Fight For Love

After Chu Jin left, Chu Yu clasped her hands in front of her, watching the courtyard snow melt under the warm sun.

Since Chu Jin had come to plead with her, the matter of Song Wenchang could no longer be delayed. Even if Chu Jin couldn't make it to Luozhou, she couldn't allow Song Wenchang to remain alive.

After pondering for a moment, just as she was about to issue some orders, word came from outside—Jiang Chun had arrived.

Nowadays, most of the household affairs were managed by Jiang Chun. When Jiang Chun visited, it was usually to go over accounts or discuss social engagements that required attendance. However, the accounts had just been reviewed two days prior, so Chu Yu couldn't help but feel puzzled by her visit today.

Yet she didn't dwell on it, instead stepping forward to welcome Jiang Chun in with a smile. "No visit without a reason—we just went over the accounts two days ago. What brings you here today?"

"I came because there's something I wanted to discuss with you."

Jiang Chun approached and sighed. "I'm planning to make a trip soon."

This took Chu Yu by surprise, but she quickly recovered. "If you want to go out, just inform Mother-in-law and go. What do you need from me?"

Chu Yu chuckled. "With all this chaos and fighting everywhere, surely you're not planning a long journey?"

Instead of denying it, Jiang Chun nodded in confirmation.

Chu Yu looked at her in astonishment. Jiang Chun had been married into the family for many years and had always been very proper. Though not as reclusive as Wang Lan or Zhang Han, who rarely stepped beyond the inner courtyards, she seldom went out—mostly just to temples to burn incense and chant sutras. She hadn't even returned to her maiden home more than a handful of times.

Setting down her teacup, Chu Yu asked with concern, "Has something happened?"

"I've heard troops are approaching Fenshui. An old childhood friend of mine lives there," Jiang Chun explained with another sigh. "Don't laugh at me, but I want to go to Fenshui to stand up for her. If possible, I might even bring her back to Wei Manor and find her a position here."

"That's a small matter," Chu Yu nodded, curious. "What happened to this lady?"

"She and her husband were betrothed since childhood. When they grew up, he disliked her and insisted on marrying a courtesan instead. His mother forced him to marry my friend while taking the other woman as a concubine. Because of this, her husband resented her, favoring the concubine over his wife. Now she lives in utter misery."

Jiang Chun sighed again. "Yesterday, I received a letter from her saying she has a child and no longer wishes to keep them in that household. She wants to entrust the child to me. I originally planned to go after things here settled down, but today I received news that troops are nearing Fenshui. I'm afraid if fighting breaks out there, her husband certainly won't take her when fleeing. It'll be hard to find her afterward."

Chu Yu understood Jiang Chun's feelings. Jiang Chun had few close confidantes in life—this childhood friend must be very important to her.

"Then have Xiao Qi prepare an escort for you," Chu Yu said quickly. "Go and return swiftly. The Northern Di are indeed advancing toward Fenshui—if you delay, fighting may break out."

She added, "I'll also give you a letter. If anything happens, you can seek out Song Shilan—"

Mid-sentence, Chu Yu paused. She had just been thinking about who to send with the letter and the person to deal with Song Wenchang.The matter of fratricide was of grave importance, and not a whisper of it could be leaked. Unless Song Shilan was completely assured that the person was from the Wei family, he would never act rashly. Now that Jiang Chun was going, as the second madam of the Wei family, there was no doubt about her identity. Moreover, it was perfectly normal for Jiang Chun to bring elite guards with her. After killing Song Wenchang, she would return immediately, and no one would be able to connect the two incidents.

Chu Yu pondered for a moment before turning to Jiang Chun. "Sister, there's something I'd like to ask of you."

"Hmm?"

Jiang Chun looked up as Chu Yu rose and quickly wrote a letter at the desk. She sealed it in an envelope and handed it to Jiang Chun.

"I'll have Xiao Qi assign you two teams—one of ordinary guards as an overt escort, and another of elite assassins operating covertly. You'll openly head to Fenshui, but secretly take the assassins to Xuancheng at night. Deliver this letter to Song Shilan and assist him in killing Song Wenchang."

Hearing this, Jiang Chun's expression turned serious. "You want Song Shilan to kill his elder brother and take his place?"

"This is part of the deal between Xiao Qi and Song Shilan."

After a moment of silence, Jiang Chun said, "But wouldn't acting now be too hasty?"

"Song Wenchang is already besieged by the Northern Di in Xiaoju County," Chu Yu explained. "His survival hinges entirely on Song Shilan's harassment tactics, which prevent the Northern Di from launching a full-scale attack. Moreover, the Northern Di might be using Song Wenchang as bait to lure the Great Chu into sending troops to Xuancheng, thereby leaving other key points vulnerable. I fear my brother might actually go to rescue him, so if this man is to die, it's better he dies sooner."

"Once you arrive, have Song Shlan launch a night raid on the Northern Di. When chaos ensues, Song Wenchang will inevitably ascend the city walls to observe the battle. Have the assassins scale the walls under cover of darkness, behead Song Wenchang, and throw his body into the battlefield to frame the Northern Di assassins. Then withdraw immediately."

"The assassins will carry fire starters," Chu Yu added, pursing her lips before continuing, "If discovered, they are to ignite themselves, leaving no trace behind."

The killing of Song Wenchang must not be linked to Song Shilan in any way, nor to the Wei family.

Jiang Chun remained silent for a while before nodding. "I understand. You can rest assured about this matter. I'll depart tomorrow, and the household will be in your care. If you need to go out, delegate matters to A Lan."

Chu Yu acknowledged, and Jiang Chun frowned slightly. "There's one more thing—you should keep an eye on A Lan and that person in the dungeon."

"What about them?"

Chu Yu was puzzled, unsure why Jiang Chun suddenly brought this up. But since Jiang Chun managed the household, she was privy to all affairs, big and small. If she mentioned it, something must have happened.

"I feel that A Lan has been corresponding with that person rather frequently lately."

Jiang Chun voiced her concern. "After all, that person is imprisoned in the dungeon. I worry about the implications of their status... Isn't it somewhat inappropriate? But this is A Lan's choice, and I can't interfere too much..."

As Jiang Chun spoke, Chu Yu finally understood. Her eyes widened in surprise. "But with Shen You's sharp tongue, weren't they just quarreling? I... I recall their first exchange ended with A Lan in tears from his words!"Jiang Chun listened to Chu Yu's words and looked at her helplessly. "You're usually so sharp-witted in other matters, how come you haven't figured this out yet? Who keeps quarreling by exchanging letters every single day? If two people truly disliked each other, they wouldn't even look at one another, let alone eagerly send five meals a day just to pass messages?"

"Ah?"

Chu Yu was genuinely puzzled. Someone like Shen You—wasn't it a miracle he hadn't been angered to death already? And yet he was thinking about it every day?

Five meals a day?

"Breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon, snacks in the afternoon, dinner in the evening, and then even a midnight snack before bed!"

Chu Yu fell silent. She thought that Shen You must be living extremely well at Wei Manor.

Seeing the realization dawn on her, Jiang Chun sighed. "Actually, as long as A Lan is happy, it's fine. But this person's identity, after all..."

"Identity isn't the issue."

The issue lay in what Shen You had done.

At its core, Chu Yu's feelings toward the Wei family were more those of a follower. She saw the Wei family as the executors of her beliefs, which was why she had come to Wei Manor. The warmth she found there made her grateful. It wasn't until later, when she got to know people like Jiang Chun and Wei Yun, that she gradually moved the Wei family from a symbolic position in her heart to a living, breathing presence—like family.

But she was ultimately not like Wang Lan, a young mistress who had loved her husband and borne his children. So when it came to Shen You, she could see things more clearly.

During the battle at White Emperor Valley, Shen You had relayed incorrect information—though it was half-true, not entirely false. At the time, it was supposed to be a defensive war of attrition. Even if the enemy had laid an ambush with a hundred thousand troops, they shouldn't have engaged. Chu Yu had repeatedly emphasized this because, whether looking back then or now, the correct strategy was to hold the city. The Northern Di would retreat on their own once their supplies ran out.

Chu Yu didn't know why Wei Zhong had led the troops out, much less why he had taken the entire Wei family into battle. If they had stayed to defend the city, even if the numbers in the message had been wrong, things wouldn't have ended this way.

More importantly, even if they had engaged, it wasn't unwinnable. Nineteen thousand against twenty thousand—it could have gone either way. But Yao Yong had fled the battlefield, leading to their defeat.

The decisive factor in that battle wasn't Shen You. Whether his message had said ten thousand or twenty thousand, it wasn't the key reason they lost. The real issue was that the battle shouldn't have been fought in the first place, and even if it had, Yao Yong shouldn't have fled.

Even if we disregard that the crux of the battle didn't lie with Shen You, let's assume for argument's sake that he was at fault. His mistake was negligence, not malice, and objectively unavoidable. His crime was akin to the Wei family abandoning the city—a matter of conscience. Punishment would serve only as a warning. In high-risk roles like espionage, if mistakes made despite one's best efforts were still punished, who would willingly take on difficult tasks?

But for those directly affected—Wang Lan, who lost her husband; Wei Yun, who lost his father and brothers; and Shen You, forced onto the battlefield—letting go of this grudge was far harder.

Anyone connected to the deaths in the Wei family would find it difficult to face.

Thus, while Chu Yu could set aside the entanglement between Wei Yun, Wang Lan, and Shen You, Wang Lan might never be able to accept it.

After some thought, Chu Yu said to Jiang Chun, "Don't worry too much about this. I'll keep an eye on them."

Jiang Chun nodded. Since Chu Yu was handling it, she didn't need to trouble herself further.After Jiang Chun and Chu Yu went over the details of their trip to Fenshui once more, Jiang Chun left to change course and find Wei Yun.

Chu Yu sat in her room for a while, thinking, then decided to go down to the dungeon.

Shen You was in the dungeon, eating while scribbling something, looking extremely pleased.

During his time in the dungeon, he had visibly gained weight, appearing much livelier than the cold-blooded assassin they had first encountered.

As soon as Chu Yu entered, he held up a chicken leg in one hand and a brush in the other, saying, "Don’t come to collect it yet—I haven’t finished writing!"

"How long are you planning to write?"

Chu Yu chuckled as she took a seat on a chair. Shen You froze, then looked up at her in surprise. "What are you doing here? I’ve already confessed everything I could!"

Chu Yu smiled without answering, studying him for a moment before remarking, "You look well, Young Master Shen. It seems life in Wei Manor suits you."

Shen You didn’t respond. He set down the chicken leg, slightly flustered. "If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush."

"Fine," Chu Yu nodded. "I just came to ask—I heard you’ve been getting along well with Wei Manor’s Sixth Madam lately?"

At this, Shen You’s expression stiffened. "What nonsense are you spouting? That little lady and I argue every chance we get—how could we possibly be getting along?"

"Oh, is that so?" Chu Yu nodded. "That’s a relief."

Shen You exhaled, only for Chu Yu to continue, "Do you remember what you’ve done?"

Shen You trembled slightly before turning to face her. Chu Yu’s gaze remained gentle. "I’m not here to trouble you. But Shen You, feelings should be open and honest. It’s best if you have no interest in A Lan. But if you do, there are things you need to clarify sooner rather than later."

Shen You stayed silent for a long while before finally speaking in a low voice, "What things are you talking about?"

"Do you really not know what I’m referring to?"

"Shen You," Chu Yu leaned forward slightly. "The things you’ve done—do you truly believe you bear no responsibility at all?"

Shen You let out a cold laugh. "What responsibility do I have?"

"If you think you’ve done nothing wrong, then why did you tell Xiao Qi about these things?"

Chu Yu stared at him, her eyes filled with understanding. "If you hadn’t spoken, we might never have known you were involved. And perhaps Xiao Qi would never have learned the truth."

"You told us," Chu Yu said calmly. "Isn’t it because you wanted to make amends? You delivered the wrong message—though unintentionally, it was still your mistake. But since it wasn’t entirely your fault, and you’ve already suffered Young Master Wei’s lashings, Wei Manor won’t pursue it further. But in your own conscience—do you feel no guilt?"

"You do." Chu Yu’s voice was firm as she locked eyes with him, her gaze piercing.

"You could have stayed under Yao Yong’s command as a carefree assassin. But not only did you come to Hua Jing to kill Gu Chusheng, you also exposed your accent in front of everyone. That shout didn’t have to come from you—did it?"Shen You remained silent. Chu Yu looked at him with a hint of regret. "You knew the Wei family was present, so you deliberately got yourself caught by shouting that phrase with a Northern Di accent. In your confession, you also intentionally singled out the date of the seventh day of the ninth month. If you wanted to hide it, you could have chosen a less sensitive time. You did all this to lead us into making you speak. Do you think this method does justice to your benefactor, Yao Yong? Or do you believe enduring a beating from the Wei family would ease your conscience?"

"Shen You," Chu Yu sighed softly, "why go to such lengths?"

Shen You stayed silent. Chu Yu continued slowly, "What's done is done. Let the past be past. But you must think clearly about your relationship with the Sixth Madam. In matters of the heart, you must be honest. Whatever you've done, she deserves to know first."

"If I don't tell her," Shen You rasped, "will you?"

Chu Yu paused briefly. "I hadn't considered it."

Then she looked at him. "Will you keep it from her?"

The air grew still for a moment before Chu Yu sighed. "A man of your caliber—why force yourself into such a state?"

"Fine."

Shen You suddenly spoke up, taking a deep breath. "Then, Madam, may I trouble you to allow me to bathe and change? I wish to speak to her myself."

Chu Yu nodded and gave the necessary orders before turning away. "I'll wait for you."

Shen You acknowledged her. As Chu Yu reached the door, Shen You suddenly called out, "Madam."

She halted and looked back to see Shen You kneeling on the ground, his expression calm. "I act this way because I know how hard it is to forgive someone."

"Back then, the Wei family did everything they could, yet my mother still suffered because of it. Even now, I hold a grudge against them. And because of my misdelivered message, the Wei family ended up in this state. To speak of forgiveness—it would feel too stifling. So I fear the Wei family might forgive me out of magnanimity. If they hate me, let them hate me openly. A petty man like me doesn’t deserve such nobility. Whether they beat me, curse me, or even kill me—I’ll accept it all."

Chu Yu shook her head at him.

"What good would your death do?" she sighed. "If you truly feel remorse, why not dedicate yourself to serving the country and its people? Let your actions ease your conscience."

"As for forgiveness—to be frank, in my eyes, your mistakes in this battle are insignificant. There’s no need for such self-reproach. What others think, however, is not for me to say."

"Shen You," Shen You bowed deeply, "thank you, Madam."

Chu Yu nodded and left.

In the main hall, Chu Yu waited with a book in hand until Wanyue announced Shen You's arrival.

Dressed in a white robe with a green overcoat, his hair tied with a pinewood crown, Shen You stood before her. Chu Yu set the book down and nodded. "Come with me."

She then led Shen You to Wang Lan's quarters.

Wang Lan was still recuperating. When Chu Yu arrived, she was on the bed, playing with her child.

Entering the room, Chu Yu smiled. "A Lan, how are you feeling?"

Seeing Chu Yu, Wang Lan hurried to rise, but Chu Yu quickly stepped forward and gently stopped her. "Rest easy. Today, I’ve come on someone else’s behalf."

"Oh?" Wang Lan blinked. "What is it, Madam?"

"Shen You wishes to see you."Chu Yu smiled as she spoke, and Wang Lan was momentarily stunned before hurriedly saying, "This... how can this be appropriate? He is an unrelated man after all, and moreover..."

"Don't be so quick to refuse."

Chu Yu sighed: "Listen to me. Your family previously discussed with the Wei Manor that once the child turns two, you would return to the Wang Family."

Wang Lan remained silent, pressing her lips together without a word.

Observing her expression, Chu Yu said gently, "Shen You likely has feelings for you."

"This matter..." Wang Lan sighed. "Let's talk about it later. For these two years, I only wish to stay peacefully at the Wei Manor."

"But do you truly have no feelings for him at all?"

"Madam..."

"If there are feelings, it's better to speak openly." Chu Yu insisted: "At least hear what he has to say?"

Hearing this, Wang Lan pressed her lips together and finally said, "Then please wait a moment, Madam. I will come after freshening up."

Chu Yu acknowledged and went to the front hall, having a screen set up with Shen You waiting outside it.

She patted Shen You's shoulder and said calmly, "I'll step out first."

Shen You responded, appearing rather nervous.

After a while, Wang Lan emerged from the room, holding a round fan that covered her face as she came behind the screen. She knelt properly and called softly, "Young Master Shen."

Shen You seemed momentarily at a loss, kneeling silently on the floor.

After a quiet moment, Wang Lan couldn't hold back: "Madam just told me you have something to say, Young Master Shen. May I ask what it is?"

As she spoke, Wang Lan couldn't help but lower her head.

She had some inkling of what Shen You might say. Though their recent correspondence had been full of bickering, to claim she was completely unaware of his feelings would be untrue.

But Wei Rong had not been gone long, and she couldn't overcome the guilt in her heart. Yet when his letters came, she couldn't resist replying.

Each time she told herself it was just proper correspondence, but late at night she would toss and turn, despising her own wantonness.

Now that Shen You was here, she felt even more uneasy—afraid he might speak, yet also afraid he might not, her heart in turmoil. She resolved that if he confessed, she would refuse.

If he truly liked her, he would wait.

If he couldn't wait, then it wasn't true affection.

Having steeled herself with these thoughts, Wang Lan finally spoke up. But after her words, there was only silence. After what felt like an eternity, she heard his hoarse voice: "Shen You has come... to beg Sixth Madam's forgiveness."

His words faltered three times, spoken with great difficulty. Wang Lan was taken aback: "What wrong have you done that requires forgiveness?"

Shen You closed his eyes: "The crime of harming the Wei family. Shen You has come to confess."

At these words, Wang Lan's eyes widened, while Shen You found his resolve in the darkness.

He had prepared for this moment—what was there to fear now?

He hadn't flinched before Wei Yun's piercing gaze, so why fear a young woman behind a screen?

Shen You's voice was steady as he slowly recounted his life.

He was born in the pleasure quarters, his mother captured by the Northern Di when the city fell and sold into prostitution. He grew up in the Northern Di until thirteen, enduring humiliation until his mother succumbed to abuse. Then a general conquered that city and rescued all the citizens of Chu.To avenge his mother, he was taken in by that general and trained as a spy. At seventeen, he returned to the Northern Di and joined their military camp, becoming a vanguard officer under the second prince, Sucha.

Then he delivered the wrong message, and seventy thousand members of the Wei family perished in White Emperor Valley.

He knelt before Wang Lan, his voice hoarse as he said, "Though I do not know exactly what happened, I am certain that the tragedy of the Wei family is connected to me. Though Shen You is a despicable man, I have not lost my conscience. After much torment, I seized the opportunity to kill Gu Chusheng and came specifically to Wei Manor to confess."

Hearing these words, Wang Lan was utterly stunned.

She looked at the man outside, unsure of what emotions to feel. Upon learning the circumstances of her husband's death, her eyes brimmed with tears, yet she knew it would be improper to weep openly. She could only say, "These words, Young Master Shen, should have been spoken to the Marquis. What is the point of coming to apologize to me now?"

"The dead cannot return..." Wang Lan's voice trembled with suppressed sobs. "Even if I wished to blame you, what could I possibly do?"

The sobbing choked back all of Shen You's words, rendering whatever he might say utterly despicable.

He had intended to say that the reason he came to beg forgiveness from the lady was because he wished to ask for her hand in marriage, willing to go through fire and water to atone for his sins, hoping for her mercy.

Yet these tears blocked his words mercilessly. No matter what, he couldn't bring himself to speak them now.

So he knelt on the ground, and after a long while, could only say: "My lady has just given birth, please don't grieve too much. Shen You is guilty, willing to serve you like an ox or horse. Even if you refuse, I will still exert myself in your service."

"Leave!"

Wang Lan would hear no more.

To have such feelings for someone indirectly responsible for her husband's death—how utterly shameful was this?

Her sorrow turned to humiliation as she raised her voice: "Never meet again. Get out now!"

Shen You said nothing. Hearing these words, he understood.

For Wang Lan, perhaps she would never wish to see him again in this lifetime.

Kneeling prostrate, Shen You couldn't help but slowly raise his head.

Behind the screen, only a faint silhouette was visible, yet he remembered clearly the shimmering light in her eyes when he first encountered her.

Was he really the type to lose his head at the sight of a beautiful woman?

It was only when those eyes looked into his heart that he understood this compassion.

He gazed greedily at the figure behind the screen.

To call this feeling a solemn vow would be excessive.

But this faint stirring of the heart was Shen You's first experience of its kind. This was his first time in Hua Jing, his first time in the south. As he had imagined, the scenery here was delicate and refined—even affection could be so gentle and lingering.

Listening to the sobs, he finally lowered his head.

"As my lady commands, Shen You will take his leave."

With these words, he kowtowed, stood up, and walked to the door. At the threshold, he couldn't resist turning back.

"Sixth Madam," he said hoarsely, looking at the screen, "though these words are shameful, my feelings for you are genuine."

Wang Lan froze momentarily as Shen You turned and left.

With the wind carrying snow, his departure was as clean and decisive as his usual northern manner—without looking back.

Wang Lan slowly raised her head. Beyond the screen, only tree branches swayed gently in the wind. Biting her lower lip, she finally couldn't hold back her quiet sobs.

Chu Yu stood on the long corridor, hands tucked in her sleeves, leaning casually against a pillar. Seeing Shen You approach, she straightened and said calmly, "Finished talking?"

"Yes."

As they walked, Chu Yu escorted Shen You back to the dungeon: "You'll likely need to stay at Wei Manor a while longer. Until this matter is fully investigated and Yao Yong is dead, you probably can't leave."

"Mm."

Seeing his expression, Chu Yu remarked lightly, "Didn't go well?"

"As it should be."

Shen You replied calmly. After some thought, Chu Yu asked, "If you had feelings for Sixth Madam from the start, why didn't you speak sooner?"

Shen You remained silent for a long while before finally answering: "I didn't have such feelings initially—it was just polite correspondence. In prison with nothing to do, when her letters came, I replied."

Lifting his gaze to the sky, he continued slowly: "By the time feelings developed, I didn't dare speak of them, nor intended to. Once I left Wei Manor, this matter would have ended."

"And now?"

Shen You didn't answer immediately. After a long pause, he took a deep breath.

"I want to marry her."He looked up at Chu Yu, who paused in her steps, somewhat surprised. Shen You's gaze was resolute: "After talking with you earlier, I've thought it through. You're right—what meaning would there be if I died today? The battle at White Emperor Valley was full of unanswered questions; it was never solely my fault. I will help the young marquis uncover the truth. Once I've helped the Wei family avenge their loss, I'll dedicate myself to her. If she likes me in this lifetime, that's good. If not, it doesn't matter."

"You haven't known her for long, have you?"

Chu Yu couldn't quite understand such feelings. Shen You chuckled softly: "I've never liked anyone before. Honestly, if she were just an ordinary girl and rejected me, I'd leave it at that. But she's the Sixth Madam Wei."

There was bitterness in Shen You's eyes.

The Sixth Madam of the Wei family—he owed the Wei family, owed her.

Even if she didn't like him, he had to make amends.

Staying by her side was both atonement and pursuit.

He didn't know when she would let go, or when he would find peace. But this was the path he wanted to walk.

Chu Yu understood the meaning behind his words. The two fell silent until a clear, youthful voice rang out: "What are you doing here?"

Chu Yu and Shen You turned to see Wei Yun standing at the corridor's entrance, frowning at Shen You. Just as Chu Yu was about to explain, Shen You laughed and said, "This old man has charmed your Madam Wei into a daze—"

Before he could finish, Wei Yun flicked his sleeve, sending Shen You tumbling into the courtyard. Shen You scrambled up, cursing, "Wei Yun, I'll fu—"

His words were cut short as Wei Qiu stuffed a cloth into his mouth and dragged him away.

Wei Yun turned to Chu Yu, who awkwardly said, "He was just spouting nonsense..."

Wei Yun nodded. "I know." Then he turned and asked, "Sister-in-law, are you heading to the dining hall?"

"It's about time," Chu Yu nodded, walking alongside Wei Yun. Though he didn't ask, she eagerly embellished the story of how she had brought Shen You out.

Wei Yun listened with a frown, then asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, are you saying Shen You has taken a liking to Sixth Sister-in-law?"

"That's right."

Chu Yu nodded, studying Wei Yun's expression before hesitantly adding, "I suppose you really don't like Shen You..."

Wei Yun understood what she meant and shook his head. "I can separate matters. I'm just surprised," he said with a gentle smile. "That someone like him could be so devoted to another."

"When you meet the right person, anyone can be like that," Chu Yu replied with a smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Wei Yun glanced at her, noticing a flower bud on a branch just behind her. Unable to resist, he asked, "Can liking someone really make you willing to give up everything for them?"

Chu Yu was taken aback, then remembered—a fifteen-year-old boy must be at that curious age.

She smiled faintly. "That depends on how much you like them."

Wei Yun frowned, seemingly deep in thought. His cat-like eyes were clear and bright as glass. Watching his serious expression, Chu Yu couldn't help but laugh.

"Xiao Qi," she patted his shoulder, "if you ever fall for someone, you must tell me all about it."

"It would," she said, eyes curving with amusement, "be quite interesting."Wei Yun watched the woman whose smile was as radiant as spring sunshine filling the hall, simply gazing quietly. Chu Yu found it somewhat odd: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Wei Yun nodded expressionlessly and responded, "Alright."

After speaking, Wei Yun turned away, slipping from her grasp, and headed toward the dining hall. Chu Yu rubbed her nose.

Ah, she knew it—Wei Yun hadn't been happy lately.

And Wei Yun was only thinking about the feeling he had when he knelt in the ancestral hall, staring at Wei Jun's memorial tablet.

He felt something on the verge of bursting forth, yet dared not speak of it. So he neither listened nor spoke, merely enduring the growing weight day after day.

Spring flowers were already preparing to bloom, green leaves sprouting from branches. The young man in plain robes and a Jade Crown walked along the wooden corridor, a hand warmer in his grasp, blending with the spring light—so dazzling that Chu Yu felt momentarily spellbound.

Watching his retreating figure, Chu Yu couldn't help but turn to Wanyue and ask, "Don't you think Xiao Qi has grown a little taller?"

Wanyue pursed her lips into a smile. "After all, the young marquis is growing up."

Chu Yu was slightly taken aback.

Indeed, sooner or later, this young man would mature.

He would surpass his father in excellence and handsomeness, just as the women of Hua Jing had hoped when he entered the city at thirteen, worthy of being called the Wei family's Jade Lord.