After sending the letters to Chu Linyang and Song Shilan, Chu Yu and Wei Yun began preparing for the capital's relocation to Bailing. The entire household set off in a grand procession toward Bailing.
Wei Yun and Chu Yu needed to arrive first to make preparations, so they traveled ahead while Jiang Chun led Wang Lan, Liu Xueyang, and the younger children behind them.
Away from Liu Xueyang’s watchful eyes, Wei Yun grew much bolder, refusing to leave Chu Yu’s carriage and stubbornly staying by her side. The nearby guards were already accustomed to such behavior, so Chu Yu, seeing she couldn’t force him out, could only sigh and say, “Once we reach Bailing, you’ll have to leave.”
“A Yu,” Wei Yun immediately took advantage of her leniency, leaning his head onto her lap and whining, “I knew you’d be soft on me.”
Chu Yu glared at him and lightly patted his cheek. “If not for that handsome face of yours, I’d have kicked you out already.”
Hearing this, Wei Yun raised a hand to touch his own face. “Being this good-looking is a talent in itself.”
Chu Yu laughed, pushed his head away, and ignored him, turning her attention to the map of Bailing.
Since there was no permanent Wei Manor in Bailing, they had to purchase an empty residence from a wealthy family for temporary use. While Wei Yun handled the arrangements for the Bestowal of Kingship Ceremony, Chu Yu took charge of the household matters, including selecting their new home.
“I consulted a master, and he pointed out a few locations for me—all with excellent feng shui,” Chu Yu said, indicating the spots on the map for Wei Yun. “The prefectural office will be converted into your workplace, and this residence isn’t far from it. The other one is quieter but farther away. What do you think…?”
“The first one,” Wei Yun answered decisively.
Chu Yu chuckled. “Afraid of being lazy and wanting to sleep in?”
“That’s not it,” Wei Yun idly played with the ring on her finger, speaking casually. “I just want to come home for every meal.”
Chu Yu paused, listening as Wei Yun continued, “I’ll only get busier from now on. I’ll still see you at night, but once we have children, I worry I won’t have enough time for them—they might resent me.”
His words warmed her heart like spring sunlight, bright and tender. As he spoke of the future with such earnest concern, she listened quietly.
“So I want to come back for lunch and dinner every day, to at least talk with them during meals. But even that might not be enough. For now, this will have to do until I find a way to step back, and we can live a peaceful life.”
“A Yu,” Wei Yun suddenly asked with hopeful curiosity, “do you want a son or a daughter?”
“Why ask that?” Chu Yu’s smile was faint, revealing nothing.
The moment the question left Wei Yun’s lips, an image flashed through Chu Yu’s mind—Gu Yanqing’s young, fearful face as he called her “Madam.” Her chest tightened, though she couldn’t pinpoint the source of her sorrow.
Though Chu Yu’s tone was light, Wei Yun noticed her smile didn’t reach her eyes. He suddenly realized that, when it came to children, Chu Yu had never shown the same eagerness and love as he had.
A pang of unease struck him, but he dared not dwell on it. Instead, he pulled her into an embrace and fell silent.
Chu Yu gently stroked his hair. “Don’t fool around too much. Rest well—there’s still much to do.”
“Mm.” Wei Yun, as if drowsy, nestled against her and said no more.The journey from Bailing to Huaicheng took only four days. After arriving in Bailing, Wei Yun and Chu Yu rested temporarily at the prefect's residence. The next day, Chu Yu set about arranging their new home. She had long prepared for this, and now it was simply a matter of executing her plans. From handing over the property to settling all affairs, it took only three days.
On the third day, when Wei Yun entered the house, he found everything in place—even the incense was prepared, and the ancestral tablets of Wei Manor had been properly arranged in the family shrine. He and Chu Yu went together to offer incense. After leaving the shrine, as they walked along the corridor, Chu Yu said slowly, "Everything was arranged in haste. If there’s anything unsatisfactory, just let me know, and I’ll have it adjusted."
"Whatever I lack, you’ll arrange it?" Wei Yun turned to her with a smile. Chu Yu looked up, puzzled. "What else do you lack?"
Everything in his room had been moved over exactly as before—there shouldn’t be anything missing.
Wei Yun tugged at his cloak and lowered his gaze. "At twenty, my room lacks a wife. The lady of the house has settled the residence and managed the household affairs, but no one is willing to marry into this family. What does the lady propose to do about it?"
Hearing his playful complaint, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh. "Why do you seize every opportunity to bring this up?"
Wei Yun glanced at her. "So I don’t have to jump through the window in the morning—I can wake up earlier."
Chu Yu pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile. Seeing her silent, Wei Yun waved his hand. "Fine, fine. If you won’t agree, forget it." Then, after a pause, he added, "I’ll ask again tomorrow."
This time, Chu Yu laughed outright.
That night, Wei Yun was in his room reviewing documents sent from various places. He glanced at the sky and called Wei Xia in. "What time is it?"
"Midnight," Wei Xia answered respectfully, then added, "The lady has retired for the night."
Wei Yun nodded, understanding it was time for his window-climbing routine.
He put away the documents and waved his hand. "Put out the lamp. I’ll rest now."
Visiting a lady’s chambers at night would harm Chu Yu’s reputation. Even among those closest to him, he didn’t want anyone to think less of her. So he always pretended to sleep, waiting until his people had relaxed before slipping out quietly.
As usual, he extinguished the lamp, changed clothes, and lay in bed, listening for movement outside. But before long, he heard the soft thud of the window opening. Wei Yun frowned and sat up, staring directly at the window—just as it swung open. A woman was straddling the windowsill, one leg already inside, when her gaze met his.
Wei Yun froze in surprise. Chu Yu hadn’t expected him to be sitting there, watching the window. Feeling awkward, she quickly climbed in, shut the window, hurried to the bed, lifted the covers, and slipped beneath them.
The entire sequence was executed so smoothly that Wei Yun took a moment to recover. "What are you doing here?"
"Didn’t you say you weren’t getting enough sleep?"
Chu Yu kept her back to him, too embarrassed to face him.
It had been nothing more than a jest—someone like him would never fuss over something like sleep. Yet he had taken it to heart.
Wei Yun didn’t respond. When the silence stretched too long, Chu Yu turned to look at him—only to be met with the soft press of his lips against hers.His kisses now were tender and lingering, unlike his outwardly resolute and unyielding demeanor. His lips were soft and sweet. He had learned to patiently tease and entice. The two were entwined together when, after a long while, Chu Yu gasped for breath and pushed him away, saying, "No more, no more—I'm about to suffocate."
Wei Yun chuckled softly, pressing his forehead against hers as he whispered, "You're so good."
Chu Yu didn’t respond, her face flushed with silence.
Wei Yun continued, "A Yu, can you be even better?"
Chu Yu murmured, "How much better?"
Wei Yun raised his hand and rested it over her abdomen, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Give me a child?"
Chu Yu froze for a moment. Wei Yun’s hand slid up along her clothes as he asked, "If not a child, then at least a little sweetness?"
Though he phrased it as a question, his actions had already begun.
Chu Yu wrapped her arms around him without a word. After a long while, she whispered, "Haven’t you had enough yet…?"
Wei Yun breathed lightly, "Just a little longer."
Chu Yu, her face still red, stayed silent. A while later: "Enough yet…?"
"Just a little longer."
Finally, Chu Yu could bear it no longer.
"How long is 'a little longer' supposed to be?"
Wei Yun chuckled lowly, licking her lips as he rasped, "An eternity."
Chu Yu: "…"
By the time Wei Yun finished and fell asleep in her arms, she thought very seriously.
The days ahead would probably be quite painful.
Better to enjoy the happiness while it lasted.
A few days passed like this before Jiang Chun arrived with Liu Xueyang, Wang Lan, and the others. After Chu Yu had settled everyone in, the guest list was finalized.
Smiling, she took the list and asked Wei Xia, "Are all the people the Marquis wanted to invite included?"
"They are," Wei Xia replied quietly. "Everyone who should be invited, as well as those with close personal ties."
Chu Yu said nothing as she scanned the list, but then she suddenly spotted a name.
Wei Wang, Wei Chengyun.
And beneath that name, another line:
Qingping Junzhu, Wei Qingping.
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