Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Lin Shuyan quickly wrapped his arms around Lin Shuyun, watching her frail form huddle in his embrace, his eyes filled with tender concern.

"If I hadn't just come from Father's study, how would I have seen you crying even more unsightly than Ying Ying?"

He tried to lighten Lin Shuyun's sorrow with a teasing tone, but her distressed sobs only grew louder.

She choked out between gasps, "I'm afraid of getting married..."

Though born into a noble family, his sister had endured immense hardship since childhood—sold from Jiangnan to the northwest. Fortunately, the Yun couple were kind-hearted, but after coming of age, she met Lu Yu. Then, carrying the infant Zhang'er, she traveled thousands of miles from the northwest to the capital in search of her husband, only to nearly lose her life.

Thinking of this, Lin Shuyan listened to his sister's choked sobs, his own eyes welling up despite himself. His stiff arms awkwardly patted her back, unsure how to offer comfort.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Tomorrow is just the betrothal ceremony; the wedding is still far off."

"I promise you, no matter what happens in the future, I will always be here for you. I will protect you forever."

Tears flowed even faster from Lin Shuyun's eyes. "I... don’t want to marry... but I have no choice..."

"I trusted Lu Yu so much back then... he risked his life to save me..." Lin Shuyun gestured to show the length of the wound. "Such a long injury—he was unconscious for days, and even the physicians told me to give up hope..."

"To provide for me, he went to the escort agency every day to teach horseback riding and archery. When he came home, his palms were already bloody. He loved me, protected me, supported me."

Lin Shuyun let out a long sigh, her voice hoarse as she said, "Brother, his sincerity back then was beyond doubt."

Tilting her head back, tears streamed down uncontrollably. Choked with emotion, she said, "Life was hard, but our hearts were warm."

With that, she raised the wine cup in her hand to drink it down, but Lin Shuyan quickly reached out to snatch it away, placing it out of her reach.

"No more drinking, no more."

Lin Shuyun turned away, covering her face as she wept. "But the capital is too vast. Now, he’s Lu Yu, the heir to a wealthy, influential family, the Chief Grand Secretary Lu who is second only to the Emperor, soon to become the general leading two hundred thousand troops to pacify the northern frontiers."

"He can be anyone—except the simple A Yu who loved me purely in the northwest."

Lin Shuyan didn't quite grasp her meaning, but seeing his trembling sister, he slowly took off his outer robe and draped it over her shoulders, softly comforting her, "He... has remembered everything now. Yun Er, there's no need to worry."

Lin Shuyun shook her head, her eyes empty and numb. She let out a light, bitter laugh. "If he could abandon me once by weighing his options, why wouldn’t he abandon me a second time?"

"When he had amnesia and nothing to his name, he devoted himself entirely to me. Now, there are too many things in his heart..."

"Brother, I don’t have a second life to gamble with."

Lin Shuyun’s words, spoken one by one, struck Lin Shuyan like heavy blows. He had never considered this angle.

"Right now, he feels guilty and still wants to marry me. But what if, five years from now, his guilt fades and there are bigger things requiring him to weigh his options? Would he abandon me and the children again?"

Lin Shuyan hurriedly said, "No, he wouldn’t. He would never abandon you."

Lin Shuyun smiled through her tears. "Children's bond grows stronger over time. Since the two children weren't raised by him, their bond with him isn’t deep. If he wants to have children with someone else, there's nothing I could do to stop him."

Lin Shuyun didn’t dare dwell on it, nor did she want to.

A person cannot step into the same trap again and again.

Leaning against her brother, Lin Shuyun spoke through tears, her voice hoarse. "When promises of love vanish like bubbles, how can I believe them again?"

This was the first time Lin Shuyan had heard his sister’s anxieties. On the surface, she always appeared calm and detached, but inside, her heart was already scarred and complicated.

He had wondered before why Zhang'er, so young, was so sensitive. Now, he realized it was likely something she inherited from Yun Er.

His heart was a mix of emotions, the sourness of aged vinegar filling his chest.

Lin Shuyan knelt down, his gaze fixed firmly on Lin Shuyun. "Yun Er, tell me, where are you right now?"

"The family pavilion."

Lin Shuyun stroked her hair, just as he had done countless times when they were young. He managed a smile and said earnestly, "This time, it’s different. You’re not alone anymore."

"You don’t have to wander alone with a child like before. You have the entire Prince Ding Manor as your support."

"If you’re afraid of worrying Father and Mother, you still have me and our younger brother at home. No matter what happens, you will always be the little princess of Prince Ding Manor. Even if it costs our lives, we will protect you."

Lin Shuyan’s words flowed like warm water into Lin Shuyun’s trembling heart. Her tears instantly streamed down the corners of her eyes.

She was crying too hard to speak, choked with sobs.

Her brother was right—she was no longer alone. She had a family.

Lin Shuyan noticed the moon already high above the trees. He adjusted the outer robe draped over his sister. "It’s late. Let me walk you back to your courtyard."

"No matter what happens tomorrow, you still need to sleep well and eat properly."

Lin Shuyun walked into the courtyard, watching her brother’s retreating figure before slowly turning and stepping into the courtyard decorated with red silk.

Early the next morning, as the first light of dawn tinged the horizon, Princess Consort Ding swept energetically into the Wutong Courtyard.

Lin Shuyun had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep peacefully. It was only as daybreak approached that her eyes finally closed, but less than an hour later, Ming Yue was gently shaking her shoulder.

"My lady, it’s time to get up. Her Highness will be here soon."

"Soon?" Princess Consort Ding’s voice arrived before she did. Already fully dressed with her makeup done, she hurried into the room, calling out, "Darling, wake up quickly. The people from the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence will be here soon."

Princess Consort Ding pulled Lin Shuyun up. Still drowsy, Lin Shuyun’s eyes gradually focused, taking in her mother’s attire: a dark red dress, dignified and elegant makeup, a bright red peony tucked into her hair. The fine lines around her eyes did nothing to diminish her beauty.

Lin Shuyun murmured softly, "Mother truly lives up to being the capital’s number one beauty."

Princess Consort Ding’s lips curved into an irrepressible smile. She waved her round fan, laughing as she said, "Back in the day, when I married, all the fine young men of the capital sighed with regret..."

"What nonsense are you telling the child again..."

Prince Ding’s resigned voice gradually approached.

Princess Consort Ding immediately retorted, "What I said is true. You were lucky to marry me."

"I have my merits too."

Princess Consort Ding frowned slightly, then slowly said, "You’re right about that. Back then, when you rescued that kitten at the horse grounds, I decided then and there I would marry you."

Prince Ding was stunned. He turned to look at his wife of over twenty years, disbelief in his voice. "I... I always thought you were taken with my..."

"Taken with your looks? But there were many handsome young masters in the capital even more striking than you. You’re too full of yourself," the Princess Consort covered her mouth with a laugh, then lightly tapped her daughter’s back with her fan, whispering secretly, "Yun Er, do you remember the Prince of Lin’an?"

Lin Shuyun thought for a moment, recalling that uncle who was already gray-haired and struggling with hair loss.

"The one with white hair?"

Princess Consort Ding said with a smile, "Back then, the Prince of Lin’an was famously handsome in the capital. Even the Empress Dowager praised him as the 'Jade-Faced Young Master.' It’s a pity time ages everyone..."

"Shh... no more nonsense."

Prince Ding stopped the Princess from saying more, and she turned to give him a playful glare.

Lin Shuyun sat upright before the bronze mirror, listening to her parents' cheerful banter behind her, and her churning emotions gradually calmed.

After what felt like a long time, just as Lin Shuyun felt herself about to fall into a deep sleep, Ming Yue's gentle voice sounded by her ear: "My lady, does anything look off?"

Lin Shuyun's eyes were glazed over, but when she saw her reflection in the bronze mirror, she froze completely.

Her hair was adorned with her mother's ruby-studded gold crown, the cinnabar mark between her brows had become part of the floral decoration, and her rosy cheeks resembled a hibiscus flower. The red patches on her face were lightly concealed with powder, and the red veil she wore could already hide half of it.

She turned slightly in her blush-red dress, frowning in confusion: "Since I’ll be viewing from behind the screen, why do I need to dress so extravagantly?"

Ming Yue gently smoothed her hair with a comb and said with a smile, "The Princess has instructed that this is your big day, how can we do it halfway?"

"My lady, you will also be exchanging tokens with the heir. Have you prepared anything?"

"No," Lin Shuyun didn’t want to bother preparing anything for Lu Yu. The bitterness in her heart remained unresolved, so she said flatly, "Just use the jade pendant my mother prepared."

By the hour of Si (9-11 AM),

Lin Shuyun was settled like a display piece behind the sheer screen in the flower hall. Neither she nor the person opposite could see more than a blurry silhouette.

In just a short while, the sound of gongs and drums erupted at the gate of Prince Ding's Mansion, and the crackling of firecrackers grew louder and louder.

Perhaps influenced by the atmosphere, Lin Shuyun’s heart suddenly raced. She clutched the silk handkerchief in her hand, her eyes fixed intently on the door of the flower hall.

As the clamor gradually grew, everyone in the flower hall tensed up in unison.

"Your humble servant, Lu Yu, pays his respects to the Prince and Princess."

When a clear voice of greeting rang out, Lin Shuyun finally caught a glimpse of Lu Yu’s figure.

He was dressed in a dark red robe today. Though his expression was unclear, she could see his golden crown gleaming brightly.

She sat behind the screen, unable to see or hear anything clearly, but when the master of ceremonies announced that the Marquis of Xuanping’s estate had brought one hundred and twenty betrothal gift chests, she heard the faint, collective gasp from the crowd.

One hundred and twenty chests—even the weddings of princes and marquises in the capital had never seen so many.

Servants hurriedly searched for red felt mats, as it was said that wealth must not touch the ground and could only be placed on red cloth.

No one had expected Lu Yu to bring such an abundance of betrothal gifts.

Some thought bitterly to themselves, "Perhaps it’s just for show—filling the count with worthless items to put on a display."

But when the master of ceremonies began reading the gift list, everyone realized that Lu Yu’s betrothal gifts were exceptionally substantial.

...Ten thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of Suzhou and Hangzhou brocade, a thousand bolts of silk...

...Ten hectares of fertile land, gold headpieces, gilded ceremonial vessels, coral bonsai...

Prince Ding gasped to himself, thinking: It seems he’s brought the entire Marquis of Xuanping’s estate with him.

Lin Shuyun gazed at Lu Yu sitting across from her, and suddenly, a memory from five years ago surfaced in her mind—Lu Yu, also dressed in red robes, going to Duke An's Mansion to propose.

She still remembered how that robe shimmered with gold and silver threads under the sunlight, with auspicious cloud patterns faintly visible and his golden crown radiant.

That day, after he proposed at Duke An's Mansion, he wanted to be together with her that very night, whispering sweetly while suggesting she become a concubine.

He said, "After the wedding, let’s elevate Wanwan to a concubine, alright?"

Later, the Marchioness, to establish authority for the future heir’s wife, made her carry a searing hot pot, leaving both her palms burned bright red.

The more Lin Shuyun thought about it, the more her hurt feelings grew. Her eyes reddened, and tears began to flow uncontrollably once more.

As the betrothal gifts were presented in Prince Ding’s Mansion, the marriage was settled beyond refusal.

Suddenly, hearing the master of ceremonies outside announce that it was time to exchange tokens, Ming Yue hurriedly wiped away her tears.

Lin Shuyun slowly rose to her feet, but her steps felt rooted to the spot. Every move toward Lu Yu was filled with resentment and pain, and she could no longer bring herself to step forward.

Lu Yu’s gaze was intense as he walked purposefully toward her. A smile played on his lips like gentle spring waves, and his deep eyes were full of tenderness.

"My lady, you look beautiful today."

Lu Yu’s deep voice, carrying a hint of hidden affection, softly reached Lin Shuyun’s ears.

Behind him, a guard respectfully held a long, rectangular red-lacquered wooden box, antique in style with carvings that seemed to date from a previous dynasty. The heavy box’s contents was unknown.

Lin Shuyun’s pale fingers tightly clutched the brocade box containing the jade pendant. The wave of resentment in her heart made her want to throw the box at Lu Yu.

But the flower hall was filled with guests, and countless eyes were fixed on her.

Suppressing the turmoil within, Lin Shuyun gritted her teeth and stiffly smacked the small brocade box firmly into Lu Yu’s outstretched palm.

A smile tugged at Lu Yu’s lips as he turned and solemnly presented the heavy red-lacquered box to Lin Shuyun.

Lin Shuyun’s eyes were full of confusion. Exchanging tokens usually involved small tokens like jade pendants or perfumed pouches—why had Lu Yu prepared something so large?

Instinctively, she reached out and unlatched the bronze clasp of the wooden box. As it slowly opened, cold metal plates lay inside. When she saw the engraved words on them, her pupils contracted, her eyes widened in shock, and her breath nearly stopped.

She looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with astonishment. Her lips trembled as she managed a hoarse whisper from the depths of her throat, demanding, "Lu Yu, have you gone mad?"

Lu Yu calmly closed the box for her, gently hiding the contents from view. He lowered his gaze, a faint smile touching his lips, and said in a low, steady voice, "This is the best thing I can offer."