A man like Wei Yun, whether in his past life or this one, was always a man of unyielding iron—when had he ever uttered the word "pain"?
When someone who never speaks of pain finally does, it wrenches the heart unbearably.
Chu Yu sniffled, holding Wei Yun, who had already lost most of his consciousness. She pressed his head against her shoulder, her cheek resting against his, and said hoarsely, "Xiao Qi is fine. I'm taking you home, alright?"
Wei Yun's mind was hazy, barely catching the word "home." He responded weakly, "Mm..."
He leaned entirely on Chu Yu, all his weight resting on her as if she were his greatest support.
"Sister-in-law..." he rasped, "I'm so tired."
"Then sleep if you're tired."
Chu Yu held him, gently patting his back. "I'm here."
Wei Yun said nothing more. He closed his eyes and leaned against her. Soon after, Chu Yu heard his steady breathing. She sighed softly, carefully laying him down. She searched for water, tearing his tattered clothes into strips to soak up water, filled the waterskin, and then returned.
Wei Yun was burning with fever, so she kept cooling him with a damp cloth.
By midnight, he began shivering from the cold. Chu Yu helped him closer to the fire, wrapping her arms around him.
He trembled in her embrace, his eyes fluttering open slightly to look at her.
Though his mind was foggy, he could still clearly see the woman's face illuminated by the firelight—calm and composed, unshaken even by towering waves, standing firm without a flicker of emotion.
Just seeing her gaze made him feel fearless. Like a child, he rested his head against her shoulder. That simple gesture spoke volumes.
Chu Yu knew he was barely conscious, acting purely on instinct. There wasn’t much more she could do except hold him tighter, her throat aching with dryness.
After a night of turmoil, Wei Yun's fever finally broke near dawn. He woke groggily, and Chu Yu gave him a few sips of water, soothing his cracked lips back to a normal color before saying, "We need to go. I have to find you a doctor. I’ll carry you on my back, alright?"
Wei Yun hesitated. Sensing his concern, Chu Yu quickly added, "Your leg is injured. I’ve stabilized it, but I’m not sure if the bones or tendons are damaged. If you force yourself to walk, it might leave lasting damage."
"But..."
"Xiao Qi," Chu Yu said calmly, checking his bandaged wound, "Wei Manor still needs you in the future. Carrying one more person is nothing to me."
Wei Yun fell silent, his eyes downcast.
Chu Yu turned and crouched slightly, letting him drape his arms over her shoulders.
She lifted him onto her back, securing him with cloth strips, and began walking.
"Sister-in-law," Wei Yun murmured, his voice still rough, "Where are we going?"
After a moment’s thought, Chu Yu finally answered, "We’ll head to the city first. I’ll buy medicine for you, then find a secluded doctor to treat you."
"But I’m from Great Chu. What if he refuses to treat me?"
"Don’t worry," Chu Yu said steadily. "As long as we find someone, there will be a way."Wei Yun didn’t say anything more. He leaned against Chu Yu’s back. Though he was much taller than her, she carried him effortlessly, her steps steady and her heartbeat calm.
Resting against her, he listened to the rhythm of her heart.
It was already early spring, and their clothing wasn’t thick. He could feel her warmth seeping through, comforting and serene.
He didn’t know why, but despite being on the run, he couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips.
He couldn’t suppress his happiness, yet the moment he remembered how Chu Yu had thrown herself into danger for his sake, his expression darkened again.
Chu Yu couldn’t see the shifts in his expression. She carried him steadily, clearing the path ahead, wading through streams, and climbing over mountains.
Wei Yun remained on her back, silently watching her.
Only when Chu Yu finally descended the mountain and reached a small path did she notice his gaze. Puzzled, she asked, “What are you looking at?”
Wei Yun quickly averted his eyes, lowering his head without a word. Chu Yu chuckled, finding his behavior utterly childish.
She set him down to rest, finding a flat area behind a hill. Gathering dry branches, she built a fire, then brought over the rabbit she had killed by the stream earlier and began roasting it.
Wei Yun leaned against the hillside, quietly observing her. As she turned the rabbit over the flames, she glanced up at him and couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s wrong? Did visiting the Northern Di Royal Court make you stupid?”
Wei Yun stiffened but didn’t respond. The fire crackled, and Chu Yu, estimating that their pursuers wouldn’t catch up anytime soon, struck up a conversation. “You’ve got quite the nerve. Didn’t I tell you to hold Phoenix Tomb City while I fought slowly? Yet you charged into the Northern Di Royal Court with just five thousand soldiers—who do you think you are? The reincarnation of Bai Qi? The rebirth of Huo Qubing?”
Her tone was calm, but Wei Yun heard the reproach in it. His lashes fluttered slightly as he murmured, “Sister-in-law, I was wrong. Don’t be angry.”
Chu Yu scoffed. “Do you think I don’t know you? You apologize now, but the next time something like this happens, you’ll still rush in without hesitation.”
Wei Yun didn’t dare reply. She was right—no matter how much he apologized, he would do it again.
“Why won’t you trust me?” Chu Yu sighed. Wei Yun pressed his lips together before finally speaking. “Then tell me—did you hold Phoenix Tomb City?”
Chu Yu fell silent. Wei Yun lifted his gaze to meet hers, his expression steady. “Given Sucha’s offensive, how much longer could you have held out?”
She had no answer.
By the end, out of twenty thousand soldiers, only five hundred remained. If the battle had continued, even the elderly, women, and children in the city would have had to take up arms.
In the end, it might have been no different from what happened to Chu Linyang back then.
Wei Yun saw the truth in her expression and smiled faintly.
“So tell me—how could I just stand by and watch you march to your death? If one of us had to die, better it be me.”
“Xiao Qi…”
Chu Yu frowned. “If this is for your brother’s sake, you don’t have to—”
“It’s not for my brother!”
Wei Yun cut her off sharply, his words startling them both.
He had never raised his voice at her like this before. If Chu Yu hadn’t clearly remembered what she had just said, she might have thought she had uttered something deeply offensive.
But what had she said?She felt she was merely stating a fact—that the greatest connection between her and Wei Yun was simply her identity as Madam Wei.
Wei Yun was an extremely responsible person. Without this familial tie, they would just be two strangers who had known each other for barely over eight months. How could he possibly go to such lengths for her?
Her reasons for saving him had stemmed from affection, admiration, duty, and the cavalier attitude toward life and death that came with rebirth.
But what reason could he have for saving her, beyond duty?
Her gaze was clear and calm, filled with incomprehension. Seeing her expression, Wei Yun instantly understood her thoughts. His breathing grew rapid as he clenched his fists, suppressing the anger and resentment surging within him.
Forcing himself not to look at her, he lowered his lashes and spoke through gritted teeth, each word deliberate: "I was willing to risk my life to save you—not for my brother's sake. Wei Yun wanted to save Chu Yu, and it was never about anyone else."
Chu Yu stared at him blankly, her eyes filled with confusion.
After a long silence, she looked at the young man before her, who had turned his head away like a small, stubborn beast, and couldn't help but laugh.
Ah, youth.
She could analyze interpersonal relationships with calm rationality, but Wei Yun was only fifteen. It was inevitable that he would develop deeper feelings for someone who had accompanied him through the darkest moments of his life.
Having found a reasonable explanation for his behavior, Chu Yu felt somewhat amused. She reached out and ruffled Wei Yun's hair.
Wei Yun froze, turning to stare at her in astonishment. Chu Yu smiled and said, "Alright, I understand. You saved me because I matter to you—it has nothing to do with your brother."
I matter to you.
The words left her lips lightly, but they struck him like thunder.
For a moment, he even wondered if she had glimpsed the true nature of his feelings. But meeting her gaze, he knew with painful clarity—she didn't understand the weight of what she had just said.
She mattered to him, but not in the way she assumed.
Yet he couldn't voice it. Even harboring such thoughts was shameful beyond measure.
He lowered his eyes and fell silent. Chu Yu watched quietly as he seemed to tentatively extend a paw, like a cautious puppy, only to withdraw it again with reluctant resignation.
She finally sensed something odd about Wei Yun's behavior, though she couldn't pinpoint what it was. The atmosphere had inexplicably grown awkward, as if a door had been shut between them, leaving him unwilling to speak further.
Clearing her throat, she changed the subject: "Let me tell you what's been happening in Hua Jing."
She proceeded to recount how Zhao Yue had protected Yao Yong, seized control of Hua Jing, and formed alliances with Chu Linyang and Song Shilan. After finishing, she added, "I've left the Wei family affairs in the hands of Gu Chusheng and Qin Shiyue, with my brother overseeing them. By the time we return, Gu Chusheng should have the logistics and finances in order. Then we can negotiate with Zhao Yue. What do you think?"
Wei Yun remained silent. Studying his expression, Chu Yu hesitated. "Do you have any thoughts?"
Wei Yun lifted his gaze to hers, his eyes sharp with scrutiny.
Unsettled by his look, she asked in confusion, "Xiao Qi?"
"What did you promise Gu Chusheng?" Wei Yun's voice was cold.
Chu Yu blinked in surprise. "Why do you ask?""What official position does Gu Chusheng hold? What abilities does he possess? What achievements has he made in the past? How much trust exists between you two that you would hand the Wei family over to him?"
Wei Yun cut straight to the point, clenching his fists as he stared at Chu Yu: "What makes you think he can manage so many people properly? That he won't secretly manipulate things?"
Chu Yu was stunned by the questions, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
What could she say?
Wei Yun was right—what was Gu Chusheng now? What was their relationship, and how well did she truly know him?
How could she explain to Wei Yun? Should she tell him she had accompanied Gu Chusheng for twenty years, that she knew exactly what he was capable of, understood his character, and that as an ally, Gu Chusheng was as reliable as they came?
She couldn't say it.
She could only lower her head and murmur, "I'll have my brother and Qin Shiyue keep an eye on him. Nothing should go wrong. But... I admit this was reckless of me."
Wei Yun said nothing. He felt something churning inside him.
He knew it was wrong, knew he shouldn't voice it.
Gu Chusheng was truly talented—he knew that. From the first time he met Gu Chusheng, when the man had calmly and confidently asked for her hand, he had known this was no ordinary person.
He believed in Gu Chusheng's abilities and in his feelings for Chu Yu. That determined look in his eyes—he wouldn't betray her.
Yet precisely because of this, something weighed on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
"Sister-in-law... why do you trust him so much?"
He shouldn't ask. What business was it of his?
But he couldn't help it. His fists clenched so tightly his nails nearly drew blood from his palms. Chu Yu remained silent, turning the rabbit roasting over the fire.
After a long while, she finally spoke: "He came to Phoenix Tomb City alone, willing to die with me."
Chu Yu lowered her eyes. "I thought... someone like that might be worthy of trust."
Wei Yun listened, his entire heart feeling as though it were being dragged down into an endless abyss.
Of course. They had loved each other all along—it was just fate playing tricks.
Why was he even asking these questions? Gu Chusheng's feelings for her weren't false.
If he was willing to go to Phoenix Tomb City and die with her, how did that compare to his own journey across a thousand miles to the royal court?
Only, by not being at her side when it mattered, he had fallen short in the end.
Wei Yun slowly closed his eyes.
His throat moved, and after a long silence, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice—
"I see."
I see—he was willing to die with you.
I see—you're willing to trust him again.
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