Li Weiyang quickly had no mind to consider Guo Yan’s matters, because Madam Guo had fallen ill. Moreover, this time her headache condition flared up doubly. Her entire person collapsed on the bed unable to rise. Under these circumstances, Duke Qiguo summoned an imperial physician skilled in treating headaches. Unfortunately, after the physician’s treatment, Madam Guo’s condition showed no improvement whatsoever.

Li Weiyang understood that on one hand, Madam Guo suffered from a heart ailment that ordinary medicines found difficult to treat. On the other hand, the methods used by imperial physicians from the palace were all too conservative and rigid, fundamentally lacking therapeutic effect. To allow Madam Guo to recover as quickly as possible, after much deliberation, Li Weiyang decided to invite Nalan Xue back. After treatment, Nalan Xue could now stand and walk, her bodily injuries mostly healed. Having her come treat Madam Guo now was most appropriate.

But when Guo Cheng heard of this, he strongly opposed it. “Jia’er, we’re currently in troubled times, yet you want to invite Nalan Xue back?!”

Li Weiyang’s expression was clear and open. “In my eyes, nothing in this world is more important than Mother’s health.”

Guo Cheng of course knew this. However, he always felt Li Weiyang was ruthless toward others, yet toward Nalan Xue alone, she was always especially concerned. “How could I not care about Mother’s health? But you must know, if Second Brother sees Nalan Xue, this matter will become troublesome.”

Li Weiyang gazed at him for a long while before saying in a low voice, “I don’t care about their affairs. I only want Mother to recover her health.” She didn’t care whether Guo Yan seeing Nalan Xue would cause great waves, even less did she care about others’ opinions. She only hoped Madam Guo could quickly recover her health. Other matters could be discussed afterward. Even if Guo Yan truly wanted to keep Nalan Xue, Li Weiyang felt there was nothing wrong with that. If Chen Bingbing hadn’t tried to kill Nalan Xue, Li Weiyang would still stand on her side. But now, Chen Bingbing was too disappointing.

Seeing Li Weiyang’s firm attitude, Guo Cheng couldn’t say much more.

So that very afternoon, Li Weiyang invited Nalan Xue to the Guo residence. Nalan Xue excelled at acupuncture arts. After treating Madam Guo with acupuncture for an hour, Madam Guo could already rise from bed, her expression also much more relaxed.

Seeing this scene, Li Weiyang’s pupils seemed to sparkle with light, joy about to emerge. “Thank you, Miss Nalan.”

Seeing those distinct black and white eyes of Li Weiyang reveal rare joy, Nalan Xue smiled gently, her expression concealing concern. “Madam Guo’s old ailment recurred due to accumulated worries and depression. In my view, Madam should be invited to recuperate in a place with clear mountains and beautiful waters for half a year. Only this way can her body gradually recover. She mustn’t be disturbed by troublesome matters anymore, otherwise…” Before she finished speaking, Li Weiyang already understood. “Mother has indeed been excessively worried.”

For Guo Yan’s matters, Madam Guo had indeed suffered considerably. But Li Weiyang didn’t plan to tell Nalan Xue everything. Just then, Madam Guo, who had been silent all along, suddenly looked toward Nalan Xue. “Miss Nalan.”

Nalan Xue turned around. Seeing Madam Guo’s gentle face, she couldn’t help raising a slight smile and saying softly, “Madam Guo, what can I do for you?”

Madam Guo’s brow seemed to hold an insolvable lock. “Years ago, Yan’er mentioned you to me.”

Nalan Xue’s heart jumped. Looking at her, more complexity appeared on her face. Madam Guo smiled slightly, as if not noticing the other party’s unusual expression. She said softly, “Yan’er once said that on the battlefield, he suffered severe injuries and was separated from his companions. He had no choice but to hide and recover at the Nalan home. So Miss Nalan is not only my lifesaver but also my son’s lifesaver. Not only has our Guo family failed to repay this debt of gratitude, but now we’ve even implicated you.” With that, she stood up and performed a deep courtesy toward Nalan Xue.

Nalan Xue quickly supported Madam Guo, saying repeatedly, “Madam, I dare not accept such a grand courtesy from you. Please rise quickly, rise quickly!”

Li Weiyang also immediately helped Madam Guo up. “Mother, you’ll frighten Miss Nalan like this.”

What status did Madam Guo hold? Yet she actually bent her knees to perform courtesy toward a young woman. If this spread, others would find it hard to believe. But Madam Guo looked at Nalan Xue with a normal expression. “There’s a gift I’ve always planned to give you, but never had the opportunity.”

Nalan Xue looked at Madam Guo, her face showing an inquiring expression. Madam Guo then instructed her personal maid, “Go fetch my box.” The maid looked somewhat shocked, then did as Madam Guo instructed.

Madam Guo opened it without hesitation. Li Weiyang saw inside was a jade bracelet. That watery green color could seep into one’s very heart—she had once seen this jade bracelet on Chen Bingbing’s wrist…

Madam Guo’s eyes were extremely serious. “Yan’er had a marriage agreement with you. He should have married you long ago. I prepared this jade bracelet long ago. Originally there was a pair. Bingbing has one, and the other I’m giving to you.”

Hearing Chen Bingbing had one, Nalan Xue immediately understood. Momentarily stunned, her heart jumped in shock. At this moment, Madam Guo was already putting the jade bracelet on her wrist. Nalan Xue turned aside to avoid it, forcing a smile. “Madam, you mustn’t. This can only be worn by the Guo family’s daughter-in-law.”

Madam Guo forcibly pulled her over, suppressed tears in her eyes. “In my heart, you’re no different from my daughter-in-law.” This single sentence made Nalan Xue’s eyes rapidly redden. She said nothing more. By saying such words today, Madam Guo was making her a promise—as long as she married Guo Yan, she absolutely wouldn’t be treated as a concubine, but as a proper daughter-in-law.

Li Weiyang looked at Madam Guo and instantly understood her thoughts. Madam Guo was different from others—she treated people very sincerely and had never approved of her sons taking concubines. So not only could the Guo family sons not take concubines, they didn’t even have a single maid in their rooms. But now Madam Guo was proactively proposing to Nalan Xue to marry her into the family. For the Guo family, this was already an extremely significant commitment. However, Chen Bingbing was Guo Yan’s legitimate wife. If Nalan Xue entered the family with the same treatment as Chen Bingbing, wouldn’t that equal being a co-wife? How could the Chen family let this rest?

Li Weiyang’s dark eyes held a layer of somber light. She wanted to speak but hesitated. Madam Guo must also know her actions were quite inappropriate, but guilt had long since overwhelmed everything. She was indeed trying her utmost to make amends for everything. But could Nalan Xue accept?

Nalan Xue lowered her eyes. Since childhood, her temperament had been tenacious and she had strong opinions. When she grew up, her parents selected many marriage prospects for her, but she refused to agree after considering them all. Finally, she had set her heart on Guo Yan and privately agreed to a marriage pact with him. In others’ eyes, such actions were shocking and unprecedented. But she never imagined that the one she had chosen was none other than Duke Qiguo’s second son, the famous ever-victorious general, with such an extraordinary status. Should she admire her own judgment or hate herself?

Now Madam Guo was actually proposing to marry her into the family. To everyone, this seemed perfectly normal—a powerful man of course couldn’t have only one legitimate wife. Three or four wives were commonplace. Moreover, given her relationship with Guo Yan and the Guo family’s guilt toward her, marrying in, she would be in no way inferior to Chen Bingbing.

However, Nalan Xue felt that her mistaken lifelong commitment had already become a joke. She couldn’t continue this joke. From the deepest part of her heart, she didn’t wish to destroy Chen Bingbing’s happiness, nor did she want to break the Guo family’s peace. So ultimately, she refused that jade bracelet. In her smile arose faint bitterness. “Madam, thank you for your kind regard, but I cannot accept.”

Li Weiyang, seeing Nalan Xue’s expression, knew she wouldn’t easily agree. She couldn’t help gently shaking her head.

Madam Guo sighed. “I know you may not agree, but I must say this to you: regardless of what you think, I will not take back this jade bracelet. Jia’er, please see Miss Nalan out.”

Li Weiyang nodded and smiled at Nalan Xue. “Please.”

Nalan Xue and Li Weiyang walked out of Madam Guo’s courtyard. Coming face to face, they encountered a beautiful woman—oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, dark hair piled high, wearing a crimson brocade dress with elegant bearing. If not Chen Bingbing, who else could it be?

The tree desires stillness but the wind won’t cease—what narrow enemies’ path this was. Seeing Nalan Xue, Chen Bingbing’s heart jumped. She had already tried her utmost to control herself from troubling Nalan Xue, but the other party had actually entered the household. This made panic involuntarily arise in her heart. But in front of Li Weiyang, she couldn’t say much, lest these words reach Guo Yan’s ears.

Chen Bingbing with difficulty suppressed the hot blood surging in her heart before speaking. “So Miss Nalan has come. Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked this question of Li Weiyang, yet her eyes remained fixed on Nalan Xue. Li Weiyang smiled slightly, as if not noticing her strangeness. “Second Sister-in-law always has many matters. Jia’er dares not disturb. Moreover, Miss Nalan only came to treat Mother. She’ll leave very soon. Second Sister-in-law needn’t mind.”

But Chen Bingbing smiled, blocking their path of departure, her tone suppressing some inexplicable emotion. “Since you’ve come, don’t rush to leave. Let’s sit in the pavilion.”

Nalan Xue and Li Weiyang exchanged glances, seeing a trace of surprise in each other’s eyes.

After they sat down in the pavilion, all three had their own thoughts. Facing the garden’s beautiful scenery, none had the heart to appreciate it. Chen Bingbing smiled, her expression very gentle. “Last time Miss Nalan saved little sister, and now you’ve come to treat Mother. I haven’t yet thanked you.” With that, she lightly clapped her hands. Immediately five maids entered the pavilion in single file, hands holding trays laden with gold, silver, and jewels. For a moment, the pavilion became dazzling and brilliant, sparkling with light, almost blinding one’s eyes.

Such jewels would move anyone’s heart, but Nalan Xue only remained indifferent, showing no particular joy.

Chen Bingbing said solemnly, “These are just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept them, Miss Nalan.”

Li Weiyang’s face bore a smile, yet she was thoughtful. Second Sister-in-law’s grand gesture—was it to make Nalan Xue conscious of the disparity in status and voluntarily depart? Indeed, the Chen family was purely noble, perfectly matched with the Guo family. And Chen Bingbing had been properly married in with three matchmakers and six rites, naturally different from Nalan Xue. Moreover, Nalan Xue’s marriage document had been burned by Guo Cheng. Now she held no proof in hand, much less anything to threaten the Guo family with. If not for Madam Guo’s guilty conscience wanting to make amends, Nalan Xue absolutely had no opportunity to enter the family. Just now Nalan Xue hadn’t agreed to Madam Guo, so naturally she wouldn’t accept such jewels.

Nalan Xue’s eyes didn’t fall on those jewels. She only lowered her gaze. “Thank you for Second Young Madam’s kind intentions. Nalan Xue would be ungracious to refuse.” She actually accepted! Li Weiyang couldn’t help being surprised. Then she understood Nalan Xue’s meaning—rather than let Chen Bingbing misunderstand, better to accept her gifts, letting her lower her guard and understand that Nalan Xue had no intention of competing with her for Guo Yan.

Seeing Nalan Xue accept the gifts, Chen Bingbing’s heart settled slightly. Then she smiled faintly. “Miss Nalan, you haven’t yet seen the last item.”

A maid then brought over the final tray. Nalan Xue opened the box on the tray. Inside was a jade-green silk handkerchief. Chen Bingbing smiled. “This was embroidered by the capital’s finest embroiderers, spending three days and three nights on this double-sided embroidery. What does Miss Nalan think?”

Nalan Xue held up the embroidery to examine it carefully. Her expression changed. From Li Weiyang’s angle, she could only see the embroidery’s reverse side showed a cute, naive cat, nothing particularly special. But Li Weiyang knew this embroidery must be extraordinary, otherwise Nalan Xue wouldn’t have changed expression on the spot. In fact, Nalan Xue saw the embroidery’s other side was merely a wind-blown lotus. On the lotus leaf weren’t twin blooms but three blossoms—the third obviously glaringly out of place. She immediately understood Chen Bingbing’s meaning. Suppressing the pain in her heart, she said indifferently, “Second Young Madam, I’ve received your intentions. I’ll accept all these things. Please be at ease.”

How could Chen Bingbing’s heart not ache? Seeing Nalan Xue, she only felt more guilty. This guilt almost overwhelmed her jealous heart, making her unable to breathe. Li Weiyang walked to Nalan Xue’s side and took the embroidery from her hands. Chen Bingbing’s expression changed. Just as she was about to say something, Li Weiyang lowered her eyes to look. “When did Second Sister-in-law’s thoughts become so exquisite?”

Chen Bingbing’s expression became very ugly. She hadn’t expected Li Weiyang would speak it aloud.

Li Weiyang herself didn’t know why she did this. Seeing Nalan Xue’s extremely pained expression, she couldn’t help thinking of herself. She didn’t know why, but she always felt Nalan Xue was very similar to herself. However, she, Li Weiyang, was someone of scheming cunning, while Nalan Xue was very kind. Otherwise, she could have agreed to Madam Guo’s proposal. Li Weiyang didn’t want this matter to cause enmity between Nalan Xue and the Guo family. That’s why she reminded Chen Bingbing not to go too far.

Chen Bingbing waved her hand, indicating the maids holding trays should all withdraw. She made up her mind. “Let’s speak openly. Miss Nalan, I know you came with intentions. I won’t beat around the bush with you. This makes it convenient for both of us.”

Nalan Xue’s tone was calm. “I came today purely for Madam Guo’s sake, with no other meaning. Please don’t overthink it, Second Young Madam.”

Chen Bingbing couldn’t suppress the emotion in her heart, her voice carrying a trace of trembling. “I have a few questions. You must answer honestly.”

Nalan Xue looked deeply at her. “I will certainly speak frankly and hold nothing back.”

Chen Bingbing’s attitude was like an interrogation. Li Weiyang shook her head. In her view, this second sister-in-law’s actions today were truly petty and mean, completely different from her usual self.

Chen Bingbing said, “You and my husband… did you always have contact before?”

Nalan Xue lowered her eyes and answered honestly. “Three years ago, General Guo suffered severe injuries in a campaign and was separated from his subordinates. He took refuge in the Nalan home. During that time, I cared for him. Before leaving, he promised me that in half a year he would come marry me. But I waited a very long time and never waited for that day.”

She spoke of a beauty-saves-hero scenario, quite a romantic tale. But to Chen Bingbing listening, it was undoubtedly a thunderbolt from clear skies. She clenched her hands, her voice shaking even more violently. “So you firmly remembered it in your heart and kept waiting for him, didn’t you?”

Li Weiyang looked at Chen Bingbing’s expression. Her original disgust gradually faded. Chen Bingbing digging so thoroughly into this hurt no one but herself. Even if she learned everything about Nalan Xue and Guo Yan’s past, what could it change? The one who saved Guo Yan was always Nalan Xue. The most important person in Guo Yan’s heart was also Nalan Xue. This story sounded very poignant, but unfortunately Chen Bingbing was the superfluous person in this story.

Fu’er, the maid beside Chen Bingbing, seemed extremely angry. She said indignantly, “May I ask Miss Nalan, at that time you were merely a maiden in her boudoir. How could you privately pledge love with a man?” Her rapid-fire questioning made Nalan Xue’s expression change.

Nalan Xue’s originally peaceful expression changed. “You say I privately pledged love with Second Young Master. Then your mistress, as a dignified daughter of a prestigious family—why would she insist on marrying only him? Clearly knowing he was unwilling, she still threatened with hunger strikes. Could Second Young Madam’s actions be considered open and aboveboard?”

Chen Bingbing hadn’t expected Fu’er would suddenly speak up. She even less expected Nalan Xue to know about this matter.

A trace of surprise appeared on Li Weiyang’s face. Her gaze fell on Nalan Xue, thoughtful.

After Nalan Xue entered the capital, many matters automatically reached her ears. This actually wasn’t strange. But she firmly remembered it in her heart, showing she wasn’t indifferent to Chen Bingbing, wasn’t without resentment. However, she concealed this share of resentment very carefully. If not driven to this point by Chen Bingbing, she wouldn’t have shown the slightest abnormality. But this was also understandable—after all, the one who stole another’s love, who took over like a cuckoo in a nest, was indeed Chen Bingbing.

Chen Bingbing knew the facts were thus. Ever since that banquet when Guo Yan returned from his post, she had fallen for Guo Yan—love at first sight, refusing to marry anyone but him. Even though her parents repeatedly tried to dissuade her, they couldn’t stop her. Naive, she thought Guo Yan had no reason not to like her. She was gentle and beautiful, lively and spirited. Famous young gentlemen who liked and pursued her were as numerous as fish crossing a river. She had thought she and Guo Yan would create a very beautiful marriage, everything falling naturally into place. But she hadn’t expected Guo Yan already had someone in his heart. Yet now she had no way to turn back. Before she could rebuke Fu’er, she was already pressing, “Even so, I am his properly married wife. We have parental orders and matchmakers’ words. What do you have?”

Nalan Xue laughed bitterly. She only felt incomparably disheartened and wanted to leave then and there. But looking at Chen Bingbing, after the exhaustion passed, injustice arose again. The husband who should have belonged to her was forcibly snatched away by another, and now this person came to interrogate her. Her eyebrows rose, wanting to mock Chen Bingbing. But seeing Chen Bingbing’s grief-stricken and indignant expression, the mocking words suddenly choked in her throat, becoming a large stone pressing heavily on her heart. In the end, those two were now husband and wife. Perhaps she had arrived too late.

At this moment, Chen Bingbing suddenly caught sight of the jade bracelet on Nalan Xue’s wrist. Her expression changed violently, her whole body trembling with anger. “If you have no designs, why are you wearing this bracelet?”

Just before Nalan Xue left, Madam Guo had placed this jade bracelet on her wrist again and repeatedly stated that regardless of whether Nalan Xue was willing to be her daughter-in-law, Madam Guo would never take back this jade bracelet. If she wasn’t willing to marry Guo Yan, Madam Guo would thereafter treat her as a daughter to care for. If in the future she had any difficulties, the Guo family absolutely wouldn’t shirk responsibility.

But at this moment, it became exceptionally eye-catching and glaring.

Chen Bingbing’s cheeks flushed red, momentarily enraged to the extreme. She was after all an exquisitely perceptive person. Seeing Nalan Xue wearing this jade bracelet, she had already guessed eight or nine parts. Thinking of last time when Madam Guo looked at Nalan Xue with such soft eyes, sparks flew wildly in her heart. The emotions that had just relaxed were now completely gone. She couldn’t help pressing, “Miss Nalan, can you still say you have no designs?”

Hearing her unkind tone, Li Weiyang gently reminded her not to lose composure. “Second Sister-in-law!”

Chen Bingbing whirled around. “Jia’er, this matter has nothing to do with you! If I don’t ask clearly, I have no way to be at peace!”

Li Weiyang sighed, retreated two steps, and left the space to them. Nalan Xue looked woodenly at Chen Bingbing without speaking. In fact, she could completely refute the other party, but she didn’t want to do so. She also didn’t want to further provoke Chen Bingbing. No matter what she did, the other party wouldn’t believe her. What need was there to explain?

This was where Nalan Xue differed from Li Weiyang. If others hurt Li Weiyang like this, she would definitely repay them a hundred or thousand-fold. But Nalan Xue—her temperament always held a kind of tenacity, even endurance. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have traveled thousands of miles to find this place yet been unwilling to demand an explanation face to face.

Chen Bingbing couldn’t help crying out in grief, her sobbing appearance making one feel very sympathetic. “I know my husband doesn’t like me. But I’ve already married him, and I love him so deeply.” Her last sentence suddenly broke off.

Nalan Xue already understood her meaning. She was saying she deeply loved Guo Yan and wouldn’t yield him to her.

Li Weiyang suddenly said indifferently, “Second Sister-in-law, knowing what you know now, would you still choose to marry Second Brother?”

Chen Bingbing was startled. Though she had asked herself this question countless times, hearing it from Li Weiyang’s mouth was unspeakably ironic. She almost forgot to cry, staring blankly at the other party for a long while before saying, “If I had known early on that he had someone in his heart, of course I would…”

Before she finished, Li Weiyang interrupted. “You would still rely on the Chen family’s power to force his compliance.”

Chen Bingbing was startled, not expecting Li Weiyang to speak so bluntly. She said through gritted teeth, “Yes! You’re right. Though I want to deceive myself by saying that if he had someone in his heart I would yield, now I can tell you, tell everyone—even knowing he has someone in his heart, I would still do this. Because I like him, I love him. I cannot lose him. Without him, I have no way to continue living!”

Chen Bingbing had once been infinitely pure and innocent. But her innocence was formed by her family’s protection. She had set her sights on Guo Yan and fell for him. The other party should joyfully marry her. Li Weiyang watched this scene, her heart no longer so sympathetic to Chen Bingbing. Relying on having everything, she presented a righteous appearance. Perhaps when she acted that way back then, there was some naive ignorance. But even now, she still had that matter-of-fact attitude, which was very unpleasant. Clearly knowing she broke up lovers, she still disregarded propriety, disregarded moral principles, even disregarded others’ hearts.

In Li Weiyang’s view, what angered her was this last point, which played a decisive role. If previously she had stood on Chen Bingbing’s side helping her keep Nalan Xue outside the door, at this moment Li Weiyang had completely leaned toward Nalan Xue’s side. This was determined by Li Weiyang’s character—she most detested those who relied on possessing everything to wantonly trample others’ lives. Chen Bingbing actually hadn’t done anything particularly vicious. But everything she did today was rubbing salt in others’ wounds, and very cruelly at that.

However, Li Weiyang was someone who hid her thoughts very deeply. She only suppressed the anger in her heart, her gaze becoming unprecedentedly cold. She wouldn’t interfere in this matter, but that didn’t mean she would just watch Chen Bingbing interrogate Nalan Xue like this.

She stepped forward, about to speak, when Nalan Xue gently shook her head at Weiyang and spoke before her. “Second Young Madam, from now on I will never again step through your Guo family’s door. Even more, I won’t reconcile with Second Young Master. As for this position of Guo family’s Second Young Madam, I won’t covet it either! You just sit there peacefully, forever and ever!”

Chen Bingbing looked at Nalan Xue. Thinking of Fu’er’s warnings, her smile became unprecedentedly cold. Her teeth forcibly squeezed out these words. “Is what you’re saying true?” Chen Bingbing had always been a very gentle and lively person, never so harsh and hostile before.

Nalan Xue said seriously, “What I said is true.”

But Chen Bingbing shook her head, emotions agitated. “But I don’t believe you. If you truly forgot your feelings for him, why linger around the Guo family?”

Nalan Xue’s gaze was indifferent. “If I leave the capital, the Pei family will threaten my life. You wouldn’t destroy my marriage then also want to kill me, would you?”

Chen Bingbing sneered coldly. “This is just an excuse! Do you know that once news of you and Guo Yan spreads, no matter how great his achievements, he’ll become others’ laughingstock. Of course, being a laughingstock is minor. Who knows if it might give those with ulterior motives excuses to harm my Guo family, endangering the Guo family’s reputation. Even if we successfully avoid this disaster, gossip about Guo Yan will still spread throughout the court, suffering descendants’ scorn and condemnation. Do you want my Guo family to bear this infamy for generations?”

Chen Bingbing’s words were like a series of lightning bolts striking Nalan Xue one after another. Her face immediately turned pale, in an instant almost transparent. Back then she and Guo Yan were mutually attracted. Her beloved asked to pledge their lives together, so she agreed to his request. But she hadn’t expected that waiting and waiting, all that came was a letter severing their relationship. Of course she was unwilling to give up, which was why she painstakingly searched for him. Was this also wrong?

Chen Bingbing’s anger hadn’t subsided. She actually already knew Nalan Xue wouldn’t compete with her for Guo Yan anymore. But every time she saw Nalan Xue, fear of her romantic rival made her become aggressive. She suppressed her emotions. “I believe you’re a sensible person who knows what to do. If you still care about him at all, please leave here as soon as possible. Even if the Guo family lets you remain in the capital, I have no way to tolerate it. If you’re willing, I can arrange for you to marry immediately. Only this way can you avoid the Pei family’s sinister intentions and completely disappear from my life!”

“Enough!” Li Weiyang suddenly cut off Chen Bingbing’s words, suddenly standing before Nalan Xue, her gaze directly meeting Chen Bingbing’s eyes. Chen Bingbing looked at Li Weiyang in surprise, as if not expecting her to speak.

She spoke, “Jia’er, this is between me and Nalan Xue!”

Li Weiyang’s gaze was firm. “This isn’t just between you two! Today, Second Sister-in-law, whatever you want to say or do is your freedom. But you cannot use your private desires to force Miss Nalan to marry randomly. You’ve already interfered with her marriage. Now do you also want to ruin her life?”

Chen Bingbing looked at Li Weiyang, her expression instantly panicked, suddenly becoming hysterical. “Are you just going to watch this woman ruin my life? Jia’er, wasn’t I good to you in the past? Why must you stand with outsiders…”

Before she finished, Li Weiyang raised a hand to stop her, smiling faintly. “Second Sister-in-law, I’ll remember all the good you’ve shown me. But that’s not a reason for me to ignore right and wrong! Wrong is wrong, right is right. You’ve already entered the Guo family’s door, so you must follow the Guo family’s rules. Father and Mother would never approve of you doing this!”

Chen Bingbing said coldly, “I’m doing this for the Guo family!”

Li Weiyang’s words were sharp as knives, her language pointed. “No, you’re doing this for yourself! Clearly knowing Miss Nalan doesn’t want to enter the Guo residence anymore, doesn’t want any connection with Second Brother, yet you press aggressively, insisting on forcing her to marry! Are you truly doing this to eliminate this future trouble for the Guo family? No, you’re only doing this to make Second Brother forever give up on Nalan Xue.”

Chen Bingbing looked at Li Weiyang, completely stunned. Li Weiyang sighed, looking at Chen Bingbing. “Second Sister-in-law, even the heaviest chains cannot lock up a person’s heart. Conversely, even the smallest thread of affection can make someone unable to extricate themselves. If Second Brother keeps loving Nalan Xue, doing this will only completely chill his heart, with no possibility of recovery.”

Chen Bingbing couldn’t speak a single word. She slowly sat back on the stool, despair in her gaze, murmuring, “Then what should I do? What should I do?” Fu’er quickly supported her, lowering her eyes to cast resentful glances at Li Weiyang.

Li Weiyang didn’t look at her again, turning to Nalan Xue. “Miss Nalan, let me see you out.”

Nalan Xue glanced at Chen Bingbing, nodded, then descended the steps with Li Weiyang. Li Weiyang actually personally escorted Nalan Xue to her carriage. Nalan Xue said, “Miss Guo, just see me off to here. I can return on my own.”

Li Weiyang’s heart stirred. She ultimately made up her mind. “Originally I didn’t want to tell you about this matter. But from the current situation, you two should also have a resolution.”

Nalan Xue’s heart jumped. A trace of something unusual flashed through her eyes. “What do you mean by this?”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “Second Brother’s matter—I presume you’ve already heard of it.”

This matter had already spread throughout the court like wind and rain. Nalan Xue wasn’t deaf or blind—of course she knew. She immediately said, “Yes, I know.”

“I’ll take you to see him.” Li Weiyang stepped onto the footstool and boarded the carriage, her tone as calm as if going on a spring outing.

In a very ordinary private residence, a man sat alone in the room. A full table of delicacies—he hadn’t touched a single chopstick. Watching as they lost their heat, their appearance turning cold and untouched, he suddenly became alert, abruptly standing and asking toward the door, “Who?”

“Second Brother, it’s me.” Li Weiyang smiled gently, pushing open the door from outside. Guo Yan saw her travel-worn, still wearing a smile on her face. He couldn’t help being stunned.

Li Weiyang’s expression was normal. “Second Brother, today a guest has come to visit. You two keep it brief. I’ll send her away very soon.” With that, she stepped aside, revealing the person behind her. If not Nalan Xue, who else? These two locked eyes, both momentarily stunned. Li Weiyang stepped out of the room, then closed the door for them.

Guo Yan looked at Nalan Xue, almost not knowing what to say. But Nalan Xue, after her initial shock, smiled faintly. “I didn’t expect to see Second Young Master Guo again in this lifetime.” These words already carried unspeakable irony.

Guo Yan looked at Nalan Xue, immense pain welling in his gaze. After a long while, he sighed. “I also thought I would never see you again in this life.”

Nalan Xue glanced at that table of intact dishes, the untouched cups and chopsticks. Her heart ached. The man before her was still as before—divinely handsome. But his expression was very haggard, in an instant becoming very striking. She looked at him and ultimately couldn’t help saying, “Can you safely pass through this affair?”

Guo Yan didn’t want her to worry. He only insisted, “I believe there’s no problem.”

Nalan Xue smiled slightly. “Then I’m relieved—seeing you safe is already very good. I’m leaving.” With that, she turned toward the door. Guo Yan didn’t keep her. He slowly walked to the table and sat down with difficulty. He felt acute pain in his left abdomen and couldn’t help reaching out to touch the wound there. When he was fleeing, someone had slashed his left abdomen with a blade. If not for the shallow cut, he would have long since met the King of Hell. At this moment, lightly touching it, his fingertips were already stained with blood. But his expression was distant, as if the blood didn’t flow from his body.

No matter how painful, it couldn’t compare to the intense pain in his heart.

Nalan Xue walked to the door, suddenly whirled around, looking at him. “You’re injured?”

Guo Yan forcefully suppressed the wound, his expression merely indifferent. “I’m fine.” Then he furrowed his brow again. “You should leave quickly.”

Nalan Xue glanced at the patches of bloodstains rapidly seeping through his blue clothing. This man with upright bearing was trembling uncontrollably. She quickly returned, saying to him, “Let me treat you.”

But Guo Yan pushed her away with force. “No, this has nothing to do with you! The farther you go, the better.”

Nalan Xue froze in place, not speaking for a long time. She looked at him and finally couldn’t help asking the question she’d always wanted to ask. “I never asked you why. I thought you would give me an answer.”

Guo Yan lowered his head. “Since it’s already done, there’s nothing to explain. I did abandon you. If you ask whether I regret my decision, I do regret it. But if you made me choose again, I absolutely wouldn’t change my original decision.”

Nalan Xue’s fingers trembled. “Is the Guo family truly so important to you?”

Guo Yan smiled faintly. “The Guo family bore and raised me. Naturally it’s important. I cannot abandon all my family members, even less can I make them sad and distressed for your sake.”

Nalan Xue suppressed her pain. “So you abandoned me for their sake?”

Guo Yan looked at the pain in her expression. He thought in his heart, no matter how you hate me, it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re alive and safe, that’s more important than anything. So during his difficult breathing, he smiled gently. “You shouldn’t have come to this capital. This kind of place isn’t suitable for your survival. Even if you had married me back then, you wouldn’t have been happy, because you wouldn’t like the scheming here, even less would you like the people and affairs here.”

Nalan Xue suddenly said sternly, “These are all just excuses! You’re only selfish. You didn’t dare face your choice, which is why you fled to the frontier!”

Guo Yan raised his head and said loudly, “No! You’re mistaken. Perhaps at the beginning I had deep feelings for you, but now Bingbing has moved me. She’s my wife. From now on, I’ll treat her wholeheartedly and will never fail her. In my heart, I’ll only regard you as a friend!”

Nalan Xue looked at him in shock. After a long while she said, “You’re lying to me! I don’t believe you could change your heart so quickly. At that time you clearly said…”

No matter how indifferent Nalan Xue pretended, her heart couldn’t possibly completely let go of this matter! But Guo Yan shook his head. “You think too highly of me. Promises are one thing; whether they can be kept is another. Seeing my lovely wife beside me, how could I miss a woman I can’t even see? Clinging bitterly to a promise even I can’t grasp—wouldn’t that be too laughable?”

Nalan Xue looked at him as if at a stranger. She couldn’t understand why he would say such things. Even if Guo Yan told her his choice back then was due to helplessness, or said one sentence that he still thought of her, had never forgotten her—then no matter how he treated her, she wouldn’t blame him.

But speaking like this now, he clearly wanted her to resent him, to forget him forever. Nalan Xue looked at Guo Yan. “I understand your meaning now. You’re driving me away, aren’t you?”

Guo Yan looked at her without speaking, pain suppressed to the utmost in his eyes. Nalan Xue said through gritted teeth, “I came to the capital with no other meaning, only to make a final farewell to you. After leaving you, I’ll return to my hometown, find someone suitable for me there, and live out my life properly.”

Guo Yan looked at her, seeming both relieved and pained. “Only then can I be at ease.”

Nalan Xue nodded. “Do you still remember when we first got together, you played that tune ‘Youth’s Journey’ for me? You said that if possible, you’d rather not be a great general, only accompany me traveling the world, being a pair of immortal lovers.”

How could Guo Yan forget? In the depths of midnight dreams, this always lingered in his heart. “If possible, I too would hope for that. But you know, that day will never come for me.”

Nalan Xue smiled. “Sometimes don’t think so far ahead. Since this is our final parting, could you play ‘Youth’s Journey’ for me once more? I want to keep this last memory.”

Guo Yan glanced at the jade flute he always carried with him and nodded. “Alright, let this tune be your farewell.” With that, he took down the jade flute and gently played it for her.

Li Weiyang had been standing outside the door all along. Through the window she could see clearly everything happening inside the room. Just then she suddenly heard faint footsteps. Turning her head, she saw walls of moonlit shadows and flower clusters. As he came gracefully, falling petals danced around him, as if a tranquil, silent picture with only lingering fragrance swirling.

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “My second brother being here—I truly owe you much for looking after him.”

Yuan Lie snorted coldly, saying awkwardly, “Whatever you ask me to do, have I ever handled anything poorly? I see your second brother is also troubled in his thoughts. Today this tune is truly very mournful!”

Li Weiyang felt deeply moved. “Clearly having feelings yet pretending to be unfeeling. Clearly having love yet pretending to be cold. Such people truly live too suppressed—it’s meaningless.”

Yuan Lie looked at Li Weiyang, his smile blooming every fraction of charm to its fullest, like a poppy flower, enticing people forward. “You say he’s suppressed. Aren’t you suppressed yourself?”

Li Weiyang glared at him. “What do I have to suppress? Compared to him, I’m very happy.” The one she loved always stayed by her side—this was the greatest happiness. She saw this from Nalan Xue.

Yuan Lie smiled slightly, gripping her hand tightly. “No matter when, I’ll remain by your side.”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly without speaking. Her gaze looked sympathetically toward Guo Yan and Nalan Xue in the room. These two people clearly loved each other yet had to pretend to be indifferent as clouds and light as wind.

Inside the room, Guo Yan continued playing the flute without stopping. But two tears silently fell from his eyes. This inability to cry or laugh, wanting to advance yet stopping—such deep emotion was most moving. Li Weiyang listened to that poignant, soul-deep melody, as if she could hear his longing and torment, as if seeing Guo Yan’s painful choice—advancing meant marrying Chen Bingbing, retreating meant traveling the world with Nalan Xue. His flute sound gradually lowered, continuing as a subtle sound like a secluded spring trickling.

Nalan Xue’s heart broke, tears falling, while Guo Yan’s flute sound seemed to sob.

Li Weiyang’s thoughts couldn’t help rising and falling with that stirring melody, ultimately slowly settling. She sighed. “Since neither of them is dead, the future road must still be walked slowly. Who knows—perhaps they’ll still have opportunities, right?”

Yuan Lie looked at Li Weiyang, his face revealing a trace of surprise. “You would never have said such things before.”

Li Weiyang spoke to herself. “Oh, what would I have said?”

Yuan Lie’s expression was gentle. “You would have said such matters should have been severed cleanly long ago, lest failure to decide brings disaster.”

Li Weiyang’s face showed a trace of confusion. “Has my heart… become softer?”

Yuan Lie nodded. “Yes. I didn’t expect you would help Nalan Xue. Even less did I expect you’d let them meet. I thought you would prioritize the overall situation and sever their thoughts then and there.”

After thinking for a moment, Li Weiyang shook her head. “Toward enemies, naturally one must be cold. But Nalan Xue isn’t my enemy. Moreover, avoiding meeting isn’t the best method. Letting them meet once to make a clean break can actually minimize the harm. Regardless of whether Nalan Xue leaves or not, I’ll send people to protect her continuously until this matter completely ends.”

Yuan Lie smiled. “Your methods of handling things are much gentler than before. In my view, killing Nalan Xue with one stroke would be safest.”

Li Weiyang glared at Yuan Lie. “Your method is truly crude. It would only make the trouble even greater. How can the human heart be something you can knead and mold?”

Yuan Lie didn’t care. He stepped forward to embrace Li Weiyang. Li Weiyang struggled but couldn’t break free, so she let him be. Yuan Lie held warm fragrant soft jade in his arms, lowering his voice. “You still haven’t promised me you’ll stay by my side forever.”

Li Weiyang was slightly startled. She turned to look into Yuan Lie’s eyes. After thinking it over, she smiled. “Are you afraid I’ll abandon you because of the Guo family?”

Yuan Lie nodded, quietly watching her. In his eyes was a trace of heart-wrenching panic. “If that day truly came, would you do so?”

Li Weiyang didn’t speak for a long while. She looked into Yuan Lie’s eyes. Those amber eyes held not a trace of doubt, not a trace of testing—only sincerity, only emotion serious to the extreme.

This person—how much must he love her to be so anxiously fearful?

Li Weiyang gently cupped his face. A kiss light as a breeze fell on his forehead. She smiled. “No. No one will be more important than you.”

He was stunned, then overjoyed. The dragonfly-touching-water kiss instantly slid across her nose tip, jaw, lips, turning and sucking, not going deep, only intimately nuzzling.

“Weiyang.” He sighed softly, supremely satisfied.

Li Weiyang’s heart stirred. “For making you worry, I’m sorry… Also, I love you.”

Finally it was spoken—words hidden in her heart for so long.

Her voice was very soft yet exceptionally clear, entering Yuan Lie’s ears at once, making him almost suspect he was dreaming. Then he suddenly awoke, wild joy surging into his heart. In one motion he embraced Li Weiyang, kissing her deeply without allowing explanation. This kiss was intense and deeply affectionate, almost making even Li Weiyang’s soul tremble. At this moment there was no suspicion, no doubt, no fear. She only honestly faced her own heart.

If she loved, she loved. What was there that couldn’t be admitted? She had watched Nalan Xue and Guo Yan—lovers unable to be together—wasn’t that enough? The happiness right before her eyes—she wanted to grasp it, hold it firmly in her palm, not allowing anyone to take it away. This would give her even more courage and strength to keep this man forever by her side.