Chapter 686 Falling into the Water

Chapter 686: Drowning in Misery

Jiao Shi returned to the Duke of Xinguo's residence in a daze; she retreated straight to her quarters.

Yu Chongjie swayed slightly, his steps unsteady as he also headed toward his own courtyard. He couldn't even muster the energy to deal with Jiao Shi.

Yu Mingzhu had been keeping an eye on Jiao Shi’s courtyard. As soon as she heard that Jiao Shi had returned, she hurried over, feigning eagerness. "Mother, what did the princess say?"

Jiao Shi was already distressed by her eldest son’s resentment, and now, hearing Yu Mingzhu’s question, she was reminded of the cold treatment she had received from Xingxing. Grief overwhelmed her, and her eyes reddened.

At the sight of Jiao Shi’s expression, Yu Mingzhu knew things had not gone well. While secretly pleased, she pretended to be even more concerned, speaking in a self-reproaching tone, "Oh, Mother, this is all my fault. Princess Fusui already despises me, and now you’ve suffered humiliation on my behalf..."

Hearing her daughter’s comforting words, compared to the other two who only brought her grief, the difference was night and day!

Profoundly touched, Jiao Shi tightly grasped Yu Mingzhu’s hand. "...Zhu Zhu, don’t worry. No matter what, you will always be my daughter."

Yu Mingzhu’s carefully crafted expression faltered.

Wait, this... wasn't what she'd anticipated!

Shouldn’t her mother have sworn through clenched teeth to keep her in the Duke of Xinguo’s residence at all costs?

Why had she instead said something like "no matter what"...?

It sounded like she was giving up!

"Mother..." Yu Mingzhu’s tears immediately welled up as she gazed at Jiao Shi with reddened eyes. "The thought of leaving you breaks my heart. I won’t be able to care for you in the future. If you ever fall ill, I won’t be there to serve you medicine... You must promise to take care."

Jiao Shi’s heart ached as she listened to Yu Mingzhu’s earnest pleas.

Mother and daughter clung to each other, sobbing for a long while. Exhausted, Jiao Shi eventually fell asleep, with Yu Mingzhu dutifully keeping watch by her bedside—the perfect image of filial devotion.

Only after Jiao Shi had fallen into a deep sleep did Yu Mingzhu quietly leave the room. In a voice thick with false sorrow, she instructed Jiao Shi’s maid, "Take good care of my mother."

The maid bowed in silent obedience, and Yu Mingzhu departed the main courtyard, her face a mask of grief.

However, once she was out of sight, Yu Mingzhu’s sorrowful demeanor froze into cold indifference.

Coldly, she thought to herself, *Everyone claims to love and cherish me, but when it really comes down to it, they’re all willing to discard me.*

Her expression grew even colder. Her maid followed meekly behind, not daring to make a sound.

It wasn’t until Yu Mingzhu turned onto a certain path that the maid suddenly realized—this wasn’t the way back to their courtyard.

Wasn’t this... the path to the Young Master’s courtyard?

The maid didn’t dare speak up, watching as her young lady rubbed her eyes forcefully to make them appear even redder.

The maid lowered her head, playing dumb.

Her entire family’s servitude contracts were in the young lady’s hands—what else could she do?

...

Yu Mingzhu entered Yu Chongjie’s courtyard with reddened eyes.

Back when Mao Shi was still around, Yu Mingzhu had visited Yu Chongjie’s courtyard countless times. At that time, Mao Shi had managed the courtyard beautifully, breathing life into every corner—a clear sign of her meticulous care.

But now, though the flowers, plants, and trees remained arranged as before, the entire place had taken on a bleak, abandoned feel.

Yu Mingzhu wasn’t paying much attention to the courtyard’s decor either. She politely asked the servant on duty, "Is my Big Brother in his room?"

The servant hesitated.

Yu Mingzhu instantly knew that Yu Chongjie was indeed inside, but for some reason, the servant felt it might be inconvenient for him to see her?

Holding back her annoyance, she adopted a pitiful look and called toward the room, "Big Brother, are you angry with me? I've come so many times, yet you refuse to see me. Don’t you realize every meeting between us could be our last?"

Her voice was heart-wrenchingly sorrowful.

Before long, heavy footsteps sounded from inside. After a moment, the door creaked open.

Yu Chongjie, looking haggard, stared at Yu Mingzhu, his expression conflicted, remaining silent for a while.

Yu Mingzhu’s eyes grew even redder as she trembled and called out, "Big Brother..."

Yu Chongjie stood at the doorway, his feelings just as conflicted.

He had genuinely cherished Yu Mingzhu for so many years. Even if he sensed something was wrong, he couldn’t just cut off their sibling ties overnight.

Yet it wasn’t until his divorce from Mao Fuqu that he truly understood what heartbreak meant.

Lately, ignoring Yu Mingzhu was less about punishing her and more about punishing himself.

Now, the sister he had doted on for years stood not far from him—frail and shivering in the wind, her eyes puffy and brimming with grief...

Yu Chongjie closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Big Brother..."

Yu Mingzhu called out again, her voice trembling.

Yu Chongjie opened his eyes, his voice desolate. "It's cold outside. Come in if you have something to say."

A smug thrill of victory surged through Yu Mingzhu.

See? Despite her brother’s torment over his divorce from Mao Fuqu, he still chose to accept her!

This was exactly what Yu Mingzhu craved—no matter what, others must always place her above all else!

With her head bowed, Yu Mingzhu followed Yu Chongjie inside.

She shivered.

Even with the floor heater running, Yu Chongjie had left several windows open, letting the warmth escape, making the room freezing.

Her eyes still red and swollen, Yu Mingzhu said, "Big Brother, do you always treat yourself this carelessly?"

Yu Chongjie paused, then stood up and closed all the windows.

Yu Mingzhu couldn’t help leaning into him, trying to bury herself in his arms.

"Big Brother—"

But Yu Chongjie tensed up and took a step back.

Avoiding her gaze, he said, "Zhu Zhu, you're grown now. As siblings, we must maintain propriety."

The word "propriety" hit Yu Mingzhu like a thunderclap.

Her tears came instantly: "Big Brother, you've truly become distant from me. Is it because you've learned I'm not your blood sister?"

In the past, the sight of Yu Mingzhu's tears would have felt like a knife to Yu Chongjie's heart, making him wish he could offer her the finest things in the world.

But now, seeing her tears again, Yu Chongjie felt nothing more than a flicker of irritation—perhaps because he had already tasted a far deeper pain, leaving no room for more pain in his heart.

Was he wrong to bring up propriety?

Yet here was his sister, using tears to guilt him again!

How had he ever thought her tears were the end of the world?

Yu Chongjie's expression grew even stiffer.

Yu Mingzhu clenched her teeth and flung herself into his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his chest as tears poured down: "...Big Brother, just let me hold you a little longer. Grandmother’s given Mother an ultimatum—after my birthday, I must leave the Duke of Xinguo's residence."

Yu Chongjie was aware of the Dowager Duchess of Xin's decision to make Yu Mingzhu move out, but these past days, he had been lost in his own misery, barely able to take care of himself, let alone others.

At this, he couldn’t help pitying her.

She’d lived in luxury, adored by all, at the Duke of Xinguo's residence for over a decade, only to suddenly learn she wasn’t their blood and be forced to leave the home she’d known all her life—

His hands, ready to push her away, dropped slowly.

He sighed, his voice bleak: "Zhu Zhu, you know Grandmother’s temper. I can’t help you with this."

Yu Mingzhu pressed her face against him, crying even harder: "I know, Big Brother, I know. But the thought of leaving the residence in two days, never seeing you, Second Brother, or Father and Mother every day again—it tears me apart..."

She sobbed like her heart was breaking. Yu Chongjie sighed and placed a hand on her back, patting gently.

Yu Mingzhu seemed even more overcome, crying so hard she could barely breathe: "Big Brother... you—you still care for me, don’t you? I thought... I thought after your divorce from Sister-in-law, you’d resent me forever... But you know my heart, Big Brother. I never wanted you and Sister-in-law to separate... Big Brother, please, comfort me."

Her weeping was agonizing.

Finally, Yu Chongjie let out a long sigh.

His voice was slightly hoarse: "Zhu Zhu, the blame for my divorce from Fu Qu lies solely with me. Had I treated her better, she wouldn’t have left in despair. You needn’t cry anymore."

But Yu Mingzhu only cried harder, squirming in his arms like a child: "No, Big Brother, my heart aches—let me cry. Big Brother, after I leave... will you miss me? Mother said she’d arrange a small courtyard for me. Will you and Second Brother visit?"

Before Yu Chongjie could answer, she suddenly shoved herself away from his chest, standing like a delicate but stubborn flower, tears glistening as she spoke in a voice full of despair: "Big Brother, I know after all that’s happened, you and Second Brother don’t treat me as you once did. Before, a single frown from me would pain you, but now, even as I weep like this, you must only feel annoyance... I should have accepted this sooner. Big Brother, I came today to say goodbye. Whether you still see me as your sister or not, in my heart, you will always be my irreplaceable big brother."

With that, she turned tearfully to leave.

Touched, Yu Chongjie called out just as she reached the door: "Zhu Zhu."

Holding back her hope, Yu Mingzhu turned back gracefully, heartbroken: "Big Brother..."

But instead of the words she longed for, Yu Chongjie merely took a cloak from nearby and draped it over her shoulders himself: "It’s cold outside. Wear this—don’t catch a chill."

Yu Mingzhu’s heart sank!

After all this, her big brother still refused to reconcile!

Forcing down her resentment, she managed a sorrowful smile: "...Very well. I’ll listen to you, Big Brother."

Hugging Yu Chongjie’s cloak tight, Yu Mingzhu returned to her own courtyard.

However, an hour later, Yu Mingzhu slipped out of the estate again.

This time, Yu Mingzhu was gone for four full hours.

Just as Jiao Shi was growing frantic in her search for Yu Mingzhu, a lantern-bearing escort arrived, bringing Yu Mingzhu back to the Duke of Xinguo's residence.

But what left Jiao Shi struck dumb with shock was that the person who brought Yu Mingzhu back was none other than the Fourth Prince, Wei Shibu!

That alone was shocking enough!

Yet when Yu Mingzhu stepped down from Wei Shibu’s carriage, the heavy cloak draped around her was none other than Wei Shibu’s own!

And seeing her half-dried hair, Jiao Shi nearly swooned.

The Fourth Prince, Wei Shibu, was a royal visitor. Upon arriving at the Duke of Xinguo's residence, aside from Jiao Shi, who came out to greet him was the heir of the Duke of Xinguo, Yu Shanglian.

Swathed in the prince's cloak, Yu Mingzhu knelt before Jiao Shi and Yu Shanglian with tear-filled eyes: "Father, Mother..."

Seeing this scene, Jiao Shi felt a whirlwind of emotions.

Yu Shanglian had hardly seen Yu Mingzhu these days—partly because he was genuinely busy, and partly because, ever since learning that the daughter he had doted on for so many years was not his biological child, he had been deeply distressed, preferring to avoid her altogether.

Now, seeing Yu Mingzhu kneeling before him, he could readily surmise what had happened.

"Zhu Zhu, you..."

But before Yu Shanglian could finish, Wei Shibu quickly interjected, "Heir Yu, please forgive me. The truth is, your daughter acted heroically."

Yu Shanglian and Jiao Shi shared a doubtful look at Wei Shibu.

Wei Shibu sighed. "Your daughter is of exceptional virtue. On such a freezing winter's day, when a child playing by the river broke through the ice and fell in, she plunged in without hesitation to save them... In such freezing weather, after rescuing the child, she naturally exhausted herself. I happened to pass by and intervened, hauling her to shore."

Yu Shanglian knit his brows and bowed to Wei Shibu. "Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my daughter."

Jiao Shi, heartbroken, reached out to pull the pale-faced Yu Mingzhu from the ground. "Zhu Zhu, my dear Zhu Zhu... you reckless girl..."

Wei Shibu said solemnly, "Heir Yu, there is no need for thanks. However, one thing must be addressed—rescuing someone was urgent, and in the heat of the moment, your daughter’s reputation may have been compromised... But I am not an irresponsible man. Heir Yu, I am willing to enter the palace tomorrow and request permission from His Majesty and Her Majesty to marry your daughter."

Yu Shanglian’s frown deepened.

Though it would be a blessing in disguise for his daughter to secure such a match, the problem was—she wasn’t his biological daughter!

Jiao Shi, however, couldn't hide her delight. "Truly?"

Wei Shibu nodded earnestly. "Indeed. While part of it is my duty to take responsibility for your daughter, her kindness and noble character are also qualities I deeply admire."

Yu Shanglian’s expression softened slightly, and he was about to explain Yu Mingzhu’s true origins when, at that very moment, Yu Mingzhu fainted—conveniently timed.

"Zhu Zhu!"

Chaos erupted in the Duke of Xinguo's residence.

Wei Shibu, seeing it was inappropriate to stay longer, took his leave and departed.