Chapter 84

Su Ci quickly entered Hongruitang. The pungent smell of medicine and alcohol was overwhelming. Zhang Xin and Mou An had been waiting for a long time and quickly reported the recent temperature checks.

“Alright, you two go eat something and rest. You can take turns from now on.”

After arranging for Zhang Xin and Mou An, who hadn’t eaten or rested all day, Su Ci put on a coat, washed her hands, and checked Yang Zhongying’s post-surgery condition.

A lamp was lit in the room, and the faint smell of blood mingled with the medicinal and alcohol scents. Yang Zhongying was still awake and managed a weak smile when he saw Su Ci, nodding slightly.

“Father.” Su Ci checked his pulse. His skin was slightly warm to the touch, but it wasn’t serious. His pulse was gradually stabilizing. Su Ci breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the major arteries hadn’t been hit.

“Luckily, no major blood vessels were pierced, and it’s mid-autumn now.” The weather was crucial—not too cold or too hot, reducing the risk of infection and aiding wound healing.

She reassured and encouraged Yang Zhongying, “As long as the medication is administered properly, you should start to recover in about a month.”

Yang Zhongying had great faith in his daughter-in-law’s medical skills. Hearing this, he felt relieved, and even the pain seemed more bearable.

Next, Su Ci conducted a post-surgery examination, carefully asking about Yang Zhongying’s feelings, checking the wound, and applying more medicine. Although it wasn’t too strenuous, Yang Zhongying’s severe injuries made it somewhat taxing.

Su Ci moistened Yang Zhongying’s lips with a cotton swab and then instructed the medical attendants on some care precautions. After Yang Zhongying felt better, she washed her hands in a copper basin but didn’t leave. Instead, she sent the attendants out.

The large room was now just her and Yang Zhongying.

Yang Zhongying wasn’t foolish. He immediately understood her intentions, his face darkening as he closed his eyes. “Second daughter-in-law, you should go back.”

Since Su Ci had married into the family, Yang Zhongying had always called her the eldest daughter-in-law. Now, he reverted to her maiden name, showing how angry he was with Yang Yanzong.

Su Ci sighed softly. She leaned over to tuck in Yang Zhongying’s blanket. She didn’t leave but stood for a moment before sitting on a low stool by the bed.

“Father-in-law.”

“Uncle.”

Su Ci called softly, reverting to her old address.

“You’ve suffered greatly this time. Father will be very upset if he finds out when he returns.”

As sworn brothers, Yang Zhongying and Su Di had a close relationship, almost like real brothers.

Although Yang Yanzong was there, Su Di privately sought ways to help Yang Zhongying’s recovery and asked Su Ci many times.

Hearing this, Yang Zhongying couldn’t help but feel moved and pained. Sigh, it was his own incompetence that worried his brother.

It was understandable why Yang Zhongying was so angry. Being stabbed by his wife and nearly losing his life—what kind of hatred could justify that? He wanted to kill Yan, and Su Ci could understand that.

“But Uncle, it’s tough for him too.”

“You don’t know how exhausted he is. This past month, he’s fallen ill several times.” It was due to overwork, and even when sick, he had to keep going, making it hard to recover fully. The illness kept recurring.

Su Ci only realized how unwell he had been after returning to the mansion.

“It’s all for the sake of this family.”

Yang Yanzong wasn’t made of iron; he, too, could be physically and mentally exhausted. Su Ci hugged her knees and spoke softly, sighing, “I know you’re angry with him,” she said with a bitter smile, “but he’s struggling too.”

“We all know Mother’s faults. Perhaps in your eyes, she doesn’t deserve to be their mother, but she is his biological mother!”

What was Yang Yanzong supposed to do? Stand by and watch his father kill his mother?

If Yang Zhongying had died, killed by Mrs. Yan, who knows what Yang Yanzong might have done in his rage? But now, his father had been saved.

Yes, Yang Zhongying had a hundred ways to punish Mrs. Yan, making her bedridden and miserable for decades, living a life worse than death, without hindering his son—how satisfying!

But could Yang Yanzong stand by and watch?

“He had no other choice.”

Knowing his father would be angry, feel betrayed, and disappointed, he still had to kneel and plead for his mother’s life.

“Father, he’s struggling too. It’s too hard for him.”

In the silent room, a long sigh echoed. Yang Yanzong leaned his head against the beam outside the door, his heart filled with an indescribable ache, almost bringing him to tears.

Her words had struck a chord with him.

He was indeed struggling.

He lifted his head, letting the heat in his eyes subside.

“Father, you sleep. I’ll come to see you tomorrow.” Su Ci had said everything she wanted to say.

Yang Zhongying’s lips trembled, but he remained silent with his eyes closed. This matter couldn’t be forced; it had to be left to time. She sighed softly, adjusted his pillow, and turned to leave.

The door creaked open, and Su Ci stepped out, closing it behind her. The west wind gently swayed the lanterns under the eaves, and the night was getting colder. She looked up and saw Yang Yanzong standing under the eaves, looking at her.

He was dressed in dusty black clothes, his face thin and gaunt, staring at her without blinking. They looked at each other, one standing on the porch, the other below, only three feet apart, silently gazing at each other.

“Husband.” After a long time, she called softly.

Su Ci stepped forward, and they stood face to face. She glanced around; the guards had wisely retreated, leaving the deep courtyard to themselves. She reached out and hugged his waist.

Yang Yanzong’s Adam’s apple moved for a moment, and he slowly wrapped his arms around her waist.

After a while, he responded hoarsely, “Hmm.”

They embraced, and she rested her face against his chest.

---

After a long time, the wind picked up.

Hand in hand, they returned to the outer study.

She settled him on a low couch, lit a lamp, and returned to his side.

He gazed at her for a long time and asked softly, “Why?”

“Can you tell me why?”

Some questions had always been there, but he had never delved deeply into them.

She was actually very smart, quick-witted, and perceptive. Despite her young age, she could see through people and situations with remarkable clarity.

She never said much, never asked much, appearing as a clever and beautiful girl. But you never had to worry about her making inappropriate actions or responses out of naivety. She was always so perfectly poised. Like a dragonfly skimming the water, she moved lightly without leaving a trace. Could someone like her really be completely clueless about love?

Yang Yanzong had never considered it deeply before, but now, this question naturally surfaced in his mind.

There’s a saying: “Understanding the ways of the world is knowledge; mastering human relationships is wisdom.”

A wise person, like a recluse in the mountains, sometimes avoids the world not because they don’t understand it but because they understand it too well. They don’t want to get involved or conform, preferring to live freely and gracefully.

Could “not knowing” actually mean “knowing too well”?

Could “not understanding” actually mean “understanding too well”?

Could “not being clear” actually mean “being too clear”?

So, they reject contact in their hearts.

His gaze was gentle as he looked at her and asked softly.

Su Ci’s eyelashes trembled—Does he have to be so perceptive? It makes things difficult!

After a moment, she smiled, “I’m afraid.”

She said it with a smile, but the hand hugging her knees moved slightly, showing a hint of restraint.

Yang Yanzong felt that what she was saying now was the truth, the most genuine words from her heart. This made him a bit nervous, and he held his breath as he waited.

But after a while, she finished speaking and didn’t continue.

He immediately asked, “What are you afraid of? What’s there to be afraid of!”

He couldn’t help but hold her hand, feeling a bit anxious.

“I’m afraid,” Su Ci smiled, her hand held by him, her feet dangling off the couch, gently swinging. After a while, she turned to him and said, “I’m afraid you’ll have someone else!”

He was instantly alarmed, “I’ve already told you! I don’t want anyone else, and I won’t touch anyone else!”

Su Ci smiled, “But if you change your mind, there’s nothing I can do.”

Yang Yanzong became even more anxious and desperate to say something to prove himself. But before he could speak, Su Ci leaned up and kissed him, “Don’t worry, I know.”

This man, who was so anxious, suddenly calmed down. He looked down at the girl smiling at him. Su Ci smiled at him, then put her feet back on the couch and hugged them with both hands, “I don’t want to live so miserably.”

She lowered her eyes, and the smile on her lips gradually faded as she spoke softly.

How cruel! She didn’t like to reveal her true feelings, always feeling it was too undignified and a bit miserable.

She gradually stopped smiling and leaned her head on his shoulder, “My grandmother used to tell me when I was little, ‘Don’t take life too seriously, or you’ll be exhausted.'”

Her grandmother’s exact words were, “In this life, taking things too seriously makes it hard to move on.”

Su Ci had wonderful parents, and before middle school, she felt like the happiest person in the world. But in reality, they had long agreed to separate, but for her sake, they pretended everything was the same. Although staying together for the child might not be right, they truly loved her very much. Su Ci cooperated as well. She didn’t stay in her hometown after graduation to avoid making it too hard for them. Until she was in her twenties, she never exposed the truth. They pretended, and she cooperated, loving each other. When she first found out, she didn’t have the courage to expose it, so she kept pretending.

After coming here, she sometimes wondered if her absence would make things easier for them.

After all, they had many things they loved, like their professions and research.

When she first found out, Su Ci was very upset. The happy family she thought she had was just an illusion. She didn’t have the courage to expose it and felt extremely distressed, crying secretly at her grandmother’s house.

She still remembered her grandmother’s rough hand gently stroking her hair. That afternoon, the two of them had talked about many things, and in the end, her grandmother told her that even if the truth was revealed, it might not make things better.

“Don’t take it too seriously, and don’t be too earnest. In this life, being too earnest makes it hard to move on.”

As Su Ci grew older, she gradually understood the wisdom in those words.

Yes, it was very true.

Su Ci stopped taking things too seriously, choosing to enjoy life and be happy. When things needed to remain unclear, she let them stay that way.

She rested her head in the crook of Yang Yanzong’s neck. He listened, sometimes anxiously, but never interrupted. He extended his arm and gently held her in his embrace.

They quietly leaned against each other.

After sharing her past, Su Ci took a deep breath in the dimly lit room, listening to his heartbeat. “I know I’m not perfect, but I can’t help it.”

Her personality was already formed, and she didn’t see anything wrong with being clear-headed about life.

She murmured two words, “Love deeply.”

She had heard it many times, but “love deeply” wasn’t used to describe her relationship with Yang Yanzong.

Ji Yuanhao’s love for Mrs. Ren was “love deeply.”

Yang Yanzong’s obsessive love for her, to the point of excluding others, wasn’t celebrated by society. Outsiders often mocked it, just like those at Imperial Uncle Kun’s banquet.

In contrast, Ji Yuanhao’s love for Mrs. Ren was universally acknowledged from Suiping to Yangdu. This kind of universally praised yet hard-to-accept deep love!

What could Su Ci say?

She couldn’t smile anymore. Maybe it was because she had cried tonight, but she felt particularly emotional, which made her feel vulnerable.

“So I’m afraid!”

“If one day you get tired of me and turn away, what will I do?”

She tried to speak in a light tone but failed. Her nose tingled, and she covered her eyes with her hand, biting her lip. Overwhelmed with emotion, she felt distressed and finally said with a sob, “Then I won’t live anymore.”

Living so miserably, what’s the point? Might as well see if I can go home!

Yang Yanzong was furious. He had been holding back, but hearing her say “I won’t live anymore” with a hint of defiance, he couldn’t contain his emotions: “Nonsense!!”

“You’ll live well, live to be old with children and grandchildren! Don’t ever say such nonsense again, do you hear?!”

He forcefully lifted her face. She half-closed her eyes, turning away in embarrassment, tears streaking her cheek. His eyes grew hot, and he wiped her tears with his thumb, pressing her face to his chest. “No, no, don’t think like that, okay?”

At that moment, he truly felt her emotions. His voice choked with emotion. Even words seemed pale and powerless.

“Don’t push me, okay? I’m really upset!” she cried.

Yang Yanzong’s heart twisted in pain. “Alright, alright, don’t cry, don’t cry.”

Her tears felt like knives to his heart.

She buried her face in his neck, hot tears streaming down. “If in the future,…” She suddenly remembered something, stood up, and opened the bottom left drawer of his large desk, pulling out a stack of documents from the bottom.

These were the household registration documents Yang Yanzong had prepared for her, giving her the identity of a widow before the palace coup.

She looked up at his now thinner face and shoved the documents back into his hands. “I don’t want these anymore!”

Take them back!

“If anything happens in the future, you don’t need to send me away. We’ll stay together!” She said this through her tears.

At this point, it was all or nothing. If they didn’t succeed, they’d face the consequences together!

This man, who had forcefully pulled her into his life, had left a mark on her heart. In this messed-up ancient world, she feared she would never find another man who could treat her with such genuine affection.

People fear comparisons. Once you’ve experienced the best, nothing else compares.

Su Ci made up her mind. She didn’t want these documents anymore. If he remained faithful, she would stay with him to the end!

Yes, even if she couldn’t give him the emotional response he wanted right now, she could at least repay his affection!

The stack of documents, hot like fire, trembled in Yang Yanzong’s hands. He stared at her for a long time, his voice hoarse, “Alright! Alright, if you don’t want them, then you don’t need them!”

He threw the documents into the fire pit and tightly embraced her!

They held each other so tightly that they could barely breathe. Their hot bodies and tears mingled, becoming one. After a long time, they gradually calmed down, but neither moved, just quietly holding each other.

In this silent night, they saw each other’s most vulnerable sides and ended up embracing and comforting each other.

---

Until the third watch sounded, the faint sound of the watchman’s clapper startled Su Ci. She suddenly remembered something, and they let go of each other as she moved. She jumped off the couch.

“You haven’t taken your medicine.” She felt a bit embarrassed, wiping her slightly red eyes, and spoke softly.

His body temperature seemed to have risen again. Su Ci touched his forehead, and it was true.

Yang Yanzong looked at her directly and just said, “Hmm.”

Su Ci opened the door and quickly called for someone to bring porridge, noodles, and medicine.

The kitchen knew that Master hadn’t taken his medicine or eaten, so they kept everything warm and brought it in almost immediately.

Su Ci first had Yang Yanzong eat half a bowl of noodles, then let him take his medicine.

The hot medicine quickly made him start sweating. He needed rest, a good rest. His illness was ultimately due to exhaustion.

“You said you’d protect me for a lifetime, but you don’t take care of your own body. Are you going back on your word?”

“No, no!” His gaze followed her, locking onto hers.

“Have you eaten?”

“I’ll eat later. You sleep first.”

Yang Yanzong finally got a proper night’s sleep. After consulting with the old doctor, Su Ci gave him a prescription to eradicate his illness completely. After taking the medicine, he developed a high fever that lasted for over an hour before gradually subsiding. They changed out of their wet clothes and embraced, sleeping until noon the next day.

---

After a good night’s sleep and emotional relief, Yang Yanzong’s illness finally improved.

The next day, he woke up feeling calm and almost fully recovered. But today, he had something important to do.

After waking up, eating, and taking another dose of medicine at Su Ci’s urging, he dressed neatly and went to Hongruitang. He didn’t enter the room but knelt in the courtyard and bowed three times before silently getting up and leaving.

The carriage to take Mrs. Yan away was ready, along with the necessary personnel and the chosen estate.

Today, she would be sent away from the mansion.

“Go, bring the old lady to the carriage.”

In the autumn wind, the yellowing leaves of the crabapple tree swirled and fell. He stood at the second gate, speaking to the guards and maids behind him.

Dressed in black, he looked somewhat lonely in the cold wind. Su Ci stood beside him, quietly squeezing his hand, and he tightly squeezed back.

Mrs. Yan was soon “invited” out.

In the past two days, Mrs. Yan had been anxious and fearful, but after receiving Yang Yanzong’s promise, her pressure eased. After asking Feng to inquire further, she felt confident and began to feel smug—With her son, what could the old man do to her?

She even felt a sense of triumph.

After a peaceful night’s sleep, the situation took a sudden turn the next day. Mrs. Yan was shocked and angry: “The estate? Who’s going to the estate?! I’m not going, I’m not going!!”

She clung to the porch pillar in a panic, but everyone around her remained calm. The guards stood expressionless, and Yang Yanzhen, standing behind his brother, said nothing.

Yang Yanxin looked anxious, wanting to help Mrs. Yan, but Su Rong wiped her lips with a handkerchief and quietly asked, “Did you greet Father today?”

He paused, unable to move. This development left him flustered, looking to his elder brother for guidance.

Yang Yanzong’s expression was indifferent, silently staring at Mrs. Yan with restrained emotions, revealing nothing.

Seeing his expression, Mrs. Yan’s heart grew cold. This was her son, the son she had carried for ten months, now sending his own mother to the estate to suffer!

Her pleas were useless. Mrs. Yan’s expression changed, and the maids skillfully pulled her away from the pillar. She struggled in vain, her hairpins falling out, her hair disheveled, and her expression turning resentful. “Fine, fine! I gave birth to you for nothing! You ungrateful child, so cruel-hearted! If I had known this day would come, I would have…!”

She was filled with hatred, struggling madly, trying to attack. The maids could barely restrain her, causing some chaos.

Yang Yanzong’s expression remained unchanged as if he had expected this. But Su Ci noticed his fists clenching under his sleeves. Unable to bear it any longer, she stepped forward and stood in front of him!

Su Ci faced Mrs. Yan directly: “What do you expect, Mother?”

“You severely injured Father. He almost didn’t survive. Do you know that?”

“Do you know what the punishment for attempted murder is? Do you know the law?”

“Do you think you can just lie in Shou’antang as if nothing happened?”

This is already the best outcome, isn’t it?

Her son had begged on his knees, risking his father’s wrath to get this result. What more did she want?!

Su Ci couldn’t help but feel angry. Intentional injury causing serious harm would result in imprisonment. Did Mrs. Yan think she could just walk away from this?

Some things Yang Yanzong couldn’t say, so she would!

Standing in front of Yang Yanzong, she angrily scolded Mrs. Yan and then glanced at the maids. They quickly pressed certain points on Mrs. Yan’s arms and body, causing her to go limp and be swiftly dragged to the carriage.

Mrs. Yan was silent for a moment before erupting into a tirade, cursing Yang Yanzong and Su Ci and insulting their ancestors.

Su Ci didn’t mind at all. She turned around and held Yang Yanzong’s hand.

Yang Yanzong immediately held hers tightly in return.

After Mrs. Yan was dragged into the carriage, she quickly fell silent. Da Ming bowed and led the guards, who had changed into their uniforms, to escort the carriage. The wheels rumbled, and soon, the carriage disappeared at the end of the straight alley.

Yang Yanzong and Su Ci stood side by side, tightly holding each other’s hands.