Only after Wuyan called out did she come to her senses. She felt as if struck by lightning – not from fear, but because she had lost her composure! She knew others must be watching and laughing at her, especially Huo Chang’an!

Suppressing the trembling rising from her heart, she met Huo Chang’an’s gaze, only to discover his eyes were as deep as a bottomless cave, so dark they seemed ready to draw her entirely in.

Unable to fathom his thoughts, she steeled herself and reached out to take it. He continued staring at her intently, his gaze seeming to grip her, deep and wild. She grasped one end of the kite, but his hand still held it firmly, motionless, not appearing at all like he intended to let go.

She rarely cursed, but now with her heart racing and feeling intensely unsettled, she couldn’t help thinking darkly: what exactly does this man want? If he’s going to mock or sneer, just get it over with!

“Chang’an, I’m tired too. Imperial Physician Feng or Dr. Yu should be arriving soon. Let’s go to the main hall first.” Lian Yue smiled and walked over.

“Chang’an?”

Her eyelashes fluttered, casting a thin shadow over her jade-like face as she called again. Huo Chang’an’s gaze shifted, seeming to return to himself. No longer making things difficult for her, he released his grip while lightly dropping a comment, “When I’m finished with my business, you and I will have a talk.”

Wuyan agreed, breathing a slight sigh of relief, though strangely she simultaneously felt an indescribable disappointment. Perhaps she was still immersed in past memories, making her feel as if they had returned to former days. For an instant, she thought maybe she could say something to him – maybe though they had become like strangers, at least… they needn’t be as tense and confrontational as now.

Before leaving, Lian Yue looked at her and smiled slightly, “Wuyan, sorry, we’re going ahead.”

“As it should be.” Wuyan nodded and smiled.

Since both masters were leaving, this entertainment naturally ended.

Uncle Liang had people stay behind to clean up while he and Aunt Liang followed the Huo-Lian couple. The women naturally followed along as well.

Pingping gave Zhuxin a meaningful look. Zhuxin was also full of questions – Marquis Huo had been very strange just now, the kind of strangeness that made one’s heart race and feel… uneasy. But for a moment, she didn’t know where to begin asking. Wuyan seemed to see the doubt in her eyes and spoke first, “Marquis Huo and I have known each other since youth. In our young passion, I thought he should only be good to me alone, but I’m just an ordinary girl. Given the Marquis’s status, naturally he couldn’t love only me. Later, when he got together with the Princess Imperial, we parted ways. Now I’m in trouble and need his help, so he brought me back to the mansion. That’s all there is to it.”

Zhuxin: “So you’ve known each other for years. No wonder the Marquis toward you…”

This explanation put her mind considerably at ease.

That moment just now had been quite shocking for everyone. Huo Chang’an was born to noble status and achieved success in youth – he had only ever given orders to others. In that instant, their positions seemed completely reversed, as if he had become a soldier following an officer’s command. No matter how broad-minded she was, she couldn’t possibly hope that the man she deeply loved still deeply loved another woman. One Princess Imperial was already more than enough.

So it was out of consideration for past affection. Yes, if he deeply loved her, how could he publicly scold her at the dining table? He had never scolded Lian Yue.

And how could there be so many women in this world capable of occupying Huo Chang’an’s heart?

She had actually wanted to say “no wonder the Marquis remembers some slight affection,” but she ultimately wasn’t one to kick someone when they’re down, immediately changing her words: “The Marquis values loyalty and righteousness. If your family has troubles, he will definitely help you.”

Pingping and the other women exchanged glances, curling their lips in cold smiles, “What you can’t have always seems best. But once time passes and you get what you wanted, it becomes nothing special. What you truly like, you truly like – everything else is just so-so.”

Wuyan smiled lightly, remaining silent.

“Pretending to be aloof!” Pingping snorted coldly, satisfied to see her face pale slightly. She laughed quietly with the other girls as they moved forward together, closely following Huo Chang’an and Lian Yue.

Seeing her still standing in place, Zhuxin sighed slightly and reminded her, “You should still go if you can. The Marquis loves and protects Madam – showing concern for her is always good.”

“Thank you, sister. But I’ll return to my room first.”

Wuyan didn’t want to join this excitement. Dr. Yu was Murong Zhen’s dedicated imperial physician. Though she didn’t interact with him much, he frequently moved through the harem and wasn’t unfamiliar with her. Though Huo Chang’an had explanations to smooth things over, it was better to avoid what could be avoided. If word reached Xiao’an’s ears, he would surely scold this nephew – better to have fewer complications than more. Moreover, though she could no longer threaten Lian Yue in any way, Lian Yue would only be happier without her presence. Huo Chang’an would send someone to summon her after finishing his business.

Seeing this, Zhuxin couldn’t help feeling somewhat angry, “Wuyan, what can I say about you? Madam probably hasn’t said anything serious about you to the Marquis yet, but once you truly anger her…”

Wuyan only said, “Sister, please go quickly.”

“Fine, suit yourself then.” Seeing her firm attitude, Zhuxin frowned and left without further delay, catching up with Pingping and the others.

Wuyan waited and waited, but Huo Chang’an never sent anyone to summon her.

She had brought the kite back and placed it on the table.

She glanced at the kite again, finally standing up slowly, wondering whether she should take the initiative to go over.

Just as she was about to push the door and leave, she heard voices from outside.

“Didn’t expect…”

It was Pingping and the others – this was one of the women’s voices. She recognized it. Since they had returned, Lian Yue should have finished her examination and Dr. Yu should have left.

She was about to push the door open when she heard the woman continue, “Madam is already with child. She was already pampered before – now won’t the Marquis dote on her even more? The Marquis hasn’t even been intimate with me yet, and Madam is already… How are we supposed to live from now on?”

“Keep your voice down. Be careful Madam doesn’t hear you.” Pingping said coldly.

You could tell she also had mixed feelings and wasn’t in a good mood.

“I know, Sister Ping.” The previous woman accepted her criticism and replied sullenly.

Another woman lowered her voice, “I saw the Marquis was overjoyed. After the examination he immediately took Madam back to their room without another word. Don’t you think it’s like holding her in his mouth afraid she’ll melt, cradling her in his palms afraid she’ll break…”

The voice held both envy and jealousy.

Then Wuyan heard knocking on a door.

She knew it was Zhuxin.

Opening the door, outside was indeed Zhuxin’s refined face, while the others had all gone into Pingping’s room. Women had too much to share among themselves.

Zhuxin’s eyes seemed shrouded in mist as she looked at Wuyan and said lightly, “Imperial Physician Feng just diagnosed… Madam has been with child for over a month. I can see you have some thoughts about Madam, but the one who makes decisions in this household is Madam, and now even more so… Think it over carefully. I’m leaving.”

Wuyan forgot to thank her. Even after she left with a somewhat cold expression and went to Pingping’s room, Wuyan forgot to speak.

Her throat seemed blocked tight – she couldn’t say a word.

She stood alone for a long time before remembering to return to her room.

Then she sat at the table, quietly gazing at the kite.

Before, she had thought when Lian Yue told her that she and Huo Chang’an lived in loving harmony, there was some exaggeration. It turned out she was the one who had thought too much.

Not knowing how long she sat there, the light streaming through the window lattice turned golden orange. Only when Aunt Liang came with maids did she finally come back to herself.

Aunt had come to bring the maids. Before leaving, she said something similar to Zhuxin.

“Miss, in this old woman’s view, the Marquis still has considerable affection for you. As long as you’re accommodating to him, though he won’t treat you like Madam, he’ll still be very good to you.”

Wuyan nodded – this time she remembered to thank her. Seeing she seemed to have listened, Aunt Liang left contentedly.

The two maids she had assigned were indeed very capable. One nimbly prepared bathing supplies while the other asked what she wanted for dinner.

Wuyan knew Huo Chang’an usually only dined with Lian Yue.

She casually ordered a few simple dishes. After dining and bathing, she dismissed the two maids. Seeing this new mistress had few demands, the maids were very happy and left cheerfully.

Before bathing, Wuyan had ladled two scoops of water from the tub into a bronze basin in the room. Seeing no one around, she retrieved a jade bowl hidden deep in the room – inside was a patch of dark red, what she had coughed up after Zhuxin left that afternoon. She poured the water from the basin into the bowl, diluting the traces.

After finishing this, she slowly sat at the table, still gazing at the kite.

Her heart felt empty.

From the courtyard outside came occasional sounds of the women coming and going, and summer insects.

After an unknown amount of time, someone was knocking at the door.

She stared at the kite as if in a trance, not knowing how to respond. The person outside seemed impatient, making the door bang loudly.

“Who dares make such noise here! Don’t you know you’re disturbing us sisters’ conversation!”

It seemed Pingping was annoyed and threw open the door with a scolding.

“Ah…”

But she seemed frightened by something, and her voice quickly died away.

At that moment, a low voice filled with suppressed anger and extreme impatience finally came from outside, “Wei Wuyan, open the door!”

I thought I’d only be away for one day, but unexpectedly couldn’t update for several days in a row. My sincere apologies. This is the November 3rd update. I’ll make up the 4th and 5th in the next two days.