Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Yun Wan was stunned for a moment, then turned her back to the crowd and walked away with Xiao Bao in her arms. Lu Yu, however, said nothing.

As if fleeing, she hid with Xiao Bao in the tea room on the second floor of the painted boat. She wasn't going to serve anyone ever again, and she refused to see Li Pingting again.

Yuan Yuan took Xiao Bao from her, gently nuzzling the child’s head as she whispered, "Are you really going to the temple tomorrow?"

She hadn’t worked for many mistresses, but Yun Wan was the kindest of them all.

Yuan Yuan still remembered the first time she met Yun Wan—her features as delicate as a painting, dressed in coarse clothes that couldn’t conceal her graceful figure, gently rolling up her sleeves to help Yuan Yuan tidy up.

Now, Yun Wan had grown much thinner. Her peach-blossom eyes were clouded with tears, her face sallow, and her entire frame so frail it seemed a strong gust of wind could knock her over.

"It’s time to go. There’s nothing left to linger for."

Yun Wan’s voice was filled with exhaustion. She gazed out the window at the scenery—the sunlight dancing on the shimmering lake, the view serene and beautiful—but she felt anything but well.

"So Miss Yun is here serving tea. No wonder I couldn’t find you anywhere."

Li Pingting’s voice was like a ghostly whisper from the depths of hell. Smiling smugly, she stood by the doorway with her arms crossed.

Yun Wan stepped in front of Yuan Yuan and whispered urgently, "Take the child away quickly."

Li Pingting smiled sweetly. "Your child is quite resilient." Then her expression darkened, venom in her eyes. "You should know—if Lu Yu didn't love you, I might have let you stay. At most, you’d be a concubine."

"In arranged marriages, the worst thing is when someone develops real feelings. But I am merciful. If you take this infertility drug, I’ll let you go today."

Yun Wan retreated step by step under Li Pingting’s pressure, biting her lip stubbornly as she struggled to say, "I won’t."

Up on the third floor, Lu Yu glared angrily at Lin Shuyan. "Why did you bring her?"

Lin Shuyan snapped his fan shut, gritting his teeth. "Your fiancée insisted on coming. My guards couldn’t stop her."

"Her half-brother is still waiting at the dock. At least I managed to stop one of them."

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out from the deck. Both men widened their eyes and rushed to look outside.

Yun Wan never expected Li Pingting to drag her toward the lake. Half of her body was already leaning over the edge.

As if sensing Lu Yu’s gaze, Li Pingting suddenly let out a theatrical cry, and in an instant, their positions reversed.

"Who do you think he’ll save?"

Yun Wan felt Li Pingting’s grip tighten abruptly. The next moment, both women tumbled into the lake. In her dazed state, a chilling whisper reached Yun Wan’s ears.

"Don’t worry, I’ve already prepared a new husband for you."

As she hit the water, the icy lake rushed into Yun Wan’s mouth. The biting cold of early spring enveloped her entirely, and the water soon rose above her head.

She struggled, flailing her arms, but couldn’t stop herself from sinking. Through the gurgling water and her blurred vision, she saw Lu Yu’s normally indifferent face contort with panic for the first time. He tore off his outer robe and plunged into the water.

Time seemed to stand still. Yun Wan, too, wanted to know whom Lu Yu would choose to save.

As expected—they were indeed a perfect match, both talented and beautiful.

She watched helplessly as Lu Yu swam toward Li Pingting, wrapped an arm around her, and began swimming back to the boat, leaving Yun Wan alone in the freezing water.

She really shouldn’t have held any hope for Lu Yu. If her death could make him regret it for the rest of his life, perhaps it would be worth it.

But how ironic—she actually knew how to swim.

Tears mingled with the cold lake water as Yun Wan felt a pain like a hammer blow crushing her chest.

Suddenly, she sensed a man swimming toward her from behind.

She recalled Li Pingting’s words: "Don’t worry, I’ve already prepared a new husband for you."

No—she couldn’t let him see her body, couldn’t let him save her. If anything went wrong today, her life would be ruined.

Gritting her teeth against the cramping pain in her arm, Yun Wan twisted around and dove deeper, swimming swiftly toward the shore.

The man seemed to realize she could swim and picked up speed.

Yun Wan’s heart pounded with fear, her entire body shaking. The moment she reached the shore, she grabbed a nearby stone and hurled it with force into the water.

The man stood up slowly—a large, bloated figure with a face swollen from indulgence in wine and wealth. His narrow eyes gleamed with lechery.

"Since I saved you, young lady, you should repay me with your hand in marriage."

As he spoke, the man lunged toward Yun Wan.

Suddenly, a carriage came speeding by, and an angry roar erupted: "How dare the second son of Duke An's Mansion harass an innocent woman in front of me! If you dare spread rumors, I’ll cut out your tongue!"

At Lin Shuyan’s shout, the man, frightened by his authority, fled in panic.

Yuan Yuan, seated inside the carriage, hurriedly handed Xiao Bao to Lin Shuyan and, weeping, rushed toward Yun Wan with a cloak.

Yun Wan felt dazed. Her wet clothes clung to her body, her hair was disheveled, and she looked like a helpless little creature caught in a storm.

She stared blankly toward the painted boat, as if her tears had dried up, unable to shed any more. She numbly allowed Yuan Yuan to wipe her dry.

Only after Yun Wan was fully wrapped in the cloak did Lin Shuyan slowly turn around.

He saw the young woman’s half-hidden face, filled with sorrow, and asked worriedly, "Miss Yun, are you... alright?"

Yun Wan seemed to space out for a moment before managing a faint smile. Suddenly, a sharp, cramping pain seized her lower abdomen.

She looked down and saw blood staining her legs—her period had started.

She shook her head. "Thank you, Lin Shuyan."

"Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the mansion," Lin Shuyan said sympathetically, looking at the mother and child.

Yun Wan shook her head reluctantly. "I have my period. I might dirty your carriage. I’ll wait... for Lu Yu to pick me up."

"Let’s go. It’s just a carriage. Who knows what wild beasts might roam these mountains after dark? Besides, this little one has such tender skin."

Lin Shuyan bounced the child gently in his arms.

"You two ride inside. I’ll drive the carriage."

Tears welling in her eyes, Yun Wan bowed deeply in gratitude. "Thank you, Lin Shuyan."

As the carriage began to move, Lin Shuyan’s voice came from outside: "Cheng Yu... he was wrong this time. He didn’t even arrange for any women attendants who could swim on the painted boat."

Even a stranger was apologizing on his behalf, yet Lu Yu never appeared before her.

Yun Wan’s nose stung with unshed tears. Lowering her gaze, she murmured, "It’s fine. Lu Yu isn't my husband. My husband is already dead."

"I... don't care."

Yun Wan didn't know whether these words were meant for Lin Shuyan or for herself.

Whether she cared or not, it no longer held any meaning now.

Lin Shuyan paused for a moment and said apologetically, "What about your other family members?"

"My parents are dead, my husband is dead. Only the child and I remain."

Lin Shuyan, driving the carriage, asked in surprise, "So you traveled all the way from the northwest to the capital alone, carrying your child, to find your husband?"

Yun Wan gently stroked Xiao Bao's cheek with her icy fingers and answered, "All the family's property was taken by others. If I hadn't found A Yu, I wouldn’t have survived. At that time, Xiao Bao was only two or three months old. Who would have known he had already died?"

As the back gate of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence drew nearer, Lin Shuyan asked the question that had been lingering in his heart.

"It might be a bit intrusive to ask, but is the cinnabar mole between Miss Yun's eyebrows natural?"

"I don’t remember, but my father said it was a scar left from bumping into a post by the door when I was young."

With Yuan Yuan supporting her, Yun Wan stepped out of the carriage. As the gleaming moonlight shone down, Lin Shuyan caught another clear glimpse of Yun Wan’s eyes, and his heart trembled violently.

Just as he was about to ask more, Yun Wan had already bowed to him and walked through the main gate of the Marquis' residence.

As soon as Yun Wan entered the room in Lanting Pavilion, dust-covered Lu Yu rushed in.

He held her tightly, his usually cold face filled with worry, his voice trembling as he said, "It was my fault; I didn’t make proper arrangements. In a few days, I’ll send you to a private safehouse. Only by hiding you well can I feel at ease."

Yun Wan forced a smile and softly murmured.

--

Inside Prince Ding's residence,

As soon as Lin Shuyan stepped into the residence, Princess Consort Ding’s servant was already standing at the door, calling out loudly, "You rebellious son, you promised to have dinner with me, your old mother. Why are you still not here?"

He shook his sleeves helplessly. "I’ll be right there, right there. You’re only in your thirties, yet you call yourself an old lady every day."

"Who would have thought the former number one beauty of the capital would act so disrespectfully in her old age?"

The servant immediately retorted, "Come quickly, you rebellious son, and stop complaining."

Lin Shuyan sighed and hurried toward the main courtyard.

Princess Consort Ding noticed that her eldest son seemed out of sorts today, staring at her wherever she went.

"Rebellious son, why are you looking at me like that?"

Lin Shuyan smiled and deflected, "Naturally, I’m admiring the elegance of the former number one beauty of the capital."

Princess Consort Ding picked up a mirror, checked that her face and makeup were flawless, and said with a smile, "Your father, Prince Ding, was blessed for eight lifetimes to marry me. Back then, the line of men who wanted to marry me stretched from the south of the city to the north. But Prince Ding was no slouch either—he was quite handsome in his day, though he started gaining weight after thirty."

Prince Ding chuckled as he served Princess Consort Ding more food. "Tsk, don’t fill the child’s head with nonsense. I may be getting older, but I’ve still got it."

"Mother, could you wear a veil for me? The kind that only shows your eyes."

Lin Shuyan seized the opportunity to ask.

Flattered by the praise, Princess Consort Ding took the silk handkerchief beside her and draped it over her ears. In an instant, a pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes appeared before Lin Shuyan.

His heart trembled violently—these were the very same eyes he had just seen on a young woman’s face.

"Lao Lin, look—our son is spellbound."

Princess Consort Ding covered her mouth and laughed.

Lin Shuyan forced a smile, though his fingers trembled slightly. He bottled up his emotions and finished the meal with his parents.

Afterward, he bolted to his study like a wild horse freed from its reins. Looking at the sealed ornate box on his desk, his hands shook so much he could barely open it.

This was the report from the northwest, delivered every three days.

With trembling hands, he unfolded the dark yellow secret letter. After reading it quickly, he collapsed into his chair, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes.

—

"A hunter, Yun Cunyi, bought a little girl from a child trafficker and named her Yun Wan.

His own young daughter had died at the age of five, and to prevent his wife from falling gravely ill, he specifically sought out a child of similar age to keep her company.

Elders in Stone Village said that when the child first arrived, she spoke with a refined accent, suggesting she might be a missing girl from a wealthy family.

The hunter Yun Cunyi once said while drunk that when Yun Wan first arrived, she carried herself with the poise of a child from a noble household. He never had the heart to make her do farm work or any hard labor."

—

Lin Shuyan felt a violent tremor in his chest, and choked sobs gradually filled the study.

Fourteen years had passed, yet he still remembered his younger sister’s small figure suddenly stepping in to block the kidnappers’ path.

Her loss had hung like a massive mountain over the entire Prince Ding's residence. No one dared mention her, yet everyone thought of her.

Prince Ding had petitioned the emperor to grant her the title of County Princess on what would have been her coming-of-age ceremony. Princess Consort Ding would place the trendy fabrics and jewelry from the capital in their younger sister’s courtyard.

In the Lin family, all names in their generation began with "Shu." He was called Shu Yan, his younger sister was Shu Yun, and their younger brother, born a few years later, was named Wang Shu.

Hoping that Shu Yun would return home soon.

Lin Shuyan staggered to his feet, his eyes bloodshot, and said to the bodyguard, "Get the carriage ready. I’m going to the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence."

Yun Wan had the exact same eyes as his mother, the same cinnabar mole as Shu Yun, and she was a little girl from the capital who had been trafficked to the northwest.

Now, all that was missing was the butterfly-shaped red birthmark on her back, near the shoulder blades. He had to go ask her at the first light of dawn.

---

Inside the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence,

Yun Wan changed into a plain dress and sat quietly on a small stool by the bed. To her left lay Lu Yu on the bed, and to her right, Xiao Bao slept soundly in his cradle.

During her pregnancy, she had imagined this scene countless times, but she never thought it would take a full year to experience what was commonplace for ordinary families.

She gazed quietly at Lu Yu’s face, gently stroking it as if they were back on the earthen kang in the bookstore in Yun County.

Back then, her A Yu discovered he had a talent for archery and horsemanship, hitting every target with precision. He began teaching at an escort agency every day, his fingers often bloodied from practice, which pained her so much she would cry.

"It doesn’t hurt," he would say with a smile. "Once we’ve saved enough money, we’ll open a bookstore."

He would often fall into a deep sleep while she applied medicine to his hands, and before long, thick calluses developed on his palms.

Now, Yun Wan turned over Lu Yu’s hand, looking at the familiar calluses, as if trying to memorize every fingerprint.

This was A Yu’s hand, this was A Yu’s face, these were A Yu’s locks of hair.

The more she remembered, the clearer her memories would become in old age.

After returning to the northwest, everything in the capital was like a fleeting cloud.

The heir was the high-ranking heir of the Marquis of Xuanping household, the husband of Li Pingting.

A Yu was only Yun Wan's A Yu; he had long died in the river and would only remain in her memories.

Yun Wan glanced back and saw the clepsydra had reached the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). She stood up to leave, but suddenly the person behind her grabbed the corner of her robe.

"Where are you going?"

Lu Yu seemed to have been awakened by her, or perhaps he was still dreaming.

"I should go to Yuanfu Temple to pray for blessings."

"Wanwan, I'm sorry."

Yun Wan's heart felt as if struck by a heavy drum, and tears instantly fell. She murmured in response, picked up her bundle, and, holding Xiao Bao, prepared to leave.

But Lu Yu, who had fallen asleep again, kept clutching the corner of her robe. Seeing that the second quarter of the Yin hour was approaching quickly, Yun Wan resolutely cut away the corner of her robe, pushed open the door, and ran out.

---

Parking the carriage directly in front of the main gate seemed rather unseemly, so Lin Shuyan had to instruct his guards to stop the carriage at the back door.

He leaned against the carriage, chewing on a stalk of grass, his mind filled with images of Yun Wan sinking into the freezing Mirror Lake the day before.

Lin Shuyan raised his hand and slapped himself hard.

"Rap—rap—rap—"

The carriage door was quickly knocked on, and a guard urgently said, "Heir, look quickly—the young woman from before is boarding a carriage. Where is she going?"

Lin Shuyan abruptly lifted the carriage curtain, just in time to see Yun Wan, holding her child, step onto a small carriage.

Before he could react, the carriage had already sped swiftly toward the city gates.

A sense of foreboding rose in Lin Shuyan's heart—why would anyone leave the city right as the gates opened?

Watching the carriage shrink into the distance, Lin Shuyan immediately unbridled a prized horse and instructed, "Take the carriage back. I'm going after them."

---

In the carriage,

Xiao Bao was not yet fully awake, rubbing his eyes with his plump little hand adorned with a silver bracelet, his lips quivering as if about to cry. Yun Wan quickly soothed him softly, "We're going home now, don't cry, don't cry. Mother is here."

As soon as Yun Wan finished speaking, the carriage suddenly jolted and began to accelerate rapidly. Sensing the unease, Xiao Bao's cries grew louder.

"Driver, why is the carriage so bumpy? Can you slow down?"

Yun Wan was thrown about by the violent shaking, and a gnawing sense of dread grew in her heart. She lifted the carriage door curtain to check.

Shunk!

A glinting blade suddenly pierced through the thick carriage door, its tip only an inch away from Xiao Bao in Yun Wan's arms.

The mortal terror made Yun Wan's heart shudder violently. Her pupils contracted, and she trembled, shrinking backward.

She used all her strength to hold Xiao Bao tightly in her arms, pulling over a nearby brocade-covered quilt to wrap him securely.

She was already trembling too much to scream; the cry stuck deep in her throat. Her breathing grew rapid, almost suffocating, and her entire body felt as rigid as stone.

Yun Wan's violently trembling lips gathered all her strength. "Who are you? Why are you trying to kill me?"

No response. Only the bone-chilling fear in the darkness seeped into Yun Wan's bones. The carriage wheels jolted along a rocky path, the wind howling outside.

The sound of the driver savagely lashing the whip echoed in Yun Wan's ears.

Yun Wan trembled all over. Just as she was nearly jolted into unconsciousness, she glimpsed through a gap in the curtain that the driver's seat was empty, and the horse's hindquarters had been brutally stabbed.

The maddened horse was galloping straight toward a cliff.

Lin Shuyan rode his fast horse, whipping it relentlessly, but still couldn't catch up to the carriage ahead. Just as he caught sight of the carriage's rear—

Crash!

The maddened horse, dragging the carriage, had already plunged off the cliff. The deafening crash echoed in Lin Shuyan's mind, and a cloud of dust and debris immediately mushroomed into the air.

Suddenly, two figures in black appeared at the cliff's edge, observed for a moment, and then slipped away unnoticed.

Lin Shuyan stumbled out from behind a tree, lurching forward so violently that he fell onto the gravel.

His legs weak, he ran to the cliff's edge and saw the splintered carriage and the slain horse.

An suffocating pain crushed his heart, and his entire body felt as if torn apart, making it hard to breathe.

His eyes red and bloodshot, he turned to descend the cliff but stepped on an iron piece with a strange pattern.

Clenching his jaw, Lin Shuyan steadying himself as he made his way down the cliff, trembling so much he could hardly stand.

This time, he had to find them, dead or alive.

Lin Shuyan stood at the base of the cliff and realized it was not as steep as it had appeared from above. Slopes and earthen embankments interspersed the area, and fragments from the carriage were scattered everywhere.

Trembling, he searched through every large piece of debris but found no sign of anyone.

Suddenly, what seemed like padding material kept falling from a dirt slope.

Lin Shuyan's throat tightened. He climbed up using the rocks, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Only when he reached the platform did he see a small cave inside.

Trembling, he took out a tinderbox from his pocket but couldn't light it. Just as he was nearing breakdown, the tinder finally caught spark, igniting a faint flame.

He hunched over and slowly entered. When he saw the scene before him, inexpressible pain overwhelmed him, and tears instantly welled up.

Yun Wan's hair was disheveled, her face covered in dust, blood trickling continuously from the corner of her mouth. Her arm hung at an unnatural angle, and her left leg was twisted.

She coughed and struggled for breath, blood gushing out. She leaned over, shielding the child beneath her. The child's fingers tightly clutched Yun Wan's collar, his dust-covered little face full of fear as he looked at Lin Shuyan.

"Please... spare my child's life."

Yun Wan was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face. Her bent arm tightly protected the child beneath her, and her eyes were filled with fear as she looked at the figure at the cave entrance.

Lin Shuyan, who had always been strong and rarely cried in his life, slowly held the light to his face and said hoarsely, "Don't be afraid. It's gege."

Yun Wan froze for a moment, recognizing the person before her. Trembling, she moved her arm aside and pushed Xiao Bao forward. "Lin Shuyan, save my..."

Before she could finish, she fainted instantly. Xiao Bao, as if sensing his mother's pain, began to cry loudly.

Lin Shuyan's heart felt as though stabbed. He picked up Xiao Bao, gently patted Yun Wan's shoulder, fighting back tears, and urgently called out, "Yun Er, hold on. Please hold on. Gege will take you home." "Gege already failed you once. Please hold on. We're going home to find our parents."

----

Prince Ding's residence,

"Your son's been missing for days, no one knows where he's gone. Even your daughter-in-law came to me complaining. Strangely, I've been having heart palpitations lately and can't sleep well."

Princess Consort Ding said while doing her eyebrow makeup to Prince Ding.

Prince Ding played with the chess pieces in his hand and shook his head: "The children are grown up and won't mind discipline anymore. Wang Shu's teacher just complained to me a few days ago, saying he disrupted class."

Suddenly, a noisy commotion came from outside the main courtyard.

"Young master! Young master! You can't ride horses in the courtyard!"

"Young master, please be careful and get down."

"...Young master..."

The quiet of the small courtyard was instantly shattered by crisp, urgent hoofbeats, the sound of galloping horses echoing through the compound.

Princess Consort Ding's eyebrow pencil slipped, leaving a crooked line. She stood up angrily, grabbed a duster from the vase, and said, "Today I must give him a beating. Riding that damn horse into my courtyard, he probably trampled several of my potted plants."

But Prince Ding thought it was strange; he knew his son's temperament.

Before they could say anything, Lin Shuyan rushed into the room, shooed all the maids away. As the door closed with a bang, he dropped heavily to his knees, his forehead hitting the floor tiles with a thud.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Did you do something wrong?"

Seeing her son so serious, Princess Consort Ding quickly put down the duster and asked anxiously, "Child, why won't you speak?"

Lin Shuyan slowly looked up, his eyes red-rimmed, tears streaming down his face as he trembled slightly: "Your unworthy son has found Shu Yun."

Princess Consort Ding shuddered, her legs weakening as she almost collapsed. Leaning against her husband, she wept and said, "Where is my daughter? Shuyan, where is your sister?"

"At the private residence Grandma gave me in the outskirts of the capital. We must keep this quiet and plan carefully."

Along the way, they covered their tracks as they headed to the suburban estate. Lin Shuyan told his parents everything he knew about Yun Wan.

Princess Consort Ding cried until she nearly passed out, while Prince Ding fell silent.

"Do you remember when you were young, I often warned you to stay away from Lu Yu? Even if you interacted, never bring up matters of the prince's residence."

"His Majesty and I have been close since childhood. If I'm not mistaken, Yun Er's husband was always meant to be Lu Yu, but His Majesty changed their memories. You don't need to understand why, but since Yun Er has returned home, we must give her a new identity. Did you handle the cliff fall site?"

Lin Shuyan nodded: "I sensed something was wrong, so I got someone else's remains from the mass grave and burned the area with the oil lamp from the carriage."

Prince Ding said: "Good, let me handle the rest. We must keep this from Wang Shu and your sister-in-law."

Suburban villa.

Princess Consort Ding had imagined countless reunion scenarios with her daughter, but never like this.

Her frail body lay curled up on the bed, her arm in splints, legs propped up, bandaged from head to toe, her brow furrowed tightly, clearly restless even while sleeping.

Beside her daughter was a small child, quietly sucking his thumb as he slept soundly on the soft quilt, his tiny hand tightly gripping his mother's finger.

"Yun Er is still unconscious. Her right arm is broken, her left leg fractured, several ribs cracked, and countless cuts and bruises all over her body..."

After saying this, Lin Shuyan paused, his voice hoarse: "Yun Er also has another strong child in her womb. The physician said she was already weak, and if she miscarries, we might lose her too."

Princess Consort Ding covered her face and sobbed bitterly. This was the little one who had come from her own body—how could she endure such suffering?

A mother's heart felt like it was being cut by knives. She cried until tears covered her face, her trembling hands unsure where to touch her daughter.

Prince Ding slowly walked to the door with heavy footsteps, his eyes already red, fingers trembling as he gripped the doorframe.

----

At the Marquis of Xuanping's residence,

Lu Yu stood at the doorway of the flower hall, watching as thick dark clouds pressed down. Though it was midday in spring, the sky was as dark as dusk.

It had been three days—why hadn't Yun Wan returned yet?

Once the heavy rain started, the road from the Yuanfu Temple in the suburbs to the residence would become extremely muddy, making the return journey difficult.

"Young master, standing at the door, be careful of the cold wind. It's time for the meal; my lady is already waiting for us."

Li Pingting said gently.

Lu Yu didn't respond, turning directly and walking toward the inner hall.

The Marquise had prepared a large table of vegetarian dishes. Smiling, she twirled her prayer beads and said, "Today happens to be the fifteenth. I apologize for making you young folks join me for vegetarian fare."

Li Pingting's eyes sparkled as she cheerfully said, "Seeing how well you maintain your youth, it must be due to your diet. I must learn from you in the future."

Noticing Lu Yu's silence, the Marquise picked up her jade chopsticks and said softly, "Let's eat. Don't stand on ceremony."

In wealthy households, it was customary not to speak during meals or in bed.

As everyone sat properly at the round table eating, suddenly, Aunt Li rushed in anxiously, whispering a few words into the Marquise's ear.

The Marquise's eyes filled with shock, which then turned into profound sorrow. Covering her face with a silk handkerchief, she shed two lines of tears, her lips trembling as she looked at Lu Yu, but no words came out.

She quickly patted Aunt Li's hand, signaling her to speak.

"Young master..."

"Miss Yun and the child's carriage fell off a cliff. The oil lamp inside the carriage fell and burned everything."

"No... no one survived."

Aunt Li's words struck Lu Yu like a bolt from the blue. Frowning, he supported himself with his hands and slowly stood up, his voice already hoarse beyond recognition, "What did you say? Say it again."

"The authorities have reported that Miss Yun and the child... are gone."

Lu Yu's vision suddenly went dark, all the blood in his body rushing to his heart, the pain like a drumbeat tearing through his chest, threatening to burst out.

The unbearable stabbing pain in his heart raced through his veins to every part of his body. Trembling, he clutched his chest, tears streaming down before he could even react.

A thick, sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat. Before he could calm himself, a torrent of blood gushed from his mouth.

His limbs stiffened as if frozen in the depths of winter. Staggering toward the door, a sickly sweet voice suddenly called out from behind him.

"Young master, let's take the carriage to the suburbs later to check."

Li Pingting had just touched Lu Yu, pretending to be the caring wife, when he violently shoved her away.

"Get away."

Staggering to the doorway, he suddenly stopped, his narrow eyes filled with confusion. Then, in an instant, a sharp pain pierced his mind as if struck by thousands of needles.

Lu Yu's throat tightened, his Adam's apple bobbing as nausea overwhelmed him, bringing forth another surge of blood. His muddled mind suddenly cleared.

At this moment, all the tampered memories vanished like smoke, and the long-suppressed recollections swiftly flooded his mind.

He scanned the Marquis of Xuanping's residence, laughed bitterly, tears of blood streaming down his face, his cries of anguish and grief echoing through the entire hall.

Then, stumbling, he mounted a fast horse and left the marquis's estate.

At this hour, the streets were not crowded. Lu Yu whipped his horse through the capital's roads, his galloping figure flashing by. Those young nobles familiar with him were utterly astonished.

"Is this still the ever-proper Crown Prince Lu?"

No, he was nothing like that.

The whip in Lu Yu's hand was nearly shredded, and even the finest horse couldn't outrun his urgency.

He remembered everything—but only when he heard the news of his wife and child's death.

His heart felt as if it was tearing from his chest, blood flowing uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth. His head throbbed with unbearable pain, yet he could not stop.

As the cliff outside the capital gradually came into view, Lu Yu trembled as he dismounted and rushed forward, only to find two neatly laid-out skeletons placed there by the authorities.

He instantly fell to his knees, hands braced against the ground, head bowed, tears of blood falling onto the earth.

The coroner, seeing the nobleman before him who seemed to be a relative of the deceased, took out a bag and said softly, "These are two silver bracelets from the child, and beside Miss Yun, there was a silver hairpin in a small box."

As Lu Yu looked up, the bloodshot veins in his eyes horrified the coroner; his gaze was empty and hollow.

"You... please accept my condolences."

Lu Yu nodded. Gently, he placed the silver bracelets on the child's bones, but the hairpin could no longer be worn in Wanwan's hair.

His Wanwan had never left Yun County, yet she had traveled alone with their infant child all the way from the distant northwest to the capital to find him.

How much suffering and exhaustion had she endured alone?

And what about him?

Lu Yu slapped himself repeatedly, his eyes empty and numb, so numb it was suffocating. His Wanwan had suffered so much injustice, and even Xiao Bao had been poisoned.

It was he who had brought harm to mother and child.

Lu Yu remained kneeling as a sudden torrential rain relentlessly pounded his hunched shoulders.

Bracing his knees, he slowly stood up, staggered slightly, then lifted the two skeletons into his arms and walked numbly along the muddy mountain path.

"Wanwan, let's go home. Let's return to Yun County."

The light skeletons in his arms were now Lu Yu's entire world.

Meanwhile, the people at the Marquis of Xuanping's residence anxiously awaited Lu Yu's return. It was not until daybreak that a disheveled Lu Yu, carrying the remains, walked through the gate with heavy steps.

The steward advised cautiously, "Crown Prince Lu, let the departed rest in peace."

Lu Yu turned to glance at him, his eyes icy. "Get out. Don’t make me say it again."

Trembling with fear, the steward quickly stepped aside.

Lu Yu walked to the family ancestral hall, pushed open the long-sealed door, and gazed at the two spirit tablets placed in the center.

His throat moved, and he knelt on the ground.

"Unfilial son Lu Yu pays respect to father and mother. This is my wife, Yun Wan, and this is my child, Zhang'er."

Lu Yu said and did nothing more. After kneeling in the ancestral hall for three full days, he slowly raised his eyes and spoke to Lu Yan behind him.

"Today is the seventh day after death. It's time to go home."

He picked up the two charred remains and slowly entered the study of Lanting Pavilion. Gently brushing the ashes from the bones, he whispered, "Wait for me. I'll join you soon."

Lu Yu turned and walked to the bedchamber. Seeing everything as it used to be, he sat slowly by the bed, gently rocking the cradle and shaking the rattle their child had played with.

Yuan Yuan hurried in at the sound, but the moment she saw Lu Yu, her eyes reddened.

The crown prince usually disliked dirt, never sat on the bed in outer garments, and always maintained a distant, almost godlike demeanor.

But today, he was just an ordinary man who had lost his wife and child—his face covered in stubble, his robe the same one from days ago, stained with mud and rain.

Her voice trembling, she asked, "Crown Prince Lu, Miss Yun only wanted to return to the northwest. How could she be gone?"

Yes, how could she be gone?

Lu Yu said nothing, his expression growing darker. He picked up the rattle and made his way unsteadily back to the study.

----

When Lin Shuyan received word that Lu Yu wanted to see him, he clenched the letter, then turned to look at his sister, still unconscious in bed.

He could barely contain his anger and frustration.

Prince Ding sighed. "Go. Avoid raising suspicion, lest the Emperor realize Yun Er is still alive."

Lin Shuyan went. He deliberately changed into a new robe, holding a jade-handled folding fan, affecting his usual casual manner as he entered their usual meeting room.

Lu Yu had arrived early, sitting upright at the table, lost in thought as he gazed out the window.

Rumors said he had gone mad upon hearing about Yun Wan, galloping wildly through the capital. Now, however, he appeared composed, though his face looked noticeably thinner.

Lin Shuyan lowered his eyes, pretending to be his usual carefree self, and asked with concern, "How have you been lately?"

"Not well."

Hearing this unexpected answer, Lin Shuyan smiled. "You've changed. You used to insist you were fine even when suffering."

A bitter smile tugged at Lu Yu's lips. "I lived too exhaustedly before, always wanting everything."

Lin Shuyan didn’t understand but raised his wine cup and drained it, only to notice the wine today had the scent of plum blossoms.

"How does this robe look today?"

Lu Yu's sudden question broke the room's silence.

Lin Shuyan looked up and saw him wearing a light blue robe with silver-thread cloud embroidery, a jade belt at his waist, and a pearl-adorned hair crown.

"Quite fine. Why so formal?"

Lu Yu smiled. "I think so too. She would have liked it."

Distracted by thoughts of his sister, Lin Shuyan didn’t ponder Lu Yu's meaning.

He drank cup after cup, while Lu Yu, after just one, produced a letter from his robe and several large brocade boxes from beside him.

"Shuyan, I have no one left in the capital I can trust except you. I need you to take care of some matters for me. All the details are in this letter."

Lin Shuyan’s eyes narrowed: "You’re not asking me to do something illegal, are you? I have a family to take care of now."

"No. You’ll know once you open it tomorrow morning to see what was inside. These scrolls are the famous paintings from the previous dynasty that you’ve long wanted from me, and there’s also a box containing the warm jade chessboard that Prince Ding likes."

Lin Shuyan took a sip of wine and sighed, "Your gifts are way too generous. If I fail to accomplish the task, I should return them to you."

"I have matters to attend to and must leave now... Shuyan, see you later."

Lu Yu stood up and said calmly.

----

At the Prince Ding’s mansion.

Lately, no one knew what Lin Shuyan had been up to—he had been acting mysteriously every day. Chu Mingjue felt like kicking him whenever he saw him.

That evening, a letter fell out of Lin Shuyan’s robe. Chu Mingjue picked it up, frowned, then opened it.

His eyes widened instantly, and his voice trembled as he said, "Quick, Lin Shuyan, go to the Marquis of Xuanping’s mansion at once!"

Puzzled, Lin Shuyan took the letter, his hands shaking as he read its contents.

He flung the door open abruptly. A thick column of smoke rose over the capital, and a raging fire lit up half the sky, spreading like storm clouds in the direction unmistakably leading to the Marquis of Xuanping’s mansion!