Chapter 1

In the oppressive heat of July, dark clouds rolled in the sky, bringing humidity and heat.

Outside, a young maid muttered, “I wonder when this rain will finally fall.”

In the corner, an ice basin emitted cool air, slightly alleviating the summer heat. Lu Minghua had just woken from her afternoon nap, half-reclining on the couch with her eyes closed, lost in thought. She worried that Mingxi might fall ill again in such weather. Instinctively, she pressed her slightly aching forehead, furrowing her brows.

“Young Madam?” Xiao Xia paused in her fanning, worried she might use too much force.

“It’s fine, you can stop. Take a rest,” Lu Minghua sighed softly, unable to shake off the heaviness in her heart.

“Young Madam, there’s news from Lin’an Courtyard. The second young madam is pregnant,” Mama Li dismissed the young maid and approached Lu Minghua, gently massaging her forehead as she spoke softly.

Lu Minghua’s hand paused, then she let it fall as if nothing had happened.

“Prepare gifts, but no food, spices, or personal items. Send something else,” she instructed calmly.

Mama Li glanced at Xiao Chun, who was doing needlework, and she immediately got up to prepare.

“Young Madam…” Mama Li hesitated, unable to hide her worry. Her young mistress had been married to the heir for three years without any good news, while the second young madam of the second house, who married last winter, was already pregnant. The mistress would inevitably have opinions about her young mistress. What should be done?

“Hmm?” Lu Minghua pretended not to understand.

Mama Li paused, then softly suggested, “A few days ago, the shop sent new clothes made of Zhixia silk. They look beautiful. Why don’t you try them on?”

The clothes were like clouds and mist, ethereal and fairy-like. Her mistress was beautiful, and wearing them would surely amaze everyone. It would be even better if it could attract the heir’s attention.

Women dress up for those they love, but Lu Minghua had long lost such thoughts. Her eyes flickered, and after a moment, she smiled lightly, saying, “Go get the booklet. I’ll choose the gifts myself. Otherwise, Sun Qiutong will surely find fault with me tonight.”

“Young Madam, you need to have a child,” Li Mama insisted. She didn’t expect the couple to be deeply in love, but they needed a child.

They couldn’t continue living separately like strangers. What would happen in the future?

They were so loving when they first married. What had changed?

Lu Minghua looked at Mama Li, her eyes pleading for her to stop.

Mama Li stubbornly held her gaze, refusing to give up.

After a moment of silence, Lu Minghua sighed. Mama Li was her wet nurse, and their bond was special. She wouldn’t have said these things if she didn’t care. She couldn’t stay angry with her.

“Don’t worry, the heir will come tonight,” she said, seemingly compromising.

“Really? That’s great! I’ll go prepare,” Mama Li said joyfully, immediately getting up to arrange things.

Lu Minghua sat up slightly, her brows relaxing. The softness in her expression faded, replaced by a hint of sarcasm as she glanced at the darkening sky.

Soon, she had chosen the gifts. As the sun began to set and the heat outside lessened, she was about to leave when a young maid came happily, saying the heir had arrived.

“Please ask the heir to wait. I’ll go to Lin’an Courtyard first,” Lu Minghua said calmly.

“Young Madam,” Mama Li tried to stop her, thinking Lin’an Courtyard wasn’t as important as the heir.

“Go tomorrow morning. I have something to discuss with you,” a clear voice interrupted. Wei Yuntai entered the room and spoke warmly.

Lu Minghua wanted to ignore him, but this was the Marquis of Ningguo’s residence. With her back to him, she took a deep breath, calming her emotions, and turned with a smile, saying, “What’s so urgent? The second young madam is pregnant. I should…”

“You all may leave,” Wei Yuntai said gently, not waiting for her to finish, and dismissed the servants.

Seeing this, the servants assumed the heir had urgent matters and left, hiding their curiosity.

Only Lu Minghua knew why. She said nothing, calmly watching the servants leave until only she and Wei Yuntai were left in the room. Their eyes met, and her smile slowly faded until her face was expressionless.

“What is it?” she asked, no longer looking at Wei Yuntai, turning to sit at the dressing table and removing the hairpin she had just put on to go out.

“The weather is bad, and Mingxi might get sick. I’ll go with you to see her tomorrow,” Wei Yuntai said, noticing her face change slightly, his eyes darkening. His voice was as gentle and warm as ever, and anyone unaware of the situation might praise his care for his wife, remembering even such small matters.

But Lu Minghua only wanted to laugh, and she did.

As expected.

Mingxi, he called her so intimately.

“Lu Minghua.” Wei Yuntai’s gentle brows furrowed slightly as he called her name, reminding her.

“I’ll go myself. Such a small matter doesn’t need to trouble you.” Detecting a hint of impatience in his attitude, Lu Minghua said calmly. Her hand tightened around the ivory comb, pricking her palm. She suddenly came to her senses, looked down at her hand, and then slowly relaxed.

Behind her, Wei Yuntai was still firmly speaking, “I’ll go with you.” It wasn’t a discussion but a decision, just like when he entered the room earlier.

Yes, this was the residence of the Marquis of Ningguo. He, Wei Yuntai, was the heir to the Marquis of Ningguo. He didn’t have to listen to her, not even for trivial matters. And this wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened.

Once, Lu Minghua would have been angry, would have been furious, and would have had the resolve to break off with him completely. But now, she no longer had the energy to do so.

“As you wish,” she said, picking up the comb and gently running it through her hair. Her black hair was like clouds, undeniably beautiful.

Unlike Lu Mingxi’s hair, which was slightly dull due to years of illness—

Wei Yuntai suddenly thought, his brows furrowing again after relaxing slightly from getting a satisfactory answer. A trace of coldness flashed across his face. He took a step forward but paused, looking at Lu Minghua’s back at the dressing table.

The room was silent. No one spoke.

After a moment, the door creaked open, and Wei Yuntai left. But Lu Minghua knew he had only gone to the study. He wouldn’t leave tonight.

All of this made her feel both absurd and laughable. What was Wei Yuntai trying to do?

Compensate? Comfort? Or perhaps, maintain her dignity as the wife of the heir of the Marquis of Ningguo. After all, husband and wife are one.

The bronze mirror was polished clear and smooth, close enough for her to see her own face clearly.

Outside, the noise continued. The courtyard, which had been cold without the master, suddenly became lively. She slowly let her sarcasm fade, her smile becoming gentle.

As she expected, after dinner, Wei Yuntai didn’t leave. The maids came forward to serve him, and under the lamp, his gentle smile made the young maids blush, their eyes filled with admiration as they glanced at him.

Wei Yuntai slightly closed his eyes.

Mama Li came out with a smile, but her expression changed when she saw the scene. She walked over and stood guard, and the maids immediately became obedient.

Lu Minghua came out from the inner room, not looking at anyone, and sat at the dressing table to comb her hair. Xiao Dong had already prepared jasmine-scented hair oil and carefully applied it to her hair.

A thunderclap sounded.

Lu Minghua’s heart skipped a beat. She held her breath until the thunder stopped and exhaled lightly. But the thunder continued, and her face gradually turned pale.

“Young Madam…” Mama Li couldn’t keep an eye on the disobedient maids anymore. She dismissed Xiao Dong and took the comb, gently combing Lu Minghua’s hair and softly calling her name.

She knew her young mistress well and how strong she was.

“I’m fine.” Lu Minghua’s hand in her sleeve tightened, and she was surprised to hear her voice sounding dry.

Seeing her like this, Mama Li’s eyes filled with worry, and she continued combing her hair, trying to make her feel better.

When the thunder sounded, Wei Yuntai glanced outside, frowning slightly, worry flashing in his eyes. Then he looked at Lu Minghua, seeing her sitting at the dressing table without a trace of worry, and his face turned cold for a moment.

After a while, Mama Li and the maids left the room.

Only Lu Minghua and Wei Yuntai were left.

“Send those maids away tomorrow,” Wei Yuntai said, sitting on the couch with a book, his voice low and slightly impatient.

“My mother sent them. If you don’t like them, tell her tomorrow,” Lu Minghua said casually, walking to the bed. She lay down, opened the quilt, and saw Wei Yuntai still sitting on the couch. She didn’t mind and said, “Please extinguish the lamp.”

After speaking, she closed her eyes, her breathing gradually becoming lighter, as if she were asleep.

Wei Yuntai moved his fingers on his knee, turned a few more pages of the book, then put it down and extinguished the lamp. He slept in a proper posture, with his hands on his lower abdomen and his eyes slightly closed. Usually, he could fall asleep quickly, but tonight, the faint scent of jasmine in the tent constantly reminded him of the person beside him.

The person inside the bed breathed lightly, seemingly asleep, and what he had anticipated did not happen.

For some reason, Wei Yuntai felt increasingly restless. His second brother already had children, and their mother was likely even more dissatisfied with Lu Minghua…

He pondered for a while, and the person beside him remained still, sleeping soundly. Unknowingly, he also fell asleep.

Under the light green bed curtain embroidered with auspicious patterns, the two were clearly divided by a person’s width.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Minghua opened her eyes and turned over, feeling an overwhelming desire to distance herself from this person, but she was confined to this small space. She looked at the carved auspicious patterns on the bed’s inner railing, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

Outside, it seemed to start raining, with the sound of raindrops gradually becoming clearer, hitting the bluestone with a mix of pitter-patter sounds. Enduring a few claps of thunder, Lu Minghua struggled to steady her breathing, unconsciously thinking of the banana tree outside the window.

There had been such a tree outside her bedroom window when she was in her maiden home. Wei Yuntai somehow learned about it and found one after their marriage was arranged. In the early days of their marriage, they had stood by the window, whispering sweet nothings, and she had listened with a heart full of sweetness as he recounted how he had carefully chosen that banana tree.

But later, he never looked at that banana tree again.