Chu Yu stood there motionless.
She watched him quietly, feeling as though the surrounding sounds gradually faded away, as if she were standing on the surface of water, ripples spreading outward in gentle circles.
The noise was muffled by this watery barrier, becoming distant and indistinct. Only that person remained vividly clear in this world veiled in mist. He held up the flower crown he had made, his smile tinged with a hint of shyness. Chu Yu gazed at him silently, feeling something within her heart pounding upward, again and again. It was like a seed buried deep within, straining against flesh and blood, struggling to break free.
Chu Yu remained still. Wei Yun waited for a moment, then tilted his head curiously. "Sister-in-law?"
Only when she heard Wei Yun’s voice did Chu Yu snap out of her daze. She quickly pulled Shen Jiaojiao forward, stopping in front of Wei Yun. Lowering her head, she asked, "What is this?"
"Bend down a little," Wei Yun said, raising the flower crown with a smile. "I’ll put it on you."
Chu Yu lowered her lashes, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and bent her head to let Wei Yun place the crown on her. It was light, and as it settled, droplets of water trickled down, the cool touch against her skin sending a faint shiver through her.
Beside them, Shen Jiaojiao pouted unhappily. "Hmph!" she huffed. "You’re all so mean! Little Uncle only talks to Mother, and he only gives flowers to you. No one cares about me!"
Both Chu Yu and Wei Yun laughed. Chu Yu glanced at the clay figure in the little girl’s hands. "Didn’t I give you a little clay figure?"
"But it’s not from Big Brother," Shen Jiaojiao muttered, her head drooping. "I want him to give me a flower crown too."
She turned hopeful eyes toward Wei Yun. "Big Brother, will you make one for me too?"
Wei Yun jerked his chin toward Shen Wushuang. "Go find your uncle."
Shen Jiaojiao’s expression dimmed. Clutching her clay figure, she said, "Fine, if you won’t give me one, I’ll go find Uncle!"
With that, she shook off Chu Yu’s hand and dashed toward Shen Wushuang. She moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd until she reached Shen Wushuang and Bai Chang. Seeing that Shen Jiaojiao had made it safely, Chu Yu turned back to Wei Yun and sighed. "Why don’t you make one for her?"
Wei Yun gave her a faint glance—one devoid of emotion, yet in that instant, it reminded Chu Yu of the Wei Yun from her past life.
The King Who Pacifies the North, a man of high status who brooked no defiance.
Chu Yu froze for a moment, but then Wei Yun pushed his wheelchair forward, turning away as he said, "I’m not a florist. Do you think just anyone is worth my effort?"
Hearing this, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh. She hurried after him, placating, "Alright, alright. I know you’re the Duke Who Pacifies the Nation, the young marquis, noble and esteemed. Happy now?"
Wei Yun didn’t respond. As Chu Yu pushed his wheelchair, someone jostled past, nearly bumping into her. Wei Yun swiftly reached out to steady the person, his voice calm. "Watch your step."
The passerby thanked him. Chu Yu looked down at him—even seated in a wheelchair, he still cleared the way and shielded her. Warmth filled her gaze as she studied the young man’s back, still stubbornly turned away from her. "I know," she said softly. "You’re not this good to just anyone."
Finally, Wei Yun spoke, his tone stiff. "Good that you know."
Chu Yu curved her lips and said nothing more.The two strolled along the street. Chu Yu didn’t buy anything, but Wei Yun ended up with a pile of purchases. At first, Chu Yu didn’t pay much attention, but later she realized that everything Wei Yun bought was for girls. Every stall Bai Chang had browsed, if the items were delicate and clever, he would buy some. They weren’t expensive, but he ended up with a miscellaneous assortment.
He held them on his lap, and on the way back, Chu Yu couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Why did you buy so many things?”
Wei Yun hugged the small items stiffly and said, “For you.”
Chu Yu was surprised. “What would I do with these?”
“Bai Chang and Shen Jiaojiao bought them,” Wei Yun declared righteously. “You should have them too!”
Chu Yu looked up at Bai Chang and Shen Wushuang ahead. Bai Chang was holding Shen Jiaojiao’s hand, while Shen Wushuang carried their purchases, following happily behind the mother and daughter. After pestering them all evening, Bai Chang’s attitude toward Shen Wushuang had clearly softened. By now, they had reached a darker part of the path. The lanterns that had lit the way earlier were now extinguished. Bai Chang paused, seemingly unaccustomed to the dim light. Shen Wushuang reached out, taking her hand in the darkness. His tone, usually careless, was now tinged with timidity as he whispered, “Sister-in-law, don’t trip.”
Shen Jiaojiao couldn’t see in the dark, but Chu Yu and Wei Yun, trailing behind, saw everything clearly. Wei Yun glanced sideways and noticed Chu Yu’s hand resting on the wheelchair.
Her fingers gradually disappeared into the shadows as they moved from the moonlight into the darkness.
Wei Yun lowered his gaze, unconsciously tracing the embroidery inside his wide sleeve.
Watching Shen Wushuang ahead, something stirred in his heart. Chu Yu deliberately kept her distance from the pair in front. Wei Yun whispered, “Sister-in-law.”
“Hmm?”
His throat bobbed before he finally said, “Don’t trip.”
Chu Yu smiled gently. “Don’t worry.”
They fell into silence. After a long while, he spoke again. “Sister-in-law.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you think Shen Wushuang…?”
He wanted to ask but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to finish. Since he didn’t, Chu Yu didn’t respond. She likely knew what he meant to ask, but it wasn’t a question she could answer, so she remained quiet.
Pushing Wei Yun out of the darkness, the group arrived at the medical hermitage. Shen Jiaojiao was sleepy, so Shen Wushuang and Bai Chang took her to bed, leaving Wei Yun waiting in the courtyard while Chu Yu went to fetch wine and snacks. The four of them planned to eat and drink while waiting for the final event of the Lantern Festival—the grand and most important moment—the release of the sky lanterns.
Wei Yun waited alone on the veranda for a while, growing bored, so he decided to push his wheelchair to find Chu Yu. But before he had gone more than a couple of steps, he heard a man’s ragged breathing mixed with a woman’s muffled whimpers.
Wei Yun froze, suddenly caught in a dilemma. If he moved his wheelchair, he would inevitably disturb the two, but staying put felt awkward. After a moment’s hesitation, he decided to remain still. From around the corner, the sounds of heavy breathing continued until a sharp slap rang out.
“Shen Wushuang,” Bai Chang’s trembling voice followed. “I’m your sister-in-law!”
Wei Yun’s heart clenched. For some reason, he felt as though that slap hadn’t landed on Shen Wushuang’s face but his own, stinging fiercely.
Yet moments later, Shen Wushuang’s voice came through.
“I know.”Gone was his usual playful tone, his voice solemn and calm: "If my brother were still alive, I would stay far away from you. But A-Chang..."
Shen Wushuang's voice choked with emotion: "We... can't just bury ourselves along with my brother. The living must move forward. If you can accept someone else, why can't it be me?"
Bai Chang remained silent. Her quietness made Wei Yun feel as though he too was awaiting a verdict.
After a long while, Bai Chang finally spoke: "Wushuang, you're free to like me—that's your choice. But this is a hurdle I can't overcome—that's my choice. I won't accept you, nor will I accept anyone else. Keep these words in your heart, for everyone's sake."
"Don't force me..."
Bai Chang's voice broke: "I know you—you always do as you please. But don't force me, alright?"
Shen Wushuang said nothing. After a long pause, he rasped out: "Fine."
Moments later, Bai Chang hurried away. When the corridor fell silent again, Wei Yun looked up to see Shen Wushuang rounding the corner.
His expression was calm, devoid of any smile. Spotting Wei Yun, he showed no surprise, merely nodding in acknowledgment.
Wei Yun kept his head lowered. As Shen Wushuang passed by, he suddenly said: "Have you forgotten about your brother?"
Shen Wushuang halted. He turned, raising an eyebrow: "What, you're here to lecture me too? To scold me for disregarding morality, to call me shameless and ungrateful?"
Wei Yun stayed silent. Every word from Shen Wushuang felt like a slap to his face.
He watched as Shen Wushuang erupted in fury: "Then tell me, what should I do?!"
"If my brother were alive today and they were together, of course it'd be wrong for me to interfere. But he's dead—he's dead! I like someone—who am I hurting? Who am I wronging? Is it a crime to love someone?"
Shen Wushuang raised his voice: "Who gave you hypocrites the right to judge me?!"
"Your brother's death," Wei Yun sneered, speaking to Shen Wushuang but also to himself, "you've certainly benefited from it."
"Then let me die instead!"
Shen Wushuang roared, fists clenched, eyes red: "I'd rather it were me who died! But what do you do when someone's gone? Should I never be happy again, never smile, never love? Try it yourself if you can!"
"Every hypocrite in this world preaches about heavenly principles and extinguishing human desires—but can they?! We're only human—who the hell are you to play saint?! I love her—who does it harm? I love her—I'm not forcing her. I just love her. Meeting her is the luckiest thing in my life—is that so wrong?! If I'm guilty, I'll answer to my brother in the afterlife. What right do any of you have?!"
With that, he turned sharply and stormed off toward the main hall.
Wei Yun stood frozen in the corridor, his gaze turbulent.
Shen Wushuang's words echoed in his ears.
Was it wrong to love her?
If he never spoke it, never acted on it, if he simply waited and stayed by her side—was even that sliver of affection intolerable?
He wasn't a saint. He couldn't extinguish human desire. He couldn't control whom he loved or stop his heart from yearning. All he could do was draw a prison around himself, confining his love to this small world.
He loved her.
So what if he loved her deeply?Wei Yun's hand trembled slightly, countless thoughts surging in his mind. It seemed he had suddenly understood something.
He didn't struggle, nor did he want to. He had been carrying this burden alone, always ashamed of these feelings. But in this moment, clarity struck him like lightning.
Meeting her was the most beautiful thing in his life, and he felt no shame.
Perhaps it was wrong, but he could only apologize to Wei Jun on the road to the underworld in the afterlife. For this lifetime, this was all he could do.
Yet unlike Shen Wushuang's recklessness, he buried all those turbulent emotions deep in his heart, desperately smoothing them over until they settled into quietude.
After resting in the corridor for a while, Shen Wushuang returned. Turning back, Wei Yun said to him, "I'll push you over."
Wei Yun didn't ask why he had come back. Perhaps, like him, Shen Wushuang needed an excuse, a place to be alone and collect himself.
The two went together to find Chu Yu and Bai Chang. As the figures of the two girls came into view, Wei Yun suddenly spoke: "Be patient."
"Hmm?" Shen Wushuang looked puzzled.
Wei Yun continued slowly, "Liking someone isn't wrong, but if your affection becomes her burden, then it is."
Shen Wushuang frowned slightly, never expecting Wei Yun to say such things to him.
"If you like someone, you approach her, accompany her, protect her," Wei Yun said as they drew closer to the girls, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You can try to pursue her, but you must be patient. You must let her willingly, gradually realize your worth."
"And if she never does?"
Wei Yun's expression remained unchanged. "Isn't it love?"
"Since when has love demanded repayment? If you expect her to return your affection, Shen Wushuang," Wei Yun's voice was calm, "then this love is far too selfish and utterly repulsive."
Shen Wushuang fell silent. When they reached the hall, Wei Yun looked up at Chu Yu and called softly, "A Yu."
"You're here!" Chu Yu smiled. "Madam Shen and I have prepared some wine. Xiao Qi is still injured, so he won't be drinking."
"No worries," Shen Wushuang pulled out a small bottle from his sleeve. "I brought medicinal wine for him. It won't be a problem."
Chu Yu nodded cheerfully at the sight of it. "Alright."
With that, the four settled on the front corridor, chatting and drinking.
Chu Yu had a high alcohol tolerance, while Shen Wushuang and Bai Chang were preoccupied with their thoughts. After several large jars, Bai Chang soon slumped over, leaning against Chu Yu's shoulder in sleep. Shen Wushuang and Chu Yu played drinking games until he, too, collapsed to the side.
Wei Yun sat apart, sipping the medicinal wine slowly, watching them with amusement.
Shen Wushuang's medicinal wine wasn't particularly pleasant—bitter with herbs—but it was potent. Wei Yun, recognizing its strength, dared not overindulge, drinking only sparingly.
Chu Yu, thoroughly drunk, set Bai Chang aside and crouched before Wei Yun with a jar in hand, declaring earnestly, "Come, let's drink together."
Wei Yun chuckled and held up fingers. "How many is this?"
"Three!"
Shaking his head, Wei Yun replied, "No, no more for you."
"I can handle it," Chu Yu insisted seriously. Wei Yun simply smiled, watching as she frowned, deep in thought about how to make him drink.
From afar came the sound of cheering. Both turned to see Sky Lanterns rising slowly into the night. "Ah, so beautiful," Chu Yu exclaimed in delight.With that, she turned to Wei Yun, her eyes bright as she said, "I'll take you up to the roof!"
Before Wei Yun could respond, she wrapped an arm around him and stumbled outside, leaping up to the rooftop in one swift motion. As they settled on the tiles, Wei Yun, fearing she might lose her balance, held onto her and sighed helplessly, "Don't be so reckless."
Chu Yu didn't even notice his hand steadying her, too excited as she exclaimed, "Look, look! It's so beautiful."
Wei Yun remained silent, lowering his gaze before gently enveloping her hand with his own.
Unaware of his subtle gesture, he still worried she might notice and whispered, "Sister-in-law, be careful not to fall."
Chu Yu didn't reply, simply gazing into the distance as she murmured, "It's truly beautiful. It's been so many years since I've felt this happy."
Listening to her voice, Wei Yun looked toward the lanterns slowly rising into the night sky.
It was a sight unseen in Great Chu, accompanied by distant bells and the murmurs of prayers, the entire night exuding a serenity far removed from the mortal world. The only presence beside him was Chu Yu's slow, hushed voice.
"It feels like I've been running nonstop, never able to pause. He didn't like me, Ah Jin hated me, no one cared for me. I spent so long alone in misery. Then, after coming to the Wei family, there wasn't a single moment of peace—look at all that's happened since I married in. We've never had a break."
Chu Yu chuckled softly. "Sitting here now still feels like a dream."
Wei Yun said nothing, quietly watching the horizon. When Chu Yu turned back, she found herself captivated by the young man before her.
His gaze was fixed on the distant lanterns, his water-blue wide-sleeved robe lending him a scholarly air. His expression was calm and composed, giving her an unfamiliar sense of security.
As if time and space had frozen in that moment, everything else in the world ceased to matter.
For a second, she couldn't recognize who he was—or perhaps she didn't want to.
She simply stared at him, feeling as though this person was too perfect to be real.
Noticing her gaze, Wei Yun turned to face her.
They were so close their breaths intertwined, their eyes locked.
With just that one glance, she felt herself falling into his gaze.
The distant prayers echoed in waves as Chu Yu tilted her head slightly, studying him in silence.
Wei Yun's heart trembled faintly. Without a word exchanged, he lowered his head and slowly pressed his lips to hers.
His movements were deliberate, unhurried. He thought—if she resisted even slightly, he would stop.
But she didn't.
Despite the thunderous pounding of his heart, she remained still.
The young man's kiss carried the coolness of moonlight, just a gentle brush of lips—devout and pure.
He closed his eyes, his lashes quivering slightly. Meanwhile, Chu Yu felt lost in a dream so sweet she couldn't help but smile, until finally, with a soft laugh, she buried her face against his shoulder.
Wei Yun's breathing was still uneven. Afraid to move, he held her gently as she nestled against him, chuckling quietly. Worried she might slip, he wrapped his arms around her to steady her.
Before long, the sound of her even breathing reached his ears.
His heartbeat gradually slowed to match her breaths, his sleeve draped over her back to keep her warm.
After a long while, breathing in the scent of her hair, he let out a quiet sigh.
"Silly girl."
Author's Note: The sugar has been sprinkled—now it's time for the stars and the sea.
Don't wait for the second update, it depends on the situation!
OpenNovel