Fortunately, Shen Wushuang quickly regained his composure, rapidly sorting through his thoughts.
The events at White Emperor Valley had already spread throughout Northern Di, becoming a source of pride and conversation among its people. Though Sand City was mostly populated by outsiders and lacked the same fervor, one could still hear Northern Di natives proudly recounting the tale everywhere.
The night he learned of it, Shen Wushuang had drowned his sorrows in drink. Forced into exile in a foreign land, hearing of his homeland's fall to such a state—even if he was no longer involved—the grief and fury had been unbearable.
Anger at their failure to resist, sorrow for their misfortune.
The unyielding Wei family, the backbone of Great Chu, had been broken just like that.
He had assumed the Wei family was finished, with only a fourteen-year-old child, Wei Yun, left behind. At fourteen, holding onto everything left by that colossal family—no one could trust him, nor was anyone willing to let him go.
He had thought Wei Yun would have long been ruined by now.
Yet here Wei Yun was, alive and well...
No.
Shen Wushuang suddenly realized—this state could hardly be called "alive and well."
He immediately asked, "Were you chased here?"
"Not exactly."
Wei Yun sounded exhausted. "There's too much to explain. My being here has nothing to do with court affairs." After a pause, he added, "Do you still plan to return to Great Chu?"
Shen Wushuang remained silent.
Return? How could he not want to?
He still had his brother's murder to avenge. Of course he would go back.
After a long while, he finally spoke. "If I return... will you take me with you?"
"If you wish to return," Wei Yun said, eyes closed, "I, Wei, will ensure your safety."
"Good."
Shen Wushuang's voice was decisive. "I'll go back with you. Life or death, I accept it. Zhao Yue's dog life—I will take it."
Wei Yun gave a low hum of acknowledgment but then asked, "How did your brother die?"
"When the cunning hare is caught, the hound is boiled." Shen Wushuang let out a cold laugh. "You were wrong about one thing. 'Physician Shen' wasn't me. The imperial physician back then was my elder brother."
Wei Yun wasn't surprised. His guess that Shen Wushuang was Physician Shen had only been based on scattered clues from the past.
As Shen Wushuang methodically removed the needles, he said calmly, "Back then, my brother received kindness from The Eldest Princess and formed a friendship of mutual respect with her. He entered the palace as a physician and won Emperor Chunde's favor. Later, during the Qin Prince's incident, Gu Chusheng and The Eldest Princess conspired to bring Zhao Yue into the palace. After taking a death-simulating drug, Zhao Yue staged a suicide in the palace. My brother examined the 'corpse,' and then The Eldest Princess requested Zhao Yue's body remain intact for burial."
Wei Yun nodded. Shen Wushuang's account matched his own deductions.
Shen Wushuang sat on the platform behind Wei Yun and continued, "My brother gave Zhao Yue the death-simulating drug, examined his fake corpse, watched as The Eldest Princess's men dug up Zhao Yue's grave and carried the body back to her estate. He even personally crafted a Mei Hanxue disguise for Zhao Yue. My brother knew too much."
"The Eldest Princess sent the assassins?"
Wei Yun frowned. Shen Wushuang scoffed. "My brother and The Eldest Princess shared a bond of mutual respect and friendship. Why would she do such a thing?"
His voice darkened. "It was Zhao Yue."Shen Wushuang looked outside and said calmly, "Originally, The Eldest Princess intended for my brother to return home to observe mourning and not come back to Hua Jing. But on his way back, Zhao Yue sent assassins after him. By the time I arrived, my brother had already protected his wife and Jiaojiao and fled, but he couldn’t hold on and passed away on the road. Before he died, he entrusted his wife and Jiaojiao to me. With the help of friends, I escaped from Great Chu and came to Sha City to open a medical clinic."
Wei Yun listened quietly. When Shen Wushuang mentioned that he had protected his sister-in-law and fled to Sha City, his heart stirred. He wanted to ask something but ultimately held back.
As the two conversed intermittently, Chu Yu arrived at the door and called out, "Doctor Shen, is my husband better now?"
Now that she knew Shen Wushuang had ties with Zhao Yue, Chu Yu became even more cautious. Hearing her words, Wei Yun’s heart trembled. In an instant, sweetness and guilt surged within him. He didn’t know how to face her calling him "husband" and simply sat silently in the medicinal bath, head lowered.
Shen Wushuang responded and beckoned, "Come in and help me lift him."
Wei Yun, not wanting Chu Yu to feel awkward, wrapped himself while still in the water. Shen Wushuang shot him an amused glance, but Wei Yun remained expressionless as Chu Yu and Shen Wushuang helped him up and onto the bed.
Chu Yu fetched a towel to dry Wei Yun, then handed him fresh clothes and helped him dress. Once everything was done, Shen Wushuang approached Wei Yun, rolled up his pants, and pointed to the acupoints while demonstrating the massage technique to Chu Yu. "Press like this," he instructed.
Chu Yu watched quietly as Shen Wushuang massaged from Wei Yun’s ankle all the way up to his thigh. Wei Yun frowned slightly and glanced at Chu Yu, who remained composed, showing no reaction. After observing for a while, Chu Yu took over, and with Shen Wushuang’s guidance, she quickly grasped the technique. After watching for a moment, Shen Wushuang nodded. "Good. From now on, every morning after he eats, let him rest for half an hour before bringing him here for the bath. I’ll prepare the medicinal herbs tonight. After the bath, massage him like this for another half an hour."
"How long will he need to soak?" Chu Yu asked worriedly as she continued pressing. Shen Wushuang answered honestly, "Until he regains sensation. You’ve delayed too long—saving his legs won’t be easy."
Chu Yu frowned deeply, but recalling the renowned medical skills of Doctor Shen from back then, she suppressed her concerns.
After watching for a while longer, Shen Wushuang said, "Alright, I’ll go check on other patients now," and left.
Once he was gone, Chu Yu looked up at Wei Yun and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"
Wei Yun shook his head. Chu Yu frowned. "No feeling at all?"
Wei Yun smiled. "Don’t worry. You can trust Shen Wushuang’s skills—I’ll be fine."
"Rest assured," he said calmly, meeting her gaze. "Even if my legs are crippled, I can still protect you."
"That’s not what I’m worried about," Chu Yu shook her head and lowered her eyes to his legs, murmuring, "I’m worried about you. You’re still so young—if your legs don’t recover, how will you live your life?"
"Even if my legs are useless, I’m still the Marquis of National Stability, aren’t I?"Wei Yun spoke calmly, "Without contention or strife, I'll take you to Sishui. Didn't we buy a lot of land there? We'll bring Second Sister-in-law and Mother along, and live there as local gentry."
"Nonsense," Chu Yu glared at him. "Then no good girl would marry you."
"Then I won't marry," Wei Yun looked at her with a smile. "Sister-in-law can keep me company."
He blurted out, "I'll take care of you, for a lifetime."
Chu Yu's massaging hands froze. Sensing her discomfort, Wei Yun smoothly added, "And Second Sister-in-law and Mother, plus the five little ones at home. We'll be local tyrants in Sishui—no problem there."
Chu Yu laughed and looked up at him. "Such modest ambitions? I don't believe you."
Sighing, Chu Yu continued, "Putting everything else aside, Yao Yong isn't dead yet. If you could truly let go, that would be one thing."
Wei Yun fell silent, watching Chu Yu's fingers dance across his legs.
He felt nothing—no warmth, no texture. He could only imagine how her fingertips differed from his.
She probably had slight calluses, yet retained the delicate softness unique to women. Her temperature was likely cool, as she always seemed to feel cold. As her fingers moved, they should send shivers up his legs, straight to his mind.
His gaze lingered on her fingertips as he struggled to rein in his thoughts. Slowly, he said, "Indeed, Yao Yong isn't dead. Neither is Zhao Yue."
"What does Zhao Yue have to do with this?" Chu Yu asked absently.
Wei Yun chuckled lightly. "There's something I've pondered for a long time before understanding, so I'm only telling you now."
Chu Yu gave a soft hum to show she was listening. Wei Yun continued calmly, "Back then, Su Can told me it was Zhao Yue who suggested they set up the ambush at White Emperor Valley."
Chu Yu paused, then slowly raised her head.
Wei Yun met her gaze and said coolly, "I thought long and hard about why Zhao Yue would do this. Then I met you, and you mentioned he became emperor. After much deliberation, I think I understand his intentions."
"He knew Yao Yong had spies in the Northern Di camp. So he conspired with Northern Di to have them pass false numbers through Yao Yong's informant. Knowing Yao Yong's cowardly, troop-conserving nature, he'd retreat—and my father and brothers died."
"With the Wei family fallen, the emperor lost one of his strongest supporters. But that wasn't all. The Wei family and Yao Yong had marched together—the Weis all died, while Yao Yong emerged unscathed. What would people think?"
"So my feud with Yao Yong was set the moment my family died. Now I even wonder if the Eldest Princess's intervention to save me was secretly Zhao Yue's doing. He orchestrated my rescue, gave me time to rebuild the Wei family, then set me against Yao Yong. By driving Yao Yong to rebellion, what was the result?"
"Yao Yong betrayed Emperor Chunde and needed another legitimate figure to support—enter Zhao Yue, giving Yao Yong his justification. Meanwhile, my betrayal of Emperor Chunde endangered him, giving Zhao Yue the chance to lead Yao Yong's forces to kill the emperor."
"See? In every step, everyone else suffered mutual destruction—only Zhao Yue profited. So tell me, who's worse—Yao Yong or him?"Wei Yun sneered, "Step by step, he pushed it forward. I even wonder—when you mentioned Shen You, was he truly Yao Yong's man, or his?"
Chu Yu was momentarily stunned. Wei Yun lowered his gaze. "Since when was Yao Yong the type to go around saving people? And where would Yao Yong get the idea to plant spies in the Northern Di? Even if he did, how could a spy be discovered so easily? And if he was exposed, how did he just happen to appear in my line of sight at the perfect moment, revealing the truth of the past and pushing me to confront The Crown Prince and Yao Yong?"
"But Shen You... doesn't seem like..."
Chu Yu hesitated. Wei Yun said calmly, "I never said Shen You was a villain."
"Do you know what the best chess piece is?" Wei Yun looked out the window, his eyes tinged with sorrow. "One that doesn’t even know it’s a piece. Everything Shen You said was probably true—except he concealed one thing."
"The one who saved him back then wasn’t Yao Yong. It was Zhao Yue. That’s why, after he came to tell me the truth, he never once thought of returning to Yao Yong’s side. Instead, he stayed quietly in the Wei family to atone. If he had harbored ill intent, we would have noticed long ago."
"Unfortunately, he was a good man." Wei Yun sighed, thinking of Wang Lan and Shen You, his voice laced with regret. "It’s just that people like him... never live well."
Author's Note: Second update, around 10:30 (give or take 15 minutes).
[Bonus Scene]
Chu Yu: After all this talk, I suddenly feel like we’re the sweetest couple here.
Shen Wushuang: Look at me—talk about shameless!
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