Chapter 35

Although Shen Wei had already known that Lu Qi Huai would be injured today, hearing this news still made her furrow her brows in concern.

She placed the book she was holding on the table beside her, then turned her head to look at Madam Xie. Shen Wei was genuinely worried about Madam Xie’s health. The old lady was already feeling unwell today, and now hearing such news, she might not be able to bear it.

However—

As Shen Wei looked at Madam Xie, she did not see any trace of worry on her face. This puzzled her. Given Madam Xie’s recent concern for Lu Qi Huai, she would have expected the old lady to be extremely anxious and worried right now. But instead, her expression was calm, as if she had already known this would happen.

The calmness on Madam Xie’s face was noticed not only by Shen Wei but also by Lu Bu Hou.

He was always sharp and observant. Seeing Madam Xie’s expression, he also felt some doubt. However, in the span of just a moment, when they looked back, Madam Xie’s face had already shifted to one of concern, as if the earlier calmness had been a trick of their eyes.

Madam Xie braced herself on the armrest, and her usually kind face now showed signs of paleness and distress. She turned her head toward Lu Bu Hou, her hand gripping the rosewood armrest tighter, and her voice tight with anxiety, “What happened to Xuan Yue?”

Lu Bu Hou observed her carefully, still harboring some doubts, but answered in his usual calm tone, “We received word from the imperial court. It’s said that Xuan Yue was attacked by a fierce tiger while protecting the Emperor. The Emperor has already sent the imperial doctors to Xuan Yue’s tent… By now, Xuan Yue should have been carried in.”

As soon as these words left his mouth—

Madam Xie could no longer remain seated. She hurriedly got off the bed, her face flustered and voice urgent, “Let’s go. We need to see him right away.”

She moved too quickly and became unsteady, but Shen Wei caught her just in time to prevent her from falling.

Shen Wei gently held Madam Xie’s arm and softly said, “Mother, be careful…” As she spoke, her gaze unintentionally fell on Madam Xie’s face. She could not hide the worry there, and her beautifully shaped distant eyebrows lowered slightly, covering the uncertainty in her eyes.

Shen Wei was certain that the calmness she had seen on Madam Xie’s face earlier was not her imagination…

Perhaps Madam Xie had already known about Lu Qi Huai’s injury. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had such an expression.

Catching a fierce tiger in the mountains was already a difficult task, and given Lu Qi Huai’s intelligence, it wasn’t impossible for him to manipulate the hunting situation if he wished. But what puzzled Shen Wei was that an old lady who had always doted on her grandson would allow him to do such a thing, and even reveal such a calm expression—it was definitely not a simple matter.

Perhaps…

It was time for her to sort out her thoughts carefully.

However, Madam Xie was unaware of Shen Wei’s thoughts. She leaned on Shen Wei’s arm and steadied herself before saying, “I’m fine. Let’s go see Xuan Yue.” Since she had spoken, neither Shen Wei nor Lu Bu Hou said anything else, and the group headed outside.

She regarded Shen Wei with the same affection as a daughter and naturally didn’t want her to be confined to this large mansion at such a young age.

Shen Wei, hearing these words, responded softly. She appreciated the old madam’s kindness but realized she had no close connections in Bianliang City… Furthermore, the more people she interacted with, the more likely it was that traces would show. It was better to remain as she was, enjoying the freedom.

She reached out to gently press on the old madam’s arm and, as if thinking of something, softly said, “Earlier, when Xuan Yue went to meet His Majesty, I noticed His Majesty’s expression was a bit unusual.”

As soon as she finished speaking—

The hand of the old madam, which had been relaxed, tightened slightly.

Even though it was only for an instant, Shen Wei still noticed. She lowered her brows a little more, though her expression remained unchanged. She didn’t stop massaging the old madam’s arm and followed with another soft remark: “Last time, it was the Princess of Qinghe as well. Could it be that Xuan Yue resembles some prominent figure in the city?”

The old madam turned her gaze toward Shen Wei, but since Shen Wei was looking down, she couldn’t tell what her expression was.

However, hearing the tone of her voice, which was the same as usual but with a hint of doubt, the old madam sighed in relief, settled back against the cushion, and calmly began to touch her prayer beads again before speaking gently: “There are countless people in the world who resemble each other. Even if someone looks similar, it’s nothing unusual.”

Shen Wei listened to the old madam’s words. Although her tone didn’t change, her hand moving faster over the prayer beads than usual made Shen Wei realize that if it was truly “nothing unusual,” why would the old madam act this way? And why did the Princess of Qinghe and Zhao Zhun show such strange expressions?

Who could Xuan Yue resemble that would cause such a reaction?

Still, Shen Wei kept her head lowered. Her hand continued to apply just the right amount of pressure, though her words were filled with hesitation: “Xuan Yue has been recovering outside for so many years. If that noble person has something special about them, with Xuan Yue’s appearance, I fear he might offend them.”

The old madam stopped her hand on the prayer beads at this.

She turned her head to look at Shen Wei. When she saw her slightly raised face, full of hesitation, she smiled and patted Shen Wei’s hand to stop her massaging motion. She then said softly, “You don’t need to worry. That noble person is no longer in this world…”

When the old madam said “no longer in this world,” her voice unconsciously softened, as if she was trying not to disturb something.

Shen Wei noticed this and her expression subtly shifted, though her doubts only deepened. A noble person who resembled Xuan Yue but was no longer alive, and yet, these people acted so unusually around him.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that this matter was more complicated than it seemed, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Seeing the old madam glance at her, Shen Wei put on a smile and gently said, “In that case, I’ll rest easy.”

—-

Meanwhile, at the hunting grounds.

Lu Qi Huai sat on his horse.

Not far from him was Zhao Zhun, with the King of Jin and the Crown Prince on either side.

They had been hunting for several hours, and since Donghua Mountain was the royal hunting ground, vast as it was, they hadn’t yet reached the deeper parts.

Crown Prince Zhao Xu, 17 years old, dressed in royal hunting attire and holding a bow, had not killed many beasts despite the time that had passed. It wasn’t because he was a poor archer; it was because everyone knew that Zhao Xu, the heir to the throne of Qingyun Kingdom, was gentle by nature and rarely killed.

Because of this, opinions about the Crown Prince were divided.

Some believed his gentleness meant he would become a wise ruler, but others questioned how someone so kind could govern a kingdom. The Crown Prince’s close advisors had tried to persuade him, but Zhao Xu would always respond with a smile and say, “It’s nothing to worry about.” Over time, no one bothered advising him, but private murmurs about him still persisted.

Hearing the roars of wild beasts from deep within the mountain, Zhao Xu furrowed his brow. He pulled on his reins, guiding his horse closer to Zhao Zhun, and then cupped his hands, saying, “Father, if we go further in, there might be wild beasts. For your health, it would be better to send someone ahead to check first.”

Before Zhao Zhun could respond, a young man beside them laughed and spoke: “Big brother is thoughtful, but a little too cautious.”

This young man was King Zhao Zheng, a little over 16 years old, with brows that reached into his hairline and a similar appearance to Zhao Zhun. Though his lips often held a smile, his eyes were cold. At this moment, he tilted his head toward Zhao Xu, raising his brows slightly, and his voice was laced with sarcasm: “Today is the annual spring hunt, with all the officials behind us watching. Furthermore, our father, His Majesty, is always brave. Any wild birds or beasts will probably bow down before him.”

“If we send someone to check now, it will only make us the subject of ridicule.”

“Moreover, the hunting grounds are guarded every day. If there were any dangerous beasts, they would have been sent to the back mountain already. Big brother, are you afraid of these sounds?”

His tone was quite disrespectful.

But Zhao Xu’s expression didn’t change. He still appeared as calm and gentle as ever, and his voice was equally soft: “If it were just the two of us, it wouldn’t matter. But with Father here, as the ruler of the world, we cannot afford any mistakes. It’s always better to be cautious.”

Zhao Zheng, hearing this, was about to reply…

But before he could speak, Zhao Zhun calmly interrupted: “Enough.”

His tone was flat and unremarkable, but both Zhao Xu and Zhao Zheng fell silent immediately.

As for Lady Wang…

She held a handkerchief, pretending to wipe the tears at the corner of her eyes, but her gaze towards Lu Qihuai was filled with undisguised excitement.

In her heart, she had long harbored dissatisfaction with Lu Qihuai. Not to mention how his actions had ruined her son Yan’s future and forced him into exile at the estate. Moreover, seeing the intentions of the Old Dowager and His Majesty, it seemed they were planning to promote Lu Qihuai. If Lu Qihuai truly became the new Duke of Rong, what future would there be for their second branch?

Just thinking about it, Lady Wang’s gaze toward Lu Qihuai became filled with a dark, vicious malice.

Let him die, and never wake up.

Once Lu Qihuai was dead, everything would return to how it was before. Without the eldest branch’s illegitimate son, and the sickly third branch’s weakling, how could they be a threat? The Duke of Rong would belong to her son, and all the glory would be his.

Perhaps it was the image she envisioned in her mind that made her eyes crazed and filled with excitement.

Meanwhile, Lu Qixuan had been keeping a close eye on Lady Wang. Seeing her behavior, he quickly reached out and gently tugged at her sleeve, fearing others would notice. Even if they were excited inside, they couldn’t show it now.

The Emperor had already issued a decree to save Lu Qihuai. Moreover, the Old Dowager and the Eldest Princess were still present. What would they think if they saw this?

Lady Wang noticed someone pulling at her sleeve and turned to see it was Lu Qixuan, who shook his head. She immediately restrained her expression and returned to a look of concern and sorrow.

—-

The sky outside grew darker, and candles were lit inside the room, but there was still no sign of Lu Qihuai waking up.

Shen Wei glanced at the people in the room. The Old Dowager was already showing signs of exhaustion, and although Duke Lu was holding up, his usually gentle face had a hint of paleness. Seeing this, Shen Wei spoke softly to the Old Dowager: “Mother, it’s getting late. You should return now.”

“Your health is still not good, and you staying here is worrying us,” Shen Wei added.

The Old Dowager hesitated, her face flashing with struggle. She knew her body was giving out, but she was reluctant to leave because of the person lying inside.

Although she had known Lu Qihuai would likely be injured today, she hadn’t expected him to disregard his life like this.

Thinking of this, she looked at Shen Wei again. Seeing the concern on her face, she said nothing more. The Old Dowager nodded, and with the help of Southern, she stood up and turned to Zhao Wan, saying, “The Eldest Princess must also be tired. You and the Princess should rest now.”

Although Zhao Wan was worried, she understood that staying any longer would attract attention. She nodded in response. However, as she was about to leave with Huo Feiguang’s help, she couldn’t help but glance at the screen behind which the young man lay. Even though she knew this boy wasn’t the person she cared about, just seeing him in that condition made her project the care she had once withheld from that person onto him.

If only she had stood up back then, things might have been very different today.

But… she had ultimately been too timid.

Huo Feiguang noticed Zhao Wan’s expression and felt some confusion. It seemed as if her mother had an unusual concern for this young man. She followed her gaze and, whether it was her imagination or not, there was something vaguely familiar about him, even though she quickly withdrew her gaze and said, “Mother, we should leave now.”

Zhao Wan, hearing this, didn’t say anything further. She just nodded and let herself be led out.

After the Old Dowager and Zhao Wan left, Lady Wang no longer felt the need to put on an act. Since her relationship with Shen Wei was already strained, she dropped the handkerchief from her eyes and said to Shen Wei, “Since Sister-in-law is staying to watch, we’ll take our leave. If there’s any news about Xuan Yue, please make sure to send someone to inform us.”

At her words, the expressions of the people in the room shifted uncomfortably. Lu Qixuan quickly cupped his hands and said, “Aunt, my mother is also worried that Cousin might be in trouble. It’s late, please take care of yourself.”

Shen Wei glanced at their actions but only lightly replied, “Thank you for your concern. You may leave now.” Once Lady Wang and her son had departed, she turned her gaze back to Duke Lu and his wife.

In the flickering candlelight, Duke Lu’s face grew even paler. Seeing this, Shen Wei quickly said, “Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, you should also go back. This place is too stuffy. You’ve been here for a long time. Once Xuan Yue wakes, I will have someone bring word.”

Duke Lu didn’t refuse. He knew his health and that staying any longer would only cause unnecessary worry for others. After hearing Shen Wei’s words, he stood up, cupped his hands, and said, “We’ll return now. If anything happens, please send word.”

Once Shen Wei acknowledged him, Duke Lu and his wife left together.

With no one else in the room, Mo Qi no longer held back. Supporting Shen Wei, she spoke with irritation, “The Second Madam is really something. Look at her expression; it’s as if she’s afraid our young master isn’t okay… When the Duke was still here, she wouldn’t dare to say a word. Now she’s acting like she’s the only one left in charge.”

After saying this, Mo Qi glanced at the young man lying on the couch. Her voice lowered as she spoke, “Madam, do you think the young master… might really be in trouble?”

The lady has finally found some support after all this time, but if the eldest young master truly meets with an accident, what will she do in the future?

Shen Wei didn’t respond immediately. She just kept her gaze fixed on Lu Qi Huai, watching him intently in the candlelight. After scrutinizing him carefully, she finally spoke, “It won’t happen. He’ll be fine.” Her tone was so certain that even Doctor Zhang, who was standing nearby, couldn’t help but glance at her.

However, Doctor Zhang, seeing Shen Wei’s expression, only sighed softly. The Lady of Rongguo had just lost her husband not long ago, and now, seeing her eldest son in such a state… He could only imagine the pain she must be feeling. Thinking of this, he softened his voice and gently advised, “Lady, you needn’t worry. The eldest young master is a fortunate person, and he will surely be fine.”

Shen Wei heard his words and turned to look at him. Her expression didn’t change, but she nodded and said, “Doctor Zhang, you’ve been here for quite a while. The eldest young master is fine. You should go eat something. It must be getting late, and you might be hungry.”

Doctor Zhang hesitated when he heard this.

Seeing his hesitation, Shen Wei added, “There’s no need to worry. I will stay here and watch over him.”

“Since that’s the case, I thank you for your kindness, Lady…” Doctor Zhang said, bowing to her, before leaving the room.

Once Doctor Zhang left, Shen Wei sat on the round stool in front of the soft couch. She rolled up her sleeves and wrung out a cloth from the basin of water, then began to gently wipe the perspiration from Lu Qi Huai’s forehead. Mo Qi, noticing this, softly said, “Lady, let me do it.”

Shen Wei only shook her head. She continued wiping his forehead, but her thoughts seemed to wander as she said, “Have someone prepare some congee. It will be useful when he wakes up.”

Mo Qi didn’t argue. She softly agreed and added, “I’ll have someone prepare some congee for you as well. You haven’t eaten much today, and I wouldn’t want you to have an upset stomach later.” After receiving a nod from Shen Wei, she bowed and left the room.

With everyone else gone from the room—

Shen Wei remained silent. She continued holding Lu Qi Huai’s hand, wiping him carefully. After a long while, she finally lifted her eyelids and gazed at him. In the candlelight, Lu Qi Huai’s face was pale, and even his lips had turned an ashen white. She continued staring at him, her voice low and hoarse as she spoke, “They say misfortune lasts a thousand years. How could something happen to you?”

Although her expression remained unchanged, her voice grew tight, betraying her anxiety. In the books, Lu Qi Huai had lain in bed for several months before he recovered. But from the looks of his injuries now, Shen Wei couldn’t be sure if he would truly be fine.

After all, since her arrival in this era, many things had already changed. She couldn’t be certain that Lu Qi Huai’s fate would follow the same path as it did in the book.

As she thought this, her expression grew more complicated, and her voice became even hoarser. “Lu Qi Huai, you cannot be harmed.”

No matter what secrets lay behind Lu Qi Huai, right now, he was the pillar of the family.

Therefore… Lu Qi Huai absolutely couldn’t be harmed.