Chapter 15

He paused slightly, and his familiar bodyguard quickly said in a low voice, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Yan Yuanhua shook his head, pulled the reins, and continued forward. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the curtain of the carriage sway and fall, and the delicate fingers disappear.

The black horse moved forward, passing through the city gate and heading towards the imperial city.

The army temporarily rested outside the city, and the passing crowds avoided them, moving to one side. The Lu family’s carriage was no exception.

Lu Minghua’s villa was purchased two years ago, and it was in a somewhat remote location that she had never visited. The carriage traveled on the main road for a long time, then turned onto a small path. After passing through several forests, the view suddenly opened up. Surrounded by mountains, houses were scattered among the green hills. Mama Li pointed to a large courtyard halfway up the mountain in the distance and said that was it.

The mountain road was winding but smooth, and after a while, they finally arrived. The carriage entered the courtyard directly, where the steward had already prepared everything. Lu Minghua familiarized herself with the place, had dinner, and then had the time to explore this place where she didn’t know how long she would stay.

The courtyard was large and exquisitely designed, unlike anything one would expect to find in such a remote place. Water flowed gently over the artificial mountain, even in winter, with some icicles hanging from a corner, slowly dripping water in the faint sunlight. There was a pavilion on the mountain. Lu Minghua carefully climbed the stone steps paved with bluestone, ready to take a good look around.

“Hey, there’s another courtyard over there?” She was surprised to see another courtyard to the left of her villa.

Upon closer inspection, the layout and scenery of the two courtyards were similar and clearly built together.

“These two villas were built by a pair of friends. Later, something happened, and they were both sold. The shopkeeper originally wanted to buy them together, but unfortunately, the other one was already sold.”

Lu Minghua nodded and looked at the mountain behind her. For convenience, she had also bought the mountain. In the bleak winter, it didn’t look like much, but according to the shopkeeper, the scenery here was beautiful. For a moment, she looked forward to the spring when everything would come back to life.

Since then, Lu Minghua has been living in the villa.

In the morning, the mist would slowly spread from the foot of the mountain and then dissipate at sunrise, leaving dewdrops on the branches. There was a patch of wintersweet halfway up the mountain. Every morning, Lu Minghua would go for a walk and bring back a branch of wintersweet to place in a vase. At noon, she would read poetry and practice calligraphy. In the afternoon, she would do some needlework. Her needlework skills had never been good, but she never had the chance to practice. Now, with plenty of time, she decided to improve.

Such leisurely days were almost unheard of for Lu Minghua. She found it novel and particularly enjoyable.

Until one day, people from the Ningguo Marquis’ residence hurriedly arrived, asking Lu Minghua to return to the capital.

“People from the Ningguo Marquis’ residence? What’s going on?” Lu Minghua frowned, looking at the ruined calligraphy, and put down her pen.

“They said it was the order of the Marquis’ wife, and there’s an important matter for you to attend to,” Li Mama was also puzzled.

“The Marquis’ wife?” Just hearing this name reminded Lu Minghua of her time at the Marquis’ residence, and she couldn’t help but frown slightly.

“I’m not going,” she refused outright.

Mama Li nodded in agreement, smiling with some satisfaction, “That’s how it should be.”

To avoid sullying her young lady’s ears, she didn’t mention the arrogant tone of the maid who had come. Even after the divorce, they still came to boss her young lady around. Now, let’s see how they can still be so arrogant.

“What, not going?” The maid who came was an old servant of Madam Sun, the Marquis’ wife. She was used to Lu Minghua’s previous obedient and sensible behavior and thought it would be a sure thing to call her back this time. She didn’t expect to hit a wall.

“Didn’t you say it was Madam who asked her to come?” she asked again in disbelief.

Lu Minghua, a discarded woman from the Marquis’ residence, dared to refuse the summons of the Marquis’ wife?

“My lady said she won’t go,” Mama Li asserted.

“This, this,” the maid who came was flustered after confirming it.

Mama Li called for someone to see the guest out, but the maid quickly stepped forward, apologizing profusely and pleading for Lu Minghua to go.

Seeing her change in demeanor so quickly, Mama Li realized there must be something important. Otherwise, the maid wouldn’t act this way. She firmly refused, not wanting Lu Minghua to get involved in the mess again.

“Old sister, it was my fault before. Please, let Miss Minghua come back with me,” the maid begged, and when it was fruitless, she gritted her teeth and knelt down.

Mama Li’s eyes widened, not expecting this.

“What are you doing? Get up, please. Go back. My lady is here to recuperate and doesn’t want to deal with those messy affairs. She indeed doesn’t plan to return.”

“Madam wouldn’t have sent me to disturb Miss Minghua if it weren’t urgent. But this time, the Marquis returned and learned about the heir’s matter. He was furious and punished him. Now, the heir has been kneeling in the ancestral hall for five days. Madam has no choice but to ask Miss Minghua to say a good word. After all, the divorce was agreed upon by Miss Minghua,” the maid explained, revealing the truth.

“So that’s it!” Mama Li realized this and went to tell Lu Minghua.

“Punished to kneel in the ancestral hall?” Lu Minghua was surprised, blinking and feeling a sense of satisfaction, unable to hide her schadenfreude.

“Madam wants me to plead for Wei Yuntai?” she sneered, “Dream on. But…”

She did want to see Wei Yuntai’s current miserable state.

This thought seemed unkind, so Lu Minghua didn’t say it out loud. After a moment of consideration, she told Li Mama to inform the maid that she would return to the capital tomorrow.

The maid was somewhat dissatisfied; she wanted Lu Minghua to return today, but she couldn’t make the decision and had to agree. She had hoped to stay here for the night and leave together the next day, but Mama Li directly sent her away. Frustrated, she had to find a less-than-ideal place to stay at the foot of the mountain for the night.

The next day, Lu Minghua leisurely finished washing up and breakfast before getting on the carriage to return to the capital. After half a month away, the capital’s prosperity remained unchanged, and it was even more bustling as the New Year approached.

The thick-skinned maid waited outside the villa early in the morning and returned to the capital with Lu Minghua. She thought Lu Minghua would go directly to the Ningguo Marquis’ residence, but the carriage went to the Wen’an Earl’s residence first. Anxious, she hurried to stop and ask.

“You misunderstand, maid. I have business in the capital. The matters of the Ningguo Marquis’ residence have nothing to do with me. Please inform Madam to seek someone else,” Lu Minghua said through the curtain and instructed the coachman to continue.

Seeing she couldn’t stop her, the maid had someone stay and watch while she returned to the Marquis’ residence to report.

Everything at the Wen’an Earl’s residence was as usual. Not long after Lu Minghua returned, the steward by Lu Chengwen’s side hurriedly came to invite her to the study.

“Minghua, you’re back. How was the villa?” Lu Chengwen asked with concern. He didn’t quite agree with Lu Minghua living on her own. After all, she was only nineteen, still young. But since his brother didn’t care and Lu Minghua was determined, he could only watch.

“Thank you for your concern, uncle. I’ve been doing well,” Lu Minghua smiled faintly.

Lu Chengwen carefully observed her and nodded in satisfaction, “Hmm, you look spirited, indeed. Since you’re back, don’t rush to leave. Stay and spend the New Year here.”

Lu Minghua smiled lightly but didn’t answer.

In this residence, besides her uncle, no one welcomed her. Since that was the case, why stay and make herself uncomfortable?

This small Marquis’ residence was not as interesting as her villa.

“Why are you so stubborn?” Seeing her silence, Lu Chengwen understood her meaning. Reflecting and sighing, he said, “If you were a bit more delicate and gentle, things wouldn’t be like this today.”

Lu Minghua understood his meaning. Her father liked obedient and sensible daughters, and her mother liked weak and pitiful daughters. But she, though sensible, was not obedient enough or weak and pitiful enough. But should she live in a way she despised just for them?

She was unwilling.

So, today’s situation couldn’t entirely be blamed on them.

Lu Minghua thought, smiling self-deprecatingly, and changed the subject, “Uncle, do you know the Marquis of Ningguo?”

Before that maid came, she never thought the Marquis of Ningguo would be so harsh on Wei Yuntai. When she got married, the Marquis of Ningguo was stationed at the border and didn’t return. She had never interacted with him over the years, but this incident made her feel it was necessary to understand him.

“Why do you ask? Did someone from the Ningguo Marquis’ residence come to see you?!” Lu Chengwen immediately reacted. Seeing Lu Minghua nod, he frowned and said, “Then why did you come back?”

“The maid knelt down directly. It seemed she wouldn’t get up unless I agreed,” Lu Minghua said calmly, then smiled, “But I only said I would return to the capital, not that I would go to the Marquis’ residence.”

“Outrageous,” Lu Chengwen was a bit annoyed. After thinking for a moment, he talked about the Marquis of Ningguo – cold and stern, serious and earnest, with a noble pride in his bones.

“What he cares most about is the Ningguo Marquis’ residence,” Lu Chengwen concluded.

Lu Minghua noted it all down and took her leave. Outside the study courtyard, she saw the maid from Madam Qin’s side.

“Miss, Madam asked me to bring you back,” the maid said respectfully.

They actually came to pick her up?

Lu Minghua was slightly moved and soon returned to Sixian Courtyard.

“Minghua, you’re back,” Madam Qin greeted her at the door, smiling.

Lu Minghua was slightly stunned and instinctively nodded.

“Then hurry to the Ningguo Marquis’ residence,” Madam Qin said urgently, holding Lu Minghua’s hand, “Wei Yuntai was punished, and your sister fell ill again after knowing it. Only you can persuade Marquis Ningguo. Go and tell him you agreed to the divorce.”

Hearing this, Lu Minghua’s heart felt as if it was covered in ice.

Lu Minghua, what are you still hoping for? After so many lessons over the years, haven’t you learned?

“Mother, what does the Wei family’s matter have to do with me? I came back for something and will leave tomorrow,” Lu Minghua said calmly, looking deeply at Madam Qin. Seeing Madam Qin’s anxious face, she added, “I’m tired from the journey, Mother. Let me rest first.”

Madam Qin wanted to continue, but seeing the refusal in Lu Minghua’s eyes, she reluctantly agreed.

The items in the carriage mainly remained untouched, ready to leave at any moment. The following day, the carriage was packed up, and it seemed Lu Minghua was really preparing to leave. This made some people very anxious.

Shortly after, just as Lu Minghua finished breakfast, she heard that Madam Sun, Marquis Ningguo’s wife, had come to visit.

Before that, Lu Mingxi, who Madam Qin said had fallen ill again yesterday, arrived at Lu Minghua’s small courtyard. She entered the room, called out “sister,” and knelt before her with a thud.

“Sister, please, save Yuntai,” she said, tears streaming down her face. Her small face was pale, and her body was thin. As she knelt, her body trembled and seemed about to collapse.