Chapter 70 Aftereffects She knew perfectly well what Lu Xiuyi was worried about. ...

Seeing Feng Huai slumped over and about to leave, the pent-up frustration in Lu Xiuyi's heart vanished instantly.

He raised his head high, not forgetting to strike a victorious pose and laugh, "I heard that after the lady came here, she was able to clear her name thanks to Lord Feng's help. This general is very grateful."

Feng Huai remained calm, as if he had not been affected by what he said at all: "General, there is no need to be so polite. It is just my duty."

Lu Xiuyi couldn't stand his aloof attitude, which seemed to subtly reflect her influence. He sneered, "Lord Feng has rendered meritorious service and deserves a reward. I have already informed Lord Zhao and asked him to increase your salary to thirty taels per month."

Feng Huai clenched his fists and bowed his head: "Thank you for your kindness, General. I am not worthy of such a reward. If the court has such surplus funds, it would be better to use them to benefit the people."

Lu Xiuyi was about to say that he had done a good job in clearing Meng Yu's name, but his next sentence left him speechless. After thinking for a moment, he smiled silently and was about to speak when he saw Meng Yu walk over, suddenly take his hand, and smile at Feng Huai, saying, "It's getting late. Since Lord Feng has other important matters to attend to, my wife and I will not see you off."

Upon hearing her say the words "husband and wife," Lu Xiuyi looked down at her tightly clenched hand.

The warmth of her palm seeped through their touching skin, dispelling the chill and calming his agitated emotions. He smiled at Feng Huai, following her words, and said, "Lord Feng, take care."

Even though he knew she was trying to help Feng Huai out of a predicament, he was still overjoyed.

What does it matter if she's sincere or not? As long as she can always stand by his side, accompany him, and hold his arm, that's enough.

Seeing Feng Huai walking further and further away, Meng Yu gave Ge Bo some more advice on how to take care of his health in the future, and then let him leave first.

She sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard and sighed, "Although I don't like you, I've never liked anyone else. Lu Xiuyi, I've already agreed to go back with you. Please don't make things difficult for others because of me."

He hadn't expected her to say that, and those dissipated emotions surged back up, but when he thought of her "coming back to life," everything she said didn't matter anymore, so he just frowned and said, "Don't worry, I mean what I say. I won't do anything for anyone in Hejiuyun Township, including Feng Huai."

Her gaze was clear and sharp, as if it could see through all falsehood and unbearable things. Only when she saw that there was no pretense in his expression did she stand up and say, "I'll go pack my things. There's no need to wait until the day after tomorrow. Since we've decided to go back, let's set off tomorrow afternoon!"

Hearing her say this suddenly, Lu Xiuyi was stunned. Apart from her resistance just now, she was frighteningly calm, so frightening that it made him suspicious.

"Yu'er, you're really not lying to me?" Before she even reached the threshold, the person behind her caught up, wrapped his arms around her waist, and hugged her tightly from behind. His deep voice was filled with despair, "Are you really willing to go back with me?"

When he asked this question, Meng Yu found it laughable, but she didn't want to anger him further and hurt innocent people, so she had to soften her tone: "I'm not lying to you, I really want to go back with you."

Lu Xiuyi breathed a sigh of relief and released her after a while: "I'll have someone prepare water for you. Since you're leaving tomorrow afternoon, take a bath after you're all packed so you can rest early."

Meng Yu responded indifferently.

Actually, she didn't have much to pack. When she left Hejiuyun Township that day, she had already packed the things she needed to pack into her bundle. The rest was left for Yun'an. Now, that bundle was still quietly sitting in the corner, not even untied. She just said that to take a breather and prepare herself mentally.

Even though she had made these preparations countless times when she rushed back to Hejiuyun Township, when she actually had to face Lu Xiuyi, those defenses still crumbled completely.

I hadn't seen him for almost two years, and when we met again, the feeling of almost suffocating lingered in my heart for a long time.

Going back with him this time, she couldn't guarantee she could still keep her innocence. Although it wasn't that important to her, just thinking about it still made her feel scared and timid. She needed to rest alone for a while and catch her breath to face what was to come.

Lu Xiuyi didn't give him much time; he came in a quarter of an hour later: "The hot water is ready, take a bath!"

"Okay, I understand." Meng Yu pretended to tie up her bundle and took out a set of pajamas from the wardrobe.

After taking a shower, Lu Xiuyi also took his pajamas to the bathroom. A short while later, he also finished showering and returned.

Meng Yu lay on the couch covered with a quilt, facing the wall. She heard the door open, followed by the sound of the bolt being bolted. Then, steady footsteps approached the couch, but he did not immediately get on the couch. Instead, he went to the bedside and blew out the candles before the bed curtains were lifted, making a soft rustling sound.

Meng Yu suppressed her anxiety and closed her eyes tightly. The veins on her hands, which were gripping the bedding, bulged. A chill suddenly ran down her back as the bedding was pulled back.

The bed frame immediately slumped slightly, and the man's firm chest pressed down on her, his heat burning against her back.

Meng Yu shifted uncomfortably, trying to pry his hands off her waist, but he only tightened his grip, his warm breath brushing against the back of her neck: "I won't do anything to you, I just want to hold you and have a good sleep, don't send me away."

His voice was filled with exhaustion and deep weariness, and she lowered her raised hand again.

After a long silence, so long that Meng Yu thought the person behind her had fallen asleep, she realized that her shoulder was a little sore from lying on her side for too long. Just as she was about to straighten up, a sharp pain suddenly shot through the back of her neck.

"Hiss..." Meng Yu cried out in pain, and was about to curse when a sobbing sound suddenly drifted into her ears.

She was startled, and the words that were on the tip of her tongue inexplicably stuck back in her throat.

His sobs at dusk were filled with repression, anger, resentment, irritability, and a hint of defeat, but this sob now was completely different, containing only bitterness, fear, and a trace of hatred.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Xiuyi seemed to have released all the longing in his heart before he gradually stopped crying and choked out, "I miss you so much. Do you know what kind of life I've been living these past two years?"

Before she could reply, he continued, “I need to drink a calming soup every night to fall asleep, but even when I do fall asleep, I still dream of myself carrying your body out of the fire. I am often awakened in the middle of the night and I watch the sky gradually brighten. For the past two years, I have been hoping that you would appear in my dreams to see me, but it has never happened, not even once. Later, I thought that you might have been reincarnated, so I searched all over the world for baby girls who looked like you, hoping to see a child similar to you, but there was none, not a single one.”

At this point, Meng Yu sensed his emotional breakdown, and her initial disgust faded somewhat.

The man's voice, choked with sobs, still lingered in my ears: "I didn't believe in gods or Buddhas before, but now I do. If it weren't for divine guidance, I would never have been able to see you again. Yu'er, I beg you, don't run away anymore, stay by my side. I can give you everything you want, except leaving me."

She sighed silently and slowly closed her eyes.

But all she wanted was freedom.

"Can I ask you for a favor?" After a moment of silence, Meng Yu couldn't help but ask.

Lu Xiuyi buried his face in the back of her neck, her soft hair brushing against his face. The faint fragrance of her body filled his nostrils. He opened his mouth, wanting to suckle hard, but then he suddenly remembered what he had just said and pulled back, muttering, "There's no need for us to ask for anything between us. I said, as long as you don't leave me, you can do whatever you want."

Meng Yu suppressed the bitterness welling up in her heart and said calmly, "Yun An wanted to divorce Cui Xun, but Cui's mother wanted to take Zhao Yuan back, so she turned around and sued her in the yamen."

Her request was self-evident, and Lu Xiuyi immediately replied, "When you returned, I had already given the order. Tomorrow morning, Lady Yun will surely get what she wants."

Meng Yu was slightly surprised.

Before she could even ask him, he gave the order.

***

After an unknown period of silence, the sound of even breathing finally broke the silence in the darkness. Meng Yu wanted to loosen Lu Xiuyi's grip on her waist, but he held on tightly, and she dared not exert any force, for fear of waking him.

After several unsuccessful attempts, she had no choice but to give up and gently lay down, which relieved the soreness in her shoulders somewhat.

Fortunately, Lu Xiuyi kept his promise and, apart from holding her tightly, did not lay a finger on her.

I slept soundly through the night until dawn.

When Meng Yu woke up, she found that the person next to her was still fast asleep.

He wasn't like this before; memories of his time at General Huaiyuan's mansion flooded his mind.

She remembered that every day when she woke up, he would have finished his military affairs and come back for breakfast. The maid said that he would leave before dawn and would not return from the West Camp until breakfast time.

It was already past 7:45 AM, but he was still fast asleep.

Meng Yu thought of what he had said last night, and followed his curved eyelashes downwards. Sure enough, she saw a dark blue under his eyes, a color that could not have been caused by a day or two of insomnia.

Seeing this, her heart softened even more.

Meng Yu did not wake Lu Xiuyi. His hands, which had been tightly gripping her waist, had loosened somewhat after a night. She pried his hands off the bed, took off her nightgown and changed into casual clothes, before gently opening the door and closing it again.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Yun An sitting in the courtyard, holding Zhao Yuan and coaxing her.

Hearing the noise, Yun An hurriedly looked up, her smile still on her lips, but tears were already falling from her eyes. She put Zhao Yuan back in the cradle, and her gaze towards Meng Yu was blurred by tears: "Yun He, Lord Zhao has ruled that Cui Xun and I are divorced, and he has also awarded Zhao Yuan to me."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yu couldn't help but tear up. She held Yun An's hand, placed the slip of paper with the address on it in her palm, took a deep breath, and said gently, "I'm going back to the capital this afternoon. I don't know when we'll meet again after this separation. Take good care of yourself. If anything happens, just write to me."

Yun An clutched the warm note, lowered her head, swallowed back her tears, picked up the honey on the stone table and handed it to Meng Yu: "This jar of honey was given to me by my brother. I thought honey water was very good for the throat, so I brought it over. I don't have anything valuable to give you, so I hope you won't mind."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Meng Yu glared at her, feigning anger, and quickly took the honey. "Do I look like that kind of person? I'm so happy that you gave it to me."

Yun An looked at her, her expression full of apology. After hesitating for a moment, she still couldn't help but say, "Yun He, I'm sorry."

She simply couldn't believe that Lord Zhao could so easily award Zhaoyuan to her without Meng Yu's sacrifice.

Meng Yu was just opening the lid and smelling it when she suddenly heard her words. She paused for a moment, then immediately realized what she meant. She quickly closed the jar and placed it on the table, saying earnestly, "Yun An, even without you, he already knows about my faked death, so I will never have a peaceful life again. This matter has nothing to do with you. I saved you and Zhao Yuan just as I was doing it. You don't need to be bothered by this."

Every word she uttered was for her sake, as if she were afraid that Yun'an would feel sorry for her. Yun'an choked up, not knowing what to say for a moment.

A simple "thank you" was not enough to express her gratitude to Meng Yu, but besides "thank you," she really had no other way to repay him.

After bowing his head and remaining silent for a long while, Yun'an threw himself into her arms, swallowed his sobs, and solemnly said, "Yunhe, thank you."

Meng Yu didn't say anything more, but simply raised her hand and gently patted her back.

***

After lunch and a nap, it was soon time to set off back to the capital.

Dozens of people gathered outside Hualing Lane. Ren Ling and Uncle Ge stood in front carrying food boxes, with the waiters from Zhuoshan and Chun Restaurant behind them.

Ren Ling handed the food box to Meng Yu: "This box contains pastries that you like, and also fried quail made by Uncle Ge. Take it with you on your journey."

A group of men carrying chickens hurried over and said, "Since you're leaving, we don't have anything else to give you. These are chickens we raise ourselves, better than the ones you can buy outside. Please take them with you. When you stay at an inn, you can ask the staff to butcher them for you and make some chicken soup to nourish your body."

The faces that came into view were tanned dark by the sun, and their thin faces were filled with tears. These people, who toiled in the fields all day long and struggled to even get enough to eat, were now willing to offer her their most cherished food in the face of her departure.

Meng Yu couldn't help but tear up: "I appreciate everyone's kindness, but I absolutely cannot accept these hens. Please take them back and keep them to lay eggs or to nourish your families. I was very happy during my time living in Hejiuyun Township. I don't know when we will meet again after this farewell. I just hope that everyone can take good care of themselves."

After saying that, without waiting for anyone to speak, she and Lu Xiuyi boarded the carriage and left the place where she had lived for two years without looking back.

Only after He Jiuyun Village was no longer in sight did Meng Yu open the food box that Ren Ling had given him.

The food box has three layers. The first layer contains peach milk cake, the second layer contains Ren Ling's specialty large meat buns, and the third layer contains fried quail made by Uncle Ge.

These are all her favorite foods.

Sensing that she was feeling down, Lu Xiuyi put his arm around her shoulder and gently comforted her, "It's not goodbye forever. Whenever you want to come back, I'll come back with you."

Meng Yu didn't want to speak, so he simply closed the lid, rolled up the bamboo curtain, and let the autumn wind blow in.

Lu Xiuyi didn't force her, letting her tilt her head to the corner and stare blankly out the window.

***

The further north you go, the colder the weather becomes.

After traveling for more than a month with frequent stops, Meng Yu and his group arrived in Yichuan just as the first heavy snow of early winter fell.

Heavy snow blocked the roads and the river was frozen over, making it impossible for carriages and boats to travel. Lu Xiuyi had no choice but to take Meng Yu to stay at an inn in Yichuan.

The heavy snow fell for three days. After the snow stopped, it took the government office another three days to clear the snow from the roads. Yichuan was not a prosperous place, and there were not many places to visit outside, so Meng Yu just stayed in the inn.

Although he lived under the same roof as Lu Xiuyi, fortunately he adhered to the principles of gentlemanly conduct and, apart from occasionally wanting a hug, did not lay a hand on her.

After the snow was cleared, the group continued their journey and traveled for another half a month before finally returning to Shangjing.

Who would have thought that less than half a day after Meng Yu returned to the General's Mansion, news of Lady Huaiyuan's miraculous return to the capital spread like wildfire. Along with this, another version of events emerged, claiming that Meng Yu had been kidnapped by thieves and hidden in the mountains for two years until General Lu found him and brought him back to the capital two months ago.

"Should I go and investigate?"

When this matter reached Lu Xiuyi's ears, it was already evening.

Lu Xiuyi shook his head: "The most important thing now is not to find out who spread such absurd remarks, but to stop the spread of rumors in time."

Chu Ze was somewhat helpless and had no other choice: "But people can say whatever they want, how can we stop the rumors?"

Sooner or later, everyone would know about Meng Yu's return to the capital. Lu Xiuyi had already prepared an excuse: "Back then, when the Qingli Courtyard caught fire, masked bandits broke into the mansion with the intention of burning, killing, and looting. To protect her innocence and the family property, Madam fought the bandits several times, ultimately damaging her appearance. I sent her to recuperate elsewhere for nearly two years before she fully recovered. Since I didn't know if the bandits had any accomplices, I claimed that Madam had perished in the fire. However, three months ago, we indeed discovered the masked bandits' accomplices. But during the pursuit, the bandits accidentally fell off a cliff and were devoured by tigers and wolves, leaving not even a bone fragment. It can be considered that evil has its retribution. That's why I brought Madam back to the capital."

Chu Ze was stunned when he heard this.

When it comes to eloquence, perhaps no one can compare to his young master.

He spread this story overnight, and the rumors that had been circulating widely were indeed suppressed overnight.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Princess Mingyi's carriage stopped in front of General Huaiyuan's mansion.

The thick windproof curtain was lifted, and the person inside, wearing a red cloak embroidered with lotus blossoms, stepped off the carriage with the help of a nanny, using a low stool as a stepping stone.

Upon seeing this, the guards hurriedly stepped forward, bowed their heads, and knelt down, saying, "Greetings, Princess."

Huaiyin coughed lightly, unable to contain her joy, and straightened her posture, saying, "Rise! I heard that the General's wife has returned, so I came here to pay my respects."

As she was talking, she lifted her foot to go inside.

Unexpectedly, the guards rushed forward to stop her and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, the general said that the lady has been traveling for more than a month and only returned to the capital yesterday. She is not able to receive guests these days."

"How dare you!" Before Huaiyin could speak, Wang Mama, who was beside her, shouted sternly, "The princess has condescended to visit the general's wife. How many lives do you have? How dare you stop the princess? Get out of the way right now!"

This Granny Wang was originally a servant of Emperor Jinghuai. She was a formidable figure in the palace, and even the concubines in the harem had to show her respect. Because Emperor Jinghuai was concerned that Huaiyin was new to the palace and might be bullied, he sent his most capable nanny to her side to teach and protect her.

Wang Mama's words, coupled with her stern face, made the guard's legs go weak with fear. He hurriedly explained, "Please spare my life, Princess. This is our general's order. Please forgive us, Princess."

The more he said this, the more the past and memories flooded her mind, and the angrier Huaiyin became. She turned to Wang Mama and said, "Ignore them, let's go. I don't believe they would dare to draw their swords against me."

As they were talking, Huaiyin lifted her foot to go inside, but just then, a hand reached out from the door frame to stop her: "Princess, please wait."

Chu Ze smiled and stepped in front of her, saying, "Madam has had a long journey and is feeling unwell. It is truly inconvenient for her to receive guests. If the princess wishes to reminisce with Madam, why not come again tomorrow?"

"Who do you think you are, daring to obstruct the princess?" Granny Wang rebuked coldly.

Chu Ze showed no anger and stood with his hands behind his back, blocking the way: "Thank you for asking, Madam. I am Chu Ze, the deputy general of the Western Camp. I am here today on the orders of my general to guard the military secrets of the mansion. If anyone dares to forcibly break into the mansion, I will arrest them on the grounds that they intend to steal the military secrets of our dynasty."

"you……"

Granny Wang was so angry that her face turned red and her neck bulged. She couldn't swallow the words she was about to say, nor could she bring them up again.

"Lord Chu, you have quite the airs! Not only do you dare to stop the princess, but you also dare to act as my master." Just as the two sides were at a stalemate, a cold shout suddenly came from under the eaves behind them.

Chu Ze was taken aback, not expecting Meng Yu to rush over from Longxiang Pavilion: "Please forgive me, Madam. It was the General who was concerned about your health and had his men block the guests so as not to disturb your rest."

Meng Yu smiled coldly: "Whether you're afraid others will disturb my rest, or you want to use this to trap me in the mansion, you and your master know the answer in your hearts."

She knew perfectly well what Lu Xiuyi was worried about.

After being rebuked like that, Chu Ze choked for a moment and lowered his head awkwardly.

A strange voice suddenly entered her ears. Huaiyin was stunned and wanted to turn around, but she felt as if her feet were being crushed by a thousand-pound boulder and she couldn't move. Even though the person behind her hadn't come up to her, her intuition told her who that person was.

After a long while, Huaiyin finally turned around with difficulty. The face she had missed for two years instantly came into view. It was such a beautiful face, and when it looked at her, it always had a peaceful and gentle smile.

Tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it. She sniffed, and when she saw Meng Yufu get up and open his arms to her with a smile, she finally couldn't hold back her tears and ran over to him.

Huaiyin burst into tears, and Mengyu gently patted her back with a tender expression.

After crying for a long time, Huaiyin gradually stopped sobbing, choking out, "Girl, I thought, I thought you really..."

She ultimately couldn't bring herself to say the last few things.

With an apologetic tone, Meng Yu said gently, "I'm sorry, I hurt your feelings."

Huaiyin nestled against her shoulder and neck, shaking her head: "No matter what you do, Miss, you will never have to apologize to Huaiyin. I believe that you have your own reasons for everything you do, and if you don't want to say it, Huaiyin will never ask."

A thousand questions flooded my mind, but none of them compared to her standing safely beside me.

Hearing Huaiyin's understanding, Meng Yu's eyes immediately welled up with tears. When she came over, she had been thinking about how to explain this to her, but now she realized that her worries were unnecessary.

Meng Yu took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears: "It's not a good place to talk. Let's go back to Longxiang Pavilion and talk about it there."

Before she could finish speaking, Chu Ze stepped in front of her: "Madam, the General is only preventing you from receiving guests because of your health. You should let the Princess..."

“I know my own body well, there’s no need for you to say more,” Meng Yu interrupted him coldly before he could finish speaking, “If Lu Xiuyi wants to blame me, I will take full responsibility.”

When she was in Zhuoshan, she could carry a hoe and work all day under the scorching sun, and she would still be full of energy when she got home. But when she was with him, he described her as being frail and weak.

How ridiculous!

Meng Yu pulled Huai Yin and walked straight past him, about to leave, but then remembered something, stopped, turned around, and sneered, "What are you worried about? The General's Mansion is surrounded by you like an impregnable fortress, do you think I can escape from his grasp?"

Watching them gradually walk away, Chu Ze remained silent for a moment, then frowned and lowered his gaze.

***

"Did you take that medicine to cure your throat, young lady?" Huaiyin asked, linking arms with Mengyu as they walked from the gate to Longxiang Pavilion.

"That should be true, after all, I haven't stopped taking my medicine." Meng Yu nodded, and then told her about the night she discovered she could speak.

The nightmare returned that night. There were indeed warnings before the disaster, and she left in time, but unfortunately, fate was unkind, and her luck was still a bit worse than Lu Xiuyi's.

As soon as the two arrived at Longxiang Pavilion, a smiling face greeted them: "Sister Huaiyin, when we heard you were coming, the young lady immediately ordered me to prepare your favorite honey milk cake."

Zhi Mian walked in carrying a tray.

After the fire incident, only Yan'er remained in Qingli Courtyard. The next day, Huaiyin asked Madam Yuan to take Yan'er into the palace. Due to Yan'er's current status, Madam Yuan was reluctant, but dared not say anything openly. After taking Yan'er, she originally planned to take Zhimian into the palace as well. However, Zhimian only wanted to stay in Longxiang Pavilion and guard the traces left by Meng Yu there. After hearing this, Huaiyin just smiled bitterly and did not force her any further.

Now that Meng Yu has returned, everything in Longxiang Pavilion is exactly the same as when she left.

Huaiyin tasted it, squinted and smiled: "When it comes to making honey milk cake, even the imperial chefs in the palace can't compare to Zhimian's skills."

"If you like to eat it, take more back to the palace."

Meng Yu smiled and said that it had been almost two years since she last saw Huaiyin, and she had grown even more beautiful and radiant. Her timidity had also disappeared from her demeanor.

"Girl, it's been so long since we last met, why don't you ask me how I've been?" Huaiyin choked on her food, so she quickly took a sip of tea and, after catching her breath, asked again.

Looking at her round face, Meng Yu smiled: "Do you even need to ask? Just look at your increasingly round face, and you'll know it's all thanks to the nanny taking care of the princess."

As she spoke, Meng Yu looked up at Granny Wang.

Granny Wang had heard about this general's wife from Huaiyin before. Because of Huaiyin, she had developed a certain fondness for this general's wife whom she had never met. Now that she had seen her in person, she liked her even more.

Having lived in the palace for so many years, she had encountered all sorts of people who were two-faced and treacherous, and she had witnessed all sorts of scheming and plotting. When someone stood in front of her, she could see through their pretense at a glance.

But this Lady Huaiyuan was open and honest in her eyes and in her speech, without the slightest bit of pretense or affectation.

Upon hearing this, Granny Wang quickly curtsied to Meng Yu: "Madam, you are too kind. Taking care of the princess is my duty. Moreover, after we thought you had perished in the fire, the princess couldn't eat for more than half a year. She was always lying on her bed, feeling sickly. Even the Emperor was alarmed and tried many methods to improve her appetite."

After hearing this, Meng Yu was moved and frowned at Huai Yin, saying seriously, "No matter what happens in the future, you must not do this again. No matter what happens, you must prioritize taking care of your health."

Her words were more effective than an imperial edict to Huaiyin, who lowered her head sheepishly and said, "I understand."

Meng Yu didn't want to tell Huai Yin the truth about everything that happened after she left the capital. Fortunately, Huai Yin didn't ask too many questions. Although the two talked about many things, they both avoided mentioning the two years they hadn't seen each other.

Only after Granny Wang frowned and urged her did Huaiyin reluctantly return to the palace.

Having been away on the road for more than four months, Lu Xiuyi had a mountain of military affairs piled up in the western camp, and he did not return to his residence until 9 PM.

Chu Ze had already sent someone to report what happened during the day, and someone would come to report Meng Yu's movements every hour.

With the people of Hejiuyun Township at his disposal, and the guards in the manor being much tighter than before, he knew she couldn't escape. However, what happened two years ago not only left him with lingering fears but also with deep-seated trauma.

He feels a deep fear and worry whenever she is out of his sight, fearing that she will disappear into the crowd when he turns around.

When Lu Xiuyi came in after his bath, the bed curtains had already been taken down, and a chilly wind seeped in through the window gaps, but the room was warm because of the three charcoal stoves burning inside.

He had already written back before returning to the manor, instructing Steward Cao to move the soft couch he used to sleep on, as he did not want to sleep in a separate bed from her anymore.

"I've had enough of that couch. It's too cold, and I don't want to sleep alone anymore." After thinking for a moment, Lu Xiuyi decided to explain to her whereabouts of the soft couch.

He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed against her; the warmth from her body seeped through their touching skin, more effective than any calming soup.

Thinking about what happened during the day, Meng Yu was still holding a grudge and didn't give him a kind look at all: "How long do you plan to keep me imprisoned?"