Chapter 147 She’s Been Sick for a Long Time, Don’t You Care…

Chapter 147: She's been ill for so long, and you didn't even...

When Liu Xiangze awoke, the room was quiet.

He lay on the bed, eyes open, aware he was still dressed in his outer robe, covered by a quilt.

He recalled the previous night: Ru Hui had come, shared a meal with him, and, emboldened by wine, he had asked if they could reconcile.

What had she said?

Ah, yes. She had told him to visit her today, and she would give him her answer.

Liu Xiangze rose and pushed open the door, finding the butler waiting in the antechamber.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"It's exactly Chenshi (7-9 a.m.)," the butler replied. Since Liu Xiangze had no court duties today, the butler hadn't woken him early.

"Have someone bring water."

"Yes." The butler acknowledged, and soon servants arrived with hot water and fresh clothes.

After washing, Liu Xiangze changed into clean robes. By the time he entered the antechamber, breakfast was already laid out on the table.

Before sitting, his gaze fell on the pair of rotating lanterns still hanging on the frame. The candles inside had long burned out, and the lanterns no longer turned.

Liu Xiangze wondered to himself: Ru Hui hadn’t taken the lanterns. Did she not like them enough?

Or did she still harbor resentment toward him?

"Master, is something the matter?" the butler asked tentatively, noticing his prolonged stare at the lanterns.

Liu Xiangze ignored the question. He sat and ate quietly for a while before abruptly asking, "What time did Madam leave last night?"

The butler paused. "This... Madam left without notifying anyone. Shall I go ask the gate attendant?"

Last night, when Master and Madam were speaking, he had warned the servants to stay away from the main courtyard. No one had informed him when Madam left, and he had assumed Master had kept her there.

Liu Xiangze frowned, initially thinking the butler had been negligent. But remembering it was the Lantern Festival, he decided not to press the matter—after all, he would see her soon.

He simply said, "Never mind. Just be more attentive next time."

"This servant will remember," the butler said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Seeing the butler still standing by, Liu Xiangze asked, "Is there something else?"

The butler looked slightly troubled. "Young Master Yu An heard that Madam visited last night and has been demanding to see her, but I had him stopped."

"That child, Yu An..."

The butler lowered his voice. "Last night, Young Master Yu An sobbed late into the night. It seems he sincerely wants to apologize to Madam."

"Enough. We’ll see how Ru Hui feels about it later."

He could tell that Ru Hui wasn't particularly bothered by Yu An’s past behavior, but the boy’s actions had gone too far—he deserved some punishment.

After finishing his meal, Liu Xiangze told the butler to prepare the carriage.

Once inside, he didn’t head straight to Lü Ruhui but first went to the Lü household.

Before seeing Ru Hui, he needed to set things straight with her family. Though family scandals shouldn't be aired in public, Ru Hui had suffered unjustly. If he wanted her forgiveness, he had to explain everything to her parents first.

Liu Xiangze’s sudden arrival caused a stir in the entire Lü household.

Lü Ruhui’s second brother personally greeted him at the gate and escorted him to the main courtyard.

At that moment, Lü Ruxin was visiting with her parents.

When she saw Liu Xiangze enter, she stood and greeted him first. "Elder Brother Liu."

Before, Liu Xiangze had never given a second thought to this address—Lü Ruxin had always called him that.

Later, after he married Lü Ruhui and she married far away, they had rarely crossed paths.

But now, he suddenly understood why Lü Ruhui had questioned his connection with Lü Ruxin. During their last meeting before his divorce, Lü Ruxin had called him "Elder Brother Liu," not "brother-in-law."

Liu Xiangze gave her a slight nod but didn’t respond.

Lü Ruxin, noticing his coldness, thought scornfully. He wanted to keep his distance now? Why hadn’t he cared before?

Their thoughts went unnoticed by the others. Seeing Liu Xiangze, Lü Ruhui’s father was puzzled. Only after the younger man sat down did he ask, "Xiangze, what brings you here today? Has something happened?"

Liu Xiangze stood and bowed to Lü Ruhui’s parents before speaking. "Today, this son-in-law has come to apologize to Father and Mother."

Hearing him revert to his old form of address, the elderly couple’s faces lit up. Despite their efforts to persuade their eldest daughter, she had refused to listen. Now, it seemed their son-in-law was the first to seek reconciliation.

"Apologize for what? I don’t understand," Lü Ruhui’s father said, keeping his voice even.

"This son-in-law recently discovered that Yu An’s injury had nothing to do with Ru Hui. I was misled and wronged her, hurting her deeply."

"What? How could that be?" Lü Ruhui’s mother was shocked, finding it hard to process.

After believing their daughter had harmed her stepson and refused to admit it, they were now being told it was all a misunderstanding?

What did that make all their unkind words toward Ru Hui these past days?

Lü Ruhui’s father’s expression darkened. "Then what is the truth?"

Since Liu Xiangze had chosen to clarify, he left nothing out, recounting everything in detail.

After listening, Lü Ruhui’s father sighed. "That Wang Shi showed poor judgment."

His son-in-law had adopted the child—why would he send the boy back just because his daughter might be pregnant?

Then he asked, "What of Yu An now?"

Liu Xiangze replied, "This son-in-law took him home and punished him. I will observe his conduct closely from now on. If he proves unworthy, other measures will be taken."

Lü Ruhui’s mother frowned. "And that’s all? At such a young age, he knew how to set up his stepmother. Who knows what he might try next?"

"Nonsense!" Lü Ruhui’s father snorted. "Our son-in-law’s approach is correct."

Family scandals shouldn't be aired in public. For the sake of the Liu family’s reputation, this matter couldn’t be revealed. If they couldn’t speak of it, the child couldn’t be turned away without cause.

Moreover, the boy was blood-related to their son-in-law—that bond couldn’t be severed. Since their son-in-law hadn’t sent the child away immediately, he was clearly unwilling.

Though their daughter had suffered brief unfairness, this stepson would now be in her power, and their son-in-law would only become more affectionate toward her.

Since their son-in-law had come to apologize, he had already demonstrated proper respect. They couldn’t press the matter further.

Mrs. Lü, however, couldn't grasp all these considerations and remained dissatisfied. "How is this just 'petty gossip'? If not for this incident, would Xiangze and Ru Hui have ended up divorcing?"

She felt that Liu Yuan and his birth mother, Wang Shi, were nothing but a pair of troublemakers. Moreover, she now felt her son-in-law wasn’t up to par—why would he still keep them around?

The elderly couple nearly quarreled over Liu Yuan, prompting Mr. Lü to signal their younger daughter. Lv Ruxin stepped forward and said, "Mom, it’s not all Brother Liu’s fault. Ultimately, it’s because Sister couldn’t have children. Letting the child stay might actually help her."

Mrs. Lü went quiet immediately.

Ruxin’s bluntness was typical of her, and Mr. and Mrs. Lü didn’t think much of it, as everyone present was family.

Liu Xiangze suddenly cut in, "I never thought not having kids was Ru Hui’s fault. Moreover, I’ve already apologized and explained things to her, and she didn’t argue with me."

Hearing this, Lv Ruxin realized her plan had probably backfired.

She resented Lv Ruhui for finding such a good man like Liu Xiangze and blamed her for stealing him from her.

Yet, even as she seethed, she found his words laughable.

Liu Xiangze truly didn’t understand her sister. Lv Ruhui’s temperament was much like their mother’s—Liu Yuan would undoubtedly eat at her. If she hadn’t insisted Liu Xiangze send him away, it was surely a strategic move, not genuine acceptance.

Hearing that he had already apologized to their eldest daughter, Mr. Lü looked even happier and asked, "That’s good. I know you’re a responsible man. Now that the misunderstanding between you is resolved, what’s next for you two?"

Liu Xiangze nodded but kept it brief.

Noticing his reluctance, Mr. Lü chuckled. "Alright, you two can handle your own affairs. Stay for dinner, Xiangze."

"I’d better not intrude. I’ll go see Ru Hui shortly."

"Fine, we won’t keep you. Go on, then." Seeing Liu Xiangze’s willingness to reconcile, Mr. Lü was naturally delighted.

After leaving the Lü residence, Liu Xiangze had the carriage take him straight to Lv Ruhui’s house.

He had visited once before, but she hadn’t answered the door then.

This time, he knocked repeatedly, but again, there was no response.

An elderly neighbor passing by noticed him standing at the door and approached. "Are you here to see Mrs. Lü?"

Liu Xiangze glanced at him and nodded. "Do you know when she left?"

The old man frowned in thought. "She hasn’t been home for a while. The lanterns haven’t been lit these past few days, and no one’s been in or out. You might want to look elsewhere."

Hearing this, Liu Xiangze grew puzzled. If she wasn’t home, where else could she be?

But after knocking for so long with no answer, it was clear the old man wasn’t lying.

Thanking him, Liu Xiangze returned to the carriage and directed the coachman to the antique shop in Changping Lane.

Expecting to finally see Lv Ruhui, he was met with a locked shop upon arrival.

A sense of dread settled over him. Not at home, the shop closed—where the hell was she?

Seeing his master standing motionless, the coachman spoke up, "Sir, where to next?"

Liu Xiangze turned and ordered, "Go back to the Lü residence and ask if anyone knows whether Madam has another property or a place she might stay."

"Yes, sir."

The coachman didn’t waste any time.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiangze asked around the nearby shops about Lv Ruhui’s whereabouts.

After asking around, he learned only that her shop hadn’t opened since the New Year, and no one knew where she’d gone.

Finally, the owner of a nearby grocery store suggested, "Try the incense shop next to the antique store. On New Year’s Eve, before I closed, I saw Boss Lü heading there. She was always close with Shopkeeper Chen from the incense shop."

Thanking him, Liu Xiangze went straight to the incense shop, only to find it also closed.

The grocery owner had mentioned the shopkeeper lived there, so Liu Xiangze knocked persistently.

A Chan, hearing the urgent knocking, opened the door to find Liu Xiangze outside.

She vaguely recognized him—Boss Lü’s former husband. Last time, he’d come with Boss Lü’s sister, and she’d made sure to remember him.

Aside from her family, this man was the one who had kept Boss Lü from resting in peace.

"Excuse me," Liu Xiangze said urgently upon seeing A Chan. "I heard you’re close to Ru Hui. Could you tell me where she is now?"

Hearing this, A Chan knew Boss Lü had drawn him here.

Though he’d learn the truth eventually, she decided to push things along.

Playing dumb, she said, "Isn’t Boss Lü at home?"

"I just went to her house and knocked, but no one answered. She can’t be home," Liu Xiangze explained patiently. "Could you fetch Shopkeeper Chen? I heard she’s close to Ru Hui. Might she know her whereabouts?"

"Hui Niang isn’t here, so she can’t answer your question. But..."

"But what?"

A Chan replied, "If no one’s answering the door, you could always break in."

That sounded weird to him. As she moved to close the door, Liu Xiangze stopped the door. "Do you know something? Please tell me."

A Chan gave him a weird look. "You really don’t know?"

"Know what?"

"Boss Lü was deathly ill. She was living on borrowed time. If you can’t find her, you shouldn’t ask where she went—you should ask if she’s even alive."

Liu Xiangze froze. A Chan’s words echoed in his ears: deathly ill, was living on borrowed time...

"What... do you mean?" A wave of terror hit him, though his tone remained steady. "Miss, this isn’t funny."

What did she mean, "if she’s even alive"?

They’d just met up yesterday, and she’d been fine.

"I heard you’re Boss Lü’s former husband?" A Chan eyed him carefully before continuing. "She’s been sick for a long time. How could you not know?"

Liu Xiangze staggered back. Sick for a long time?

Suddenly, he recalled—back when Liu Yuan had said Ru Hui looked sick, like she was pregnant, but she wasn’t.

Was she already sick back then?

Something… terminal?

Liu Xiangze shook his head hard. No… that couldn’t be.

He abandoned all pretense of decorum and immediately turned to run toward Yongping Lane.

A Chan watched until he disappeared at the end of the street before finally withdrawing her gaze.

By the time Liu Xiangze ran back to Yongping Lane, the driver he had sent to the Lü residence had already brought Lü’s family members along.

Somehow the driver had convinced not only Lü’s father and mother but also Lü’s second brother to come along.

Before Liu Xiangze arrived, they had knocked on the door for quite some time, but there had been no response.

Seeing Liu Xiangze looking so frantic, the elderly couple was startled. Only when he reached them did Lü’s father ask, “Xiangze, what’s the matter?”

Standing before Lü’s father, Liu Xiangze was panting heavily. He turned to look at the tightly shut door and said to Lü’s second brother, “Can you get someone to break down the door? I’m worried something’s happened to Ru Hui inside.”

Lü’s second brother was about to say that was impossible—his sister was perfectly healthy.

But seeing Liu Xiangze’s grim expression, he nodded and told the servants he’d brought to pry the door open.

Soon, the gate of the residence was forced open, revealing an eerily quiet courtyard.

Liu Xiangze stepped inside and made a beeline for the main house.

Standing outside the main house, he took a deep breath before stepping forward to open the door.

The door wasn’t locked and creaked open with a light push. The room seemed untouched for some time, reeking of dust.

“Looks like nobody’s been here for ages…” Lü’s second brother’s words caught in his throat.

He saw it—his sister lying completely still on the bed, not making a sound.