Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Lin Shuyun smiled while pulling Zhang'er into a hug, her smile lingering.

Suddenly, she felt a faint chill ran down her spine, followed by an intense, scrutinizing gaze fixed on her.

Puzzled, she glanced back and, through the swaying gap in her veil, caught sight of Lu Yu standing not ten steps away.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned back.

Why was Lu Yu looking at her? Why was he watching her?

Did he still remember?

Impossible. With the emperor in all his majesty in the palace, he wouldn’t allow Lu Yu to become uncontrollable.

Besides, her brother had tested him countless times.

Lin Shuyun told herself when she suddenly felt a gentle tug on her hand.

"Mom, what’s wrong?"

Zhang'er’s voice brought Lin Shuyun back to the present. She knelt down in front of him, using her handkerchief to gently brush the dirt off him. "I'm fine. Did you have fun playing with the other children today? Look at you, covered in dirt."

His mother’s gentle questioning unleashed the sadness Zhang'er had been holding back all day, and they came pouring out.

His eyes reddened instantly, and he whispered, "I had fun. I made a good friend today, it’s just—"

"Just what?" Lin Shuyun asked softly.

"It’s just that during lessons, I missed you."

As soon as he finished speaking, tears fell from Zhang'er’s eyes like scattered pearls. His shoulders trembled lightly, but he made no sound, only crying silently.

Lin Shuyun quickly swept him into her arms, comforting him, "You’re a big boy already, six years old. Aren't you a little old for that?"

"I... I’ll miss you even when I’m a thousand years old," Zhang'er murmured.

"Then Mom would have to live until then and become an old fairy."

Zhang'er immediately covered Lin Shuyun’s mouth, his tear-filled eyes serious as he said, "Don’t talk about death. It’s bad luck."

Lin Shuyun kissed Zhang'er’s palm, holding his small hand firmly as she replied earnestly, "Alright, I won’t say it. We’ll both live to be a thousand."

Zhang'er nodded, he began to calm down.

"Let’s go home. You must be starving after a full day of lessons. Mom made your favorite dumplings, and your little sister is waiting for us."

Zhang'er’s eyes lit up. "Are they the ones with meat filling? And can I have some of the lotus seed candy you made today?"

"Yes, all your favorites."

Lin Shuyun smiled as she helped Zhang'er into the carriage. When she turned to get in herself, she glanced back out of the corner of her eye, but the spot was now empty.

She thought it must have just been a chance encounter.

After all, she had overheard the palace maids nearby saying that the Imperial Library was right next to the study hall.

But behind the tree where he had turned, Lu Yu stood with trembling hands, his gaze fixed on the departing carriage.

Princess Ding'an had a touch of a southern accent, her voice clear and bright. The dishes she prepared were unique to the Jiangnan region, and she seemed slightly taller than Wanwan.

His icy fingers clutched the split-open cloth rabbit, thinking about how Princess Ding'an also called her son Zhang.

Could it all be a coincidence? Was he overthinking it? How could someone turned to bones possibly come back to life?

That night, Lu Yu tossed and turned.

He threw on his robe and lit the lamp in his room, sitting for a long time at the desk, gently stroking the newly stitched cloth rabbit.

There were surely many people who could fold cloth rabbits, but using a soybean as its heart—no one but Wanwan would do that.

His mind kept replaying the image of Princess Ding'an talking to her child, and he suddenly remembered what Lin Shuyan had said on his first day back in the capital:

—"Her adoptive parents passed away early, and she married young. Her husband died young—and good riddance. When we found Yun Er in Jiangnan, she had fallen off a cliff while gathering herbs, breaking her arms and legs. If it weren’t for a kind soul who brought her home, she wouldn’t have survived. She was lying in a thatched hut, pregnant and waiting to die."

—"At that time, Yun Er’s son was only a year old. He lay beside her, thin and small, clutching her hand tightly. His dusty face had a pair of clear, bright eyes that moved people to tears."

If his Wanwan had been rescued, would she have been like that?

The thought sent a sharp pain through Lu Yu’s heart, as if an invisible hand were squeezing it tightly. He hunched over slightly, his chest feeling as though it were weighed down by a thousand-ton boulder. A sweet, metallic taste surged into his throat.

Since the seed of doubt had been planted, no matter what fruit it bore, he had to verify it.

The next morning, after court adjourned, Lu Yu headed to the Imperial Library to handle official business. As he passed the study hall, he heard the children’s clear, loud recitations and glanced back, though he could only see the screen wall.

Clutching the brocade box in his hand, he lowered his gaze and continued forward.

It was his second day at the Imperial Library. Chief Grand Secretary Zhou, who had been delayed, finally appeared. He had made excuses and avoided meeting him but had dumped a pile of trivial tasks on him.

Lu Yu spent the morning handling miscellaneous duties, and by the time he came to his senses, it was already noon. His fingers lightly touched the brocade box he had brought that morning, thinking that the children in the study hall would already be having their meal.

He stood up to leave but suddenly heard the voice of a clerk at the door trying to dissuade someone.

"Whose child are you? This is an important area for official business—no unauthorized entry. Hurry back to the study hall."

"I... I’m looking for Lord Lu."

Hearing the familiar child’s voice, Lu Yu quickened his pace, walking around the desk to the door.

Zhang'er’s voice instantly brightened. "Uncle... Lu."

Lu Yu said to the clerk, "It’s fine. The child is here for me. You may go."

With that, he led Zhang'er to a stone table outside the Imperial Library. "What made you think of coming to find me?"

Zhang'er pursed his lips, his cheeks flushing. He pulled a small pouch from his pocket and pressed it into Lu Yu’s hands, saying shyly, "Thank you for yesterday. This is a gift for you."

Lu Yu didn’t speak, his eyes fixed on Zhang'er’s face. His eyes were so much like Yun Wan’s, and his tone was exceptionally gentle.

"Try it. It’s lotus seed candy my mom made. It’s really good."

Seeing that Lu Yu wasn’t moving, Zhang'er anxiously opened the pouch, took out a piece, and placed it in Lu Yu’s palm, his eyes full of expectation.

"It’s delicious. Did your mother grow up in Jiangnan?" Lu Yu asked, savoring the sweetness of the candy melting in his mouth.

Zhang'er also popped a candy into his mouth and said slowly, "Yes, Mother knows how to make many other delicacies from Jiangnan (southern China) too."

"What about your father?" Lu Yu lowered his gaze and asked softly.

"I don’t remember what he looked like."

Zhang'er sucked on the candy, but a hint of regret flashed in his eyes. He whispered, "Even though I don’t have a father, my uncles are very good to me. I like them."

Lu Yu said, "Since you gave me a gift, I’ll give you something in return. This Duan Inkstone is square and not too large, perfect for you to use in the study."

Zhang'er waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, I gave you a gift. Why are you giving me one? Grandfather already gave me one."

The little boy had clear, honest eyes, unwilling to take advantage of others.

Lu Yu gently patted his head and placed the brocade box containing the inkstone into the child’s arms. "Then consider it a birthday gift from me."

"But my birthday this year has already passed."

Lu Yu’s eyes trembled slightly as he asked softly, "But it’s only the end of February. Were you born in the first lunar month?"

Zhang'er shook his head, "My birthday is on the second day of the second lunar month."

The second day of the second lunar month.

His Yunzhang was also born on the second day of the second lunar month and was also six years old.

Lu Yu’s voice grew hoarse, "You... I heard your uncle call you Zhang'er. What is your formal name?"

Zhang'er smiled and said, "Mother used to call me Baby. Grandfather gave me the formal name Lin Zhaozhang."

After chatting briefly for a few more sentences, Zhang'er hugged the brocade box and hurried off to school.

Lu Yu sat upright at the stone table, took a lotus seed candy from the pouch, and put it in his mouth. Zhang'er’s eyes lingered in his thoughts.

There were too many coincidences, but also too many inconsistencies.

It doesn’t matter. There was still one more person.

——

"Isn’t this our busy Lord Lu? What brings you out to drink with me?"

Lin Shuyan held a sinecure, and every day when he returned to the Prince Ding’s residence, he was surrounded by three children.

His own son’s noise was equivalent to a thousand ducks, Ying Ying to eight hundred ducks, and Zhang'er to two hundred ducks.

On top of that, last winter, his father, the Prince, somehow managed to get Ying Ying a fawn.

Every day upon returning to the residence, he was surrounded by these two thousand ducks and a deer, their noise giving him a headache.

He took a sip of wine and sighed, "Finally, I can get a break from home. The more children, the harder it is to manage them."

Lu Yu chuckled lightly, "Haven’t seen you in a while, so I thought I’d invite you out for a drink. Let’s keep going."

"Why does this wine taste different from the usual plum fragrance?"

Lin Shuyan smacked his lips, "It’s mellow but also a bit strong."

Lu Yu said calmly, "This is grain wine brought back from Shuobei, from a farmer’s household. It’s not strong."

It’s just that it’s easy to get drunk on it.

Lin Shuyan was a straightforward man. After a pot of wine, he was already dizzy and disoriented.

Seeing the timing was right, Lu Yu asked, "Can I visit Prince Ding at the Prince Ding’s residence now?"

Visit him?

If Lu Yu were to see Yun Er, what might happen?

Lin Shuyan slurred his words, stammering, "N-no... you can’t."

Lu Yu lowered his eyes and asked, "Why?"

"Because it’s rude. You need to send an invitation two days in advance."

"I used to go anytime before. Why the change now? Is there something I’m not allowed to see?"

Lu Yu pretended to tease.

Lin Shuyan, as if his thoughts had been exposed, protested too much, "No, there’s nothing in our residence."

Seeing Lin Shuyan’s tight-lipped response, Lu Yu had no choice but to continue asking, "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Lin Shuyan let out a long sigh, swaying, he raised his glass to clink with Lu Yu.

"Lu Yu, what do you think a gentleman is?"

Lu Yu raised his wine cup and drank it all in one go, then fixed his gaze on Lin Shuyan. "A gentleman understands what is right; the small man understands what is profitable. A gentleman cherishes virtue; the small man cherishes land."

Lin Shuyan hiccupped, "So you’re not one."

Lu Yu’s eyes grew darker, "Then what am I?"

"You’re no good."

Lu Yu’s fingers trembled slightly as he held the wine cup. He smiled and said, "With all our years of friendship, all I get is 'no good'?"

"It’s all because you got me into..."

"Got you into what?"

Lin Shuyan stopped mid-sentence. Lu Yu’s expression grew more urgent as he pressed him urgently.

Lin Shuyan wagged his finger, "That’s none of your business. Remember to send an invitation if you want to visit my home. Our rules have been strict lately."

"Enough talk. I need to go home, or the princess consort will scold me again."

Lu Yu supported the unsteady Lin Shuyan and asked, "Should I see you home?"

"No, you didn’t send an invitation in advance. You can’t enter my home."

Lin Shuyan still remembered that point and poked Lu Yu’s shoulder earnestly.

After watching Lin Shuyan’s carriage leave, Lu Yu picked up his wine cup and drank one cup after another, as if trying to drown himself in alcohol.

His eyes gradually reddened as he tightly clutched the cloth rabbit hidden in his sleeve. He was getting closer to the truth.

On the third day of the third lunar month, the Shangsi Festival.

The sky had just begun to lighten with the first light of dawn when Lin Shuyun was awakened by her maid. She sat in a daze in front of the dressing table, staring at her reflection in the mirror, and was startled by what she saw.

To prevent the people in the capital and the one in the palace from discovering her true appearance, her father had specially brought a special ointment from the southwest.

This ointment, when applied to the skin, instantly left purplish-red marks and could last for twenty days with a single application.

Today, Lin Shuyun noticed that the marks on her face seemed to have faded slightly. She dismissed her maid and quietly touched up the marks herself.

The large purplish-red patch covered her right eyebrow and eye, extending halfway down her right cheek.

Princess Consort Ding pushed the door open and entered. Seeing her daughter painting the red marks on her face, her heart ached, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"My beautiful daughter has to make herself so ugly. Your father is so unreliable. We can’t keep doing this forever, can we?"

Lin Shuyun leaned on Princess Consort Ding with a smile and said, "Does Mother dislike her daughter now?"

Princess Consort Ding poked her forehead gently. "You, since you were little, you’ve never made things easy for me. Thinking about how you came back limping, with a big belly, and still trying to learn the Jiangnan dialect—it breaks my heart."

"That Lu Yu... hmph."

Lin Shuyun gently soothed Princess Consort Ding’s rising emotions. "Don’t be angry, Mother. This is all for survival. Perhaps the Emperor showed mercy for the first time by not killing me."

Princess Consort Ding sighed. "My poor daughter has suffered so much."

Every year during the Shangsi Festival, Princess Duanyang would host a banquet on the back hill of the Huguo Temple, inviting the relatives of the nobility to admire the peach blossoms and enjoy fragrant tea.

She didn't set strict rules, allowing everyone to roam freely on the mountain.

The men gathered to drink peach blossom wine, while the noble ladies and wives admired the flowers under the peach trees. Many children ran around flying kites and playing.

Princess Consort Ding looked around. When she saw Lu Yu speaking with Princess Duanyang, she let out a displeased snort.

Then, she turned her gaze elsewhere, took a sip of fragrant tea, and whispered to Lin Shuyun, "Do you remember the legitimate daughter of Duke An's Mansion?"

Lin Shuyun nodded, her eyes filled with resentment. "She almost cost Zhang'er his life."

Princess Consort Ding sneered. "This is the retribution for harming my precious grandson."

"A few days ago, I heard from the wife of the Loyal and Diligent Count that the legitimate daughter of Duke An's Mansion, after her engagement was broken off, has remained unmarried all these years. Recently, for some reason, her face broke out in red rashes, and her entire body swelled up like a ball. Even the imperial physicians couldn’t diagnose her illness. It’s said she nearly died and is still clinging to life at home."

A sense of vindictive satisfaction surged in Lin Shuyun’s chest. She only regretted not being able to see Li Pingting in person and not using her power to crush her.

Fortunately, her Zhang'er was healthy and strong, able to fly kites with Lin'er.

Thinking of this, Lin Shuyun gently tugged at Princess Consort Ding’s sleeve. "Mother, I’m going to pray to the Buddha."

"Alright, I’ll keep an eye on the children."

In the main hall, the Great Buddha sat serenely on a lotus throne, his expression peaceful. The scent of incense filled the air, and the sound of chanting echoed softly.

Lin Shuyun knelt on the prayer cushion, hands clasped together. Her restless heart found peace in that moment.

She prayed only for the safety and health of her loved ones, and for her children to grow up healthy. She did not ask for great achievements, only for their lifelong peace.

"Does the lady also believe in Buddhism?"

A familiar, deep male voice sounded beside Lin Shuyun, startling her. She shivered involuntarily.

Why was Lu Yu here?

Lin Shuyun did not turn her head. Suppressing the trembling in her heart, she continued facing the Buddha, pretending not to know him. "Who might this gentleman be?"

"Marquis of Xuanping, Lu Yu."

After saying this, Lin Shuyun felt the prayer cushion beside her shift slightly, as if Lu Yu had also knelt down.

Lu Yu looked at the Buddha, but his peripheral gaze remained fixed on Lin Shuyun, who wore a veil.

He bowed deeply and said slowly, "I never believed in such things before, but one day I realized that everything in the world happens for a reason, and there must be some order to it."

Lin Shuyun did not understand what Lu Yu meant, nor did she wish to speak. She remained kneeling, waiting for him to leave.

But Lu Yu seemed determined to stay, refusing to go.

A troubling thought crossed Lin Shuyun’s mind—what if Lu Yu had not lost his memory?

She did not want to dwell on it. Suddenly, she heard Lu Yu stand up beside her. He said, "Lady, I shall take my leave now."

Lin Shuyun stood up immediately. Her knees were numb from kneeling, and she staggered slightly. Her maid quickly supported her. "Lady, take it slow."

"It’s fine. Let’s hurry back."

Following the sounds of children playing, Lin Shuyun knew they had returned to the peach grove on the back hill. Her maid supported her, carefully avoiding the running children and the tangled kite strings in the air.

Suddenly, a taut kite string swept past swiftly. A glint of cold light flashed before Lin Shuyun’s eyes, and her veil was instantly knocked off.

Her pupils contracted sharply. Instinctively, she looked around for the veil, but her gaze unexpectedly met Lu Yu’s, who was standing in the distance.

When the maid retrieved the veil and covered her face again, Lin Shuyun trembled slightly. Her limbs turned cold and stiff, and the pounding of her heart echoed loudly in her ears.

What should she do? Lu Yu had seen her face.

If he had truly forgotten, why would he have taken Ying Ying’s rabbit? Why would he speak to her? Why would he keep watching her?

Supported by her maid, Lin Shuyun quickened her pace. Yet Lu Yu’s deep voice still reached her from behind.

"Princess Ding'an, please wait."