Chapter 25 : Huo Tan, will you always treat me well in the future?

The sudden turn of events left He Lan Shi unprepared, she choked on her breath and nearly fainted on the spot.

Her aunt, the Third Aunt, quickly reached out to support her, helping her to sit down and catch her breath.

Cui Yunzhao’s gaze swept over He Lan Shi’s pale face and then settled on Cui Xu.

Cui Xu’s face was dark with anger, his eyes filled with resentment, no longer exhibiting the grace and composure expected of the Cui family patriarch.

At this moment, he was like a hyena that had just had its meat taken away, panting heavily and radiating a sinister aura.

Cui Yunzhao found this very interesting. To her, Cui Xu’s current appearance was his true nature. Greedy, treacherous, and selfish.

Cui Yunzhao maintained her poise and bright gaze, showing no sign of retreat in the face of his malevolence.

“Uncle, since Aunt is unable to handle this matter, I must ask you directly, what is your answer?”

Cui Xu took a deep breath.

After a moment, he finally spoke, “Alright, you’re quite something.”

This niece of his was truly impressive.

Cui Yunzhao held her head high, her gaze clear and unmoved by his harshness, “So does this mean you agree?”

Cui Xu gritted his teeth, his mouth full of the taste of blood.

She had invited so many soldiers not to make things difficult for him or to take advantage of the Cui family. She was trying to forcefully carve a piece of his heart out.

Though that piece was not physically theirs, he had long considered it his own private possession.

She had made it glaringly clear that she was no longer the pawn he could manipulate at will regarding her marriage.

Cui Yunzhao’s My lord was a military general with over a hundred subordinates. Even if they did nothing but stand outside the Cui family’s gate, the scene would be intimidating.

Cui Xu clenched his fists tightly, his palms marked with bloody indentations from his nails.

At the beginning of Cui Yunzhao’s engagement, Cui Xu hadn’t thought much about it. He only wanted to be promoted to a political position, which would allow him to act more freely in Bo Ling City. He didn’t care who Cui Yunzhao married.

At the time, he even hoped that marrying her off to Lu Jiming’s eldest son would be best, as that would avoid any external gossip.

But Lü Jiming, in the end, had no intention of marrying a Cui family daughter. Instead, he let a military officer, who had already passed away, become the Cui family’s son-in-law.

As a result, Cui Xu not only lost face but also offended this niece.

This was unacceptable.

He thought long and hard and came up with a plan, only to find that this young couple did not follow his expectations at all.

What was even more unexpected,

Cui Yunzhao’s visit today was meant to irritate and make him uncomfortable.

Cui Xu’s face darkened like water, his anger boiling inside.

Especially seeing Cui Yunzhao look at him with such disdain, she reminded him of his older brother more than ever, deepening his frustration.

In a moment of distraction, Cui Xu’s hand trembled, causing the cup filled with fragrant osmanthus wine to fall to the ground.

With a loud “crash,” the cup shattered into countless pieces.

The deafening sound of the shattering brought everyone in the hall back to their senses, their heartbeats suddenly accelerating.

The uncles, aunts, and cousins at the main table looked at the unyielding Cui Yunzhao and her smiling My lord, Huo Tan, and a sudden, unspoken admiration arose within them.

This young couple, though brought together by an accident, seemed to be a perfect match.

They appeared meant to be together.

At this moment, Cui Xu knew he could not achieve his goals.

With everyone’s thoughts scattered, Cui Xu was too consumed by rage to notice. He fixed his glaring eyes on Cui Yunzhao, as if his eyes were on fire.

“Niece, are you trying to sever ties with the family? I’ve never heard of a married woman coming back home demanding her dowry like this.”

Cui Xu’s voice was hoarse as he made a final struggle “Even if you don’t think about yourself, you should consider your My lord’s future.”

Having abandoned all pretense, Cui Xu directly threatened Cui Yunzhao.

Cui Yunzhao turned to Huo Tan.

At that moment, Huo Tan, with a smile on his lips, was attentively examining a blue-and-white porcelain cup in his hand.

Only when he heard his name did Huo Tan look up and meet Cui Yunzhao’s bright eyes.

In the next moment, he gave Cui Yunzhao a brilliant smile.

He was already extremely handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, unmatched in his good looks. Cui Yunzhao wasn’t exaggerating,among all the men she had seen in Bo Ling City, he was the most handsome.

Looking at him, Cui Yunzhao could think of many beautiful words.

Jade-like and golden, a dragon colt and a phoenix chick, with a crane’s bone and a pine’s grace, as if bathed in the light of dawn…

The words were countless, especially when he smiled at her, like a bright moon shining and radiating warmth.

Instinctively, Cui Yunzhao responded with a gentle smile.

Huo Tan nodded at her, then straightened his back and slowly turned to face Cui Xu.

When his gaze met Cui Xu’s, the smile disappeared from his eyes, replaced by coldness and sharpness.

“Second uncle, I have just arrived in Bo Ling. We have only known each other for a short time and you don’t know me very well yet.”

“That’s who I am.”

Huo Tan’s voice was heavy, pushing the large stone of Cui Xu’s heart off the cliff, leaving no chance for it to recover.

“I don’t like being threatened, and I don’t care about my reputation.”

“A military officer is different from a scholar. As a military officer, defeating enemies and winning battles is what the superiors value the most.”

At this point, Huo Tan suddenly laughed.

“Ha.”

That laugh sent a shiver down He Lan’s spine, who was on the verge of fainting.

“Second uncle, I am a rough man who only knows how to kill people. I am really not as smart as you.”

“So from now on, I will listen to my My lady about all matters at home. As for today’s matter, no matter what my My lady wants to do, I will naturally fully support her.”

Huo Tan said this as he reached for the wine jug and poured himself a bowl of wine.

He lifted the wine cup, toasted Cui Xu from afar, and then drank the osmanthus wine in one gulp.

After finishing, he smiled again, “It’s good wine. Thank you, Uncle, for the hospitality.”

Cui Xu’s face looked even worse than before.

He suddenly realized that today, no matter what, he could not refuse.

Cui Xu regretted it.

When he heard that Lu Jiming wanted to marry Huo Tan and Cui Yunzhao, he had even secretly rejoiced with He Lan, thinking that Huo Tan was just a powerless military officer, a rough man who would not be a good match for Cui Yunzhao.

With Cui Yunzhao’s temperament, even if she wanted the dowry, she probably couldn’t think of any way to get it, let alone ask her My lord for help.

Reputation could be slowly restored, but the dowry from the Yin family was a solid benefit.

That’s why he hadn’t outright refused the match at that time.

Who knew that the couple would be so close and cooperative, and that Cui Yunzhao would disregard her own face and act like a ruthless killer alongside Huo Tan.

One misstep led to another.

Cui Xu felt a sharp pain in his chest, but with so many people watching and the courtyard waiting for a hundred soldiers, he had no choice but to agree.

Struggling to suppress the urge to vomit blood, Cui Xu finally said with difficulty, “You can have it all. Are you satisfied now?”

Cui Xu raised his eyes, looking at Cui Yunzhao with his bloodshot, cold eyes.

His voice was colder than the weather outside.

“Niece, although you marry into another family, your maternal family is still your support. As long as the Cui family exists, no one can bully you. Don’t lose your mind and trust the wrong people.”

Is Cui her backer?

It was when her father was alive, but now that he is gone, it seems it no longer is.

There are many elders and uncles in the family, but every family has its own business. Cui Xu is indeed not an upright gentleman, but he is good at scheming. When the Cui family was in decline, he still exchanged Cui Yunzhao for the position of Bo Ling’s political advisor.

Even the most upright scholar must make a living and provide for their family.

So, at the time of Cui Yunzhao’s marriage, although the elders had spoken to Cui Xu, they ultimately did not enforce a hard rule.

They were clear about the weight of Cui Yunzhao’s happiness compared to the future of the Cui family.

So, could the Cui family still be her support in the future?

Cui Yunzhao looked towards the two tables at the side and quickly withdrew her gaze.

That would depend on who the next head of the family would be.

Right now, Cui Yunzhao was not in a hurry.

No matter how harsh Cui Xu’s words were, Cui Yunzhao did not take them to heart. Meanwhile, Huo Tan, as if not noticing her veiled criticism, stood up with Cui Yunzhao and offered a toast to Cui Xu.

His words were pleasant: “Thank you, Uncle, for your generosity.”

Cui Xu could no longer sit still. His face had been thoroughly trampled by this audacious couple. He felt that everyone was looking at him with mockery.

Cui Xu suddenly stood up and, with a sweep of his sleeve, declared, “Dismiss the banquet.”

He left without caring about the others present, striding out as if he feared that Cui Yunzhao would come up with another scheme to embarrass him.

He Lan, who had been on the verge of collapse, saw him leave and quickly got up to follow.

But Cui Yunzhao stopped her “Aunt, I’ll have Mama Xia visit you shortly to review my mother’s dowry list.”

He Lan’s steps faltered, nearly causing her to fall. She straightened her back, turned her shoulders away from the crowd, and her shoulders kept trembling.

She seemed to be enduring something but ultimately gritted her teeth and said, “Alright, I’ll wait for her.”

After the couple left, the younger generation, including Cui Xu’s cousins, all rose with unpleasant expressions and took their leave.

Once everyone had departed, the Third, Sixth, and Eighth Uncles remained.

The Sixth Uncle looked at his brothers and then smiled at Cui Yunzhao, “Niece, the soldiers outside are still drinking, aren’t they? Such a joyous occasion should be shared with the soldiers who protect the country. We should go and thank them with a drink. What do you think?”

Cui Yunzhao was momentarily taken aback but then stood up with Huo Tan to express her gratitude.

The Care of the Elders

Cui Yunzhao thought for a moment and said to Huo Tan, “My lord, please accompany the uncles and aunts over there first. I need to speak with my younger siblings for a while.”

Huo Tan nodded, showing respect and courtesy to the three uncles. He politely invited them to proceed to the Mingde Hall.

At this point, most of the people in Qingfeng Building had already left, with only Cui Yunting and Cui Yunlan still standing there, unmoved.

Cui Yunzhao looked at her excited younger siblings and waved to them.

“Let’s go back and talk.”

The three sisters headed towards Lianxing Pavilion. Cui Yunzhao asked, “What do you think of this arrangement?”

Before Cui Yunting could speak, Cui Yunlan, rarely showing excitement, said, “Sister, you’re the best.”

Cui Yunlan was well aware that this opportunity was won by Cui Yunzhao tearing relations with the Cui family and the second uncle’s family.

Cui Yunzhao gently patted her little head and smiled quietly.

Cui Yunting clenched his fists and added, “Sister, I will study hard.”

Cui Yunzhao suddenly thought of Huo Chengpu.

She paused slightly and asked him, “tintang, do you like reading?”

Cui Yunting was surprised by the question. After a moment of hesitation, he replied, “I do like it.”

“I know I was very mischievous before, but that was… that was just to make the teachers pay more attention to me.”

After their parents passed away, despite having many uncles and aunts, they were keenly aware that they were now orphans.

The Yin family was far away in Tonglu and could not help them. They could only rely on themselves to survive within the Cui family.

The Cui family’s ancestral residence was magnificent and every scene and item, every pavilion and building within it, bore the mark of a century of glory.

Living here was respectable, but these ornate decorations also became an illusion, a cage that controlled them.

They could only be held in the palm of the second uncle and second aunt, unable to resist.

Being manipulated was not pleasant.

Did they want to move out? Both of the younger ones wanted to move out very much.

Cui Yunzhao, hearing Cui Yunting’s youthful voice and seeing the determination and joy on their faces, couldn’t help but smile.

“Third Aunt is a straightforward person. When you move to Tingyue Hall, you must listen to Third Uncle and Third Aunt, and follow the guidance of the elders.”

Cui Yunzhao paused, then addressed Cui Yunlan, “Lanlan, if you encounter any difficulties, you can always ask Third Aunt. She will tell you what to do.”

“Don’t be afraid or timid. She is our family, and you should treat her as you would have treated our mother.”

—-

Cui Yunlan nodded seriously.

Cui Yunzhao then turned to Cui Yunting and said, “tintang, you too. If you have any questions, you can always ask Third Aunt. For academic matters, you should also seek advice from Third Uncle and Ming Tangxiong. They will not hesitate to offer guidance.”

“tintang, this is a rare opportunity. I hope you can pass the exam next year and repay the guidance of Third Uncle and Third Aunt.”

Cui Yunting stood upright and nodded vigorously, “Sister, I will work hard.”

After giving her instructions, Cui Yunzhao and the others arrived at Lianxing Pavilion.

Mama Xia had already packed up and moved the luggage to the carriage, and she was waiting inside Lianxing Pavilion.

Seeing Cui Yunzhao arrive, she said, “If I leave, what will happen to Fifth Miss and Third Young Master?”

Cui Yunzhao took her hand, briefly explained today’s events, and said, “Mama, Second Aunt has already agreed. For today, please help out by staying a bit longer. First, go to Second Aunt’s place to retrieve my mother’s dowry list. Then, help them with their luggage and send them to Tingyue Hall.”

Mama Xia was taken aback by the scale of Cui Yunzhao’s achievements today. Her eyes widened in surprise, and then she couldn’t help but start crying.

“Miss, you have really gone through a lot. I will make sure everything is handled properly and will not let the second branch take even a penny of the dowry.”

She added after a moment, “I’ll stay one more night. After I’ve settled Fifth Young Master and Third Miss, I’ll come to attend to you.”

Cui Yunzhao reassured her to take her time and not to hurry.

After giving all her instructions, Cui Yunzhao reminded her younger siblings once more to send someone to find her if they needed anything. She then led Li Qing towards the Mingde Hall.

Mingde Hall in the Cui family estate was the grandest and most spacious house in the family. It could accommodate the entire family during important festivals and ceremonies. Although there were more soldiers today than usual, the soldiers were not afraid of the cold, and any extra tables were set up in the courtyard.

As Cui Yunzhao approached the Flower Draped Gate, she heard a lively commotion outside.

The Cui family’s ancestral home was usually quiet, so the rare hustle and bustle today was actually quite comforting.

Li Qing stepped forward to open the door, and Cui Yunzhao entered the front yard.

The soldiers in the front yard were enjoying their drinks. Cui Yunzhao took a quick look and saw that the feast was indeed well-prepared, which reassured her.

Soldiers who had seen her yesterday raised their glasses in greeting.

“Lady Cui, thank you.”

“Mrs. Cui, your food and drink are really excellent.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded to each of them and then turned to enter the Mingde Hall.

Mingde Hall.

Inside Mingde Hall, Huo Tan was still accompanying the uncles to toast the soldiers.

Of course, the main drinker was Sixth Uncle.

Cui Yunzhao approached Huo Tan and noticed his face was even redder than before. She couldn’t help but comment, “Drink less, or you’ll end up drunk.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was heard by the soldiers at the table, who immediately burst into laughter.

“Military officer, it’s better to be married. Now you have someone caring for you.”

“Ah, stop teasing and let the military officer drink less.”

Amidst the joking, Cui Yunzhao’s face reddened slightly, but she didn’t seem embarrassed.

She addressed them, saying, “I have a poor tolerance for alcohol, so I can only offer tea instead of wine. Thank you, brothers, for gracing the Cui family with your presence today.”

As she spoke, she took the teacup from Li Qing and drank the tea in one go.

Cheers erupted inside and outside Mingde Hall.

“Good!”

“Lady Cui is straightforward!”

Cui Yunzhao smiled, and the atmosphere in Mingde Hall was exceptionally lively.

Having just toasted, Sixth Uncle was somewhat tipsy. He waved to Cui Yunzhao and Huo Tan, his eyes bleary, saying, “Niece, I can’t drink anymore. You two are much better than me. We’ll stop here for the toasts.”

“Niece, if the soldiers find the food insufficient, just let the kitchen know and say it’s from me.”

“Go and entertain the guests.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded and said earnestly, “Thank you, uncles.”

Sixth Uncle waved his hand, squinting to look at Cui Yunzhao’s youthful face.

After all, she was only eighteen this year.

Her father passed away when she was just thirteen.

Sixth Uncle smiled at Cui Yunzhao, saying, “You don’t have to listen to your Second Uncle’s words. We’re still here for you. I didn’t oppose this marriage because I’ve met your My lord, and I think he’s a worthy match.”

“Second daughter, live well with your My lord, and if you face any grievances, come home and tell us.”

“Son-in-law, treat our daughter well, do you hear?”

These words brought a lump to Cui Yunzhao’s throat.

Huo Tan quickly stepped forward, clasping his hands in greeting, “Yes, uncles, rest assured. I will definitely take good care of my My lady.”

Once the uncles left, the soldiers became even more relaxed.

Cui Yunzhao looked at the food for the day. The Eight Treasure Roast Duck, Steamed Pork with Rice Flour, and Roast Chicken were likely bought from outside, while the family had prepared additional stews and cold dishes. The table was fully loaded.

Cui Yunzhao noticed that the table setting was quite beautiful.

It turned out that Cui Xun valued face and sometimes it worked out well.

Cui Yunzhao accompanied Huo Tan in toasting a few more times and then said, “Yesterday, we missed meeting twenty of our brothers. How about seeing them today? I haven’t given them their greetings yet.”

Huo Tan replied, “They’re at those two tables over there.”

So Cui Yunzhao accompanied him to meet each of the soldiers.

As the luck symbols were handed out, Cui Yunzhao’s heart grew heavier.

This one isn’t it, and that one isn’t it either.

Could it be that the person sent to poison her was one of those who later joined the army under Huo Tan?

If that’s the case, it would be problematic.

Just as her mood was sinking, a soft and quiet voice spoke up, “This subordinate Bai Xiaochuan greets Lady Cui.”

Cui Yunzhao’s gaze snapped up sharply.

It was him.

———

It was this person who had suddenly appeared in the Lotus Hall in her previous life and had become the prime suspect in her death.

That cold and eerie voice was truly chilling, and even now, remembering it made her shiver.

She couldn’t be mistaken.

In her moments of near death, the pain was so intense that all memories echoed repeatedly in her mind. She clearly remembered that voice.

It was exactly the same as Bai Xiaochuan’s.

Judging by his build, he didn’t seem to differ much either.

In that instant, Cui Yunzhao’s heartbeat quickened dramatically.

The joy of finding something lost, the excitement of finally seeing hope, all exploded in her heart.

She wanted to laugh out loud to relieve the anguish she had suffered from being murdered.

But now, she could do nothing.

Perhaps Cui Yunzhao’s reaction was too obvious. Huo Tan, standing beside her, couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

Cui Yunzhao shook her head, her gaze returning to Bai Xiaochuan.

He was very young, looking no older than fifteen or sixteen. He seemed small and thin, not quite like the soldiers under Huo Tan.

Huo Tan’s soldiers were all elite troops, muscular and strong. Bai Xiaochuan, with his thin build, looked like a mouse in a cat’s den among these warriors.

Especially with his naturally cold voice, he didn’t resemble a soldier at all.

“Bai Xiaochuan, how old are you this year? How did you end up joining the army?”

Bai Xiaochuan understood the question immediately. He lowered his eyes, standing quietly, and said, “This subordinate is from a military household and originally served under the Army Commissioner.”

Bai Xiaochuan, who had just joined the army three months ago, explained, “I was part of the military household before, but after the rebellion in Wuping and the death of the Army Commissioner, the troops were dispersed.”

Despite his young age and slender appearance, Bai Xiaochuan spoke with a calm and composed demeanor.

From his words, it was clear that Bai Xiaochuan had seen battle.

Cui Yunzhao made an effort to maintain a natural demeanor. She smiled and handed over the red paper with the character for “fortune” written on it, saying, “This is my greeting gift. You can ask the brothers how to use it.”

Bai Xiaochuan accepted the paper without thanking her.

Having lived two lives, Cui Yunzhao could generally sense how others felt about her, whether there was clear affection or hostility.

But Bai Xiaochuan seemed emotionally neutral, neither pleased nor displeased by the gift. He was either too young to understand or had a deep, inscrutable mind.

Cui Yunzhao studied him for a moment before looking away.

Fortunately, the clue was right next to Huo Tan.

With a clear lead and a specific person to investigate, Cui Yunzhao could piece together the truth bit by bit.

She took a deep breath, stepped back to Huo Tan’s side, and looked at the soldiers cheerfully drinking.

In her second life, she was satisfied with every decision she made.

Especially now, seeing their smiles, her mood was momentarily lifted from the harsh, snowy night.

“Brothers, thank you for gracing us with your presence today. There’s plenty of food and drink, so just enjoy yourselves.”

The men cheered loudly, and the atmosphere grew even livelier.

The soldiers were their guests, so they stayed to accompany them. Since the guests weren’t leaving, neither could the hosts.

Cui Yunzhao thought she would have to wait a long time, expecting the kitchen to need to prepare more dishes and drinks. However, to her surprise, the soldiers finished all the food and drink quickly and soon stood up together.

They finished their meal in a remarkably short time.

After wiping their mouths with their sleeves, the tall men lined up in the courtyard.

Cui Yunzhao noticed that the shorter Bai Xiaochuan was standing at the very front of the line.

In the next moment, the soldiers pounded their chests with their right hands and performed a synchronized military salute.

“Thank you, Army Commissioner. Thank you, Lady Cui. We are dismissed.”

Even their words were spoken in unison.

The sound was imposing and deafening.

Cui Yunzhao’s heart raced with intense emotion.

She suddenly understood why, in both her previous and current lives, Huo Tan valued these soldiers who followed him into battle so much.

Once the soldiers had completed their salutes, they left in orderly groups, and the entire process was swift and quiet, without a sound.

In the blink of an eye, only clean plates and bowls remained in the Mingde Hall.

Cui Yunzhao looked at the scene before her and couldn’t help but smile. “It really is…”

Huo Tan lowered his gaze toward her.

“What is it?”

Cui Yunzhao lifted her eyes and said seriously, “It’s truly unexpected.”

Huo Tan pressed his lips together lightly but did not smile.

“This is as it should be. As soldiers, they must understand restraint. Their attendance here today was also part of their duties. When carrying out their duties, there must be rules.

“Only by adhering to such discipline can they become an invincible army on the battlefield.”

Cui Yunzhao listened quietly, feeling a stir in her heart.

In her previous life, she and Huo Tan had been separated for most of the time. She didn’t know much about life in the military camp, nor had she seen him in battle, fighting bravely and shedding blood.

So, she didn’t understand why he could ascend to high positions at such a young age.

Now, hearing Huo Tan’s words, Cui Yunzhao had gained some insight.

However, Bai Xiaochuan’s appearance had made Cui Yunzhao wary of him again.

Bai Xiaochuan was now one of his soldiers, what about in the future?

Could it really be that she hadn’t misunderstood and that the person who wanted to kill her back then was indeed Huo Tan?

Cui Yunzhao lowered her gaze, feeling her heart sink again.

She even felt a sudden impulse to ask him if, once he achieved a higher rank, he would discard and betray her, his humble My lady.

But when the question was on her lips, she held back.

She couldn’t afford to be impulsive.

She needed to proceed cautiously.

Cui Yunzhao took a deep breath and said, “My lord, let’s go home.”

Huo Tan, unaware of her inner turmoil, replied, “Let’s go home.”

Given the commotion of the day, Cui Xu and He Lan Shi would certainly not want to see them again, so Cui Yunzhao did not return to the inner residence to say farewell.

She called the old housekeeper over, gave him a few instructions, and then led Huo Tan away from the Cui residence.

Once they were in the carriage and the tall gate of the Cui residence had disappeared from view, Cui Yunzhao let out a slow sigh of relief.

But soon after, she felt Huo Tan’s presence in the carriage.

Huo Tan was so tall that his presence was impossible to ignore as he sat steadily.

The carriage had been moving for a while, and Cui Yunzhao still hadn’t gathered her thoughts.

She lowered her head, feeling that she was not yet ready to face Huo Tan.

Every day since her rebirth, Cui Yunzhao has been striving to change everything around her. She constantly seeks to prove something and immediately find clues.

The best outcome would be if the person who tried to kill her was not Huo Tan.

As long as it’s not Huo Tan, Cui Yunzhao would no longer be afraid of anyone else.

Huo Tan is destined to become the future emperor. His path to becoming an emperor seems to be fate itself, and as an ordinary woman, Cui Yunzhao can’t change the course of future events in just a few years.

As long as the person who wants to harm her is not Huo Tan, Cui Yunzhao won’t need to be constantly on edge.

Deep down, there is also a secret she is reluctant to share with outsiders.

In her previous life, they indeed did not live well and their relationship was strained, but it wasn’t because Cui Yunzhao didn’t like Huo Tan.

On the contrary, during those ten years in her previous life, Cui Yunzhao always had him in her heart.

It was just that so many things happened later that she no longer had the strength to continue following him. In the end, she chose to divorce, to free herself, and to let Huo Tan live the life he wanted.

So, although she had some suspicions upon hearing those words at the time of her death, Cui Yunzhao was unwilling to believe that he was indeed the one who had killed her.

Whether she was considered weak or cowardly, deep down, she had always refused to believe it.

She couldn’t accept that her former My lord, with whom she had shared a bed, would want to kill her. She also couldn’t believe that someone she once admired could have harmed her.

That feeling was more painful than being killed.

It meant that in her previous life, she was blind and couldn’t even recognize the wolves and tigers around her.

At the same time, a voice in her heart kept pulling at her.

“Why wouldn’t he kill you? Perhaps your existence obstructs his path.”

“Perhaps the new empress he is about to marry values you, his former My lady.”

“Or perhaps he sees you as a blemish he wants to erase completely.”

Whenever this happened, Cui Yunzhao would cover her ears, trying to block out those ghostly whispers.

Now, those sharp words resurfaced in her mind.

For a moment, Cui Yunzhao was stunned and didn’t even hear Huo Tan’s voice.

Seeing her silent since leaving the Cui residence, Huo Tan frowned.

Although dealing with Cui Xu in Qingfeng Pavilion had been satisfying, it seemed to be just a facade.

After all, it was her home, and those were her relatives. Perhaps she was still grieving.

Thinking of this, Huo Tan couldn’t help but speak up. “My lady, are you alright?”

Cui Yunzhao did not hear him.

Huo Tan lowered his head slightly and noticed that her eyes had reddened again.

Although they had only been married for two days, Huo Tan was starting to get used to her. He had come to recognize that when she felt wronged, her eyes would involuntarily turn red.

Seeing this made Huo Tan feel a pang of distress.

He didn’t understand why he felt this way, but he could only quietly watch her as she kept her eyes lowered in silence. The carriage sped along and soon arrived back at Lotus Flower Alley.

When the carriage stopped, Cui Yunzhao remained lost in her thoughts.

Huo Tan sighed.

He called out to Cui Yunzhao again, but this time, she still didn’t respond.

Instinctively, Huo Tan reached out and grasped her wrist.

Cui Yunzhao’s wrist was slender and soft, but before he could feel much, she roughly brushed his hand away.

Her movement was abrupt and almost panic-stricken, full of defensiveness.

Huo Tan was taken aback.

He was somewhat incredulous.

He had initially thought Cui Yunzhao was frightened by him, but then he saw the clear resentment in her eyes.

She resented him.

Why?

Huo Tan’s heart was filled with confusion, and within that confusion, there was a sense of hurt he couldn’t fully understand.

He believed he had treated her well. Why did she still resent him?

Just a few days ago, they had shared a bed and arranged their home together. Hadn’t they been getting along well?

How had everything changed so suddenly?

At that moment, Cui Yunzhao also came to her senses.

Realizing what she had done, she felt a pang of anxiety and instinctively wanted to explain.

But how could she explain?

Cui Yunzhao bit her lip, not daring to look at Huo Tan’s hurt expression.

“I…,” her voice trembled, heavy with tears.

Huo Tan thought she was about to cry.

Cui Yunzhao quickly lowered her head and said, “I’m just feeling upset, it wasn’t intentional. Please don’t be angry, my lord.”

In her previous life, although she and Huo Tan had not been very harmonious, Huo Tan was not one to hold grudges. Whenever they had a falling out, Cui Yunzhao could brush it off with a few words, and Huo Tan would always accept it.

So now, she hoped it would be the same.

But Huo Tan did not agree. This time, he did not let it go easily.

Cui Yunzhao felt his hand still holding her wrist.

Huo Tan gently lifted her chin.

A breeze blew in, lifting the curtain of the carriage and letting the sunlight fall on her tear-streaked face.

She didn’t even realize that her face was drenched with tears.

Huo Tan’s words were stuck in his throat. He couldn’t bring himself to question her.

Perhaps, as Cui Yunzhao had said, she was just feeling upset.

It wasn’t about using him, deceiving him, and then turning her back on him once she had used him up.

Huo Tan could feel her trembling.

Tears fell from her face, soaking into his palm.

Even though it was winter, her pearl-like tears felt like hot wax, making him shiver in response.

Huo Tan felt a surge of frustration. At that moment, he suddenly hated his own lack of understanding.

He felt that Cui Yunzhao was like the unpredictable winter weather, with its ever-changing winds and clouds.

It would be easier to go to war in battle, you just need to fight the enemies and defeat them to win rewards.

Whether it be positions or wealth, they were within reach. But Cui Yunzhao had become an unexpected complication in his life. She was so delicate and beautiful, and with a blink of her eye, her tears could pierce his heart.

Just like now.

She had been fine when leaving the Cui family, and she had been happy, but why did she suddenly start crying once they returned home?

Huo Tan looked at her and took a deep breath.

“Cui Yunzhao, if you truly dislike being with the Huo family, you can go back to the Cui family today.”

Huo Tan didn’t know how to comfort her and could only say what he thought might make her feel better.

But after he said that, Cui Yunzhao’s crying only intensified.

The woman across from him, with her beautiful phoenix eyes now swollen with tears, looked at him with a mix of grievance and hurt.

“Huo Tan, how could you do this!”

In her eyes, there was less resentment and more of a deep sense of injustice.

Huo Tan was almost driven to madness by her. But in Cui Yunzhao’s heart, it brought back memories of a time when they had discussed separation.

At that time, she had just recovered from a severe illness, and Li Qing had unexpectedly passed away. She was emotionally and physically exhausted, unable to continue holding on.

When Huo Tan visited her, feeling wronged, she had directly spoken of separation.

Back then, Huo Tan had just looked at her deeply and agreed without much hesitation.

Later, Cui Yunzhao had not seen Huo Tan for two years.

She felt wronged and resented him for his indifference.

She hated herself for once having feelings for him and hated him for easily giving up on their marriage.

Everything personal.

Because he had to go to war, he abandoned his family business.

Because he needed to protect more people, he failed to protect her.

In Huo Tan’s world, it was always her who was left behind and abandoned.

Recalling all of this, Cui Yunzhao cried even more intensely. She suddenly went mad, striking Huo Tan’s chest with her fists. “Huo Tan, how could you say such things? We’ve just married, and now you don’t want me anymore?”

The girl across from him was tearful, her fists hitting him with no strength, her voice laden with countless grievances.

As if it were still Huo Tan’s fault.

Huo Tan sighed.

He suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace. He thought she would struggle and continue hitting him, but she suddenly fell silent.

She leaned against him, silently crying. It seemed as if she was trying to cry out all the grievances, pain, resentment, and fear from her past life.

Huo Tan held her steadily, even though his chest was dampened by her tears, he did not let go. He even instinctively began to pat her back gently, trying to comfort her in his own way.

They stayed like this for a long time, and only then did Huo Tan feel Cui Yunzhao slowly calming down. He paused his movements, thought for a moment, and looked down, saying, “My lady, we are now a family. Whatever happens, no matter how great the grievance, you can always tell me.”

“I will do my best to achieve what I can, and even if I can’t do it, I will try my hardest for you.”

Cui Yunzhao didn’t speak.

Huo Tan glanced at the top of her dark hair and sighed, “I don’t know what’s wrong with you. Wife, don’t cry anymore.”

Today, accompanying her back home, he learned that her childhood name was Jiao Jiao.

Bright as the moon, dazzling and radiant.

It truly suited her.

After saying this, Huo Tan felt a bit embarrassed.

They were quiet for a moment, and then Cui Yunzhao spoke in a hoarse voice, “It’s not because of you, it’s because of the Cui family. I… I’m just feeling hurt.”

Huo Tan sighed again, saying, “I understand. If you’re in pain, just hit me.”

Cui Yunzhao suddenly laughed softly.

With her head lowered, Huo Tan couldn’t tell if she was truly happy, only able to hear her soft and hoarse voice.

“Huo Tan, will you always treat me well in the future?”