Chapter 6

Due to frail health, Madam Sun didn’t even accept her own niece, let alone Lu Mingxi. Over the years, Lu Minghua had suspected Lu Mingxi had the kind of personality where if she couldn’t have something, neither could Lu Minghua. Otherwise, she would rather destroy it or give it away.

Therefore, Lu Minghua never thought deeply about it. But what if Lu Mingxi did it on purpose?

Lu Minghua was lost in thought for a long time until the carriage stopped, bringing her back to reality.

It was already late, and after a busy half-day, Madam Sun was tired and dismissed her daughters-in-law, telling them to return to their courtyards. Everyone dispersed.

Lu Minghua returned to Chunshan Courtyard and, upon entering, saw Wei Yuntai sitting on the brocade couch by the window, reading. He had also gone to the Changyuan Marquis’s residence to offer congratulations but left after the birthday celebration.

Usually, Lu Minghua wouldn’t want to engage with him, but with questions on her mind, she dismissed the servants and, while removing her hairpins, asked, “Did you find the little monk?”

The connection between Wei Yuntai and Lu Mingxi was quite deep. When Lu Mingxi was young, she hung a wooden plaque with a poem she wrote on the evergreen tree at Lantai Temple outside the city. It accidentally fell and was found by Wei Yuntai. He loved poetry and was delighted by her poem, so he wrote a response and hung it next to Lu Mingxi’s plaque. When Lu Mingxi found out, she wrote another poem in return. Thus, their relationship began by chance.

The little monk Lu Minghua mentioned was the one who delivered messages between them, informing each other of their replies. This same monk had told Wei Yuntai that the person sending the messages was Lu Minghua. But after their marriage, when Wei Yuntai found discrepancies and investigated, the little monk had disappeared, his fate unknown. Those who knew assumed Lu Minghua had silenced him. If Lu Minghua hadn’t known she was innocent, she might have believed it herself, given the series of events.

Thinking of this, Lu Minghua paused, suddenly recalling the origin of the poem Lu Mingxi had mentioned earlier. It was the same poem she had written on the plaque, which had started her connection with Wei Yuntai. This poem was also the one Wei Yuntai recited to her after their marriage, and her confusion led him to realize something was wrong.

“This question, you should ask yourself,” came a warm voice from behind, carrying an inexplicable chill.

Lu Minghua suddenly snapped back to reality, feeling a pang in her heart. She closed her eyes and let out a cold laugh. “I didn’t expect that after three years, the heir still couldn’t find a mere little monk.”

It was one thing for her people not to find him, but it was disappointing for Wei Yuntai, the heir of a marquis, to fail as well. Finding this person was the key to clearing her name, and now she felt only frustration, her tone naturally harsh.

Wei Yuntai clenched the book in his hand, his voice deep. “Lu Minghua, are you gloating?”

“I told you it wasn’t me. Finding that little monk is crucial to proving my innocence, so of course, I care. But after three years, the heir still hasn’t found him,” Lu Minghua said, turning to look directly at Wei Yuntai, her eyes full of undisguised disappointment. Her eyes were bright, filled with anger, and she spoke with conviction, showing no guilt.

Even though Wei Yuntai was sure, he couldn’t help but waver for a moment. But only for a moment. He believed he wouldn’t be deceived and trusted the information his people had gathered. To him, this was just Lu Minghua’s excuse.

“Alive or dead, I will find him,” he said, lowering his head, showing he didn’t want to discuss it further.

Lu Minghua looked at him coldly, scoffed, and called for the servants. She had intended to test her suspicions with Wei Yuntai, but his attitude woke her up.

With his prejudice, he wouldn’t believe anything she said. So why bother?

Before bed, the kitchen suddenly sent a bowl of sweet soup, saying it was prepared by the madam to help sober up and calm the nerves.

Wei Yuntai glanced at Lu Minghua, seeing only her jade-like profile, and realized why someone usually so reserved had spoken so sharply tonight.

Lu Minghua found it strange. Madam Sun wasn’t usually so kind, but hearing that the second house also received some, she didn’t think much of it and drank it.

The servants brought another bowl to Wei Yuntai, and he drank it too. After the maids helped them wash up, they left.

Mama Li looked at Lu Minghua expectantly. With the two masters sleeping together every night, she hoped for good news soon and then closed the door.

The room was left with just the two of them.

As usual, Lu Minghua ignored Wei Yuntai and went to sleep first. The soft quilt felt warm, but she didn’t mind, thinking it was just a warm night and fell asleep.

Left alone again, Wei Yuntai frowned slightly, looking at the bed, puzzled by Lu Minghua’s thoughts. Having a child would secure her position as the heir’s wife, but she had done nothing all this time. Was she truly indifferent, or was it deliberate?

Feeling warm, he stopped reading, removed his outer robe, and went to bed.

In the middle of the night, Lu Minghua was awakened by the heat in her body. She couldn’t help but throw off the quilt, feeling a cool breeze, but the heat seemed to flow from her bones, surging back instantly.

Oh no, it was the soup!

In her dazed state, Lu Minghua suddenly realized she must have been drugged and was instantly alarmed.

Before bed, she had only consumed that bowl of sweet soup. As she was lost in thought, her arm was suddenly gripped tightly. Instinctively, she looked up and met Wei Yuntai’s flushed face.

“What did you do?” he asked hoarsely, his grip tightening.

“It hurts,” Lu Minghua winced, pain evident on her face.

“Speak,” Wei Yuntai demanded, his anger boiling over upon realizing he had been drugged. Instead of letting go, he pressed harder.

“What did you use before bed? Do I need to remind you, or do you think I could bribe someone close to Mother?” Lu Minghua retorted, shaking off his hand with a cold laugh.

“Or do you think my previous refusals weren’t clear enough?”

Sharing a bed for half the night, she had never once looked at Wei Yuntai. Wasn’t that enough to show him her attitude?

Wei Yuntai didn’t believe her, his breath slightly labored. “You managed to deceive me. Who knows if this isn’t just another one of your tricks?”

As he spoke, he pressed his hand to his forehead, trying to suppress the agitation in his body.

A trick? Lu Minghua felt a block in her chest, staring blankly at Wei Yuntai. She wanted to laugh bitterly, to curse. Her emotions surged, wanting to shout and scream, but in the end, she did nothing. All that remained was a deep weariness.

So, in Wei Yuntai’s heart, this was the kind of person she was? In her dazed state, she let out a bitter laugh.

“The heir thinks too much. I’m not that desperate,” she said, knowing it was useless to say more. She gave up and got up, intending to get out of bed and away from Wei Yuntai.

Both of them had been drugged. Although they could still hold on for now, it wouldn’t be long before they couldn’t. It was better to separate. But she underestimated the drug. As soon as she stood up, her whole body went limp, and she fell onto Wei Yuntai. The scent of jasmine filled the air, and memories suddenly surfaced. Instinctively, he reached out to hold Lu Minghua.

“I told you, as long as you behave, you will always be my wife,” he said, looking down at her flushed face, his eyes flickering. “There’s no need for such tricks.” As he spoke, he began to undo her clothes.

Seeing his expression change, Lu Minghua guessed his thoughts and felt a wave of nausea. She wouldn’t degrade herself like this.

Wei Yuntai!

Gritting her teeth, Lu Minghua stared hard at the indifferent man before her, feeling a moment of confusion.

Was this really the same person who had been so gentle and caring during their wedding, the one who had made her unable to let go all these years, still hoping to clear up misunderstandings and spend the rest of her life with him? Why did she suddenly find him so unfamiliar?

Summoning her strength, Lu Minghua tried to get up, but Wei Yuntai instinctively tightened his grip on her arm. She raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

The slap was crisp, but Lu Minghua, weakened by the drug, didn’t have much strength. However, Wei Yuntai immediately snapped back to reality.

No one had ever dared to treat him like this. He looked at Lu Minghua, his eyes cold.

Stunned for a moment, Lu Minghua glanced at her hand, then looked up to meet his icy gaze. The brief moment of regret she had felt vanished instantly. Ignoring him, she staggered to her feet, only to feel her arm tighten again.

“Lu Minghua, I don’t have time for your tricks,” Wei Yuntai said coldly, his face full of impatience and annoyance, far from the gentle and refined man he was praised to be.

“My wife doesn’t have to be you. You need to understand that,” he said, his words full of warning and chilling to the bone.

“Then why didn’t you divorce me back then? It was all for the Wei family’s reputation. Now, why push all the blame onto me?” Lu Minghua retorted with a cold laugh, her sharp gaze meeting his, unyielding.

Had she known it would come to this, she would have preferred to be divorced by Wei Yuntai back then, rather than endure this daily mental and emotional exhaustion.

Wei Yuntai blamed her, and everyone who knew the situation thought it was her fault. But what about her? She had known nothing, and she was full of joy, thinking she was marrying a good man. She was wrong, but her mistake was not asking more questions before the engagement.

Who could have imagined that Wei Yuntai had mistaken her for her sickly twin sister, the one he had personally come to propose to?

“Stubborn fool!” Wei Yuntai’s anger flared as he saw her stubbornness and pushed her away.

Caught off guard, Lu Minghua fell.

Wei Yuntai’s fingers trembled as he looked away, his anger subsiding slightly. “You are twins, born of the same mother. Why are you like this?” he said, disappointed.

Hearing this, Lu Minghua found it laughable and laughed out loud. She lay on the brocade quilt, laughing brilliantly with her eyes curved.

Seeing her like this, Wei Yuntai felt inexplicably puzzled, frowning at her.

Looking at this man, who was being manipulated and didn’t even realize it, Lu Minghua felt a part of her heart collapse. Exhaustion washed over her, and in that moment, she had an urge to end it all.

So tired, too tired.