Chapter 10

Wei Yuntai’s body stiffened visibly. “Mother, I… Minghua and I will go see her now,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse.

Lu Minghua lowered her eyes, watching his hand clench tightly within his sleeve. She stepped forward, ignoring Madam Qin and Wei Yuntai’s gazes, and walked directly towards the back courtyard without a word, her skirt fluttering.

Leaving everyone behind, she slowly smiled. Everything that had exhausted her seemed to be coming to an end. She was almost eager for it.

Wei Yuntai and Madam Qin hurried to follow.

With hurried steps, it wasn’t long before they reached Lu Mingxi’s bedroom. The bitter smell of medicine lingered in the air, the heavy curtains drawn, the windows tightly shut, and the maids inside wore solemn expressions tinged with sorrow.

The bed curtains were lifted, revealing Lu Mingxi’s pale, bloodless face as she lay on the bed, her breathing barely audible, on the verge of death.

Lu Minghua stepped forward, but Wei Yuntai was a step ahead of her.

“Mingxi,” the usually composed and gentle man, his voice trembling, knelt by the bedside.

The servants inside were stunned. This—

“Everyone, leave,” Madam Qin quickly ordered, waving them away.

The maids, suddenly awakened, couldn’t help but glance at Lu Minghua. They saw her standing there, calm and unperturbed, feeling mixed emotions.

Once everyone had left, Madam Qin signaled to the nanny beside her to go outside and remind the others not to speak carelessly, then turned back to the bed, her heart full of bitterness.

Her Mingxi, oh heavens, why are you so cruel to her?

“It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have…” Wei Yuntai’s murmuring voice echoed in the room.

Shouldn’t have what? Shouldn’t have refused last time? Shouldn’t have wished her a loving marriage?

Lu Minghua found it laughable.

“Minghua, I need to talk to you,” Madam Qin said softly, seeing her standing there, her gaze on Wei Yuntai, her eyes dark. She reached out to take her hand, intending to lead her outside.

Lu Minghua didn’t move.

“Minghua?” Madam Qin looked at her in surprise, not expecting her usually obedient and sensible daughter to refuse her this time. Beyond that, she felt a vague sense of worry and urgency.

“Mother, where is the famous doctor who treated Mingxi before? Has he been called? If not, let the heir go and summon the imperial physician,” Lu Minghua said, her brow slightly furrowed, seemingly concerned.

“I’ve already sent someone to call the imperial physician,” Wei Yuntai said calmly.

Madam Qin was overjoyed.

Lu Minghua glanced at Wei Yuntai, not surprised at all. When this man truly cared, he was always meticulous and considerate.

“That’s good,” she said with a smile.

Madam Qin, relieved, began to chatter, “The famous doctor who treated Mingxi before was sent away half a month ago because Mingxi felt she was already well. Keeping the doctor in the residence would have been unfair to other patients.”

Half a month ago? When Lu Mingxi found out she was going to arrange concubines for Wei Yuntai?

Lu Minghua looked at the unconscious person on the bed, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

Lu Mingxi hadn’t woken up, and Wei Yuntai sat by her bedside, filled with regret.

Soon, the imperial physician arrived.

Lu Minghua wondered if Wei Yuntai remembered his status. The imperial physician wasn’t like the maids in the residence; silencing them wouldn’t be easy. Finally, just before the physician entered the room, Wei Yuntai stood up.

Lu Minghua lowered her head, looking at Lu Mingxi on the bed, and smiled lightly.

My dear sister, in the end, you can’t compare to Wei Yuntai’s concern for his own reputation.

After examining her, the physician sighed and shook his head, not even prescribing medicine. He said her illness was due to emotional distress, beyond the help of medicine, implying the family should prepare for the worst.

Madam Qin staggered and fainted.

Wei Yuntai stood there, his gaze fixed on Lu Mingxi, unable to look away.

All day, as dusk fell, Lu Mingxi’s eyelashes fluttered. Lu Minghua, who was wiping her face, paused, and Wei Yuntai couldn’t help but call out softly, “Mingxi.”

Lu Minghua calmly put down the cloth, stood up, and watched as Lu Mingxi opened her eyes. She turned to leave and instructed a maid to call Madam Qin. Returning to the room, she heard a voice so soft it seemed it might break at any moment.

“Yuntai, am I dreaming?”

“Mingxi,” Wei Yuntai’s voice was filled with such sorrow that Lu Minghua could feel it just by listening.

The conversation between the two continued, and Lu Minghua didn’t go in—Why make herself uncomfortable?

Soon, Madam Qin arrived, but she didn’t go in either. Listening to Lu Mingxi’s voice filled her eyes with even more sorrow.

“I’m not going to make it.”

“Sister is perfect. It’s me who has wronged her.”

“When I’m gone, you must treat her well, so I can be at peace.”

“Mingxi, stop saying that. You’ll be fine. I’ll find a doctor. I will find someone to cure you,” Wei Yuntai said urgently.

“No, it’s not necessary,” Lu Mingxi seemed to smile lightly. “My life has lost its interest. This way, it’s just as well.”

“Mingxi!” Wei Yuntai’s voice trembled.

Beside him, Madam Qin suddenly burst into tears.

Lu Minghua had been listening all along, suddenly feeling like the villain in their tragic farewell.

Look at Lu Mingxi’s words. If she were Wei Yuntai, her heart would break. Who still remembered that she was Wei Yuntai’s legitimate wife?

“Minghua,” Madam Qin choked out, suddenly gripping Lu Minghua’s arm. Her red and swollen eyes stared straight at her.

Lu Minghua almost anticipated what she was going to say, looking back expressionlessly.

“Help Mingxi,” Madam Qin pleaded, her earlier anger at Lu Minghua’s lack of sorrow dissipating, replaced by a look of supplication.

“Mother, how do you want me to help her?” Lu Minghua asked, her gaze steady and somewhat curious.

What kind of feelings did her biological mother have to say such words to her? Did she believe it was all her fault, that she had schemed and stolen Lu Mingxi’s marriage, to speak so righteously?

This was her mother.

Lu Minghua thought she wouldn’t feel hurt anymore, but at this moment, her heart felt as if needles were pricking it. It wasn’t excruciating, but it was a persistent, prickling sensation that wouldn’t go away.

“Mingxi is dying. Her only wish in this life is this, Minghua, Minghua, please help her,” Madam Qin said, holding Lu Minghua’s hand and repeating her plea.

“Mother, how do you want me to help her?” Lu Minghua asked again, her patience remarkable, her tone calm.

Seeing that Lu Minghua wasn’t going to be understanding and considerate this time, Madam Qin intensified her tone, “Minghua, she’s your sister!”

“So, Mother, just tell me, and I will consider it,” Lu Minghua said, looking closely at Madam Qin and noticing a hint of resentment in her eyes.

It felt like a wad of cotton was stuck in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Madam Qin gritted her teeth, staring at Lu Minghua for a long time before saying, “You… you should let Yuntai take Mingxi as a concubine.”

Even though she had anticipated it, Lu Minghua still found it absurd when she heard it.

“Mother, you want me to let Mingxi become Wei Yuntai’s concubine?” To let her twin sister marry her own husband?

After the initial shock, Lu Minghua felt like laughing. Her dear mother didn’t understand Lu Mingxi as well as she did. If Lu Mingxi were willing to be a concubine, this situation wouldn’t have arisen.

Seeing Lu Minghua’s surprise but not anger, Madam Qin felt slightly relieved and continued, “Don’t worry; she won’t compete with you. You heard what she said last time; she doesn’t want to cling to Yuntai. But she’s so gravely ill this time that I had no choice but to come up with this desperate measure to give her some hope. Minghua, Minghua, please help her, help your sister.”

Understanding that this idea would not benefit Lu Minghua, Madam Qin was prepared to use their mother-daughter bond to persuade her. But to her surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, she saw a subtle smile on Minghua’s lips and heard her say, “Alright.”

Madam Qin was stunned, almost unable to believe it, thinking she had misheard.

“Alright, I’ll do as Mother says,” Lu Minghua said with a light smile, gently helping Madam Qin up. Her demeanor was soft and considerate. She suggested, “Since you’ve already decided, why don’t we go in and discuss what to do next with Wei Yuntai and Mingxi?”

She suddenly couldn’t wait to see how Lu Mingxi would react when she heard Madam Qin wanted her to become Wei Yuntai’s concubine.

Unexpectedly, things went smoothly. Overwhelmed with mixed emotions, Madam Qin nodded dazedly and followed Lu Minghua into the inner room.

By the bed, Wei Yuntai was gently holding Lu Mingxi’s hand, not noticing them. But Lu Mingxi, seeing Lu Minghua, seemed startled and quickly withdrew her hand, lowering her head as if she couldn’t face her.

“Mother, Sister,” she murmured, then looked up with a hint of urgency, saying, “Sister, don’t overthink it. I… I just… cough, cough, cough.”

“Mingxi, no—” Wei Yuntai leaned forward, his voice anxious.

“It’s fine,” Lu Minghua calmly interrupted him.

Lu Mingxi looked up, meeting her unruffled gaze, pausing slightly, and looked at her with a hint of unease as if trying to discern her sincerity.

But no matter how she looked, Lu Minghua truly seemed indifferent—

Lowering her eyes, a cold glint flashed in Lu Mingxi’s eyes. From childhood, she had always hated Lu Minghua’s calm demeanor.

Wei Yuntai also glanced at Lu Minghua, stood up, and gave a slight bow to Madam Qin.

Madam Qin looked at Wei Yuntai and then at Lu Mingxi, whose pale face had slightly improved. She felt more confident in her plan and smiled.

“Mother,” Lu Minghua called, seeing Madam Qin look over, and smiled, “Such good news, shouldn’t you share it with Mingxi and the heir?”

Good news? Lu Mingxi looked over.

“I just told Minghua that Yuntai should take you as a concubine, and she agreed. You like Yuntai, don’t you? It was wrong of me to pressure you before. Now, you can be with him every day,” Madam Qin said happily.

Lu Mingxi was stunned, her eyes widening. She instinctively looked at Lu Minghua and then quickly lowered her gaze, not wanting anyone to see the anger in her eyes.

Lu Minghua had been watching Lu Mingxi’s reaction closely while Madam Qin spoke, catching that fleeting emotion in her eyes. She couldn’t help but let a slight smile tug at the corner of her mouth.