Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Lin Shuyun sat solemnly in her chamber, listening to the sudden burst of firecrackers and the gradually rising clamor of guests. She glanced sideways at the clepsydra in the corner.

The auspicious hour had arrived.

Ming Yue, clutching a jade ruyi scepter, paced nervously, occasionally peering outside to check for any movement.

The dressing attendant hurriedly placed the dragon-phoenix wedding veil over Lin Shuyun's head, and the maids in the room grew increasingly tense.

Unable to see the faces around her, with only the red wedding veil before her eyes, the turmoil in Lin Shuyun's heart gradually settled.

Upon reflection, this was her second time marrying. The shy, bashful emotions of a bride had already been experienced back in the northwest.

Back then, they had no relatives or friends, nor any wedding feast.

Just a dragon-phoenix silk handkerchief, a pot of humble wine, and a roasted chicken.

With heaven and earth as their witness, they bowed three times before the graves of Yun’s parents.

She didn’t know how Lu Yu felt at the time, but her own heart, pounding fiercely, already belonged to him.

She thought, A Yu would be the husband to accompany her for life—they would raise children together and spend the rest of their days side by side.

Today, Lin Shuyun lowered her head and gently rubbed the pearls on her vibrant red wedding gown. There was no excitement, no joy—only a chill calm, as if she were merely completing a task.

Outside, the Master of Ceremonies' resounding voice rang out.

"The auspicious hour has arrived. Open the chamber door and invite the princess to the hall to bid farewell to her parents."

As the maid opened the door, cheers and well-wishes washed over Lin Shuyun’s ears.

"Congratulations, Princess!"

"Congratulations on finding a wonderful match!"

...

Ming Yue gently supported Lin Shuyun’s arm. "Let’s go, Princess. The Third Prince is already waiting for you at the door."

Lin Shuyun’s headdress was so heavy she could barely incline her head. Leaning on Ming Yue, she made her way toward the doorway.

Her vision obscured, she could only see the ground beneath her feet. When she reached the threshold of her bedchamber, she saw Lin Wangshu already crouched down in front of her.

Following some age-old custom, the bride’s feet were not to touch the ground. From here to the main hall, her two brothers would carry her on their backs.

The short distance from the bedchamber door to the gate of the Wutong Courtyard was Lin Wangshu’s responsibility; the rest of the way would be Lin Shuyan’s.

With the support of her maid, Lin Shuyun slowly leaned onto Lin Wangshu’s slight frame.

As soon as her arms wrapped around his neck, a warm teardrop suddenly fell onto the back of her hand. Lin Wangshu’s hands, tightly gripping her legs, trembled slightly.

"Young Master, we may proceed now."

Lin Wangshu’s steps were slow, but his slender shoulders trembled visibly.

Lin Shuyun’s eyes reddened. She reached up and gently wiped the tears from his cheek.

"Don’t cry. You should be happy for your sister."

Her gentle, voice thick with emotion sounded in Lin Wangshu’s ear, and he could no longer hold back his emotions.

His grip on her legs tightened, and his voice broke with sobs.

"I… I… I haven’t even taken good care of you yet… and now you’re getting married. Sister, you should be enjoying a life of comfort at home… Father, Mother, our elder brother, and I—no matter what you do, we would always be happy for you. But after marriage, you’ll have to answer to another household…"

"My heart aches for you."

Lin Shuyun hadn’t expected Lin Wangshu to be so sensitive. The young man wept uncontrollably, and as they neared the courtyard gate, tears streamed down his cheeks.

Lin Shuyun softly comforted him, "Don’t cry, don’t cry. If he ever wrongs me in the future, I’ll rely on you to stand up for me, alright?"

Lin Wangshu choked out, "Of course. If he ever dares to mistreat you, I’ll thrash him soundly. Since the day I was born, my name has carried hopes for you. How could I let my sister suffer in another family?"

A stern voice suddenly cut in.

"Lin Wangshu, stop crying. Don’t delay the auspicious hour."

With that, Lin Shuyun felt her elder brother’s steady arms firmly take her, settling her securely onto his broad back.

"Yun Er, hold on tight. Gege is going to start walking."

"Alright, Gege, mind your pace. Don’t strain your back."

The distance from the Wutong Courtyard to the main hall was short, but Lin Shuyan’s steps were slow, taking twice as long as usual.

A faint sniffle was heard, and Lin Shuyan’s voice was already strained with emotion.

"I’ve missed you all these years. Every festival, I went to the temple to burn incense and pray. Perhaps the Buddha saw my sincerity and allowed me to save you and Zhang’er."

"Later, Father and Mother brought you to the palace. I still remember—you stood under the osmanthus tree, leaning on a cane, your belly heavy with child, smiling and waving at me. That was the first time I felt the joy of surviving a disaster."

"I thought, I must let Yun Er live a life of comfort. Even if she never married, staying as the honored maiden of the Ding Palace would be wonderful enough."

"Enough, I’ll say no more." Lin Shuyan paused, his voice hoarse. "No matter what happens in the future, your big brother will always be your support, your stronghold."

Lin Shuyun’s nose stung with emotion. She clutched Lin Shuyan’s shoulders tightly and burst into tears.

Wordlessly, the two shed silent tears together.

When they reached the main hall, Lin Shuyun stood before her parents. Though she couldn’t see their faces, she felt the slight tremble in her mother’s hands as they tightly held hers.

Princess Consort Ding’s delicate hands were chilled, and her voice carried more sorrow than usual. "My dear Yun Er, from now on, I won’t be able to care for you as attentively. We’ve always felt we’ve come up short in so many ways…"

The Princess Consort couldn’t finish her words, overcome by sudden emotion. Covering her lips with a silk handkerchief, she waved her hand, unable to speak.

Prince Ding gently patted Lin Shuyun’s shoulder. He remained silent for a long time before briefly saying, "Go, child. Your father will always be here for you."

Though not a man of many words, his love was no less than anyone else’s in the family.

Tears fell from Lin Shuyun’s eyes like unstrung pearls, streaming down her cheeks. Her heart swelled with bittersweet emotion, aching faintly with the intensity.

Back in the northwest, she had no one to rely on but Lu Yu. But now, she had a family who loved her.

According to custom, she only needed to perform a curtsey. But the moment Lin Shuyun knelt on the ground, Prince Ding and his wife hurriedly reached to support her. "There’s no need."

Lin Shuyun’s voice trembled. "Please allow your daughter to properly bow to Father and Mother."

With red-rimmed eyes, Prince Ding and his wife released their hands.

They watched their once-young daughter, now about to be married, and could no longer hold back their tears. Their eyes red, they watched as their daughter performed three deep bows.

"Daughter... takes her leave of Father and Mother."

Watching Lin Shuyun in her bright red wedding dress being carried out of the manor on Lin Shuyan's back, Princess Consort Ding could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears streamed down uncontrollably.

As if comforting herself, she muttered softly, "It's alright, it's alright. My Yun Er is still in the capital—it's much better than marrying into savage lands."

"Yun Er, your brother can only take you this far."

Tears still welled in Lin Shuyun's eyes when she heard Lin Shuyan's voice. Only then did she realize they had already reached the main gate of Prince Ding's Mansion.

She tightly grasped her brother's hand. "Brother, don’t worry. Smile a little," she said, then took a piece of lotus seed candy from her pouch and tucked it into his palm.

"Alright, I won’t cry," Lin Shuyan took a deep breath and then punched Lu Yu, who stood before him, hard on the shoulder. "If my sister suffers any grievance, I will come take her home right away."

Lu Yu grunted at the punch, his expression firm as he replied, "That won’t happen. I will treat her well for a lifetime."

Lin Shuyun said, "Let’s go. The time has come."

"Alright, let’s go home."

Lu Yu’s husky voice carried a note of joy as he lifted Lin Shuyun’s slender frame from Lin Shuyan’s back and held her tightly in his arms.

Feeling her warmth, catching the faint scent of her makeup, and hearing the lively congratulations and clamor of gongs and drums around them, he thought: his Wanwan was truly about to become his wife.

Together in life, together in death.

"Princess Ding'an of Prince Ding's Mansion is wed! One hundred and eighty dowry trunks! We wish the couple to harmonize like lute and zither, treat each other with respect, share deep love, and soon bear noble sons!"

The Master of Ceremonies stood at the mansion gate and proclaimed.

One hundred and eighty trunks—the crowd was stunned, whispering in awe.

"Prince Ding's Mansion truly dotes on their daughter."

According to ceremonial regulations, the maximum dowry for a princess was one hundred and eighty trunks. In addition to the one hundred and twenty trunks sent by Lu Yu, the Princess Consort had added another sixty fully packed trunks.

Her daughter must have a magnificent send-off.

The distance from Prince Ding's Mansion to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence was short, taking only a moment to arrive, yet no one came to help her alight from the bridal sedan.

Sitting inside, Lin Shuyun gently lifted the dragon-and-phoenix wedding veil and was about to peek out when she saw Lu Yu lift the sedan chair curtain.

The moment their eyes met, Lin Shuyun looked away shyly and quickly lowered the veil, blocking her view again.

When Lu Yu saw Lin Shuyun’s face, he seemed momentarily stunned. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, fighting a growing smile.

Lin Shuyun felt her hand gently guided by Lu Yu’s warm one, and then Ming Yue’s voice sounded beside her again: "Princess, your servant is here."

As they entered the wedding hall of the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence, Lin Shuyun noticed Lu Yu’s left hand trembling slightly, his entire body tense and nervous.

This was unlike the usual Chief Grand Secretary Lu, who dominated court discussions.

Back when he oversaw the sentencing of Duke An's Mansion, his gaze had been deep and unblinking. Today, however, he seemed somewhat unsettled.

The Marquis of Xuanping and his wife had long passed away, and their ancestral tablets were placed on the main altar.

As Lu Yu and Lin Shuyun stood in the center of the hall, a sharp announcement suddenly rang out:

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The eyes of all the guests widened in shock, and they quickly dropped to their knees, bowing their heads and calling out: "We pay respects to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Lin Shuyun’s fingers clenched tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

This was the first time she had been so close to the emperor since surviving her ordeal. Previously, she had only attended palace banquets as a minor attendee, unnoticed.

But today, she was the bride in this wedding ceremony, marrying the emperor’s most favored son.

She was grateful for the dragon-and-phoenix veil covering her head, hiding her nervous expression and the cold sweat dripping from her forehead from the emperor, who held the power of life and death.

As she knelt in nervous salute, Lu Yu gently squeezed her hand, as if to soothe her.

Moments later, a pair of black boots embroidered with dragon patterns appeared before her. The wearer of the boots spoke coldly: "So you are Cheng Yu’s bride?"

Lin Shuyun stiffly bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Hmph," the emperor snorted coldly, then turned and walked straight to the main seat in the center of the hall. He glanced at the ancestral tablet of the Marquis of Xuanping on the table and said icily, "Do you know that Cheng Yu knelt for two full hours in the rain outside the palace gate to beg for my decree? He even received twenty lashes with the cane for it."

The emperor’s words were accusatory. Before Lin Shuyun could respond, Lu Yu, still holding her hand, stepped forward slightly and said with a light smile, "Your Majesty, let’s not dwell on the past. If you frighten my wife, I won’t know where to get any sleep tonight."

The emperor laughed. "Hahaha, very well, very well. Begin the ceremony. I will sit here—carry on as usual."

The Master of Ceremonies was somewhat confused, but Lv Yi, the emperor’s personal eunuch, hurried over to remind him: "Ignore His Majesty. Just announce as you normally would. Understand?"

"Oh, yes, yes. I will continue."

What followed was the three bows ritual.

First bow to heaven and earth.

Second bow to the parents. In addition to the ancestral tablets of the Marquis of Xuanping and his wife, the emperor also sat in the seat of honor. Since Lu Yu had not yet been publicly acknowledged as his son, the emperor could only participate in this manner.

After the couple bowed to each other, they were formally wed.

Looking at Lu Yu and his bride standing side by side, the emperor recalled the wedding ceremony he had arranged for Shen Nuo at Linghua Pavilion. But she had slapped him and said in disgust, "Gu Liang, you disgust me."

That night, the ceremony was left unfinished, and he had stormed out of Linghua Pavilion in anger.

Now, the emperor turned to look at Shen Nuo’s ancestral tablet and thought, "Nuo Nuo, in this way, we have attended our son’s wedding."

Thinking of his lost love, a hint of sorrow flashed in the emperor’s eyes. He said lightly, "Let the bride offer me a cup of tea."

Lin Shuyun’s entire body stiffened, her racing heart making her unsure what to do. Before the veil was lifted, Lu Yu guided her to kneel.

Holding the tray with her steady hands, she controlled the tremor in her voice and said, "Your subject wife thanks Your Majesty for the imperial decree of marriage. Please accept this tea, Your Majesty."

The emperor sighed softly, picked up the teacup, inhaled its fragrance, and took a small sip. "Rise."

"This pair of white jade dragon-and-phoenix bracelets is my gift to you."

"Your subject wife thanks Your Majesty."

"Rise."

Lu Yu helped the shaking Lin Shuyun to her feet, holding her icy hand firmly. With a light smile, he said, "Your Majesty, it is time for the bride to withdraw to the bridal chamber."

The emperor waved his hand casually.

The moment Lu Yu turned around, a flash of deep hatred flickered in his eyes that held a faint smile.

He tightly held Lin Shuyun's cold hands and whispered softly in her ear, "Don’t worry, he won’t disturb you any more."

"Okay..."

Even after Lin Shuyun was seated on the carved wooden bed strewn with red dates and longans, her heart continued to race. Overwhelming panic and fear loomed over her like an inescapable shadow.

The emperor held the power of life and death; blood could flow like rivers with just a wave of his hand.

Considering what Lu Yu had mentioned a few days earlier, there seemed only one path: to take the children and go with him to Shuobei.

The political situation in the capital was ever-changing, and only by distancing herself from the imperial city could she find some peace.

Lu Yu would leave early tomorrow morning on a fast horse to Shuobei, while she and the children would take a carriage, a journey that would likely take more than half a month.

When he returned later, it would be time to tell him.

But... she didn’t want Lu Yu to get too happy too soon. She would wait until tomorrow to tell him.

Suddenly, the door creaked open slowly. Hearing the familiar footsteps, Lin Shuyun sensed Lu Yu standing before her, unmoving for a long while.

After what felt like an eternity, Lin Shuyun grew impatient and was about to speak when a small golden wedding veil rod appeared before her, gently lifting the bridal veil.

As she looked up at Lu Yu,

she saw him dressed in a vibrant red brocade wedding robe, his normally cool demeanor filled with joy and delight. His eyes were red-rimmed and moist, and a gentle, happy smile played on his lips.

The night before, Lu Yu had been unable to sleep, tossing and turning as scenes from the northwest replayed in his mind.

To protect Wanwan’s brick house, the first thing he did after regaining consciousness was to take her hand and file their marriage at the county office.

Back then, she was nervous and shy, asking him repeatedly if he would regret it.

He held her hand, kissed her in the tight alley, and softly reassured her about his promise.

Now, as he gazed at Lin Shuyun seated beneath the red canopy, dressed in bright red wedding robes and wearing a phoenix crown, he thought that even the Goddess Luo descending to earth could not compare to Wanwan’s beauty.

He looked into Lin Shuyun’s eyes and said solemnly again,

"Wanwan, I adore you, love you, want to protect you, and wish to be your husband. Let us live steadily in the capital, grow old side by side, share our bed in life, and rest together in death."

Lin Shuyun naturally remembered these words.

But times had changed. She was no longer the Yun Wan of the past, and Lu Yu was no longer the A Yu she once knew.

"Lu Yu, I do not adore you, nor do I love you."

Lin Shuyun met Lu Yu’s hopeful gaze for just a moment before lowering her eyes to avoid his stare, speaking calmly.

Lu Yu remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Alright."

As the sound of his retreating footsteps faded, Lin Shuyun raised her eyes, her eyes filled with sorrow. Unbidden tears, born of some unknown feeling, streamed silently down her cheeks.

"Help me remove the phoenix crown and change into everyday clothes."

Lin Shuyun stared blankly at the closed door and instructed hollowly.

But as soon as she finished speaking, the door was suddenly flung open. Before she could even look, Zhang'er, dressed in a royal blue robe, came rushing in happily and hurried into her arms.

Lu Yu followed behind, carrying Ying Ying.

Ying Ying tugged at Lu Yu’s collar and cried out, "Uncle, faster! I want to see Mother."

Lin Shuyun’s eyes still held tears, a single tear tracing its path down her cheek. She averted her gaze and quickly wiped the corner of her eye.

"Mother, why are you crying?"

Zhang'er asked worriedly, clutching Lin Shuyun’s sleeve.

Lin Shuyun put on a calm front and explained, "When you get married someday, Mother will cry then too. These are tears of joy."

Zhang'er nodded, though he didn’t fully understand. But Lu Yu knew the true reason behind the tears in Lin Shuyun’s eyes.

His heart tightened, as if gripped by an invisible hand, and a faint metallic taste of blood rose from the depths of his throat.

Wanwan did not wish to see him, so he respectfully kept his distance. Her aloof nature made him hesitant to disturb her peace.

A gentleman values virtue and should not disrupt her tranquility. He never imagined she had been quietly bearing her pain alone.

He was wrong.

He had been dead wrong.

"Ming Yue, take the children to see if they are satisfied with their rooms."

Seeing Ying Ying yawn, Lu Yu turned and instructed.

After the children left hand in hand, Lu Yu stood there before her, not moving for a long time.

Lin Shuyun frowned a little. "Why are you still here?"

Lu Yu slowly moved closer, and only then did Lin Shuyun realize she was alone in the room.

She stepped back instinctively. "What do you want?"

"To help the lady change clothes."

Lu Yu’s calm voice replied calmly.

"No need..."

Before Lin Shuyun could protest, Lu Yu began removing the heavy crown from her head. His fingers were gentle and swift, but his warm chest was close before her.

"I don’t like you, I don’t adore you. Can you please stay away from me?"

It had been a long time since Lin Shuyun had been around Lu Yu, and the resentment in her chest surged uncontrollably. She spoke coldly.

"I know. The lady has already said so earlier."

Lu Yu could now calmly accept Lin Shuyun’s words. It was better for her to speak her mind than to keep it bottled up.

"You..."

Lin Shuyun was left at a loss for words. She wanted to say something harsh, but she simply couldn’t. The only words that came out were, "You really... you're so annoying."

"I’ve asked the kitchen to prepare a lamb hot pot. I heard it’s from a live sheep brought from the northwest and freshly slaughtered in the capital. How about we have it for lunch?"

Lamb hot pot.

Lu Yu was reminiscing. Back in the northwest, right after they got married, they had ordered a lamb stew at a tavern.

Lin Shuyun refused, "No, I don't want to. What's past is past. What's the point of reminiscing now?"

Lu Yu didn't respond, sitting motionless by the round table.

Lin Shuyun could sense that Lu Yu seemed angry, but for some reason, he didn’t leave in anger this time.

Then again, Lin Shuyun thought, if anyone had the right to be angry in this household, it should be her.

She hadn’t even gotten angry yet, and he was already upset.

Fine, let him be. He could go wherever he wanted—after all, this was his marquis’s estate.

To Lin Shuyun's surprise, Lu Yu would sit near her almost the entire afternoon, except to change clothes or eat, until night fell and she was so tired her eyelids grew heavy with sleep.

Seeing Lu Yu still sitting quietly there, holding a book, she couldn't stay awake any longer and asked sleepily, "Why haven’t you left yet?"

"Tonight is our wedding night."

With that, Lu Yu walked straight over. His tall frame stood before her like a wall, instantly blocking out the light from the candleholder on the table.

Lin Shuyun knitted her brows. "I don’t want to consummate our wedding night with you."

Lu Yu sighed softly, bending down to sit at the bedside. His eyes fixed on her as if he wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out.

"I’ll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. If there’s anything you don’t understand in the estate, have Officer Sun handle it."

"In battle, there's always the risk of dying. I’ve written a letter and placed it in a secret compartment in the second section of the study. If... if I don’t return, that letter will be my will."

"Prince Ding will accompany you to the palace. As the mistress of the marquis’s estate holding the iron-proof certificate (dan shu tie quan), you can petition for our Zhang’er to be made heir."

"As for the funeral arrangements, the Imperial Household Department will send someone. You needn’t worry."

In the deepening dusk, Lu Yu’s heavy words hit Lin Shuyun’s heart like a hammer blow.

Though she resented him, she didn’t want to see a living person turn into a corpse lying in a coffin.

Lin Shuyun said, "You haven’t even made amends for what you’ve done, and now you think you can just die?"

"I won’t. I’ll live," Lu Yu chuckled lightly. "My father said the same to my mother before he went off to battle."

"Wanwan, if I die... would you be sad?"

Lin Shuyun snorted coldly. "No. You yourself almost got me killed at Mirror Lake."

Lu Yu’s heart constricted, and he said huskily, "What happened back then... it was all my fault."

Lin Shuyun didn’t want to bring it up again and fell silent.

The room grew quiet once more. After sitting for a while, Lu Yu stood up, drew the bed curtains for her, and took a deep breath. "Will you... see me off tomorrow? We’ll be apart for a year. With the war intensifying, besides sending letters, it will be difficult to return to be with you all."

From behind the bed curtain, Lin Shuyun’s cold voice replied, "No. Go by yourself."

"Alright."

Despite her words, Lin Shuyun had her maid wake her early the next day.

It was raining unexpectedly. Listening to the pitter-patter outside, Lin Shuyun walked slowly toward the main gate of the estate holding an oil-paper umbrella.

"My Lord, it’s time to go."

The guard noticed Lu Yu still gazing at the estate gate. Though unmarried himself, he understood his feelings—separated so soon after the wedding.

But, sir, staring won’t make her appear, will it?

Lu Yu gripped the reins, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "Alright, let’s go."

The glossy black warhorse galloped through the rain. Just as Lin Shuyun reached the gate, she caught sight of Lu Yu riding away.

The rain grew heavier, drowning out any call she might have made.

Standing at the gate, watching the fading dot in the distance, Lin Shuyun clutched her handkerchief tightly, turned, and walked back into the estate.

This man... leaving just like that.

Well, it was only Shuobei. She had traveled all the way from the northwest to the capital on her own before.

Lin Shuyun first had Ming Yue and Qing Feng (presumably servants) start packing her and the children’s belongings. She then returned to her family home to inform her parents and brothers, and comforted the two children.

She summoned Lu Yu’s subordinate, Officer Sun, and had him arrange a carriage and guards for their journey to the northwest.

By the time everything was settled, a day had passed.

The next day, they set out for Shuobei.

Zhang’er and Ying Ying were thrilled. For the first hour, they excitedly peered out the carriage curtain, asking endless questions. Once their energy was spent, they curled up inside and fell fast asleep.

Along the way, Lin Shuyun felt she had forgotten something. It wasn’t until they were halfway there that she realized she hadn’t informed Lu Yu.

That evening at a post station, she sat at a round table with pen and paper, thinking for a long time without knowing what to write.

In the end, aside from "To Lu Yu" on the envelope, there was only one line:

"The children and I are heading to Shuobei. We’re currently in Ankang Town. —Lin Shuyun, written on the thirteenth day of the eighth month"

"Mother, isn’t this a bit too brief?"

Zhang’er’s soft, sleepy voice piped up.

Lin Shuyun hugged her son, who was rubbing his eyes, and said with a smile, "Zhang’er, why are you awake?"

Zhang’er nestled into her arms and mumbled, "I turned over and noticed you weren’t beside me, so I woke up."

"Alright, I’ll come to bed now."

Zhang’er took the paper and whispered, "Mother, you should write: 'To my husband, hoping this letter finds you well.'"

Lin Shuyun smiled. "It’s fine. As long as your father understands, that’s enough for me."

Husband? She didn’t want to call him that.

"Hoping this letter finds you well"? She didn’t really want to see him either.

Zhang’er didn’t understand the adults’ thoughts and simply followed Lin Shuyun back to the bedroom to sleep.

The next day, as they were about to board the carriage, Ying Ying squirmed and refused to get in, her little face tear-streaked as she looked pleadingly at Lin Shuyun. "Wahhh... I don’t want to ride in the carriage anymore."

The coachman said with a smile, "We're almost there. We've already covered half the distance, and we'll arrive in another five or six days."

Five or six days!

It felt like a bolt from the blue striking Ying Ying's young heart. She buried herself in Lin Shuyun's arms and began to cry.

Lin Shuyun finally got Ying Ying back into the carriage, but the jolting of the moving carriage soon made her dizzy, and she threw up the breakfast she had just eaten that morning.

Ming Yue watched anxiously, but whether she asked the coachman to drive slower or more steadily, it did nothing to help Lin Shuyun's dizziness and nausea.

Lin Shuyun had to lean near the carriage curtain, breathing in the fresh air from outside to feel slightly better.

By the time only two days remained, Lin Shuyun could no longer endure it. She hadn't been able to eat for days, and as she stumbled out of the carriage, her eyes red, she leaned against a large tree and threw up stomach acid.

The two children looked at her with concern. Ying Ying, through tears, whispered, "Mommy, don't die."

Lin Shuyun took the teacup from Ming Yue to rinse her mouth, then used the silk handkerchief from Zhang'er to gently wipe the corners of her lips. She patted Ying Ying's head and said, "Mommy is just a little dizzy. It's nothing."

The coachman smiled and said, "Ma'am, could it be that you're with child? My wife was the same—she vomited constantly when she was carrying our firstborn."

Lin Shuyun's pupils contracted, and her thoughts instantly drifted back to that time in the carriage with Lu Yu when they had been intimate in broad daylight.

It couldn't be.

She had taken the morning-after drink. How could she be pregnant again?

Ming Yue's eyes were already filled with panic. Tears welled up instantly, and her hands trembled as she tightly grasped Lin Shuyun's arm.

Lin Shuyun's mind was in turmoil, chaotic like a tangled ball of thread.

As she stepped back into the carriage, she said to the coachman, "When we reach the next town, find me a doctor's office."

---

At the Xinglin Medical Clinic,

Lin Shuyun brought only Ming Yue with her. As soon as she stepped inside, the scent of countless herbs hit her nose.

She took a deep breath, fighting back the nausea rising in her heart.

She glanced around at the medicine cabinets and the busy assistants, then turned her gaze to the doctor taking pulses. She slowly walked over and got in line.

The line moved quickly, and it was soon Lin Shuyun's turn.

She sat before the doctor, wearing a veil, and extended her arm. "Doctor, I've been on the road for days and have been feeling dizzy and vomiting constantly. I don't know why. Could you please take a look?"

The doctor gently placed three fingers on her wrist, concentrating as he examined her pulse. Finally, he smiled and gave a congratulatory nod. "Ma'am, this is no illness—it is wonderful news. You are three months pregnant."

Lin Shuyun nodded slightly but had not yet spoken when Ming Yue, trembling all over, said, "That can't be. Our mistress took contraceptive medicine. I saw her prepare it myself."

The doctor asked, "Was it taken on the same day as the intimacy?"

Lin Shuyun shook her head. "On the third day."

The doctor nodded and explained, "Contraceptive medicine is different from abortion drugs. The longer the delay, the less effective it becomes. The heartbeat is strong—this is a healthy child."

Lin Shuyun's head was spinning. "Is there anything to stop the vomiting?"

The doctor shook his head. "Some women vomit for a while and then get better. Some vomit for a month, others for two. You could try eating some dried sour apricots."

"Next."

Lin Shuyun stood up, her mind still in chaos. Ming Yue's legs had gone weak, and she whispered through tears, "The Lady just got married. How could something like this happen?"

She was crying even more sorrowfully than Lin Shuyun.

It must have been that time at the temple three months ago. The Lady had reassured her that she hadn't been assaulted by Zhou Siang, but she hadn't seen many outside men—likely the Lady was just comforting and deceiving her.

That bastard Zhou Siang.

Now the Lady was pregnant with his child and had just married Crown Prince Lu. They hadn't even started their happy life together—how could this happen?

The more Ming Yue thought about it, the sadder she became, and her sobs grew louder. A well-meaning woman nearby consoled her, "Don't be sad. Everyone dies eventually."

Ming Yue's eyes red from crying widened in anger. "Who died? Don't talk nonsense!"

She supported Lin Shuyun's arm, sobbing and lamenting, "Lady, what should we do? Should we keep this from Crown Prince Lu? Should I find you something to end the pregnancy?"

Lin Shuyun shook her head.

During the last two days in the carriage, Lin Shuyun's appetite worsened. Aside from sipping water, she couldn't keep anything down.

To prevent the two children from seeing her haggard appearance, she sent them to ride in the back with the nanny.

She lay exhausted in the carriage, sighing in frustration, and suddenly covered her mouth as she gagged.

Why was Lu Yu's child so strong? Ying Ying had survived falling into water and then off a cliff, yet remained safe inside her.

This child was conceived only once—that one time in the carriage in broad daylight.

How did she get pregnant from just one time?

Though she loved children, this one had come at the wrong time.

If it were a boy, he would be the first child raised by Lu Yu himself. Would his attitude toward Zhang'er and Ying Ying change?

After all, the two children not only carry the Lin family name but also call him Uncle. If a little baby appeared, calling him "Daddy" every day, who could guarantee he wouldn't play favorites?

Among the noble families of the capital, few could be fair to everyone like Prince Ding's household.

As the saying goes, "The youngest son and the eldest grandson are grandma's favorites."

Would Zhang'er, as the eldest son, be replaced as heir?

If it were a girl, would Ying Ying dislike her? Would Lu Yu prefer the third child?

Would the family's treasures, jewelry, and best fabrics all be given to her by Lu Yu?

Even the dowries would be split unevenly.

Finally,

there was herself.

She still held onto anger in her heart—the resentment and anger toward Lu Yu from five years ago still hadn't fully dissipated. How could she be pregnant with another child?

At this thought, a sour feeling rose up in Lin Shuyun's nose, and she couldn't stop crying.

This was all Lu Yu's fault.

---

Shuobei Military Camp,

Lu Yu had just returned to his tent from the training grounds and was about to remove his armor when he heard a soldier call out outside the tent, "General, there's a letter for you."

A letter?

He had only been at the military camp for a few days—how could there already be a letter?

Puzzled, he picked it up. The moment he opened the letter, his eyes widened in surprise.

The letter was dated August 13, and today was already August 17. She was expected to arrive tomorrow.

His voice was steady but carried a hint of excitement as he said, "Prepare a horse for me to return to the city. Lieutenant Li will take charge of tomorrow's extra training."

Standing outside the door, Lieutenant Li laughed heartily and asked, "General, has something joyful happened?"

Lu Yu waved the letter in his hand, smiling broadly. "My wife is arriving tomorrow."

"Hahaha, I'll send someone to help you tidy up the general's residence right away."

The next day,

Lu Yu rode his horse early and waited on the official road. It wasn't until the sun reached its zenith that a procession of carriages finally arrived.

They were clearly from the Marquis' estate.

He spurred his horse forward. When they met, the leading guard saluted with cupped hands and said, "Master, I have safely delivered my lady and the children."

Lu Yu nodded in acknowledgment. "Good, which carriage is my wife in?"

"This one."

Joy overflowed from Lu Yu's heart. He straightened his collar, lifted the carriage curtain, and upon seeing Lin Shuyun's pale and gaunt face, his brows instantly furrowed.

His sharp gaze immediately turned to the maidservants attending inside the carriage. "Are you all taking care of the lady?"

Lin Shuyun, her voice barely a whisper, said, "You... how dare you criticize them."

Ming Yue's eyes were wide, trembling, afraid to look at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu hurried forward, supporting her to lean against his shoulder, and soothed in a gentle voice, "How did you become so thin?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shuyun felt another wave of dizziness hit her. She quickly patted Lu Yu and said, "I need some fresh air."

Lu Yu promptly helped her down from the carriage. The moment he held Lin Shuyun, he heard the sound of vomiting as she covered her mouth, and his heart grew more worried.

"How did you become so ill?"

The maidservants were efficient: one brought water, another held a silk handkerchief, but none dared respond to Lu Yu's words.

"I am... pregnant."

Leaning on Lu Yu's shoulder, Lin Shuyun spoke weakly. When she looked up, she saw Lu Yu's eyes wide, emotions swirling deep within his pupils.

He must have thought of that afternoon at the temple.

Before Lu Yu could speak, Lin Shuyun's icy fingers instantly covered his lips.

"This pregnancy..." Lin Shuyun let out a long sigh. "I want to terminate it."