The judgment concerning Pei Hui quickly spread throughout the capital. Beyond their astonishment, people couldn’t help but sigh at how unpredictable fortune and misfortune could be. Previously, Pei Hui had stood out among numerous noble young masters and leapt to become a prince consort—this should have been a tremendous joyous occasion. Yet in the blink of an eye, this perfectly fine bridegroom had personally strangled to death a palace maid serving the princess on his wedding day, and was saddled with charges of drunken misconduct and attempting to murder the princess. Had the Crown Prince not intervened on his behalf, Pei Hui would surely have lost his life. However, death might have been preferable, for instead his kneecaps were gouged out, turning him into a cripple. For Pei Hui, this was probably more unbearable than death itself.

Half a month later, a horse carriage stopped at the entrance to the imperial prison. Pei Bi descended from the carriage and hurriedly entered the prison. The Capital Magistrate was waiting for him at the entrance and immediately stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting. “Young Master Pei.”

Pei Bi nodded faintly. “I’ve come to receive my younger brother.”

The Capital Magistrate revealed a troubled expression. “According to protocol, Second Young Master Pei has already received his punishment and should be returned to the Pei family, but…” Before he could finish his sentence, Pei Bi’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Does Your Excellency have some difficulty?”

The Capital Magistrate sighed. “Young Master, please follow me. You’ll understand once you see for yourself.”

Pei Bi followed where the Capital Magistrate directed. He saw Pei Hui clutching the damp, cold bars of the prison cell with both hands, his face terrified and ashen, his entire body trembling uncontrollably. “Second Brother.” Looking at him, Pei Bi felt unbearable pain in his heart and called out softly.

Unexpectedly, Pei Hui suddenly raised his head and shouted loudly, “I’m guilty! I’m truly guilty!” His expression was frantic, his face deathly pale.

Pei Bi looked deeply into his eyes and said through gritted teeth, “You have no guilt! This time, I’ve come to take you out.” His gaze fell to Pei Hui’s lower body. When Pei Hui had crawled over just now, he had already seen the bandages wrapped around his knees, the patches of bloodstains alarmingly vivid.

Pei Hui’s handsome face was covered entirely with tears and mucus as he looked at Pei Bi with a blank expression.

Looking at his most beloved younger brother, Pei Bi’s voice was unprecedentedly gentle. “Second Brother, come home with me.” He then said to the jailer, “Open the cell door.”

The jailer asked, “Young Master Pei, shall we help carry Second Young Master out?”

Pei Bi gently shook his head. After the cell door opened, he actually disregarded how filthy the prison was and voluntarily walked inside. He then bent down and wrapped his arms around Pei Hui’s thin spine, feeling the body in his hands trembling incessantly. Pei Bi only said softly, “Don’t be afraid. Elder Brother is still here. As long as I live, no one can harm you.”

Pei Hui clearly couldn’t hear his words, only murmuring repeatedly, “I’m guilty, I’m guilty!”

Pei Bi turned around and hoisted Pei Hui entirely onto his back. He himself was frail and weak, so carrying someone looked truly precarious. This scene left everyone dumbstruck. A servant immediately said, “Young Master, please leave Second Young Master to us.”

Pei Bi didn’t even glance at him, stepping over the withered yellow straw and walking out of the cell. On his back, Pei Hui continued making strange sounds from his throat, like a sword sliding across gravel, repeating over and over just three words: “I’m guilty…” As if he knew no other words. Pei Bi looked extremely frail, yet he carried him very steadily, slowly saying, “Second Brother, we’re going home. I will definitely cure your illness.”

All the way to the main entrance, Pei Bi refused to let anyone else help, descending the steps one by one himself. Then he saw a person—a young woman standing quietly at the entrance to the wine house across the street, wearing beautiful luxurious garments, her face plain and pale, her eyes jet black, watching him with a smile. This face, Pei Bi knew, would probably be deeply branded in his mind for the rest of his life.

It was none other than Miss Guo, Li Weiyang.

Li Weiyang smiled gently and nodded slightly at Pei Bi. Pei Bi looked at her expressionlessly. After a moment, a trace of cold amusement appeared in his eyes. He nodded slightly, as if greeting her, then turned and boarded the carriage. The wheels began rolling, pressing against the cobblestones with a rhythmic sound.

Li Weiyang watched the Pei family’s carriage disappear at the far end, a faint smile playing at her lips. She turned and went upstairs. In the wine house’s private room, Yuan Lie sat by the window, toying with a jade hairpin in his hand, looking completely bored. Seeing Li Weiyang arrive, he grinned and said, “Well? Did you just see that Pei Bi?”

Li Weiyang nodded. “We happened to meet.”

Yuan Lie nodded slightly and said slowly, “This Pei Bi is no simple character. No matter how I investigate, information about him is scarce. All these years, in the high-profile Pei family, he’s lived so mysteriously—it’s truly strange.”

Li Weiyang gazed quietly out the window at the red clouds chasing the sun, her voice calm. “His choice to remain hidden in a separate estate can only indicate one thing.”

Yuan Lie couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows. “Oh? What does it indicate?”

Li Weiyang smiled gently, turned back, and looked into Yuan Lie’s eyes, her tone measured. “It can only mean that Empress Pei has preserved him as her finest resource. Or rather, if the Pei family ever encounters great disaster, he would be the last person left behind. Only…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but Yuan Lie already understood. He laughed heartily. “Only now you’ve forced him out into the open.”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “Perhaps I didn’t force him out—perhaps he came out voluntarily. Consider this: seeing his own brother suffering, if he turned a blind eye, how could he have been chosen as the Pei family’s true heir?”

Yuan Lie was startled. Indeed, Pei Bi must possess exceptional qualities to have earned Empress Pei’s special regard. Then he took the hairpin he’d been playing with for so long, leaned forward gently, and placed it in Li Weiyang’s hair. After studying it for a moment, he said, “It’s truly beautiful.”

Li Weiyang glanced at him, warmth welling in her heart. “I’ve already told you, I have too many jewelry pieces already. You don’t need to keep sending more, or I’ll have to explain to Mother where I bought such expensive things.”

Yuan Lie smiled gently. “This isn’t anything expensive. Some time ago I took a liking to a stone and gambled on buying it. When I opened it, I found this jade inside. So I learned jade carving from a craftsman and carved it myself to give to you. You can’t buy it anywhere else.”

Hearing this, Li Weiyang removed the hairpin and examined it in her hand. “This magnolia flower is carved so lifelike.”

Yuan Lie smiled. “As long as you like it.”

Such an exquisite little thing must have taken so much thought. Yuan Lie was always like this—moving her profoundly without fanfare. Li Weiyang nodded. “I like it very much.”

Yuan Lie seemed to remember something. “This time Pei Hui suffered such a great loss, and his mental state seems to have been traumatized. Every day he only says those three words ‘I’m guilty,’ and nothing else. He’s even forgotten who he is.”

Li Weiyang carefully caressed the jade hairpin in her hand, feeling its warm, smooth texture. “Anyone subjected to continuous interrogation will go mad.” In fact, Li Weiyang’s method was quite simple—continuously giving someone hope, then personally destroying that hope before their eyes, plunging them into even deeper despair. Once or twice might be bearable, but ten or twenty times would drive anyone insane. It was like raising a dog—abandon it once and it can find its way back; abandon it twice and it will still return. But abandon it more than ten times and it too will go mad. Even animals are like this, let alone humans. The more intelligent Pei Hui was, the heavier the blow he suffered. Li Weiyang said softly, “If the Pei family hadn’t opposed my Fifth Brother, I wouldn’t have dealt with him this way. I would have just given him a quick end.”

Yuan Lie smiled. “Everything follows the cycle of heavenly justice and retribution. I’m sure Pei Bi will greatly appreciate the gift you’ve sent him.”

Li Weiyang looked at Yuan Lie’s handsome face and merely smiled without speaking.

At the Pei residence, several physicians were all summoned to Pei Hui’s room. Pei Bi had them examine Pei Hui one by one, but everyone shook their heads at him. One physician said to Pei Bi, “Young Master, Second Young Master’s ailment is of the heart. Forgive us, but we are powerless to help.”

Pei Bi felt unbearable pain in his heart and couldn’t help saying, “Yes, he has indeed suffered trauma. But I hope you can provide proper care so his mental faculties can recover somewhat.”

The physicians exchanged glances but could only shake their heads. “This time Second Young Master’s injuries are truly too severe. Even if cured, he would only be a simpleton.” Upon saying this, they saw Pei Bi’s gaze darken and quickly fell silent.

Pei Bi’s expression recovered in just an instant. He instructed his attendants, “Very well, escort the physicians out.”

The physicians left trembling with fear. Pei Bi sat in a chair, quietly watching his brother. Just then, Pei Fan walked in from outside. Seeing Pei Hui’s foolish appearance, he sighed and said to Pei Bi, “Don’t waste time on your second brother anymore. The physicians have all said he’s beyond saving.”

Pei Bi raised his eyes and frowned. “Father, just ten days ago you said Second Brother was our family’s entire hope.”

Pei Fan couldn’t help grinding his teeth. “Do you think I want this? He’s my own son! Seeing him reduced to this state, don’t you think it breaks my heart? But there’s no other way!”

Pei Bi said indifferently, “What does Empress Pei say?”

Thinking of this made Pei Fan frown involuntarily. He sat down beside him and said word by word, “According to the Empress, we shouldn’t have saved Pei Hui at all. Had the Crown Prince not pleaded desperately, Her Majesty wouldn’t have intervened.”

Pei Bi laughed coldly. He had long been prepared for Empress Pei’s ruthlessness. This aunt of his—no one knew what she was thinking, and no one could control her mind. In Empress Pei’s eyes, everyone in the Pei family was merely a support structure to help the Crown Prince. Beyond that, the Pei family held no meaning for her. Even her own father and uncle were ordered about and shown no mercy by Empress Pei, to the point where both trembled in fear at the sight of her. In such a calculating woman’s eyes, Pei Hui had become a discarded piece. Of course she wouldn’t save him. But while Empress Pei was heartless, the Crown Prince was not, so with a small stratagem, Pei Bi had convinced the Crown Prince to preserve Pei Hui’s life. Only Pei Bi hadn’t anticipated that before he could retrieve Pei Hui, he had already gone mad.

Pei Hui lying on the bed still murmured repeatedly, “I’m guilty, I’m guilty…”

Pei Fan couldn’t help his anger. “Will you shut up!” His voice was extremely loud, seemingly startling Pei Hui on the bed, who suddenly began crying mournfully.

Pei Bi looked at his brother and said gently, “Second Brother, you needn’t fear. Elder Brother is here.” Then he glanced coldly at Pei Fan, who trembled and immediately said, “What kind of look are you giving me?”

Pei Bi lowered his eyes, his tone indifferent. “Second Uncle, I will naturally handle this matter. Please attend to your own affairs.” Whenever Pei Yuan wasn’t present, Pei Bi would still address Pei Fan as “Father,” but this time he called him “Second Uncle.” Nominally speaking, since Pei Bi had been adopted into the main branch, this wasn’t incorrect, but Pei Fan still felt strange about it. Looking at this son of his, he momentarily didn’t know what to say. In truth, he had never understood what this child was thinking. Perhaps from childhood until now, he had never liked this quiet eldest son. Even after Empress Pei designated Pei Bi as the heir of the main branch, Pei Fan’s heart still held no affection for this son. But what could he do now? The Pei family only had this one son remaining. Whether he liked it or not, he had to accept the fact that Pei Bi would become the true heir of the Pei residence. So Pei Fan couldn’t argue with him. He only sighed deeply, stood up, and walked out.

Pei Hui on the bed seemed frightened. Pei Bi’s expression grew gentle as he comforted him repeatedly. “Second Brother, even if everyone else abandons you, I will never leave you. You are my brother. I promised Mother I would take good care of you.” Pei Fan’s first wife had died many years ago. Among the brothers, only Pei Bi and Pei Hui still retained memories of their mother.

Pei Bi personally shaved off Pei Hui’s unkempt beard, then changed him into his original fine clothes. But Pei Hui’s eyes were sunken, showing his haggardness, and his deranged expression showed no improvement whatsoever. Pei Bi looked at his brother, patted his head like a child, and smiled. “Are you hungry?”

Pei Hui seemed lost in thought, only murmuring, “I’m guilty.”

Pei Bi remained silent, turned and ordered food brought, but didn’t want any servants attending. Only he remained. He even personally served Pei Hui food, saying, “These are all dishes you’ve loved since childhood.” But Pei Hui’s eyes were full of panic. Looking at Pei Bi held no familial affection—only fear and dread. Pei Bi was very patient, personally holding the rice bowl and feeding Pei Hui bit by bit. But Pei Hui suddenly knocked the bowl from his hands with a crash. At this moment, Pei Hui was crying and making a scene, completely like a four or five-year-old child. He overturned the entire table of food and dishes, then desperately crawled on the ground—completely a person who had lost all control.

Pei Bi immediately summoned people to clean up the filth everywhere and replace everything with a new table. When only the two of them remained in the room, Pei Bi said with heartache, “Second Brother, I truly never imagined you would become like this. Could a mere Li Weiyang really drive you to madness?”

Pei Hui didn’t answer him. In just over ten days, his eyes had become bloodshot, his skin loose and no longer delicate as before. Combined with his crazed expression, ordinary people seeing him would never believe this was the once handsome and elegant Second Young Master of the Pei family.

Pei Bi sighed softly, barely suppressing his pain. “Come, Elder Brother will feed you.” But as soon as he approached, Pei Hui crawled and rolled to hide under the table, striking his forehead on the brass-edged table corner. Bright red blood flowed continuously down his cheek, yet he seemed to feel nothing, staring at Pei Bi with bloodied eyes.

Pei Bi advanced another step, and Pei Hui shrieked in alarm. Pei Bi forcefully grabbed his arm and shouted loudly, “Second Brother! Wake up! I’m your elder brother! Don’t you recognize me?” Pei Hui showed no response. He cowered like a lowly rat, no longer showing any trace of his former spirit and vigor.

Pei Bi cleaned and dressed Pei Hui properly again, then helped him onto the bed. Pei Hui caused a commotion for a long while before finally falling asleep. Only then did his peaceful face seem to recover something of its former brilliance. Pei Bi looked at his brother, his expression extremely somber. He dismissed everyone and sat by the bedside for a very long time, almost becoming like a statue. Finally, he said slowly, “Second Brother, if you were still clearheaded, you would surely find living with such humiliation unbearable.”

Pei Hui had no hope of recovery, and those legs of his would absolutely never stand again.

Pei Bi’s voice in the empty room sounded very gentle, full of emotion. Then he took the brocade quilt from beside him and gently covered Pei Hui with it. The quilt gradually moved upward until it covered Pei Hui’s face. Pei Bi suddenly applied force, wrapping Pei Hui’s entire head in the quilt. The person inside seemed to suddenly awaken, beginning to twist, whimpering and struggling desperately. But Pei Bi used all his strength, pressing down firmly, covering his mouth and nose. After who knows how long, the person in the quilt finally became completely still.

Pei Bi pulled back the quilt. Inside, Pei Hui had stopped breathing. That face was so peaceful, as if he were a child. Pei Bi sighed softly. “Rather than have you live like this, it’s better to let you die cleanly. I believe you understand my meaning, Second Brother, and won’t blame me.” After speaking, he stood up from the bedside. His footsteps were very calm, step by step, walking out of the room.

The sunlight outside was just right, illuminating a single tear at the corner of Pei Bi’s eye. He then wandered aimlessly out of the Pei residence, walking along the street for a long time, actually ending up back at the wine house across from the prison. Inside the private room, Yuan Lie had personally gone downstairs to buy osmanthus cakes to take back for Min’er to make into pastries, so only Li Weiyang and Zhao Yue remained.

When Pei Bi pushed open the door, Zhao Yue instinctively placed her hand at her waist. But Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “Young Master Pei, what brings you here in such leisure?”

Pei Bi smiled gently, glanced at the table full of delicacies, his tone revealing no emotion. “Miss Guo, are you celebrating some happy occasion here?”

Li Weiyang smiled ambiguously. “Young Master Pei jests.”

Pei Bi sat down beside her like a friend, a cold smile rising from the corner of his eye. He turned to look at Li Weiyang. “The first time I saw you, I thought you were a very easy woman to deal with.”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly. “Oh, how so?”

Pei Hui spoke, “Because you have weaknesses, and many of them.”

Li Weiyang said, “Please elaborate.”

Pei Bi actually took a cup from the side without hesitation, filled it with wine, and drank it all in one gulp before saying slowly, “The people of the Guo family are your weakness. Think about it—the Guo family has so many people. Can you care about them all?”

Li Weiyang nodded. “You’re not wrong. The people of the Guo family are indeed my weakness. But everything has two sides. If someone disregards my warning and harms them, I will naturally repay them a hundred or thousand-fold. Don’t you agree?”

Pei Bi personally poured a cup of wine for Li Weiyang. The aged daughter’s red wine poured into the snow-white cup, its crimson color exceptionally pure, clear and beautiful.

Li Weiyang accepted it and drank it all. Pei Bi sighed deeply. “Yes, I saw your weakness but didn’t know that stepping on your weakness would result in you repaying a hundred or thousand-fold. In the end, I was too confident, exposing my own weaknesses while still feeling smug about myself.”

Li Weiyang raised her eyebrows. “Oh, is that so?”

Pei Bi picked up a piece of osmanthus and pine nut pastry, savoring it slowly in his mouth as he spoke. “Yes, my second brother Pei Hui was my weakness. And Miss Guo understood this better than anyone, yet remained silent about it. So you perfectly orchestrated this plan, watching my second brother be driven to having his legs severed and even becoming a madman. You even had me bring him back to care for him properly. Oh, perhaps you wanted me to feel guilty every time I saw Pei Hui, to feel distressed, to go mad, isn’t that right?”

Li Weiyang looked at Pei Bi, her face showing a trace of admiration. “Correct. I wanted you to watch him day and night, feeling distressed and going mad in your heart. You truly understand me.” Li Weiyang’s voice was very gentle, making it impossible to imagine she could speak such venomous words.

Pei Bi smiled faintly. “Unfortunately, your calculation won’t succeed.”

Li Weiyang looked at Pei Bi, her heart skipping a beat. “How do you mean?”

Pei Bi raised his eyes to look at Li Weiyang. His eyes were quite distinctive—the pupils somewhat elongated while the whites were extensive. He spoke, “In order to no longer have any weaknesses, my second brother is already dead.”

Li Weiyang looked at him with some surprise and didn’t speak for a long while. Finally, she couldn’t help sighing deeply. “I never expected Young Master Pei to be so ruthless as to commit fratricide.”

Pei Bi laughed heartily. He poured himself another cup of wine and drank it all. After draining the cup, he smiled and refilled it. Li Weiyang didn’t refuse either, clinking cups with him again. They looked like two old friends drinking together.

Pei Bi looked at her, his heart filled with mockery. “Since I already knew you were planning to use Pei Hui to provoke and attack me, how could I keep him? Moreover, he’s my own brother—how could I watch him live in such humiliation?”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “Living in humiliation still offers hope of revenge in the future. Dying like this is truly the most stifling thing under heaven.”

Pei Bi looked at her, his gaze profound. “So if it were you whose legs were severed today, you would choose to continue living?”

Li Weiyang laughed. Pei Bi discovered his own reflection in her well-like eyes, surrounded by that deep pool, even his soul drawn into it. Li Weiyang said softly, “Yes, if it were me, I would strive to live, live strongly. I would outlive my enemies. I would watch them die more miserably than me.”

Pei Bi looked at Li Weiyang, as if seeing through her for the first time. He smiled gently. “Miss Guo’s willpower and character far surpass ordinary people. Even if it were me—” He paused here to think carefully, then finally smiled. “Even if it were me, I would make the same choice as Miss Guo. But Second Brother couldn’t do it. For someone as proud as him, even without going mad, spending his whole life unable to stand, unable to run, unable to ride horses, and having to live forever with that prisoner’s mark branded on his face—how cruel would that be for him? So I personally ended his life, which is better than him living on wretchedly.”

Li Weiyang sighed. “Then I can only say Second Young Master Pei wasn’t strong enough. This world wasn’t suitable for him.”

For most people, the road ahead was dark. They could only ever see three steps ahead, only anticipate the next few days of the future. Pei Hui was among the elite. He was smart enough, understood himself well enough, was determined enough. Before him had been ten steps, a hundred steps of brilliant light—he could walk unobstructed all the way to the end. Unfortunately, life is full of changes. Even after meticulous calculation to the point of infallibility, obstacles still arise. Li Weiyang was the most terrifying obstacle in Pei Hui’s life, and Pei Hui was a proud man. For him, when life exceeded its original trajectory, death was the best nirvana.

But for Li Weiyang and Pei Bi, it was an entirely different story. They were equally intelligent, self-aware, strategic, ambitious, thoroughly calculating at every turn, yet incomparably tenacious and resilient. Even if terrible accidents occurred in their lives, they could hide in cold, dark corners quietly lying dormant, waiting for the final opportunity to arrive, delivering heavy blows to their enemies. Even if rivers of blood flowed, they would forge ahead relentlessly.

Pei Bi smiled. “It seems we are kindred spirits.”

Li Weiyang looked at him, her smile peaceful. “So on this path, Young Master Pei must accompany me to the very end.”

Zhao Yue watched these two people and somehow felt a chill running up her spine.

At this moment, gentle singing drifted from the adjacent private room. Pei Bi couldn’t help listening intently, though his expression gradually changed. The woman’s voice next door wasn’t particularly beautiful, but the song was sung with such sorrow, with mournful undulations that involuntarily stirred one’s emotions. The lyrics were quite simple, merely: “Worldly affairs are as ephemeral as dreams, life passes through autumn’s chill but a few times. Flowers fall and bloom while wind fills the sky, yet whose courtyard is this? Nowhere to speak of sorrow.”

On any other day, hearing this song, Pei Bi probably wouldn’t have felt much. But having just drunk several cups of cold wine and now hearing this melody, in his trance he couldn’t help recalling Pei Hui’s face, those murmured three words “I’m guilty,” and the scene of himself finally covering his face with the brocade quilt and smothering him alive. In this instant, his heart felt as if it were being torn apart with pain.

Li Weiyang watched him with a constant smile, her expression gentle, though her eyes held a barely perceptible killing intent.

At this moment, Pei Bi’s thoughts raced, and he suddenly sensed he had fallen into a trap she had set. He suddenly understood—she didn’t kill Pei Hui herself because she wanted to force him to do it!

She knew everything! Knew he couldn’t bear his brother’s degradation, knew that given his personality he would definitely strike to kill!

What a viciously cruel scheme to attack the heart!

Feeling unsteady, he immediately stood up and hurriedly said to Li Weiyang, “Thank you for Miss Guo’s generous hospitality. I take my leave.” With that, he actually staggered away, swaying with each step.

Li Weiyang watched his retreating figure and smiled gently. Zhao Yue beside her asked, “Miss, why did you have the lady next door sing that song?”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “Just a scheme to attack the heart. This Pei Bi is an extremely ruthless person. Killing Pei Hui wasn’t as righteous and principled as he claimed on the surface—what nonsense about only wanting to spare Pei Hui from suffering! Ridiculous! The more important reason was that he didn’t want to carry a burden anymore. Perhaps deep in his heart, this thought had always been faintly suppressed, but just now my conversation with him deliberately drew out his thoughts. Then hearing the song next door, he couldn’t help thinking that the one who truly harmed Pei Hui to this extent was himself.”

Because of guilt, Pei Bi didn’t want to face Pei Hui and would definitely kill him under the pretext of doing him a favor. Truly a case of “better I betray all under heaven than let all under heaven betray me”—genuinely ruthless and merciless. Such a person was the worthy heir of the next generation of the Pei family!

Zhao Yue couldn’t help smiling. “No matter how inscrutable he is, isn’t he still completely within Miss’s grasp?”

Li Weiyang sighed gently. “No, you’re wrong. I actually don’t know what he’ll do next.”

Zhao Yue couldn’t help frowning, but then saw Yuan Lie walk in carrying osmanthus cakes, leaning against the doorframe with a smile. “Yes, whether he becomes enraged from shame or falls gravely ill next—that depends on him. Perhaps when he turns around, he’ll become even more venomous. Weiyang, your performance may have been in vain.”

Li Weiyang smiled. “A person’s character will never change no matter what. Since he committed such fratricide, he’s definitely not a good person. So much the better—I’ll be waiting for him.”

Leaving the wine house, Li Weiyang bought many gifts, then parted ways with Yuan Lie and took a carriage to Nalan Xue’s medical clinic. Unexpectedly, she discovered the Guo residence’s carriage there. Her heart jumped. Zhao Yue quickly asked the medicine shop boy, “Who from the Guo residence is here?”

Seeing Li Weiyang, the boy grinned. “Today, Madam Guo and another young madam came together.”

Another young madam? Li Weiyang’s heart leaped, immediately thinking of Second Sister-in-law Chen Bingbing. She hurriedly asked, “Where are they?”

“In the private room in back.” The medicine boy led the way, bringing Li Weiyang to the private room’s entrance. But Li Weiyang didn’t enter. Instead, through the beaded curtain, she quietly listened to the movements inside.

Zhao Yue saw her expression was unprecedentedly solemn and couldn’t help feeling startled.

Li Weiyang made a gentle gesture, signaling her not to make a sound. Just then, laughter came from inside the private room. Only then did Li Weiyang’s heart relax. She quickly walked in. “Mother, why did you come here today?”

In the private room was indeed Madam Guo, and beside her was Second Sister-in-law Chen Bingbing. Li Weiyang’s eyes focused, but she heard Chen Bingbing laugh. “Mother’s headache condition flared up recently. I heard there’s a highly skilled female physician in the capital, so I came to visit. I didn’t expect it to be Miss Nalan.”

Li Weiyang carefully examined Chen Bingbing’s expression. Seeing her composed demeanor and radiant smile, she clearly didn’t know the truth—no matter how magnanimous Chen Bingbing might be, she probably couldn’t accept the fact that her husband loved another. So Li Weiyang chose to conceal it. In the current Guo family, probably only Madam Guo and the two sisters-in-law didn’t know Nalan Xue’s true identity.

Li Weiyang looked toward Nalan Xue with a smile. “Does Miss Nalan also excel at treating headaches?”

Nalan Xue smiled gently. “It’s merely a minor ailment. Second Young Madam praises too highly.” When she said the four words “Second Young Madam,” her tone was very calm, and in a flash she had exchanged a glance with Li Weiyang.

Having reached an understanding, Li Weiyang felt reassured. Nalan Xue’s behavior showed she wouldn’t reveal everything to Chen Bingbing. At this moment, Chen Bingbing also looked quite surprised as she turned to Li Weiyang. “Sister, why did you come here today?”

Li Weiyang calmly and gently replied, “I heard Miss Nalan opened a medical clinic here and came specifically to thank her for saving my life last time.” With that, she clapped her hands, and Zhao Yue instructed the servants outside to bring in the abundant gifts. These had originally been meant to thank Nalan Xue for helping Guo Dao, but at this moment, she couldn’t reveal this matter.

Madam Guo, who had been watching Li Weiyang, keenly sensed something. She said nonchalantly, “Yes, Miss Nalan is also Jia’er’s lifesaver. We haven’t properly thanked her.”

Chen Bingbing, completely unaware, only said happily, “Miss Nalan is truly a lucky star! In my opinion, why not invite you to temporarily stay at our residence? You could also treat my mother’s illness.” She spoke openly and candidly. In truth, for an ordinary physician to receive an invitation from the Duke Qiguo’s residence would be a tremendous blessing that others would desperately seek. But Nalan Xue’s expression changed slightly as she declined. “I still have many patients here, so I’m afraid it wouldn’t be convenient to go. Please forgive me, Second Young Madam.”

Chen Bingbing was taken aback, then blurted out, “But I see you have two or three other physicians practicing here. This medicine hall doesn’t rely solely on you to operate.”

Li Weiyang had previously bought the entire medicine hall, which included three physicians who had signed five-year contracts with the establishment. Now this had become a point Chen Bingbing seized upon. Yes, the patients here didn’t necessarily require Nalan Xue specifically, but Madam Guo’s headache condition couldn’t be cured by others.

Nalan Xue looked at Li Weiyang with difficulty. Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “Second Sister-in-law, how can you pressure people like this?”

Chen Bingbing’s face reddened as she quickly explained, “I didn’t mean to. Miss Nalan, please don’t take offense.” In fact, Chen Bingbing was merely a pampered and delicate daughter of a prestigious family, without any malicious intent. Occasionally speaking a bit too bluntly, but her temperament was gentle, and knowing she could acknowledge mistakes, understanding her words had been somewhat presumptuous, she immediately apologized without any air of superiority. She was truly impossible to dislike.

Nalan Xue looked at Chen Bingbing before her, feeling only complexity and bitterness in her heart. She just couldn’t bring herself to hate this person. To hate someone, the other party had to at least know what you were hating them for, right? This vague, unclear situation—how could such feelings be described?

Li Weiyang saw Nalan Xue’s expression and sighed gently. She understood Nalan Xue’s feelings all too well—unable to hate, unable to forgive. So what should she do? Thinking of this, she only said softly, “Let’s discuss this matter later. Mother, your condition requires rest. We should return.”

Nalan Xue immediately breathed a sigh of relief, standing up to earnestly instruct, “Madam Guo, please be sure to take the medicine I’ve prescribed on time—don’t delay. If convenient, come another day and I’ll give you acupuncture treatment to relieve the headaches.”

Madam Guo smiled and nodded, then the group took their leave of Nalan Xue.

In the carriage, Chen Bingbing said to Li Weiyang, “Did I say something wrong just now? Miss Nalan’s expression became so troubled.”

Li Weiyang thought to herself that when romantic rivals meet, they’re naturally especially hostile. Moreover, Chen Bingbing had come from behind and taken over like a cuckoo in the nest, forcefully compelling Guo Yan to marry her. Yet she remained so innocent, completely ignorant of past events, leaving Nalan Xue with bitter grievances but nowhere to express them… Li Weiyang smiled. “Second Sister-in-law said nothing wrong. Miss Nalan has always been aloof and difficult to approach. Second Sister-in-law shouldn’t be too enthusiastic, lest you frighten her.”

Chen Bingbing smiled sheepishly. “I was presumptuous. Sister’s reminder is right.” Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and retrieved a piece of fabric from beside her, presenting it like a treasure. “Sister, look at this fragrant cloud silk—isn’t the color very bright and beautiful?”

Li Weiyang glanced at it—a rose-red material inlaid with gold thread. The gold threads were extremely fine and soft. Sunlight streaming through the gauze window made the fabric shimmer with flowing brilliance, exceptionally beautiful. She heard Chen Bingbing say happily, “When I returned to my parents’ home yesterday, Mother gave me this silk. She said it was brought back from Yunzhou with great difficulty. This color doesn’t suit me. Sister, why don’t you take it to make a skirt?”

Li Weiyang looked at Chen Bingbing’s expression—clearly she very much liked this fabric, yet she was turning around to give it to her, obviously wanting to win her favor. She vaguely understood why Guo Yan was avoiding her. Though this girl came from a prestigious family, her devotion to Guo Yan was genuine. Guo Yan respected his mother, so Chen Bingbing wholeheartedly treated Madam Guo well, searching throughout the entire capital for headache remedies. Madam Guo cherished Guo Jia, and Guo Yan had written several letters from his post mentioning how happy he was about his sister’s return home. Because of this, Chen Bingbing loved even what Guo Yan loved, taking utmost care of Li Weiyang, wishing she could present all her jewels to win her favor.

Facing such a person, it was truly hard to dislike her. So although Li Weiyang sympathized with Nalan Xue, she couldn’t say much. In matters of the heart, there was no such thing as who came first or last. Moreover, Nalan Xue wasn’t someone who came later, and Chen Bingbing hadn’t acted deliberately. This could only be called fate’s cruel jest.

Madam Guo saw Li Weiyang’s changing expressions and her heart filled with suspicion. After returning to the Guo residence, Madam Guo kept Li Weiyang behind and asked directly, “What exactly is that Nalan Xue’s background?”

Li Weiyang hadn’t expected Madam Guo’s perception to be so keen. She could only answer honestly, “Mother, this Nalan Xue is Second Brother’s beloved. Didn’t he mention Nalan Xue’s name to you?”

The color drained completely from Madam Guo’s face. The teacup in her hand suddenly tipped over. She hastily placed it on the table and stared fixedly at Li Weiyang. “Is this true?”

Li Weiyang nodded solemnly. “Mother, how could I joke about such a matter?”

For a long while, Madam Guo couldn’t speak, her expression changing unpredictably. Finally she sighed, “This truly is a cursed fate. Going round and round, this girl still found her way to us.”

Li Weiyang thought of Chen Bingbing’s completely unguarded smiling face and sighed inwardly. She knew that compared to Nalan Xue, Chen Bingbing was fortunate to be so naive about worldly troubles, having lived worry-free all these years. She had always loved Guo Yan wholeheartedly, loving everything he loved—so beautiful it was heartbreaking. But the more beautiful she was, the more Guo Yan couldn’t face her. Before family, personal feelings were insignificant. So he ultimately chose to remain at his post, thus avoiding both his conscience and Chen Bingbing’s smiling face… But when Nalan Xue came to their door, how should this cursed fate be resolved? She vaguely felt that Nalan Xue’s existence would someday brew into a great storm.