Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Before Yun Wan could finish her words, a fierce and passionate kiss silenced her.

She pushed against Lu Yu’s broad chest with all her strength, but his large hands held her waist tightly.

The sounds of their panting and kissing grew louder, and Yun Wan’s tears flowed even more. Her slender frame was tightly enveloped in Lu Yu’s embrace.

With vacant eyes and a hoarse voice, Yun Wan said, "He never let me serve tea or water, never let me wait on others."

"He would hold steaming roasted sweet potatoes against his chest, not caring if they burned blisters on his skin..."

Lu Yu snapped, "Wanwan."

Yun Wan no longer cared if Lu Yu was angry. Numbly, she continued, "When I was pregnant, he would go out in the pouring rain to buy sour apricots from the south to the north of the city..."

"How can you even compare to him?" Yun Wan wept as she spoke, pounding Lu Yu’s chest with her fists.

Lu Yu’s face darkened like an impending storm, his entire aura icy cold. He said nothing more, his hands gripping Yun Wan tightly as he laid her on the bed.

Not a word was spoken, but their clothes gradually came off. The carved wooden bed shook more violently than usual.

Yun Wan’s tears streamed down her face from the physical exertion. Lu Yu leaned over her, his voice hoarse and angry as he whispered in her ear, "Wanwan, say it again. Who is better, me or your deceased husband?"

Yun Wan clutched his arms tightly, sobbing desperately, "I don’t want you anymore. My A Yu is the best. You could never compare to him..."

All through the night, Lu Yu was like a lion stirred from long slumber, badgering her with questions.

Heartbroken, Yun Wan fought back like a cornered rabbit, biting his shoulders and neck, recounting the kindness of her deceased husband.

The two struggled as if in a fight, neither yielding, both left wounded and bruised.

Yun Wan’s body was covered in bruises. Her eyes were tightly shut, her lashes still wet with tears.

She slept curled up weakly, occasionally whimpering in pain, biting her lip and trembling.

Lu Yu slowly drew the brocade quilt over her, his fingers gently touching the bruised areas on her back, only to find them stained with blood.

His bloodshot eyes were filled with rage and jealousy.

The next day,

When Yun Wan slowly opened her aching eyes, she found herself alone in the room. She sat dazedly on the bed, her mind filled with the accusations she had hurled at Lu Yu the night before.

Lowering her gaze to her burned fingers, her heart was full of resentment.

Everything she had said last night was the truth, wasn't it?

Yun Wan hauled her aching body up as she walked to the small table, where she noticed an exquisite brocade box.

The sender was obvious.

She opened it without expression to find a gold hairpin adorned with peach blossoms.

Yun Wan went to the dressing table and opened a plain wooden box. Inside, layers of soft cloth wrapped carefully around her treasures.

As she slowly unwrapped them, she revealed a small silver hairpin with plum blossoms and and a pair of tiny silver bracelets for a child.

A faint smile touched her lips, her eyes glistening with tears.

Back then, all the family’s property had been taken by her uncle. The only jewelry A Yu had given her that remained was the hairpin in her hair and Xiao Bao’s bracelets.

During the journey from the northwest to the capital, she would take them out and look at them late at night, hidden under the covers, afraid that unscrupulous people might see them and bring disaster.

Now, Lu Yu had given her more luxurious headpieces, more beautiful gold hairpins, but the old affection was missing. It was all just out of guilt and apology.

After getting Xiao Bao ready and feeding him egg cake, Yun Wan took the brocade box with the peach blossom hairpin and gold accessories and walked to Lu Yu’s study.

A guard informed her, "The Crown Prince of Ding is not in the residence."

Since he was absent, she decided to wait for him.

She sat upright on the covered walkway, wearing a veil, feeling numb as the gentle spring sunlight fell on her body, yet finding no warmth in it.

As the breeze rustled the bamboo grove, green-tinged leaves drifted down from the sky. Instinctively, she reached out to catch the falling leaves.

Unaware, Yun Wan’s ethereal, fairy-like appearance in that moment made a deep impression on Lin Shuyan.

Crown Prince of Ding Lin Shuyan rarely visited the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence, but today he remembered a landscape painting from the previous dynasty hanging in Lu Yu’s study. Thinking of his father’s upcoming birthday banquet, he decided to come and see it.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yu was not there, so he headed to Lan Ting Pavilion by himself.

"Pray, why is this young lady sitting here?"

He approached, fan in hand, but his voice startled her, causing her to stand up abruptly.

Yun Wan had never seen a strange man in Lu Yu’s courtyard before. She took a step back, looked up at the gentleman before her, and dared not speak.

The gentleman, likely startled by her reaction, did not advance further but asked softly, "Are you Lu Yu’s chamber maid?"

Chamber maid? It seemed so.

Yun Wan nodded and immediately prepared to leave, but the gentleman called out to her again.

"I am the Crown Prince of Ding, Lin Shuyan. Don’t be afraid. I am a friend of Lu Yu’s. I’m just here to borrow a painting."

Yun Wan felt she should leave. She bowed slightly and said, "Lin Shuyan, I must go. You can wait here for the Crown Prince of Ding."

Feeling uneasy, she hurried away along the path before Lin Shuyan could respond.

Lin Shuyan stood rooted to the spot.

The young lady’s peach-blossom eyes were exceptionally soft and charming, and the vermilion mole between her eyebrows was exactly like his sister’s. It was a pity her face was veiled, hiding her true features.

When Lu Yu returned, Lin Shuyan could only subtly inquire about the chamber maid.

Back at the Prince Ding residence,

Late at night, Lin Shuyan tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

The image of Yun Wan sitting in the corridor catching bamboo leaves lingered in his mind. The vermilion mole between her eyebrows seemed to shimmer in the sunlight.

The kidnappers who had taken him and his sister had fled to Jiangnan, but this young lady came from the northwest. Her age and features matched, but the place she was from didn't match.

Lin Shuyan abruptly sat up in bed. Before he could even finish a sigh, his back was smacked hard.

"What’s all this tossing and turning all night?"

Chu Mingjue, unable to sleep from the noise, grew angrier the more he looked at Lin Shuyan. Finally, as Lin Shuyan sat up, he seized the chance to vent his frustration with a slap.

Lin Shuyan nuzzled against his wife's shoulder, cooing, "It's nothing, I just ate too much during the day and can't sleep."

Chu Mingjue knew her husband was troubled but unwilling to speak, so she could only push her sulking husband away and sighed, "My dear, please go to sleep."

Lin Shuyan gently urged his wife to lie down, having already decided to send a man to the Northwest to investigate, whether Yun Wan was really Shu Yun or not.

He had come up empty many times before; one more disappointment wouldn't matter.

If nothing turned up in the Northwest, he would even risk being labeled a sleaze to ask Lu Yu if Yun Wan had a butterfly-shaped red birthmark on her back.

---

Lu Yu had gone on a business trip somewhere, perhaps he was angry and not returning.

Yun Wan hadn't seen him for several days.

The empty Lanting Pavilion was left with only her, completely trapped in this sprawling estate.

She could neither restore Lu Yu's memory nor escape the prison of her feelings.

The only reason she stayed strong was Xiao Bao.

The toddler was already one year and two months old, his small limbs steady now, holding onto the bedside as he tried to walk out of the room.

He was always eager to explore the world, babbling, he pointed at the door to go out.

Yun Wan frowned and shook her head.

The toddler immediately understood her meaning, pouting with eyes welling up with grievance and full of accusation, the small mole under his eye strikingly similar to a certain someone.

Yun Wan helplessly walked over, booping Xiao Bao's forehead with her index finger, "Alright, alright, let's go. You always pretend to cry every day, with no tears, just fake crying."

With that, she reached out to hold the little one's hand, watching as his eyes instantly lit up, toddling eagerly as he tried to run outside.

But before taking two steps, he sat on the ground, tears welling up, stretching out his soft, chubby arms asking to be held.

Yun Wan had no choice but to carry the twenty-pound boy towards the bamboo grove, but as they passed a pavilion, they encountered an unexpected guest—Li Pingting.

She sat gracefully in the pavilion, seemingly admiring the marquis's estate scenery, or perhaps waiting for her for a long time.

Yun Wan felt somewhat afraid and immediately prepared to leave with Xiao Bao.

But Li Pingting called out to them loudly.

"Miss Yun seems quite annoyed to see me, turning away to leave. Come, sit down, have some snacks and tea. The spring scenery of the Marquis of Xuanping’s estate is much better than the An Duke’s estate."

Li Pingting put down her teacup, beckoning Yun Wan warmly. Her voice was gentle, her tone steady, and she relaxed slightly.

Xiao Bao, clinging to Yun Wan, spotted the green bean cakes on the stone table and pointed, drooling.

"Would you like some?"

Li Pingting's eyes glinted, holding up a green bean cake to tease Xiao Bao.

"Thank you, Miss Li, for your kindness, he won't eat."

Li Pingting gently picked up a piece and took a small bite, smiling, "Are you afraid I poisoned it?"

Her words were soft but carried a strange tone.

Yun Wan shook her head, whispering, "He'll get a stomachache if he eats too much... no need, thank you for your kindness."

Li Pingting smiled, stroking Xiao Bao's chubby cheek, and took a hawthorn flake from the nearly empty plate.

"This one should be fine to eat."

Yun Wan's hands were already filled with snacks, and she found it hard to refuse. Xiao Bao, seeing the cakes, whined even louder.

Yun Wan had to break off a piece of hawthorn flake and place it in Xiao Bao's hand, quickly eating half when he wasn't looking to prevent indigestion.

The toddler immediately guarded it, making a mess like a little kitten, laughing innocently.

Li Pingting smiled gently, but a hint of regret flashed in her eyes.

"Everyone says this servant’s child is her former husband's son, but to me, he looks quite like the heir. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry."

Li Pingting watched Yun Wan's retreating figure, smiling warmly and generously.

---

In the evening, as the sun had just set, the crimson sunset illuminated the entire western horizon.

Xiao Bao cried as if he wanted to turn the roof upside down. Yun Wan didn't know what was wrong, assuming it was just a tummy ache, holding him and walking around to soothe him, but nothing worked.

He gagged...

Suddenly, Xiao Bao vomited all the milk and food onto Yun Wan's shoulder. His lips instantly turned purplish-blue, and he began foaming at the mouth.

In moments, he developed a high fever, his small body burning up with fever, his breathing gradually weakening, his face turning pale as wax.

Tears streaked Yun Wan’s face. Trembling, she handed Xiao Bao to Yuan Yuan, stumbled towards the study, even losing a shoe in her panic.

It was late at night; he was likely home. Yun Wan pounded desperately on Lu Yu's study door, her voice trembling to the point of being hoarse, "Sir... Sir, call a doctor... save my child."

She knocked until her palms turned red. The guards who heard the noise sternly said, "The young master is out with Li Pingting to see the lanterns; he's not in the estate."

Yun Wan tightly gripped her chilly robe, her knuckles turning white, stumbling towards the main courtyard of the Marchioness.

The Marchioness’s courtyard was heavily guarded. Yun Wan stood at the courtyard entrance, knelt on the ground with a thud, and cried out in a trembling voice, "Yun Wan requests to see the madam."

With that, she heavily pressed her forehead to the cold bricks, hoarsely pleading, "Please, madam, call a doctor to save my child."

This was the most difficult time Yun Wan could remember. Xiao Bao, burning with fever, lay in the room, suffering so greatly at such a young age.

Her child was dying, and no one could save him.

A mother's heart felt as if being twisted by a knife. Yun Wan's tears flowed uncontrollably as she continuously kowtowed on the blue bricks.

Aunt Li frowned and slowly walked over, seeing Yun Wan's state and immediately reporting to the madam.

The Marchioness sighed, "Go, have the house doctor take a look."

---

Yun Wan's clothes were already soaked in cold sweat. Trembling, she watched as Xiao Bao's small body was covered in fine needles. Her chest hurt so much she could barely breathe.

She turned, tears streaming, and asked, "Doctor, what's wrong with my son?"

The house doctor sighed, "What did he eat today? This looks like a poisoning."

Yuan Yuan supported Yun Wan, and the two instantly remembered the cakes they had at Li Pingting's in the afternoon.

Besides her breast milk, Xiao Bao's only food was the congee Yuan Yuan made herself.

"I hope your child pulls through."

Yun Wan recalled the last words Li Pingting said before she left, feeling as if an icy shard had pierced her to the bone. Trembling and weeping, her eyes filled with self-directed scorn.

"This is the antidote. Take it before nursing. If the child wakes within three days, it means the antidote worked. If not..."

The physician’s words were measured yet icy.

Yun Wan collapsed to the floor, gazing at Xiao Bao’s poison-swollen and purplish face, and began to regret every decision she had ever made.

"Creak—"

The door opened. Yun Wan looked up to see a pair of black boots embroidered with gold thread approaching. She averted her eyes, unwilling to speak.

After a night of chaos, her hair had come undone around her temples. Her swollen peach-blossom eyes were filled with resentment.

"Is the child any better?"

"No."

Yun Wan struggled to stand, supported by Lu Yu’s firm hand on her waist. Her eyes were bleak as she said, "How do you plan to protect me, my lord?"

"Would you believe me if I said it was Li Pingting’s doing? If Xiao Bao hadn’t eaten her pastries, how could he have been poisoned?"

Yun Wan stared directly at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu lowered his gaze and said solemnly, "Li Pingting mentioned this evening that you had a pleasant time together this afternoon. You ate her pastries and shared a heart-to-heart talk."

"Wanwan, if there was a problem, why would only the child be affected while you adults came to no harm?"

Tears instantly welled up in Yun Wan’s eyes.

"Wanwan, give me some time, alright? If she did it, I will make her pay... But I can’t act against her now. There are too many complications surrounding her."

Before Lu Yu finished speaking, Yun Wan let out a bitter, hollow laugh. "Lu Yu, how can I trust you? Your first reaction was to assume I’m making false accusations. How could you ever give me the truth?"

"Leave. I don’t want to see you," Yun Wan cried, pushing Lu Yu until he left the room.

She collapsed again by the bedside, weeping under her breath. "If Xiao Bao doesn’t wake up, I will burn this place down. I’ve no reason to go on living."

She regretted everything—every choice she’d made.

She stayed by Xiao Bao’s side for three full days, crying until her eyes were swollen and her tears ran dry.

Finally, on the third night, Xiao Bao slowly opened his eyes. The moment he saw her, tears of pitiful grievance streamed down his face.

"...Ma...ma... hug."

His face was full of heartbreak, his cries shaking Yun Wan to her core.

Yun Wan hurriedly comforted him, patting his back as tears streamed down her own cheeks. "That’s mama’s brave boy, don’t cry, don’t cry."

"In a few days, Mama will take you home. We’ll return to the northwest and never have to endure this again."

---

Sandalwood incense hung in the small family shrine room, the air thick with the fragrance of incense and candles.

"I beg you, Madam, to let me leave," Yun Wan pleaded. "I wish to return to the northwest with my child."

Yun Wan knelt once more before the Marquess’s lady, knocking her forehead against the brick floor. Her heart was already ashen, with nothing left to bind her.