Chapter 4

Seeing the softness on Wei Yuntai’s face, Lu Minghua almost thought he would lose his composure and step forward. Instead, he lowered his eyes, nodded, and smiled at her.

Lu Minghua was momentarily stunned, catching a glimpse of disbelief in Lu Mingxi’s eyes.

Puzzled, she looked at Wei Yuntai, smiled, and called out to her sister.

“It’s wonderful to see you so healthy,” she said, stepping forward to take Lu Mingxi’s hand.

Lu Mingxi looked up at her, a cold glint in her eyes.

Lu Minghua remained unfazed, looking back at her.

“Yes, it’s really wonderful,” Lu Mingxi said, pausing subtly.

After speaking, Lu Mingxi personally led them inside. They first greeted the Earl of Wen’an and then went to the second house. Lu Minghua watched the whole time, growing more confused.

Previously, Wei Yuntai had been so concerned about Lu Mingxi, but now that she was better, why was he becoming distant?

Seeing Lu Mingxi glance at him several times in vain, her eyes filled with tears, and she finally lowered her head in disappointment. Wei Yuntai’s eyes were full of pity, his sleeve moved slightly, and Lu Minghua almost thought he would embrace her, but he ultimately lowered his hand.

When they reached the main hall, Lu Mingxi didn’t enter but left instead.

Lu Minghua glanced at her back, then at Wei Yuntai, seeing his gaze follow her and lost in thought for a moment. She calmly lowered her head, pretending not to notice.

Inside, Lu Chengsong and Wei Yuntai quickly started chatting. Madam Qin took Lu Minghua to a side room to talk, beginning to express concern about having children.

“Your sister-in-law is about to give birth, and you still have no news. The marquis’s wife must be displeased. I’ve had some remedies prepared for you to try.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Lu Minghua said so naturally as if she had forgotten their previous unhappy conversation.

Madam Qin carefully observed her daughter, feeling slightly reassured but still uneasy.

This daughter had always hidden her thoughts deeply. Madam Qin could still discern a bit when she was younger, but as she grew older, she could no longer understand what she was thinking.

Lu Minghua slowly sipped her tea, the fragrance of the Nanshan white tea, known for its health benefits, filling the air.

It was also Lu Mingxi’s favorite tea. After setting down the teacup, she placed the tea aside and didn’t touch it again.

With her cooperation, the mother and daughter talked for a long time before getting up to see how the conversation in the front hall was going.

“Mother, do you know what kind of tea I like?” Lu Minghua suddenly asked before they left the room.

“Isn’t it Nanshan white tea—” Madam Qin’s words halted as she remembered that it was Mingxi who loved this tea. She couldn’t recall what Minghua liked.

Lu Minghua smiled, stepped forward to support Madam Qin’s arm, and said, “Mother, why are you standing there? Let’s go.”

Her nonchalant demeanor made Madam Qin pause, feeling a pang of guilt as she looked at her.

Lu Minghua pretended not to notice and helped her out.

Madam Qin remained silent, lost in thought until they were almost at the front hall. She suddenly stopped, turned to Lu Minghua, and said, “Minghua, it’s my fault.”

Lu Minghua was slightly surprised and instinctively looked at her.

“In the past, Mingxi’s health was poor, and I had to take extra care of her. But it won’t be like that anymore, I promise,” Madam Qin said earnestly, her eyes filled with guilt.

Was this compensation? Should she feel touched?

A hint of sarcasm crossed Lu Minghua’s mind. So, she would always come second to Lu Mingxi.

As a child, she had imagined this moment countless times, hoping her mother would treat her and Mingxi equally. But now that the moment had come, she didn’t feel the joy she had imagined, only calmness. She had waited too long, long enough that she no longer cared.

Looking into her mother’s guilty eyes, Lu Minghua smiled gently. The accumulated resentment and bitterness in her heart began to dissipate.

It wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t done anything wrong. The fault had never been hers.

“Why bring this up now? Mingxi’s health was poor, and it was right for you to take care of her,” Lu Minghua said with a smile. Her words were thoughtful and detailed, and she showed no sign of resentment.

“You are always so understanding,” Madam Qin said, smiling with relief.

As they spoke, they entered the room, only to find Lu Chengsong there.

Lu Minghua’s steps faltered slightly.

“Why are you alone? Where is Yuntai?” Madam Qin asked.

“Yuntai accidentally got his clothes wet, so I had someone take him to change,” Lu Chengsong said, glancing at Lu Minghua.

Wei Yuntai was always meticulous about his appearance and not a careless person. How could he have just happened to wet his clothes? Lu Minghua didn’t believe it. She stared steadily at her father.

Lu Chengsong nonchalantly withdrew his gaze and said, “Sit down first. I have something to tell you.”

“Father, if you have something to say, please wait a moment. I need to step out for a bit,” Lu Minghua said, stepping back.

“Minghua!” Lu Chengsong frowned.

“I have something urgent to attend to, so I’ll leave first,” Lu Minghua said firmly and quickly left.

Lu Chengsong looked displeased, waving his sleeve and glancing at Madam Qin, who seemed a bit lost. He immediately scolded, “Look at the daughter you raised.”

“No, I need to go check,” Madam Qin said, standing up and following. She sensed something unusual in Lu Minghua’s attitude and couldn’t sit still with her suspicions.

Lu Chengsong was left behind by the mother and daughter, his face darkening further.

The second house’s courtyard was small, with no guest courtyard, only a guest room in a secluded corner. Outside the guest room, lush plants partially concealed the area, with a sweet osmanthus tree among them. Its golden flowers dotted the branches and filled the air with a pleasant fragrance. By the stone table under the osmanthus tree, Wei Yuntai sat on one side while Lu Mingxi, with her head lowered, let crystal-clear tears fall, soaking her collar.

This was the scene Lu Minghua saw when she hurriedly arrived.

“Mother is already arranging a marriage for me. In the future, I wish you and Yuntai…” Lu Mingxi choked up, lifting her tear-filled eyes as if she had a thousand words to say, but her lips only moved slightly. She said, “I wish you and my sister a loving marriage and a long life together.”

Hearing this, visible pain flashed in Wei Yuntai’s eyes.

Lu Mingxi looked at him, her eyes still brimming with tears but extremely earnest, as if trying to remember him deeply.

Wei Yuntai’s jaw moved slightly as he gazed deeply at Lu Mingxi.

Lu Minghua’s heart tightened, and she held her breath.

The next moment, Wei Yuntai closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them again, they were calm, and he said, “Thank you, Mingxi. I also wish you find a good match and live in harmony.”

As soon as he blinked, the tears that had stopped suddenly fell again in large drops. Lu Mingxi could hardly hold back her sobs, looking at Wei Yuntai with heart-wrenching sorrow.

Wei Yuntai couldn’t bear to look directly at her, abruptly stood up and turned to leave.

Lu Minghua stepped back a few paces, hiding behind a tree, quietly watching Wei Yuntai leave.

Behind her, Lu Mingxi continued to cry. Her sobs were soft and weak, not intense, but enough to make Wei Yuntai stop three times on his short walk.

Each time, Lu Minghua thought he would turn back, but he never did.

“Yuntai,” Lu Mingxi suddenly called out.

Wei Yuntai stopped.

Lu Mingxi recited a line of poetry. Lu Minghua didn’t know its origin but found it vaguely familiar. She looked up and saw Wei Yuntai’s figure tremble.

“In the end, we missed our chance,” Lu Mingxi said sorrowfully.

“My sister is a good person. You must, you must treat her well. What happened back then wasn’t her doing. Next time we meet, let’s just be strangers,” she said haltingly, finishing her sentence before stumbling away down another path without waiting for Wei Yuntai’s response.

Wei Yuntai stood there in a daze for a while, finally turning to look back before snapping out of it and walking away.

Only when the area was clear did Lu Minghua step out. She wore a cold smile, took a deep breath, composed herself, and left.

Lu Mingxi’s claim that it wasn’t her doing was quite the act of self-sacrifice. Anyone with a brain could tell she wasn’t sincere.

What a good sister she was.

Anyone who heard would think Lu Mingxi was generous and kind, still thinking of her sister even at this point. Wei Yuntai was likely no exception.

The reputation of sisters marrying into the same family wasn’t good. For the sake of the Marquis of Ningguo’s reputation, Wei Yuntai would never easily divorce her to marry Lu Mingxi. But with Lu Mingxi’s temperament, she wouldn’t agree to be a concubine.

Who knows what they would do next?

The best way was to start with her. It seemed she needed to be careful in the coming days.

After half a day at the Earl of Wen’an’s residence, Lu Minghua and Wei Yuntai returned to the Marquis of Ningguo’s residence.

Lu Mingxi didn’t appear again before they left.

That evening, something happened that left Lu Minghua extremely shocked. Before dinner, Wei Yuntai returned to Chunshan Courtyard and stayed until bedtime.

She was puzzled. After one night, he came again the next day.

For three consecutive days, he returned to Chunshan Courtyard.

Not only Lu Minghua but the entire household was surprised. Even Madam Sun couldn’t help but scrutinize her during morning and evening greetings.

Lu Minghua couldn’t understand what Wei Yuntai was thinking and chose to ignore him.

In the morning, watching Wei Yuntai’s green-clad figure gradually fade into the distance, Lu Minghua found herself lost in thought.

Since their fallout, this was the first time Wei Yuntai had returned for several consecutive days.

He…

Lu Minghua couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious. Compared to estrangement, this sudden closeness made her heart even more uneasy.

In Lin’an Courtyard, Sun Miaotong, seven months pregnant, was diagnosed with a male fetus. Such joyous news led Wei Yunxuan to celebrate with Wei Yuntai over drinks, and he hadn’t returned by bedtime.

Seeing the half-empty bed, Lu Minghua felt relieved rather than disappointed. Realizing this, she paused, lost in thought.

After washing up, Mama Li personally lowered the bed curtains, and Lu Minghua closed her eyes, soon falling asleep. Her sleeping posture wasn’t great. Despite Mama Li’s efforts to correct it, she would unconsciously curl up and bury herself in the quilt, leaving only half her face exposed to breathe. Usually composed and dignified, she appeared childlike and slightly pitiful in her sleep.

When Wei Yuntai lifted the bed curtains, he saw this scene and paused.

The faint smell of alcohol reached her, and Lu Minghua opened her eyes alertly, meeting his somewhat dazed gaze.

“Why did you come back?” she asked, displeased, sitting up with the quilt. “The maids were too lax not to report.”

As she sat up, her long black hair flowed down her shoulders, making her face look even more delicate. Halfway through her words, she snapped out of her displeasure and added, “I thought you wouldn’t return tonight, so I didn’t prepare. I’ll call the maids in now.”

“Lu Minghua.” As she prepared to get up, Wei Yuntai suddenly called out, his voice soft, almost tender.

This tone…

Lu Minghua was startled, instinctively looking at him.

“Have a child with me.”