At these words, Wei Xia immediately tensed up. However, since Jiang Chun was still the mistress of the Wei family, he didn’t dare to show any reaction and could only stand by, anxiously making faces at Wei Qiu, who was standing by the door in the distance. Wei Qiu watched his exaggerated expressions for a moment before turning away in disdain.
Wei Xia: “…”
Jiang Chun stood in the corridor for a while, observing Chu Yu and Wei Yun. The two were merely talking, with no improper actions, yet the atmosphere between them seemed to ripple with a soft, floral tenderness. Jiang Chun watched them calmly, her gaze steady. After a long silence, she suddenly spoke, “Are they always like this?”
Wei Xia understood what she was implying. He wasn’t foolish—he had long noticed many things—but he could only feign ignorance. “What does the Second Madam mean? Are you asking about the Young Master and the Eldest Madam’s interactions? The Young Master is still young, so he relies on the Eldest Madam more…”
“Who exactly are you trying to fool?” Jiang Chun let out an exasperated laugh, turning to glare at Wei Xia. “He’s young, but are you also a child? Don’t you understand what I’m asking? Must I spell it out and embarrass everyone?”
“This servant truly doesn’t know what the Second Madam is referring to.”
Wei Xia’s expression darkened at the scolding. Jiang Chun pressed her lips together, saying nothing. She stared at him for a long moment before finally speaking, “You may leave first.”
Wei Xia bowed and stepped aside.
Inside the room, Wei Yun lay with his hands behind his head, chatting idly with Chu Yu. After discussing serious matters, they moved on to lighter topics. By midnight, Wei Yun yawned, and Chu Yu glanced at the sky outside. “Go rest. You must be tired.”
Wei Yun rose from the floor, stretching as he yawned again. “Then I’ll take my leave. Eldest Sister-in-law, rest well.” Picking up his cloak, he stepped out of the room.
As he walked through the courtyard and turned into the corridor, he spotted a figure standing in the middle of the path, holding a lantern, waiting for him.
She wore a blue-white embroidered outer robe over a moon-white underdress, her hair styled in a married woman’s hairstyle that lent her a dignified and composed air—even though she was barely past twenty.
Wei Yun was surprised to see her and cautiously called out, “Second Sister-in-law?”
Jiang Chun nodded and beckoned him over. Wei Yun approached respectfully. “Does Second Sister-in-law have any instructions?”
The two walked side by side down the corridor as Jiang Chun spoke slowly. “Before your elder brother passed, he often told me that among all his brothers, he worried most about you. He said you were stubborn, inflexible—ever since you were little, if you wanted something, you would stop at nothing to get it.”
Wei Yun nodded, his expression growing even more deferential. Jiang Chun continued, “But Xiao Qi, not everything in this world is something you should take just because you want it.”
Wei Yun froze. He lifted his head to look at her. “Sister-in-law, if you have something to say, please speak plainly. I don’t understand when you talk in circles.”
Jiang Chun nodded and glanced up at the sky. “What time is it now?”
Confused, Wei Yun answered honestly, “The hour of Hai (9–11 PM).”
“Why not come to my room for a while?” Her voice was light, almost casual. Wei Yun was momentarily stunned before stammering, “It’s late now. If Sister-in-law has something to discuss, perhaps tomorrow—”
“Why won’t you come to my room?” Jiang Chun stopped walking and turned to face him, her gaze steady. Wei Yun felt awkward, struggling for words before finally blurting out, “It’s late. Entering Sister-in-law’s chambers wouldn’t be proper…”"If you knew it was inappropriate, why did you stay by your sister-in-law's side?"
Hearing this, Wei Yun finally realized what Jiang Chun was getting at with all her roundabout words.
Her words struck like slaps, one after another, hitting him squarely in the face. Though Jiang Chun hadn’t said much, Wei Yun felt his face burn with shame and pain. He lowered his head, at a loss for what to do.
Jiang Chun turned to the servants nearby and waved her hand, dismissing them all.
"Xiao Qi," she sighed, "be honest with me. Do you... have feelings for your sister-in-law?"
Wei Yun froze. Jiang Chun looked at him with gentle eyes.
"Xiao Qi, when you like someone, it shows in every little thing you do. When your second brother lifted my bridal veil, I knew I liked him. After that, just seeing him every day made me happy. But I didn’t want him to know how I felt, so I kept it hidden. Yet everyone could still tell—I liked him."
"You’re still young," Jiang Chun said, her eyes tinged with bitterness, as if recalling her own past. "Looking at you now is like seeing my younger self."
"I—"
Wei Yun started urgently, as if to explain, but then he stopped. After a long pause, he took a deep breath and met Jiang Chun’s gaze.
"Yes," he said earnestly. "I like Chu Yu."
Jiang Chun watched him calmly as Wei Yun continued slowly, "I know I shouldn’t betray my brother, so I’ve thought about it for a long time and held back many times. But you’re right—since I was little, if I wanted something, I never let go. Though I don’t necessarily have to have it. I think of her, I care for her, but I just want her to be happy. I never thought of forcing my feelings on her or disrupting her life."
Jiang Chun’s expression remained gentle, without a trace of blame, yet her words carried an edge of interrogation: "You say you won’t interfere, but what if she comes to like you?"
Wei Yun stared at Jiang Chun blankly, as if the idea had never crossed his mind. Jiang Chun continued quietly, "If you like her, and she likes you back, can you still say this has nothing to do with her?"
"If she likes me..." Wei Yun pressed his lips together. "Second sister-in-law, in this lifetime, I’ll help her get everything she loves."
Then he lifted his eyes to meet Jiang Chun’s, his gaze resolute. "Including me."
Jiang Chun didn’t respond. She studied Wei Yun for a long moment before finally giving a soft laugh.
"Xiao Qi, do you know? Any girl who heard those words would be moved."
Wei Yun listened as Jiang Chun’s eyes filled with a hint of helplessness. She began pacing slowly beside him, speaking casually, "But that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Though A Yu isn’t much older than you, her maturity is worlds apart from yours. I’m much older than both of you, and to me, you’re still just a boy. But when I’m with A Yu, I wouldn’t be surprised if she were older than me."
"She’s far more mature than you, and much more perceptive. The reason we became like sisters is because we’re alike in so many ways." With that, Jiang Chun stopped walking and raised her eyes to a trembling leaf on a branch, murmuring, "Especially when it comes to matters of the heart.""For a woman, investing in a relationship has always required more courage because we have more to sacrifice. If A Yu were to be with you, she wouldn't just face what ordinary women face—childbearing and supporting a family—she would also have to endure endless gossip. No matter how good or outstanding she is, the accusations pointing at her back would follow her for life. Can you imagine how cruel those words could be?"
Jiang Chun turned to look at him. Wei Yun pressed his lips together, clenching his fists. Jiang Chun spoke those vulgar street rumors in a gentle voice: "No matter what the truth is, people will say she wronged your elder brother. They'll speculate that perhaps you and she were involved even while your brother was still alive. They'll say she's indecent, that you've disregarded all moral principles..."
"No matter how pure your feelings are, in this world's eyes, they will always be filthy."
"You may claim you've hurt no one, but in the eyes of this world, both of you must use your pain to mourn your elder brother."
Wei Yun remained silent. He had already prepared himself for this, yet hearing Jiang Chun say these words and imagining them falling upon Chu Yu made his mouth taste bitter.
Jiang Chun's words were already restrained. If someone else had spoken them, he didn't know what he might have done.
As he stayed silent, Jiang Chun sighed softly: "But Xiao Qi, none of this is actually the most frightening part."
"These things aren't the hardest for me or A Yu to bear. We can endure our own hearts and withstand the gossip. What we fear most is that after we've given everything, you might wake from your youthful passion."
Wei Yun stared blankly at Jiang Chun, who smiled bitterly: "Hearts are fickle, especially when you're so young. You say you love her now, but Xiao Qi, can you truly distinguish between love, dependence, possessiveness, or even mere desire?"
"I—"
Wei Yun urgently wanted to explain, but Jiang Chun fixed him with a steady gaze: "You don't need to give me an answer. Just know this—most men are utterly sincere when they make their promises. Yet when they leave in the future, they're equally sincere."
"If you make A Yu journey a thousand miles to reach you, only to turn away easily, what will become of her?"
Wei Yu fell silent, quietly watching Jiang Chun. Her gaze was calm and composed as she looked at him and spoke evenly: "So Xiao Qi, don't tempt her."
"I haven't..." Wei Yun's voice was hoarse. Jiang Chun gently plucked a leaf: "If you haven't, then from now on, think carefully before you do anything—if this person were me, would you still do it?"
"You know better than I do what the propriety between a younger brother and his sister-in-law should be."
Wei Yun said nothing. Jiang Chun turned away, lightly flicking the dew from the leaf before remarking softly: "It's late. Young Marquis, you should rest."
"Second sister-in-law..." Wei Yun's voice was rough: "You say I don't know whether I truly love her. Then tell me—how will I know when I do?"
Jiang Chun kept her back to him, gazing at the bright moon.
"When you grow up."
"And how will I know when I've grown up?""Xiao Qi," Jiang Chun turned her head, quietly gazing at the young man whose eyes were filled with confusion. "Go to a place where she isn't. Don't see her, don't let anyone disturb you. Just stay there quietly, see many girls, meet many people. You'll realize how vast the world is, and how many wonderful people there are. You could even try a relationship—there's nothing wrong with that."
"If, after seeing the world, you still find that she's the one you want," Jiang Chun looked at him quietly, her expression complex. After a long pause, she continued, "Then it will be up to you to decide what to do then."
Wei Yun remained silent. Jiang Chun sighed as she looked at him. "I'll keep today's matter a secret. Don't worry about it. Go get some rest."
With that, Jiang Chun turned and left first.
Wei Yun stood in the corridor for a long time before finally calling out, "Wei Xia."
"Your servant is here."
Wei Xia stepped forward. Wei Yun turned to look at him. "Do you all think of me as a child?"
"Young Marquis," Wei Xia sighed softly. "Strategy, warfare, music, chess, calligraphy, painting—these can all be learned from books or mastered quickly with talent. But matters of the heart... there are no shortcuts."
"Do you think Second Sister-in-law's words make sense?"
Wei Yun chuckled lightly. Wei Xia didn't respond, but Wei Qiu slowly said, "Actually, why is the Marquis troubled?"
He looked calmly at Wei Yun. "After all, you're going to the north, aren't you?"
Hearing Wei Qiu's words, Wei Yun smiled faintly after a long pause. He raised his head to gaze at the bright moon and murmured, "Yes, I'm going to the north."
Jiang Chun was right—he was still too young. Adrift and unsettled himself, he couldn't shield Chu Yu from gossip, nor was he certain of his own feelings. He knew he was still immature and inexperienced.
He lifted his eyes toward the north.
When he returned...
He would probably have grown up by then.
Although Wei Yun's journey to the north had been decided early, Chu Yu hadn't expected him to leave in such a hurry.
Before she could even react, Wei Yun had already set the departure date. When he mentioned at the dinner table that he would leave the next day, Chu Yu was momentarily dazed. She couldn't help but ask, "So soon?"
"Though the war isn't urgent right now, it's better to go early."
Wei Yun answered respectfully. Chu Yu blinked, then nodded woodenly. "That's true..."
Jiang Chun glanced at Chu Yu and smiled. "It's good for Xiao Qi to leave early. The sooner he goes, the sooner he can return."
Hearing this, Chu Yu managed to regain a faint smile. "You're right."
By evening, Chu Yu found herself restless in her room. After much deliberation, she finally stood up and went to Wei Yun's door.
Wei Yun was packing his belongings. Chu Yu stood at the doorway, watching him work silently.
She didn't speak, just leaned against the doorframe, observing him. Sensing her presence, Wei Yun looked up and saw her.
Her hair was loosely draped, and she wore a simple white gauze robe that shimmered under the moonlight. Her unpainted face was furrowed with worry, lending an air of fragility to the usually lively girl.
Wei Yun was momentarily stunned at the sight of her. After a long pause, he smiled. "Sister-in-law, you're here?"
"Yes." Chu Yu stepped inside, eyeing his luggage. "I came to see if you've forgotten anything.""Everything is ready," Wei Yun said with a smile. "No need for Sister-in-law to worry. Second Sister-in-law has always been reliable."
Hearing this, Chu Yu found herself at a loss for words.
It seemed she had come without any real reason, and now she had nothing to say—she could only stand there.
In the past, it had always been Wei Yun who initiated conversation with her. Now that he suddenly stopped, she realized for the first time how lacking her own words were.
After a long silence, she said stiffly, "If everything's packed, then... I'll go back. Rest early."
"Thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law."
Wei Yun spoke respectfully. Chu Yu nodded and turned to leave. As she stepped out the door, she felt something was off. She turned back and saw Wei Yun standing not far behind her, his head slightly bowed, his expression full of deference.
There was nothing outwardly wrong with his demeanor, yet Chu Yu instinctively sensed something amiss. Unable to pinpoint what it was, she hesitated before asking slowly, "Xiao Qi, have I done something wrong?"
Wei Yun looked up at her and smiled. "Why would you say that, Sister-in-law?"
Then why... are you suddenly so formal?
Chu Yu wanted to ask, but even she, as oblivious as she could be, knew such words shouldn't be spoken. What was wrong with a younger brother-in-law being respectful toward his elder sister-in-law? If she voiced her question, it would only invite ridicule.
So she shook her head. "I must be overthinking it."
Wei Yun didn't ask what she was overthinking. He simply stood there respectfully, listening as Chu Yu gave him a few reminders—"Take care of yourself," "Don't be too reckless on the battlefield"—and obediently agreed before seeing her out.
After walking a few steps, Chu Yu couldn't help but turn back again.
"Xiao Qi," she said cautiously, "I'll write to you. Could you write back more often?"
The word "Yes" nearly escaped his lips, but Wei Yun pressed them together and stopped himself. Instead, he said, "Don't worry, Sister-in-law. I'll send word home to assure everyone of my safety."
Sending word home and writing back to her were entirely different things. Chu Yu understood that Wei Yun had grasped her meaning—and had clearly rejected her request.
She was, in truth, a proud person. So she smiled without pressing further and nodded. "Alright."
With that, she turned away and walked off decisively, never looking back.
Once her figure had disappeared, Wei Yun returned inside, picked up a teacup from the table, took a sip, and then hurled it violently to the ground.
Wei Xia poked his head in anxiously. "My Lord, what's wrong?"
"The tea is cold," Wei Yun gritted out, glaring at him. Wei Xia looked bewildered. Wei Yun roared, "It's cold! How could you serve me such cold tea? What use are you?!"
"Then... shall I bring you a hot cup?"
"Are you trying to scald me to death?!"
"Then... shall I bring you a cold cup?"
"Are you trying to freeze me to death?!"
"Young Lord," Wei Xia sighed helplessly, "are you just teasing this servant?"
"Are you saying you're not at fault?!" Wei Yun snapped, raising his voice.
Wei Xia: "..."
After a moment, he caught on and coughed lightly. "My Lord, it's all our fault. Please don't be angry. If you're still upset, should I ask the Madam to come and console you?"
This time, Wei Yun ignored him and slammed the door shut with a loud "bang."Wei Qiu silently watched Wei Xia, who coughed lightly and whispered, "Pretty melodramatic, huh?"
Wei Qiu nodded. "Just like you."
Wei Xia: "..."
Why did he get roasted no matter where he went?
Chu Yu walked back to her room, gradually calming down.
Thinking about it, Wei Yun hadn’t really done anything wrong. He was just being more respectful toward her—what was there to be angry about?
Perhaps it was because she had grown accustomed to the unrestrained life in the Northern Di, making the rigid formalities of Hua Jing feel especially cold, sending chills rising from the depths of her heart, freezing her to the core.
She suppressed the discomfort in her heart, trying to force herself to accept this version of Wei Yun.
A respectful and courteous Marquis of National Stability—this didn’t seem like a bad thing for anyone.
Yet even so, she still had a sleepless night. The next morning, when she rose, Wei Yun was already prepared to leave. Changyue helped her dress and remarked, "Madam, why do you look so listless?"
Chu Yu lazily glanced at her and replied, "Tired."
"You still haven’t slept enough? Didn’t you go to bed early last night?"
Chu Yu said little, responding indifferently, "Didn’t sleep well."
Changyue chuckled. "Even you have nights of poor sleep?"
Chu Yu nodded and said no more.
When she stepped outside, everyone was already waiting at the main gate. Wei Yun stood at the entrance, speaking with Liu Xueyang. As Chu Yu approached, he looked up and saw her. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if momentarily stunned, before he smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you don’t seem very energetic?"
Chu Yu smiled back. "It was too stuffy last night—couldn’t sleep well."
She glanced at the assembled group outside and asked, "Everything ready?"
"Ready," Jiang Chun interjected.
Chu Yu nodded, her eyes falling on Shen Wushuang, who was hiding in the crowd. She gave Wei Yun a questioning look, and he understood, explaining, "He’s a physician by trade. It’s convenient to bring him along. Besides, staying in the capital isn’t safe for him."
He had a grudge against Zhao Yue—if recognized without a disguise, it wouldn’t end well.
Chu Yu understood Wei Yun’s concerns and nodded. "Any other instructions?"
Wei Yun thought for a moment. Truthfully, everything that needed arranging had already been settled. The account books and personnel had long been handed over to Chu Yu, and the tasks had been explained. So he said, "Nothing else."
Their exchange was stiff and perfunctory. After speaking with her, Wei Yun turned back to comfort Liu Xueyang, who was tearful and sobbing. He consoled her for a while until it was time to depart, finally mounting his horse.
As he turned his horse around, the entire Wei family stood at the gate. Chu Yu and Liu Xueyang led the others, standing straight—less like a farewell and more like they were waiting for his return.
Chu Yu’s expression was calm, just as it had been when he returned from White Emperor Valley—steady and serene. Beneath the bold, imposing characters of "Wei Manor," she upheld the plaque with an unexpected fragility.
Looking at her, Wei Yun suddenly understood why Chu Linyang had never let his family see him off.
If family came to bid farewell, it would make it harder to leave.
But no matter how reluctant, one had to let go. So Wei Yun turned away, spurred his horse, and charged into the morning rain.
Liu Xueyang watched his retreating figure and finally couldn’t hold back—her soft whimpers erupted into full-blown sobs. Chu Yu steadied her and sighed. "Mother, Xiao Qi will return safely."Liu Xueyang sobbed uncontrollably. She had always been prone to tears, and having lost both her husband and son, it was only natural for her to feel heartbroken now that her son had finally returned safely only to leave again.
Liu Xueyang cried all morning until she finally wore herself out. After helping her settle down to sleep, Chu Yu went straight back to her own room.
The room was piled high with ledgers and documents, all concerning matters related to Wei Manor.
The land she had previously purchased in Lan County—after Heaven's Guard Pass fell, nobles flooded into the region, and she had her people sell it off immediately at five times the original price. Not only did this repay Chu Linyang's debt, but there was even some left over.
So she used the money to open gambling dens and brothels, and also established private schools specifically to teach children left destitute by the war, training them to become retainers of Wei Manor. With all these tasks at hand, she was kept extremely busy.
The account books were thick, and she flipped through them one by one. The pages turned through the height of summer, then through the depths of winter.
By the time these ventures began providing substantial financial support to Wei Manor, it was already spring in the fourth year of the Yuanhe Era.
By then, the Northern Di and Great Chu had been at war for nearly five years, and Wei Yun had been on the battlefield for four.
After Wei Yun went to the battlefield, he discussed with Chu Linyang and Song Shilan: he would lead the light cavalry deep into Northern Di territory to harass their rear, while Chu Linyang and Song Shilan would launch frontal assaults. This time, Wei Yun's expedition was different from his previous one—he prepared twenty thousand elite troops, brought compasses and all necessary military supplies, and was accompanied by the living map Tuso and physician Shen Wushuang. On their first incursion, they threw Northern Di into complete chaos.
Over the four years, Wei Yun led five major expeditions deep into enemy territory. Though his troops suffered high casualty rates, each campaign ended in overwhelming victory.
He spent most of his time in Northern Di and rarely sent letters home. When he did, they contained only two words: "All well."
Most of what Chu Yu learned about him came from Chu Linyang's letters.
Chu Linyang wrote that Wei Yun was a heaven-sent military genius, with impeccable timing and unpredictable tactics.
He said that thanks to Wei Yun, Great Chu's campaign had gone extremely smoothly, and they had already reclaimed all lost territory.
He recounted how, during the Northern Di's surprise attack on Jiangcheng, Wei Yun defeated a larger force with fewer men, single-handedly challenging seven fierce enemy generals and taking all their heads, which he then hung from his horse.
That battle was hard-fought, but afterward, the tide of the war turned decisively. The Northern Di's offensive could no longer muster its former ferocity, reduced to desperate last stands. Wei Yun's fame soared, earning him the admiration of many young women and the respect of his enemies.
The dashing image of the white-clad general with his silver spear spread from the storytellers of the north to those in Hua Jing.
Chu Yu and Jiang Chun's usual pastime was visiting teahouses to listen to tales of the battlefield, especially the story of Wei Yun slaying the seven generals.
"And so it was, the young general rode forth alone—his steed a prized Ferghana horse, his spear an exquisitely carved silver lance, his head crowned with a jade diadem set with pearls, his feet shod in rainbow-cloud battle boots. His brows were like brushstrokes, his eyes like pools of ink, his skin like congealed cream, his lips like cherries. The crowd gasped in awe, 'Ah, what a handsome young general!'"
"..."
"With a single sweep of his spear, heads flew through the air, blood gushing forth like a mountain torrent, unstoppable. The onlookers cried out in amazement, 'Who is this peerlessly brave general?'"
Here, the storyteller paused and asked his audience, "Do you know, good people?"
Chu Yu cracked melon seeds, smiling as she gazed northward.
The spring sunlight was perfect that day, the sky a flawless blue. She listened as the entire room shouted the name in unison—
Seventh Master Wei.
Birds startled by the noise took flight.
Chu Yu watched the birds in the sunlight, listening to his name.
Seventh Master Wei of Jiangbei.
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