Fight For Love

Yet Shen You stubbornly held on, following Wei Yun as he was respectfully escorted to the dungeon by Wei Yun.

Once they arrived, Wei Yun gave a subtle signal, and Wei Qiu stepped forward to thoroughly bind Shen You to the rack. Wei Yun sat down with a smile, observing Shen You’s defiant expression as he accepted tea from Wei Xia. “I never expected Minister Shen to be such a remarkable figure—capable of escaping my Wei Manor’s dungeon with such ease and even rescuing the sixth madam of my household along the way.”

“Flattery won’t help you,” Shen You retorted, stiffening his neck. “I’m not like you effeminate nobles from Hua Jing. If you want to kill me, just say so.”

Wei Yun chuckled lightly, setting down his teacup. He raised his hand, and Wei Xia handed over Shen You’s confession record. Flipping through it, Wei Yun remarked, “I was going to let this go, but discovering your impressive skills has been quite the pleasant surprise. Minister Shen, with abilities like yours—” His gaze abruptly halted on a supplementary note from Wei Manor within the file.

It clearly stated: Shen You went missing on the seventh day of the ninth month. Sucha searched extensively for him, but his whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

The seventh day of the ninth month.

The eighth day was the Wei family’s burial day. Could this date… truly be a coincidence?

Wei Yun’s eyes turned cold as he looked up, his voice dropping several degrees. “Yao Yong must have invested heavily in your training. Letting you go so hastily would be no different from releasing a tiger back into the wild. How about we make a deal?” He leaned forward slightly. “Tell me everything you know, and I’ll let you go—even provide you with a new identity. What do you say?”

“Lord Yao has shown me immense kindness. Don’t even think about it!” Shen You scoffed.

Wei Yun said nothing, calmly flipping through the records. “You’re twenty-three this year. Counting back, twenty-four years ago, my Wei family abandoned Hua City. At the time, our defending forces were insufficient. Holding the city any longer would have meant total annihilation, so we had no choice but to evacuate with most of the civilians.”

Then, slowly, he added, “I’m sorry.”

Shen You’s expression darkened, but he remained silent. Wei Yun lifted his gaze, eyes filled with a ruthlessness as if he wished to carve Shen You into a thousand pieces. “Twenty-four years ago, my Wei family wronged you. Now you’ve repaid that debt—so shouldn’t we settle what you owe us ?”

“How have I repaid anything?” Shen You sneered.

Wei Yun stared at him, his gaze brimming with understanding before he laughed mockingly.

“What happened in White Emperor Valley on the eighth day of the ninth month—have you forgotten?”

At these words, Shen You’s face paled drastically.

Wei Yun watched his reaction, his own eyes like turbulent waves beneath a calm sea.

Yet he restrained himself, only gripping the armrest beneath his sleeve until his knuckles turned white.

Truthfully, he didn’t know the specifics—he had only been testing Shen You. But Shen You’s reaction confirmed his suspicions.

Shen You knew what had happened back then. Worse, he was directly involved!

Maintaining a composed facade, as though he held all the answers, Wei Yun continued coolly, “I’ve reviewed your records. Yao Yong spent a fortune training you, even securing you the position of scout commander under the Northern Di’s second prince, Sucha. Such a high rank—why did you suddenly abandon it?”

“Before the battle at White Emperor Valley, you vanished from the battlefield. Sucha is still searching for you. Don’t you know what you did?”

Shen You remained silent.He gradually calmed down, looking at Wei Yun, realizing that his momentary lapse of composure just now had already allowed Wei Yun to piece together most of the truth.

Seeing Shen You regain his calm, Wei Yun knew he had missed the best opportunity.

He handed the ledger back to Wei Xia and said coldly, "Shen You, no matter how deep your grudge is against my Wei family, by doing this, haven't you done more than just aiding the Northern Di? How is your behavior any different from treason?"

"I never intended to betray my country!" Shen You burst out. Wei Yun looked at him and laughed mockingly.

"For your own selfish gain, you assisted Yao Yong in framing loyal martyrs, causing the deaths of an entire frontline commander's family at a critical moment. With actions like these, you still dare tell me this isn't treason?!"

Wei Yun could no longer restrain himself, suddenly drawing his sword and pointing it at Shen You's nose: "I never imagined you had such capabilities."

Not until he saw Shen You's methods.

Wei Yun knew all too well the immense cost required to cultivate someone with such skills. Why would such a spy not remain with the Northern Di but instead return to Yao Yong's side?

At first, Wei Yun couldn't understand, but after seeing Shen You's confession and the timing of his disappearance, he suddenly realized—

There are only two reasons why such a high-value asset would be recalled: either Shen You had become unusable among the Northern Di, or his purpose there had already been fulfilled.

But why did Shen You go to the Northern Di?

Given Yao Yong's character, was it truly for the nation and its people that he cultivated such a spy to fight the Northern Di?

Impossible. Yao Yong was never that kind of person.

Which meant that on the seventh day of the ninth month, Shen You did something—this was Yao Yong's objective—that forced him to leave the Northern Di.

And then, on the eighth day of the ninth month, the entire Wei family was annihilated on the battlefield.

Wei Yun closed his eyes, feeling a surge of rage in his chest. His hand trembled slightly, afraid that if he looked at this man any longer, he might kill him with a single stroke.

Seeing Wei Yun's state, Shen You remained silent.

After a long while, he finally spoke: "I truly did not betray my country."

"Explain."

Wei Yun clenched his fists, forcing out the words.

Shen You said nothing for a long time before slowly responding, "You've already figured it out, so why must I say it? If I speak, it would be disloyalty."

"If you don't speak, then you are both disloyal and dishonorable!" Wei Yun roared. "Disloyal to your country and unjust to others! Shen You, do you think I'm asking you to speak for no reason? I'm giving you a chance to atone! My Wei Manor has fallen to this state—do you feel no remorse at all?!"

Shen You remained silent. The edge of Wei Yun's sword grazed his face, yet he didn't flinch, prompting Wei Yun to shout again: "Speak!"

"I owe the Wei family my apologies," Shen You lifted his gaze to Wei Yun, his expression calm. "But the Wei family also wronged my mother—"

Before he could finish, Wei Yun slapped him across the face: "If I say the Wei family wronged you, that is our own standard for ourselves. But that is not the way of the world! The Wei family may hold ourselves accountable, but it is not your place to judge us!"

"Since when is speaking the truth unreasonable?" Shen You sneered. "Are mistakes not to be called out?"

"Fine," Wei Yun nodded, handing his sword to Wei Xia and picking up a whip instead. His voice was icy: "If you want to talk about the way of the world, then I'll discuss it with you!""Back when my Wei family defended the city with merely three thousand men against ten thousand enemies, we didn’t abandon the city at once. Instead, we immediately evacuated the civilians and fought fiercely for a day and a night, ensuring most of them escaped safely. After that day, less than half of the three thousand soldiers remained—the other half had escorted the civilians out. The people suffered almost no casualties. By reason and sentiment, did my Wei family, as soldiers, not fulfill our duty?"

"But you left my mother in the city—"

Before Shen You could finish his words, a whip lashed out violently, striking him so hard his vision blurred and his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.

"What is the purpose of Wei Manor? To protect the nation and its people, not to guard your family alone! Did you not witness that battle yourself? Any further delay, and once the enemy seized the city, none would survive the pursuing forces! Should everyone have waited to die just to save your mother and her group? Those fifteen hundred soldiers were left to protect the other civilians from marauding troops along the way. And let me ask you this—"

Wei Yun’s heart surged with venomous thoughts as he pointed the whip at Shen You. "In your mind, are the lives of common people precious, while the lives of those warriors on the battlefield worthless?!"

"There were only a few hundred people left in the city. Must the Wei family’s soldiers have fought to the last man for their sake to be justified? And do you not understand why those people failed to leave in time? Some went back for silver, others to fetch loved ones, and some simply hid, refusing to leave..."

"Even if," Wei Yun’s voice gradually lowered, "even if my Wei family made mistakes in that battle, how could it have come to this?"

Shen You kept his head down, not daring to meet his gaze, as the young man before him rasped, "How could it have come to seventy thousand warriors buried in that valley, never to return?"

Silence fell over the room. Wei Yun stared at Shen You, exhaustion creeping into his voice. "Shen You, if you had even a shred of conscience, you should never have done this."

"I... didn’t mean to."

Shen You slowly closed his eyes. "Wei Yun, though I resented the Wei family, I never intended for them to walk this path."

"Yes, it was I who passed on the message," Shen You took a deep breath and opened his eyes, as if steeling himself. "I learned that the Northern Di planned to ambush you in White Emperor Valley, feigning retreat with remnants of their forces, only to trap you with a hundred thousand troops. So I left the note. But I don’t know what happened—despite my warning, your father still led the pursuit the next day... still..."

Shen You pressed his lips together, gritting his teeth. "I don’t know if I’m at fault here. I don’t know why Marshal Wei pursued beyond the city. But Wei Yun, I never meant to harm your family."

Wei Yun said nothing to this.

He watched as Shen You continued, "After receiving the intelligence, I passed it to Lord Yao. I assumed you would devise a countermeasure. If Sucha failed to ambush you, I feared exposure, so I fled overnight and returned to Lord Yao’s camp."

"Yet everything unfolded beyond my expectations—but that was beyond my control."

"Did Yao Yong do nothing?" Wei Yun’s voice was icy. Shen You’s eyes flashed with mockery. "You think I would know?"

The retort left Wei Yun speechless.

He fell silent. Shen You was right—how could he possibly know what Yao Yong had done?

Without another word, Wei Yun turned away, leaving only a terse command—"Keep him under watch"—before walking out.Wei Yun returned to the ground and hurried toward the delivery room where Wang Lan was giving birth. Upon reaching the door, he saw Jiang Chun supporting Liu Xueyang, standing together with Chu Yu, their faces filled with anxiety.

There was no sound from inside, which only heightened the unease.

Liu Xueyang kept asking, "Will everything be alright?"

Jiang Chun comforted her by her side, and Liu Xueyang managed to calm down somewhat.

Wei Yun walked over to Chu Yu and asked, "How is Sister-in-law doing?"

"No news is good news," Chu Yu replied, unperturbed, smiling faintly. "Let's wait."

As she spoke, Chu Yu noticed the bloodstains on Wei Yun's clothes. He always wore plain white robes, making the blood particularly conspicuous. She frowned in confusion. "Weren't you just asking some questions? Why did it turn violent?"

"Hmm?" Wei Yun glanced down at his sleeve, then said casually, "I found out some things. I'll tell you later."

Chu Yu, preoccupied with Wang Lan, didn’t press further.

By evening, Wang Lan had safely delivered. The midwife carried out a tiny baby, beaming as she announced to Liu Xueyang, "Congratulations, Madam! It’s a little girl!"

Liu Xueyang carefully took the infant, while Chu Yu entered the room first. Wang Lan still lay on the bed, the scent of blood lingering in the air. Chu Yu approached the physician and asked, "Is Sixth Madam alright?"

"Reporting to First Madam, Sixth Madam is well."

"A Yu..."

Wang Lan’s weak voice called from the bed. Chu Yu quickly moved to her side, kneeling down. "I'm here. What is it?"

"That hero..." Wang Lan whispered weakly, "Is he alright?"

Hearing her ask about Shen You, Chu Yu paused, then hesitated. "He should be... fine?"

"I think he’s a good man..." Wang Lan looked at Chu Yu and murmured, "If he hasn’t done anything too wrong, could you tell Xiao Qi to let it go...?"

Chu Yu smiled. "Focus on recovering. Don’t worry about this—I’ll speak to Xiao Qi."

Reassured, Wang Lan nodded and closed her eyes. Seeing her exhaustion, Chu Yu let her rest. Liu Xueyang brought the baby in and gently placed her nearby. Chu Yu left Jiang Chun and Liu Xueyang to watch over them and stepped outside.

Wei Yun was still waiting at the door. Noticing his concern, Chu Yu said, "She’s fine. Don’t worry."

Wei Yun nodded, his expression easing. The two walked aimlessly along the corridor, neither certain of their destination. After a moment, Chu Yu asked thoughtfully, "What did Shen You do to provoke you into acting yourself?"

Wei Yun remained silent. There was much weighing on him, but he couldn’t speak of it. Sensing his mood, Chu Yu frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"Now I finally understand," Wei Yun said, keeping his tone measured, "why Father led the troops out that day."

Chu Yu halted abruptly and turned to face him. Wei Yun stood calmly in the corridor, his expression steady as he continued slowly, "Shen You told you he was a spy Yao Yong planted among the Northern Di. On the seventh day of the ninth month, he learned in advance that the Northern Di would feign defeat to lure my father out of the city, then ambush him at White Emperor Valley. So he sent word to Yao Yong, urging him to prepare."

Chu Yu nodded, piecing it together. "Yao Yong didn’t warn your father?""He did," Wei Yun replied with a trace of mockery in his tone. "If Yao Yong hadn’t informed my father of this matter, if they hadn’t devised a plan that required my father to pursue the enemy outside the city—my father, cautious all his life, would never have knowingly chased into a trap otherwise."

"Then..." Chu Yu pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "Could it be that Yao Yong and your father agreed to turn the enemy’s scheme against them, but in the end, Yao Yong abandoned your father..."

Chu Yu didn’t finish her sentence.

Applying such political maneuvering to soldiers was far too cruel.

Yet Wei Yun shook his head again.

"Do you remember the final reported numbers for the battle at White Emperor Valley? How many against how many?"

"Two hundred thousand against seventy thousand?"

Chu Yu recalled carefully, but Wei Yun prompted her, "Yet Shen You claimed he received intelligence that there were a hundred thousand troops lying in ambush at White Emperor Valley."

Chu Yu froze slightly. Shen You had said there were a hundred thousand troops in White Emperor Valley, but the final report stated two hundred thousand had ambushed them. Either Shen You had lied, or the counters had falsified the numbers. And since Wei Yun had been on the battlefield himself, inflating a hundred thousand to two hundred thousand under his watch after the battle would have been impossible.

"The Northern Di corpses at White Emperor Valley alone numbered nearly a hundred thousand," Wei Yun said calmly. "So Shen You’s numbers were wrong."

"Then he lied?"

"Do you know who Sucha is?"

Wei Yun suddenly shifted the topic to the Northern Di’s Second Prince, Sucha. Chu Yu thought for a moment, quickly sorting through the Northern Di’s royal relations.

Sucha was the second prince, born to a maidservant. His mother had been executed for some offense when he was young, and he was subsequently raised by the empress, groomed as the right-hand man of the Sixth Prince—the Crown Prince Su Hui.

However, Sucha’s abilities were too outstanding. By the time Su Hui ascended the throne, Sucha had already carved out his own domain, fully capable of declaring himself king. Yet his loyalty remained unwavering, so no rift had yet formed between the brothers.

"You may not have faced him in battle, but Sucha is extremely cunning. Think about it—Shen You was born in Huacheng. How could Sucha trust him so completely? And what role did Shen You play under Sucha? Merely a vanguard officer. How could a vanguard officer know about the ambush plans against our army? And with such precision, down to the exact number of troops?"

"Either Shen You betrayed his country, or Sucha deliberately set him up."

Chu Yu understood Wei Yun’s implication and frowned.

Wei Yun’s expression remained composed. "Yao Yong likely fell into Sucha’s trap as well. For this campaign, Yao Yong must have received intelligence. The Crown Prince, eager for glory, saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and ordered Yao Yong and my father to turn the enemy’s scheme against them. At the time, Yao Yong secretly stationed ninety thousand troops in Baicheng, planning to ambush White Emperor Valley in advance. Meanwhile, the Guardian Army kept thirty thousand in the city and sent seventy thousand to engage the enemy. They believed that with the elite forces of our Wei family and Yao Yong’s one hundred forty thousand troops against the enemy’s hundred thousand, they could annihilate them completely. But the intelligence was wrong from the start."

As he spoke, Wei Yun slowly closed his eyes, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his voice hoarse. "When my father and brothers were trapped in the valley, they realized—it wasn’t a hundred thousand troops. It was two hundred thousand."

"And Yao Yong knew the total forces in Baicheng amounted to only one hundred ninety thousand. If they fought head-on, his ninety thousand troops would likely be decimated."Chu Yu understood the scenario Wei Yun had envisioned and supplemented it with Yao Yong's perspective. After speaking, she quietly observed Wei Yun.

In her past life, Wei Yun had managed to turn the tables in a desperate situation without anyone's help—taking Yao Yong’s head to the palace and forcing the emperor to posthumously honor the Wei family. This alone proved his extraordinary intellect and cunning.

His later achievements in both civil and military affairs were certainly not due to mere luck.

Yet, knowing this was one thing. Since Wei Yun had been by her side, always appearing gentle and harmless, for a long time she had even believed him to be nothing more than a docile house dog—one that might bare its teeth when displeased but was ultimately somewhat foolish.

But it wasn’t until now that Chu Yu realized this man could never be described as "foolish."

With only Shen You’s testimony and an investigation of the battlefield, he could piece together scattered fragments to reconstruct the truth of what had happened.

When others heard Shen You’s account, their first reaction was that Yao Yong was at fault—that he had never informed Wei Zhong.

Yet Wei Yun could deduce that not only had Yao Yong informed Wei Zhong, but he had also devised a scheme. At the outset, no one had intended to betray their country or family.

It was only later, as everyone followed their own paths, driven by their own natures, that they were "forced" onto diverging roads.

And he was only fifteen years old now.

Chu Yu silently watched Wei Yun, her heart a tumult of emotions.

Wei Yun, his eyes still closed, trembled slightly as his hands clenched in his sleeves. He continued with his deductions: "He’s always been cowardly. When things spiraled beyond his expectations, he must have been terrified out of his wits. Moreover, the Guardian Army had no ties to him. With my father and brothers dead, he could even become the marshal."

So this scheme might have begun unintentionally.

But by the time it reached that point, Yao Yong had only two possible outcomes—

Either take the blame alongside the Crown Prince, bearing the colossal losses of the battle.

Or, stationed on the mountain, watch as the Wei family was annihilated in White Emperor Valley, then swoop in at the last moment with a token rescue, pretending to have rushed from Qing Province in a surprise attack.

The soldiers below had no idea what was happening. In the chaos of war, they only knew to charge when ordered and halt when commanded.

Yao Yong had fought—but what did it matter if he only did so after the entire Wei family had fallen?

From start to finish, this war had been a conspiracy between the Crown Prince, Yao Yong, and Wei Zhong. With Wei Zhong dead, no one else would ever know.

And with the Crown Prince and Yao Yong’s spies pervasive in the palace, Wei Zhong’s letters might never have reached the emperor’s hands.

The emperor could only rely on his instincts to suspect that the Crown Prince’s reckless ambition had made the Wei family the scapegoat. He could never have imagined that Yao Yong, to protect his own men and avoid imperial censure, had used seventy thousand lives to cover up his incompetence!

It was precisely these layers of deception that emboldened Yao Yong.

And because of this, had Shen You not revealed the truth, everyone would have merely guessed that Yao Yong had shifted the blame for the battle onto Wei Zhong.

Had Wei Yun not personally surveyed the terrain and recognized the breed of horses to confirm Yao Yong’s presence, even Shen You himself wouldn’t have known how his information had been exploited.

People could grasp that Yao Yong had scapegoated the Wei family to evade responsibility—but they could never imagine that this wasn’t just about shifting blame.

Those seventy thousand never had to die.

This battle could have been won.If Yao Yong had fought with all his might, sparing no troops, and resisted desperately alongside the Wei family, with nineteen thousand against twenty thousand—given the Wei family's seven thousand men who had the courage to slay ten thousand—how could they not have won?!

Wei Yun clenched his teeth, but he couldn't suppress the metallic taste in his throat, his lips trembling slightly.

Chu Yu noticed something was wrong and asked worriedly, "Xiao Qi..."

"I'm fine."

Wei Yun's eyes were filled with coldness as he clenched his fists, his voice trembling as he said, "Sister-in-law, I'm fine."

How could this possibly be fine?

Chu Yu looked at him, her heart overflowing with pity.

When Wei Yun raised his gaze and met her eyes, for some reason, he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment. He turned away, his voice hoarse as he said, "I need some time alone. I'll take my leave now."

"Let me accompany you."

Chu Yu quickly spoke up, causing Wei Yun to pause in his steps.

He didn't turn around, his back facing her, the silhouette of the young man appearing particularly desolate.

"Sister-in-law..." His voice was weary. "Some paths... are meant to be walked alone."

"No one can accompany me."

Wei Yun slowly lifted his gaze, looking toward the end of the corridor where the words "Eternal Glory" were inscribed in large characters.

That was the Wei family ancestral hall. The doors of the hall were now open, candles lit on the altar table. The flickering flames cast light upon the names on the memorial tablets.

Wei Yun stared at their names and spoke slowly, "And no one should accompany me either."

These paths were so bitter, so filthy, so difficult—why drag others into the mire to suffer alongside him?

After saying this, Wei Yun strode swiftly toward the ancestral hall and, with a loud "bang," shut the doors behind him.

Chu Yu stood in the corridor, her gaze slowly lifting to the black plaque with golden characters—

Eternal Glory.

Chu Yu stared at those four words for a long time without speaking. Changyue, somewhat confused, asked, "Madam, what are you looking at?"

Chu Yu didn't answer. Wanyue draped a cloak over her shoulders and said gently, "Madam, everything will pass."

"It will pass," Chu Yu turned her head and sighed softly. "But my heart aches."

"In this lifetime," Chu Yu said sincerely, "I've never ached for someone like this before."

In her past life, she hadn't felt this way for Gu Chusheng because she always believed he would never fall. No pain could break him, no hardship could stop him.

But in this life, Wei Yun—though he was no different from the young Gu Chusheng, both having suffered family tragedies and having to stand up again—made her heart wrench when she saw him stumbling along the way, especially when he said, "Some paths are meant to be walked alone."

She ached for him.

This was the first time Chu Yu realized that the emotions she had invested in this child had long surpassed what she thought was mere moral obligation and responsibility.

With a sigh, she stepped forward, resting her hand on the doorframe. After a long silence, she finally just said, "Xiao Qi."

There was no response from inside. He knelt on the prayer mat, having removed his Jade Crown, his expression calm as he gazed at the memorial tablets.

To him, they seemed like countless pairs of eyes, watching him, scrutinizing him, demanding that he straighten his back and engrave this hatred and vengeance deep in his heart.

In this world under the gaze of those eyes, everything was frozen and merciless.

Yet, at this very moment, someone seemed to arrive like a warm lantern in the cold winter night.

When she came, light spilled across the heavens and earth, melting ice into spring streams, dissolving darkness into moonlight.

She stood outside the door and said softly, "Xiao Qi, don't be sad. Even if your father and brothers are gone, you still have me from now on."

"Sister-in-law will stay with you. Don't be afraid, alright?"

Wei Yun didn't speak. He stared at the flickering candlelight before him, the flames casting shadows over Wei Jun's name.

It felt as though his elder brother was right there before him—yet somehow, it was different.The stark difference left him speechless. He couldn't comprehend why, so he could only straighten his back, close his eyes, and remain silent.

Chu Yu waited for a while, hearing no sound from within. She sighed and said, "I'll leave first. Stay a little longer before going back. The ancestral hall is cold—don't catch a chill."

After speaking, she turned and headed back to her room.

Only when her footsteps had completely faded did Wei Yun's heart finally settle.

Chu Yu had been worried that Wei Yun might be too grief-stricken to recover quickly. She stayed awake all night, constantly asking for updates about him. It wasn't until Wei Yun finally fell asleep that she relaxed and could rest peacefully.

When she woke the next day, Chu Yu hurried to find Wei Yun. The sun was out that morning, casting a beautiful light. As she approached, she saw Wei Yun crouching in front of the long corridor, feeding a cat.

At some point, he had begun emulating the noble young masters of Hua Jing, donning elaborate Wide-sleeved Robes and wearing an exquisitely carved Jade Crown.

As he bent down to play with the cat, his sleeves brushed the ground. He stroked the cat's fur, and the feline seemed utterly attached to him, rubbing against his hand affectionately.

Seeing Wei Yun like this, Chu Yu immediately felt relieved. She stepped forward and asked, "You seem in better spirits today?"

"Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law," Wei Yun smiled. "I'm doing alright."

"Have you come to terms with it?"

Chu Yu stood behind him. He no longer crouched but instead picked up the cat and stood, walking with her toward the dining hall.

As they walked, Wei Yun said, "What does 'coming to terms' even mean? What's happened has happened. I've just come to understand how they died—that's all. It's just a bit saddening."

"Yao Yong won't have a good ending," Chu Yu offered clumsily. In her past life, Wei Yun had entered the imperial study carrying Yao Yong's severed head.

Hearing this, Wei Yun smiled gently. "Yes, I believe that."

"Xiao Qi..." Chu Yu hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Although what Yao Yong did was wrong, I still hope you won't be influenced by him. There are still more good people in this world."

"What are you trying to say, sister-in-law?" Wei Yun stroked the cat, already understanding her meaning but feigning ignorance. Chu Yu sighed. "I'm afraid you might go down the wrong path."

The Wei Yun of her past life was neither entirely good nor entirely bad.

He was a man who killed without hesitation, once slaughtering an entire city to intimidate the enemy. His methods against his foes were never what one would call honorable.

Yet, on the other hand, he upheld the northern border of Great Chu, safeguarding the kingdom's security for twelve years. To those who treated him well, he was open and upright.

Still, if possible, Chu Yu hoped that titles like "Living Yama" wouldn't follow Wei Yun.

Why should a young general of such renown become a villain?

Wei Yun listened to Chu Yu's words and slowly smiled.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law," he said, his hand resting on the cat, gently stroking its soft fur. "Life is but a journey of cultivation. To transcend the world, one must first immerse in it. Only by witnessing the great sorrows, sufferings, and evils of this mortal realm and still retaining one's true heart can one achieve true goodness."

"I think everything I've experienced is just part of that cultivation." Wei Yun bent down and set the cat on the ground. "Once I've walked through it, it will be complete. So I'm in no hurry."

"I won't go down the wrong path, sister-in-law. You needn't worry."

With a guiding light on the road, even if the dust of the world clouds one's vision, one can still follow that light forward.However, Wei Yun would never voice these thoughts. He was gradually realizing that some words perhaps should remain unspoken.

Seeing that Wei Yun was taking things in stride, Chu Yu felt reassured. After chatting with him for a while, she went to visit Wang Lan.

When she arrived, Wang Lan was writing something on her bed. Chu Yu lifted the curtain and entered with a smile, asking, "What are you writing?"

"I heard that the brave man who saved me is locked in the dungeon—a dangerous figure. But since he did save me, and I can't free him, I thought I'd at least send him some good food as a token of gratitude."

Wang Lan pursed her lips slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed as she added, "I'm writing a note to explain that this meal is to repay his kindness, so he doesn’t need to worry."

Chu Yu nodded casually. "That’s nice."

She already understood Wei Yun’s reasons for imprisoning Shen You. The incident likely couldn’t be pinned on Shen You, and keeping him locked up was merely a precaution in case Wei Yun’s judgment was wrong. For now, he wouldn’t be released.

Since Wang Lan wanted to send the food, Chu Yu helped her deliver it.

Wang Lan had prepared not only the meal but also a note that read: To my savior, I am endlessly grateful for your kindness. I have prepared this humble meal in your honor. Please accept it with my deepest thanks.

Shen You took the note, sneered, and said to Chu Yu, "Tell her this for me: If she knows her 'savior' is unjustly imprisoned and still doesn’t lift a finger to help, then tossing me a meal like I’m some beggar won’t cut it! The fact that I can’t escape is on her—she’s responsible for me now!"

Chu Yu sighed inwardly. Shen You then added, "Oh, wait. You probably won’t relay that. Get me paper and ink. I’ll write it myself, and she’ll have to reply on the same page to confirm she’s read it!"

Chu Yu: "…"

Not wanting to argue with him further, she did as he asked, quickly delivered the food, and brought his letter back to Wang Lan.

Upon reading it, Wang Lan burst into tears. "It’s not my fault! How can he blame me for him being locked up? I didn’t make him commit any crimes! Why should I be responsible for him?"

Chu Yu: "…"

She figured only Shen You could make sense of Wang Lan’s logic.

And so, the two began exchanging increasingly heated notes through their meal deliveries, their messages growing more private until they stopped showing them to others altogether.

By then, spring had arrived, and the emperor had finally lost patience, forcing the Song Family to mobilize their troops. Song Shilan refused, but Song Wenchang, seething from the taunts at the front lines, was eager for battle.

Chu Yu calculated the timing—this was when Song Wenchang would be trapped. It was the perfect opportunity to kill him. If not for Song Shilan’s reluctant assistance under his father’s orders, Song Wenchang would have died long ago instead of holding out for a month until Chu Linyang’s reinforcements arrived.

But this time was different. Song Shilan now had Wei Yun’s backing. Even if he took Song Wenchang’s life, if his father retaliated, Wei Yun could supply him with troops to fight back directly. The outcome was unpredictable.

Thus, Song Shilan no longer feared his father, and Song Wenchang had lost his value as a bargaining chip.

Without Song Shilan’s protection, even if Song Shilan didn’t act, Song Wenchang wouldn’t last long.

And it all unfolded even faster than Chu Yu had anticipated.

On the first day of spring, news arrived from the border: Song Wenchang was trapped.

Chu Yu received the report in the morning, and by afternoon, Chu Jin came looking for her.

Knowing what she wanted, Chu Yu had her admitted. The moment she saw Chu Jin’s frantic expression and eyes full of fear, she understood."Sister..." Her thoughts were in complete disarray. "I heard Song Shizi is trapped on the battlefield? Sister, is Young Master Wei Yun here? Please beg him to go rescue Song Shizi!"

Hearing Chu Jin mention Wei Yun, Chu Yu was momentarily stunned. She set down her teacup and sighed. "A-Jin, matters of the battlefield aren't something you can dictate as you please. If you're worried that something might happen to Song Shizi and it would affect your marriage prospects, you needn't—"

"What kind of person do you take me for?!"

Chu Jin raised her voice. "Do you think I only care about his status and position?!"

Chu Yu was taken aback by her outburst. Chu Jin pressed her lips together tightly. "Sister, hearts are made of flesh too. He's been good to me—I'm not unaware of that."

"Sister," she knelt down. "I'm begging you, please save him."

Chu Yu remained silent for a long while before speaking slowly. "Hearts are indeed made of flesh. Wei Yun has been good to me too, and I'm not unaware of that. But knowing that, how could I possibly ask him to take such a risk? Why do you think Xiao Qi is still in Hua Jing? Can't you see the reason?"

Her words drained the color from Chu Jin's face. Chu Yu continued calmly, "A-Jin, if you want to save him, you can go yourself—I won't stop you. But if you go, don't drag others into it. If you truly care for him, then go to his side yourself. Begging others to sacrifice for you—what kind of logic is that?"

Feeling weary, Chu Yu stood up. "That's all I have to say. I'll take my leave now."

Chu Jin remained kneeling on the ground, watching as Chu Yu walked away, her body trembling slightly.

Clenching her teeth, she stood up after a long moment and resolutely strode out.

The moment Chu Jin left Wei Manor, Chu Yu summoned the Covert Guards and instructed calmly, "If she tries to find the eldest young master, intercept her as soon as she approaches Luozhou. Keep her detained until the battle is over before releasing her."

"If necessary," Chu Yu closed her eyes, "using extreme measures is not out of the question."

Author's Note: See you tomorrow at 8 PM ><

[Bonus Scene]

Mo Shubai: "Shen You, the other characters have complained that your script is too distinctive. What do you think about this issue?"

Shen You: "I always feel like I'm not twisted enough to fit in with them."

Wei Jun: "Brother, come here. I'll personally whip you."

Chu Yu: "Please whip him harder."

Gu Chusheng: "After you're done, I'll lend him money for medical fees—at quadruple interest."

Wang Lan: "Wuwuwu, why must you treat a hero like this?"

Jiang Chun: "I'm still the best—quiet and peaceful."

Liu Xueyang: "Should I cry... or not cry..."