Chapter 23

“Young Master Yuan, it’s my idea to come here,” Lu Minghua said, hiding her unease with a gentle smile. She slightly tilted her head, revealing her jade-like earlobes with a faint blush.

Yan Yuanhua looked up and happened to see this. His words paused, and he looked away, laughing, “Miss Lu, as long as you don’t blame me.”

The sound of the water continued, and the morning sun gradually rose higher. The clear sunlight filtered through the treetops above the stream, gently falling on Lu Minghua’s brows and eyes.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she turned her gaze back, smiling, “It’s getting late; we should head back.”

The sunlight fell on her neck, making her fair skin seem to glow with a pearly sheen.

Yan Yuanhua’s gaze involuntarily lingered there, and he was momentarily lost in thought.

Not hearing his response, Lu Minghua looked up.

Yan Yuanhua quickly regained his composure and said, “Indeed, let’s go this way.” As he spoke, he turned abruptly, his movements a bit hurried.

Feeling something was off, Lu Minghua suppressed the feeling and followed slowly.

Descending the mountain required caution, but climbing up was exhausting. Lu Minghua slowly followed, holding onto branches, and soon began to breathe heavily.

Realizing his mistake, Yan Yuanhua waited, watching Lu Minghua press her lips together, stubbornly climbing without a word. Her determination made him feel helpless.

“Miss Lu, would you like some help?” he asked tentatively after a moment’s hesitation.

Lu Minghua immediately shook her head.

Yan Yuanhua had no choice but to give up.

“There’s no rush. I’ll walk slowly and enjoy the mountain scenery. Young Master Yuan, you can go ahead,” Lu Minghua said gently, not wanting to delay him, feeling like a burden.

Upon hearing this, Yan Yuanhua frowned slightly.

If this had been said at another time, he might have believed it. But Lu Minghua had just been frightened, and even if he didn’t understand women well, he knew she probably wasn’t in the mood to enjoy the scenery.

In the end, she was trying to persuade him to leave first. His gaze became complicated as he looked at Lu Minghua.

Yan Yuanhua had met considerate and thorough people before, but when he thought about Lu Minghua and her parents, he couldn’t help but wonder.

What kind of experiences had she gone through to develop such a habit of not wanting to trouble others?

“I have nothing to do either,” he said, his thoughts complex.

Feeling a bit uneasy, Lu Minghua thought he might be getting impatient. She looked up to persuade him again but saw Yan Yuanhua smiling, looking around cautiously and lowering his voice, “I deliberately sneaked out. The old servants at home are too nagging. I couldn’t stand it, so I had to come out for some fresh air.”

He looked so helpless yet relieved that Lu Minghua couldn’t help but laugh.

“Young Master Yuan, you should rest well since you’re injured. They’re just worried about you,” she said, then suddenly remembered, “You went into the water to save me. Are you okay?”

She recalled that Young Master Yuan seemed to be injured. If his leg was injured, he shouldn’t have gotten it wet, especially with the cold mountain water.

“It’s fine. My injury is on my shoulder. It just makes my hand a bit unsteady sometimes, but otherwise, it’s nothing,” Yan Yuanhua said, adding the last part to subtly explain the previous incident.

Lu Minghua thought she had forgotten about that incident, but after hearing this, she suddenly remembered the rough feeling that had brushed her fingertips that day.

Her heart trembled.

“I see. But still, don’t be careless. When you go back, have someone check it to avoid catching a cold,” she said softly, her voice gentle and caring.

Yan Yuanhua couldn’t help but smile and agree.

After resting for a while, they continued to climb. He walked ahead, and Lu Minghua occasionally looked up, sometimes seeing his tall figure, sometimes catching his careful gaze. Her heart felt complicated.

There had once been someone who waited for her like this, but later…

Not wanting to think further, Lu Minghua focused on following Yan Yuanhua. Step by step, they finally made it up the mountain.

“Thank you, Young Master,” Lu Minghua said, pausing before entering the courtyard.

Yan Yuanhua smiled, carefree and relaxed, waving it off. Their eyes met, sharing a mutual understanding.

Back at the courtyard, Mama Li hurried out, seeing the maids’ wet clothes, and worriedly asked Lu Minghua what had happened.

Lu Minghua sent the maids to wash and change to avoid getting sick, then briefly explained the situation.

“Miss, please don’t be so reckless next time,” Mama Li, feeling a bit annoyed at Young Master Yuan’s boldness for taking her to such a dangerous place, couldn’t bring herself to scold him seeing Lu Minghua’s relaxed expression. She could only remind her.

Lu Minghua agreed and was about to wash and change when a servant reported that the neighbor’s steward had brought a doctor to see her.

Puzzled, she called them in.

“Greetings, Miss Lu.” Zhao Shiyi glanced at Lu Minghua, curious about what had made his master’s clothes wet. The secret guards were tight-lipped, so he had to hold back his curiosity.

“Please rise, Steward Zhao. Who is this doctor?” Lu Minghua asked, noticing the doctor was middle-aged and expressionless, unlike the elderly doctors she usually saw.

“My master was worried you were frightened, so he sent me with the doctor to check your pulse.”

Lu Minghua was taken aback.

Just for a fright—

Even when she was sick before, no one had ever thoughtfully prepared a doctor for her. Feeling conflicted, Lu Minghua couldn’t sort out her thoughts, but her already smiling eyes softened even more.

“It’s just a small matter; there’s no need to trouble the doctor,” she said, overwhelmed by the rare concern.

“Since we’re here, even if it’s nothing, a peace-of-mind checkup is good,” Zhao Shiyi said cheerfully.

Seeing his insistence, Lu Minghua bit her lip and softly said, “Then please thank your master for me.”

“No trouble at all.”

Lu Minghua smiled, extended her hand to the doctor, and said, “Thank you, doctor.”

Unfazed by their back-and-forth, the doctor stepped forward to check her pulse, his expression calm and serious.

“Miss Lu, don’t mind. Doctor Song is skilled but not talkative, not intentionally rude,” Zhao Shiyi explained, glancing at the doctor.

“No problem. It’s my trouble for the doctor,” Lu Minghua replied, finding the steward very considerate.

“A bit of fright. I’ll prescribe a calming medicine,” Doctor Song said, withdrawing his hand. “But you have long-held worries. If you can’t open your heart, it may affect your lifespan. Try to think less about troubling things and do more happy things.”

This was a heart issue, hard to treat with medicine. All he could do was offer advice.

Zhao Shiyi remembered overhearing his master last night. This Miss Lu was also pitiful, with such parents. No wonder…

Feeling embarrassed, Lu Minghua lowered her eyes and said, “Thank you for the reminder, doctor.”

Doctor Song nodded, wrote a prescription, and left.

“Hey, wait a moment,” Zhao Shiyi called out. The doctor didn’t even say goodbye before turning to leave. What kind of behavior was that?

“Wait for what? Your master is waiting for me at home. Look at his condition—covered in injuries and still daring to go into the water. He’ll be in pain tonight. We need to hurry back,” Doctor Song grumbled.

“What? Young Master Yuan? How is he now?” Lu Minghua was shocked and stood up, losing her composure.

“Miss Lu, don’t worry. Don’t listen to him. My master has old injuries and can’t handle the cold, but he’s fine,” Zhao Shiyi said, glancing at Doctor Song and secretly laughing at the doctor’s bluntness.

Lu Minghua frowned, thinking about his injuries and how he shouldn’t have gotten wet. She felt guilty, knowing that Young Master Yuan was in this situation because of her.

“Then, you should hurry back. Don’t delay,” Lu Minghua said, looking at Doctor Song and quickly calling Xiaochun to see them off.

“Thank you for your understanding, Miss Lu. We’ll take our leave now,” Zhao Shiyi said, bowing slightly and leaving with Doctor Song.

Seeing Doctor Song leave first, Zhao Shiyi hurried to catch up, calling for him to wait.

Mama Li, busy preparing the medicine, returned to see Zhao Shiyi’s loud departure and disapproved of his lack of composure. “Too reckless,” she thought.

“Mama,” Lu Minghua called, worried. “Young Master Yuan went into the water to save me, and his old injuries have flared up. They say it will be painful. Is there any remedy?”

“Old injuries? It can’t be cured, but it can be alleviated. I’ve heard of several folk remedies that might help,” Mama Li said, frowning.

The first remedy involved boiling herbs and using the hot water for a bath.

Lu Minghua was initially pleased but then felt awkward. She listened carefully, asked a few questions, and then said, “Mama, please prepare the necessary herbs and take them next door. Explain the remedies and let them decide if they want to use them.”

Mama Li nodded, saying it was the right thing to do, and quickly prepared everything before heading next door.

In the neighboring house, Yan Yuanhua listened to Doctor Song’s report, frowning slightly.

“Accumulated stress?” He hadn’t expected to hear that and suddenly thought of Lu Minghua.

So, she was still affected by it.

“Don’t worry about Miss Lu. Focus on yourself,” Doctor Song said sternly. The emperor himself sent him, and if anything happened to his master under his care, it would be bad for him.

“Thank you, Doctor Song,” Yan Yuanhua said, smiling.

“Let’s see if you’re still smiling tonight when the pain hits,” Doctor Song muttered, but seeing Yan Yuanhua’s relaxed demeanor, he held back his temper.

Zhao Shiyi stood by, not daring to say much. If he did, his master would surely punish him for not stopping the doctor in time. It was better to stay quiet. As he thought this, someone came to report that Mama Li from next door was asking to see them.

The two households had interacted several times, so the servants were familiar and not overly cautious.

Zhao Shiyi went out to invite her in. Mama Li brought the medicine and explained the remedies she knew.

Yan Yuanhua’s eyes lit up, and he glanced at Zhao Shiyi.

Zhao Shiyi looked at Doctor Song, indicating it wasn’t his idea.

“Herbal baths could work. We can try it,” Doctor Song said, having served in the palace and always cautious about skin damage. But seeing his master was fine, he felt a rare sense of relief and even smiled.

Hearing this, Zhao Shiyi’s eyes brightened. Yan Yuanhua remained calm, thanking Mama Li and discussing the remedies with her.

Seeing Lu Minghua still worried, Mama Li tried to change the subject, asking about the neighboring household’s lack of a proper courtyard.

“Young Master Yuan is from the military. It’s probably just a habit,” Lu Minghua guessed absentmindedly.

“A military man? I couldn’t tell, but that explains it,” Mama Li said, curious about military life and Young Master Yuan’s rank.

Lu Minghua, genuinely interested, joined the conversation.

Seeing her rare interest, Mama Li smiled, noticing the light in her eyes. A thought crossed her mind.

As night fell, the red lanterns flickered.

Lu Minghua slowly combed her hair, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her thoughts drifted to the city.

Today was Wei Yuntai and Lu Mingxi’s wedding day. She wondered what it would be like and wanted to know how Wei Yuntai would react when he discovered Lu Mingxi’s true nature.

This was just the beginning. Unfortunately, she couldn’t witness Lu Mingxi’s future life firsthand.

Idly poking the fire, Lu Minghua thought wistfully, a slight smile on her lips.

She didn’t dwell on it; however, Mama Li closely watched her. Her young mistress had a good nature, not one to fight or scheme. But she wasn’t like that. Knowing about Lu Mingxi and Wei Yuntai, she had made her plans.

As expected, the second morning after their wedding, the Marquis Ningguo’s residence became lively. The commotion started with the morning tea ceremony.

Madam Sun didn’t make things difficult. She was proud and didn’t even bother to look at people she didn’t care for. She took the tea without even touching it to her lips and set it aside. Wei Huailiang offered some encouragement, but he didn’t touch the tea either.

At that moment, Lu Mingxi’s face turned pale.

With the two main figures of the Marquis’s residence acting this way, the attitudes of the other relatives were naturally cold.

What should have been a lively greeting ceremony ended up being very cold. Even Wei Yuntai’s two younger brothers didn’t call her sister-in-law. When it was time to open the ancestral hall and write Lu Mingxi’s name into the family register, Wei Huailiang didn’t even mention it. Wei Yuntai asked once, but Wei Huailiang said he had something to do and left. As the head of the family left, the others followed, leaving the two people who were supposed to be greeted standing there.

Finally, as soon as she stepped out of the room, Lu Mingxi fainted.

Seeing her end up like this, Mama Li was very pleased. After receiving the news from the capital, she told Lu Minghua.

“Let her scheme all she wants. She really thought it was something good. Serves her right!” she said happily.

“She fainted directly?” Lu Minghua laughed, shaking her head with a look of mockery.

“Exactly. I think the Marquis’s wife will be furious,” Mama Li said, smiling. Lu Mingxi really thought everyone in the world was as foolish as Madam Qin.

“The Marquis’s residence is not the Lu family. Her actions will only make the Marquis’s wife hate her more in the future…” Lu Minghua said lightly, finding it amusing.

Actually, Lu Mingxi’s health wasn’t so bad when she was young. She was just born weak, but she often pretended to be sick. Over time, her health genuinely deteriorated.

“From now on, she’ll have to suffer,” Mama Li said, beaming with schadenfreude, in stark contrast to Lu Minghua’s restraint.

“Mama~” Lu Minghua looked at her helplessly. She had previously criticized Zhao Shiyi for being immature, but now Mama Li wasn’t much better. Thinking this, she couldn’t help but smile. Although such gloating wasn’t very noble, she had to admit it felt satisfying.

So, while Lu Mingxi fainted every few days and the Marquis of Ningguo’s residence was in chaos, Lu Minghua and her maid spent their days cheerfully watching the drama unfold. Time passed quickly, and soon it was March.

Spring was in full bloom, and everything was coming back to life.

On the mountain, peach, apricot, and pear blossoms dotted the green hills, creating a delightful sight. At the foot of the mountain, people began tending to their fields, watering and weeding. Children herded cattle, and the distant mooing echoed through the mountains, painting a perfect spring scene.

“Are you the young lady from the house on the mountain?” A little girl with bright eyes looked at Lu Minghua, curious and excited.

“I suppose I am,” Lu Minghua replied. The weather was nice, and she had come out to play. She saw a few girls weaving willow branches into wreaths and, curious, approached them. “What are you doing?”

“We’re making flower crowns,” one girl said, holding up her creation. The other girls showed her the wildflowers they had picked and explained their plan in a few words.

They wove the willow branches into rings and decorated them with wildflowers to wear on their heads.

Lu Minghua was intrigued. In her childhood, she had only studied, done needlework, and learned from her father. She rarely had free time, and because of Lu Mingxi’s poor health, she seldom went out. She had never experienced such activities, so she stood by and watched.

The girls were from the village at the foot of the mountain. They had occasionally heard their elders mention the people in the house on the mountain and had been reminded to be polite if they met them.

Seeing Lu Minghua approach, they were initially surprised but soon became restrained, their laughter and chatter growing quieter.

Noticing this, Lu Minghua smiled, took another look, and then turned to leave. Behind her, a girl sighed in relief and then resumed their cheerful chatter in hushed tones. As she walked back, she came across a willow tree and casually broke off a branch. She tried to weave it into a ring, but each time she finished, it quickly unraveled, making her frown.

Xiao Chun and the other maids watched, laughing softly and offering suggestions, but they had all entered the household at a young age and didn’t know how to do this either.

“You’re laughing at me too,” Lu Minghua said, not angry, tossing the willow branch aside and glancing at the maids.

“Not at all, Miss. We’re just happy to see you like this,” Xiao Chun, who had been with her the longest, said boldly. “You seem much happier now than before.”

Hearing this, Lu Minghua smiled.

Xiao Xia handed her another willow branch and said, “Miss, try again.”

Lu Minghua shook her head and said, “No more trying. You all can play. If you can make me a beautiful flower crown, there will be a reward.” She touched the willow branch, feeling it sticky, and didn’t want to continue.

“Oh? I’ve made one. I wonder what reward Miss Lu has prepared for me?” Before the maids could respond, a voice full of laughter came from the side.

Lu Minghua instinctively looked over but saw no one.

Then, with a flash, Yan Yuanhua jumped down from a nearby tree.

“Young Master Yuan,” Lu Minghua was startled, then smiled, “What reward do you want?”

Over the past few days, they had become quite familiar with each other, making their conversations less formal.

“Hmm, just let me see Miss Lu wearing the flower crown,” Yan Yuanhua seemed to think for a moment, then brought out a flower crown made of peach blossoms from behind him and placed it in front of Lu Minghua.

Lu Minghua looked down and was amazed.

“Made of peach blossoms?” she said in surprise, reaching out to take it. The flower crown was not woven from willow branches but crafted from peach blossoms, making it very delicate.

“Yes, the willow branches weren’t good, so I made one with peach blossoms.”

“Not good?” Lu Minghua didn’t know this and looked at Yan Yuanhua inquiringly.

Yan Yuanhua smiled but didn’t explain. Willow branches are traditionally used to commemorate the deceased and express one’s longing. Every year during the Qingming Festival, many nameless graves at the border are adorned with willow branches. So, when he saw Lu Minghua curiously watching the children weave willow branches, he decided to use peach blossoms instead.

“Miss Lu, aren’t you going to reward me?” Yan Yuanhua smiled and changed the subject, not wanting to mention the past, which was never a happy topic.

Lu Minghua was puzzled for a moment before remembering his earlier mention of a reward. She couldn’t help but laugh, picked up the flower crown, and gently placed it on her head.

Her black hair was like clouds, her skin like snow, and the flower crown adorned her, making her look like a peach blossom in full bloom.

Yan Yuanhua was momentarily stunned, and the thought he had pushed away resurfaced—She must look beautiful wearing a peach blossom crown.

Lu Minghua felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze, but after spending time with him, she realized he was a true gentleman, honest and straightforward. She suppressed her emotions, looked up, and smiled lightly.

“There’s your reward,” she joked.