Chapter 34

“Why are you leaving?” Yan Yuanhua blinked, his eyes becoming clear. He propped himself up on his elbow, his collar slightly open, revealing a small patch of fair skin.

Lu Minghua instinctively looked away, forgetting to fan herself.

With a smile in his eyes, Yan Yuanhua jumped down from the large stone and said, “It’s so hot, why not rest here?”

Lu Minghua shook her head and said, “I’m not used to it.”

She was a bit particular about where she slept, and changing to a new place made her uneasy.

Yan Yuanhua might have had more to say if she had said something else, but seeing her serious expression and clearly determined attitude, he agreed immediately. Glancing at the midday sun, the hottest time of the day, he thought for a moment, then went to the pond and picked a lotus leaf.

Lu Minghua watched him curiously, wondering what he was up to, until she was about to leave the forest.

“Without an umbrella, use this to block the sun,” Yan Yuanhua suggested, holding the lotus leaf over his head.

Lu Minghua’s eyes widened in surprise. Could it really be used like that?

Seeing the usually gentle and composed person suddenly looking a bit stunned, Yan Yuanhua couldn’t help but laugh. He stepped forward, standing in the sunlight, the large lotus leaf shading his head. Under the leaf, his smiling eyes looked at Lu Minghua, and then he handed the leaf to her.

Lu Minghua instinctively took it, looking at it in amazement. Before this, she had only seen lotus leaves in the lotus pond for ornamental purposes. Watching water droplets spin on the leaves, she found it elegant. She never imagined it could be used to block the sun. She tentatively raised her hand, holding the leaf over her head, and took a step forward.

“Let’s go.” Yan Yuanhua found her cautious demeanor amusing, but he was afraid his laughter would embarrass her. He quickly turned and walked ahead.

Lu Minghua didn’t think much and instinctively followed.

The path had been trampled flat, but the wild grass on the sides still caught her clothes. She lightly lifted her skirt and followed behind Yan Yuanhua, holding the lotus leaf to block the harsh sunlight. Her steps quickened, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

Although this life wasn’t as luxurious and elegant as before, this natural and carefree lifestyle was more to her liking.

She liked her current life.

“Are you going again tomorrow?” Yan Yuanhua stopped at the retreat’s entrance and asked Lu Minghua.

Lu Minghua wanted to go, but…

“Will it bother you?” she asked hesitantly.

“That mountain stream isn’t mine. How could it bother me?” Yan Yuanhua laughed and said, “I meant, if you want to go, send someone to check first to avoid snakes and insects.”

“You don’t like it, yet you had it cleaned up so well?” Thinking of the pond full of koi, Lu Minghua couldn’t believe Yan Yuanhua didn’t care as he said.

“It wasn’t much trouble.” Yan Yuanhua didn’t mind, his eyebrows raised, and the usually carefree person showed a bit of nobility and arrogance at this moment, saying, “Wherever I go, even if it’s just for a glance, it must be pleasing to the eye.”

Lu Minghua immediately believed him.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll come find you tomorrow to go together.” Yan Yuanhua waved and walked away with a smile.

How was it settled? She hadn’t said anything yet, Lu Minghua thought, then laughed. She did like that place, and seeing that Young Master Yuan didn’t seem to mind, she went with him the next day when he came to find her.

While Lu Minghua was enjoying herself, the people in the capital were not as happy.

Lu Mingxi had fainted for a long time, and when she woke up, she saw Wei Yuntai sitting by the bed, resting with his eyes closed. She stared blankly, and slowly, tears began to fall.

“Mingxi, don’t cry.” Amidst the soft sobbing, Wei Yuntai woke up. Seeing her tears, he felt a pang of sorrow and gently wiped them away. All his previous fatigue turned into helplessness in the face of her tears.

“Yuntai, why take concubines? We, we…” Lu Mingxi said, tears streaming down her face.

Wei Yuntai only comforted her, resolutely avoiding mentioning Marquis Ningguo’s anger. Mingxi was already delicate and sensitive. If she knew, she would blame herself.

Lu Mingxi was completely unaware of Wei Yuntai’s misguided kindness. She was distracted for several days and became increasingly haggard.

In the past, this would always elicit Wei Yuntai’s pity, but this time…

The next day, the Marquis’s wife personally ordered a banquet, giving the two concubines their titles. Even though Lu Mingxi didn’t attend, no one cared. That night, Wei Yuntai was supposed to choose one of the concubines’ rooms to rest in, but seeing the melancholy Lu Mingxi, he returned to the main room. Seeing this, Lu Mingxi was overjoyed, thinking she could win Wei Yuntai back as usual. But three days later, she sat haggardly by the window until the moon was high in the sky, and the person who used to comfort her never appeared.

“Who is it?” In the silent night, her gloomy voice was chilling.

“It’s Concubine Shuiyao,” the maid replied, barely audible, trembling slightly.

“Shut up. What kind of concubine is she? I don’t agree.” Lu Mingxi’s anger flared, and she slapped the maid.

The maid didn’t dare to dodge and took the slap.

Outside, Wei Yuntai, who had hurried back, listened to Lu Mingxi’s sharp, angry voice and remained silent.

“He said he loved me. Is this how he loves me?” Lu Mingxi clenched her fists, her eyes filled with rage. “When he married Lu Minghua, he didn’t take concubines. But now, after only three months of marriage with me, concubines have entered the house.”

“He doesn’t love me; he loves Lu Minghua, doesn’t he?” Her voice grew sharper, and her jealousy and resentment towards Lu Minghua were no longer concealed.

It shouldn’t be like this. It really shouldn’t be like this. She was now the heir’s wife and had all of Wei Yuntai’s affection. Shouldn’t she be living a more glamorous and enviable life than Lu Minghua?

But now? She was trapped in the Marquis’s residence, not even qualified to attend two banquets. Wei Yuntai, who claimed to love her, had taken concubines. Her father held her weaknesses against her, almost wanting to drain her dry.

And Lu Minghua? She lived freely and comfortably; even Lu Chengsong couldn’t do anything to her.

It shouldn’t be like this.

Lu Mingxi had been desperately trying to control herself, not to lose her temper, but at this moment, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

Wei Yuntai’s figure wavered, his hand behind his back clenched tightly, veins bulging.

Delicate and pitiable? Feeling guilty towards Lu Minghua? Was this really the Lu Mingxi he had always thought about?

At this moment, Wei Yuntai was utterly confused.

In the sound of thunder, the wind lifted the curtain, and Lu Mingxi saw Wei Yuntai standing outside the door. Her eyes widened, and then she joyfully rushed over, smiling through her tears.

“Yuntai, Yuntai, you’re back. I knew it. I knew you would come back.”

Wei Yuntai instinctively reached out but hesitated when he was about to embrace her.

“Yuntai, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been petty. If you want to take concubines, then do it. After all, my body can’t… can’t…” Lu Mingxi clung to him tightly, hiding the panic in her eyes, choking on her words, “Just, just don’t ignore me.”

“Yuntai, if you don’t want me, I’ll go crazy.”

Closing his eyes, Wei Yuntai finally embraced her.

Feeling reassured, Lu Mingxi knew she had passed this hurdle.

---

At the Wen’an Earl’s residence.

Upon learning that Wei Yuntai had taken concubines, Lu Chengsong paced back and forth in his study, his face full of irritation. He had thought Lu Mingxi could keep Wei Yuntai hooked for years, making him constantly think about her, yet it had only been a few months, and…

If those concubines had children…

Cursing Lu Mingxi for being useless, Lu Chengsong personally ordered someone to find some secret medicine and had Madam Qin send it to Lu Mingxi.

Taking concubines doesn’t matter; if they can’t conceive, it’s still useless. If they can have a child, that’s even better. As for the damage caused to the mother’s body by using fertility drugs, who cares?

---

Unfolding the news from the capital, even though she already knew her father’s cruelty, Lu Minghua couldn’t help but feel a chill in her heart.

Did Lu Mingxi know the consequences of using that medicine? she wondered. But even if she knew, she would still use it, right?

After all, as long as she had a child, she could firmly establish herself in the Marquis of Ningguo’s residence. She never cared about her own body, repeatedly degrading herself for her goals. This time would be no exception.

However…

The people she left behind were just ordinary servants. How could they know this news?

It must be a coincidence? Lu Minghua didn’t think deeply about it.

Next door, Zhao Shiyi was very puzzled, not understanding why his master wanted to pass this news to Lu Minghua.

“That’s her biological father. Now that she knows, she will definitely be heartbroken,” he said with some pity. Although he had long understood Lu Chengsong’s character, his actions still amazed him.

“Heartbreak is better than being schemed against later. Some things are better seen clearly early on,” Yan Yuanhua said calmly, his brows furrowing slightly as he couldn’t help but glance next door, worry flashing in his eyes.

Fortunately, Lu Minghua had long seen through her father’s true nature and felt no sadness.

When the two met the next day, Yan Yuanhua suddenly felt relief seeing Lu Minghua’s usual expression.

Old acquaintances in the capital were all busy, while Lu Minghua enjoyed her freedom. Since discovering the mountain stream, it had become her summer retreat, and she spent more time there each day. Unconsciously, the mountain stream became more organized, with every corner tidied up. Several large stones were moved to make stone tables and chairs, where Lu Minghua’s books and sewing basket could be seen. One day, she even brought her pipa. Amidst the sound of flowing water, she played a gentle tune and eventually felt sleepy, leaning against a stone and falling asleep.

The overly bright summer sunlight became clear and soft as it passed through the trees, gently falling on Lu Minghua, making her jade-like skin seem to glow. This was the scene Yan Yuanhua saw when he arrived.

A few maids were dozing off, and the one awake was startled to see him. Unsure of what to do, she saw him gesture.

“Lay her down,” he said silently. From his experience, sleeping in that position would surely be uncomfortable upon waking.

Xiao Chun hesitated, thinking the stone was too hard and lying down like that would be even more uncomfortable.

Seeing the maid’s gaze on the large stone, Yan Yuanhua understood her concern. He was used to it, having once slept anywhere on the city walls, but Lu Minghua was different. Thinking this, he took off his outer garment and handed it to the maid.

Xiao Chun hesitated for a moment, understanding his intention, but didn’t dare to take it immediately. It seemed inappropriate.

Yan Yuanhua’s gaze remained on Lu Minghua. Seeing Xiao Chun not move, he glanced at her.

Although this young master had a smile in his eyes, that glance made Xiao Chun’s heart tighten for some reason. By the time she realized it, she had already taken the outer garment. Under his watchful eye, she gently laid the garment on one side and carefully helped Lu Minghua lie down.

Seeing that her mistress did not wake up, Xiao Chun breathed a sigh of relief. When she looked up, she saw Young Master Yuan smiling gently, almost with a hint of tenderness. She blinked in surprise, but before she could see clearly, he had already turned and leaped onto the large stone where he usually rested.

Yan Yuanhua closed his eyes, but the image of Lu Minghua kept replaying in his mind, making him restless. He just wanted to open his eyes and look at her, never wanting to look away.

Lu Minghua slept for an hour. When she woke up, the scene before her eyes almost felt like a dream.

“Miss, you’re awake,” Xiao Chun said softly.

Lu Minghua responded lightly and sat up. As she moved her hand, she realized something was off.

Turning her head, she saw the familiar blue-green garment under her hand. Her fingers trembled, and she instinctively let go. Raising her eyebrows slightly, she saw Yan Yuanhua’s figure in the distance and then looked at Xiao Chun.

Xiao Chun lowered her head and nervously explained what had happened.

Lu Minghua immediately covered her forehead, her ears turning red, and said angrily, “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Xiao Chun had thought about it, but at that time, Young Master Yuan was just standing there, and she didn’t dare to move. Now, facing her mistress’s words, she could only mumble in response.

The blue-green outer garment was still piled on the large stone. Lu Minghua instinctively moved to one side, fanning herself, but couldn’t dispel the heat on her face. She had just slept on Young Master Yuan’s outer garment.

Like this, like this…

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. Lu Minghua took a deep breath, furrowing her delicate brows and lightly pursing her lips. She felt her mind in a tangle, unable to sort out her thoughts.

When Yan Yuanhua opened his eyes and saw her flustered and embarrassed look, he was momentarily stunned.

Lu Minghua furrowed her brows, thinking that Yan Yuanhua was just being casual, but then again, even if he was casual, he shouldn’t be like this. She couldn’t discern his thoughts and looked up angrily, only to meet Yan Yuanhua’s dazed eyes.

Their eyes met.

Yan Yuanhua blinked and sat up nonchalantly. “Minghua, you’re awake. How did you sleep?”

Was she overthinking it? Seeing his demeanor, Lu Minghua thought again, fanning herself a few times.

Yan Yuanhua got up, walked over, picked up his outer garment, and put it on. He glanced at her, clearly a bit sulky, with a smile in his eyes.

“Don’t sleep like this in the future; it will be uncomfortable,” he said, sitting leisurely across from Lu Minghua. He showed no signs of flaws and was still giving advice.

Lu Minghua turned her eyes to him, wanting to hear what he had to say.

“When I first arrived at the border, the situation was urgent. After repelling the enemy, everyone lay down on the city wall and slept in their clothes. I didn’t know any better and followed suit. When I woke up, I felt like my body wasn’t my own.” Yan Yuanhua gave a direct example.

“Is it really that bad?” Lu Minghua, who had never slept outside before, asked instinctively.

Yan Yuanhua nodded, indicating that it was indeed that bad.

“Just now, in a moment of urgency, I used my clothes to cushion you. Minghua, please don’t mind.”

Lu Minghua wasn’t really angry, just a bit flustered and embarrassed. After hearing his explanation, she understood his good intentions and didn’t think much more about it—

Although she still felt a bit uneasy.

“Why would I mind? In fact, I should thank you, Ji’an,” Lu Minghua said softly, regaining her gentle composure.

He vaguely missed Lu Minghua’s earlier flustered and embarrassed state, but this was also nice.

Yan Yuanhua thought, his eyes filled with a smile.

“It’s just a small matter. Didn’t I say there’s no need to thank me? You always forget,” Yan Yuanhua reminded her again. While others might appreciate Lu Minghua’s polite and considerate demeanor, to him, it only showed that she didn’t trust him enough.

He didn’t like it.

Lu Minghua just smiled lightly. With her face half-covered by the fan, she smiled at Yan Yuanhua’s helpless expression and said, “It’s my fault. It won’t happen again.”

“You’ve said that many times,” Yan Yuanhua corrected.

“I’ll try to remember,” Lu Minghua said earnestly. She had been considerate for over ten years, and suddenly someone told her that true friends didn’t need such formalities.

His serious demeanor and repeated corrections left her no choice but to believe him. So she believed. But it wasn’t something she could change just because she wanted to. Some habits had unknowingly seeped into her bones, and she would always forget.

“Alright, I’ll trust you one more time,” Yan Yuanhua replied with the same seriousness.

It wasn’t Lu Minghua’s fault. Her willingness to move past the scars of her past already showed great courage, and he was willing to patiently wait for her.

They looked at each other and couldn’t help but smile.

“In a few days, it’s the Qixi Festival. Are you going back to the capital to see the Lantern Festival?”

Every year, the two most lively festivals in the city are the Lantern Festival and the Qixi Festival.

Yan Yuanhua had his own little thoughts and wanted to confirm with Lu Minghua.

Lu Minghua shook her head, not planning to join the festivities.

“No, at that time, everyone will be in pairs, and I’ll be alone. It would be awkward,” she said with a smile, a faint regret passing through her eyes.

Every night in the small courtyard, Lu Minghua always longed for a home of her own. Her husband didn’t need to be very gentle or successful, just willing to respect her. It would be best to have a child of her own. To her, that was the most beautiful dream of her girlhood. But in the end, it was all just a dream. Now that the dream had shattered, she didn’t want to dream again.

She spoke lightly, but Yan Yuanhua suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.

“How could you forget about me, your friend?” he said with a smile, his eyebrows relaxed. “We’re both alone, so we can keep each other company and not be lonely.”

“Ji’an, you’re joking again. If you wanted to marry, there would be plenty of choices. How could you be lonely?” Lu Minghua teased.

She knew that Young Master Yuan had gone to the battlefield in his early years and had been recuperating since his return, never marrying. Although she hadn’t investigated, it was clear from his usual demeanor that his family background was far from ordinary. Perhaps not highly noble, but certainly wealthy.

“In this life, I seek only one true love,” Yan Yuanhua said suddenly, his attitude serious as he looked at Lu Minghua.

Unexpectedly, Lu Minghua was stunned.

One true love? A man who seeks only one true love? Don’t men usually desire multiple wives and concubines, enjoying the blessings of many?

She blinked and looked at Yan Yuanhua inquisitively, almost suspecting he was joking.

Yan Yuanhua’s expression grew more serious, his clear eyes softening as he looked calmly at Lu Minghua.

“You’re not joking?” Lu Minghua asked tentatively.

“Marriage is a serious matter; how could I joke about it?” Yan Yuanhua chuckled and said, “This is as serious as it gets.”

Lu Minghua still found it hard to believe.

“When I was young, I saw the scheming and fighting in my father’s harem and my mother and brother’s cautiousness. From then on, I decided that if I ever had a wife and children, I would never let them live like that,” Yan Yuanhua said with a hint of reminiscence, his eyes growing sharper, his words resolute.

Only then did Lu Minghua genuinely believe him.

“Then your future wife will be very happy. I wonder who will be so fortunate,” she sighed, then teased.

There are too few people in the world who think like Yan Yuanhua. So few that encountering one would make any woman feel incredibly lucky.

“Really?” Yan Yuanhua asked, looking at Lu Minghua.

“Really!” Lu Minghua answered with certainty.

Yan Yuanhua smiled, his eyes shining as he looked at Lu Minghua.

Lu Minghua thought he was just happy and didn’t think much of it, nodding slightly with determination.

Seeing this, Yan Yuanhua felt a bit helpless. He shifted his gaze carefully to her fingers holding the fan, revealing a hint of warmth, as he was afraid that his gaze would reveal emotions he shouldn’t have, scaring someone away.

Author’s note:

Yan Yuanhua: As long as I act naturally and confidently enough, my beloved won’t suspect my sneaky intentions to woo her.