Chu Yu gazed at him quietly. The moment those words reached her ears, her hand trembled slightly, but she restrained herself and merely smiled gently. "Why have you returned so early?"
"I missed you."
Wei Yun forced a smile. Rain soaked his clothes, washing away the bloodstains on his body. His voice was hoarse as he spoke, "The moment the battle ended, I missed you. So I didn’t rest—I rushed back all the way."
"I wanted to see you as soon as possible." Wei Yun's eyes reddened as he maintained his smile. "See? I’ve found you, haven’t I?"
Chu Yu didn’t answer. She watched as the man struggled to keep his smile, silently waiting for her. Finally, as if he could no longer hold on, his voice trembled as he murmured, "A Yu, the rain is too heavy tonight. Let’s go back, alright?"
Yet as soon as he finished speaking, he was the first to break down.
He raised a hand to cover his face, leaning over his horse as low sobs escaped him. He didn’t need her answer—he had already known it the moment he heard she had left.
He understood Chu Yu’s nature. Once she walked away, she never looked back. If she had intended to return, she wouldn’t have left in the first place.
But he had still chased after her, still wanted to say those words aloud. Even if there was no response, even if he was rejected, he still wanted to tell her.
He wanted her to stay. He didn’t want her to leave.
Seeing Wei Yun like this, Chu Yu sighed helplessly. "If I really stayed for you, would you let me?"
Wei Yun froze slightly, unmoving, as Chu Yu continued softly, "I would remain in Wei Manor, enduring your mother’s temper day after day. Out of respect for her as an elder, I wouldn’t defy her, but I would bury all my resentment inside. One day, two days, one year, two years."
"Huaiyu," Chu Yu chuckled softly. "I’ve lived that life in my past. No matter how beautiful a love is, it will wither under such torment. I like the you of now, and I like the me of now. I’m not leaving you, Huaiyu."
Chu Yu’s voice was gentle. "I just want to love you in a different way."
Wei Yun didn’t speak. Slowly, he lifted his head, his eyes red as he stared at her.
Chu Yu met his gaze and murmured, "Alright?"
When no answer came, she could only sigh and lower the carriage curtain, instructing the coachman, "Let’s go."
As the carriage swayed forward, passing by Wei Yun, he suddenly turned and leaped onto it.
The horse reared in fright as Wei Yun barged inside, grabbing Chu Yu’s wrist. She looked up, frowning, ready to scold him, but before she could speak, Wei Yun rasped out, "Take me with you."
Chu Yu’s eyes widened in shock. Wei Yun’s grip trembled slightly as he stared at her, his fingers tightening around her wrist as he struggled to contain his emotions. "If you can’t stay, then take me away."
"What about Bai and Kun Provinces?"
"I don’t want them."
"What about the Wei family?"
"I don’t want it."
"Then where will you go with me?"
"Wherever you are, I’ll be there."
"Wei Yun," Chu Yu laughed softly. "Do you realize this is like becoming a live-in son-in-law?"
"Fine," Wei Yun stared at her intently. "I’ll be your live-in son-in-law."
Chu Yu was momentarily stunned before she lightly pushed his head away, sighing. "You’re talking nonsense again."
"Then what else can I do?" Wei Yun’s voice shook as he stared at her. "Tell me, what do you want me to do?!""A Yu," Wei Yun buried his face in her hands, kneeling before her as his tears fell onto Chu Yu's palm, scalding her enough to make her flinch. His voice was hoarse as he spoke, "Loving someone means longing, wanting to be with them, wanting to stay by their side. I know why you're leaving, I know you're not abandoning me, but I'm afraid..." His body trembled slightly, yet as he held her hand, he felt an endless surge of strength. He lifted his head to look at Chu Yu and said huskily, "Promise me..."
His gaze locked onto hers. "Promise me, and I'll believe you."
"Promise what?"
"Promise me," Wei Yun said earnestly, "that you'll wait for me."
Hearing this, Chu Yu let out a soft laugh.
"Of course I'll wait for you."
She reached up to smooth his hair, nestled in his embrace, breathing in his scent, listening to his calm and composed tone: "Huai Yu, I was never meant to be someone confined to the inner chambers. Waiting goes both ways. If you wait for me, I'll wait for you too."
"When I miss you, I'll come to see you."
She seemed like a source of warmth, offering him endless solace and strength on this rainy night. Wei Yun closed his eyes as she spoke softly, "When you miss me, you can come find me too. My feelings for you will never change."
No one spoke. He simply held her quietly until, after a long while, he finally replied in a rough voice, "Alright."
As if afraid he might regret it, he abruptly stood up, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped outside. Chu Yu heard the neighing of a horse, the sound of hooves galloping away. After a moment, she finally spoke, her voice numb, "He's gone?"
There was no response. Puzzled, Chu Yu lifted the curtain—but in that instant, a powerful force yanked her hand and pulled her out. Then warm lips pressed against hers. He sat atop his horse, cradling her head as he kissed her with a mix of tenderness and roughness.
Unmindful of the onlookers, heedless of the pouring rain that soaked her lashes, she closed her eyes and yielded to his intensity, tasting the tears and reluctance between their lips. After what felt like an eternity, her lips even began to ache before he finally released her, panting heavily, his forehead pressed against hers.
"Chu Yu," he said solemnly, his voice rough, "I promise you this—" He swallowed hard. "The day I enter Hua Jing, I will come for you with a dowry spanning ten miles, and I will ask for your hand."
Chu Yu opened her eyes, her gaze deep. Wei Yun stared at her and demanded hoarsely, "Say something."
"What should I say?"
"Say yes or no. Give me an answer."
"If you dare come," Chu Yu laughed, "then I dare marry you."
"Good." Wei Yun's voice softened as he looked at her smile. "Then wait for me."
He raised a hand to cup her face, his eyes brimming with reluctance despite his smile. "Don't worry," he rasped. "By the time you return, I will have resolved everything that troubles you."
How could he dare ask for her hand if he couldn't give her a peaceful and secure future?
With that, he glanced at the sky, afraid that any further delay would make it impossible for him to leave. Closing his eyes, he murmured, "Take care," before turning away, spurring his horse into a gallop, and disappearing into the distance.Chu Yu stood at the front of the carriage, looking back at the young man who did not turn around in the night. After a long while, she wiped the rain from her face with her hand and returned inside the carriage.
She closed her eyes and said calmly, "Let's go."
Meanwhile, as soon as Wei Yun returned home, he saw Wei Ying waiting for him at the door.
Originally one of Wei Zhong’s covert guards, Wei Ying had stayed by Liu Xueyang’s side after Wei Zhong’s death. Though technically a retainer, he was of an elder generation, almost like an uncle to Wei Yun, and Wei Yun had always treated him with due respect.
He seemed to have been waiting for a long time. The moment Wei Yun stepped inside, Wei Ying lifted his head and said impassively, "The old madam fainted from crying."
Wei Yun froze for a moment before quickly composing himself. He immediately turned and strode toward Liu Xueyang’s quarters, where she lay in bed being fed soup by Gui Momo.
When Wei Yun entered, he was holding a whip in his hand. Seeing him, Liu Xueyang struggled to sit up, her voice anxious as she said, "A Yu, she—"
But her words died in her throat at the sight of Wei Yun’s expression.
His face was eerily calm.
Though it was clear he had been crying, there was now no trace of emotion on his features. This unnatural composure unsettled Liu Xueyang, and she trembled as she called out hoarsely, "Xiao Qi…"
Wei Yun ignored her. Clutching the whip, he walked up to Liu Xueyang.
"Xiao Qi… what are you doing?" Liu Xueyang’s voice was rough with fear.
Wei Yun replied evenly, "I know you believe A Yu and I are in the wrong. You are my mother—I cannot defy you. But neither can I defy my own heart. If I have sinned, then I must be punished. After this, I only ask that you, Mother—" He kowtowed deeply, his voice breaking— "forgive me."
"What are you trying to do…?" Liu Xueyang’s eyes filled with dread.
Wei Yun’s expression remained indifferent. "If there is blame in my feelings for Chu Yu, it lies solely with me. If punishment is due, then it should be mine alone."
"I wronged my elder brother by falling for her first—that is my first sin."
As he spoke, Wei Yun suddenly raised the whip and lashed it across his own back. Liu Xueyang’s eyes widened in horror, and she lunged forward to stop him. "What are you doing?!"
Wei Yun remained unmoved. "Restrain her," he ordered.
Wei Qiu and Wei Xia hesitated briefly before Wei Xia stepped forward. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife, but it was Jiang Chun, who had been attending to Liu Xueyang, who stood and took Liu Xueyang’s hand, pulling her back.
With Liu Xueyang out of the way, Wei Yun lowered his gaze and continued, "Failing to restrain my feelings and disturbing her—that is my second sin."
The whip cracked against his body again. Wei Yun counted each transgression aloud.
Disturbing her was a sin. Forcing her was a sin. Making her fall for him was a sin. Hiding their relationship in secret was a sin.
Failing to wed her properly with the Six Rites was a sin. Thinking he could endure in silence was a sin…
He had a thousand sins, ten thousand wrongs.
But being with her—that was not one of them.
He listed each fault, and with every word, the whip struck again. His robes split open, revealing torn flesh beneath, the wounds gruesome and bleeding. His face grew deathly pale. Liu Xueyang sobbed uncontrollably, but Jiang Chun held her firmly in place, her own expression calm as she said, "Mother, this is Xiao Qi’s choice."
"What choice?!" Liu Xueyang whipped her head around, her voice thick with anguish. "Is this repentance? He’s punishing me!"He knew he was her only son, the sole meaning in her life. Unable to raise a hand against her, he chose this method—inflicting seven parts of pain upon himself while dealing only three to others.
Liu Xueyang had often heard others speak of Wei Yun's ruthlessness, but this was the first time she realized how truly merciless her own son could be.
Jiang Chun remained silent, lowering her gaze as she restrained Liu Xueyang, watching Wei Yun endure all ninety-nine lashes.
Back when Wei Zhong was alive, he had established this rule—ninety-nine lashes, the harshest punishment within the Wei family's disciplinary code for its young masters.
By the time the ninety-nine lashes were done, Wei Yun had no strength left. Flesh and blood mingled on the ground as he gasped for breath, forcing himself to stand up slowly.
"My mistakes—I acknowledge them," he said, lifting his head to look at Liu Xueyang. "Now that I've taken responsibility for my wrongs," his gaze remained steady on her, "shouldn't Mother acknowledge hers too?"
Liu Xueyang said nothing. Wei Yun gave a faint laugh.
"My father once said," his expression carried a trace of desolation, "making mistakes isn't what matters. What's worse is not knowing one's mistakes, and worse still is knowing but refusing to change. Our Wei family has no such people. You are the Wei family's matriarch," Wei Yun's tone was calm, "shouldn't you lead by example?"
Liu Xueyang trembled. After a long pause, she grabbed a whip from nearby and struck herself fiercely!
Screams erupted around them. Liu Xueyang clenched her teeth and opened her eyes.
"Ingratitude—that was my mistake."
"I should have apologized to her."
"To whom?" Wei Yun pressed forward relentlessly.
Liu Xueyang tightened her grip on the whip and enunciated each word: "Chu Yu."
Hearing this, Wei Yun seemed to suddenly exhaust all his energy. He nodded, then turned away.
Without another word or gesture, he simply turned and walked away—exhausted, battered, heading outside.
No one had expected this. It was as if everything he had done just now had been solely to obtain this one apology for Chu Yu.
Liu Xueyang stared blankly as Wei Yun walked out. Just as he was about to turn the corner and leave through the doorway, she finally couldn't hold back and called out: "Xiao Qi!"
Wei Yun paused and turned back to look at her.
"All this you've done..." Liu Xueyang's voice was hoarse, "was it just to seek justice for her?"
At this, Wei Yun smiled.
"Not just to seek justice for her," he turned his gaze into the distance, his tone light as if discussing something trivial, yet the weight of his words silenced everyone present.
He said: "But also to love her openly and honorably."
"The mistakes of the past—I've taken responsibility for them," Wei Yun raised his eyes to meet Liu Xueyang's, "but Mother, my love for her—from this day forward, it will be open, honorable, and above reproach."
"No one can stop this—not even you."
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