As the sound faded, Wei Yun abruptly withdrew his long spear, causing the opponent to cough up a mouthful of blood before collapsing limply against a tree.
Wei Yun hadn't come alone. By the time he finished dealing with the young man, the situation had already been brought under control. Carrying his long spear, Wei Yun turned and quickly approached Chu Yu, asking urgently, "Are you badly hurt?"
"Hmm?"
Chu Yu sheathed her sword and turned to look at him, puzzled. "I'm not injured at all. What do you mean by 'badly hurt'?"
Only then did Wei Yun feel relieved. Nearby, someone was helping Gu Chusheng over, and Wei Yun turned to examine him.
At this moment, Gu Chusheng was dressed in a water-blue robe, now stained with mud and blood. The jade crown in his hair had fallen off during the fight, making his appearance somewhat disheveled at first glance. Yet his expression remained calm and composed, and as he walked toward Wei Yun, he carried an air of authority—one that Wei Yun had only ever seen in seasoned politicians like Grand Tutor Xie, who had long navigated the imperial court.
From their very first meeting, Wei Yun felt wary.
Meanwhile, Gu Chusheng was also sizing up Wei Yun.
He remembered that in his past life, he had met Wei Yun a little earlier than now. Back then, Chu Yu hadn't been present. After emerging from the heavenly prison, Wei Yun had rushed straight to the battlefield. By then, Bai City had already fallen, and Gu Chusheng had been left to defend Kunyang County alone. That night, the young man had arrived with his troops, reining in his horse outside the city gates. Looking up at Gu Chusheng on the ramparts, he had said coldly, "Wei Yun of the Wei family, here by orders to defend the city."
The sheer ferocity in the youth had been so overwhelming that even after more than thirty years, the memory remained vivid.
But the Wei Yun before him now was completely different from the one he remembered.
Today's Wei Yun hadn't changed much in appearance, but the ruthless aura from his past life was entirely absent. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chu Yu, clad in white with a silver spear, he stood tall like a pine or bamboo, his smile as refreshing as a clear moon and gentle breeze.
Wei Yun bowed to him with genuine sincerity. "Magistrate Gu, you've had a difficult journey. I arrived late and let you suffer this fright."
Given their current statuses, this was undoubtedly a gesture of great courtesy. Gu Chusheng quickly returned the bow, his expression respectful. "Young Marquis, you flatter me. It was my fault for being pursued and dragging you into this."
"I understand the full situation," Wei Yun said calmly, glancing around. "But this isn't the place to linger. Please mount up, Magistrate Gu. Let us hurry to Hua Jing first, and we can discuss the details later."
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng didn't hesitate. With a nod, the three of them mounted their horses and sped toward Hua Jing.
Wei Yun entrusted Gu Chusheng to Wei Qiu and the others for safekeeping while he and Chu Yu led the way at the front.
Riding closer to Chu Yu, Wei Yun studied her and asked again, "Sister-in-law, are you really unharmed?"
"Not at all," Chu Yu chuckled. "I hadn't even really started fighting when you showed up. My hands didn't even warm up."
At this, a faint smile flickered in Wei Yun's eyes. "Sister-in-law, you're being too modest. Today's attacker was Zhang Cheng of the Desert North Golden Saber. If you had faced him, you might have suffered some losses."
Wei Yun wasn't exaggerating—Chu Yu knew that against someone with such natural brute strength, she wouldn't have stood much of a chance. She gave him a curious look. "I only just sent someone to inform you. How did you get here so quickly?"
"Two days ago, you mentioned you'd reached Heaven's Guard Pass. I calculated the timing and figured you'd be around here today, so I came to check."Wei Yun spoke plainly, yet his simple sentences were filled with concern.
Counting the days since two days ago, he must have been worried for too long.
Yet Wei Yun also knew that his awareness of Chu Yu’s whereabouts wasn’t solely due to worry. Since Chu Yu had left for over ten days—the longest they had been apart since his return to Hua Jing—he found himself unaccustomed to her absence.
Walking through the courtyard corridors, he always felt there should be the soft sounds of Chu Yu instructing the young master in martial arts. Entering the study, he would instinctively expect to hear Wei Xia announce Chu Yu’s arrival at any moment. Even during meals, he felt someone should be sitting across from him—Chu Yu, smiling warmly as she chatted with Jiang Chun.
They say habits form over time. He had thought that if Chu Yu stayed away a few more days, he would adjust.
Instead, the longer she was gone, the more he missed her. At night, he even dreamed of her dressed in plain white, her expression desolate, kneeling in a carriage as she calmly called out, "Lord Wei."
In the dream, Chu Yu’s face was lifeless, like a traveler who had journeyed through mountains and rivers only to reach a dead end.
Seeing her like that in the dream pained him deeply. He wanted to ask, "Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?" But he would jolt awake abruptly, greeted by daylight.
Thus, the longer he waited, the more anxious he became. Upon learning Chu Yu had reached Heaven’s Guard Pass, he went to fetch her himself.
Of course, he wouldn’t mention the earlier events. Yet even these few words warmed Chu Yu’s heart. Gratefully, she said, "Thank goodness you came today. Otherwise, I might not have made it back before dawn."
Wei Yun remained silent, gripping the reins as he looked ahead.
Chu Yu found it odd. "What’s the matter?"
"Just now, I was thinking," Wei Yun’s voice was stiff, "what if something had happened to you today?"
"For something so trivial, if you had been harmed," his tone hardened, "how could I ever forgive myself?"
Chu Yu was momentarily stunned. She had been the one to insist on coming, and she was the one who hadn’t handled things well. It was natural for Wei Yun to be upset.
Pursing her lips, she said, "I won’t act so recklessly in the future. Today, I should have gone straight to the capital. It was my fault—"
Her voice trailed off. Wei Yun’s expression didn’t change, but Chu Yu realized his concern wasn’t about whether she had handled the situation well or poorly—it was that if she encountered danger once, it could happen again.
Chu Yu couldn’t promise she would never face peril again. Born on the battlefield, who could guarantee life or death to anyone?
The two rode back to Hua Jing in silence, arriving at Wei Manor the following morning.
As soon as they entered, Jiang Chun hurried over with attendants, her voice laced with worry. "What happened? I received word on the way to prepare a physician—"
She approached Chu Yu, taking her hand and examining her anxiously. "Are you badly hurt?"
"It’s nothing," Chu Yu waved awkwardly. "Just a minor ambush. I wasn’t injured."
"Have the physician examine Lord Gu," Wei Yun instructed as he handed his outer robe to a servant, removing his shoes before stepping onto the corridor. "And find a female physician to give the madam a thorough checkup."
Hearing this, Chu Yu wore a resigned expression. Jiang Chun glanced at her questioningly, to which Chu Yu sighed. "Do as he says. Whatever he says."
Wei Yun paused mid-step but ultimately kept a stern face as he headed inside.Gu Chusheng was taken to the guest quarters. His injuries were far more severe, so the best physician from Wei Manor was sent to attend to him.
After confirming that Chu Yu had no serious injuries, Jiang Chun urged her to rest first.
Having traveled nonstop for days, Chu Yu was exhausted. She returned to her room and collapsed onto the bed without even bathing, falling asleep instantly.
She slept until the afternoon before slowly waking. After calling for water to bathe, she was still washing when she heard Wei Yun’s voice outside:
"Where is Sister-in-law?"
"Madam is still bathing," Changyue replied respectfully. "Please wait a moment, My Lord."
Wei Yun didn’t answer immediately, as if stunned. After a pause, Chu Yu heard him feign composure—though his flustered tone was unmistakable—as he said, "Then I’ll wait for Sister-in-law in the front hall."
With that, he hurried away.
The sound of his fleeing footsteps made Chu Yu burst into laughter.
She turned to Wanyue, who was helping her wash, and teased, "Am I really that terrifying?"
"Young Lord is still a youth," Wanyue said helplessly as she poured water over her. "It’s only natural for him to be shy."
"You know," Chu Yu flipped over, resting her arms on the edge of the tub as she recalled the day Wei Jun had come to fetch his bride. A warmth flickered in her eyes. "The men of the Wei family all seem to blush easily. If Xiao Qi ever marries in the future, will he also stutter and struggle to get a word out?"
"That’s a matter for the future."
Wanyue sighed, pouring more water over Chu Yu. "When the Young Lord marries, you’ll have to think about your own future too. There can only ever be one Madam of Wei Manor. By then, you’ll be older—it’ll be time to find your own path."
"What path should I find?"
Chu Yu pretended not to understand. Wanyue glanced up at her. "You can’t truly spend your life alone. No matter what, you should at least have a child, shouldn’t you?"
Chu Yu fell silent.
The martial arts she practiced leaned toward yin energy. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue, but in her past life, she had suffered several injuries, and due to improper training, her constitution had become excessively cold, making conception difficult.
After immense struggle, she had finally conceived a child—only for that child to end up recognizing Chu Jin as its mother.
Apart from the fleeting warmth of carrying the child for ten months, the memories tied to it were unbearable. Though she knew it wasn’t the child’s fault, she no longer held any expectations regarding children.
"Maybe it doesn’t matter," she murmured. "Living alone isn’t so bad."
"You speak like a child," Wanyue said helplessly. "When you grow old, you’ll understand the value of having one."
Chu Yu didn’t respond. A faint memory surfaced—those months of pregnancy, watching her belly gradually swell with life.
After a long silence, she finally said, "If I meet the right person, then we’ll see."
Wanyue didn’t press further. She handed Chu Yu a towel to dry off, helped her into fresh robes, applied perfume, and combed her hair before Chu Yu headed to the front hall.
When Chu Yu entered, Wei Yun was kneeling in his seat, lost in thought. Only when she stepped inside and called, "Xiao Qi?" did he snap out of it, lifting his gaze to her.
He nodded. "Sister-in-law."The winter wind was chilly, and Chu Yu's hair was not completely dry when she arrived at the front hall with it still loose. Seeing her with her hair down, Wei Yun was momentarily stunned before quickly ordering more charcoal to be added and having Changyue fetch a towel. Frowning, he said to her, "Why didn’t you dry your hair properly before coming? Walking around with wet hair—aren’t you afraid of suffering from joint pain when you’re older?"
"Since when am I so delicate?"
Chu Yu smiled. "I figured you must have many questions, so I came to brief you first. My hair won’t dry anytime soon, and I still have to eat afterward, so I came straight here."
Chu Yu was supposed to dine with Jiang Chun and Liu Xueyang, but she couldn’t discuss serious matters in front of them, so she had to speak with Wei Yun first.
Wei Yun had already prepared some snacks and said helplessly, "I knew you’d be hungry. Have something to eat first, then take your time explaining."
At that moment, Changyue brought in a towel and handed it to Wanyue, who knelt behind Chu Yu and began carefully drying her hair.
Chu Yu recounted everything from the moment she arrived in Kunyang County, omitting only Gu Chusheng’s confession, and relayed the events in detail. Wei Yun listened while tapping the table, then said slowly, "It seems you were targeted along the way. Otherwise, their preparations wouldn’t have been so thorough."
Chu Yu acknowledged this with a hum. Wei Yun then looked up at her and said, "There’s one more thing I’d like to ask, though it may be presumptuous."
Chu Yu was puzzled. She met his gaze, finding his expression calm as he continued, "Wei Qiu told me that you and Gu Chusheng once discussed important matters alone in a room. May I ask what those matters were?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wei Yun regretted them.
He wasn’t sure why he had asked. The question sounded rather unpleasant, as if he were doubting Chu Yu. Yet he didn’t actually distrust her—but not asking left him feeling strangely unsettled. After some thought, he attributed it to concern for her well-being. After all, Chu Yu’s marriage was something he had to consider, and he couldn’t let her be easily deceived by anyone.
Chu Yu studied him quietly. When Wei Yun averted his gaze, she chuckled softly. "Does the Marquis suspect me?"
"I don’t!"
Hearing this, Wei Yun’s face instantly flushed red. He hurriedly explained, almost childishly, "I was just asking. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I’m not forcing you to say anything, and I won’t think anything of it if you don’t."
Seeing his reddened face, Chu Yu relaxed. She could guess his meaning—given Liu Xueyang’s temperament, she must have asked Wei Yun to help find a suitable husband for her. His question now was likely due to a misunderstanding about her relationship with Gu Chusheng.
Gu Chusheng was a talented young man, the kind parents often saw as an ideal son-in-law—except for his own father, who disdained him for being a mere civil official, regardless of his merits. Chu Yu knew exactly what kind of match Liu Xueyang wanted for her. If Wei Yun learned of Gu Chusheng’s feelings, he would surely inform Liu Xueyang, and once Gu Chusheng rose to prominence, Liu Xueyang would likely push for a union.
To avoid unnecessary complications, Chu Yu simply smiled and said, "As long as you don’t suspect me, that’s fine. He’s overly cautious—he just dismissed the servants to ask me about your plans. But since you hadn’t shared any with me, I said I didn’t know, and that was the end of it."Wei Yun responded with a hum and nodded silently, asking no further questions.
Yet in his heart, he knew Chu Yu hadn’t told him the full truth. He lifted his gaze to glance at her.
Night had already fallen, and the room was lit by lamplight. The charcoal brazier had been stoked a little too much earlier, causing everyone to break into a light sweat—yet Chu Yu remained as cool and pristine as jade.
Under the candlelight, her skin took on a smooth, jade-like sheen, resembling the surface of a freshly peeled boiled egg. Just looking at it, one could imagine the sensation of touching it.
But what was even more unbearable wasn’t just her flawless, jade-like complexion—it was the slender curve of her neck, trailing downward to the gentle rise beneath.
Without her hair pinned up, she carried an air of languid ease, like a cat basking in the afternoon sun—graceful and unhurried.
Stripped of her usual poise and distance, the person before him suddenly seemed within reach. And so, inexplicable thoughts surged forth, only to be ruthlessly crushed beneath a boulder, struggling to overturn it and unleash a storm.
Wei Yun had merely swept his gaze over Chu Yu indifferently, yet his eyes lingered there.
Chu Yu sipped her tea calmly. When he didn’t respond for a long while, she frowned slightly, lifting her cup to look at him in puzzlement. "Xiao Qi?"
The soft utterance of his name jolted Wei Yun back to awareness. He swiftly schooled his expression, though cold sweat had already drenched his back.
Yet outwardly, he remained composed, speaking slowly, "I was just distracted by another matter."
Chu Yu nodded, satisfied that he wasn’t pressing further into her personal affairs, and smoothly changed the subject. "Now that Gu Chusheng has arrived, how do you plan to handle it?"
"First, recover from my injuries."
Wei Yun gulped down a mouthful of tea, his eyes fixed firmly on the door ahead, not daring to glance at Chu Yu as he tried to steady himself. "Later, I’ll go speak with him. Once I understand the situation, I’ll decide."
"That’s fine." Chu Yu nodded. "Have you eaten?"
"I have." Wei Yun kept his gaze locked on the front hall, eager to leave as soon as possible.
At this moment, the entire atmosphere felt off to him. His senses had always been sharp, but today, they were especially heightened. The air seemed saturated with the scent of orchids—the kind Chu Yu often wore—twisting and curling around him, slowly seeping into his nostrils and stirring restlessness in his heart.
Unaware of his turmoil, Chu Yu nodded. "Then I’ll go to the dining hall to accompany Mother and A Chun. If you’re going to see Gu Chusheng, go ahead. I’ll take my leave first."
Wei Yun lowered his eyes and let out a faint "Mm" from his throat.
Seeing that he had no further instructions, Chu Yu stood and left with Changyue and Wanyue.
Only after she had been gone for a long while, her footsteps completely faded, did Wei Yun slowly lift his gaze.
His eyes lingered on the doorway, as if the silhouette of her graceful figure still lingered beneath the moonlight.
Wei Xia asked in confusion, "My Lord, what are you looking at?"
Wei Yun said nothing.
Wei Xia pressed, "My Lord?"
Wei Yun collected himself and stood, his voice calm. "Let’s go find Gu Chusheng."
Author’s Note: You all go to sleep first. I’ll keep writing—there should be a second update tomorrow morning.
[Mini Theater]
Wei Yun: Doctor, I’ve come down with a strange illness.
Mo Shubai: Describe the symptoms.
Wei Yun: I’ve developed an intense dependence on someone. When I don’t see her, I worry—whether she’s eating well, sleeping well, if anyone is bullying her…Mo Shubai: Do you still think she's the most beautiful woman in the world, that everything she does is exceptionally outstanding, and that even reciting a poem makes her extraordinarily brilliant?
Wei Yun: Yes, yes, exactly those symptoms.
Mo Shubai: Hmm, don’t worry, my mom treats me the same way.
Wei Yun: So, my condition is…
Mo Shubai: Familial dependence! Familial bias! Familial love!
Wei Yun: Oh, I understand now.
Mo Shubai: Chu Yu, why are you looking at me like that? If you have any complaints, just say it.
Chu Yu: Oh, I actually have the same symptoms. Now that you’ve explained it, I get it. Thanks, Doctor!
Mo Shubai: Mhm, saving lives through medicine is my sacred duty.
Gu Chusheng: Heh.
Mo Shubai: Gu Chusheng, what are you laughing at?
Gu Chusheng: Keep bluffing, keep bluffing. Isn’t this just an excuse to create opportunities for me?
Mo Shubai: Gu Chusheng, when your narcissistic delusions are cured, I’ll let you out. For now, come here—time for another shot.
OpenNovel