Chapter 8

Lu Minghua fell ill.

When Wei Yuntai returned to the residence, a servant reported this to him. Remembering her soaking in cold water the previous night, he frowned slightly, but his long-standing vigilance made him cautious.

Could this be her intention? he wondered.

On the bed, the autumn yellow bed curtains embroidered with red beans and two vividly colored birds perched on branches looked lively and full of life.

Under the brocade quilt, Lu Minghua remained curled up. Her face was half-hidden in the quilt, revealing only a patch of flushed skin.

She looked pitiful.

Wei Yuntai paused. The last time he saw Lu Minghua like this was when he was drunk. That time, she woke up quickly, but this time—

He reached out and touched her forehead, feeling the heat on his fingertips.

“Master,” Mama Li said, bringing in the medicine, her face expressionless. She didn’t like Wei Yuntai. She had advised Lu Minghua for her future but never showed him a good face.

“Young Madam needs to take her medicine,” she said. As soon as she entered, the bitter smell of the medicine filled the room.

Wei Yuntai hesitated for a moment and said, “I’ll feed her.” No matter how dissatisfied he was with Lu Minghua, he wouldn’t take it out on a sick person.

In this regard, Lu Minghua’s goal was achieved. His eyes darkened.

Mama Li hesitated too. If possible, she still hoped Lu Minghua and Wei Yuntai could get along. With this in mind, she agreed.

Wei Yuntai took the medicine, and Li Mama went to wake Lu Minghua.

Her head throbbed, and Lu Minghua maintained the position that made her feel safest, trying to be as comfortable as possible. But with Mama Li’s voice constantly calling, she finally opened her eyes with difficulty.

“Young Madam, it’s time to take your medicine,” Mama Li said, half-supporting her.

The bitter smell of the medicine approached, and the touch of the spoon on her lips made Lu Minghua half-open her eyes and reach out her hand.

Seeing this, Wei Yuntai was puzzled.

In her daze, Lu Minghua finally saw him and instinctively frowned.

“Give me the medicine. I’ll drink it myself,” she said, her voice faint, almost inaudible in the quiet room.

“I’ll feed you,” Wei Yuntai insisted.

Lu Minghua moved back, frowning tightly, and said again, “I’ll drink it myself.”

Surprised by her refusal, Wei Yuntai frowned slightly and said in a low voice, “Lu Minghua, stop making a fuss and drink the medicine.”

“I’m not used to being fed. I want to drink it myself,” she explained, relaxing at his softened tone.

Wei Yuntai scrutinized her for a moment before handing over the medicine.

Lu Minghua took it, drank it all in one go, and then set the bowl down, her expression unchanged.

Wei Yuntai paused. He had seen many women take medicine, but none had done so as straightforwardly as Lu Minghua.

Didn’t she find the medicine bitter? Wei Yuntai felt a mix of emotions.

Was the medicine bitter? Of course, it was. But Lu Minghua had long known that even if she said it was bitter, no one would feel sorry for her. Her mother would think she was competing with Lu Mingxi, and her father only cared about his son. Since no one would feel sorry for her, saying it would only add to her troubles. Why bother?

Mama Li quickly handed her some water to rinse her mouth.

After tidying up, Lu Minghua felt drowsy but couldn’t relax with Wei Yuntai there, forcing herself to stay awake. Her long black hair draped over her shoulders, framing her flushed face. She leaned against the soft pillow at the head of the bed, her usually dignified demeanor now appearing pitiful.

In a daze, Wei Yuntai almost mistook her for Mingxi. But she wasn’t.

He snapped back to reality, his eyes turning cold. “Lu Minghua, is this what you wanted?” he asked.

A ploy to gain sympathy?

Mama Li looked at him, puzzled, not understanding why he suddenly said this.

Lu Minghua, her head foggy, heard the words and was confused, looking at him blankly.

She met his cold, disdainful eyes. What was he saying?

Holding her throbbing head, Lu Minghua tried to think and finally understood his meaning, feeling shocked. She looked at him, bewildered and hurt, and then let out a small, mocking laugh.

“Heir, you’re overthinking,” she said, her voice dry from the fever, laughing as she spoke.

This man, this man…

That same smile again—Wei Yuntai didn’t understand the meaning behind her smile and didn’t want to. He just said in a low voice, “Good.”

“Get out,” Lu Minghua said, feeling miserable and too tired to argue, her expression changing as she pointed to the door.

Wei Yuntai’s eyes turned cold.

Lu Minghua was the first person to dare tell him to leave.

He got up and left.

“Take care of yourself,” Wei Yuntai said, always self-controlled. After a few steps, he managed to suppress his anger and left the room.

Mama Li frowned, not understanding the conversation but seeing Lu Minghua’s sadness.

“Young Madam, what happened just now?” she asked.

“Nothing, Mama. I’m very tired. Don’t let anyone disturb me,” Lu Minghua said, her usual smile gone, her eyes dull. She lay down as she spoke.

“Alright, alright. Don’t worry, Young Madam. I won’t let anyone disturb you,” Madam Li said repeatedly. She tidied up the bowl quietly and left the room, her expression changing. “Where is the heir?” she asked.

“The heir went to the front courtyard,” a maid replied softly, fearing Mama Li’s stern demeanor.

“Young Madam is ill. The heir should indeed keep his distance,” Li Mama said, her tone flat but slightly sarcastic.

Her Miss was so ill, yet Wei Yuntai, as her husband, didn’t comfort her but made her angry instead. And this was the man others praised as a gentleman? She scoffed.

The maid missed the sarcasm and stood quietly, waiting for instructions.

Mama Li selected a few people to take Wei Yuntai’s belongings from Chunshan Courtyard to the front courtyard.

“These are the heir’s usual items. He won’t be used to being without them. Take them all,” she said.

Rather than staying here and causing trouble for her Miss, it was better to leave.

The maids quickly got to work.

In the front courtyard, Wei Yuntai was contemplating leaving abruptly. If others found out, they would surely speculate. After a moment’s thought, he decided to return later. But before he could read much of his book, he saw the maids bringing his belongings. His hand paused mid-page turn, and he set the book down, closing his eyes briefly. Now, the entire Wei family would know that he not only failed to comfort his sick wife but also avoided her.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Madam Sun summoned him to Yining Courtyard.

“Tell me, what’s going on between you and Lu Minghua?” she asked directly after he paid his respects.

“Mother, there’s nothing between us,” Wei Yuntai insisted, not wanting anyone to know he had been deceived.

Madam Sun asked a few more times, but seeing his firm denial and displeased expression, she waved her sleeve and said, “I don’t care what’s going on between you two. Lu Minghua is your wife and the heir’s wife of the Marquis of Ningguo. I don’t want to hear about such things again.”

But his wife shouldn’t have been her—

“Don’t worry, Mother. I understand,” Wei Yuntai said, suppressing his irritation.

Madam Sun looked at him and sighed.

“Yuntai, you’ve always been sensible and courteous, patient even with the maids. Why are you so cold and guarded with Lu Minghua?”

Wei Yuntai remained silent.

“She was the one you personally asked to marry.”

But it wasn’t her he wanted to marry; it was Mingxi.

He stopped himself from saying this and smiled, “Don’t worry, Mother. I know what to do.”

Though he appeared calm, Madam Sun knew her son well. She detected the resistance in his voice and gave him a pointed look. “No matter what, you are a couple. Don’t let such things happen again, making us a laughingstock.”

“Disgracing Lu Minghua is disgracing yourself.”

If this continued, Wei Yuntai’s personal request for marriage would become a joke, and who knew what people would say about the Wei family then?

“Yes, Mother,” Wei Yuntai replied.

“Remember, you are a couple,” Madam Sun emphasized. Seeing him agree, she said no more, dismissing him with a few more words.

Over the years, even if she didn’t particularly like Lu Minghua, she had always maintained appearances. At most, she tolerated Sun Miaotong’s bullying. But outside the Wei family, in everyone’s eyes, she was still the legitimate wife of the heir of the Marquis of Ningguo, and no one dared to look down on her.

Leaving Yining Courtyard, Wei Yuntai returned directly to Chunshan Courtyard.

By this time, night had fallen. The maids lit lanterns, casting a warm yellow glow on the ground. Chunshan Courtyard, usually lively, was unusually quiet today, with the bitter smell of medicine lingering in the air.

“Heaven bless, may Young Madam recover soon.”

“Yes, indeed. Young Madam is such a good person. How could she fall ill?”

“By the way, how is your mother now after being sick last month?”

“She’s almost recovered, thanks to the medicine Young Madam gave me. Otherwise, I couldn’t have afforded such expensive ginseng.”

Hearing the maids’ sincere words, Wei Yuntai felt a pang of guilt.

“Greetings, Master,” the maids said, bowing as they saw him.

“Rise,” Wei Yuntai said, stepping away.

The maids’ heartfelt words echoed in his ears, and his expression remained indifferent. Lu Minghua, however, knew how to win people’s hearts.

“Master, Young Madam is unwell. I’m worried that your presence might upset her. Please return to the front courtyard,” Mama Li said, standing at the door, not wanting to let Wei Yuntai in.

“I’ll just check on her and leave,” Wei Yuntai said.

Mama Li was reluctant but couldn’t stop him, so she stepped aside.

“Young Madam is considerate of me, but she is ill, and I can’t rest easy. I’ve prepared a room in the courtyard for myself and have no intention of staying in the front courtyard,” Wei Yuntai said. As he spoke, he took a book from the attendant behind him. “This is a medical book I just found. I’ll send it to the physician to review.”

Hearing this, Mama Li’s expression softened, finally showing a hint of a smile as she thanked Wei Yuntai. Her previous dissatisfaction eased a bit. Wei Yuntai’s concern for her Miss showed he had some conscience.

Inside, Lu Minghua was still asleep. The room was filled with the smell of medicine, mingling with the originally elegant jasmine scent, making it inexplicably bitter.

This woman, who was always calm and composed when awake, never hurried or flustered, always seemed to have everything under control. Wei Yuntai disliked this about her, feeling she had everything secretly arranged, just waiting for someone to fall into her trap. He had never seen her so weak, but even now, he wondered if this was all part of her plan. Thinking this, any pity he felt hardened again.

Lu Minghua slept for two whole days before finally regaining some energy on the third day. Sitting up in bed, listening to Mama Li recount the past few days’ events, a maid reported that the heir had returned.

“Young Madam,” Mama Li said, looking at Lu Minghua with concern.

Previously, Lu Minghua and Wei Yuntai had avoided each other. It was the first time Li Mama saw their argument. She had never imagined that the usually gentle and polite Wei Yuntai could act that way toward her Miss.

“It’s fine,” Lu Minghua said, still feeling weak, trying to reassure her.

Then, Wei Yuntai entered.

Mama Li didn’t leave this time, staying by her side out of concern.

“You’re awake. How are you feeling?” Wei Yuntai asked softly, sitting by the bed.

“…I’m okay,” Lu Minghua said, momentarily dazed by his voice.

It seemed like a long, long time since she had heard him speak so gently.

“Earlier, I was wrong,” Wei Yuntai said after a moment of silence.

Lu Minghua looked at him in confusion, not understanding why he was suddenly apologizing.

“You were sick. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way,” Wei Yuntai said, lowering his eyes to hide his calm expression.

Lu Minghua was completely stunned.

Did she actually hear Wei Yuntai admitting he was wrong?