Though Wuyan had secretly resolved not to interfere between these two, hearing this she couldn’t help feeling furious. She looked coldly at Lian Yue. “Why must you do this! Huo Chang’an loves you now – nothing happened between him and me last night. Since you got what you wanted, you can leave.”

Receiving confirmation, Lian Yue’s smile became even more charming. “Thank you for telling me. If I asked Chang’an, it would seem I lack understanding, considering I was the one at fault initially.”

“Please leave.” Wuyan pointed toward the door, her chest heaving violently. Lian Yue was always clever, no matter when or where. She had come not only to declare war but also to obtain the information she wanted to know.

“Wuyan, you really didn’t need to tell me,” Lian Yue narrowed her eyes, looking at her, examining her, scrutinizing her. “What, are you trying to eliminate my wariness so you can seize the opportunity to strike?”

“I have no such intention. But if you keep forcing me, that’s hard to say.” Wuyan’s voice softened, but the hatred and anger in her heart deepened. If this woman weren’t carrying a child, if her mother weren’t in Wei Chenghui’s hands, she truly wanted to kill her!

Lian Yue looked at her with a smiling expression. “I won’t give you that chance. I want you to watch as Huo Chang’an abandons you bit by bit.”

“Oh, actually I’ve always suspected that Grand Tutor Wei threatening your mother is something you fabricated – it’s just an excuse for you to approach Chang’an again. You’ve deceived everyone.”

As she spoke, she stroked her belly and slowly pushed open the door to leave. “Let’s wait and see – within ten days at most, I’ll have him personally drive you out of the Huo residence.”

She reached the doorway, then suddenly turned back, her eyes flashing with disgust and hatred, as if killing her wouldn’t be enough—

Wuyan’s fingernails all dug into her palms, barely restraining herself from pulling out the scissors from under the bed and stabbing them into her!

After leaving the courtyard, Lian Yue looked back toward the west wing, her gaze complex and misty. The corner of her mouth then curved upward slightly.

Wuyan, I want you to hate me, to wish you could kill me. But for a man who is gradually letting you go, your jealousy is no longer valuable, because however much he once treasured that jealousy, now he will find it… cheap!

She also thought that if they hadn’t both fallen in love with the same man, she would have liked being friends with Wei Wuyan. This woman almost never said one thing while thinking another, even when facing an opponent she hated to the bone.

Perhaps that was why Huo Chang’an had once loved her so deeply.

Returning to the east wing, she saw Huo Chang’an sitting at his desk studying military texts. Seeing her enter, he didn’t look up but spoke: “Being pregnant and still running around everywhere – you just returned from your mother’s place today, then rushed off to Pingping’s courtyard. Aren’t you tired enough? Go rest on the bed – I’ll call you when the noon meal is ready.”

“It’s all because Pingping sent someone saying she offended you last night and wanted me to put in a good word. I haven’t even figured out how to put in a good word, so I had to go ask about it. In the end, it’s all your fault. Huo Chang’an, when will you treat me wholeheartedly…”

Hearing this, Lian Yue’s heart softened, but she still pouted coquettishly in dissatisfaction. She didn’t go directly to the bed to rest, but walked to his side and gently sat on his lap.

Huo Chang’an put his arm around her and asked flatly, “What’s wrong?”

“Chang’an, I… lied. I actually didn’t go to find Pingping just now. About Pingping’s matter, I’ve already had the kitchen arrange a feast. If you’re willing to honor us with your presence, please come out for a drink.”

“Mm, for your sake, I’ll go. Where did you go just now?”

“I went to find your sweetheart.”

“Oh.” Huo Chang’an was noncommittal.

Lian Yue couldn’t gauge what he was thinking at this moment. A general who had achieved fame at a young age, also imperial nobility – how shallow could his thoughts be? She inevitably felt some trepidation, but spoke without hesitation, her brow lightly furrowing. “I went to beg her, hoping she would reconcile with you. I know you’ve never let her go all these years.”

“What did she say?” Huo Chang’an’s voice grew even fainter.

Lian Yue hesitated again, not answering immediately. After a long while, she finally answered softly, “You know her stubborn temperament – naturally she couldn’t agree. You’ll have to work harder yourself.”

Huo Chang’an suddenly let out a cold laugh and without a word, carried her back to the bed.

Lian Yue reached up to embrace his neck, smiling bitterly. “Chang’an, don’t be angry with me. I know I was wrong years ago, but I don’t regret it. If Heaven punishes me by shortening my life, I’m willing. But for as long as I live, I’ll do everything possible to help you achieve your desires.”

Huo Chang’an stared at the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes for a long while, then reached out to stroke her belly, covered her with the quilt, and suddenly turned and walked out.

“Chang’an, please don’t be angry anymore…” Lian Yue choked up.

“Lian Yue, you should remain proud. Also, you have no idea what’s in my heart right now. Don’t look for her anymore – focus on nurturing the baby.”

“The promise you made to me before – does it still count?”

She asked another question, but Huo Chang’an had already gone out and walked far away without responding.

Lian Yue slowly sat up and smiled slightly. Huo Chang’an was displeased, but this displeasure wasn’t about anything else – he thought she was being meddlesome. Very good.

Wuyan felt cold all over, sitting in her room until a maid came to call her, saying today’s noon meal for all the young ladies would still be in the main hall, together with the Marquis and Madam.

When asked for the reason, the maid shook her head, saying she didn’t know.

Arriving at the hall, Wuyan finally understood – it was a feast Lian Yue had arranged for Pingping, because Pingping had angered Huo Chang’an last night.

At the dinner table, Pingping toasted Huo Chang’an and invited him to her room tonight. Huo Chang’an didn’t refuse, and Pingping was overjoyed.

As for Lian Yue, who had initiated this, she seemed to have had some disagreement with Huo Chang’an. There wasn’t much conversation between them, but Huo Chang’an would still occasionally serve her food.

Wuyan remained silent throughout the meal. Aside from Zhu Xin occasionally saying something to her, no one spoke to her. She was very clear that Lian Yue was forcing her! Lian Yue’s brilliance lay in how she clearly told you what she was going to do. You knew perfectly well you absolutely couldn’t fall into the trap, yet your emotions would still be secretly manipulated by the barriers she set up.

Even after quarreling with Lian Yue, Huo Chang’an could still treat her this way. Now even Pingping was jealous of her, making her want to kill Lian Yue even more.

But she could do nothing. She even had to try to control the emotions on her face, not letting Huo Chang’an detect her hatred toward Lian Yue. At the same time, she didn’t know whether to feel sad or relieved that Huo Chang’an had indeed kept his promise – throughout the entire meal, he hadn’t glanced at her once.

Instead, Lian Yue would occasionally glance faintly in her direction, her eyes carrying barely visible hatred and sorrow.

She ate very little at the noon meal – this time she could no longer pretend.

Nor did she feel hungry. After returning to her room, she began thinking urgently.

Lian Yue was a frightening person. In front of Huo Chang’an, she both expressed yielding to her and timely displayed jealousy.

What should she do?

Huo Chang’an now cared more and more about this wife of his.

Ten days… Lian Yue said ten days, but it definitely wouldn’t be ten days – it would be faster and more ruthless. Looking at Huo Chang’an, he was absolutely not soft-hearted. Even if he cared about Lian Yue, under ordinary circumstances he wouldn’t necessarily drive her out of the residence, unless…

She suddenly thought of the tricks that palace concubines commonly used to eliminate opponents, and her heart shuddered.

She was truly unlucky, happening to encounter Lian Yue’s pregnancy.

She couldn’t sit and wait for death. She couldn’t be driven out by Huo Chang’an.

But she had him in her heart – she didn’t want to scheme. If she showed favor to him because of this, she couldn’t get past her own conscience! What should she do?

“I was worried you two silly girls wouldn’t be clever enough. Fortunately I came to check – why don’t you quickly go to the kitchen and bring some food for the young lady! Didn’t you see how little she ate at the noon meal?”

She was lost in thought when someone pushed open the door and a low scolding came from above, startling her back to awareness.

“Aunt.” She looked gratefully at Aunt Liang, who was looking at her with sighs in her eyes. This aunt had taken all her circumstances to heart.

The two maids looked frightened and quickly responded before retreating.

“Miss, you should be more accommodating to the master.” Aunt Liang shook her head and sighed again. “Look at you – just a few days since entering the residence and your face has grown so thin that this old servant feels heartache. How could the Marquis…”

She quickly realized what she had said and immediately fell silent. For the first time, Wuyan experienced this feeling – her heart was both warm and painful as if pierced by needles.

She was about to say something to put the old woman at ease when she saw the two maids hurrying back, both with pale faces and terrified expressions, as if they had received some terrible fright.

Seeing this, Aunt Liang immediately scolded, “What’s wrong? Where’s the food?”

“Aunt, Miss, something has happened.” One of them spoke hoarsely.

Aunt Liang was stunned, but Wuyan had already said, “What is it? Don’t panic – speak clearly.”

“We just went out and heard Miss Zhu and Miss Ping arguing in secret outside the courtyard. Listening in, we discovered something terrible – Miss Ping said that to repay Madam’s kindness, she wanted to tell the Marquis about the conversation she overheard between you and Madam.”

“My conversation with Madam?” Wuyan didn’t react at first. She and Lian Yue hadn’t discussed anything unseemly. Even if there had been something unseemly, it would have been Lian Yue’s doing.

Aunt Liang was even more bewildered.

“What content?” Wuyan suddenly thought of something, her heart sinking, and she almost immediately spoke out.

Sure enough, the other maid looked at her somewhat strangely. “She said she heard you cursing Madam, saying you were determined to win back the Marquis’s favor and would definitely… not spare her or the child in her womb.”