Chapter 40

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family reunions, Lu Mingxi was left alone in Chunshan Courtyard.

Wei Yuntai went to Yining Courtyard to celebrate with the Ningguo Marquis couple and the second branch of the family. Lu Mingxi bit down in frustration but could only hide her grievances and pretend nothing was wrong as she saw Wei Yuntai off.

After noticing Wei Yuntai’s subtle impatience when she cried, she rarely shed tears anymore.

Sure enough, seeing her like this, Wei Yuntai softened his expression, gently held her, and promised to return soon.

Lu Mingxi immediately smiled.

“Really, don’t lie to me,” she said, clutching Wei Yuntai’s sleeve and looking at him expectantly.

Wei Yuntai smiled gently and assured her he wouldn’t.

After sending him off, Lu Mingxi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That pregnant maid was still in Yining Courtyard. Who knew if Wei Yuntai would go see her? If he stayed too long, she wouldn’t feel at ease.

Glancing at the main courtyard, Lu Mingxi turned and went back to her room, secretly gritting her teeth.

Just wait…

An hour later, Wei Yuntai returned with a faint smell of alcohol.

Lu Mingxi, anxious from waiting, still managed to smile when she saw him, stepping forward to hold him, her face full of joy.

Knowing she always minded Shuiyao, Wei Yuntai sighed inwardly, his smile becoming gentler. He had wronged her. He had thought she would keep crying and making a fuss, but she had become cautious instead. Thinking of this, his heart softened. If it weren’t for him, Mingxi wouldn’t be like this.

Who knew, just as they were about to wash up, a commotion came from Yining Courtyard.

Soon after, a maid came to take another concubine, Yuman, away.

Seeing this, Lu Mingxi felt a surge of joy.

Could it be…

Wei Yuntai felt uneasy and prepared to go to Yining Courtyard, but the maid persuaded him to wait, saying that Madam had asked him to stay.

An hour later, the maid came to invite both of them to the main courtyard.

On the way, the maid explained that an hour ago, Shuiyao, who had been living well in Yining Courtyard, suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain. Despite the doctor’s efforts, they couldn’t save the nearly three-month-old child. It was eventually determined that the miscarriage was caused by medication.

Madam Sun was furious and conducted a thorough investigation, quickly tracing it back to Yuman. It turned out that the fan Yuman had been holding was scented with something that could cause a pregnant woman to miscarry.

Yuman dared not admit it and, in her crying and shouting, implicated the Young Madam, Lu Mingxi.

So it was true—

Lu Mingxi quickly lowered her head and eyes, holding onto Wei Yuntai’s hand, and when she turned her head, she showed a look of panic.

“Yuntai, this…” She couldn’t find the words, looking helplessly at Wei Yuntai.

Wei Yuntai was also looking at her.

When Yining Courtyard called for him early on, he guessed that something must have happened. Moreover, his mother had always disliked Lu Mingxi, but this time, she had said she wanted to bring her along.

Putting two and two together, he realized that this matter must be related to Lu Mingxi, so he had been paying close attention to her.

And thus…

He noticed the fleeting joy at the corner of her mouth and the panic that appeared when she lowered her head and then looked up.

Wei Yuntai’s heart felt like it was blocked by a large stone, making breathing almost impossible.

This wasn’t the Lu Mingxi he knew, he thought.

Mingxi was kind, delicate, and pure. But what had he just seen? Where had things gone wrong?

He couldn’t understand.

“Yuntai.” Since the maid had come to fetch them, Lu Mingxi had been in a state of nervous excitement, distracted along the way, not noticing Wei Yuntai’s subtle attention. Now, she could only call out to him again in confusion.

Wei Yuntai didn’t speak, striding into the room.

Caught off guard, Lu Mingxi was pulled slightly and quickly let go of his hand, instinctively looking at Wei Yuntai’s hurried back.

Did he care so much about that child? She gritted her teeth and followed him.

As soon as Wei Yuntai entered, he saw his parents’ stern faces. They ignored him and looked behind him.

Lu Mingxi entered and was startled to see Ningguo Marquis there as well.

Seeing her delicate and innocent face and thinking about all the chaos since she entered the household, Madam Sun’s anger surged, and she threw the cup in her hand.

“Kneel!”

Lu Mingxi was about to salute but, seeing this, wanted to dodge. However, she didn’t move, letting the cup hit her shoulder, crying out in pain and collapsing to the ground. She widened her eyes, full of helplessness, and looked at Wei Yuntai. But she saw—

Wei Yuntai lowered his head, his gaze fixed on her as if scrutinizing, yet also confused.

Lu Mingxi immediately sensed something was wrong.

“Look at the poisonous woman you married! She can’t even tolerate a concubine’s child and went to great lengths to harm it,” Madam Sun scolded coldly.

“What, what harm?” Lu Mingxi’s heart pounded. She panicked for a moment before steadying herself, biting her lip, and tearing up. “I didn’t.”

“The evidence is conclusive, and you still want to argue.” Madam Sun pushed the tray on the table, not bothering with her, and looked directly at Wei Yuntai, “The evidence is here. See for yourself, take a good look, and see what kind of person your wife is.”

Seeing Madam Sun’s confident attitude, Lu Mingxi’s panic grew, especially when she fell to the ground, and Wei Yuntai didn’t help her up but went straight to the so-called evidence.

“Yuntai,” she said, her voice trembling with sorrow.

Wei Yuntai glanced back at her, then helped her up, saying, “Wait a moment.” After a pause, he added, “Don’t worry, as long as you did nothing, I will clear your name.”

With that, he walked over.

But she had done it!!!

Thinking about her previous actions and the Ningguo Marquis couple sitting high in the hall, Lu Mingxi’s heart pounded like thunder, almost unable to see what was happening in front of her. She wanted to call out to Wei Yuntai but didn’t dare. Her hand in her sleeve clenched tightly, the sharp pain in her palm finally steadying her.

Her gaze swept over the people in the room: Wei Yuntai’s back, the expressionless Ningguo Marquis, and Madam Sun’s disgust. She didn’t dare look further and walked towards Wei Yuntai without stopping.

Wei Yuntai picked up the so-called evidence and examined it carefully.

The medicine was a rare secret drug applied to the fan, and Lu Mingxi gave it to Yuman.

Yuman, of low birth, had brought nothing when she entered the household and hadn’t left the house during this time. She had only interacted with the maids and servants, all of whom had been thoroughly investigated, leaving no suspicion.

He picked up another document. It clearly documented his father-in-law, Lu Chengsong’s movements, how he contacted people, what medicine he bought, and how his mother-in-law brought it in.

The evidence was conclusive, leaving no room for doubt.

Wei Yuntai put down the letter. He could now argue and make many guesses, like Mingxi being framed, deceived, or too naive to understand anything. But he couldn’t say it.

Because he also doubted her.

What he had seen and heard during this time told him that Mingxi was not as he had imagined.

He didn’t speak, and Lu Mingxi’s heart grew cold.

She looked at the two pieces of paper, her heart burning with anxiety. She wanted to know what was written on them but was afraid to look and reveal any traces. She could only hold onto Wei Yuntai’s sleeve, trembling and calling out again.

“Yuntai, believe me, I really didn’t do it.” She started crying as she spoke.

Tears streamed down her face, making her look pitiful.

Wei Yuntai used to feel heartache seeing her like this. Her tears would make his heart ache, but now, he only felt tired.

She was always crying, always crying, but tears never solved any problems.

“Take a look.” Wei Yuntai, holding onto his last hope, handed her the paper.

Look, and then explain.

But Lu Mingxi didn’t dare take it. She didn’t even glance at it, only looking at Wei Yuntai and saying, “I didn’t do anything, Yuntai. You know me. How could I do something so malicious?”

“Look.” Wei Yuntai suddenly raised his voice, shoving the paper into her hand. He felt a surge of disappointment and anger, almost unable to speak.

Lu Mingxi trembled, obediently taking the paper and looking down at it. She quickly read the two sheets, then shook her head in confusion, looking up at the people in the room and desperately defending herself, “No, this can’t be, it won’t be, I didn’t—”

Wei Yuntai felt a glimmer of hope.

“Are you going to say you didn’t know?” Tired of her pretense, Madam Sun interrupted with a mocking smile, “Your good father even wanted you to get pregnant. How could he not tell you the effect of this medicine?”

Wei Yuntai fell silent.

Lu Mingxi’s pupils trembled, but she still refused to admit it.

However, the three people in the room ignored her.

“What do you plan to do?” The Ningguo Marquis, tired of the drama, directly asked Wei Yuntai.

“Confine her to the courtyard,” Wei Yuntai said, closing his eyes slightly and taking a deep breath.

“Attempted murder of a child and just confinement?” Wei Huailiang was very dissatisfied, looking at Wei Yuntai with a frown. “Such cruelty, divorcing her wouldn’t be too much.”

“Father,” Wei Yuntai was shocked to hear this. He was only disappointed and didn’t want to deal with it anymore, but he hadn’t thought of divorcing Lu Mingxi. Her health was so weak that if he divorced her, she might not survive.

Lu Mingxi swayed and fainted.

“Someone, take her away and call the doctor.”

Wei Yuntai’s heart trembled, and he couldn’t help but look over. Just as he was about to move, he heard Madam Sun’s voice and stopped.

The maid quickly came in to help her up and took her away.

The group hadn’t gone far when Madam Sun glanced at the seemingly unconscious Lu Mingxi, a smile flickering in her eyes, and said, “By the way, I haven’t told you yet, but Shuiyao’s child, though in danger, was saved.”

Lu Mingxi’s eyelashes trembled, almost opening her eyes, and she nearly bit through her lip to keep from reacting. Now that she had been discovered, that wretched maid had actually managed to save her child?!!!

Seeing this, Madam Sun finally felt a sense of relief.

Wei Huailiang was slightly surprised and looked at Madam Sun.

Wei Yuntai felt the same, his heart lifting with joy and then relief. No matter what, it was his first child, and he still cared. Moreover, he didn’t want to divorce his wife now.

“Thank you for your efforts, Mother,” Wei Yuntai said, bowing.

“We are mother and son; there’s no need for such words.”

Wei Huailiang frowned. He had intended to use the attempted murder of the child as a reason for Wei Yuntai to divorce Lu Mingxi, but now he had to give up.

After Wei Yuntai left, Madam Sun sighed lightly and comforted him softly.

“Husband, there’s no need to worry. Yuntai is stubborn and still has feelings for Lu Mingxi. Forcing him to divorce her now might leave a knot in his heart. Given Lu Mingxi’s character, she will make more mistakes in the future. When Yuntai is completely disappointed, he will naturally divorce her without us having to intervene.”

“You’re right,” Wei Huailiang said, feeling slightly relieved and nodding.

At that moment, a maid hurriedly reported from outside.

Lu Mingxi was diagnosed as pregnant.

The hall fell silent.

Neither of them showed any joy.

Soon, Wei Yuntai also learned of the news. His hand, practicing calligraphy, paused, ruining the half-finished piece.

“I understand,” Wei Yuntai said, standing up to see Lu Mingxi, but the servants stopped him when he reached Chunshan Courtyard.

“Young Master, Madam has ordered that you are not allowed to enter. Please don’t make it difficult for us,” the servant said, bowing.

If Wei Yuntai insisted, they couldn’t stop him. But as he looked at the familiar courtyard, he suddenly felt strange. The woman he loved had another side, even daring to harm people. How much of what he had seen, heard, and believed was true?

He stood silently for a while, then turned and left.

Back in his study, Wei Yuntai sat in silence for a long time before calling someone in to ask about the young monk’s whereabouts.

The subordinate quickly said they hadn’t found him yet and, hearing his order, hurriedly left to search.

They hadn’t found him, but seeing that Wei Yuntai hadn’t asked about it before, they thought he didn’t care and hadn’t put much effort into the search. But now, he remembered again. The subordinate couldn’t understand what was going on but started searching again.

The main courtyard of Si Xian Courtyard was brightly lit, and Lu Minghua, feeling interested, got up to see the commotion.

The night of August had a slight chill, so Xiao Chun quickly prepared a cloak for her. The group walked under the moonlight to the courtyard.

Inside, the maid who had been with Lu Mingxi was crying and begging, while Lu Chengsong’s angry and somewhat panicked voice could be heard, along with Madam Qin’s helpless sobs. It was a chaotic scene.

A maid was about to salute, but Lu Minghua raised her hand to stop her, standing quietly in the courtyard and listening to the sounds inside.

The maid knew there had been trouble in the main courtyard of the Marquis’s mansion tonight. It was said that Shuiyao’s child was lost, and Madam Marquis had summoned Lu Mingxi and Wei Yuntai. When they returned, it was heard that the Young Master had gone to the front courtyard while Lu Mingxi was being guarded by several people, with Madam Marquis’s order that she be confined to Chunshan Courtyard and not allowed to enter or leave.

Seeing that things were not going well, the maid hurried back. When questioned further, she knew nothing more.

“Without any reason, Mingxi is confined. What is the meaning of this?!” Lu Chengsong shouted, but his voice lacked confidence.

Lu Minghua couldn’t help but smile lightly.

Lu Chengsong could be authoritative and righteous towards his children, but in front of the Ningguo Marquis, he didn’t even dare to scold them.

How pathetic.

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moon hung high in the sky like a jade plate, its light spilling over the world like water.

Lu Minghua looked up for a moment, realizing that listening to this nonsense was wasting such a beautiful scene. She would rather enjoy the moonlight. She wondered if Lu Chengsong had the guts to go to the Marquis’s mansion. Lu Minghua knew that without the master’s permission, the maid would never have been able to leave the mansion.

Since she had returned— It was clear that the anger over there was still strong. Confined to Chunshan Courtyard, Lu Mingxi’s punishment was not over, and they intended to continue settling accounts.

How interesting! Lu Mingxi was pregnant but confined to Chunshan Courtyard and was not allowed to leave. Wei Yuntai had moved to the front courtyard and hadn’t returned.

What had happened tonight?

She felt a slight regret, not much, just a faint feeling. Knowing that Lu Mingxi was not doing well made her feel better. And Wei Yuntai, who had once been so deeply in love, as if his heart would break at Lu Mingxi’s tears. But now, only half a year after marrying Lu Mingxi, he ignored her and didn’t even return to Chunshan Courtyard.

How laughable, genuinely laughable.

These people’s so-called deep feelings were nothing more than this.

Not wanting to deal with the chaos, Lu Minghua bid farewell to Lu Chengwen early the next morning and set off.

Lu Chengwen initially wanted to stop her, but seeing her smile lightly and say, “After what happened at the Marquis’s mansion last night, if I don’t leave now, Mother might come looking for me to go to the Marquis’s mansion with her,” he thought better of it and let her go quickly.

Sure enough, not long after Lu Minghua left, Madam Qin’s people came looking for her but returned empty-handed.

Madam Qin was at a loss, thinking that with the Ningguo Marquis’s apology to Minghua, it would be easier to talk if she went. But she didn’t expect Lu Minghua to leave so swiftly. Feeling a chill in her heart, she murmured, “This child really hates me and her sister.”

Otherwise, knowing such a big thing had happened at home, how could she leave so quickly?

Lu Minghua left decisively and was in a good mood. Although returning to the capital was distressing, seeing this commotion made it worthwhile.

The two adjacent courtyards were located halfway up the mountain. Although it was already autumn, the trees on the mountain were still lush. Only the faint and weak chirping of cicadas hinted at a touch of desolation. Getting off the carriage at the gate, Lu Minghua went straight through the door without stopping.

Mama Li greeted her with a smile, but she couldn’t help but glance at the neighboring courtyard. The door was tightly closed, with no sign of activity. Her thoughts were in disarray, and she was unable to make sense of them.

Happy? It didn’t seem so. Sad? Maybe a little. But mostly, there was a faint sense of regret and melancholy.

Such a good person…

Forget it.

She stepped forward and returned to the mansion.

That afternoon, a group of riders arrived at the courtyard with a thunderous sound.

Yan Yuanhua sat high on his horse, looking at the neighboring courtyard. He knew Lu Minghua had returned and was there.

Upstairs, Lu Minghua put down her book and stared blankly at the man on the horse.

The man, who usually loved to wear blue and green clothes, was dressed in black today, probably for riding convenience. He wasn’t wearing an outer garment, and the wide belt accentuated his lean waist and back. He wore wrist guards, and a fierce tiger’s head embroidered with gold thread peeked out from behind his shoulder, roaring imposingly on his chest.

The man sat on the horse, seemingly unable to see her, but his eyes were fixed on the small building. His usually carefree eyes were tightly focused, and for a moment, Lu Minghua felt as if a tiger was staring at her. Her breath caught, and she saw Yuan Ji’an suddenly smile and wave at her.

Strangely, even though they were so far apart and should have been somewhat blurry, she seemed to see everything clearly.

Lost in thought, Lu Minghua saw the man on the horse dismount, but instead of going to the neighboring courtyard, he walked towards her gate.

In a moment of distraction, the gate was knocked.

Soon, Mama Li came to report that Young Master Yuan from next door had come to visit.

Lu Minghua held her breath and then let out a long sigh, saying, “Alright.”

Forget it. Avoiding him forever wasn’t a solution. If he wanted to see her, she might as well meet him and clear things up; better than worrying about it later.

She got up and went downstairs, heading to the main hall. As soon as she entered, she saw Yuan Ji’an sitting upright in a chair. Just as she was about to look away, her gaze was drawn to a small yellow bundle struggling on his lap.

“Do you like it?” Seeing her come in, Yan Yuanhua stood up, holding the scruff of the little kitten’s neck, and walked towards Lu Minghua.

“Be careful.” The fluffy little creature struggled hard to escape from the bad guy’s grasp, and Lu Minghua couldn’t help but whisper.

“I saw it in the capital and thought it was quite clever, so I brought it for you,” Yan Yuanhua said, his eyes fixed on Lu Minghua, no longer hiding his feelings.

Holding the small bundle that had fallen into her arms, Lu Minghua looked up and saw his gaze, feeling momentarily at a loss. She wanted to refuse, to speak clearly, to explain everything to avoid further trouble. But under that gaze, her face felt hot, her heart raced, and she couldn’t say anything.

“The little thing is a bit unruly, don’t spoil it. I’ve been traveling and I’m tired, so I’ll head back now,” Yan Yuanhua said loudly, not giving her a chance to refuse, and walked towards the door. As he passed by her, he paused.

Lu Minghua’s breath caught, and she couldn’t help but look.

“Minghua, see you tomorrow.” Seeing her somewhat dazed and a bit at a loss, Yan Yuanhua smiled, speaking softly before striding away.

Lu Minghua turned around and saw his figure walking away, but just as he reached the door, he suddenly looked back.

Their eyes met.

Yan Yuanhua smiled. It was good; Minghua was looking at him.

He gave her a deep look and then really left, but Lu Minghua couldn’t help but be lost in thought.

“Little one, why is he in such a hurry to leave when he’s so close?” The little yellow bundle had struggled hard in Yuan Ji’an’s hands, but now it lay quietly in her arms, even purring softly.

Lu Minghua gently held it and whispered a question.

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