Chapter 12: Affection

◎Grandmother and granddaughter-in-law wept together in each other's arms.◎

The elderly lady had already been helped to sit in the main hall of her courtyard, awaiting news from the elder maid. She had expected to learn the reason behind the situation. Little did she anticipate seeing the elder maid supporting a bride, dressed in wedding attire, entering cautiously.

Confused, the grandmother wondered, Had the wedding ceremony already taken place? Why was it so hasty and informal?

But remembering Hua'er's actions today... she found herself at a loss for words.

Yu Lian walked to the center of the main hall and knelt down. "I, your granddaughter-in-law, have entered without invitation. I hope you, my revered ancestor, will forgive me." With that, she bowed her head, and before the elder maid could intervene, she watched with concern.

Addressing the grandmother, the elder maid said, "I overheard the townsfolk saying that the Sixth... Lady of the Wei Duke's House bowed and bid farewell to her family elders all the way here. Just look at her forehead; it's bruised from all the kneeling..."

The grandmother hastily motioned for Yu Lian to rise. "Good child, I know you value loyalty and affection, but please do not harm yourself. Your face is so beautiful—why endure such suffering?"

Yu Lian lifted her head, tears glistening in her eyes. "Grandmother, my heart aches unbearable today as my husband faces punishment. I wish I could join him, but knowing that he bore the guilt alone to protect our entire family, I understand that their safety is paramount to him. Thus, I beg your permission to take care of our loved ones in his stead, so he may rest assured even in his departure."

The old lady's nose twitched, and her eyes reddened. She never expected Hua Ji's fiancée to be such a devoted and loyal woman. It was just unfortunate for Hua Ji... Wiping her tears, she hurried forward to help Yu Lian up.

However, with her advanced age and recent series of shocks, she was merely holding on by a thread. As she tried to rise, she lost her balance, her vision darkening as she fainted.

Yu Lian quickly got to her feet, kneeling yet reacting faster than anyone else. She caught the old lady before she fell.

"Where is Grandmother's room? Take me there."

The elderly maid also hurried forward to assist, then led the way.

Relieved, she said, "Thankfully you reacted promptly. Madam's body couldn't have withstood a fall."

Yu Lian replied, "It was my duty." As they spoke, they had already supported the old lady into her room.

In truth, the old lady was still somewhat conscious, but her weakness prevented her from standing. After helping her onto the bed, Yu Lian offered her a sip of warm water and tucked the blanket around her. She reassured, "Rest well, don't overexert yourself. You've already exhausted yourself with worry. You mustn't burden yourself further. Take these days to focus on your health. Grandmother, I've heard that my husband was very close to you since childhood and was extremely filial. If he knew that you've been harmed by his situation, he would surely be worried and heartbroken."

The old lady lacked the strength to speak, appearing to have drifted into a deep sleep.

Yu Lian instructed the matron to summon a physician before sitting with the matriarch for a while longer. Only then did she rise to leave.

As the elderly lady heard her granddaughter-in-law depart, she sighed softly, "My dear husband, rest assured. I will take good care of them on your behalf."

A tear rolled down the corner of her eye.

Truly, fate can be so whimsical.

If she had known beforehand that her granddaughter-in-law was such an admirable woman and deeply devoted to Hua Ji, she would have insisted on bringing her into the family earlier, allowing the young couple to enjoy their lives together without getting entangled in the struggle for succession. Nothing mattered more than the peace and safety of their family. So what if they had to resign from official positions or give up power? Could it compare to Hua Ji's life? To Yu Lian's unwavering love?

But had she known before today, she would have dispatched someone to the Wei Duke's residence to stop Yu Lian from rushing into the Hua family's predicament.

Their once prosperous household was now dilapidated, stripped of titles and official ranks. Her father-in-law was ailing, her mother-in-law was useless, weeping daily without any solutions. With her own advanced age and limited strength, what could she accomplish? Why should a distinguished lady from the Duke's residence endure such turmoil?

What a foolish child, making a rash decision.

Why put herself through this?

It was unfortunate that Hua'er had stumbled upon such a wonderful fiancée, who offered him her heartfelt affection, only to be denied the fortune to enjoy it...

Would Hua'er be heartbroken if she knew? Would she still be so resolute, disregarding her own safety to shoulder everything?

A tear from the old lady's corner of the eye dampened her pillow as she slowly fell asleep, dreaming vaguely of Hua'er's return.

As the sky darkened, the old lady slept soundly until almost dawn. Since the family crisis and Hua'er's conviction, she had never slept so deeply. Upon waking, she felt disoriented, unsure of the current date. She vaguely recalled that yesterday, Hua'er's fiancée seemed to have come to their home, conversing with her and even weeping about her intention to care for her grandmother and parents.

She sat up, and the servant in the outer room, hearing the movement, entered with a bowl of warm water in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.

The old lady rinsed her mouth and allowed the servant to wipe her face with a warm cloth. She felt a bit more energetic, much better than the previous day.

As the servant prepared to leave to dispose of the water, the old lady stopped her. "Don't rush off just yet. Did Hua'er's fiancée come yesterday?" She half-believed she was still exhausted, dreaming.

The servant chuckled. "You must have been sleeping too deeply. Yesterday, the Lady Consort came alone to join our family, even paying respects to you as her grandmother. You were so thrilled that you tried to stop her, but unfortunately, you fainted due to your weak health. The Lady Consort stayed by your side for a while. When I managed to summon a physician who prescribed some medicine for you, she left."

"The physician said you have weakness in your qi and blood, caused by excessive worry and mental strain. He prescribed some calming and blood-nourishing medicine. If you rest well these few days and avoid further stress, you'll recover. Try not to dwell on sorrowful matters. Now that the Lady Consort is here, she will make things easier for you. You can truly relax."

The old lady pressed her temples, and the servant, noticing this, gently massaged them for her.

"Nanny, did that child... really enter the household? Was she settled in well last night, with proper food and drink?"

"Nanny, your concerns are unnecessary. The Lady Consort has genuine feelings for the Crown Prince. Since she stepped into our residence, she treats it as her own home. She didn't show any sign of being an outsider. After you fainted yesterday, she took charge of all the matters in the estate, organizing everything seamlessly. This old servant was truly astonished."

The elderly lady paused, "Where is she staying? In a guest room? That wouldn't be suitable... Given her sincere intention to join the family, we can't disappoint her."

Nanny chuckled, "Nanny, you weren't there yesterday. After the physician left, the Lady Consort changed her clothes and attended to the household chores until it was dark. When I offered to show her the rooms and let her choose which courtyard to stay in, she said, 'I'll live in my husband's former courtyard. He might come back at night, and I need to wait for him.'"

Nanny sighed, "The Lady Consort's devotion to the Crown Prince is unparalleled. This old servant was deeply moved. Last night, she rested in the Crown Prince's old courtyard and even slept in his room, without changing anything inside."

With a softening heart, the matriarch's gaze turned gentle and compassionate. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly remembered something. "Did you offer incense for Hua'er yesterday, after noon, to send him on his way?"

"And the memorial tablet, after the incense was lit, it should be placed with our ancestors. He's young and of low rank, so it should be placed accordingly..." Recalling these, the elderly lady couldn't help but feel heartache. Her poor Hua'er, so young, with a devoted wife, yet they couldn't be together.

Nanny lowered her voice but still offered reassurance, "The Lady Consort took care of those arrangements. She personally lit the incense and carried the tablet back. Everything was handled properly, leaving no room for this old servant to assist."

"The Lady Consort also discovered some servants who planned to steal from the estate and escape during the chaos today. She had them apprehended and sent to the authorities. But alas, when they saw it was from our Hua Manor, they accused us of being traitors and refused to handle the case. I made the decision to sell them off without informing the Lady Consort, for fear of hurting her feelings."

"Back then, the Prefect of Chang'an wasn't even worthy of touching the threshold of our manor, and now he steps on people's faces with his arrogance. This old servant despises him. If only I knew martial arts, I would have gladly slapped that old face!"

The old madam was not focused on that. Her heart was filled with both sorrow and relief. She had fainted when her granddaughter-in-law entered the household, unable to make proper arrangements for her. However, Yu Lian managed everything without any panic, indicating not only her strong sense of loyalty and integrity but also her exceptional social skills and adaptability. Such composure rivaled even that of noble ladies from prominent families.

If Yu Lian had been someone with a more fragile temperament, she might have been frightened and distressed upon seeing Hua'er's unconscious state, abandoned alone while her in-laws were also indisposed.

The old madam was deeply satisfied and appreciative. If Hua'er had not encountered misfortune, how perfect would they have been as a couple, a match made in heaven?

She sighed and sat up.

In front of the dressing mirror, the old madam settled down. The housekeeper was about to comb her hair when a knock came from the door.

Then, Yu Lian's melodious voice echoed outside, "Has Grandmother woken up? It's Lian'er."

The old madam quickly turned around, beckoning, "Come in quickly, Grandmother is just having my hair done. It'll be done shortly."

Not showing any formality, Yu Lian entered and took the comb from the housekeeper. Gently, she started to comb the old madam's white hair, "You look much better this morning."

The old madam patted her hand affectionately, her face filled with love, "I did sleep much better. I don't know why, but I haven't had a good rest for over half a month. Yesterday, I slept from noon until now. I think it's because my granddaughter-in-law has come into our family. She's such a wonderful person, bringing me comfort and joy, allowing me to relax unconsciously."

Yu Lian smiled gently at the compliment, "How can that be? Yesterday, I asked the doctor to prepare some scented incense. These incense sticks have soothing and calming properties. Light them before you sleep every night, and you'll sleep soundly through the night with no headaches. Your spirits will improve greatly."

The old lady was delighted and praised her for her thoughtfulness.

It had been a long time since she had laughed so heartily. After the laughter subsided, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of melancholy.

Yu Lian said, "Grandmother, no matter what happens, you should smile more. I dreamed about my husband last night; he told me to take good care of you. He even said that if you don't cherish your own health, he won't acknowledge you as his grandmother."

The old lady held her hand tightly. "Really? You really dreamed about Hua'er?"

Yu Lian paused, "Yes, I did. He was wearing a dark green robe, still as handsome as ever."

Tears welled up in the old lady's eyes as she listened. Yu Lian quickly handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "I've made you sad again."

"How could that be? I merely thought that if Hua'er knew to come back and visit you, she must also understand the depth of your affection. Yet, he had to forcefully enter the household, leaving behind such heartache. Grandmother can't help but feel pained when she thinks of this. Poor Hua'er, poor Lian'er, it's lamentable that fate has kept you two from being together indefinitely."

"It's Grandmother's fault, it's all Grandmother's fault!"

"No, it's Lian'er's fault. Lian'er isn't worthy of such happiness."

Listening to this, Yu Lian couldn't help but be reminded of her sorrows, and her eyes reddened. In the end, the grandmother and granddaughter-in-law embraced each other, weeping bitterly.

Village Elderess: "…"

After the tears had been shed, the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter-in-law seemed much closer. The old lady looked at her granddaughter-in-law with such tenderness that it could have melted ice. Even after all these years, she had never looked at her own daughter-in-law this way.

The old servant woman had served the matriarch her entire life and knew that she genuinely cared for the Crown Princess, truly loving this granddaughter-in-law.

Morning broke, and Yu Lian shared a breakfast with her grandmother. Afterward, the pair stepped out into the courtyard. The old lady looked up at the sky, which was overcast with no sign of the sun. Heavy clouds blanketed the sky, weighing heavily on people's hearts.

Yu Lian accompanied her grandmother for a stroll in the yard. However, the old lady soon asked her to return and rest. Yu Lian said she wasn't tired and expressed her intention to visit her parents, paying them respect by kneeling and serving them tea.

The old lady felt a sense of relief but still advised, "There's no rush to serve the tea. Now that you've entered our family, you're officially my Huá family's daughter-in-law, and that won't change. However, your father-in-law is currently bedridden and may not be able to receive your respectful gesture. As for your mother...sigh, she's naturally frail and can't handle too much. It's best not to visit her for now. When they both recover in a couple of days, I'll call them, and the three of us will accept your tea together. No need to kneel, my dear granddaughter-in-law. Your head injury hasn't fully healed yet; we don't want it to worsen."

Yu Lian didn't argue and agreed.

The old lady then sent her away. Once the granddaughter-in-law had left, she turned to the village elderess and asked, "Has the government informed us when we can retrieve the bodies?"