose reputation was ruined, all the mistakes are mine to bear. Little sister only needs to say lightly that it was unintentional, and no matter how big the issue, I’m the one who has to endure it all.”
Chu Jin bit her lip, tears in her eyes, trembling slightly. “Sister holds a grudge against me now. But was it me who made you steal my fiancé? Gu Chusheng still can’t forget you to this day, even breaking off our engagement because of it. Is that my fault?!”
Hearing this, Chu Yu was slightly stunned. She hadn’t expected that Gu Chusheng had broken off his engagement to Chu Jin because of her.
How… how was this possible?!
The look of astonishment in Chu Yu’s eyes was noticed by everyone. In this atmosphere, Chu Lingyang chuckled softly, “Our Yu probably didn’t know she had such charm, did she?”
These words eased the tense atmosphere. Chu Lingyang looked at the two sisters with a smile, “You two, each with your reasons, I don’t know what to make of it. But regardless of the truth, the past is the past. We’re all family, so let’s not pursue this any further, shall we?”
“Is it truly not pursuing it, or is Big Brother protecting Sister and not wanting to investigate?” Chu Jin clenched her fists, staring intently at Chu Lingyang.
Chu Lingyang’s gaze fell on her. His eyes were as always, gentle and clear, yet seemed to understand all worldly matters. He looked at Chu Jin steadily and slowly said, “Little Sister, are you sure you want to pursue this matter further?”
Chu Jin met Chu Lingyang’s gaze. His voice was gentle, without a hint of threat, yet Chu Jin began to tremble slightly under his gaze.
Chu Lingyang smiled softly, “A harmonious family prospers in all affairs. Let’s leave it at that.”
Chu Jin lowered her head and whispered, “Alright.”
Chu Lingyang smiled and turned to Chu Yu, “What does Yu think?”
“I’ve said what I needed to say. Whether you believe it or not is your business. I haven’t spoken about this outside out of consideration for the Chu family’s reputation, and I didn’t want to engage in a war of words with her. But Chu Jin, if you keep pushing me like this, don’t blame me for what comes next.”
Chu Jin remained silent, lowering his head with tears in his eyes.
Chu Lin Xi sensed something was amiss. He knelt silently, stealing glances at Chu Yu and Chu Jin. Chu Lin Yang turned to Chu Lin Xi and asked gently, “Lin Xi, do you have something to say?”
“Well…” Chu Lin Xi hesitated before blurting out, “Why don’t we eat? This atmosphere is too oppressive for me.”
Hearing Chu Lin Xi’s words, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh. She nodded and raised her hand, saying, “Alright, I’ll have the food prepared right away.”
As she spoke, Chu Yu summoned Wan Yue and instructed her about the meal preparations. Then she heard Chu Lin Xi ask, “Is the Young Marquis Wei in the mansion today?”
“Of course he is,” Chu Yu replied.
Hearing Chu Lin Xi’s question, Chu Yu asked curiously, “Brother, do you have business with him?”
Chu Lin Yang nodded and said to Chu Yu, “Please trouble yourself to introduce us.”
Chu Yu naturally didn’t refuse. She left Chu Jian Chang to accompany Xie Yun and the others in the main hall, while she led Chu Lin Yang out of the room. As they walked along the corridor, Chu Yu heard Chu Lin Yang say, “After all, they are sisters. We should consider Mother’s feelings. If you must take action, for Mother’s sake, show some restraint.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh coldly, “What do you mean by that, Brother?”
“I know you don’t care to argue with her. You didn’t pursue the matter today, giving her a third chance, and also giving the Chu family and Mother an opportunity.”
Hearing these words, Chu Yu’s expression gradually softened. Chu Lin Yang, with his hands behind his back, slowly said, “I know you feel wronged, but with your temperament, if you take action, you’ll either pressure the family and break ties with them, or secretly eliminate Jin’er, or devise a grand scheme to ruin her life… In any case, it would be like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. There’s no need for you to act personally.”
“Brother, you think too highly of me,” Chu Yu lowered her eyes, her expression respectful.
Chu Lin Yang chuckled lightly, “You trained your guard unit at the border when you were young, and brought them back to Hua Jing at twelve. Later, I didn’t see any of them. Did you think I didn’t know?”
Chu Yu’s hand trembled slightly.
She looked up at Chu Lin Yang, whose eyes were full of understanding. “I understand you and Chu Jin. I don’t know why she has become like this, but as sisters, when we three brothers and sisters couldn’t serve Mother, only she grew up by Mother’s side. As children, it would be too cruel to snatch Mother’s favorite over a verbal dispute. If things haven’t reached that point, why not leave it to your elder brother?”
Chu Yu remained silent. The two walked side by side along the corridor. Chu Yu listened to the muffled sounds from the wooden floor. After a long while, she finally spoke slowly, “I indeed don’t care about her petty schemes, but Brother, I do feel hurt.”
She looked up at Chu Lin Yang, for the first time confiding her vulnerabilities to a family member.
“I didn’t say these things outside, but to family, because what I care about isn’t the result of this incident, but whether my family treats me fairly. But Brother, ask yourself, has Mother been fair to her and me?”
“She constantly compares herself to me, and as her elder sister, she even schemes to frame me, showing no sisterly protection. If I were an ordinary woman who cared about reputation, what Chu Jin do—what would it if not ruin my life? But what did Mother say—it was unintentional, that I should forgive her. Was Chu Jin unintentional? Did Mother truly not notice at all?!”
Chu Lin Yang remained silent, quietly listening as Chu Yu’s voice grew more impassioned. From beginning to end, he maintained his calm composure.
In her previous life, Chu Lin Yang had never conversed with her like this. The siblings had always been respectful and affectionate until Chu Lin Yang’s death—after the Song family went to the front lines, Chu Lin Yang rushed to Feng Ling City and encountered a siege.
No one knew exactly what happened in that battle. People only knew that Feng Ling City was besieged by the Northern Di after Chu Lin Yang arrived, with no news for nearly three months. When Wei Yun reached the front lines, he saw Chu Lin Yang standing tall on the city wall, holding a long spear.
He stood there, and the enemy troops dared not approach. The city walls were all damaged, with many deep pits below, and traces of scorching fire everywhere.
After Wei Yun’s troops broke through the city, they saw mountains of corpses and rivers of blood. The entire city tower was covered in blackened blood, corpses piled up and rotting with maggots. Chu Lin Yang, who had been standing on the city tower, fell when Wei Yun touched him—he had been dead for a long time.
In the vast Feng Ling City, there wasn’t a single survivor. Only Chu Lin Yang’s corpse had guarded the city until Wei Yun’s rescue arrived.
No one knew what had happened in the city during those three months. No one knew how Chu Lin Yang had defended Feng Ling City with just five thousand troops, nor why the Northern Di dared not approach when they saw Chu Lin Yang’s corpse. They could only speculate from the remnants of limbs in the pots what horrific scenes had unfolded in Feng Ling City during those three months.
Chu Yu looked at the gentle Chu Lin Yang before her, suddenly remembering his future fate.
—Why did he go to Feng Ling City?
Because Chu Jin wanted to marry Song Wen Chang, but Song Wen Chang was trapped in Rong City next to Feng Ling! Chu Jin had tearfully begged Chu Lin Yang. To save Song Wen Chang, Chu Lin Yang launched a diversionary attack, capturing the Northern Di’s Third Prince, luring their main force to besiege Feng Ling City, allowing Song Wen Chang to escape and lead troops to the rescue. But Song Wen Chang, a cowardly man, fled in panic after being saved, only to fall into a Northern Di ambush and die on the way.
Afterward, the entire line collapsed, and Wei Yun was also bogged down in Kun Yang. By the time Wei Yun resolved the Kun Yang battle and came to the rescue, it was too late.
Chu Yu looked at the calm and gentle young man before her and slowly closed her eyes.
“Brother, my resentment towards Jin’er has accumulated over time, not from any single incident. I’ve given her three chances, and this is the third. If she still behaves improperly, I’m sorry, Brother, but I won’t hold back.”
“I understand,” Chu Lin Yang sighed. “I’ll handle it, don’t worry.”
Chu Yu slowly calmed down. She opened her eyes and asked, “How does Brother plan to handle it?”
“Yu’er,” Chu Lin Yang said as they arrived at Wei Yun’s door. He paused and slowly continued, “Do you know why I think Jin’er is pitiful?”
Chu Yu looked puzzled. Chu Lin Yang smiled slightly, “You feel Mother is biased, but have you considered that Jin’er might feel Father and I are biased? Yu’er,” Chu Lin Yang’s voice carried a sigh as he placed his hand on Chu Yu’s shoulder, his expression full of helplessness, “I want to be fair too, but I am her elder brother, yet I am your big brother.”
The difference between “elder brother” and “big brother” already showed the distinction in closeness.
Chu Lin Yang looked at her, feeling that the young woman before him with a married woman’s hairstyle didn’t seem much different from when he first met her.
When Chu Yu and Chu Jin were born, he held Chu Yu, while Chu Lin Xi held Chu Jin.
From then on, when Chu Yu cried, he carried her; when she learned to walk, he accompanied her. Her first word was “big brother,” and he taught her hands-on for her first horse ride, her first archery lesson, and her first battlefield experience.
Meanwhile, Chu Jin stayed in the grand mansions of Hua Jing, embroidering and studying poetry, only meeting briefly during festivals and holidays.
He wanted to be fair, but he couldn’t be. He could only try to balance things in daily life, treating Chu Jin a bit better.
There were so many dark things he didn’t want Chu Yu to see. As Chu Yu’s big brother, he felt he should give her all the light and warmth in the world, not show her this sorry state of affairs.
Why should Chu Yu dirty her hands with someone like Chu Jin?
Chu Lin Yang felt somewhat helpless. If he hadn’t been at the border for so many years and had noticed these things earlier, how could he have let Chu Yu suffer such grievances?
Hearing his words, Chu Yu was stunned. Chu Lin Yang patted her shoulder and turned to enter.
The servants had already announced his arrival. As soon as he stepped in, he saw Wei Yun stand up, his face calm and composed, bowing to Chu Lin Yang, “Young Master Chu.”
Chu Lin Yang bowed in return, “Marquis Wei.”
“Please, have a seat,” Wei Yun gestured.
Chu Lin Yang knelt in the place Wei Yun indicated. Wei Xia thoughtfully led the others out, leaving only Wei and Chu in the room. Wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, and Chu Lin Yang looked up with a smile, “This is Yu’er’s favorite scent.”
“She arranges everything in the household now.” Hearing Chu Yu’s name, Wei Yun’s tone noticeably softened as he poured tea for Chu Lin Yang. “What brings Young Master Chu here today?”
Chu Lin Yang took a sip of tea without speaking immediately. He then said slowly, “Lin Yang has come to lend Marquis Wei a hand.”