Madam Guo kept watch beside her son, tears falling drop by drop onto his face. Li Weiyang only watched silently from the side, her heart somewhat regretful. If Yuan Lie’s ginseng had been kept back then, perhaps Guo Yan wouldn’t be in mortal danger. Although she also knew that for Guo Yan’s current condition, ginseng would be of no help, it would still be better than nothing. Just then, someone outside suddenly reported: “Madam, the Chen family has sent a century-old red lingzhi mushroom.”

Madam Guo was startled, then looked toward Li Weiyang. Li Weiyang was silent for a moment before saying softly: “Bring it in.”

The maid responded, and then a red brocade box was respectfully carried in by two people. Li Weiyang glanced at it and said to Madam Guo: “Mother, this century-old red lingzhi that Second Sister-in-law sent is extremely rare. I’ve heard people say that century-old red lingzhi, like thousand-year ginseng, can extend life.” Then she asked the maid: “Did Second Sister-in-law say who this was for?”

The maid respectfully answered: “Miss, the Chen family people left the lingzhi and departed without saying who it was meant for.”

With Guo Yan’s actions that day, he had severed his relationship with Chen Bingbing. Now that she sent this lingzhi, was it to apologize to Nalan Xue, or did she still harbor feelings for Guo Yan? Perhaps only she herself knew. Madam Guo glanced at her son on the bed and sighed: “Then in your opinion, Jia’er, what should we do about this matter? Can we trust her?”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly: “Second Sister-in-law sometimes makes mistakes, but that’s only human nature. This lingzhi was sent to save a life. We have no need to make things difficult for ourselves—of course we should let the patient take it.”

Madam Guo furrowed her brow lightly: “The physician already said there’s nothing he can do about Yan’er’s injury. We can only delay things day by day. Even with this lingzhi, there’s no way to save his life. You should put the lingzhi in medicine and have Miss Nalan take it.”

Li Weiyang looked at Madam Guo, a trace of surprise in her eyes, and couldn’t help speaking: “Mother, but what about Second Brother…”

Madam Guo shook her head, a rare determination in her eyes: “The lingzhi won’t be of much use to your Second Brother, but it can save Miss Nalan’s life. That’s why I’m having you give the lingzhi to her. If your Second Brother were still conscious now, he would do the same. This is what we owe her. I cannot let Yan’er die with regrets, perpetually troubled by this life debt. Jia’er, am I doing the right thing?”

Li Weiyang looked at Madam Guo and saw her beautiful face full of sorrow, her eyelashes also wet with tears. She sighed gently: “Mother is right. Your daughter will do as you say.” With that, she instructed Zhao Yue at her side to take the lingzhi to Nalan Xue.

The Chen family had only one century-old lingzhi, and its effects were remarkable. On the morning of the third day, Nalan Xue actually regained consciousness. Li Weiyang went to visit her. Nalan Xue leaned against the bed, her voice weak: “I’ve caused trouble for the Guo family again, haven’t I?”

Li Weiyang smiled, but within this smile was a complexity even she couldn’t fully explain. This whole affair, she always felt, was very strange. In the darkness, it was as if a pair of hands were pushing the entire matter forward. Not only Nalan Xue and Guo Yan, but herself and everyone in the Guo family seemed to be within that person’s calculations. Looking at the haggard Nalan Xue before her, Li Weiyang didn’t want to say much. Her voice was gentle: “Mother has already given instructions, ordering me to take good care of Miss Nalan. After you recover, we’ll send you back.”

Nalan Xue shook her head: “I was too willful myself. So many things happened as soon as I left the capital. Clearly the Pei family won’t let me go easily. If I had listened to Miss Guo’s advice earlier and continued staying in the capital, perhaps…” As she spoke, her hand was already touching her face.

Seeing this, Li Weiyang knew Nalan Xue was already aware her appearance had been ruined. She spoke to comfort her: “Miss Nalan is herself a renowned physician. You surely know that scars take a year or more to heal. Perhaps after some time, Miss Nalan’s appearance…”

Nalan Xue smiled bitterly: “Appearance—I’ve never cared about such things. As they say, ‘women adorn themselves for those who delight in them.’ Now who do I have to delight?” Speaking thus, her expression held indescribable loneliness.

Li Weiyang’s heart stirred. Looking at her, she said: “Miss Nalan, do you have any experience treating sword wounds?”

Nalan Xue’s eyes showed confusion: “I don’t know where the sword wound Miss Guo speaks of is located?”

Li Weiyang bit her teeth. The physicians they’d summoned all said Guo Yan couldn’t be saved—they could only delay things day by day. The sword in his chest had been pulled out, but the wound had festered. If not treated promptly, Guo Yan would likely die young. Li Weiyang had no particular feelings for Guo Yan—in fact, she was somewhat dissatisfied with him. But she didn’t want to watch as Guo Yan and Nalan Xue, a pair of lovers, were separated by death this way. After contemplating for a moment, she spoke: “Miss Nalan, you’re currently ill. In a couple days, I’ll discuss it with you again.” She hoped Guo Yan could hold on for two more days.

Thinking this, Li Weiyang stood up. But Nalan Xue suddenly grasped her hand. Li Weiyang started: “Miss Nalan, is there something else you need?”

Nalan Xue looked fixedly at Li Weiyang. Those eyes were extremely clear, almost able to see into Li Weiyang’s heart. Being looked at with such eyes, Li Weiyang couldn’t help smiling bitterly: “You truly are ice-and-snow clever. The injured person is my Second Brother, and the sword wound is in his chest. Everyone says his life won’t last long. Miss Nalan, do you want to see him one last time?”

Nalan Xue’s complexion changed dramatically. She gripped Li Weiyang’s hand tightly: “Take me to see him.”

Li Weiyang looked at Nalan Xue with difficulty. Nalan Xue quickly said: “I know my own body very well. I only fell unconscious because I couldn’t endure for a moment. With the lingzhi, it’s enough to restore my health—there won’t be any serious problems. Don’t worry, first let me go see Guo Yan.”

Li Weiyang nodded, then instructed the nearby maids to help her dress before ordering people to support Nalan Xue as she walked toward Guo Yan’s room. With every step Nalan Xue took, her body swayed, her complexion extremely pale, beads of sweat the size of beans emerging on her forehead. Yet she remained silent, gritting her teeth, clutching the maid’s hand tightly, shuffling forward step by step.

Seeing her like this, Li Weiyang couldn’t help feeling moved. What kind of feelings would make someone disregard bodily pain this way? Yesterday the physician had said Miss Nalan would need at least a month before she could get out of bed. Yet in the blink of an eye, Nalan Xue was already able to stand. This required tremendous willpower.

Because Guo Yan’s injuries were severe and untreatable, the other Guo family members were all sitting in the outer room, quietly waiting. But no one expected Nalan Xue would appear here. Seeing her, everyone’s expressions changed. Princess Chenliu murmured: “Miss Nalan, you’re…” After that day’s events, everyone knew the truth—knew that this Nalan Xue was the former fiancée Guo Yan had abandoned.

Duke Qi’s expression shifted. He looked at Nalan Xue: “Miss Nalan, have you come to see Yan’er one last time?”

Nalan Xue gritted her teeth: “Duke Qi, I am a physician. If there’s even the slightest hope, I won’t give up. Please let me see him.”

Duke Qi and Madam Guo exchanged glances. Madam Guo’s eyes showed a pleading look. Only then did Duke Qi nod: “You may go. However, your own health is also very poor. Be extra careful—don’t force yourself.”

Nalan Xue was then supported by maids into the inner room. Madam Guo looked at Li Weiyang and couldn’t help reproaching her: “Foolish child, I know you’re anxious about Yan’er’s injuries, but Miss Nalan herself is seriously ill—if something should happen, all our painstaking efforts will have been in vain.”

Li Weiyang sighed: “Mother, if Second Brother can still be saved, Nalan Xue will naturally make every last effort. If he cannot be saved, she also hopes to see Second Brother one final time. If we keep hiding it from her and secretly send her back to her hometown, should she learn the truth someday, she might well resent us for being too cruel.”

Hearing these words, Madam Guo’s tears couldn’t help but wet her garments. Duke Qi embraced Madam Guo’s shoulders and said gently: “Madam, don’t be sad. This is Yan’er’s fate.” In truth, Duke Qi felt the most distressed—he regretted not firmly refusing the Chen family’s marriage proposal back then. Although he knew that refusing the Chen family’s proposal would have put the Guo family in an extremely difficult position, now watching his beloved second son lying on the bed, barely breathing, Duke Qi couldn’t help feeling profound regret.

Madam Guo could hold back no longer and threw herself into Duke Qi’s embrace, crying loudly.

Princess Chenliu also had tears rolling down. Jiang Shi quickly handed over a handkerchief, gently consoling: “Grandmother, your health is also poor. Don’t be too sorrowful. Perhaps Second Brother can still be saved.” Princess Chenliu looked hopefully at that door. At this moment, everyone’s gazes were fixed tightly on that door, afraid that Nalan Xue would come out and tell them bad news.

Half a stick of incense later, Nalan Xue was finally supported out. She looked at everyone, but her gaze was gentle. She spoke: “Guo Yan can still be saved, but you must follow my prescription exactly.”

Hearing these words, everyone’s eyes burst with joy, especially Madam Guo, who clasped her hands together repeatedly saying: “Amitabha, Buddha be praised.” Saying this, she walked forward and grasped Nalan Xue’s hand: “Miss Nalan, thank you so much.”

Nalan Xue smiled faintly, her complexion extremely pale, but within that expression was consolation.

Li Weiyang saw this and couldn’t help releasing a breath of relief. If Madam Guo had been selfish and used the lingzhi to save Guo Yan just now, probably neither of them would have survived… This way, it was instead good deeds bringing good rewards. As it turned out, Li Weiyang had thought things too simple. Guo Yan’s injuries were too severe—it was by no means as easy as Nalan Xue made it sound. For the next full two months, Guo Yan lay in bed, frequently running high fevers. His chest was wrapped in thick gauze. To prevent him from being unable to endure the chest pain, Nalan Xue even bound his hands to the bedpost to prevent him from scratching himself and worsening his injuries. Now Nalan Xue herself was still a patient, so she had to grit her teeth and use all her willpower to remain conscious, performing various diagnoses and treatments for Guo Yan. At this moment, she had no right to collapse—she could only use all her mental strength to save Guo Yan’s life. She had only one thought in her heart: to let Guo Yan live.

During this treatment process, Li Weiyang watched with her own eyes as Nalan Xue, though nearly collapsing herself, remained sleeplessly at Guo Yan’s side day and night, even taking on all the nursing work. This work was extremely difficult. Although Guo Yan remained unconscious, he struggled fiercely, so much so that Nalan Xue frequently had medicine bowls knocked over when feeding medicine or applying medicine.

Li Weiyang watched all this from beginning to end, her heart filled with emotion. She was very clear about Nalan Xue’s physical condition. Besides the wounds all over her body that hadn’t yet healed, the wounds on her face especially couldn’t be exposed to wind. Yet she still cared for Guo Yan here day and night—was it merely because she was a physician? Li Weiyang shook her head. If it were only for that reason, Nalan Xue’s face wouldn’t show that forcibly suppressed frenzy. Moreover, what she did had long exceeded a physician’s scope of duty.

People in comas often don’t know what they’re doing. Every time it came to feeding medicine, Guo Yan struggled especially fiercely. Everyone was at their wits’ end, but they saw Nalan Xue silently take the bowl, sip it mouthful by mouthful into her own mouth, then transfer it mouthful by mouthful into Guo Yan’s mouth. She was so focused, even nearly devout. Not only did this shock everyone, even Guo Yan gradually quieted down. In this room were not only Princess Chenliu, Madam Guo, and Duke Qi, but also the other young masters of the Guo family. Yet Nalan Xue seemed completely unconcerned. Everyone was watching her, yet she still fed that bowl after bowl of bitter medicine into his throat, mouthful by mouthful.

Li Weiyang understood her intentions. She had been painfully suppressing her deep feelings for Guo Yan, painfully controlling her love for Guo Yan. If it were herself, she probably would have long since hated Guo Yan to the bone. But Nalan Xue still loved him—even at this point, she still refused to give up. Yet before everyone, Nalan Xue never revealed the slightest emotion, as if in treating Guo Yan she was merely a dutiful physician. Madam Guo could no longer hold back. She quickly walked out. Then the other Guo family members also quietly withdrew one by one, leaving this room to this suffering couple.

Li Weiyang walked to Madam Guo’s side, her voice very gentle: “Mother, don’t be sad. Everything will improve.”

Madam Guo burst into tears. Not only Madam Guo, even Princess Ali, who had been silently watching everything happen, couldn’t help choking up: “Miss Nalan is too pitiful. I’ve never seen such a good girl.”

Li Weiyang glanced at Princess Ali, her expression complex: “Princess, Nalan Xue is indeed a good girl. Her circumstances are also very sympathetic, but…”

Guo Cheng sighed: “But she and Second Brother have no fate together.”

Princess Ali suddenly raised her head and refuted: “Why? Hasn’t the second young mistress already left the Guo family? And the second young master has already completely severed ties with her. In the future, can’t he marry Nalan Xue?”

Hearing her naive words, Madam Guo shook her head with a worried expression: “Ali, you truly are a foolish child. How can marriages between prominent families be severed just like that? Not only are you foolish, that child Yan’er is also foolish. Although he used this life to repay Chen Bingbing’s feelings, can the matter between the Guo and Chen families end so simply?”

Princess Chenliu kept sighing. Jiang Shi beside her also showed endless regret on her face. Princess Ali looked left and right. She truly couldn’t understand—since Chen Bingbing had already returned, meaning she had severed contact with Guo Yan, this marriage should have been called off. Why did they still say such things?

Guo Dun punched the pillar, his expression pained. Duke Qi remained silent throughout, sitting quietly like an old monk in meditation, showing no reaction to their words.

Just then, they heard someone outside report: “Duke, the Chen family has sent people.”

What had to come would come. Duke Qi sighed: “I’ll go see.” Before he reached the door, Madam Guo suddenly said: “No! This matter concerns the Guo family. We should all go listen and see how this problem can be resolved!”

Duke Qi was startled, then looked at his wife. For a moment he didn’t know how to answer her. Seeing her determined expression, he finally only nodded solemnly: “Good, whatever happens, we’ll resolve it together.”

In the reception hall, the Chen family people also had faces like frost. Chen Xuanhua looked at his father Chen Ling and couldn’t help speaking: “Father, I’m afraid this matter isn’t as simple as it appears on the surface.”

Chen Ling now held the position of Minister of Rites, a second-rank official. Usually a very calm and self-possessed person, but with the matter involving his legitimate daughter Chen Bingbing, he had to come personally. He glanced at his son beside him but made a gesture, saying faintly: “You need not say more. Let’s see how Duke Qi explains this matter.” Madam Chen had been wiping tears at the side, barely suppressing the resentment in her heart.

When the Guo family people arrived, Chen Hanxuan, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up from his chair and quickly walked forward, his gaze cold as a blade, his expression extremely angry: “What exactly did you do to my elder sister?”

Duke Qi’s expression froze. Guo Dun at his side already responded coldly: “What did we do? It should be what your elder sister did to my family!”

After he finished speaking, Duke Qi’s brow and eyes turned cold, his voice stern: “Hold your tongue! The elders are all here—what place do you have to speak?” These words not only rebuked Guo Dun but also implied criticism of Chen Hanxuan’s prior rudeness.

Chen Ling naturally understood. He waved his hand: “Hanxuan, come back and sit down!” Chen Hanxuan gritted his teeth. His right hand could no longer be used, so he’d been using his left sword all along. Precisely because of this, he always believed he’d already repaid the wrong he committed and no longer owed the Guo family anything, allowing him to stand here and argue with the Guo family with righteous confidence. Hearing his father’s cold snort, a trace of ferocity appeared on his face, but he forcibly suppressed it and stepped back three paces.

Duke Qi looked at the Chen family people, his tone somewhat cold. He said slowly: “One doesn’t visit the temple without cause. If you have something to say, speak plainly.”

Madam Chen suddenly stood up. She looked at them and took a deep breath before saying: “What happened? You still have the face to ask such a question! I entrusted a perfectly good daughter to your Guo family, but how have you treated her? That day when she returned, she was completely dazed and wouldn’t say anything when asked! I wanted to bring her to the Guo family to demand an explanation, but she absolutely refused! Not long ago, she even secretly took the lingzhi that had been stored in our warehouse for a century. When I sent people to inquire, I learned she had actually sent it to Guo Manor! This series of strange events already aroused our suspicions. Then last night, she suddenly hanged herself!”

Hearing this, Duke Qi’s expression immediately turned very ugly. He blurted out: “And now? How is she?”

Madam Chen shook her head sorrowfully: “Fortunately, a maid discovered her in time and she was rescued. But now she’s fallen into a coma, muttering deliriously, though no one knows what she’s saying.”

Li Weiyang sighed. At least Chen Bingbing was still alive.

Hearing this, Madam Guo showed a shocked expression. She opened her mouth wanting to ask something but couldn’t speak. After a long while, she finally forced out with difficulty: “So, today you’ve come to demand an accounting?”

Madam Chen gritted her teeth: “Yes, we’ve come to demand an explanation! She keeps calling Guo Yan’s name repeatedly. She’s worked so hard to be a good daughter-in-law to your Guo family. Why have you treated her this way? If you don’t give us an explanation, I absolutely won’t leave today!”

Madam Guo’s heart was sharply gripped by immense pain. All the anger, worry, torment, and uncertainty she’d been feeling found an outlet. She said loudly: “What right do you have to question us? Wasn’t this marriage forced upon us by you back then?”

Madam Chen never expected the other party wouldn’t show the slightest remorse but would instead bring up old matters. She couldn’t help growing furious: “What do you mean by that?”

Li Weiyang stepped forward and gently supported Madam Guo’s arm, saying softly: “Mother, don’t get angry. Whatever there is to say, we can sit down and discuss it slowly.”

But Madam Chen was greatly enraged, her words rolling out like pearls and jade: “Your Guo family are all murderers! You’re the ones who drove my daughter to this state, yet you still have the face to question me?” Chen Ling at her side quickly pulled her back, saying in a low voice: “Madam, whatever there is to say, let’s speak calmly. Why are you so agitated?” Madam Chen was usually a composed and gentle noble lady, but at this moment she could no longer care about such things. Thinking of her daughter’s dying appearance, her heart was filled with unbearable pain.

She turned and harshly rebuked Minister Chen loudly: “This is all your fault! I already said this marriage with the Guo family shouldn’t be made, but you insisted on helping your daughter marry into them. Now look—how cold and heartless these people are! They’re putting on an act of knowing nothing. Are we supposed to let them ruin our perfectly good daughter like this? You’re still an important court official—are you just going to watch your own daughter be trampled on this way? If anything happens to our daughter, I’ll never forgive you!”

Chen Ling was helpless with his ranting wife. With a glance, Chen Xuanhua finally snapped out of it and stepped forward. With considerable effort, he managed to pull Madam Chen away from Chen Ling’s side. Madam Chen was still crying out tearfully: “If your Guo family doesn’t give me an explanation, I’ll never leave easily!”

These words reminded Madam Guo of all the unprecedented conflicts between her and Chen Bingbing. Madam Guo’s heart ached. Thinking of her son who still couldn’t rise from bed, she immediately refuted: “All of this started because of your daughter! Of all the men in the world, your daughter just had to fancy my son. He already had a fiancée, but you used the Guo-Chen family alliance to threaten us, insisting your daughter marry in. Who exactly is the chief culprit? Who is the one abusing their power? Who is the rabid dog that indiscriminately attacks anyone?” These harsh words were things Madam Guo would never say normally. Even Li Weiyang looked at her in shock, let alone the others.

Madam Guo had always been very well-mannered. Even with Madam Chen making a scene here in public, she wouldn’t normally say such things. Li Weiyang thought it over and understood. Madam Guo’s guilt toward Nalan Xue these past days had accumulated to the extreme. A girl like Nalan Xue—if she weren’t beautiful enough, kind enough, understanding enough, forbearing enough… Madam Guo wouldn’t feel so terrible.

She had already lost an excellent daughter-in-law, then nearly lost her own son. Now this Madam Chen had come to the door making aggressive accusations. Ultimately, wasn’t this marriage forced upon the Guo family by the Chen family? Both families bore fault, but Madam Chen’s actions today pushed all the blame onto the Guo family—it was truly too harsh.

Madam Chen looked as if she couldn’t believe it. She stared at Madam Guo, glaring at her, realizing the other party had absolutely no intention of salvaging this marriage. A trace of panic suddenly appeared in Madam Chen’s eyes. After a long while, she finally uttered lowly, hoarsely, almost fearfully: “You, have you gone mad?”

Madam Guo laughed coldly, suddenly moving closer, staring at her as if to see through her: “From beginning to end, has our Guo family done anything wrong to the Chen family? I haven’t, Yan’er hasn’t, and no one in the Guo family has wronged your daughter. But what about her? She’s ended up in this state today—have you asked her what exactly she did? Is it all the Guo family’s fault with not the slightest error on her part? All this time, I’ve shown her every tolerance! It was you who used this relationship as coercion, forcibly compelling my son to abandon the woman he loved, breaking a marriage oath, making him a faithless, treacherous person. If not for this, he wouldn’t have left the capital to guard the frontier so soon after the wedding. I’ve already lost one son. Now you come here making accusations—who exactly is being unreasonable? The Guo family? Hmph, truly the most absurd thing under heaven.”

Madam Chen looked at her speechlessly, then looked around at everyone’s deathly silent faces, and couldn’t help falling silent. Soon she became hysterical again: “Chen Ling, Xuanhua, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you just going to let her twist the truth like this, arrogantly criticizing our Chen family!”

Hearing this, Madam Guo only looked at her silently: “Because the tragedy caused by our two families is right before our eyes.”

Madam Chen was shaken, trying to gather all her strength to refute the other’s accusation: “What do you mean you’ve lost a son? He’s perfectly fine at the border. But my daughter is already lying there unable to rise, and might even…” She looked at the other party. That word “die” was at her lips but wouldn’t come out. Finally, she bit her teeth and said tremblingly: “Didn’t your Guo family also agree to this marriage?”

Madam Guo laughed coldly: “Yes, so both our families are guilty. We tore apart a loving couple. So everything we’re suffering now is what we deserve—we reap what we sow. The only person the Guo family truly owes an apology to is Miss Nalan alone.”

Madam Chen suddenly collapsed into a chair, looking at Madam Guo almost in shock: “Would you really erase all the years of friendship between our two families for the sake of a lowly woman?”

Madam Guo’s face turned deathly pale, her voice becoming even colder: “Madam Chen, please watch your language and don’t sully the Chen family’s century-old reputation!”

Madam Chen gritted her teeth: “Isn’t that the truth? What is that Miss Nalan anyway? What does she have to compare with my daughter?”

Hearing this, Li Weiyang laughed coldly in her heart. Perhaps the Chen family people were too noble and looked down on Nalan Xue’s ordinary background, so much so that they felt Guo Yan should naturally belong to Chen Bingbing, that Nalan Xue deserved to die. So her losing her marriage and her life were what she deserved and had nothing to do with Chen Bingbing. This logic was truly bandit-like, yet Madam Chen spoke with such righteousness, such lack of hesitation.

Duke Qi spoke: “Minister Chen, I currently have no mood to discuss this matter with you. As for your daughter…” He looked at Chen Ling with slight apology: “I’m afraid this marriage must be called off. I’ll have Yan’er write a letter of amicable separation and personally deliver it to the Chen family.”

Hearing this sentence, all Madam Chen’s aggressive tension crumbled into collapse. Fragile tears flowed unstoppably down. She said loudly: “Why are you being so cruel? What’s wrong with my daughter that you want an amicable separation?”

In fact, given Chen Bingbing’s actions, even if the Guo family divorced her, there would be nothing wrong with it. But Duke Qi didn’t want to make things too tense, nor did he want to leave Chen Bingbing with no way out. If it was an amicable separation, with the Chen family’s power and influence, she could still find another good marriage in the future and wouldn’t have her whole life ruined.

Minister Chen looked coldly at Duke Qi. Just now, no matter how his wife carried on, he hadn’t stopped her—evidently his heart also supported her. Although that Miss Nalan’s life circumstances were also very pitiful and her romantic experiences even more difficult, a clan was a clan and interests were interests. The Guo-Chen alliance concerned not only the Guo family but also the entire court politics. He absolutely didn’t want the alliance between two great families to crumble just because of a country woman.

He said slowly: “Brother Guo, I hope you’ll carefully consider this matter. If you truly do this, will it be able to restore everything from the past? Your Guo family has lived with spotless integrity. This incident was merely an unfortunate accident. Do you really want the two families to rupture like this, giving others an opportunity to exploit? Is this what you want?”

These words, though calmly spoken, stunned everyone in the room.

Duke Qi sighed. Just at this moment, countless thoughts surged through Madam Chen’s heart. She suddenly stood up, stumbling toward Madam Guo, staring blankly at her, then began reproaching herself with regret: “In-law, it’s all my fault. Don’t casually speak the words ‘amicable separation’ because of my rudeness. How much Bingbing loves Guo Yan! We’ve all seen this with our own eyes. These past two years, she’s made so many efforts. Previously she never liked forcing herself—we always doted on her, loved her, protected her. But after marrying into the Guo family, her every move has been to win Guo Yan’s favor, to win the affection of everyone in your Guo family. Just recently she came back and told us she wanted to hire a martial arts teacher for the young master your Guo family adopted, even wanting her brother Hanxuan to personally instruct him. With such painstaking intentions, have you all turned a blind eye? She sincerely wanted to be a good daughter-in-law. Why won’t you sympathize with her? Is that Nalan Xue really so wonderful that you can’t see my daughter’s good points?”

Li Weiyang sighed. At this moment, Madam Chen was no longer the aggressive noble lady who had come to demand justice—she was just a tearful mother. This scene would move anyone. Even with a heart of stone, one would feel some emotion. However, everything that happened today, Chen Bingbing bore responsibility for. If one could say she didn’t know everything before the marriage and could claim innocence, now she clearly already knew yet still used such vicious means against Nalan Xue—she’d truly gone too far. If not for this, Guo Yan would never have done something to sever ties with her, let alone been willing to risk his life to completely break off the relationship with her.

Madam Guo understood her son. From the moment Guo Yan made that move, she knew he had no intention of reconciling with Chen Bingbing. Thinking of Nalan Xue… Madam Guo looked at Madam Chen and shook her head: “I’m sorry, Madam. I’m afraid this matter can’t be salvaged.”

Chen Hanxuan’s expression changed dramatically. He said angrily: “You Guo family people have truly all gone mad! Do you know what the consequences will be?”

Li Weiyang glanced at Chen Hanxuan and spoke for the first time: “Young Master Chen, the elders are all here. You have no place to speak. Please remain silent. Especially regarding last time’s incident—we still have an account to settle.”

Chen Hanxuan’s eyelid twitched. He looked at Li Weiyang, his voice cold: “What are you saying? Haven’t I already…”

Before he could finish, Li Weiyang laughed coldly: “Yes, you’ve already stopped using your right arm. But you still have your left-handed sword. What about my Fifth Brother? Is he the same as you? He can never raise a blade or sword again in this lifetime. How will you repay him?”

Chen Xuanhua’s cheeks twitched slightly at the side, suppressing the tide of intense emotions within. He glanced at Li Weiyang and couldn’t help looking dejected: “I know this matter was all Hanxuan’s fault. He was too careless and negligent, allowing others to take advantage. Moreover, he’s an extremely stubborn child who simply doesn’t know how to apologize to others. That’s why I brought him to your door last time, hoping to resolve the resentment and grievance in your hearts. But I never expected that just because of this resentment, you would place all the blame on my eldest sister.”

Li Weiyang shook her head, her tone calm: “Everything Second Sister-in-law did, she knows in her own heart. Did the Guo family ever take out Chen Hanxuan’s matter on her? If that were truly the case, she would have had no way to maintain her position in the Guo family when the incident first occurred. But we’ve always treated her as before, never wronging her in the slightest. As for the reason she attempted suicide, you can go back and ask Second Sister-in-law what she did to Miss Nalan, what she did to Second Brother, and what she did to the Guo family.”

Hearing these strange remarks from Li Weiyang, Chen Ling’s expression changed. He looked questioningly at Madam Chen, and Madam Chen was equally confused. Why would Li Weiyang say such things? Madam Chen stepped forward: “Miss Guo, please speak clearly.”

So obstinately obtuse—a trace of disgust quickly flashed through Li Weiyang’s eyes, with only tranquility remaining: “Many things cannot be explained clearly. You only need to know that the Guo family people haven’t wronged Second Sister-in-law in the slightest. Her suicide wasn’t because we forced her, nor because Second Brother wanted an amicable separation from her. The most important reason is that she felt guilty inside. If a person hasn’t done anything wrong, why would she feel guilty? Perhaps you can’t get answers from Second Sister-in-law, but you might as well ask that maid Fu’er at her side and see exactly whose instigation she received that made her incite Second Sister-in-law to do irreversible things.”

Li Weiyang had long suspected Fu’er, but Chen Bingbing had protected Fu’er from beginning to end. Having reached this point, Li Weiyang was very curious to see how the Chen family would handle it.

Hearing this, everyone’s hearts suddenly jumped. Minister Chen and Duke Qi exchanged glances. Then Chen Ling spoke: “Good, we will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. Miss Guo, if there’s even half a lie in what you said today…”

Li Weiyang raised three fingers and said coldly: “If I, Guo Jia, have spoken even half a lie today, may Heaven and Earth witness—let me be pierced by ten thousand arrows and never achieve salvation for all eternity.”

Hearing this, Madam Guo quickly stamped her foot: “You foolish girl, why make such a vicious oath?”

Li Weiyang said methodically: “If not for this, how would the Minister believe me?”

Chen Ling gritted his teeth and said no more. He instructed those beside him: “Let’s return and get to the bottom of this matter.” With that, he quickly walked out. Madam Chen wiped her tears and hurriedly followed. Chen Xuanhua’s face was frosty. Chen Hanxuan gave a cold snort, and they too departed one after another.

Duke Qi watched the Chen family’s departing figures and shook his head: “The Guo-Chen alliance is completely finished.”

Princess Chenliu looked at her son and couldn’t help feeling dejected. She sighed: “As the saying goes, ‘predecessors plant trees, descendants enjoy the shade.’ We elders failed to maintain our position back then and forcibly tore apart a loving couple. As a result, this resentment has grown deeper and deeper. We’re all Yan’er’s relatives, but we have no way to help him. We can only watch the young people shed blood and tears, sacrificing their very lives. It’s truly shameful!”

Everyone exchanged glances and could see remorse and guilt in each other’s eyes. Madam Guo felt her heart being cut by knives: “Let this matter end here. I won’t let Chen Bingbing enter our doors again. The affairs between our two families should be resolved by the elders. As for their feelings, we’ll leave it to them. I only hope that in the future, no more regrettable things will happen—that we won’t suddenly look back to find everything changed, filled with remorse!”

Speaking thus, Duke Qi already understood Madam Guo’s thoughts. He sighed and walked to Madam Guo’s side: “Madam, none of this is your fault. We can only blame the cruel tricks of fate.”

Seeing Madam Guo’s tear-filled eyes, Li Weiyang couldn’t help shaking her head, her expression becoming even more complex.

Under Nalan Xue’s meticulous care, Guo Yan finally opened his eyes and made sounds. Although the sounds he made at first were so broken and hoarse, he ultimately survived. Moreover, he gradually became able to walk with difficulty, though every step was so laborious. Finally, he could remove the gauze. The wound on his chest had begun to scab over, healing bit by bit.

And Nalan Xue’s body also recovered. But her face bore a terrifying brand, especially on her left cheek where there were two twisted scars. For the rest of her life, the scars would follow her like a shadow, constantly reminding her that her beauty was destroyed.

Now the Guo family could honestly face Nalan Xue. Madam Guo repeatedly assured her that Chen Bingbing would no longer be an obstacle between her and Guo Yan. As long as Nalan Xue was willing, she could remain at Guo Yan’s side. But Nalan Xue didn’t think this way. Even though Guo Yan still loved her deeply, she already felt ashamed of her appearance. How could she face him with the same composure as before? Whenever she woke at midnight, she starkly realized her face was ruined. So she preferred to preserve the beautiful memories of the past. Her attitude toward Guo Yan was very cold—like toward an ordinary friend.

At noon, Prince Xu Yuan Lie quietly walked into the small courtyard. Two maids were sitting on the steps at the end of the corridor, speaking in low voices. Seeing him appear, they were both startled. Zhao Yue noticed and immediately made a gesture. The two maids smiled quietly and simultaneously lowered their heads. Yuan Lie had already lifted the curtain and walked in.

In the light and shadow, a woman sat by the bed, her long black hair falling like a waterfall. She had her eyes closed, as if listening to the flute music from outside the window. Yuan Lie walked over with very light footsteps. The afternoon sunlight fell on Li Weiyang’s face, casting faint shadows on her eyelashes and nose bridge. Her features appeared peaceful and gentle, involuntarily stirring one’s heart.

Yuan Lie sat beside her, quietly gazing at her, his eyes becoming very soft. Li Weiyang suddenly turned her eyes and saw Yuan Lie. Her jet-black pupils held warmth that penetrated the heart: “Have you investigated everything I asked you to look into?”

Yuan Lie looked at Li Weiyang, his cool brow relaxing slightly: “Yes, I’ve investigated everything. This secret report contains everything you need. But are you certain you want to see it?”

Li Weiyang looked at him, her expression immediately freezing. The sunlight was like mist, illuminating Li Weiyang’s complexion very coolly, her features even brighter. But at this moment, her brow and eyes harbored endless complexity.

Yuan Lie smiled slightly. His amber eyes became even more bewitching, with a trace of allure. Yet when looking at Li Weiyang, his heart held more pity. Before speaking, he already extended his arm and held her tightly.

Those iron-firm arms gently encircled her shoulders. She could feel his warm breath falling on her hair. Li Weiyang enjoyed this care and warmth, murmuring: “Why are you certain I don’t want to see it?”

Yuan Lie raised his eyebrow. His lips brushed past her hair with a clear, burning heat: “Nothing—just a feeling.”

Li Weiyang’s lips moved as if wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’d rather you could live simply, without scheming and plotting, without exhaustion and injury. Let me hold up this sky for you, so you’re no longer lonely, no longer sad, no longer need to calculate. How about it?”

Li Weiyang looked at him and smiled slightly: “But many times, I don’t like hiding behind others. The things I need, I want to personally obtain, to seize.”

Yuan Lie didn’t answer. He quietly gazed at her face. Many times he looked at her just this seriously. He didn’t know when it started, but he told himself he must protect the person before him, make her happy, make her relaxed, make her comfortable, make her no longer worried, no longer lonely. He said softly: “So I still brought this secret report. Whether to look or not, the decision is in your hands.” With that, he tucked a thin sheet of paper into Li Weiyang’s hand.

Li Weiyang gripped that sheet tightly but sighed gently. Because of the backlighting, Yuan Lie’s features couldn’t be seen clearly. Only those amber eyes were very deep and bright. After putting away his usual smile, they instead presented a hazy quality. He said softly: “Listen to this flute music—how beautiful.”

Li Weiyang lowered her eyes slightly. After a moment, she raised them, her eyes tranquil as still water: “That’s Second Brother playing the flute.”

Yuan Lie observed Li Weiyang’s expression, his heart stirring: “It seems he truly loves Nalan Xue very much.”

Li Weiyang nodded: “In this world, not everyone can have lovers become spouses. They were separated for so long and could originally have been together. Unfortunately, Miss Nalan’s appearance can never be restored. But this thorn also remains in Second Brother’s heart.”

Yuan Lie smiled: “If it were me, I might unhesitatingly take her and flee far away.”

In others’ eyes, he was a prince with unpredictable moods holding great power. But before her, he was just a man who would act spoiled in her presence. Li Weiyang smiled and shook her head: “Guo Yan could never do something to betray his family. Even knowing he wronged Nalan Xue, to this day he hasn’t expressed anything to her, hasn’t even proposed reconciling. This is Guo Yan, the Guo family’s second young master. You might think him weak, but I can’t help but admire him. Not everyone can suppress their own feelings this way.”

Suppressing one’s own feelings—that was no good thing. Unable to even protect the woman he loved most—that was simply not being a man. Yuan Lie laughed coldly but held Li Weiyang even tighter, saying with a smile: “So he’s the biggest fool under heaven. We mustn’t learn from him. We should properly prepare for the wedding.”