Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Since Lu Yu had held her as she slept the previous night, Yun Wan's heart brimmed with joy, her eyes curving like crescent moons all day long.

After lunch, the Marquess's wife suddenly sent for her to come to the main hall.

Ever since she had been set up, Yun Wan always moved with a certain wariness within the sprawling manor.

She followed the maidservant through the residence, her heart pounding, until she saw the Marquess's wife and Lu Yu seated in the main hall, and only then did her heart settle back into place.

Before she could fully compose herself, she heard the Marquess's wife announce that she was to accompany Lu Yu to the Northwest.

Her eyes instantly brightened, yet she still clutched her collar, cautiously asking again, "I... I can also go with the Heir to the Northwest on official business?"

After speaking, she instinctively glanced at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu's eyes were downcast, lost in thought. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up and refused, "Mother, that's not advisable. I'll ride horseback, traveling swiftly. I can return within a month."

The Marquess's wife rotated the jade Buddhist beads in her hand, chanting, "Amitabha. His Majesty has specially provided a carriage. With winter snow making the roads slippery, if anything were to happen to you, I wouldn't be able to face the Marquess and his wife in the afterlife."

"Besides, traveling by carriage from the capital to the Northwest and back will take two months. You won't even make it back in time for the New Year. Let Yun Wan take the child and accompany you. It will keep you from being too lonely."

Hearing the Marquess's wife's words, Lu Yu fell silent, while Yun Wan's heart tightened with anxiety.

After what felt like an eternity, Yun Wan's eyes were already filled with disappointment when suddenly Lu Yu looked up and stared intently at her, saying in a deep voice, "Very well. Then pack your belongings quickly. We'll set off from the capital early tomorrow morning."

Yun Wan was momentarily stunned, unable to contain her joy. She smiled gently and said, "Thank you, Heir."

The Marquess's wife nodded in satisfaction. "Then it's settled. I won't see you off tomorrow. You may both go now. I must attend to my prayers."

"As we likely won't return for the New Year, I bid you farewell now, Mother, and wish you an early Happy New Year."

Lu Yu stood up, knelt respectfully, and performed three deep bows to the Marquess's wife.

Yun Wan also followed suit, saying, "I wish you a Happy New Year, Madam."

The Marquess's wife nodded. "Go now. Heir, remember to offer incense to the Marquess and his wife."

The Marquess's wife watched quietly as they left. Soon, only she and Aunt Li remained in the room.

When exactly had Lu Yu become someone whose rationality and upbringing overshadowed his personal desires, always wearing a cold mask?

Was it the trauma of losing both parents when he was eight, or was it when he single-handedly shouldered the responsibility of the Marquess's household?

The Marquess's wife couldn't figure it out. Suddenly, she realized that after Lu Yu left, palace surveillance of the Marquess's household would decrease. She smiled and said, "Caizhu, have Jue return from Jiangnan Academy to spend the New Year with me. I wonder if he's dressed warmly, eating well, and if he's grown taller."

Aunt Li lowered her eyes and said, "Your thoughtful care, Madam, will be understood by the second young master in the future."

---

On the winter morning, the horizon was just beginning to glow with orange-red dawn, as if tearing a brilliant streak across the gradient blue sky.

Yun Wan, having stayed up all night with joy, still had a sleepy look in her eyes. Holding Xiao Bao, she stepped into the carriage and gasped in surprise.

Was this still a carriage? It was virtually a small, spring-like room.

Along the carriage walls were three long benches, with a folding table in the middle. All the items on the table had grooves to prevent slipping.

A small cradle was fixed securely to one of the long benches.

Lu Yu, dressed in a moon-white robe adorned with auspicious clouds, sat upright in the main seat as if he were in the Marquess's residence.

Lu Yu said indifferently, "Sit down."

Yun Wan nodded dazedly and placed Xiao Bao in the cradle.

Yuan Yuan helped tidy up, then bowed to Lu Yu before whispering to Yun Wan, "Miss, the aunts and I are in the carriage behind. If you need anything, remember to call for me."

For this official trip to the Northwest, Lu Yu traveled light with only three carriages and a few guards.

When the carriage started moving, Yun Wan finally realized that this carriage held only their family of three.

Yun Wan's heart was so full of joy it felt ready to overflow. She felt like a wife returning to her parental home with her husband, until sleep completely overtook her.

Lu Yu heard the soft, even breathing beside him. Yun Wan's eyes were closed as she leaned quietly against the carriage wall. The light from the night pearl illuminated her cheeks, making the vermilion mole between her eyebrows appear even brighter.

Yun Wan slept very soundly.

That day when she woke up, she had also slept sweetly nestled in his arms just like this.

Thinking of this, Lu Yu averted his intense gaze and looked at the book in his hand, still open to the first page. He silently recited a few lines of scripture in his heart.

A gentleman should clear his mind and restrain his desires.

He suppressed the desires in his heart, but when he looked up, he met a pair of little black eyes.

---

Yun Wan didn't know how long she had slept until a ray of sunlight shone into her eyes, causing her to open them hazily.

As her vision gradually focused, Yun Wan looked at the scene before her and suddenly lost all sense of time.

Lu Yu held a book, leaning against a cushion. Xiao Bao was lying on Lu Yu's chest with his bottom in the air, his pink cheeks pressed against Lu Yu's chest, sucking his fingers while sleeping soundly, covered with a thin blanket.

Yun Wan's heart was filled with nostalgia. Just as she was about to recall what Xiao Bao looked like when he was born, a gaze suddenly fell upon her.

Lu Yu looked at her with a cold expression.

Yun Wan was startled. She quickly lifted the thin blanket covering Xiao Bao and whispered an apology, "He can crawl around now. Did he disturb you just now, Heir?"

Lu Yu was about to speak.

The little one suddenly woke up with a whimper, pouting and frowning.

Yun Wan panicked inwardly. The moment she quickly picked up Xiao Bao, a warm stream instantly soaked the diaper near her fingers, seeping through the gaps and wetting Lu Yu's robe.

Lu Yu's face instantly darkened.

Remembering the stories the maids in Lanting Pavilion told about Lu Yu's fastidiousness about cleanliness, Yun Wan hurriedly put down the giggling little rascal and used a handkerchief to wipe Lu Yu's robe. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Should I help you change?"

Lu Yu remained silent for a long time.

But his eyes kept fixed on Yun Wan's sunlit hair, feeling her soft fingers gently brushing against his chest.

He seemed to have changed, or perhaps he had fallen ill.

He should have been furious and ordered her out of the carriage, changing into a fresh robe as quickly as possible.

Instead, like a thief, he was secretly yielding to his desires. This was not the conduct befitting a gentleman.

"Heir, would you like to change?"

Seeing that Lu Yu remained silent, Yun Wan, fearing she might annoy him, looked up and asked again.

Lu Yu appeared indifferent, his expression still cold as he replied, "Fine, help me change."

The carriage was stocked with all the items Lu Yu needed, and his robes were stored beneath one of the long seats.

Yun Wan found a dark blue robe. Having practiced countless times under Aunt Yao's guidance, she skillfully and gently helped Lu Yu change into it.

Lu Yu lowered his gaze and pointed to a fastener below his left collarbone, saying, "This part is still slightly uneven."

Since he was dissatisfied, she adjusted it.

Yun Wan leaned in, carefully examining the fastener's position. After checking twice and finding no issue, she asked, "Does the young master feel something is amiss?"

As she spoke, she looked up and met Lu Yu's deep, unwavering gaze fixed upon her.

Only then did she realize she was nearly pressed against his neck.

Yun Wan's face flushed, and she stepped back quickly.

Lu Yu suppressed the emotions in his eyes and replied calmly, "Nothing is wrong. You've already fixed it."

Silence fell inside the carriage.

"Ah—ah—"

Yun Wan suddenly remembered the little one she'd forgotten. She looked into the cradle where Xiao Bao lay, his face full of grievance.

Her heart aching, she quickly picked up the chubby baby, soothing him as she changed him into clean, tidy clothes.

Xiao Bao acted as if he had suffered a great injustice, his eyes like grapes welling with tears, his tiny fingers clutching her clothes tightly, and his little mouth whimpering pitifully.

With her back to Lu Yu, Yun Wan naturally draped Xiao Bao's thin blanket over her own shoulders and neck, covering any exposed skin. She gently soothed the child, softly humming a lullaby from the Northwest as she felt his murmurs.

A sweet scent wafted into Lu Yu's nostrils, and the gentle humming seemed like an ancient chant. His eyes remained fixed on the first page of the book, but his fingers unconsciously tightened around the pages.

It was only when Yun Wan placed the sleeping child back in the cradle that Lu Yu set down the book. After a long while, he let out a soft sigh.

"Did I disturb you, young master?"

Yun Wan was still a little afraid of Lu Yu. Since his memory loss, he seemed like a different person, and she wasn't sure if he might be annoyed.

Lu Yu shook his head. "No disturbance. I just think this book is not good. I need to have Lu Yan buy a new one." With that, he tapped on the carriage wall and gave the order to Lu Yan.

Yun Wan's eyes suddenly lit up. Gathering her courage, she quickly asked, "Could... could you buy two books for me as well?"

Lu Yu frowned slightly but then thought, although Yun Wan was not very literate, her eagerness to learn was commendable.

"What do you need?"

"Are there any medical books? Could you also buy me a copy of *Shuowen Jiezi*?"

Yun Wan thought for a long time. Since Lu Yu had lost his memory and she had no way to seek medical help for him, learning from medical books might offer a solution.

Back at the marquis's estate, she never had an opportunity to buy books. Now, the opportunity had finally come.

Lu Yu asked curiously, "Why do you need medical books?"

Yun Wan lowered her gaze, hiding the panic in her eyes, and whispered, "Xiao Bao... will grow up. I'm afraid he might fall ill. Knowing more is always better."

Without further questioning, Lu Yu passed on the request to Lu Yan.

When Yun Wan finally held the books in her hands, she inhaled the ink scent and was filled with joy. Smiling softly, she said, "Thank you, young master."

Lu Yu gave a faint hum. After a long pause, he added, "If there are characters you don't recognize, you can ask me."

But Yun Wan treasured the books and replied cheerfully, "I won't trouble you, young master. I'll ask Yuan Yuan tonight."

"Oh."

Lu Yu responded coldly.

Yun Wan was already focused elsewhere. Her mind had flown to the carriage behind, eager to ask Yuan Yuan about the unfamiliar characters.

By evening, the convoy had stopped at an inn along the official road.

Because high-ranking officials in the Northwest had colluded with bandits, Lu Yu had to travel incognito with the emperor's decree to apprehend them and bring them back to the capital.

The convoy looked just like that of a wealthy family on a journey.

When arranging accommodations, the innkeeper glanced at Yun Wan holding the child and then at the stern-faced young master in front of her. Smiling obsequiously, he asked, "Will the madam and young master be sharing a room?"

Before Lu Yu could speak, Yun Wan quickly shook her head and said, "No... no, please get me a separate room."