Chapter 10

That day, Wen Jianxin truly tasted real suffering.

She had only just miscarried not long ago, her confinement barely over a week, her body still weak—yet she had been forced to do that kind of thing. Then she spent the whole night in the bathroom, and by midnight, a high fever struck.

At that time, Xu Wangzhi had already been urgently called back to the army, long gone.

Half-conscious with fever, Wen Jianxin staggered down from the bed.

On the way, she inevitably fell.

The muddled pain jolted her awake a little, but she no longer had the strength to stand. She could only prop up her upper body and, reaching for the vase on the table, pushed it down with all her might.

Crash!

In the silence of the night, the sound of shattering glass was so sharp and clear.

At once, the pitch-dark little villa lit up.

Shang Lingzhu was woken by the noise and frowned.

She tried to make out where it had come from, but it had been just one brief crack—impossible to tell.

Then she recalled what the servants had told her earlier: ever since that Xu boy had entered her daughter’s room, he hadn’t come out, not until dusk. Her face darkened.

Could it be they had done something improper again?

Her daughter had just miscarried—she couldn’t withstand such torment.

She lifted the quilt and hurried to her daughter’s room.

But at the doorway, she saw her second son, just returned with a suitcase in hand.

His face was stern, eyes cold and deep. When he turned his gaze on her, it was filled with pain and regret.

She stopped, staring at him in a daze.

The thirty-one-year-old man, with handsome, chiseled features and a calm, restrained air, was now looking at her with resentment, his eyes carrying bitter disappointment.

Clearly, he already knew what had happened to his sister these past days.

She parted her lips, but did not try to deny.

“Yuli, this is your sister’s responsibility.”

Wen Yuli casually set down his suitcase, withdrew his gaze, and said evenly:

“Mother, the Wen family’s power and prosperity should be borne by me and elder brother—not at the cost of sacrificing my sister. Xu Wangzhi may be capable, but if my sister doesn’t like him, then she shouldn’t marry.”

Shang Lingzhu’s expression wavered, but soon dimmed again.

“I once said the same, but your father disagreed. He is steeped in the political world and obsessed with preserving the Wen family’s prestige—he allows no opposition. I had no choice. Besides…”

She hesitated, at a loss for words.

Seeing her falter, Wen Yuli felt a foreboding stir in his heart. He took a deep breath and asked calmly:

“Besides what?”

Shang Lingzhu clenched her teeth, no longer caring about his reaction, and laid it bare.

“Your sister… miscarried. Two months along. The child was Xu Wangzhi’s.”

“What!”

Wen Yuli’s pupils contracted, unable to believe what he’d heard.

Shang Lingzhu nodded wearily.

“You didn’t mishear. So now, whether your sister wants to or not, she must marry into the Xu family.”

She said into the Xu family, not to Xu Wangzhi. The meaning couldn’t be clearer.

This marriage was about binding the two families together, maximizing interests, standing against rivals.

At this point, Wen Yuli could no longer argue.

Before, he had insisted his sister shouldn’t marry Xu Wangzhi. But now, with even a child between them, refusing marriage was impossible.

“Forget it. Do as you all have decided.”

He rubbed his brow, stepped forward, and knocked on the door.

At that moment, he only wanted to see his sister—to know how she was.

The two servants by the stairs stood frozen, unsure what to do.

Shang Lingzhu forced herself upright, her eyelids heavy.

“The young master just returned. Go make him a bowl of noodles.”

“Yes, madam.”

The two servants went downstairs.

Lying on the floor inside, Wen Jianxin heard the knocking. She tried to call for help, but as soon as she opened her mouth, violent coughing seized her.

The broken, muffled sound reached no one outside.

The pain and fever screamed at her: if no one came soon, she’d be in grave danger.

She tried to crawl to the door, to open it herself—but she had overestimated her strength.

Dizzily, her mind went blank, and then… nothing.

Time passed since the knock, but the door stayed shut.

Wen Yuli hesitated, hand raised, unsure if he should keep knocking.

Shang Lingzhu stood behind him in silence, unable to face her daughter after all that had happened.

Assuming the girl was simply unwilling to see them, she said softly:

“Your sister is probably tired. Tomorrow will be fine.”

Without suspicion, Wen Yuli obeyed. He lowered his hand, picked up his suitcase, and headed to a nearby room.

Just before closing the door, he said faintly:

“It’s late. You should rest too.”

Shang Lingzhu nodded and left.

She didn’t think anything was wrong—just assumed her daughter was upset, smashing things in anger.

It wasn’t until the next morning, when a servant brought medicine to her daughter’s door and received no response, that alarm rose. Fetching the spare key, they opened the room.

Inside lay a pale body on the floor, beside the shattered vase.

The scene was terrifying. The servant screamed in horror and stumbled away.

Downstairs, Wen Yuli heard and rushed up.

Pushing aside the frightened servant, he darted into his sister’s room, scooped her up, and bolted downstairs.

There was no time to think why she had ended up like this—only the frantic urge to get her to the hospital.

Because in his arms, her body was cold and stiff, her breath faint to nothing.

Bai Chuqing, seeing this, dropped her coffee cup and hurried after him, forgetting all poise.

They drove to the hospital in under five minutes.

The doctor, startled by Wen Yuli’s grim aura and the girl’s deathly pale face, quickly called for a bed. Nurses rushed her into the ER without delay.

The wait outside was endless.

Bai Chuqing’s heart twisted in dread, her hands trembling. If her sister-in-law really didn’t make it, the consequences would be unthinkable.

She glanced at the icy, silent Yuli, wanting to offer comfort, but words felt useless.

Instead, she went to the nurse’s station to call the Wen and Xu families.

During that time, the doctor came out once, visibly angry.

“The patient just miscarried—how could she possibly be forced into intercourse so soon? She has severe tearing and infection, requires surgery. Her body is covered in bruises, her throat inflamed—she needs close observation.”

He paused, then added sternly:

“In cases like this, I’d advise you to call the police.”

Young and newly in practice, he couldn’t stomach such cruelty toward a woman, and spoke bluntly, glaring at them with contempt.

Wen Yuli’s face darkened—he could hardly believe Xu Wangzhi dared treat his sister this way.

Bai Chuqing, embarrassed, lowered her head and fidgeted, unable to answer.

Fortunately, the Wen and Xu elders soon arrived, sparing her from further discomfort.

She lifted her head, relief flooding her.

“You’re finally here. She’s still in surgery—the situation…”

Her eyes flicked to Madam Xu, resplendent in military uniform, her presence commanding. Bai Chuqing lowered her gaze and said quietly:

“Severe tearing, infection, multiple bruises, throat inflammation… Wangzhi was too brutal. No wonder she refused to marry him.”

As a woman herself, she could not tolerate such abuse. Pity and indignation welled within her.

Xu’s matriarch, Huang Heli, narrowed her eyes, a sharp glint flashing.

“A child unrestrained is the father’s failing. As his mother, I am deeply ashamed. For what happened today, I will give you all a proper explanation.”

But Shang Lingzhu’s face remained grim.

“Huang Heli, I only agreed to this marriage because Wangzhi begged, and for the sake of our families’ ties. But now—after what he has done—I am disillusioned. I can’t help but wonder if this marriage should go forward at all.”

Her anger blazed—if Xu Wangzhi stood before her now, she would have slapped him without hesitation.

Huang Heli nodded gravely.

“I understand your feelings, and I swear to give you an answer. I have always cherished Jianxin—I will not allow her to be wronged. But the marriage between our families is already set. All of Kyoto knows of it. If we break it off now, suspicions will spread. Why not give him one last chance, let him make amends, and win her forgiveness? What do you think?”

Shang Lingzhu was silent a long time before nodding slowly.

“Then one last chance. But if he dares mistreat Jianxin again, I’ll end this engagement myself, courtesy be damned.”

Huang Heli’s stern aura melted into a warm smile, like a gentle breeze.

Sitting beside Shang Lingzhu, she sighed.

“How fast time flies. Eighteen years gone in a blink. That baby in swaddling clothes has become a fine young lady. I’ve waited so long to see her as my daughter-in-law. Now that it’s nearly come true, that brat has ruined everything… it pains me greatly.”

She sighed again.

“We’re old now. We can’t understand the young. But fate is precious.”

She said no more.

Shang Lingzhu listened in silence, knowing well the unspoken truth.

All that earlier anger and compromise was just pretense. The Wen and Xu families’ marriage bond was never truly in question.

She cast Huang Heli a cold side glance.

How neatly she played both sides.

Wen Jianxin had once thought she would never wake again.

But heaven spared her—she had not perished so young.

Turning her eyes, she saw a tall figure seated by the bed.

At first, she thought it was Xu Wangzhi, and disgust flickered.

But on closer look, it was her long-lost second brother.

Surprise lit her gaze. She tried to push herself up.

Wen Yuli, already watching her closely, hurried forward and pressed her down, sighing helplessly.

“So much has happened—why didn’t you call me?”

Wen Jianxin smiled faintly, unconcerned.

“They’re just surface wounds, nothing serious. But you—your training and missions are grueling. I couldn’t distract you with my troubles.”

Wen Yuli’s eyes glistened with pain, his voice unsteady as he half-laughed, half-scolded:

“Silly girl.”

But Wen Jianxin shook her head earnestly.

“Not silly. I’m an adult now—I must take responsibility for my own life. I can’t trouble you all every time something happens. If I kept on like that, I’d become a parasite, unable to stand on my own. That’s not what I want.”