Chu Yu listened to the man's words, feeling inexplicably calmer, yet she dared not let her guard down. Though her eyes appeared slightly closed, the dagger in her palm remained tightly gripped, not loosened for a moment.
Wei Yun noticed her tension and wanted to say something, but all words died on his lips. He couldn’t bring himself to speak.
His mind was in chaos, never having imagined he would encounter this person here. Now, he didn’t dare utter a word, afraid that if he spoke, he might say something inappropriate. So he remained silent, feigning composure.
Carrying Chu Yu into his room, he ordered the others to continue their watch at the inn and summoned the accompanying physician. Standing by the bed, he gazed at Chu Yu with a hint of unease, unsure how to begin.
Chu Yu’s consciousness was hazy, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. Knowing she was wary, Wei Yun thought for a moment before raising his hand to draw the bed curtains, enclosing her in a private space. Then he stepped back, sitting far away, and said softly, “Don’t worry.”
With him no longer by the bedside, the sense of oppression lessened considerably. The curtains created a secluded space for Chu Yu, easing her tension. Her grip on the dagger finally loosened slightly, and she exhaled.
She couldn’t think too deeply—who this person was, what his intentions were, whether he meant to save her or had ulterior motives.
She couldn’t process any of it. The only thing she knew for certain was that, at this moment, he wouldn’t kill her.
This realization seemed to give her a reason to let go. Unable to hold on any longer, she slowly succumbed to darkness.
A creak sounded at the door as the physician entered. Seeing Wei Yun, the man raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence. The physician paused, then nodded and stood by the door, awaiting further instructions.
Wei Yun stood and walked to the bed, lifting the curtain to find Chu Yu unconscious. Her brows were tightly furrowed, as if she were enduring something. Pressing his lips together, he adjusted her clothes and tucked the blankets around her before sitting at the bedside and saying to the physician, “Examine her.”
The physician nodded, stepping forward to check her pulse and quickly prescribing medicine.
The medicine Shen Wushuang had prepared proved useful. Wei Yun assisted the physician in bandaging Chu Yu’s wounds and feeding her the medicine before sitting motionless by the bed, watching her intently.
Her features had matured considerably. When she had left, her face still carried the softness of youth, round and full, with a touch of sweetness. But three years had passed, and she had grown much thinner. Her brows and eyes had sharpened, her features now elegant and striking. Even with her eyes closed, one could sense the allure in the upward tilt of her lashes.
Gazing at her face, he felt as though he were in a dream. Tentatively, he reached out, touching the space between her brows.
Her warmth traveled through his fingertips, pulling him out of his daze. The sheer joy of the sensation made his hand tremble slightly. Eager to confirm her presence, he brushed away her furrowed brows, traced her fluttering lashes, touched the bridge of her straight nose, and finally lingered on her soft lips.
He had touched them before.
Three years ago, beneath the lanterns rising into the sky of Shacheng, surrounded by prayers and chants, he had mustered the greatest courage of his life and gently kissed her.In those youthful days, there was much he didn't understand. His lips had only lightly and timidly brushed against hers before hastily withdrawing.
Yet even such a fleeting kiss, as delicate as a butterfly's touch or a dragonfly's skimming the water, revisited his dreams again and again.
Now, as he quietly gazed at this person before him, his fingers tracing the soft yet slightly rough texture of her lips, he finally confirmed—after three long years, he had found her again.
A knock sounded at the door. Wei Yun frowned, stood up, and stepped outside.
"Master," Wei Qian spoke in a hushed tone, "the man sensed something amiss when he reached the door and fled. The heavy rain today has diluted his scent, and the hounds can no longer track him."
Wei Qian and Wei Shen were personal guards Wei Yun had trained anew in Bai City, sharing some of Wei Qiu's duties. This time, he had only brought Wei Qian back to avoid running into old acquaintances. After all, their return to Hua Jing was meant to be discreet—the fewer people alerted, the better.
Hearing Wei Qian's report, Wei Yun furrowed his brow, his voice low and displeased. "How did he notice?"
"Likely when that woman entered earlier, she disturbed something. He must have realized someone had been in his room."
Wei Yun fell silent for a moment, as if deep in thought, before finally speaking. "Immediately station men at all major city gates in Hua Jing. The moment he's spotted, apprehend him on the spot and bring him in."
Wei Qian acknowledged the order and turned to leave, but then hesitated, as if remembering something. With respectful curiosity, he asked, "Master, who is that woman?"
Wei Yun was not known for his warmth, especially not at such a critical moment. That woman had disrupted their plans and allowed their target to escape. Letting her off without punishment was already lenient—why go so far as to provide her with care and even summon a physician to treat her injuries? Wei Qian couldn't help but suspect she held an extraordinary connection to Wei Yun.
Wei Yun wasn't surprised by Wei Qian's assumption. He glanced at him, a trace of displeasure in his gaze. "My sister-in-law."
Wei Qian froze for a long moment before finally comprehending. "Madam?"
Wei Yun nodded. Wei Qian couldn't hide his surprise. "Why is Madam injured and here now?"
But even as he asked, Wei Qian knew Chu Yu was still recuperating, and Wei Yun likely had no answers. He mentally adjusted his assessment of Chu Yu's significance and nodded. "Understood. Will you accompany Madam back to Hua Jing tomorrow?"
Wei Yun didn't respond immediately. He remained deep in thought for a long while before finally giving a slow, deliberate nod—as if the decision carried immense weight.
Wei Qian immediately said, "Then this subordinate will make the preparations."
Once Wei Qian left, Wei Yun returned to the room and sat by Chu Yu's bedside. After a long silence, he sighed softly, then turned and settled onto a small couch nearby, curling up to sleep.
The next morning, Chu Yu woke late. When she opened her eyes, Wei Yun was just entering with a bowl of porridge.
The aroma of the porridge filled the air as he approached her. He set the bowl gently on the small table beside her and spoke evenly, "Let me help you sit up."
"No—"
Before she could finish, his hands were already supporting her, guiding her upright.
His palms were slender yet steady, his knuckles distinct, radiating a man's warmth where they touched her. The contact made Chu Yu stiffen abruptly.
He adjusted the cushion behind her, bending close in the process. His presence enveloped her, overwhelming and intimate, making her hold her breath and shrink back in discomfort.
Wei Yun noticed her retreat and looked up, catching sight of Chu Yu's slightly flushed face.She turned her head to the side, her eyes shimmering like autumn waters, her slightly flushed cheeks like rosy clouds, exuding the youthful charm unique to a maiden.
This was the first time she had ever shown such an expression toward him.
In the past, Chu Yu had always been a goddess for him to admire from afar. She seemed to forever look down upon him with the gaze of an elder, and even in moments of shyness, she remained composed, calm, and serene.
But this time, it was the first time he truly felt that the person before him was his peer—not his elder, not someone he needed to revere, and even someone who might fluster slightly because of his actions.
Wei Yun’s throat tightened, and he couldn’t help but feel the urge to swallow something. Yet he restrained himself, quickly tucking a pillow behind Chu Yu’s back and helping her lean against it before stepping away, feigning calm as he explained, “You’re not in a position to move easily. It was my impropriety.”
His voice was pleasant.
Chu Yu pondered this as she looked up at him.
He still wore a mask, beneath which his lips were slender and naturally rosy, appearing exceptionally beautiful. His chin, as if painted with a brush, had smooth and elegant lines. Just looking at his chin and lips alone made one feel that the person beneath the mask must be an extraordinarily handsome gentleman.
Chu Yu’s heart stirred slightly, sensing a vague familiarity about him, yet she couldn’t recall exactly who he resembled.
Meanwhile, Wei Yun, noticing Chu Yu’s gaze, couldn’t help but lower his eyes and murmur, “Let me assist you with washing up first.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu felt somewhat awkward. “Are there no female attendants here?”
Wei Yun paused for a moment before shaking his head.
“I’m here on business. There are no female attendants.”
Chu Yu wasn’t surprised. Judging by his actions last night, she knew he wasn’t here for leisure. Not daring to pry further, she nodded and said, “Thank you for your rescue, young master, but these matters can be left to the servants. There’s no need for you to lower yourself to such tasks.”
Wei Yun didn’t respond. He turned away and simply said, “Drink the porridge first. It’ll get cold.”
Chu Yu quickly thanked him and managed to take a few sips of the porridge herself before noticing something unusual.
The porridge contained cooked egg yolk, crushed and blended into the mixture. She had always loved eating porridge this way. But how, in this remote wilderness, had she just happened to receive a bowl of porridge prepared exactly to her liking?
A sense of wariness rose in her heart. After finishing the porridge, someone brought over washing supplies. She took the towel from their hands to wipe her face while inquiring, “May I ask about your master—”
Mid-sentence, she stopped and looked up, only to find that it was still the same person standing beside her, holding the washing supplies.
He carried them with an air of natural ease, as if he saw nothing improper about a master serving water to a guest.
Chu Yu finally frowned, suppressing the sense of dissonance in her heart, and asked outright, “Young master, do you and I have some connection?”
Hearing this, Wei Yun’s heart clenched, but he maintained a composed expression and replied, “Madam is noble. I dare not impose.”
As he spoke these words, Wei Yun felt himself sinking into a peculiar emotion.
He didn’t want her to know who he was.
He felt that right now, beneath the mask, quietly conversing with her like this—was actually quite nice.Because at this moment, she was not his elder, and he could speak to her as an equal, as a man.
Chu Yu chuckled softly upon hearing this.
"You've just met me for the first time. How did you know I'm the lady of the house, and that I'm... precious?"
As she spoke, Chu Yu rinsed her mouth and washed her teeth, then lifted her head to look openly at the other person. The man handed the utensils to Wei Qian beside him before retreating behind a nearby table, kneeling respectfully and saying calmly, "If the lady has any questions, please speak frankly."
Chu Yu narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "Who are you?"
Wei Yun remained silent for a moment before finally speaking slowly, "This humble one is Gongsun Zhan."
Hearing this name, Chu Yu was slightly taken aback.
She had heard of Gongsun Zhan—the chief strategist under Wei Yun, a prominent figure nurtured in the Northern Border, occasionally mentioned in family letters.
In her past life, Gongsun Zhan had always stayed behind Wei Yun, and she had never met him. However, she had once heard Gu Chusheng say that the decisions Gongsun Zhan made were essentially Wei Yun's decisions, indicating this man held significant weight by Wei Yun's side.
Though she had heard his name many times, this was the first time they had met.
She quickly regained her composure, adjusted her assessment of this person in her mind, and promptly asked, "Are you Gongsun Zhan, under the command of the Marquis of National Stability?"
Wei Yun nodded. The two guards kneeling behind him remained expressionless, not daring to utter a word.
"It's Xiao—" The words "Xiao Qi" nearly slipped out, but Chu Yu suddenly remembered that in front of outsiders, she had to maintain Wei Yun's dignity. She hastily corrected herself, "Did the Marquis send you? What for?"
"Sucha sent a letter to Hua Jing. The Marquis ordered us to intercept it."
Wei Yun lied smoothly. Chu Yu frowned. "Why didn't he tell me about this?"
But as soon as she said this, Chu Yu immediately recalled that, in truth, Wei Yun hadn't spoken much to her over the years.
It wasn't untrue to say she wasn't disappointed, but she couldn't find any reason to blame him either. He had fulfilled his responsibilities and observed the proper etiquette. It was just that sometimes, when one gave too much, they began to want too much—and thus, resentment arose.
Fortunately, Chu Yu suppressed that resentment. She forced a smile and said, "Well, it's normal for him not to tell me about your important matters. Did you catch the person?"
"No."
Wei Yun replied succinctly, "They've already fled toward Hua Jing. I've sent people to watch the city gates. I'm afraid we'll have to go to Hua Jing. When the time comes, we'll need the lady's assistance."
Chu Yu nodded. If Sucha had sent a letter to Hua Jing, it likely contained evidence of Zhao Yue's collusion with the Northern Di. However, she still had some doubts. She looked up at Gongsun Zhan and asked, "Mr. Gongsun, we've never met before. How did you recognize me?"
Wei Yun fell silent for a long while before slowly answering, "The Marquis has a portrait of the lady hanging in his room."
"And the porridge this morning—does Mr. Gongsun also enjoy it prepared that way?"
Wei Yun found an all-purpose excuse. "The Marquis told me about it."
Hearing this, Chu Yu seemed puzzled. "He told you that much?"
Wei Yun slowly clenched his fists in his sleeves, his voice trembling slightly. "The Marquis... misses you dearly."Hearing these words, Chu Yu was stunned. Seeing her dazed expression, Wei Yun stared at her, suppressing the surging urge to express himself. His gaze lingered on her, as if he had shattered a thousand words and pieced them back together into simple syllables.
"He misses you... terribly."
Chu Yu finally snapped out of it and slowly smiled.
Her voice was serene, like pear blossoms carried by a spring breeze onto a sun-warmed lake—gentle and beautiful.
"I miss him too."
Wei Yun felt something tighten painfully in his throat at her words. He lowered his eyes as the woman before him asked curiously, "Then why hasn’t he written to me? I sent him so many letters, yet he rarely replied."
"If the Marquis wrote back too often, he’d only want to return home even more."
Wei Yun’s eyes stung slightly. "So he stopped writing, waiting for the war to end so he could come back and tell you in person."
These words dissolved the lingering displeasure and unease in Chu Yu’s heart. She couldn’t help but smile, though all she said was a soft, "I see."
Wei Yun bowed his head, composing himself for a moment before standing up. He handed her his token and said calmly, "The Marquis gave me this as proof when I left."
Chu Yu examined the token carefully, verifying its authenticity before finally relaxing.
She looked up at Wei Yun with a smile. "Since you’re returning to the capital, why not travel together? You can escort me back when you enter the city."
"You don’t want anyone to know you left the city?" Wei Yun frowned.
"Of course not," Chu Yu replied, her eyes turning cold. Not only did she not want Zhao Yue to know of her involvement with the Wang Family, but she was also a pawn Zhao Yue used to threaten Wei Yun. If he found out she could leave the city so easily, he would tighten his surveillance over her.
She briefly explained the situation to Wei Yun, who listened with a deepening frown but said nothing.
By the time she finished, Wei Qian had packed their belongings. Wei Yun stepped forward and said calmly, "You’re injured. I’ll claim you’re my wife, traveling to the capital for treatment."
Chu Yu nodded. Wei Yun met her eyes. "Then, my lady, may I be so bold?"
She had long prepared herself for the act of playing a frail wife, but his formal question caught her off guard. Flustered, she nodded mutely. Wei Yun took a cloak from Wei Xia and draped it over her, then bent down to carefully tie it in front.
He kept a respectful distance—neither improper nor indifferent.
Chu Yu turned her head away, inexplicably unable to look back at him.
Once the knot was secured, Wei Yun lifted her into his arms and carried her to the carriage.
Those brief moments felt inexplicably long to Chu Yu as she buried her face against his chest. His heartbeat was steady, one beat after another. Perhaps it was the warmth of the cloak’s fur lining, but her face grew uncomfortably hot.
Wei Yun placed her in the carriage, tucked her in, then retreated to a proper distance without another word.
Silence settled between them, filled with a familiar fragrance. After a long while, Chu Yu finally realized why it felt so familiar—it was the scent of a perfumed ointment she had once loved many years ago.Chu Yu turned her head to look at Wei Yun and asked, "What sachet are you using?"
Wei Yun was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood what she meant.
It was the fragrance she had loved most in the past. During their time at the Northern Border, he had switched his sachet to that very scent and had used it for three years.
Yet he quickly composed himself and replied slowly, "I'm not sure. The sachets are uniformly distributed by the household. I merely chose a scent I liked."
"Coincidentally," Chu Yu chuckled lightly, "I like this scent too."
Wei Yun said nothing, lowering his gaze in silence. Wanting to learn more about Wei Yun from him, Chu Yu began asking him questions intermittently.
He answered whatever she asked without the slightest concealment.
From this man's words, she pieced together Wei Yun's life at the Northern Border. After all, this man had lived by Wei Yun's side, unlike people like Chu Linyang, who could only tell her about the battles Wei Yun had won or the reputation he had gained.
This man, however, could speak of Wei Yun's daily routines. Though they were ordinary and mundane matters, for some reason, Chu Yu found herself listening with great interest.
His voice was calm and steady, just as he had always presented himself—his actions, his heartbeat, his words all gave Chu Yu an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
As the carriage rocked gently, Chu Yu listened to Wei Yun talk about "Wei Yun's" daily life while flipping through a book.
This man felt too familiar.
She pondered, feeling that this person must be someone from her memories.
Frustrated, she looked up at Wei Yun, studying him quietly. Just then, something startled the horse ahead, causing the carriage to jolt violently. Chu Yu's hand slid swiftly across the page of the book, and a bead of blood welled up instantly. Before she could react, her hand was clasped in someone's grip.
He had somehow produced a bandage and was wrapping it around her finger, layer by layer. In a tone that was calm yet tinged with concern, he said softly, "Be careful."
Chu Yu stared at him blankly. For some reason, a figure suddenly flashed through her mind.
That person had also treated her with such tender care, as though she were a delicate woman.
Back then, she had been wearing a red bridal veil, clutching a red silk ribbon, being led forward by him.
She could actually see, yet she still listened to him repeat, "Be careful."
At that time, she had just returned, and meeting such a person had filled her with a glimmer of hope.
She had never been cherished in her life, and encountering someone like that for the first time—her future husband—had made her, even after living a lifetime, still feel like a young girl in that moment, fantasizing about what her life with him might be like.
As she watched Wei Yun bandage her wound, Chu Yu finally realized something.
The man before her was strikingly similar to Wei Jun from back then.
She had been staring at Wei Yun for too long, and he noticed her gaze. Putting away the bandaging tools, he looked up at her and asked, "What is Madam looking at?"
His gaze was calm, carrying a rare gentleness when he looked at her. But Chu Yu couldn’t tell if this tenderness was reserved solely for her. She only felt that the way this man looked at her was identical to how Wei Jun had once looked at her.Even though this person now seemed much calmer and more composed, the sense of security from being cherished felt exactly the same.
She gave a soft laugh.
"Forgive me for saying this," Chu Yu looked at Wei Yun with candor, "but when I saw Gongsun Mr., I don't know why, I was reminded of my late husband."
Wei Yun's movements paused slightly as he noticed the nostalgia in Chu Yu's eyes.
"Has anyone ever told you," she continued, "that you resemble Wei Jun, the heir, so very much?"
The words felt like a knife plunging into his heart, leaving behind a long, searing wound.
Wei Yun looked at Chu Yu, locking all his emotions deep within his heart, his expression appearing calm and indifferent, devoid of joy or sorrow.
Chu Yu thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know His Highness Wei Jun?"
Wei Yun's face remained unchanged. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly, his voice dry and halting.
"I do."
Not only did he know him, but they were also so close.
In his youth, he had dreamed of becoming someone like his elder brother. When he truly grew up and heard someone say he resembled his brother so much, he suddenly realized—
He didn’t want to be anyone else. He only wanted to be Wei Yun.
To be loved, he should be the one and only Seventh Master Wei, Wei Yun.
Author's Note: [Mini Theater]
Wei Yun: After nearly 400,000 words of effort, I’ve finally caught up to my brother in sister-in-law’s heart.
Wei Jun: Your brother will always be your brother.
OpenNovel