After Chu Jin left, Chu Yu clasped her hands in front of her, watching the snow in the courtyard melt under the warm sun.
Chu Jin had come to ask for her help, so the matter of Song Wenchang could no longer be delayed. Even if Chu Jin couldn’t make it to Luozhou, she couldn’t allow Song Wenchang to live any longer.
After pondering for a moment, just as she was about to give an order, someone announced from outside that Jiang Chun had arrived.
These days, Jiang Chun managed almost all the household affairs. She usually came to Chu Yu to go over accounts or discuss social engagements. However, they had just reviewed the accounts two days ago, so Chu Yu was somewhat puzzled by Jiang Chun’s visit today.
Nevertheless, she didn’t dwell on it and went to welcome Jiang Chun in, smiling as she said, “One doesn’t visit the temple without a reason. We just went over the accounts two days ago, so what brings you here today?”
“I came because there’s something I wanted to discuss with you,” Jiang Chun said, stepping forward with a sigh. “I’m planning to take a trip soon.”
This statement caught Chu Yu off guard, but she quickly recovered. “If you want to go out, you’ve already informed Mother-in-law, so just go. What do you need to tell me?”
Chu Yu smiled and added, “With all this chaos, surely you’re not planning a long journey?”
To her surprise, Jiang Chun didn’t deny it but nodded instead.
Chu Yu looked at her in astonishment. Jiang Chun had been married into the family for many years and had always been very proper. Though she wasn’t as confined as Wang Lan or Zhang Han, who never left the inner courtyard, she rarely went out, at most visiting temples to pray and chant sutras. She had only returned to her maiden home a few times.
Chu Yu set down her teacup and asked with concern, “Has something happened?”
“I heard that the troops are now near the Fen River. I have a childhood friend there,” Jiang Chun said with a sigh. “Don’t laugh at me, but I want to go to the Fen River to help my friend. If possible, I might bring her back to the Wei household and arrange a position for her to work.”
“That’s a small matter,” Chu Yu nodded, then asked curiously, “What happened to this lady?”
“She and her husband were betrothed as children. When they grew up, her husband didn’t like her and insisted on marrying a courtesan as his wife. Her mother-in-law forced her husband to marry her instead and took the other woman as a concubine. Her husband resented her for this, favoring the concubine and neglecting his wife. She’s living a miserable life now.”
Jiang Chun sighed and continued, “I received a letter from her some time ago saying she had a child and didn’t want to leave it in the household. She wanted to entrust the child to me. I was planning to go after things settled down here, but today I received news that troops are approaching the Fen River. I’m afraid if fighting breaks out there, her husband surely won’t take her when fleeing, and it will be difficult to find her then.”
Understanding Jiang Chun’s feelings, Chu Yu knew that Jiang Chun didn’t have many close friends in her life, and this childhood friend must be very important to her.
So Chu Yu quickly said, “Then let Xiao Qi prepare a team of men for you. Go quickly and return quickly. The Northern Di are indeed approaching the Fen River, and if you go too late, fighting might break out.”
Chu Yu then added, “I’ll give you a letter as well. If anything happens, you can find Song Shilan…”
She stopped mid-sentence, realizing she had been wondering who to send to deliver the letter and person to Song Shilan to kill Song Wenchang.
Killing one’s brother was a serious matter, and not a hint of it could be leaked. If Song Shilan wasn’t completely sure it was someone from the Wei family, he wouldn’t act rashly. Now with Jiang Chun going there, as the Second Madam of the Wei family, she was undoubtedly a genuine Wei family member, not an impersonator. Moreover, it would be perfectly normal for Jiang Chun to bring elite guards with her. They could kill Song Wenchang and return, and no one would be able to connect the two events.
After some thought, Chu Yu turned to Jiang Chun and said, “Sister, I have a favor to ask.”
“Oh?”
Jiang Chun looked up as Chu Yu stood and quickly wrote a letter at her desk. She sealed it in an envelope and handed it to Jiang Chun.
“I’ll have Xiao Qi give you two teams: one of regular guards openly, and one of elite assassins in secret. You’ll overtly go to the Fen River, but covertly take the assassins to Xuancheng at night. Deliver this letter to Song Shilan, then assist him in killing Song Wenchang.”
Hearing this, Jiang Chun’s expression turned serious. “You want Song Shilan to kill his brother and take his place?”
“This is a deal between Xiao Qi and Song Shilan.”
After a moment of silence, Jiang Chun asked, “Isn’t it too hasty to act now?”
“Song Wenchang is already besieged by the Northern Di in Xiao Ju County,” Chu Yu explained. “Right now, it’s only thanks to Song Shilan’s harassment tactics nearby, distracting the Northern Di from fully attacking Song Wenchang, that he’s still alive. Moreover, the Northern Di might be using Song Wenchang as bait to lure Da Chu into sending troops to Xuancheng, making it easier for them to attack other key points. I’m afraid my brother might go to rescue him, so if this man must die, it’s better sooner than later.”
“When you arrive, have Song Shilan launch a night raid on the Northern Di. When chaos breaks out, Song Wenchang will surely go to the city walls to observe the battle. Have the assassins sneak onto the wall during the confusion, take Song Wenchang’s head, and throw his body onto the battlefield, disguising it as the work of Northern Di assassins. Then withdraw immediately.”
“The assassins should carry fire starters,” Chu Yu paused, then finally said, “If discovered, they should set themselves on fire, leaving no trace to identify them.”
The killing of Song Wenchang must not be traced back to Song Shilan or the Wei family in any way.
Jiang Chun remained silent for a moment, then nodded, “I understand. You can rest assured about this matter. I’ll depart tomorrow. The household will rely on you to take care of things while I’m gone. If you need to go out, leave matters to A Lan.”
Chu Yu agreed. Jiang Chun thought for a moment, then frowned and said, “There’s one more thing. Keep an eye on A Lan and that person in the dungeon.”
“What about them?”
Chu Yu was puzzled, not understanding why Jiang Chun suddenly brought this up. However, as Jiang Chun now managed the household, she knew the ins and outs of both big and small matters. If she said to watch them, something must have happened.
“I feel that A Lan’s correspondence with that person has become rather frequent lately.”
Jiang Chun said with concern, “That person is, after all, imprisoned in the dungeon. I’m worried that in terms of status… it might be somewhat inappropriate. But this is A Lan’s choice, and I can’t interfere too much…”
As Jiang Chun spoke, Chu Yu finally understood. She widened her eyes in surprise and said, “But with Shen You’s sharp tongue, aren’t they just arguing? I… I saw their first exchange of letters, and A Lan was moved to tears by his words!”
Hearing Chu Yu’s words, Jiang Chun looked at her helplessly. “You’re usually so clever in other matters, how have you not realized this? Who argues through daily letter exchanges? If they truly disliked each other, they would stop looking. How could it be like now, where they can’t wait to send five meals a day just to exchange letters?”
“Huh?”
Chu Yu was genuinely confused. How could someone like Shen You, who was more likely to anger others to death, be thought of daily?
And five meals?
“They send breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon, snacks in the afternoon, dinner in the evening, and even a midnight snack!”
Chu Yu fell silent, thinking that Shen You must be living quite well in the Wei household.
Seeing that Chu Yu had understood, Jiang Chun sighed and said, “Actually, it’s fine if A Lan likes him, but his status is still…”
“Status isn’t the problem.”
The problem lay in what Shen You had done.
Ultimately, Chu Yu’s feelings towards the Wei family were more those of a follower. She came to the Wei household as an executor of her beliefs. The Wei family gave her warmth, and she was grateful. It wasn’t until later when she got to know people like Jiang Chun and Wei Yun, that she slowly moved the Wei household from being just a symbol to a place in her heart, treating them as a living, breathing family.
But she was ultimately not like Wang Lan, a young madam who loved her husband and had children. So when it came to Shen You, she could see things more clearly.
In the Battle of Baidi Valley, Shen You had brought incorrect information, but the message was half-true and half-false, not entirely wrong. At that time, it was supposed to be a defensive battle of attrition, and even if the enemy had ambushed with 100,000 men, they shouldn’t have sent troops out. Chu Yu had warned them repeatedly because both then and now, they should have held the city. The Northern Di’s supplies were insufficient and would have retreated on their own.
Chu Yu didn’t know why Wei Zhong had sent troops, let alone why he had taken the entire Wei family with him. If the Wei family had defended the city and not gone out, even if the information about the number of enemy troops was wrong, it wouldn’t have led to this outcome.
More importantly, even if they had to send troops, it wasn’t impossible to win. With 190,000 against 200,000, it should have been an even battle. Yet Yao Yong had fled in the heat of battle, leading to defeat.
The decisive problem didn’t lie with Shen You at all. Whether Shen You had reported 100,000 or 200,000 enemy troops wasn’t the key issue in their defeat. The key was that this battle shouldn’t have been fought at all, and once it started, Yao Yong shouldn’t have fled.
Not to mention that the crux of this battle wasn’t on Shen You. Even if Shen You was guilty, it was dereliction of duty, but not intentional, and objectively unavoidable. Such a crime was like the Wei family abandoning the city—it could only be a moral crime, punished as a deterrent. In high-risk matters like espionage, if one were to be severely punished for errors made despite their best efforts, who would be willing to take on difficult tasks?
But for those directly involved—Wang Lan, who lost her husband; Wei Yun, who lost her father and brothers; and Shen You, who was forced to be born on the battlefield—it was hard for them to let go of this resentment.
They probably found it difficult to face anyone associated with the deaths of the Wei family.
Therefore, while Chu Yu could let go of the entanglement between Wei Yun, Wang Lan, and Shen You, Wang Lan might not be able to accept it.
After some thought, Chu Yu said to Jiang Chun, “Don’t worry about this. I’ll keep an eye on them.”
Jiang Chun nodded. Since Chu Yu was taking charge of the matter, she didn’t need to worry about it further.
So Jiang Chun went over the details of her trip to the Fen River with Chu Yu once more, then left to find Wei Yun.
Chu Yu sat in her room for a while, pondering, then decided to go to the dungeon.
Shen You was eating in the dungeon while writing something, looking extremely happy. During his days in the dungeon, he appeared to have gained weight and seemed more lively than when she first saw him as an assassin.
As Chu Yu entered, he held up a chicken leg in one hand and a brush in the other, saying, “Don’t collect it yet, I haven’t finished writing.”
“How long are you planning to write?” Chu Yu smiled as she sat down on a chair.
Shen You was startled, then looked up at Chu Yu in surprise. “Why are you here? I’ve already confessed everything I can!”
Chu Yu smiled without speaking, observing him for a moment before saying, “Young Master Shen looks in good spirits. It seems you’re living well in the Wei household.”
Shen You didn’t respond. He put down the chicken leg, looking somewhat embarrassed. “If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush with me.”
“Alright,” Chu Yu nodded. “I’m here to ask, I heard you’ve been getting along well with our Sixth Madam lately?”
Hearing this, Shen You’s expression stiffened. “What nonsense are you talking about? I argue with that young lady every day, how could we be getting along well?”
“Oh, I see,” Chu Yu nodded. “Then I’m relieved.”
Shen You let out a sigh of relief, but then heard Chu Yu continue, “You remember what you’ve done, don’t you?”
Shen You trembled slightly. He turned to look at Chu Yu, who gazed at him with gentle eyes. “I’m not here to give you trouble. But Shen You, a relationship should be open and honest. It’s best if you have no feelings for A Lan, but if you do, there are some things you need to clear up early on.”
Shen You remained silent for a long while before asking in a low voice, “What things are you talking about?”
“Don’t you know in your heart what I’m referring to?”
“Shen You,” Chu Yu leaned forward, “Do you truly believe you’re completely blameless for what you’ve done?”
Shen You let out a cold laugh. “What wrong have I done?”
“If you think you’ve done no wrong, why did you tell Xiao Qi about these things?”
Chu Yu stared at him, her eyes full of understanding. “If you hadn’t said anything, we might never have known about your involvement. Of course, perhaps Xiao Qi would never have known the truth either.”
“You told us,” Chu Yu said calmly, “Wasn’t it because you wanted to make amends? You brought the wrong information, though unintentionally, but it was still your mistake. It wasn’t something within human control, and you’ve already received a whipping from the Young Marquis, so the Wei household won’t pursue it further. But in your conscience, don’t you feel any guilt?”
“You do,” Chu Yu stated confidently, her eyes fixed on his, full of clarity.
“You could have continued being an assassin under Yao Yong, but you not only came to Huajing to kill Gu Chusheng, but you also exposed your accent in front of everyone. That sentence didn’t have to be shouted by you, did it?”
Shen You remained silent. Chu Yu looked at him with some regret. “You knew the Wei family was here, so you intentionally wanted to be caught by shouting that sentence with a Northern Di accent. In your confession, you also deliberately pointed out the date of September 7th. If you wanted to hide it, you could have chosen a less sensitive time. You did all this to lead us to let you confess. Do you think this method does justice to your benefactor Yao Yong? Or do you think taking a beating from the Wei family will make you feel a little better?”
“Shen You,” Chu Yu sighed softly, “Why bother?”
Shen You didn’t speak. Chu Yu slowly continued, “What’s done is done. Let’s put the past behind us. But regarding your relationship with the Sixth Madam, you need to think clearly. A relationship should be open, and you need to let her know what you’ve done in the past.”
“If I don’t tell her,” Shen You spoke hoarsely, “will you go and say it?”
Chu Yu was silent for a moment. “I hadn’t thought about it.”
She looked at Shen You. “Will you not tell her?”
After a moment of silence in the air, Chu Yu sighed, “You’re a fine man, why force yourself into such a position?”
“Alright,” Shen You suddenly spoke. He took a deep breath. “Then, Madam, could you arrange for me to bathe and change clothes? I’ll go tell her myself.”
Chu Yu nodded and gave the order, then turned to leave. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Shen You agreed. As Chu Yu reached the door, Shen You suddenly said, “Madam.”
Chu Yu stopped and turned to look at him. She saw Shen You kneeling on the ground, his expression calm. “I act this way because I know how difficult it is to forgive someone.”
“Back then, even though the Wei family did their best, my mother still fell into hardship because of it. I still harbor resentment towards the Wei family. And now the Wei family has come to this because of my wrong information. If we talk about forgiveness, it would be too stifling. So I fear that the Wei family might forgive me out of their magnanimity. If the Wei family hates me, they can hate me openly. Someone as narrow-minded as me doesn’t deserve such magnanimity. Whether they want to beat me, scold me, kill me, or flay me, I’ll accept it all.”
Chu Yu looked at him and shook her head.
“What’s the point of your death?” She sighed. “If you truly feel guilty, why not do more for the country and the people to ease your conscience?”
“As for forgiveness, to be frank, in my heart, your fault in this battle is insignificant and not worth such self-blame. As for how others feel, it’s not for me to say.”
“Shen You,” Shen You bowed respectfully, “Thank you, Madam.”
Chu Yu nodded and turned to leave.
In the main hall, Chu Yu was reading when Wan Yue announced that Shen You had arrived.
Shen You was wearing a white shirt and blue robe, his hair tied with a pine wood crown. Chu Yu put down her book and nodded, “Follow me.”
She led Shen You towards Wang Lan’s room.
Wang Lan was still recovering. When Chu Yu arrived, Wang Lan was playing with her child on the bed.
Chu Yu entered Wang Lan’s room, smiling as she said, “A Lan, are you feeling well?”
Seeing Chu Yu, Wang Lan hurriedly tried to get up, but Chu Yu quickly walked to her side, smiling as she said, “Please stay seated. I’m here on someone else’s behalf today.”
“Oh?” Wang Lan blinked. “Does the First Madam have some matter?”
“Shen You wants to see you.”
Chu Yu smiled as she spoke. Wang Lan was taken aback, then quickly said, “This… how could this be appropriate? He’s an outsider, and…”
“Don’t be so quick to refuse.”
Chu Yu sighed. “Listen to me. Your family previously told the Wei household that when the child turns two, you would return to the Wang family.”
Wang Lan didn’t speak. She pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Seeing her expression, Chu Yu said gently, “Shen You seem to have feelings for you.”
“This matter,” Wang Lan sighed, “can be discussed later. For these two years, I just want to stay peacefully in the Wei household.”
“But do you truly have no feelings for him at all?”
“First Madam…”
“If you have such feelings, it’s better to speak face to face.” Chu Yu insisted, “Why don’t you hear what he has to say?”
Hearing this, Wang Lan pursed her lips, but finally said, “Then please wait a moment, First Madam. I’ll come after I freshen up.”
Chu Yu agreed and went to the front hall. She had a screen set up and asked Shen You to wait outside it.
She patted Shen You’s shoulder and said calmly, “I’ll step out first.”
Shen You responded, looking rather nervous.
After a while, Wang Lan came out from behind the room. She held a round fan to cover her face as she came behind the screen. She knelt properly and softly called out, “Young Master Shen.”
Shen You was at a loss for words. He knelt on the ground, silent.
Wang Lan waited quietly with him for a while, then couldn’t bear it anymore. “Earlier, the First Madam told me that Young Master Shen had something to say. May I ask what Young Master Shen wants to say?”
After speaking, Wang Lan couldn’t help but lower her head.
She had guessed some of what Shen You wanted to say. Although their recent correspondence had been full of arguments, it would be a lie to say she was completely unaware of his feelings.
But Wei Rong had not been gone for long, and she couldn’t get over her moral hurdle to act this way. Yet when his letters came, she couldn’t help but reply.
So each time she told herself it was fine to reply properly, but then she would toss and turn at night, despising herself for this indulgence.
Now that Shen You had come, she felt even more uneasy. She was afraid of what he might say and also afraid of what he might not say. Her heart was filled with anxiety, but she thought that if he did confess, she would refuse.
If he truly liked her, he would wait for her.
If he couldn’t wait, then it couldn’t be counted as true affection.
Having made all these calculations, Wang Lan finally spoke up. But after speaking, she heard no response for a long time. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she heard his hoarse voice: “Shen You has come here specifically to beg for the Sixth Madam’s forgiveness.”
He paused three times in a single sentence, speaking with extreme difficulty. Wang Lan was somewhat surprised: “What crime have you come to confess?”
Shen You closed his eyes: “The crime of harming the Wei family. Shen You has come specifically to confess.”
Hearing these words, Wang Lan’s eyes widened, while Shen You found a sense of determination in the darkness.
In truth, he had prepared himself for everything before coming. What was there to fear now?
He hadn’t been afraid when facing Wei Yun’s eyes, so why should he fear a young lady behind a screen?
Shen You’s voice was calm as he slowly recounted his life story.
He was born in the red-light district. His mother had been captured by the Northern Di when the city fell and sold into prostitution. He grew up in the Northern Di territories until he was thirteen, enduring endless humiliation. His mother died after being abused. It wasn’t until a general conquered that city and rescued all the Great Chu citizens.
To avenge his mother, he was taken in by that general and trained to become a spy. At seventeen, he returned to the Northern Di, infiltrating their military camp and becoming a vanguard officer under the Second Prince Su Cha.
Then he delivered the wrong information, and seventy thousand people of the Wei family died in White Emperor Valley.
He knelt before Wang Lan, his voice hoarse: “Although I don’t know exactly what happened, I’m aware that the Wei family’s tragedy must be related to me. Though Shen You is a small man, he hasn’t lost his conscience. After much inner turmoil, I’ve taken the opportunity of Gu Chusheng’s death to come to the Wei mansion and turn myself in.”
Hearing these words, Wang Lan was completely stunned.
She looked at the man outside, unsure of what emotions to feel. Hearing the circumstances related to her husband’s death, her eyes couldn’t help but fill with hot tears. Yet she knew that crying like this in front of others would be improper, so she only said: “These words, Mr. Shen should have said to the Marquis. Things have come to this point, what meaning is there in Mr. Shen confessing to me?”
“The person is gone…” Wang Lan’s voice was choked with sobs: “Even if I were to blame you, what could I do?”
This crying voice blocked all of Shen You’s words in his throat, making everything he wanted to say seem particularly vile.
He had originally intended to say that the reason he was confessing to the Madam was because he had intentions of proposing marriage, willing to go through fire and water to atone for his sins, hoping for the Madam’s mercy.
However, her sobs forcefully blocked his words, and no matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to say such things.
So he knelt on the ground, and after a long while, could only say: “Madam has just given birth, please don’t be too sorrowful. Shen You is guilty and willing to serve Madam as a beast of burden. Even if Madam is unwilling, Shen You will still serve Madam with all his might.”
“Leave!”
Wang Lan didn’t want to hear anymore.
To have such feelings for someone who indirectly caused her husband’s death, how utterly shameful was that?
Her sorrow turned to humiliation, and she raised her voice: “Let’s never meet again, leave quickly!”
Shen You didn’t speak. Hearing these words, he already understood.
For Wang Lan, perhaps she never wanted to see him again in this lifetime.
Shen You knelt, prostrating himself. He couldn’t help but slowly raise his head.
Behind the screen, he could only vaguely see a silhouette, but he clearly remembered the first time he had stumbled upon her, the glistening light in her eyes.
How could he simply be dazed by female beauty?
It was only when those eyes looked into his heart that he understood this feeling of compassion.
He gazed greedily at the figure behind the screen.
This feeling, to say it was as firm as a mountain oath or as vast as the sea, might not be quite accurate.
But this slight stirring of the heart, for Shen You, was his first. This was his first time coming to Huajing, to the South. As he had imagined, the scenery here was exquisite and delicate, and even a small fondness could be gentle and lingering.
Hearing her sobs, he finally slowly lowered his head.
“As Madam commands, Shen You will take his leave now.”
Saying this, he kowtowed, stood up, and walked to the door. Finally, he couldn’t help but turn back.
“Sixth Madam,” he looked at the screen, his voice hoarse: “Though these words may be despicable, my feelings for Sixth Madam are genuine.”
Wang Lan was slightly startled. Shen You turned and left.
The wind carried snow, just like his usual clean and decisive manner in the North, without looking back.
Wang Lan slowly raised her head, seeing only tree branches swaying gently in the wind outside the screen. She bit her lower lip, finally unable to hold back, and began to sob.
Chu Yu was standing in the long corridor. Her hands were tucked into her sleeves, leaning obliquely against a pillar. Seeing Shen You approach, she straightened up and calmly said, “Did you say what you needed to?”
“Mm.”
The two walked away, with Chu Yu escorting Shen You back to the dungeon: “You’ll probably have to stay in the Wei mansion for a while longer. Until the matter is cleared up and Yao Yong is dead, I’m afraid you won’t be able to leave.”
“Mm.”
Shen You responded. Chu Yu noticed his expression and said flatly, “It didn’t go well, did it?”
“As it should be.”
Shen You calmly replied. Chu Yu thought for a moment and said, “If you had feelings for the Sixth Madam from the beginning, why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Shen You remained silent for a long time. Finally, he said, “I didn’t have such thoughts at first. It was just casual courtesy and response. In the prison, I didn’t know what to do, and when she sent a letter, I replied.”
Speaking, Shen You raised his head to look at the sky, slowly continuing, “Later, when I developed feelings, I didn’t dare to say it, and didn’t plan to say it. I thought once I left the Wei mansion, this matter would be over.”
“And now?”
Shen You didn’t speak. After a long while, he took a deep breath.
“I want to marry her.”
He raised his head to look at Chu Yu. Chu Yu stopped in her tracks, somewhat surprised. Shen You’s gaze was resolute: “While talking to you just now, I thought it through clearly. You’re right, even if I died today, what meaning would it have? The battle at White Emperor Valley has many doubts, it’s certainly not just my fault. I will help the young Marquis investigate the truth. After I help the Wei family avenge their grudge, I will serve her as a beast of burden. If she likes me in this lifetime, that’s very good. If she doesn’t like me, that’s fine too.”
“You haven’t known her for long, have you?”
Chu Yu couldn’t quite understand such feelings. Shen You smiled gently: “I’ve never liked anyone before. To be honest, if she were just an ordinary young lady and she rejected me, I would just leave. But she is the Sixth Madam.”
There was a hint of bitterness in Shen You’s eyes.
The Sixth Madam of the Wei family – he owed the Wei family, he owed her.
Even if he didn’t like her, he should compensate her.
Staying by her side was both atonement and pursuit.
He didn’t know which day she would let go, which day he would find peace. But this path, he wanted to walk.
Chu Yu understood the meaning of his words. The two fell silent, then heard a clear, youthful voice: “What are you doing here?”
Chu Yu and Shen You turned around to see Wei Yun standing in front of the corridor, staring at Shen You with furrowed brows. Chu Yu was about to explain when she heard Shen You laugh and say, “I, with my incredible powers, have bewitched your Wei family’s First Madam…”
Before he could finish, Wei Yun’s sleeve directly knocked him rolling into the courtyard. Shen You got up, cursing, “Wei Yun, I’ll…”
The sound was still hanging on his lips when Wei Qiu directly stuffed a cloth ball into Shen You’s mouth, pressing him down.
Wei Yun turned to look at Chu Yu. Chu Yu, somewhat embarrassed, said, “He’s talking nonsense…”
Wei Yun nodded: “I know,” then turned and asked, “Sister-in-law, do you plan to go to the dining hall?”
“It’s time.” Chu Yu nodded and walked towards the dining hall with Wei Yun. Although Wei Yun didn’t speak, Chu Yu quickly exaggerated the story of why she had brought Shen You out.
Wei Yun listened with furrowed brows, somewhat puzzled: “Sister-in-law means to say that Shen You has taken a liking to Sixth Sister-in-law?”
“That’s right.”
Chu Yu nodded, observing Wei Yun’s expression, hesitantly saying, “I think you don’t like Shen You much…”
Wei Yun understood what Chu Yu was referring to. He shook his head: “I can distinguish this matter clearly. I’m just a bit curious,” Wei Yun smiled, his expression gentle, “That such a person would wholeheartedly like someone.”
“When you meet that person, everyone’s the same.” Chu Yu smiled, raising her hand to brush aside a stray hair near her ear. Wei Yun turned to look at her, seeing a flower bud on a branch just behind Chu Yu. He couldn’t help but ask, “When you like someone, do you like them enough to give up everything for them?”
Chu Yu was somewhat surprised, then remembered that a fifteen-year-old boy was probably at the age of curiosity.
She smiled gently: “That depends on how much you like them.”
Wei Yun furrowed his brows, seeming to seriously ponder something. His cat-like eyes were as clear and beautiful as colored glass. Chu Yu, watching his serious contemplation, couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Little Seven,” she patted his shoulder, “If you ever like someone in the future, be sure to tell Sister-in-law about your thoughts.”
“I’m sure,” Chu Yu’s eyes curved in a smile, “it will be very interesting.”
Wei Yun looked at the woman, her smile as radiant as spring sunshine, and just silently watched. Chu Yu found it a bit strange: “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Wei Yun expressionlessly nodded and responded, “Alright.”
After speaking, Wei Yun turned away, slipping from under her hand, and walked towards the dining hall. Chu Yu rubbed her nose.
Oh, she knew it, Wei Yun had been unhappy lately.
And Wei Yun was just thinking about how he felt when he knelt in the ancestral hall, looking at Wei Jun’s memorial tablet.
He felt something was on the tip of his tongue, yet he dared not speak. So he neither listened nor spoke, only feeling more and more suppressed with each passing day.
Spring flowers were beginning to gather strength, green leaves sprouting from branches. The young man in plain clothes and a jade crown walked along the wooden corridor, holding a hand warmer. Combined with the spring light, it made Chu Yu feel momentarily dazzled.
Looking at his back, Chu Yu couldn’t help but turn and ask Wan Yue, “Do you think Little Seven has grown taller?”
Wan Yue smiled gently, “The young Marquis is growing up, after all.”
Chu Yu was slightly startled.
That’s right, sooner or later, this young man would grow up.
He would become as excellent and handsome as his father, and as those ladies in Huajing had hoped when he entered the city at thirteen, truly worthy of being called the Jade Gentleman of the Wei family.