Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Lu Yu's eyes froze, a bitter smile spreading across his lips.

The child's innocent words felt like a venom-coated dagger piercing straight into his heart.

His eyelashes trembled slightly, his Adam's apple bobbed as he suppressed the surging emotions within. His fingers quivered as he gently stroked Zhang'er's cheek.

"Alright, alright, alright."

"Calling me... Uncle... is fine too."

Zhang'er seemed to sense Lu Yu's dejection. His small hand gently patted Lu Yu's large palm, and he shyly smiled as he took a piece of candy from his pouch and placed it in Lu Yu's hand.

"Uncle, have some candy."

Lu Yu looked into the child's clear eyes and stiffly put the candy into his mouth.

A sudden, sharp ginger flavor instantly filled Lu Yu's mouth, mingling with the ache in his heart. His voice hoarse, he asked, "Zhang'er, do you like ginger candy?"

Zhang'er shook his head. He picked up another piece and put it in his mouth, his expression unchanged, and said with a smile, "Mom says I was injured when I was little, and my health is weak. 'Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer'—I should build up my health more."

Zhang'er's innocent words were like a sharp, gleaming sword, repeatedly slicing through the festering wounds in Lu Yu's heart.

The incident back then when Li Pingting poisoned him...

It was his fault that Zhang'er didn't receive timely treatment. It was his fault for not decisively dealing with the Li family. It was his fault for hesitating and trying to smooth things over...

Everything... was his mistake.

Lu Yu's heart was already aching with jabs of pain. The gentle smile on his face could no longer be maintained. He lowered his head, took a deep breath, and forced back the tears welling up in his eyes.

Seeing that Lu Yu had gone quiet, Zhang'er thought he didn't like the ginger candy and said timidly, "Lin'er and my sister don't like it, but I think it's really good. This is a recipe Mom went out of her way to learn."

"Uncle, if you don't like it—I also have lotus seed candy here..."

Zhang'er's tender, thoughtful words were like tiny, sharp needles pricking into Lu Yu's heart. Each beat of his constricted heart was accompanied by a piercing pain.

He slowly raised his eyes and said, word by word, "Zhang'er's candy is really good."

"Mhm! I knew someone would like the same things as me!"

Zhang'er cheered and laughed. He had given ginger candy to many children before, but no one shared his preference. After going around in circles, he had finally found someone who understood.

Even though this person was about to marry Mom.

Thinking of this, Zhang'er suddenly remembered the most important matter of the day. He clutched Lu Yu's hand and, like an adult, asked solemnly, "Uncle, will you treat Mom well in the future?"

"Will you really treat Mom well? Uncle Lin Wangshu says she has suffered a lot and must not suffer anymore."

Zhang'er didn't understand what "suffering" meant, but he imagined it was probably as painful as getting his palms hit by his teacher—every time he made a mistake, the teacher would use a small, flexible bamboo stick to strike his palm. The moment it hit, tears would pour out uncontrollably.

He didn't want his mom to feel pain, nor did he want her to cry.

Lu Yu looked at the seriousness on Zhang'er's pink, tender face that was older than his years, his heart filled with sorrow.

He gently drew Zhang'er into his arms and said in a deep voice, "I promise you, I will devote my life to treating her well, to treating you well, and to treating your sister well."

Lu Yu's chest was broad and warm, but his words were not the answer Zhang'er wanted.

He blinked, slowly pushed Lu Yu away, stared intently into his eyes, and stuck out his pinky finger, saying seriously, "Uncle, we have to pinky swear for it to count."

"Alright, pinky swear. I, Lu Yu, promise Zhang'er that I will always love and protect her. My heart isn't a stone—it can't be swayed."

Lu Yu reached out and hooked his finger with the child's small one, his voice hoarse.

Zhang'er looked at Lu Yu with satisfaction and was about to say something more when he suddenly jumped, turned to look at the hourglass outside the door, quickly shoved the pouch in his arms into Lu Yu's hands.

"This is for you, Uncle"—the little one's words weren't even finished before he hurriedly ran out, his voice echoing in the courtyard—"Goodbye, Uncle! I'm going to be late for school..."

Lu Yu, feeling the faint pain in his heart, instantly collapsed into the armchair. Watching the child's retreating figure, his deep, unfathomable eyes were filled with thick regret.

---

Lin Shuyun had just brought Zhang'er back to the residence from school when her gaze was drawn to the scene in the Phoenix Tree courtyard.

Red silk and satin were already hung up, small lanterns were suspended from the branches of the Phoenix Tree, and even Xiao Hei’s dog house and the fawn’s horns were wrapped in bright red silk.

"Mom?"

Zhang'er seemed to notice Lin Shuyun's distraction and quickly tugged at her hand.

She turned to him and said gently, "What is it, Zhang'er?"

"Why is there so much red?"

"Because tomorrow morning, Brother Lu is coming to deliver the betrothal gifts."

A male voice suddenly sounded behind them. Zhang'er was about to ask, "What are betrothal gifts—" when he turned and saw his uncle, Lin Wangshu, chewing on a blade of grass, arms crossed, standing at the courtyard gate.

Two little heads suddenly popped out from behind Lin Wangshu.

Lin'er quickly stepped forward and hugged Zhang'er, while Ying Ying leaned on Lin Wangshu's leg, calling out excitedly, "Brother, Uncle's courtyard has lots of glutinous rice cakes and meat. Brother, let's go play."

Zhang'er's eyes instantly lit up, but he turned to look at Lin Shuyun, his small brows slightly furrowed. Before he could speak, Lin Shuyun handed him to Lin Wangshu's arms.

"Zhang'er, go play. Don't worry about Mom."

Zhang'er glanced back every third step, watching Lin Shuyun standing at the entrance of the Phoenix Tree courtyard, waving at him. For some reason, he felt that his mom didn't seem happy.

Tomorrow was the day Lu Yu would propose and deliver the betrothal gifts. Prince Ding had specifically arranged for Lin Wangshu to keep an eye on the three children. Now, it seemed it was mostly to care for Zhang'er's feelings.

Lin Wangshu ruffled Zhang'er's head. "Let's go, I’ll take you to play."

Zhang'er turned to look at Lin Shuyun's retreating figure and nodded slightly. "I'll listen to Uncle."

Since the emperor's edict for the marriage was issued, with a deadline of one month to complete the wedding, Lin Shuyun's marriage had become the top priority of the entire princely estate.

Despite the tight schedule, Princess Consort Ding would tolerate no mishaps in her daughter's wedding ceremony. Every day from the moment she opened her eyes, she was busy preparing the dowry and arranging the wedding.

Although she didn't like Lu Yu, this man handled matters reliably.

In just a few days, he had thoroughly arranged all wedding matters, not skipping any of the Three Letters and Six Rites due to the time constraint. It was even more grand than many other families' weddings.

Even the items that needed to be prepared by the bride's family, he had sent over early, saving the Princess any trouble.

The princess had originally planned to throw herself into the preparations, but now, aside from preparing Yun Er's dowry, there was nothing for her to worry about.

She turned to look at her daughter standing dazedly at the entrance of the Phoenix Tree courtyard and called out, "Yun Er, come quickly. See if your dress for tomorrow fits. The seamstress is waiting outside the courtyard."

Lin Shuyun looked at the red felt carpets covering the ground of the Phoenix Tree courtyard. She slowly walked forward, in a daze.

"Tomorrow... for the betrothal gifts... do I have to be there too?"

Princess Consort Ding picked up a pearl hairpin and held it against Lin Shuyun's hair bun. "Of course. You'll need to exchange tokens with the groom's family. If you haven't prepared anything, I have a creamy white jade pendant here that you can use."

"Ming Yue! Go to my courtyard and ask Xiaohua for my set of gold and ruby jewelry."

Nothing seemed to satisfy the Princess Consort. Lin Shuyun had no choice but to stand stiffly as her mother fussed over her. She turned to look at the crimson embroidered pomegranate-patterned dress (symbolizing fertility) behind her and asked again, "Do I really have to go tomorrow?"

The Princess Consort, bustling around the room, replied, "You just need to sit behind the screen and observe. Your father and I will handle everything upfront."

Hearing this, Lin Shuyun sighed softly in relief. She sat quietly in the courtyard, watching everyone bustle about until late at night, when the small courtyard finally returned to tranquility.

Lin Shuyun picked up a pot of rice wine from the table and slowly made her way to the highest point in the entire estate—the pavilion atop the artificial hill.

She extinguished her lantern, uncorked the wine jar and poured a small cup, then took a gentle sip. The slight sharpness made her shiver involuntarily.

She took a deep breath, but the alcohol's warmth spread through her. Her eyes reddened, and as she held the cup, she admired the moonlight and drank it all at once.

After just three or four cups, Lin Shuyun was drunk.

She leaned against the pavilion pillar, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. Soft sobs drifted across the estate.

The cool night breeze brushed against Lin Shuyun's body, making her shiver slightly, but the turmoil in her heart was impossible to suppress.

"Why are you here all alone, crying?"

Lin Shuyan's deep voice sounded behind her. She turned abruptly, but before she could speak, her tears fell like broken pearls.

She flung herself into Lin Shuyan's arms, trembling as she cried, "Brother, I'm scared."