Chapter 242: Is the Marquis Madam Dying?

Chapter 242: Is the Marquess Dying?

To A Chao, Xie Yan was her true love.

Out of nowhere, Gu Huai burst into laughter.

His laughter was unnervingly eerie.

Bu Yan, hearing it, grew even more anxious.

To an outsider, it was obvious the heir had hit a dead end.

Gu Huai ignored Bu Yan's advice, confident and eagerly anticipating good news.

A quarter of an hour.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

An hour.

Gu Huai lost his patience.

He glanced up at Bu Yan, "Still nothing?"

"Did she not touch the food sent to her?"

Bu Yan bowed his head, "Perhaps Miss Lu wasn't feeling hungry and only ate a little."

Gu Huai abruptly swept his hand across the table, his sleeve knocking over cups and plates onto the floor.

"No, it's not that she's not hungry—she's wary of me."

Gu Huai's low voice was filled with a morbidly possessive desire.

Bu Yan's head dropped even lower, silently thinking: Isn't it right to be wary of you?

"Take me over there," Gu Huai concealed the gloom in his eyes.

The urgent and impatient knocking at her door woke the drowsy Lu Mingchao.

Lu Mingchao frowned, her long lashes fluttering as she calmly opened the door, hiding the mockery in her eyes.

Gu Huai examined Lu Mingchao closely.

Her cheeks were rosy and smooth, her eyes clear as water, showing no trace of illness.

A feeling of defeat welled up in Gu Huai's heart, "A Chao, you know, right?"

"Know what?" A Chao's expression turned playful.

"A Chao, I'm doing this for your sake," Gu Huai spoke earnestly.

A Chao thought she must be hearing things, responding coolly, "Thank you for your concern, Heir Gu."

"If Heir Gu has nothing further, you should be on your way."

"I miss the Marquess dearly."

Gu Huai gazed up at A Chao, his voice filled with pain and grievance, "A Chao, for our future, let's get rid of the baby, okay?"

Lu Mingchao leaned down, locking eyes with Gu Huai, and suddenly smiled.

Her smile was bold and wild.

For a moment, Gu Huai was dazed, his vision clouded.

Though he resented A Chao for no longer being soft and obedient, he couldn't deny that she was breathtakingly beautiful.

It wasn't just her flawlessly sculpted face, but the aura radiating from within her.

The A Chao of the past was like a budding flower, delicate yet brimming with life.

Now, that bud had bloomed into a magnificent flower, but sharp thorns lined its edges. Though beautiful, it now carried a sharpness that demanded attention, making her even more mesmerizing and unforgettable.

Gu Huai was at a loss for words to describe the A Chao before him.

It was as if the evergreen pines and bamboos on a snow-capped mountain had suddenly burst into bloom with dazzling flowers overnight.

He was like a traveler lost in the snowy peaks, stumbling upon a surreal yet breathtaking sight, one that haunted his thoughts ever since.

He longed for the gentle, obedient A Chao of the past, yet he yearned to possess the enchanting, otherworldly flower she had become.

"A Chao."

Her voice, clear and cold, was like snow brushing against his cheeks.

Gu Huai snapped out of his reverie, but the infatuation in his gaze remained.

"The child in my womb can call me 'Mother,' can care for me in my old age—can you?"

Her casual words struck like a boulder, shattering the tranquil surface of Gu Huai's heart, scattering the reflection of flowers and the moon.

Gu Huai's hands tightened on the armrests of his wheelchair. "Are you toying with me?"

Lu Mingchao raised her index finger and wagged it gently. "Isn't it you, Heir Gu, who's been mocking me all along?"

"Heir Gu, I can't trust a single word you say."

"Most importantly, there is no future for us."

Lu Mingchao straightened up and asked seriously, "Heir Gu, if you're so reluctant to continue, are you defying His Majesty's decree?"

"What's so special about Xie Yan!" Gu Huai shouted, his voice thick with frustration.

Outside, the wind picked up, scattering petals to parts unknown.

At the mention of Xie Yan, the light in Lu Mingchao's eyes flickered faintly.

Xie Yan's wounds...

Seeing this, Gu Huai grew even angrier.

There's time, plenty of time. A Chao and Xie Yan have only known each other for half a year. No matter how strong their feelings are, they'll fade with time and distance, until they mean nothing.

The carriage continued on its journey back to the capital.

Changxi Village.

Xie Yan tended to his wounds, a letter clutched in his hand. His eyes lingered on the medicine and food in the wooden box, and his heart melted.

Mingchao didn’t seem like the type for sweet nothings.

The letter was packed with details, full of meticulous and thoughtful instructions.

Reading each word, he could almost picture Mingchao dipping her brush in ink, writing, pausing to think, and then continuing.

Her expression must have been soft and full of affection.

The entire letter didn’t contain a single romantic phrase.

But to him, every sentence felt like a heartfelt love letter.

Mingchao…

Xie Yan held the letter to his chest, his heart swelling with even greater determination.

He carefully folded the letter, tucked it back into the wooden box, and stepped outside.

He had to come up with a good excuse to calm his in-laws.

"What?" Yunniang gasped, then muttered, "Since Yongning Marquis Madam is critically ill and nearing her end, and Chaochao was raised by her for fifteen years, it’s only right she goes to care for her and say goodbye."

Xie Yan pursed his lips, stunned.

Did he really say she was dying?

He couldn’t recall.

Yunniang sighed, "Isn’t leaving so suddenly too rushed?"

"Chaochao is pregnant too, and I don’t know if the people picking her up will look after her properly."

Yunniang was frantic, wishing she could sprout wings and follow them.

Xie Yan explained guiltily, "The Marquis’s household is in a rush, worried that any delay might mean the Madam dies with regrets."

Yunniang frowned, "No matter how urgent, they shouldn’t skip saying goodbye."

"The Marquis’s household is so domineering—it doesn’t seem like they really care for Chaochao."

"With Lu Miao still there, I’m really worried about Chaochao."

Lu Miao was never exactly known for being kind or easygoing.

"Xie Yan, if Chaochao gets mistreated at the Marquis’s household, is there no one in the capital to protect her and speak up for her?"

"Maybe I should hire a carriage and head to the capital right now."

Yunniang was beside herself, while Lu Chunsheng paced back and forth, sighing nonstop.

"Mother," Xie Yan said, "Mingchao grew up in the capital. She has close friends, and with His Highness Prince Duan and Princess Pingning watching over her, the Yongning Marquis and his wife wouldn’t dare mistreat her."

"I also have friends in the capital who can help Mingchao."

Lu Chunsheng stopped, his back slightly bent, eyeing Xie Yan suspiciously, "You..."

"You’ve got friends in the capital?"

"Aren’t you just a refugee who ran from famine?" Xie Yan lowered his gaze, hesitating before saying evasively, "My family was once well-off, but things fell apart, and when famine hit, we had to flee here."

Lu Chunsheng suddenly realized, "No wonder you're different from ordinary hunters."

"The world is cold, and people turn their backs once you're no longer useful. Old friends from the past might..."

Lu Chunsheng trailed off, letting out a deep sigh.

Then, he changed the subject: "Yunniang, Chaochao has a strong will of her own. Let's just stay home and wait for her, so she can feel at ease."

Lu Chunsheng's worries were no less than Yunniang's.

He clearly knew that even if Chaochao had harmed herself by hitting the wall, it wouldn't have won the pity of the Yongning Marquis and his wife.

The Yongning Marquis's household was cold-hearted, ruthless, and utterly self-serving.

Gu Huai was always on the losing end.