Chapter 21

Chapter 21

A pang of jealousy twisted Yun Wan’s heart, her nails digging deeply into her palms. *Perhaps the noble lady was merely the heir's maternal cousin.*

But as she watched the two figures recede into the distance, Yun Wan recalled Lu Yu’s aloofness during their journey back to the capital. Her heart felt as if an invisible hand were tightly gripping it, pressing down on her chest until breathing became difficult.

She bit her lip hard, her eyes involuntarily welling up with tears.

She had so many things she wanted to ask Lu Yu face to face—she longed to throw herself into his arms, kiss his lips, and hear his comforting words.

Today was the first day of the second lunar month. She *must* see Lu Yu this time.

If she continued to be too timid to take a step closer to him, she could only watch helplessly as he drifted further away.

As dusk deepened, Yun Wan had just managed to lull Xiao Bao to sleep inside the mosquito net. Anxiously, she noticed that the lamp in Lu Yu’s bedroom had not yet been lit.

Suddenly, she turned and saw Nanny Li hurrying over with a lantern.

“Her Ladyship summons you.”

Yun Wan was puzzled. She opened her mouth but dared not ask why.

Along the way, Yun Wan followed closely behind Nanny Li, wringing the hem of her robes, unable to fathom why the Marchioness had summoned her.

Then, with a creak, the carved wooden door opened, and the Marchioness’s voice, cold as jade, came from inside.

“Enter and kneel.”

Her voice, no longer gentle as before, carried a chill like ice and snow.

Yun Wan, understanding nothing, could only kneel foolishly before the Marchioness and say softly, “Yun Wan pays respects to the Lady.”

The Marchioness turned the prayer beads in her hand and said coldly, “Nanny Yao hasn’t been gone for long, yet you’ve already forgotten all the rules.”

“Caizhu, teach her the rules.”

Before Yun Wan could react, her kneeling legs were stamped on, and her shoulders were forcefully twisted by an older maid. The pain made her gasp instinctively, tears instantly filling her eyes.

Gritting her teeth, she sobbed, “Why is the Lady doing this?”

The Marchioness said indifferently, “Did you see that noble lady today?”

Yun Wan endured the pain, sweating, and murmured through her hoarse voice, “I saw her.”

“She is the legitimate daughter of Duke An’s Mansion, the Empress Dowager's niece on her maternal side, Li Pingting...”

The Marchioness paused before continuing, “...She is also the heir’s imperially sanctioned future wife, chosen by His Majesty. Only an imperial decree is needed for the marriage to proceed.”

Yun Wan froze in place, the physical pain no match for the shock of this devastating news.

Her heart felt as if it were tightly wound with fine, taut threads, ready to shatter into a thousand pieces at the slightest pressure.

“...Did you hear what I said?”

The Marchioness’s words didn't process in her mind. Seeing her silent, the older maid behind her harshly pulled her shoulders and snapped, “The Lady is asking you a question.”

Yun Wan was forced into a deep kowtow by the servants and said hoarsely, “I heard.”

The older maid snarled, “Refer to yourself as ‘this humble one.’”

Tears streaming from the pain, Yun Wan said, “This humble one heard.”

“Hmm. From now on, keep the child away from the heir. Don’t linger around him, so as not to offend the future heir’s wife. In a few days, find an excuse to move out of the heir’s residence as soon as possible.”

“Let her go.”

Yun Wan lowered her eyes and bowed, swaying weakly as she said, “This humble one obeys.”

“This is Xing Hua. From now on, she will be responsible for taking care of you.” The Marchioness pointed to a sturdy matron standing beside her.

Yun Wan was not foolish; she knew the Marchioness had assigned someone to watch her, to keep her from getting too close to Lu Yu or seeking him out.

As the Marchioness watched Yun Wan’s retreating figure, her fingers tightened around the prayer beads. Suddenly, a sweet but cunning voice came from behind.

“Pingting thanks the Lady for your help. I never expected the Second Young Master to be studying at my maternal grandfather’s academy in Jiangnan. Tomorrow morning, I will write to my grandfather and uncles, asking them to look after him.”

Li Pingting bowed gracefully. “Since you are the heir's stepmother, in the future, we must rely on each other.”

The Marchioness suppressed the disgust in her eyes and said calmly, “It’s nothing. As an elder, I naturally don’t mind.”

Li Pingting lifted her head proudly and smiled. “His Majesty has asked me to spend more time with the heir to build our relationship. I’m afraid I’ll be troubling the Lady for the next few days.”

With that, Li Pingting left the courtyard.

The Marchioness clenched her fingers, snapping the prayer beads in her hand. Her voice was icy as she said, “She hasn’t even entered the household yet, and she’s already thinking about seizing power and benefits, threatening me with my son. The Li family has truly raised a fine young lady.”

Caizhu brought over a nourishing tea and picked up the jade beads from the floor. “Don't trouble yourself, my Lady. There will be plenty of time.”

The Marchioness took a deep breath. “Yes, there will be plenty of time.”

In the deep night, Yun Wan carried a lantern as she slowly walked back to Lanting Court. Tears streamed silently down her face in the darkness.

Seeing the faint, dim candlelight still glowing in Lu Yu’s bedroom, she stood still for a moment. But Xing Hua behind her coldly said, “Please do not get any ideas, miss. Return to your room quickly.”

The moment Yun Wan stepped into her room, she closed the door tightly and collapsed against it, sliding to the floor.

Yuan Yuan hurried over with concern, her eyes filled with heartache the moment she saw Yun Wan.

Yun Wan’s eyes were bloodshot, her rosy cheeks streaked with tears, her gaze hollow and numb. Despite it being only the second month, her hair was already soaked with sweat, clinging wetly to her face.

Clutching Yun Wan’s hands, Yuan Yuan sobbed, “What happened? Why are you like this after returning from the Lady’s?”

“He... he’s getting married... Yuan Yuan, he’s getting married,” Yun Wan said, tears of devastation streaming down her cheeks. “Now I can’t even see him.”

---

Under the dim candlelight, Lu Yu had already changed into his sleeping garments, sitting upright at his desk, lost in thought. The page in his hand remained unturned for a long time.

“What is the date today?”

Suddenly, Lu Yu’s question startled Lu Yan, who hurriedly replied, “Today is the first day of the second lunar month.”

“Hmm.”

Lu Yu nodded.

After what felt like an eternity, Lu Yan, drowsy and dazed, heard Lu Yu ask coldly, “What time is it now?”

“Heir, it’s already the third watch. Would you like to retire?”

Lu Yu closed the book, which was still open to the first few pages, his eyes filled with anger as he said coldly, “You may go.”

On the journey back to the capital, Lu Yu was lost in thought by himself.

On one hand, he felt that Yun Wan was still longing for her former husband, and the resentment and heartache in his heart needed to be healed on his own.

On the other hand, he couldn't help but think of Yun Wan, hoping she would come looking for him.

He worried about whether she was eating well and dressed warmly? Had she been wronged and shed tears?

In his youth, he had envisioned many things about the one he would love—hoping she would be a woman from a family of equal status, hoping she would be well-read in poetry and texts, hoping she could efficiently run the household...

But when the one he truly loved appeared, the woman standing before him did not meet any of those expectations.

As long as Yun Wan stood there, all the overwhelming emotions in his heart would rush forth uncontrollably.

He would be affected by her tears, influenced by her thoughts.

He would even feel jealous of someone long buried in the ground, envious that person had once shared time with Yun Wan.

He had long been consumed by jealousy.

As the sky lightened at dawn, Lu Yu had not slept all night, and his door had not been knocked on once.

He sat up with a gloomy expression.

Apart from Yun Wan still clinging to memories of her past love, he could think of no other reason why she hadn’t come to find him.

The next day, the second day of the second month.

Yun Wan sat up from her bed with swollen eyes, mustering a smile as she playfully booped Xiao Bao’s nose and softly called out, “Xiao Bao is celebrating his birthday today, our Zhang’er is a year older now.”

Xiao Bao pursed his little mouth and stretched out his plump, pink arms, “Ma... hug...”

The moment his warm little body snuggled into her arms, Yun Wan stroked his head and whispered, “Today, Mama will make you longevity noodles and egg cake, okay? My son must grow up healthy, live a long life, and achieve great success.”

Yuan Yuan specially borrowed the small kitchen in Lanting Pavilion so Yun Wan could busily work there, but the clattering sounds drew everyone’s attention.

Just as Lu Yu was filled with anger, while practicing swordplay in the morning and passing by the small kitchen, he caught sight of Yun Wan’s busy figure.

He recalled how, on the way back to the capital, she often prepared Northwest-style dishes and had Lu Yan pretend they were made by a cook and delivered to him.

Lu Yu’s spirits lifted significantly, and he turned to hand his sword to Lu Yan. “I didn’t rest well last night, so I’m giving you the day off today.”

Lu Yan’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement—today must be the day the sun rose from the west.

“Thank you, Master.”

There was some leftover chicken broth in the small kitchen. Yun Wan rolled out thin noodles, added some easily digestible vegetables, and prepared a bowl of fragrant longevity noodles.

An egg mixed with warm water and a dash of soy sauce became the egg cake that chubby babies love most.

As Yun Wan carried the food box back to her room, she unexpectedly saw an uninvited guest standing at the entrance of the small kitchen, looking at her kindly.

In an instant, she remembered what the Marchioness had said the day before.

“She is the legitimate daughter of Duke An’s household, the Empress Dowager's maternal niece, Li Pingting... also the Shizifei designated by His Majesty for the Shizi.”

Li Pingting was wearing a light blue long skirt embroidered with silver cloud patterns and flying birds, adorned with sparkling jewelry and headpieces. Though her features were not outstanding, her exceptionally gentle demeanor made up for it.

She said, “Are you called Yun Wan?”

Watching Li Pingting approach, Yun Wan instinctively took a few steps back.

Li Pingting quickly said, flustered, “You... don’t be afraid. My name is Li Pingting, I won’t harm you.”

“What are you all looking at? Hurry up and help Miss Yun put down the food box.”

As Yun Wan looked at the girl speaking in such a soft and gentle tone, the ache rising in her heart felt as though it would completely overwhelm her.

She lowered her gaze and stepped back again, saying softly, “Greetings, Miss Li.”

Li Pingting immediately took Yun Wan’s hands and asked gently, “I know you are the Shizi’s bedroom attendant. I don’t know where your home is, how many people are in your family. I heard you were previously a widow—why did your husband pass away?”

“Little sister, please don’t mind my asking. After all, in the future, we will both be serving the Shizi. It’s good to get to know each other first.”

“Your life has been so hard, but better days will come.”

Li Pingting’s gentle voice was like a murmuring stream. Her personality was also very good, but her candid manner made Yun Wan feel a trace of timidity.

With reddened eyes, Yun Wan briefly explained before fleeing in panic.

Li Pingting watched Yun Wan’s retreating figure, continuously wiping her fingers as if she had touched something dirty, a hint of mockery appearing on her face.

In the early morning, Lu Yu sat in his study waiting, but only received the meal prepared by the cook.

A servant nervously set out the tableware before him. “Will you dine, Shizi?”

With a bang, Lu Yu set down his brush, and the servant fell to his knees, shaking in fear.

“What was Miss Yun doing in the small kitchen this morning?”

The servant stammered, “She made some... food for the child.”

Lu Yu stood up and headed toward the left chamber. Just as he reached the door, he heard cheerful laughter and sounds of soothing the child inside.

Intermittently, he heard Yun Wan’s gentle coaxing, “...Xiao Bao is already a one-year-old big child....”

So Yun Wan had risen so early not to prepare breakfast for him, but to celebrate the birthday of that man’s son.

His face darkened as he turned and left.

Inside the room, Yun Wan and Yuan Yuan coaxed Xiao Bao, but tears silently streamed down their faces.

When their relationship was good, she had hoped Lu Yu would accompany Xiao Bao for his first birthday. But now, she couldn’t even speak to him without being monitored by others.

She could only celebrate Xiao Bao’s birthday with Yuan Yuan in this room, the closest one to Lu Yu.

After all, after today, they would no longer be able to live in Lanting Pavilion.

The next day, Yun Wan knocked on the door of Lu Yu’s study.

After a long wait, the door finally opened, but to her surprise, the person who opened it was Li Pingting.

She froze on the spot, while Xing Hua’s gaze behind her fixed intently on her. Lowering her eyes, she stiffly bowed and said, “Greetings, Miss Li.”

Li Pingting smiled and said, “Come in.”

“Is there something important?”

Lu Yu’s deep voice came from ahead. Yun Wan’s nose instantly tingled with an ache. She lowered her head to hide the sorrow in her eyes, bowed, and said, “Shizi, Xiao Bao has grown older recently and has become noisier. My staying here will disturb your rest. I will be moving out today and have come to bid you farewell.”

The faint smile on Lu Yu’s lips vanished instantly, his lips tightened as he said calmly, "Fine, go."

Yun Wan hadn't expected Lu Yu not to ask even one more question. Dazed, she had no choice but to turn and leave.

Just as Yun Wan stepped out of the room, the cup in Lu Yu's hand shattered instantly. The flying porcelain shards cut his palm, and bright red blood dripped slowly down his palm.

A flash of shock crossed Li Pingting’s eyes.

The ever-dignified and proper Heir to the Marquis of Xuanping could actually lose his composure like this.

She thought, Yun Wan cannot stay.

Li Pingting steadied her emotions and brought Lu Yu a fresh cup of tea, saying gently but firmly.

"The heir is fond of her."