Chapter 47: Promise

Chapter 47: Promise

That night, Ying Shi tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She spent the entire night pondering where her current life had diverged from her past one, leading to so many things being different.

In her past life, she hadn’t gone to escort the funeral procession, so she hadn’t spent those two days with Liang Yun during the funeral. Upon reflection, it seemed that everything had started to change from that point.

They had gradually grown closer because of those days spent together and his care for her, leading to more frequent interactions.

Initially, Ying Shi had subconsciously seen him as her only way out of the Liang family. She had deliberately approached him several times, and though she could sense a subtle change in his attitude towards her, every time she gathered the courage to gently push his boundaries, she found it hard to get close to him, and had to withdraw her hand in disappointment.

It must have been that...

A slight deviation had led to a growing gap, resulting in the current situation.

Lying on her pillow, Ying Shi gazed at the green silk canopy with gold embroidery on the bed, recalling how distant she and Liang Yun were in her past life.

She remembered that every encounter with Liang Yun in her past life seemed to be separated by many people. Though it hadn’t been too long ago, it felt like many years had passed—so long that the faces of those people in her memory had become blurred.

Only his face remained clear in the crowd.

Every time she bowed to him among the women, he seemed to avoid meeting her gaze.

Back then, she barely interacted with him and only saw him as her husband’s powerful and serious elder brother, who was feared by everyone. Whenever he appeared, he always seemed aloof and solemn.

Naturally, Ying Shi was afraid of him too and avoided him even more.

She remembered that not long after, Liang Yun was transferred to Hedong due to the war.

After that, she never saw him again.

In the days before her death, she lived in a haze. At first, she had given up on herself, refusing to go out or see anyone. Later, when her illness worsened, Madame Wei didn’t want her to go out and cause embarrassment.

So for those two years, she was mostly confined to the small world of Zhoujin Garden, isolated from the outside world.

Except for Liang Ji, Liang Ji...

Every time she thought of the past, Ying Shi’s emotions would stay unsettled for a long time. She clenched her teeth, her nails digging into her palms. Only after a long while did the pain in her palms bring her back to reality.

Ying Shi hated this feeling of resentment. She knew that this resentment would quietly eat away at her energy and health day and night. Resentment was like a dark cloud, bringing misfortune wherever it went.

So she slowly relaxed her palms, tightly closed her eyes, and stopped herself from thinking about these unhappy things. Her life shouldn’t be stuck in a vicious cycle.

This life, she had already taken a different path, one that was completely different from her past life.

A path that, for now, didn’t seem bad.

She would no longer be isolated and helpless.

Having made up her mind, Ying Shi felt more confident. She drowsily closed her eyes and finally felt sleepy, falling into a deep sleep only after dawn.

...

In the following days, Ying Shi didn’t step out of her courtyard. Even in such circumstances, she didn’t have the audacity to continue paying her respects to the matriarch.

She slept late and woke up late, often lying in bed until the sun was high in the sky.

If she had been this lazy in the past, Gui Niang would surely have scolded her—"You’re already married, yet you sleep so late? Be careful, your mother-in-law will dislike you!" And she would have been forced to wake up and eat breakfast before going back to sleep.

Now, Ying Shi could sleep in as late as she wanted without anyone daring to disturb her.

Because Gui Niang and the others were just as miserable. Since they got the news, they couldn’t sleep day and night, just like Ying Shi, tormented by worry and distress.

Seeing Ying Shi still lying in bed, they hoped she could sleep more to recover her strength.

Even so, they couldn’t stop the waves of people coming to Zhujin Garden to persuade her.

First, Madame Wei came, but Ying Shi was still asleep. Gui Niang took it upon herself to say that Ying Shi was ill and couldn’t see anyone. Madame Wei was stopped outside the garden by her daughter-in-law’s maid, and you could imagine how dark her expression turned.

But at this critical moment, the old lady was still waiting for her words, and she couldn’t afford to offend Ying Shi. She could only leave in a huff, saying, “When she’s free, tell her to come see me. We, as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, should continue to have a good talk.”

Gui Niang watched Madame Wei’s retreating figure and spat on the ground in disgust.

“Pah! The old madam is here to play matchmaker!”

Besides Madame Wei, Lady Xiao actually brought Xiao Qiongyu along as well.

Gui Niang couldn’t risk offending everyone, so she rushed to Ying Shi’s bedside and gently woke her.

Ying Shi opened her eyes, groggy, and asked, “What are they here for? They’re not here to talk me into something, are they?”

Gui Niang: “What do you think?”

No one objected? And they all came to pressure her?

The Liang family is really something else!

Ying Shi sighed heavily. She sat up in bed, and Gui Niang draped clothes over her and started to comb her hair. Ying Shi yawned and waved her hand, saying, “Don’t bother. Didn’t you say I’m sick? I’ll just stay in bed. If they’re willing, let them come into the inner room…”

Clearly, Lady Xiao was just putting on a show. She was even afraid of catching something and didn’t dare step into Ying Shi’s inner room, only exchanging a few polite words through the screen.

But Xiao Qiongyu didn’t stick to the script. Despite her pregnancy, she stepped into the inner room.

Now it was Ying Shi’s turn to feel awkward. She slipped on her shoes and hurried to the washstand to wash her face.

Ying Shi feigned ignorance: “Sister-in-law, what brings you here?”

Xiao Qiongyu pursed her lips and said, “I know you probably don’t want to accept the joint succession, but you’re still so young. As your sister-in-law, I sincerely want to advise you. You’re a pure and innocent girl, and it’s already rare in this world that you’d go this far for the Third Master. Now, look forward more.”

Ying Shi was momentarily stunned. She looked up at the cold-faced woman standing just two feet away from her bed. She wiped her face with a towel and was momentarily at a loss for words.

After a long time, Ying Shi looked at the rippling water in the copper basin and said calmly, “He was always kind to me in the past. I can’t forget many things from when we were young. He always thought of me, keeping good things in his pocket for me. So I just don’t get why it ended up like this. So he…”

So even though he did many unforgivable things, Ying Shi couldn’t bring herself to hate him completely or seek revenge.

Xiao Qiongyu lowered her eyes and said in a cold tone, “It’s only because the Third Master died young that you can’t forget him. If he had lived longer, he would have eventually become like other men, taking concubines and having children. It was just a matter of time. Ask yourself: if he had truly become like that, would you still be willing to remain a widow for him?”

Ying Shi was stunned by her question. It took her a long time to realize it and smile bitterly.

After all, she had been reborn once, yet she was caught off guard by just two sentences from her.

Xiao Qiongyu looked at her and said firmly, “Sister-in-law, you’re still so young. If this matter were pushing you into a pit of fire, even if others persuaded me, I wouldn’t come to persuade you. But now, this is the best choice for you. The Duke is unmarried, and he’s clean. Who knows what will happen in the future? At least the Duke won’t be any worse than the Third Master…”

The Duke won’t be any worse than the Third Master.

This was the most frequent thing Xiao Qiongyu said to her, but it was also the most outrageous statement.

After saying her piece, Xiao Qiongyu did not stay long and left hastily.

The garden soon fell back into tranquility.

Ying Shi's eyelids trembled slightly, and she no longer felt like going back to sleep.

If those shameful events in her past life hadn't happened, she would have been very angry when Xiao Qiongyu spoke those words to her.

After all, in the eyes of a young girl, her feelings are the most important thing in the world, and no one is allowed to tarnish them.

But once the storm passed, looking back, it all seemed ridiculous.

Ying Shi couldn't help but wonder, what would have become of her and Liang Ji if there hadn't been those unexpected events in her past life?

At first, they were childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree.

Wasn't it the same for Xiao Qiongyu and Liang Zhi?

Maybe men are never content with just one childhood sweetheart.

A man's heart is wide, always making room for other women.

Chasing a man's love is inherently futile, only leading to heartache.

And what about her?

Ying Shi felt that she had experienced so much that she had long since lost the ability to love again.

What she sought was a different kind of fate, the ultimate destination of a passionate relationship—she wanted a child of her own that no one could ever take from her.

So, as Xiang Yao had put it, she needed a man who fit the image she had dreamed of in her youth, to be the father of her child.

She wouldn't invest too much of her emotions in him. She only wanted to give her child a family and appearance that wouldn't lose to anyone else.

...

But since that day, Liang Yun had scarcely returned to the estate.

It was unclear whether he was dodging the people in the estate or if his official duties were so busy that he couldn't even spare time to return.

Ying Shi waited all day but heard nothing from him.

But she had always been someone who wouldn't give up once she set her mind to something. Unable to find Liang Yun, Ying Shi turned to Zhang Ping, Liang Yun's personal guard.

Ying Shi instructed Xiang Yao: "Ask him where his master is currently? I want to see his master, how can I find him? Also..."

She added an extra reminder to Xiang Yao: "Make sure no one else finds out about this."

Xiang Yao nodded vigorously: "Madam, don't worry, leave it to me, it'll be taken care of!"

Within two quarters of an hour, Xiang Yao came running back, jumping with excitement, and whispered in Ying Shi's ear: "I asked Zhang Ping, he said the Duke will leave the government hall at Shenshi if he finishes court. If you wait at the entrance of Shenwu Street in front of the palace, you will definitely see him!"

Looking at the sky outside, it was just noon, neither early nor late.

...

Shenwu Street was lined with shops and restaurants, the calls of the waiters at the doors of the shops in the alleys, the comings and goings of staff and customers, the crackling of charcoal in the stoves, sparks flying everywhere. The whole place was alive with a bustling energy.

Ying Shi found a restaurant with an excellent view and booked a seat by the window on the second floor to sit down.

She wasn’t in a rush to wait for anyone, so she first asked the waiter to bring some house specialties and snacks for Xiang Yao to stave off her hunger, while she herself looked around.

Ying Shi didn’t have to wait long.

She caught sight of that figure.

The palace gates creaked open, and a man stood at the foot of the jade steps, clad in a crimson official robe, with his hair tied up in a long crown, a crimson ancestral tassel hanging in front of his chest, and an upright stance that his voluminous sleeves couldn’t hide.

It was also the first time she saw Liang Yun like this, escorted by a retinue of court officials.

Liang Yun marched with a cold, stern demeanor, his presence exuding a heavy aura that made people’s hearts chill. If before this, the term "pillar of the empire" was just a vague concept in Ying Shi’s mind, after this, that term had a concrete form.

He was Liang Yun, with a cold and solemn face, the image of someone who strategizes and controls everything.

Ying Shi immediately gathered her skirt and descended the stairs, hurrying towards the palace gates.

But before she could reach Liang Yun, she was halted by the guards flanking the path.

"Whose lady are you? Don’t you know you can’t just barge into the palace gates! Step back immediately!"

Ying Shi was in a hurry because she had already seen Liang Yun turn around, ready to board the carriage.

Over the heads of the crowd, she called out to Liang Yun, "Brother!"

At the sound of her voice, Liang Yun’s brow furrowed slightly. His gaze seemed to sense something and looked towards where Ying Shi was.

It was the golden hour of sunset.

The brilliant light of the setting sun shone on her jet-black soft hair, giving it a satin-like sheen, her skin pale as snow, and her features strikingly lovely.

She gazed up, her eyes earnest, and when she saw him looking at her, the corners of her mouth quirked up slightly.

Liang Yun composed himself and approached her alone.

The girl’s hand was small and delicate, and as soon as she saw him approach, as if afraid the guards would drive her away, she clutched at Liang Yun’s sleeve in a panic.

"Brother, I have something to tell you..."

Before Ying Shi could finish her sentence, Liang Yun interrupted her.

"Don’t dwell on those matters."

But Ying Shi said, "But I think, I am truly willing."

Liang Yun’s gaze finally fell on her, seeing the shimmering tears in her eyes.

Those words were indeed spoken by her, and there was no falsehood in them.

Liang Yun lowered his eyelids, "If someone is pressuring you, don’t worry, I’ll handle it soon. If you’re worried about how to face everyone in the house in the future, don’t worry either. I’ll try to avoid returning home in the future, and over time, everyone will gradually forget about it. It won’t make things difficult for you anymore..."

This time, it was Ying Shi who stopped him.

For some reason, even though she had made up her mind and decided on this matter, when she heard Liang Yun say this, her heart couldn’t help but ache.

She had used him, yet he still thought only of her.

Ying Shi couldn’t help but redden her eyes. She bit her lip and said, "No, no one is pressuring me."

The girl’s soft voice, with a barely noticeable sob, continued, "I just feel that my future is still long, and I think grandmother is right. I actually like children very much... Enduring my days alone is too difficult, without him I always don’t know how to get through the days. I want a child to accompany me. But I also feel like this is very unfair to you, brother..."

Liang Yun listened to her words, his fingers clenched subtly beneath his sleeve.

His voice was calm, betraying no emotion, as he said, "You haven't wronged me."

"It's the Liang family that has wronged you. This path is hard, and once you choose it, there’s no turning back."

Ying Shi smiled slowly, a smile of relief: "I don't care how difficult it is. It's fine this way... Then, in the future... Brother, can you take care of me instead of Liang Ji?"

They said no more; anything else would have been inappropriate for their roles.

Liang Yun stared at her blankly, a faint, bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

He was like a dignified but kind and patient elder, once again accommodating all her unreasonable requests.

Even when faced with her unreasonable request.

He remained expressionless, only after a long silence did he say, "Alright."

A single word, but it felt heavy with meaning.

He had finally agreed.

Agreed to this absurd situation.