Chu Yu didn’t touch Wei Yun. Even though he now stood neatly before her, she knew that beneath his clothes, he must be covered in wounds. Nearby, Changyue and Wanyue thoughtfully came forward to support Chu Yu.
A sharp pain shot through Chu Yu’s knees, causing her to inhale sharply. Wei Yun hurriedly stepped forward, anxiously asking, “Elder Sister-in-law?”
“It’s nothing,” Chu Yu, now much more clearheaded and without the earlier vulnerability brought on by illness, replied calmly with a smile. “Let’s go back. You’re injured too.”
She then directed Wei Xia and Wei Dong to come and support Wei Yun. Wei Yun felt a bit embarrassed and was about to say something when Chu Yu said, “Don’t force yourself to stand on an injured leg. If it becomes permanently damaged, you’ll still need your family to take care of you.”
Wei Yun stiffened, realizing that even though he thought he had disguised it well, she could see right through him.
Chu Yu picked up the memorial tablets of Wei Zhong and Wei Jun, while Wei Yun carried those of his other brothers. They were helped into the carriage by others, with Chu Yu and Wei Yun sitting on opposite sides. Jiang Chun and the others had already gone ahead, while Zhang Han, Xie Jiu, and the others who had fallen first brought people back, carefully placing the memorial tablets in the carriage before following Chu Yu’s carriage back to the Jun Manor.
The carriage creaked as it moved, with the sound of heavy rain outside. Wei Yun let a servant bandage his wounds while he watched Chu Yu across from him, wrapped in a blanket and calmly drinking ginger tea.
He quietly observed her. In just a few days, she had become much thinner, with dark circles under her eyes and a face full of fatigue. Chu Yu noticed his gaze and looked up at him, asking, “What are you looking at?”
“Sister-in-law has lost weight,” Wei Yun said with a light laugh, his eyes showing concern. “These past few days must have been exhausting for you.”
Chu Yu drank her ginger tea with an ice compress on her head, waving her hand dismissively. “You were in prison. As your elder, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Now that you’re back…” She let out a sigh of relief. “I can say I’ve done right by your brother.”
As she spoke, her gaze fell on Wei Yun.
In less than half a month, the young man seemed to have grown rapidly. He had grown much taller since leaving Huajing, and his features had matured. Especially the look in his eyes – gone was that childish quality unique to youths. It was as if he had grown up overnight, becoming composed and steady.
When he looked at her and his family, there was a gentleness that he didn’t show to the outside world. That gentleness made Chu Yu momentarily dazed as if she saw the departed Wei Jun reflected in this person.
She had once had expectations for Wei Jun, even believing he wouldn’t die, that this young man would be her lifelong companion.
Thinking of that wooden young man, Chu Yu felt an indescribable regret in her heart. Her gaze became distant, and Wei Yun, seeing her staring at him, asked confusedly, “Sister-in-law?”
Chu Yu was brought back to reality by Wei Yun’s call. She smiled and said, “I just realized today that you do resemble your brother in some ways, especially the eyes.”
Chu Yu looked at Wei Yun’s eyes, her brows curving. “I remember he had phoenix eyes too, didn’t he?”
“Yes.” At the mention of his eldest brother, Wei Yun instinctively clutched his clothes, seemingly in great pain. He struggled to say, “My eldest brother… had phoenix eyes, but they were a bit rounder than mine, making him look much gentler. Everyone who met him liked him…”
As Wei Yun spoke, his voice gradually grew quieter. Thunder crashed outside, and Chu Yu watched the carriage curtains rise and fall, listening to the thunder. It wasn’t until she hadn’t heard Wei Yun’s voice for a long while that she slowly turned her head, looking at him quizzically.
Wei Yun had fallen silent. His eyes were red-rimmed, his back hunched, both hands clutching his clothes, his body trembling slightly. His hair fell forward, obscuring his face from Chu Yu’s view.
From the moment he had placed his father and brothers in their coffins, throughout this journey, he hadn’t cried. He thought he had sorted out all his emotions, but now that everything was finally starting to settle, sitting before this woman and remembering his family, all the pain erupted.
The grief of losing his father and brothers suddenly surged forth, tearing at his heart. Before the age of fourteen, he never thought any pain in this world could knock him down. He always believed that as a man of the Jun family, he could face anything – even if his head fell, it would just leave a bowl-sized scar. What was there to fear in this world?
It was only at this moment that he realized he was still just a youth, and there was too much sorrow and pain in this world that could easily overwhelm him.
Seeing his state, Chu Yu waved her hand, dismissing Wanyue and Wei Xia who were attending nearby.
With just the two of them left in the carriage, Chu Yu shifted her gaze back to the outside of the carriage. The rain pattered loudly, and her hand fell on the blanket. Suddenly, she began to sing a frontier tune.
It was a folk song from the northern border. Usually, when troops returned from battle, the women of the north would stand along the roads as the army entered the city, holding wine cups and singing this tune.
Wei Yun had heard this song many times before. Back then, he would ride on horseback behind his father and brothers, happily bending down to take the celebratory wine from the hands of the nearest girl.
This song seemed to be the last straw, causing him to lose control and cry out in pain.
Her singing and the sound of rain covered his cries, giving him a strange sense of security.
No one would see his current wretched state, no one would know that the current pillar of the Jun family also had moments when he couldn’t bear it, when he would cry loudly like a child.
As the sound of wind and rain grew stronger, her voice remained gentle and steady. That voice carried a heroic quality, yet also contained the unique tenderness of a woman.
She continued singing until his cries gradually subsided. As he fell silent, she slowly stopped singing and turned her head to look at him again. Her gaze was gentle and calm, remaining unchanged even as he raised his disheveled head.
His hair was in disarray, his face streaked with tears, but his eyes had become steady. Chu Yu smiled gently and handed him a plain handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms.
“Now that you’ve cried,” her voice carried a certain strength that filled one’s heart, as she slowly said, “it’s over.”
It’s over.
All things will end, and all sorrows will pass.
He had never fallen on the battlefield, and it was the same now.
Wei Yun took the handkerchief from Chu Yu’s hand and carefully wiped his face clean.
At this moment, the carriage stopped, and Wei Xia respectfully announced from outside, “Young Master, Young Madam, we’ve arrived at the manor.”
Chu Yu coughed lightly, and Wei Yun came forward to support her.
With everything settling down, Chu Yu suddenly felt as if she had collapsed. She leaned all her weight on Wei Yun and Wanyue as Wei Xia held an umbrella, helping her step down.
As she descended, Chu Yu saw the Jun household members standing quietly at the entrance, their gazes all fixed on her, seemingly awaiting an answer.
Chu Yu’s gaze swept over everyone before finally nodding.
“It’s all right now,” she said weakly. “The Seventh Young Master has returned. The Jun family will be fine.”
Hearing this, Wang Lan was the first to burst into tears. Zhang Han supported her, gently consoling her.
Xie Jiu stepped forward, taking Chu Yu from Wei Yun’s arms and helping her walk inside.
The Jun Manor suddenly became lively, with some rejoicing and others crying. Wei Yun, supported by Wei Xia and Wei Dong, walked into the courtyard. Looking at the white flowers filling the yard, he felt as if he hadn’t been home for several lifetimes.
He calmly gazed at the courtyard as the butler and others approached anxiously, saying, “Seventh Young Master, please return to your room and let the doctor examine you…”
Wei Yun didn’t respond. His gaze fell on the mourning hall not far away.
Everyone fell silent as Wei Yun pushed away Wei Xia and Wei Dong, walking alone toward the mourning hall.
Each step was extremely difficult, with his leg bones aching, but he still made his way to the front of the mourning hall. Seven coffins lay in the hall, seven memorial tablets stood on the altar, and the flickering candlelight illuminated the names on the tablets. Wei Yun stood quietly in front of the coffins, his solitary figure seeming as if he were the only person left in the world.
Jiang Chun and Yao Jue were helped out by others, but when they saw Wei Yun standing in the mourning hall, they paused, not daring to make a sound.
The young madams looked at Wei Yun’s back. Though dressed in prisoner’s clothes with his hair loosely tied back with a single band, he was still a youthful figure. Yet all the young madams unconsciously saw in this youth a resemblance to their husbands in their younger days.
The Heir Wei Jun, Second Young Master Jun Shu, Third Young Master Jun Qin, Fourth Young Master Jun Feng, the Fifth Young Master Jun Ya, the Sixth Young Master Jun Rong.
Wei Jun was refined, Jun Shu steady, Jun Qin romantic, Jun Feng unrestrained, Jun Ya gentle, Jun Rong cheerful… Though each had distinct qualities, in the candlelight, they all seemed to merge strangely in the youth named Wei Yun. There seemed to be something consistent about them, so much so that just by looking at that back, everyone could find the shadow they were looking for in that youth.
The young madams could bear to look no longer and turned away, all except Chu Yu, whose gaze remained fixed on the young man. She watched as he stood for a while, then slowly knelt, took three incense sticks from nearby, bowed respectfully, and placed them in the incense burner.
Then he stood up and calmly walked out of the mourning hall.
There was no reluctance, no sadness, no tears, and no wailing. Yet no one dared to accuse him of being unfilial.
That person seemed like a phoenix reborn from the flames, emerging as hope reincarnated in the world after experiencing utter despair.
As he walked out of the mourning hall, Wei Xia was the first to react, hurrying to support Wei Yun. Wei Yun didn’t refuse, allowing Wei Xia and Wei Dong to help him leave the mourning hall.
After he left, Wanyue asked Chu Yu, “Young Madam, shall we return?”
Chu Yu nodded, and only then did she return to her room.
After returning to her room and freshening up, Chu Yu felt completely drained. She collapsed onto her sickbed and slept for three days, drifting in and out of consciousness.
She only felt bowls of medicine being poured down her throat and vaguely heard many voices. Opening her eyes to look seemed to take a great effort.
Wei Yun’s injuries were mostly superficial, with only his leg bones needing rest. After being bandaged, he sat in a wheelchair, no longer in serious condition. Hearing that Chu Yu had caught a cold and couldn’t get up, he began to attend to her on the second day.
On the first day of her high fever, Chu Yu’s condition was most severe. Everyone took turns watching over her. By midnight, all the women were exhausted, and only Wei Yun, with his good physical condition, remained in the room with the servants.
Jiang Chun wanted to persuade Wei Yun to go to sleep, saying that with servants watching, nothing would happen. But Wei Yun shook his head and said, “I can’t rest easy without watching over Sister-in-law.”
Jiang Chun was slightly taken aback. She then understood that Wei Yun wasn’t keeping watch for Chu Yu, but using it as an excuse for his inability to sleep peacefully.
Although he didn’t cry or make a fuss, it didn’t mean he wasn’t in pain or distress.
So Jiang Chun withdrew, leaving only servants to accompany Wei Yun as he kept watch in the outer room of Chu Yu’s chambers.
Wei Yun didn’t go inside, but sat in the outer room, taking Wei Jun’s calligraphy to carefully imitate.
After Wei Jun’s death, whenever Wei Yun felt uneasy, he would start copying Wei Jun’s handwriting.
As the heir, Wei Jun had been required to excel in everything from a young age. Liu Xueyang, coming from a scholarly family, had particularly high expectations for Wei Jun. So despite being from a military family, Wei Jun had developed excellent calligraphy skills.
In the past, Wei Jun had often urged him to study diligently, but he had never been willing to put much effort into it. Now that Wei Jun was gone, as he fulfilled this person’s expectations for him, he felt as if he could once again touch the brother who had been perfect in his eyes.
As Wei Yun copied the calligraphy, Chu Yu was deep in a dream.
In her dream, there was vast, white snow. She walked alone in the snowy landscape.
When was this?
She pondered, looking at the snow falling across the thousand-mile plain, ice beads hanging on the withered grass. She vaguely remembered – this was when she was twelve years old.
At the age of twelve, she was with her father at the border. That year, the Northern Di people launched a sudden attack. She was playing outside the city, and by the time she returned, chaos had erupted. When her father ordered the troops to retreat, she didn’t know where to go.
So she ran towards the outskirts of the city, intending to hide in the woods. At that time, the sounds of battle and distant hoofbeats filled the air. Her heart was in turmoil, and she was lost, not knowing where to turn.
It was then that a young man appeared, riding on horseback. He wore a golden crown binding his hair, and dressed in red robes with a white cloak. He suddenly halted in front of her and asked urgently, “Why are you still here?”
She looked up and saw the young man. His face was as beautiful as jade, his eyes as cold as snow. A sword hung at his waist, and he was handsome and graceful.
He extended his hand to her and urged, “Come, I’ll take you away.”
She hesitated for a moment but finally placed her hand in his. He pulled her onto the horse, held her in his arms, and galloped towards the battlefield.
That was Chu Yu at twelve, and Gu Chusheng at fourteen.
There is no love without reason. Chu Yu recalled that the first time she realized she liked Gu Chusheng was probably at that moment.
She fell in love with the young man who reached out to her at that moment, and for that moment, she despaired for a lifetime.
So when she realized where she was at that moment, she began to breathe rapidly and started running desperately.
She wanted to leave this place. She never wanted to meet Gu Chusheng again. She didn’t want to relive her past life, nor did she want to hear any of the same words from her previous life.
In her dream, she ran desperately, trying to escape, but she still heard the sound of hoofbeats catching up.
“Come, I’ll take you away.”
“Come, I’ll take you away.”
The young man’s voice pursued her like a ghost, refusing to let go.
Chu Yu ran forward with all her might, but she couldn’t escape. She just couldn’t get away.
She gasped for air, running to the point of despair. She felt as if floodwaters were engulfing her. She struggled desperately in the water, but no one came to her rescue. She vaguely grasped onto something and held on for dear life. Water-like tears flooded her nose and mouth, threatening to drown her completely. She had almost given up struggling when she heard a voice calling, “Sister-in-law.”
It was Wei Yun’s voice.
He had noticed Chu Yu sleeping restlessly and couldn’t help but worry. Just as Long Yue had gone out to fetch medicine, Chu Yu cried out, “Save me!” Wei Yun could no longer contain himself. He pushed his wheelchair, lifted the curtain, and entered, stopping by Chu Yu’s side.
As soon as he reached her, about to check if her fever had subsided, she suddenly grabbed his sleeve. She held onto it tightly, as if it were her only lifeline.
“Save me…” she trembled, repeatedly whispering, “Save me…”
Wei Yun frowned and called out softly, “Sister-in-law.”
Chu Yu was trapped in her nightmare, her words mumbled and unclear. Wei Yun thought he heard a name that sounded like… Chusheng?
She spoke indistinctly, and Wei Yun couldn’t hear clearly. He only saw the young woman with her eyes tightly shut, gripping his sleeve as if terrified.
Gone was her usual composed demeanor. At this moment, Chu Yu finally looked like the fifteen-year-old girl she was.
Wei Yun changed the cloth on her forehead, his gaze falling on her trembling eyelashes.
She was beautiful, though at fifteen she had not yet fully blossomed. Her usual maturity was largely due to her makeup. Now, with her face bare, one could see the youthful innocence of a young girl.
Her skin was very fair, like white porcelain or beautiful jade. Now, covered in sweat, it had a flushed appearance. Wei Yun frowned, seeing her trapped in a nightmare, but feeling helpless. He could only call out to her repeatedly, “Sister-in-law, wake up.”
His voice seemed to travel across mountains and seas, like a Buddha’s chant, delivering a lost soul from the River of Forgetfulness.
Chu Yu heard his repeated calls, and her inner turmoil gradually calmed. That voice was like a guiding light, and she slowly walked toward it, finally seeing a faint glow.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the young man sitting beside her. His robe was trimmed with golden cloud patterns, and his long hair was tied back with a ribbon. His brow furrowed with worry, which slowly relaxed into a smile when he saw Chu Yu open her eyes. “Sister-in-law is awake,” he said.
Chu Yu stared silently at the young man before her, momentarily unable to recognize who he was.
She was dazed for a moment before realizing, “It’s Little Seven…”
As she spoke, Long Yue had already entered with the medicine. Seeing Chu Yu awake, she excitedly said, “Young Madam, you’re awake!”
Chu Yu nodded, raising her hand to let Long Yue help her up.
She felt feverish. Wei Yun handed her some water, and after drinking a few sips, she looked up at the sky and asked, “What time is it?”
“It’s the hour of Mao (5-7 am).”
Long Yue took the cup from Chu Yu’s hand. Chu Yu nodded, her gaze falling on Wei Yun. “Why are you here keeping watch?”
“Sister-in-law fell ill, and I was worried,” Wei Yun replied respectfully.
Chu Yu glanced at him and asked directly, “Is it worry or inability to sleep?”
“Both,” Wei Yun didn’t hide anything in front of Chu Yu. “I couldn’t sleep anyway, so I came to watch over Sister-in-law.”
Chu Yu responded with a soft sound. This exchange with Wei Yun slowly brought her out of her dreamlike state, and she no longer felt sleepy. She leaned back on the bed rather languidly and asked, “Why couldn’t you sleep?”
“I have dreams.”
“Oh?” Chu Yu looked up. Wei Yun lowered his gaze, looking at the patterns on the edge of his clothes. “I often dream of when my brother and father were still alive.”
The more beautiful the dream, the more cruel the awakening.
Chu Yu didn’t speak. After a moment, she changed the subject, “You’ve seen His Majesty, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“His Majesty told me to understand his difficulties.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu let out a light snort and lazily looked at him. “How did you respond?”
No matter how he responded, it must have been an answer that satisfied His Majesty, otherwise, Wei Yun wouldn’t be here. Although Chu Yu had gradually convinced the emperor of the Wei family’s unwavering loyalty, this matter was still one where the emperor had wronged the Wei family. If Wei Yun had shown any dissatisfaction, perhaps he wouldn’t be here now. Eliminating potential threats was common practice for emperors.
“I told him that I don’t understand many things, but I know I am a member of the Wei family.”
This answer intrigued Chu Yu. She bent her knees and placed her hands on them, smiling as she said, “What do you mean by that? The Wei family motto is to protect the country and the emperor, unwavering even in the face of death. Are you declaring your loyalty?”
“No,” Wei Yun smiled lightly. “I mean that I am a member of the Wei family, and the debts owed to my family will be collected, one by one.”
Chu Yu tilted her head, smiling as she looked at him.
Wei Yun’s thoughts didn’t surprise her. In her previous life, Wei Yun had been someone who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges, never letting an offense go unpunished. In this life, he wouldn’t suddenly become a model of loyal servitude.
“The Wei family protects the country and its people,” Wei Yun said calmly, “not loyalty to a particular surname or individual.”
“You tell me these things,” Chu Yu smiled, although she already knew the answer, “aren’t you afraid I might reveal them?”
If today’s words were to get out, Wei Yun wouldn’t live to see the next day’s sun.
However, Wei Yun looked up at Chu Yu, his gaze steady. “If Sister-in-law intended to harm me, why would you go through so much trouble to rescue me from the imperial prison?”
Chu Yu met his gaze.
Having gone through so much, watching this youth transform from a lively, ordinary boy into the calm and steady young man before her, he had changed in many ways. Yet his eyes remained as clear as ever.
The future Marquis of Zhenbei had eyes that could pierce straight to one’s heart, eyes like a cold pond. She had never looked closely before, but now she wondered, if she had looked carefully back then, would she have seen the pure clarity and the rippling light in this young man’s eyes?
She had often asked herself why she had gone to such lengths for the Wei family.
But looking into Wei Yun’s eyes, she slowly understood. It wasn’t for the Wei family but for these eyes.
She loved eyes so clear and pure and hoped that all those in the world with such eyes would live a peaceful life.
Heroes should have companions worthy of them. She had nowhere else to go, so why not be a companion here?
So she smiled softly.
“Indeed,” she sighed lightly, “I am the young madam of the Wei household, how could I harm you?”
Hearing this soft sigh, Wei Yun pressed his lips together, hesitating before asking, “Then… what are your plans?”
“What plans?”
Chu Yu was a bit puzzled. Wei Yun continued, “Today, people from the Yao and Xie families came to see Fourth Sister-in-law and Fifth Sister-in-law. I think they probably have their plans. The Chu family will likely send someone soon as well. Now that I’ve been released, I wonder what Sister-in-law’s plans are?”
Hearing this, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh.
“You just shared such important information with me, and now you’re asking about my plans. Do you think I might remarry someone else, yet still told me such crucial things?”
“Wei Yun,” Chu Yu’s eyes were full of understanding, “are you being too hypocritical or too naive?”
Wei Yun didn’t speak. Having his thoughts seen through made him feel a bit embarrassed. He pressed his lips together, remaining silent. Chu Yu lay on the bed, looking at Wei Yun like this, finding it quite novel. The thought that she was teasing the future Marquis of Zhenbei, known as the living Yama, gave her a strange sense of satisfaction.
She smiled at Wei Yun, leaning closer, and joked, “How about this? Whether I stay or go is up to you to decide. If you say go, I’ll return to the Chu family tomorrow. If you say stay, I’ll remain. What do you think, Seventh Young Master?”
Wei Yun pressed his lips together, becoming even more silent. Chu Yu observed his expression, wanting to know what he was thinking, but his face remained quite calm, and she couldn’t discern much.
Seeing that he hadn’t answered for a long time, Chu Yu waved her hand in front of his eyes. “Wei Yun?”
Wei Yun looked up at Chu Yu.
His gaze was serious and intense. “Rationally speaking, I hope Sister-in-law leaves. My sister-in-law is in the prime of her youth, and finding someone to remarry wouldn’t be difficult. My sister-in-law and eldest brother only met once, so there’s no deep affection. Staying until now was only due to Sister-in-law’s sense of righteousness. Now that Wei Yun is safely out of prison, Sister-in-law can set her mind at ease. There’s no reason for her to stay anymore, so leaving would be good for Sister-in-law.”
Chu Yu rested her chin on her hand and said lightly, “But?”
“Emotionally, I hope Sister-in-law stays.”
He looked at Chu Yu, seemingly having pondered for a long time, his expression sincere. “I hope Sister-in-law can stay with the Wei family.”
“Reason?”
Wei Yun didn’t speak. He wasn’t good at lying, but these truthful words, he couldn’t bring himself to say.
He feared a Wei family without Chu Yu.
If Chu Yu wasn’t there, if the only girl who could maintain a smile when the whole family was wailing wasn’t there, just thinking about such a scene made him feel afraid.
The path without Chu Yu wasn’t impossible to walk, but it would feel too dark and arduous.
Moreover, if one never knew the taste of companionship from the beginning, perhaps one could numbly press forward. But now, knowing it, returning to the original position became especially cruel.
But he dared not express such dependency, as it made him feel like a child clinging to an adult for candy, making him feel particularly awkward and unsightly.
Wei Yun remained silent, and Chu Yu didn’t press him. She looked at the young man’s nervous expression, and after a long while, she laughed softly.
“Ah Yun, you’re still a child.”
She looked at him, her expression gentle. Wei Yun looked up somewhat bewildered, seeing Chu Yu’s kind gaze.
“Occasional weakness is nothing to be ashamed of. I will stay with the Wei family and help you rebuild the Marquis of Zhenguo’s mansion. I don’t know how long I can stay, maybe one day I’ll find a new meaning in life, or perhaps I’ll meet someone I like, but before that, I will stay with you, waiting for you to grow up.”
“You will become a great person, a general who will go down in history,” she raised her fair hand and placed it on Wei Yun’s head. “And I hope that I can do something, to the best of my ability, for you and the Wei family.”