Hearing Chu Yu’s words, Wei Yun turned his back to her, unconsciously smiling. He turned back, resting his hand behind his head, and asked with a grin, “How much do you like me?”
“What do you mean, how much?”
“How much do you like me now?”
Hearing such childish questions, Chu Yu smiled, pressing her lips together, “Are you a child, asking such questions?”
“Well, tell me,” Wei Yun raised an eyebrow. Chu Yu smiled without answering him, instead saying, “Aren’t you going to the Shuntian Prefecture to file a complaint tomorrow? Zhao Yue isn’t easy to deal with. At such a crucial moment, you shouldn’t be thinking about these things.”
“A man shouldn’t dwell on romantic matters,” she said, stroking his hair, “Don’t let this distract your mind.”
“You’re wrong about that,” Wei Yun smiled, “A person’s life is first about being human. Even the sages say, to cultivate oneself, regulate the family, then govern the state and bring peace to the world. You are my family, my future wife. I should rightfully take good care of you.” Wei Yun pressed his forehead against hers, “Life is short. Don’t waste time thinking about unnecessary things before they happen, only to regret them later. I’ve already arranged everything for tomorrow. Once it’s arranged, I’m not afraid, and don’t overthink it.”
Listening to his words and looking into his clear, transparent eyes, Chu Yu suddenly felt that both she and Gu Chusheng were like people with blindfolded eyes in this mortal world, unable to see clearly what they wanted or where their path lay. So they stumbled along, getting hurt and full of regrets.
But Wei Yun was different. Despite his youth, he knew what he wanted and what he should do. This simple clarity was something she didn’t have even after reliving a lifetime.
She sighed softly, hugging him and resting her head on his chest, listening to the steady, deep beating of his heart.
Wei Yun patted her back gently, saying softly, “Sleep now. I’ll sneak out in the morning, don’t worry.”
With her last concern addressed, Chu Yu relaxed. She didn’t respond, just closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Wei Yun felt the muscles of the person in his arms slowly relax, listening to her breathing. It was then that he finally began to calm down. He looked down at her small, fair face for a long time before finally sighing.
He realized that the road ahead for him and this person was probably still very long. The walls of wariness in her heart stood tall, and he had been desperately trying to break down those walls and melt that ice bit by bit. But she was only twenty years old now… where did all these thoughts come from?
Wei Yun frowned, inevitably thinking back to the kiss from earlier.
He had to admit, that Chu Yu’s kissing skills were far better than his. Perhaps it was because she had been thinking about this for five years, and the sudden initiative was too stimulating. But the variety of techniques was indeed something he hadn’t even imagined.
She…
Wei Yun felt a sour realization in his heart. When she had so recklessly tried to elope with Gu Chusheng to escape marriage back then, perhaps it wasn’t just an impulse before the wedding, but had earlier causes.
Thinking about this, his thoughts became uncontrollable.
How far had they gone back then? Surely not all the way… after all, last night, she had bled.
They must have kissed, of course…
The more Wei Yun thought the more vivid the scenes in his mind became. In the middle of the night, he felt a mixture of sourness and pain in his heart. It wasn’t until the person in his arms turned over that he suddenly awakened from his thoughts.
Now that she was here with him, why was he thinking about all this?
It’s just that back then, she had given so much, but in the end, Gu Chusheng still got scared. Although everyone thought Gu Chusheng was just trying to save his life, which was understandable. But in the eyes of the young Chu Yu, it must have felt like a betrayal, right?
Wei Yun’s mind suddenly filled with countless scenarios of how the 15-year-old Chu Yu had been abandoned by Gu Chusheng, making him feel both heartbroken and angry. He raised his hand to hug her but feared disturbing her sleep. After pondering for a while, he also felt a bit drowsy and fell asleep holding Chu Yu. When it was close to the hour of Mao (5-7 am), he woke up, picked up his clothes, quietly opened the window, checked that no one was around, and sneaked out of the room back to his own.
Back in his room, having been used to sleeping in a bed, he suddenly felt it was too hard and cold, not comfortable at all.
He thought for a moment, then got up and called someone in, instructing, “Go to Gu Chusheng’s house and create a crack in the wheel of his carriage.”
“A crack?” The guard was a bit confused.
Wei Yun nodded, “Yes, don’t make it too obvious. It would be best if the wheel could break when he’s on his way to the morning court.”
The guard was even more puzzled but remembering Wei Yun’s typically inscrutable methods, he didn’t dare to ask more and obediently went to carry out the order. After giving this instruction, Wei Yun felt a bit more at ease. He fell back on the bed and finally drifted off to sleep.
If one wanted to poison someone in the Gu residence, it would be a very difficult task. Assassination in the Gu residence would also be extremely challenging. But to tamper with a carriage in the backyard was a relatively low-level task for the Wei family’s secret guards.
However, the guard still followed Wei Yun’s instructions carefully, using his internal energy to strike the wheel, making it shattered inside but intact on the outside. The entire wheel looked almost untouched.
When Gu Chusheng woke up at the hour of Mao, washed up, and headed to court, he rode in this carriage to the imperial city. Halfway through the journey, the wheel suddenly shattered into pieces on the road. The horse was still running, causing the carriage to lurch forward suddenly. Gu Chusheng, who had been resting with his eyes closed in the carriage, was thrown and rolled out. Fortunately, the secret guard arrived swiftly, pulling him away just in time to avoid being hit by the carriage.
After being pulled aside by the secret guard, Gu Chusheng immediately ordered, “Investigate!”
The guards went to hold the horse and after a thorough inspection, reported, “My Lord, someone has tampered with the wheel.”
Gu Chusheng’s expression remained unchanged, but he pondered for a moment about who could have carried out such a childish act of revenge…
After a moment, Gu Chusheng’s face darkened.
He cursed, “Immature brat!” Then, he left in a huff, having a temporary sedan chair brought for him to continue his journey to the palace.
This incident was relayed to Wei Yun by the guards as an amusing anecdote. Wei Yun listened while washing up, feeling that the whole day had suddenly become brighter.
After finishing his morning routine, Wei Yun went to the main hall for breakfast. By this time, the whole family was seated in the hall. Jiang Chun was chatting and laughing with Liu Xueyang, while Chu Yu was quietly drinking her porridge. As soon as Wei Yun saw Chu Yu, he couldn’t help but smile. This smile came so unexpectedly that Jiang Chun couldn’t help but say, “It seems our Little Seven has encountered something joyful.”
“Second Sister-in-law is joking,” Wei Yun walked forward and sat down frankly. A maid brought breakfast to his table. Wei Yun looked up at Liu Xueyang, “I’m just happy to see the family in harmony.”
“Little Seven speaks the truth,” Liu Xueyang sighed, “For a family, harmony is the most important thing.”
As she spoke, Liu Xueyang looked at Wei Yun and asked, “How long have you been back now?”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to leave soon,” Wei Yun said calmly, his expression unchanged. “There might be some developments soon. I need to go to the Shuntian Prefecture today. Everyone in the household should follow Big Sister-in-law’s arrangements.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu and Jiang Chun weren’t surprised, as they were both fully aware of Wei Yun’s plans. However, Liu Xueyang was a bit startled. After a moment, she showed concern on her face, “Has something happened? What are you going to do at the Shuntian Prefecture?”
“I’m going to seek justice for my father and brothers.”
These words left Liu Xueyang a bit confused, but thinking of her husband and son, her eyes began to moisten, and she said hoarsely, “Wasn’t this matter settled four years ago…”
“How can it be settled when Zhao Yue and Yao Yong are still alive?” Wei Yun said calmly.
Chu Yu couldn’t help but give him an extra glance. In the past, when talking about these things, Wei Yun always had to restrain himself from crying.
But now, this young man could speak calmly and composedly about this event that had changed his entire life.
Upon hearing this, Liu Xueyang’s face showed shock, “What did you say?! You’re saying that His Majesty now…”
“Mother-in-law,” Chu Yu spoke up, “Let’s go with Little Seven together.”
Wei Yun looked over at Chu Yu. She met his gaze, her expression firm and calm, “Whatever happens, Little Seven will announce it to the world today. This isn’t just Little Seven’s matter; it’s the Wei family’s affair. He’s doing this for his father and brothers, I’m doing it for my husband. No matter what, I should accompany Little Seven to seek this justice, to reclaim it for the Young Master.”
Hearing this, Liu Xueyang nodded with teary eyes, “Then wait for me, I’ll go change into proper attire and come back…”
With that, Jiang Chun helped Liu Xueyang leave. Chu Yu took a sip of tea and said calmly, “I should go change as well.”
Wei Yun agreed. Now, only their close attendants remained in the room. Chu Yu walked a few steps but finally paused.
“When I mentioned your brother, did it make you uncomfortable?”
Wei Yun looked up at her. Chu Yu spoke calmly, “But this is indeed what I should do for him. You gave me the divorce paper back then. Four years ago, I ceased to be his wife. But what I should have done as a wife then, but didn’t, I want to fulfill today.”
Hearing this, Wei Yun slowly smiled, “That you would do this much for my brother, I should be the one grateful.”
He slowly stood up, “A Yu, we will have a new beginning. Don’t carry too much burden in your heart.”
Chu Yu nodded. She turned around and returned to her room.
She styled her hair into two buns, put on a golden crown with nine tree flower hairpins, and adorned her temples with nine floral ornaments, looking dignified and noble. Then she changed into a plain gauze inner garment, with an outer blue-green robe embroidered with nine pairs of pheasants. The sleeves and collar were trimmed with vermilion silk, with intricate patterns at the neckline. A red and blue apron hung in front, also embroidered with two pairs of pheasants facing each other, their wings spread as if about to take flight.
This was her first-rank noble lady’s attire, which she had rarely worn in all these years. Wearing it now, she felt an invisible weight pressing down on her, so heavy.
Dressed in this formal attire, she walked out to the main hall, where she saw Liu Xueyang also wearing similar clothes, already waiting there.
Jiang Chun was also dressed in a vermilion wide-sleeved robe, accompanying Liu Xueyang.
When Liu Xueyang saw Chu Yu, the two women smiled at each other and exchanged courtesies.
Wearing these clothes emphasized their ranks more than their family relationships.
When Wei Yun, dressed in his court robes, saw the two women, he suddenly remembered that year when he was fifteen, walking out of the imperial palace.
It was pouring rain then, and Chu Yu was kneeling alone in front of the palace gates, with the Wei family’s 132 ancestral tablets standing proudly behind her in the wind and rain.
Looking at the woman dressed in her noble lady’s attire, countless emotions welled up in his throat. He managed a difficult smile.
“Mother, Sister-in-law,” he said as if joking, “I wasn’t there back then, but at least I’m here this time.”
Hearing this, the three of them were slightly taken aback, but Chu Yu was the first to realize what he meant.
She smiled gently.
“Good,” she said softly, “This time, you lead us to seek justice.”
The boy of yesteryear had now grown into a man capable of supporting heaven and earth.