Chu Yu didn’t know whether to attribute Wei Yun’s timely appearances to his keen intuition or his uncanny ability to arrive at just the right moment. Whenever her heart was unsettled, he would invariably appear, offering comfort with perfect timing.
She held his hand and spoke softly, “I’m glad you came.” Looking up at him with a smile, she added, “Just now, I felt you were so far away from me.”
So distant that she suddenly understood the meaning of regretting her husband’s pursuit of noble titles.
“I know,” Wei Yun said, holding her hand. With lowered eyes, he continued slowly, “Yu’er, my future path is long, and I don’t even know how far I’ll go. I fear that power might blind me, that glory might corrode my heart. So I remind myself: in public, I am Wei Yun, but in private, I can only be Wei Huaiyu. For this lifetime, I must always love you as I did when I first fell for you. This feeling must remain pure, untainted by even the slightest impurity.”
Chu Yu remained silent, gazing at him steadily. “What if you become the Emperor?”
“What of it?” he replied.
“Wouldn’t you have to have three palaces and six courtyards?”
Wei Yun laughed. “No. If an emperor must have three palaces and six courtyards, then I won’t be one.”
“Yu’er,” he held her hand, his expression solemn, “There’s nothing in this world I can’t resolve. If being by my side means you must endure such great humiliation, then I am incompetent. Such an incompetent man,” he paused, then continued with great difficulty, “wouldn’t be worth keeping.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu suddenly laughed.
“You said it,” she said softly. “Wei Huaiyu, you must keep your word.”
Wei Yun looked at her and smiled, pressing his lips together. “Of course.”
They walked for a while, but Wei Yun still had many visitors to receive, so Chu Yu returned first. When she arrived at the Wei residence, it was bustling with activity. From afar, she could hear the laughter of the women. As Chu Yu entered, she saw Liu Xueyang and many wives of officials and nobles chatting and laughing.
Wei Yun was hosting a banquet outside, and these ladies had been arranged to stay at the Wei residence. This was all Chu Yu’s arrangement, but she hadn’t expected the feast to start so early.
Chu Yu was somewhat surprised. As she walked in, she saw Jiang Chun standing at the door. Before Chu Yu could speak, Jiang Chun, knowing what she was about to ask, said with a wry smile, “Mother-in-law returned early. Seeing that many ladies had already arrived, she started the banquet.”
Chu Yu nodded and looked over to see Liu Xueyang talking with Wei Qingping. Wei Qingping’s face was as calm as still water, kneeling beside Liu Xueyang. Liu Xueyang held her hand, chatting and laughing. Wei Qingping responded to each of Liu Xueyang’s comments, looking out of place and somewhat uncomfortable.
Noticing Wei Qingping’s discomfort, Chu Yu smiled and approached, greeting Liu Xueyang and then exchanging pleasantries with everyone. By now, the atmosphere had become lively. Seeing that Wei Qingping seemed ill at ease, Chu Yu suggested to her, “Princess Qingping seems rather bored. Why don’t we take a stroll in the garden?”
Wei Qingping looked up, her eyes showing gratitude. Using Chu Yu’s suggestion as an excuse, Wei Qingping bid farewell to Liu Xueyang and left. Chu Yu led Wei Qingping to the long corridor, where Wei Qingping let out a sigh of relief and said, “Thank you, First Madam.”
“Is the Princess not accustomed to such gatherings?” Chu Yu asked with a smile, her hands tucked into her sleeves.
Wei Qingping nodded. “I rarely interact with such talkative women.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh. She turned to look at Wei Qingping, “Aren’t you afraid I might take offense at you speaking about my mother-in-law like that?”
Wei Qingping paused, furrowed her brow in thought, then nodded, “Indeed, I shouldn’t have said such things to you.”
Chu Yu was amused by Wei Qingping’s response. She led her into a room and took out a wine jug from a cabinet. With her back to Wei Qingping, she spoke in a calm tone, “It was just a joke, Princess. No need to take it to heart. You’ve traveled far and wide, and shouldn’t be confined to the inner quarters. Such a personality,” Chu Yu turned to look at Wei Qingping, her eyes filled with admiration, “I truly envy.”
Wei Qingping remained silent, looking at Chu Yu. Her usually cold face now bore a hint of a smile. “But compared to the First Madam who once defended Feng Ling City alone, my adventures are mere child’s play.”
Chu Yu turned around with the wine jug, meeting Wei Qingping’s gaze. After a moment, she slowly said, “That was many years ago.”
She handed a bottle of wine to Wei Qingping and led her to the long corridor outside, casually sitting down against a pillar.
“I hear the Princess has been traveling throughout the land, practicing medicine and helping people. You must have many interesting stories to tell?”
“It’s alright,” Wei Qingping replied, not one for extensive conversation.
Chu Yu smiled and took a sip of wine, asking casually, “How did the Princess and the Marquis meet?”
“Three years ago, rumors spread that he was fighting enemies in Bai City, but he was actually in Hexi. I was practicing medicine in Hexi at the time and happened to meet him. I saved him.”
“Was he poisoned then?”
“A poison that had seeped into his bones.”
“I heard the Princess personally went to Tian Shan to fetch the medicine?”
Hearing this, Wei Qingping fell silent, not saying more. Chu Yu took another sip of wine and said slowly, “There must be more to the story, but the Princess need not speak of it if she doesn’t wish to. I’ve been the one asking questions all along. Doesn’t the Princess have anything she wants to ask me?”
Wei Qingping remained quiet, raising her eyes to look at Chu Yu. Chu Yu’s features were strikingly beautiful. Her wrists were extremely slender, and as she raised the wine jug to drink, her sleeves fell back, revealing her jade-like wrists. She exuded a unique charm that blended gentleness and strength.
Observing Chu Yu’s appearance, Wei Qingping slowly asked, “Would the First Madam tell me about the Northern Di?”
Surprised by Wei Qingping’s question, Chu Yu found it strange. Nevertheless, she recounted the events of that time in great detail. She told of how she disguised herself to enter the Northern Di territory, how she searched for Wei Yun, how they were pursued, and how she managed to escape back to Da Chu with Wei Yun…
Chu Yu was naturally eloquent, and her account of past events was as captivating as a story, full of tension and excitement. Wei Qingping listened with wide eyes, filled with admiration.
After speaking of the Northern Di, Chu Yu went on to talk about Feng Ling City, and then about the various battles she had fought in Luo Zhou during her youth. Wei Qingping sat beside Chu Yu, hugging the wine jug and listening intently. By the end, the effects of the wine had taken hold, and she exclaimed excitedly, “Sister Yu, come with me!”
Chu Yu was slightly taken aback. Wei Qingping grasped Chu Yu’s hand and looked at her earnestly, “You don’t belong here. Come with me. In the future, I’ll practice medicine, and you can be a righteous hero. When the country faces difficulties, we’ll fight side by side to save it. In times of peace, we’ll wander the four corners of the world. You shouldn’t be confined to the back chambers of the Wei family.” Wei Qingping hiccupped from the wine and continued with difficulty, “Look at what they’ve reduced you to now. I’ll take you away,” she stood up unsteadily, pulling Chu Yu, “I’ll take you to find the Old Madam. I want to take you away.”
Chu Yu didn’t move. Wei Qingping turned to look at her, confused, “Sister Yu?”
“Qingping,” Chu Yu smiled, a bit helplessly, “Go and rest. You’re drunk.”
“You don’t want to?”
“Qingping,” Chu Yu spoke softly, “I haven’t been wasted by anyone. It’s just that heroes grow old, and beauties fade. Though regrettable, it’s unstoppable.”
“But you’re only twenty-one.”
Chu Yu was slightly startled. Wei Qingping crouched down and said earnestly, “Chu Yu, there’s a vast world out there. Don’t waste your entire life for the Wei family.”
Chu Yu didn’t know if it was the wine affecting her, but suddenly Liu Xueyang’s admonishing words flashed through her mind, along with the image of Wei Yun’s back as he accepted the homage of thousands.
She knew it was true. The Wei family no longer needed her as much now. In this back chamber, she had slowly become someone she didn’t even like anymore.
She absently took a sip of wine as Wei Qingping spoke again, “Chu Yu, let me take you away.”
Chu Yu turned to look at Wei Qingping. As she was about to speak, a cold voice rang out, “Princess, you’re drunk.”
Wei Qingping and Chu Yu turned their heads simultaneously to see Wei Yun standing at the corner of the long corridor, quietly watching them.
His expression was calm, showing no sign of emotion. Wei Qingping, still under the influence of alcohol, furrowed her brow.
“Shi Yue, escort the Princess to the main hall,” Wei Yun calmly instructed Qin Shi Yue behind him. Hearing this name, Wei Qingping looked up, her expression somewhat dazed.
Qin Shi Yue stepped forward and respectfully said, “Princess, please.”
Wei Qingping looked at Qin Shi Yue, the effects of the wine seeming to wear off slightly. She glanced at Wei Yun, then at Chu Yu, pressed her lips together, and finally turned to leave.
When only Chu Yu and Wei Yun were left in the courtyard, Wei Yun approached, crouched down, and shook the wine bottle beside Chu Yu. He smiled and said, “You’ve had quite a bit to drink.”
Chu Yu didn’t respond. She steadied herself to stand up and began to walk unsteadily forward.
Wei Yun held the wine bottle, quietly watching her back.
“I don’t know what I’ve done wrong,” he suddenly spoke. Chu Yu remained silent. Wei Yun gazed at her retreating figure and calmly said, “I thought I was doing well. I’ve never refused anything you wanted to do, and I’ve desperately tried to give you everything you desired.”
“But why,” Wei Yun’s voice trembled, “do you still want to leave?”
“You’re overthinking it,” Chu Yu replied tiredly.
Wei Yun grabbed her suddenly, pulling her into his arms. He gripped her chin, his eyes reddened as he stared at her. “Look at me!”
“You want to leave, don’t you?” He trembled. “Just now, when she spoke, you didn’t refuse. She touched your heart. You want to leave, don’t you?”
“Wei Yun,” Chu Yu’s voice was calm, “Let go.”
“What have I done wrong? What have I done incorrectly?” Wei Yun’s voice quivered. “Why did you want to leave five years ago, and why do you still want to leave now?”
“What are you saying?”
“Five years ago,” Wei Yun’s voice shook, “I knew that once the Wei family’s affairs were settled, you would leave.”
“Five years later, I thought I had kept you here, but in reality, you still want to leave.”
“Tell me,” Wei Yun embraced her, closing his eyes in pain, “What do I need to do to make you stay?”
“Wei Yun…” Chu Yu sounded weary. “This has nothing to do with you. It’s just that I no longer have a place for myself.”
“What place do you want?” Wei Yun tightened his grip on her hand. “What position can’t I give you? Do you want to be a first-rank noble lady, or the Empress, or…”
“I don’t know,” Chu Yu suddenly spoke. “It’s not about power or status, it’s about me, don’t you understand?!”
Chu Yu forcefully pushed him away. She breathed heavily, struggling to speak. “It’s about my place, the place that I, Chu Yu, should have in the Wei family. What am I now? I’m your sister-in-law, I’m Chu Lin Yang’s sister. In your mother’s heart, I’m meant to be married off sooner or later. She’s arranging a marriage for you, she’s taken a liking to Wei Qingping. She’s single-minded, wanting you to marry a woman with both power and beauty. In her heart, you’re as lofty as the sun and moon. No matter how good I am,” she gritted her teeth, “I’m still your sister-in-law.”
Wei Yun didn’t speak. He stared at her and said coldly, “Continue.”
Chu Yu fell silent. She closed her eyes, sounding exhausted as she said, “I’ve had a bit to drink, I’m a little drunk. Don’t listen to my nonsense.”
She reached out to pull at him, saying, “I’m going to sleep first…”
Wei Yun gripped her hand tightly, pulling her back and pressing her against the wall. His voice was calm yet cold: “Keep talking.”
Chu Yu clenched her teeth. She looked at Wei Yun and smiled, her eyes filled with mockery. “Why did you stop? Nothing left to say, or unwilling to say more?”
A flood of humiliation washed over her, making her body tremble slightly. Wei Yun observed her state and calmly said, “Say more.”
“Let’s see how much you can humiliate yourself.”
“Wei Yun!”
“Call me Wei Huaiyu!”
Wei Yun suddenly raised his voice. He lowered his head, moving closer to her, and spoke coldly, “My mother has been giving you a hard time? She’s arranging a marriage for me, wanting me to marry Wei Qingping, and you’ve been keeping it to yourself? You feel that now that the Wei family is at its peak, they no longer need you, and you’re upset about it, but you won’t tell me? Chu Yu, in your heart, do you think that my being with you, my liking you, my family treating you well, is all because we want something from you? Do you think that once you can’t give anything to my family, you have no value?”
Without waiting for Chu Yu to answer, he gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. He stared into her eyes and continued, “Were you also going to say that my mother wants to find a noble lady for me, that you’re a remarried woman, that you’re still my sister-in-law, which would be bad for my reputation? That your Chu family won’t take sides this time, won’t support me with the power of a royal prince like Wei Qingping would, that you’re inferior to Wei Qingping in every way? Do you want to persuade me to marry Wei Qingping as my principal wife?”
“And what about you? You’d continue this affair with me like we are now?”
“Don’t make it sound so disgusting.”
“You’re the one making it disgusting!”
Wei Yun suddenly raised his voice.
He stared at her intently, like a hawk eyeing its prey. Suppressing his anger and hurt, he held Chu Yu tightly, preventing her from moving.
“Let go,” Chu Yu frowned. “Let’s go back and talk.”
“I’m not going back.”
“If someone sees…”
“Then let them see!”
“Chu Yu, I’m telling you,” Wei Yun pressed down on Chu Yu’s struggling body, gritting his teeth, “I will marry you. I’ve been holding back because I’m afraid you’re not willingly marrying me, afraid you still think we haven’t reached that point. But don’t think I’ll hold back forever.”
Chu Yu was slightly stunned. Seeing her dazed expression, Wei Yun lowered his head, both fierce and tender. He bit her hard, his tongue exploring her mouth, turning everything upside down. When she tried to push him away, he pinned her hands. When she tried to kick him,
Chu Yu was slightly stunned. Wei Yun, seeing her dazed expression, lowered his head with a mixture of fierceness and tenderness. He bit her hard, his tongue exploring between her lips, turning her world upside down. She tried to push him away, but he pinned her hands. When she attempted to kick him, he pressed down on her legs. The two were tightly pressed together. After a long while, he finally seemed satisfied, his anger dissipating.
Chu Yu was left breathless from his kiss, her eyes still glistening with moisture. The sight made Wei Yun’s throat bob, but he suppressed this surge of desire. He helped her straighten her clothes, took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, and gently wiped her lips clean. After fixing her hair, he finally said, “Next time you’re angry, don’t bear it alone. Tell me. Otherwise, I might survive the battlefield only to be angered to death by you at home.”
Chu Yu, still panting, didn’t speak, just glared at him with eyes full of spring passion.
Wei Yun laughed at her glare. He lowered his head to kiss her cheek, then whispered in her ear, “Call me ‘husband’ once, and I’ll bring you the whole world, hmm?”
“Get lost!”
“Alright then.” He straightened up with a smile, patiently retying her jade pendant. “Dealing with my mother isn’t your forte. Go back and wait for me.”
“Isn’t it just about marrying Wei Qingping?”
Wei Yun looked up at her and smiled, “Wait for me in the room. Tonight, you’ll have to reward me properly, understand?”
Chu Yu remained silent, her eyes downcast, her temper having softened considerably. Wei Yun glanced at the sky, “Is it raining?”
He took off his cloak and draped it over Chu Yu.
His warmth and scent immediately enveloped her. Like a young girl, she watched as Wei Yun fastened the cloak for her, saying gently, “Hurry back, don’t catch a cold.”
As Wei Yun turned to leave, Chu Yu grabbed him.
“It’s not the right time yet. Don’t anger your mother.”
Wei Yun understood what Chu Yu meant. Indeed, it wasn’t the appropriate time to announce their relationship. Although he was angry, he hadn’t lost his reason.
He patted her hand, his voice steady and reassuring, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it properly.”
He then called for Wan Yue and Chang Yue, who had been standing guard nearby, and calmly instructed, “Escort your Lady back, and prepare some ginger soup for her to drink.”
Wan Yue and Chang Yue acknowledged the order. Wei Yun watched Chu Yu leave, waiting until she disappeared at the end of the long corridor. He then took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped the corner of his mouth.
“Find out what my mother and the First Madam have been talking about recently,” he addressed the hidden guards in the shadows. “Investigate thoroughly.”
The leaves rustled slightly as someone silently left the courtyard.
Wei Yun raised his eyes to look at the lantern lights flickering in the wind at the end of the corridor ahead. He let out a cold laugh, “Seems like someone’s tired of living.”