Wei Yun had a cold war with himself all night, which ended up giving him an actual cold.
He woke up in the morning sneezing repeatedly. When Chu Yu saw him, she found it strange – Wei Yun was usually in robust health, so how had he fallen ill?
However, everyone was discussing the attack on Qing Prefecture, so Chu Yu couldn’t ask him about it. Thus, everyone watched as Wei Yun spoke, occasionally interrupted by sneezes.
“Zhao Yue sent a message to Liu Rong, saying he would lend troops to attack Shi Hu. Liu Rong believed it and was already preparing his army. Should we intervene?” Qin Shiyue pointed to a location on the map, relaying the information he had received and asking Wei Yun.
It had been less than a month since the various regions had risen. Zhao Yue hadn’t made a move yet, appearing stable, just as Gu Chusheng had predicted – they were now tearing at each other.
Zhao Yue was skilled at stirring up trouble, inciting one place while promising grain to another. Many who had only wanted to take advantage of the chaos for personal gain were already fighting. Small fish eating shrimp – if a hero were to lead them, they might grow into a formidable force, which would be another headache for Wei Yun in the future. That’s why Qin Shiyue asked this question, wanting to know Wei Yun’s thoughts.
However, Wei Yun waved his hand, focusing on Qing Prefecture: “Qing Prefecture and Bai Prefecture now share ten cities, six of which are in mountainous areas. Qingjiu and Yangsu cities are easy to attack but difficult to defend. However, Yao Jue has already increased the garrison there. We should choose between Yuncheng and Huicheng for our attack. Which do you think is more suitable?”
Those present pondered for a moment. Then Chu Yu raised her hand and pointed to Huicheng: “Let’s attack from Huicheng.”
Wei Yun looked up at her, and Chu Yu continued: “Huicheng is upstream of the Baitou River. The Baitou River is Qing Prefecture’s main waterway. Taking Huicheng would be greatly advantageous.”
Hearing this reasoning, Tao Quan nodded and said, “This old man agrees with the First Madam’s suggestion.”
Wei Yun frowned, about to say something, but then remembered the medicinal herbs Chu Yu had been buying recently and understood her intention.
Entering Qing Prefecture from Huicheng, the next city would be Yuancheng. Soon, an earthquake would start from Yuancheng and spread to Luo Prefecture. According to Gu Chusheng, the disaster would be quite severe. Chu Yu’s main consideration in taking Huicheng was likely for subsequent disaster relief efforts.
Compared to Yuncheng, Huicheng was more difficult to attack. However, understanding Chu Yu’s intentions, he didn’t say much and agreed to the plan.
As they walked together back to the Wei residence along the corridor, Chu Yu suddenly stopped. Wei Yun was puzzled by her action until he saw her raise her hand and place it on his forehead. She smiled and asked, “Did I steal the blanket last night and make you catch a cold?”
Hearing Chu Yu’s question and remembering his actions from the previous night, Wei Yun felt a bit embarrassed. He lowered his voice and said, “No, it’s probably because I’ve been busy lately and haven’t rested well.”
Chu Yu sighed, reaching out to hold his hand. With a touch of concern in her voice, she said, “You’ve been working so hard.”
Wei Yun didn’t dare look at her, his gaze drifting outward. He felt that this situation was all Yan Yunlang’s fault.
If it weren’t for him, how could he have gotten upset with Chu Yu and had a cold war for an entire night?
While he harbored thoughts about Yan Yunlang in his heart, his face remained impassive. He turned to Chu Yu and said, “I know you’re concerned about the upcoming earthquake. But when the time comes, I’ll handle it. You absolutely must not go.”
“Why not?” Chu Yu turned to look at him with a smile.
Wei Yun, feeling uneasy, said, “After all, it’s a natural disaster. I’m afraid.”
“I’m not afraid to compete with others for people, but competing with heaven for people,” Wei Yun smiled bitterly, “that, I am afraid of.”
Chu Yu was momentarily stunned, but in the end, she felt oddly embarrassed. She turned her head away and said softly, “How could anything happen to me?”
After eating at the Wei residence, Wei Yun went to arrange the expedition with Qin Shiyue. Chu Yu sat alone in her room, taking inventory of the supplies prepared for the upcoming earthquake. After a while, Chu Yu heard the sound of a flute coming from outside. She paused, listening to the low, melancholic tune – a young nobleman trying to charm a lady. Chu Yu listened for a moment, and noticing the flute sound was just outside, she couldn’t help but walk out. There, she saw a young man sitting in a tree, holding a bamboo flute, his purple robes fluttering.
The moonlight was bright, and the young man sat beneath it, looking exceptionally handsome. Chu Yu leaned against the doorframe, listening to him play.
He knew she had come but didn’t turn to look. He continued playing his flute, only suddenly changing to a more passionate and fierce tune. For a moment, Chu Yu couldn’t help but recall her younger days. She couldn’t help but smile and instructed Chang Yue to prepare wine in the courtyard. She called out, “Young Master Yan must be tired from playing the flute. Please, have a cup of wine as a token of appreciation.”
The flute music didn’t stop, completing the entire piece. Then the young man lightly jumped down from the tree into the courtyard, confidently taking a seat. He drank the wine in one gulp and looked up with a smile, saying, “Good wine.”
“Peach Blossom Smile, aged for eighteen years,” Chu Yu said, standing on the corridor without coming down. She hugged herself and continued, “It suits a free spirit like Young Master Yan.”
“The face I once knew is gone, yet peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze,” Yan Yunlang sighed. “Had I known this wine was Peach Blossom Smile, I wouldn’t have drunk it.”
Yan Yunlang looked up at Chu Yu with a smile. “If the First Madam finds my flute playing acceptable, the plum garden will be in full bloom tomorrow. Would the First Madam care to accompany me?”
“Your flute playing is indeed good,” Chu Yu nodded, but then frankly said, “However, my heart already belongs to someone.”
Yan Yunlang was momentarily stunned. He watched as Chu Yu came down from the corridor, walked to the opposite side of Yan Yunlang, and poured herself a cup of wine. She spoke candidly, “Young Master Yan is a romantic figure. I’ll drink to you, and we can be good friends, but anything beyond that, I’m afraid, is not possible.”
Hearing this, Yan Yunlang smiled lightly and clinked glasses with Chu Yu. “Love between men and women should be a joyous thing. My admiration for the First Madam is my pleasure; the First Madam need not be troubled. This cup, I drink to you.”
After saying this, Yan Yunlang finished his wine and leaped back onto the tree. Standing on a branch, he called out, “First Madam, you’ve honored me with three cups of wine. Allow me to play one more tune.”
Chu Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This time, Yan Yunlang played a deeply romantic melody.
At this moment, Wei Yun had also returned home. As soon as he entered, he heard the flute music. The tune was a love song, and Wei Yun frowned, saying, “Who’s playing such frivolous music in the residence at this late hour?”
As he walked along the corridor, he overheard a maid whispering, “Although Young Master Yan isn’t as handsome as His Highness, he’s truly a romantic! If I were the First Madam, I’d accept him right away!”
Hearing this, Wei Yun’s footsteps faltered. For some reason, he stopped where he was, eavesdropping on the two maids’ conversation. The other maid replied, “How can you compare yourself to the First Madam? Someone as composed as the First Madam would naturally want to evaluate him first.”
“Evaluation is one thing,” the first maid said, “but with Young Master Yan pursuing her like this, what woman wouldn’t be moved?”
Wei Yun could hardly bear to listen anymore, but he felt it beneath his dignity to scold the two maids. He turned around and took a different path. Halfway there, Wei Yun turned to Wei Qiu and said, “Take some men and throw him out. If he comes again tomorrow, beat him every time you see him.”
Wei Qiu acknowledged the order, and moments later, the flute music stopped.
With the flute music gone, Wei Yun felt somewhat better. He returned to his room, and then quietly made his way to the courtyard. In Chu Yu’s courtyard, he saw her sitting alone, playing with a wine cup. Across from her was another cup with some wine left in it, clearly showing that someone had been drinking with her earlier.
Wei Yun didn’t know how to be angry or what to be angry about. Seeing no one else around, he walked up to Chu Yu. After hesitating for a while, he finally said, “I can play the zither.”
Chu Yu was slightly taken aback. She looked up, somewhat puzzled, “What?”
“If you like these things, I can play the zither for you,” Wei Yun said in a low voice, feeling a bit insecure. “If he comes again, just send him away.”
“Were those your men chasing after Yan Yunlang earlier?” Chu Yu realized. She beckoned Wei Yun to sit beside her, and he did so without a word.
Chu Yu held his hand, gently caressing it. His hands had many scars and calluses, completely different from the hands of the noble young men in the capital. It was hard to imagine such hands belonging to such an elegant young man, and even harder to imagine these hands engaging in refined activities like playing the zither or blending incense.
However, Wei Yun was indeed born into a noble family. Although in his youth he preferred martial arts over other pursuits, he had learned at least some of the six arts. Back then, Wei Jun, as the heir, had high standards for himself and was even stricter with his younger brother, beating him until he learned. But Wei Yun was too mischievous in his youth and disliked all the things noble young men were supposed to learn especially poetry and writing. He would rather be beaten by Wei Jun than study these.
But with Wei Jun around, Wei Yun was clever enough to learn a bit. However, after the age of fifteen, he no longer had time for such pursuits. After fifteen, he practiced calligraphy enough not to be laughed at by court officials, learned to write good essays to argue with the literary officials, and never let go of his spear. But he never touched a zither again or blended incense.
He was not like Yan Yunlang, a carefree young nobleman who grew up without worries. His world was much crueler.
Chu Yu stroked his hand and smiled, “Why are you comparing yourself to him in these matters?”
Wei Yun pressed his lips together, then heard Chu Yu ask, “Can you play?”
Wei Yun hesitated, “It’s been… a long time since I practiced.”
Chu Yu laughed and called to Wan Yue nearby, “Go to my room and bring the zither.”
Wan Yue acknowledged and went to fetch the zither. Wei Yun looked at the instrument with difficulty, “Do you… want me to play?”
Chu Yu raised an eyebrow, “Are you deceiving me?”
“No,” Wei Yun immediately said, “How could I deceive you?”
Saying this, he took the zither, touched the strings, and seriously tried to recall how he was taught years ago.
He had indeed studied under a master, but he was too unruly back then. However, the basics were still there.
He lowered his gaze to the zither, placed his hands on it, and gently plucked the strings.
Indeed, it had been a long time since he had played, and the sound was not very smooth.
But he played very seriously, his posture and hand gestures showing what a good upbringing he once had.
Chu Yu leaned on his shoulder, listening as his playing became more fluid. She looked at his hands and said softly, “Huai Yu.”
“Hmm?”
“In the future, will you come with me?”
“Alright.”
“You’re not even asking where?” Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh. Wei Yun calmly replied, “You’ve always been a responsible person. If you want to leave, it must be when the world is at peace, and I have no more worries. Wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you.”
“By then, you’ll have time to learn the zither,” Chu Yu’s gaze fell on his hands. “You can learn to play the zither, paint, and blend incense like those noble young men in the capital…”
Wei Yun’s music faltered. Chu Yu looked up, “Don’t you think that would be nice?”
Wei Yun didn’t speak. Chu Yu asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
Wei Yun held back for a long time before finally saying, “Well… A Yu, I’ll have to teach the children properly then.”
Having finally escaped such torment himself, let Chu Yu torment the children instead!
Hearing Wei Yun’s words, Chu Yu thought for a moment and nodded, “That’s true, we’ll have to teach the children then.”
Wei Yun felt relieved, but then he suddenly realized something.
This was one of the rare times Chu Yu had mentioned their future together.
He couldn’t help but smile, trying to suppress his joy but finding it impossible. Chu Yu reached out and poked his forehead, “What are you grinning about?”
Wei Yun covered his forehead with his hand, lowering his head and chuckling softly, “Just thinking about being with you in the future. It makes me happy.”
With Chu Yu’s reassurance, although she hadn’t said it directly, Wei Yun’s anger dissipated, and he no longer held a grudge against Yan Yunlang.
However, Yan Yunlang was persistent. He came every night. If he was chased away for playing the flute one day, the next day he would release sky lanterns from afar with Chu Yu’s name “Yu” written on them. This angered Wei Yun so much that he shot down nearly a hundred of these lanterns with arrows.
With Yan Yunlang causing such a commotion, Liu Xueyang naturally became aware of it. Knowing about Yan Yunlang’s actions and Wei Yun’s constant attempts to block him, she found it strange and said, “What is Little Seven doing? A Yu is his sister-in-law, and he’s just a younger brother-in-law. How can he interfere with his sister-in-law’s marriage prospects? If Yan Yunlang were a bad person, it would be understandable, but he’s openly sending invitations which Little Seven intercepts, and even when he releases sky lanterns, Little Seven shoots them down. Recently, he’s been coming home early every day, as if he’s watching out for Yan Yunlang…”
The more Liu Xueyang spoke, the more uneasy she felt. Suddenly, she said, “Do you think Little Seven and A Yu have become too close?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, both Gui Mama and Liu Xueyang’s expressions changed. Liu Xueyang coughed lightly and turned her head, saying, “I must be confused. Come to think of it, Little Seven was raised by A Yu. Although A Yu is only a year older than Little Seven, an elder sister-in-law is like a mother. These years, the Wei family has relied entirely on her support…”
As she spoke of these things, Liu Xueyang found it hard to continue. Some things seem fine when left unsaid, but once spoken, they feel somewhat off. She thought for a moment and finally instructed Gui Mama, “Have someone secretly keep an eye on both the First Madam and His Highness.”
Gui Mama felt a bit panicked, but having served Liu Xueyang for a long time, she lowered her voice and said, “Yes, Madam.”
After speaking, Liu Xueyang stood in the courtyard, frowning and clasping her hands, “May the Buddha protect us.”
Mini-scene:
Chu Yu: How did the Cold War feel?
Wei Yun: Quite cold.
Chu Yu: Just how cold is it?
Wei Yun: It’s as cold as winter without any blankets.