Chapter 5

“The heir is drunk,” Lu Minghua said, frowning as she looked at him closely. “I’ll have someone prepare a sobering soup.”

“I’m not,” Wei Yuntai said, reaching out to stop her as she got up.

Lu Minghua instinctively avoided his hand.

Wei Yuntai paused, then withdrew his hand and said, “Having a child would be good for both of us.”

Lu Minghua knew he was right.

But…

“And Mingxi?” she asked with a faint, mocking smile.

She preferred to clarify some things in advance rather than see him later entangled with Lu Mingxi, which made her sick. Moreover, she wanted her children to be born out of their parents’ wholehearted anticipation, not to face a mess of unresolved issues.

Seeing her tone and expression, Wei Yuntai’s brows furrowed. He looked at Lu Minghua with obvious displeasure but held back.

“Mingxi’s health has improved. She will have her own good fortune in the future,” he said clearly, his hands behind his back. “My wife is you.”

“So, all these years of effort were just to cure her and see her happy?” Lu Minghua’s mocking smile deepened. She didn’t believe a word he said.

“What else?” Wei Yuntai’s expression turned cold and stern under her somewhat aggressive attitude. “Just like you, who took what didn’t belong to you without a trace of remorse?”

“I told you, it wasn’t me,” Lu Minghua said, her eyes wide and teeth clenched.

“Heh,” Wei Yuntai scoffed, turning his head away, unwilling to watch her argue.

Again, the same reaction. He didn’t even want to hear her explanation, having already decided she was guilty.

For a moment, Lu Minghua felt utterly disheartened, sitting on the bed, not wanting to say another word.

“In the end, I also bear some responsibility,” Wei Yuntai continued after a moment of silence. “Curing Mingxi is a form of atonement. She will have her own happiness. Since you are already married to me, you should fulfill your role as the heir’s wife.”

“Think about it,” he said, getting up and leaving.

“I told you, it wasn’t me,” Lu Minghua insisted.

Wei Yuntai’s departing figure didn’t pause, and he was out of the room in an instant, the door closing behind him.

Mingxi needed happiness, but what about her? Was she destined to be wronged, to be a neglected wife, to be undeserving of happiness?

Alone in the room, Lu Minghua found it laughable and laughed. Her hand on the quilt tightened unconsciously, her pink fingertips turning white, and a few crystal-clear tears fell, soaking the fabric.

But no one believed her.

“Young Madam, did the heir bully you?” Mama Li asked cautiously, closing the door behind her and hurrying to the inner room. Seeing Lu Minghua sitting expressionlessly by the bed, she immediately spoke.

Lu Minghua shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her face as she opened her eyes. “No, why would you ask that, Mama?”

“Xiao Ya came to report that the heir returned to the room but left shortly after, seemingly displeased,” Mama Li said truthfully, looking at Lu Minghua with concern.

“The heir drank some wine and felt unwell, so he left,” Lu Minghua said casually.

Mama Li clearly didn’t believe her, but knowing she wouldn’t get an answer if Lu Minghua didn’t want to talk, she let it go and helped her lie down before leaving.

The door creaked shut, and Lu Minghua slowly opened her eyes, unable to sleep all night.

In the morning, Lu Minghua went to pay her respects to Madam Sun.

Recently, Sun Miaotong’s pregnancy had advanced, and Madam Sun, feeling sorry for her, had excused her from the morning greetings, giving Lu Minghua some peace. After exchanging a few words, feeling Madam Sun’s somewhat displeased gaze, Lu Minghua guessed she had heard about Wei Yuntai leaving in the middle of the night.

In this marquis’s residence, not much could be hidden from Madam Sun. With this in mind, Lu Minghua looked up and said something that surprised Madam Sun.

“Mother, I’ve been married for three years without conceiving. It seems I lack the fate for children. After much thought, I shamelessly come to you, hoping you can arrange a few suitable concubines for the heir.”

Madam Sun paused, the tea in her hand trembling and nearly spilling. She quickly set it down and looked carefully at Lu Minghua.

Lu Minghua’s expression remained calm as she met her gaze.

Seeing her like this, clearly having thought it through, Madam Sun studied her for a while before withdrawing her gaze. After a moment of contemplation, she smiled lightly and said, “Good child, you are considerate. I understand.”

“Then I thank you, Mother,” Lu Minghua said, exchanging a few more words before taking her leave.

Once she was out of sight, Madam Sun raised her eyes, deep in thought. She was certain that there was something unknown between her son and daughter-in-law. What could it be?

After that night’s unhappy parting, Wei Yuntai still returned to Chunshan Courtyard the next night.

Lu Minghua acted as if nothing had happened, neither distant nor intimate, treating him with respectful courtesy.

A few days later, the entire female household of the Marquis of Ningguo’s residence, led by Madam Sun, went to celebrate the 60th birthday of the old Madam Sun. Even Sun Miaotong, over seven months pregnant, didn’t miss it.

The sisters-in-law shared a carriage. Lu Minghua placed a soft cushion behind Sun Miaotong and then turned to look at the scenery outside the carriage without saying a word.

Surprised by her actions, Sun Miaotong glanced at her, unable to help herself. Seeing her straight back and dignified demeanor, Sun Miaotong suddenly snorted for some reason.

Since marrying into the Wei family, she had always been like this when they were together, so Lu Minghua wasn’t surprised.

Madam Sun arranged for them to sit together, hoping Lu Minghua would take care of her a bit. Sun Miaotong took advantage of this and started giving orders without hesitation.

Lu Minghua, not indulging her, called in the maids to serve while she quietly sat aside, closing her eyes to rest. The carriage swayed gently as they finally arrived at the Sun family’s residence, the Marquis of Changyuan.

Though also a marquis’s household, the Sun family wasn’t as luxurious as the Marquis of Ningguo’s residence but had its own rustic charm.

The carriage drove into the inner courtyard, where maids waited to assist them. Lu Minghua got down first, stepped back, and instructed the maids to carefully help Sun Miaotong before walking together towards Madam Sun.

The old Madam Sun, Madam Sun’s biological mother, chatted with them for a while upon meeting. Sun Miaotong was called away by her mother, leaving Lu Minghua to quietly serve by Madam Sun’s side, greeting everyone present before sitting down.

Soon, a slender woman entered, smiling and greeting everyone. Lu Minghua remembered her as Sun Miaotong’s elder sister, Sun Miaowei. Their relationship was average, but she got along well with Lu Mingxi.

“Sister,” Sun Miaotong called out happily, standing up immediately.

Sun Miaowei smiled as she approached, carefully helping her sit down, scolding, “You’re about to be a mother, yet still so careless. Sit down.”

“Sister, I’m happy to see you,” Sun Miaotong said, pouting.

Watching their sisterly affection, Lu Minghua couldn’t help but feel complicated, thinking of her relationship with Lu Mingxi.

As twins, they should have been closer than others, but…

Her relationship with Lu Mingxi had never been good since childhood. Their mother hadn’t been as biased back then, but whenever she paid more attention to Lu Minghua, Lu Mingxi would fall ill. Their mother would then take care of her, and if Lu Minghua didn’t comply, she would be scolded for being inconsiderate.

Over time, she gave up.

“Mingxi’s health is poor.”

“Mingxi is sick.”

“Minghua, be good and don’t cause trouble.”

These were the phrases that seemed to echo from her childhood memories.

“Minghua, long time no see.” After comforting her sister, Sun Miaowei sat down beside her, turning to greet Lu Minghua with a smile.

“Miaowei, how have you been lately?” Lu Minghua smiled.

She and Sun Miaowei had once been close, but Miaowei’s naturally caring nature had gradually drawn her closer to Lu Mingxi. In the second year of her marriage, Sun Miaowei married the second grandson of King Ning Mansion. Given her status as the eldest daughter of a marquis’s household, marrying a second son seemed mismatched. Lu Minghua had been curious but vaguely heard that Miaowei had a hidden illness, which explained it. Although the Changyuan Marquis’s residence wasn’t as favored, it had deep roots. The birthday banquet was lively, with even a few princess consorts from other royal households attending. Though they were from less favored branches, it was still significant. The banquet was bustling for half a day, and it wasn’t until the evening that everyone slowly left to return home.

The carriage moved steadily along the cobblestone street, the sound of hooves clear and crisp.

Lu Minghua had sipped two cups of wine at the banquet. Though not drunk, she felt a bit dizzy and leaned back in the carriage, closing her eyes for a nap. Unfortunately, while she wanted peace, Sun Miaotong did not. She had been chatting non-stop with Sun Miaowei at the banquet and was still in a good mood, which didn’t conflict with her dislike for Lu Minghua.

“What do you think of my sister?” she suddenly asked in the quiet carriage.

“Hmm?” Lu Minghua’s eyelashes fluttered, and she half-opened her eyes to glance at her.

“Miaowei is gentle, considerate, and naturally very good.”

“Better than you?” Sun Miaotong immediately pursued.

Seeing the seriousness and dissatisfaction in her eyes, Lu Minghua was puzzled. She had never compared herself to Sun Miaowei and didn’t understand Sun Miaotong’s competitive spirit.

“People have different personalities, each with their own strengths. How can you compare?” she said fairly.

Unexpectedly, this made Sun Miaotong angry, and she snorted again.

Lu Minghua was baffled. Her words were fine, but the problem was that she had drunk a bit, which made her feel dizzy and speak more casually. A simple sentence in her current state seemed dismissive and even slightly mocking.

Sun Miaotong’s anger surged, and she glared at Lu Minghua, gritting her teeth. “If it weren’t for my sister’s poor health, do you think you would have had the luck to marry Cousin Yuntai?”

Hearing this, Lu Minghua’s eyes suddenly widened, and her still-dizzy mind cleared instantly.

“What do you mean?”

Seeing her reaction, Sun Miaotong felt smug, thinking she had hit Lu Minghua’s sore spot. She raised her eyebrows, turned her head, and snorted, “Not telling you.”

She thought this would make Lu Minghua anxious, but after a while, hearing no response, she turned to look and found Lu Minghua sitting there, lost in thought.

She couldn’t help but tug at her handkerchief, feeling even angrier.

Sickness, unable to marry Wei Yuntai.

Lu Mingxi and Sun Miaowei were close, and even her health was worse.

Could it be as she suspected?