Chapter 70: The sibling relationship is both a bond and a chasm...

“It was I who forced my brother.”

The sound was clearly soft, yet it was not like a thunderclap thrown from a clear sky; it kept echoing in her mind.

She stared at Yu Tan for a while, until Yu Tan's fair face was covered with a blush, before she lowered her head shyly.

How could Zhao Qiuci have imagined this outcome?

I always thought it was Yu He'an who was forcing things, but things seem to have changed.

Zhao Qiuci held Yu Tan's hand tightly, so nervous that she couldn't utter a complete sentence.

"Then... what will you do in the future?"

Yu Tan frowned and struggled to pull her hand away.

"I don't know, I'm going back."

Zhao Qiuci was taken aback, naturally knowing that when Yu Tan said "go back," she didn't mean going back to Lanfang Courtyard, but rather back to her original home.

Her heart tightened. Yu Tan was already married. Yu Tan and Yu He'an were not only siblings before, but also related by marriage.

That makes the matter tricky.

Does your husband know about this?

Yu Tan whispered, "He Lang is just helping me..."

"You two aren't married?" Zhao Qiuci clapped her hands and smiled. "Then this makes things much easier."

If Yu He'an knew that Yu Tan had faked her marriage, he would probably be overjoyed and secretly rejoicing in Fengxu Courtyard.

"I'm going back first." Yu Tan didn't care what Zhao Qiuci was grinning about; she just wanted to leave quickly.

Before Zhao Qiuci could recover, Yu Tan had already lifted her skirt and disappeared behind the artificial hill.

She covered her mouth and laughed for a long time, not even noticing Shen Wujiu appearing behind her.

"You're laughing so happily, while your brother is being punished in the ancestral hall."

Zhao Qiuci was taken aback: "Punishment? Let's go."

Before they even reached the ancestral hall, they heard the sound of a board hitting flesh, along with Yu Zheng's furious and angry curses.

Could it be that Yu Zheng believed Yu He'an and the already married Yu Tan were having an affair, which is why he was so angry?

Zhao Qiuci quickened her pace.

"You worthless wretch, today you will be expelled from the Jade Mansion."

“I, Yuzheng, have no son like you.”

The servant counted from the side: "Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty."

When they arrived at the ancestral hall, the sound of the slapping board fell with the counting, and bloody welts appeared on their backs, seeping out and forming deep and shallow crisscrossing marks on their white robes.

With someone helping him up, Yu He'an stood up shakily.

His face was deathly pale, his brows were furrowed, and he was breathing heavily, trying his best to endure the pain.

Madam Song could no longer sit still. She pulled Yu Zheng aside and covered her face, weeping.

"I've already missed one opportunity, what are you doing now?"

"Do we really have to tear this family apart?"

"Can't things just stay this way?"

Yu Zheng sighed deeply. Yu He'an's situation this time was completely different from Yu Tan's; he was clearly going to his death.

Yu Zheng said sternly, "Someone, escort the old lady back to her courtyard."

Granny Liu and her maids helped Old Madam Song leave.

"Please provide the family genealogy."

An elderly man in the Yu family ancestral hall held a family genealogy book that was half a palm thick and flipped to the last page.

"My lord, please reconsider."

“Yu He’an, the unfilial son, is hereby expelled from the family.”

Yu Zheng took the vermilion brush and made a heavy stroke on the family genealogy, then slammed the brush to the ground.

"Get lost."

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Yu."

Changming helped Yuhe'an walk slowly outside. Zhao Qiuci then realized that not only was there an injury on Yuhe'an's back, but Yuhe'an's left leg also seemed to have some problems, and he was walking with a limp.

"Father..." Zhao Qiuci shouted, but was stopped by Shen Wujiu, and her momentum subsided a little.

So what if Yu Tan didn't register her marriage with the government? She was still married out of the Marquis's mansion.

Yu Zheng seemed to have aged several years in an instant. He turned around and stared helplessly at Zhao Qiuci, "Qiuci, you're the only one left in the Yu family. Why do you want to leave too?"

Zhao Qiuci kept her eyes tightly closed. She clearly wanted to find out more about her adoptive father's case before going to find Zhao Qingwu.

The things that Yu Tan and Yu He'an did were more and more outrageous than the last.

"Stay here in the Marquis's residence." Yu He'an said these words as he passed by her.

Zhao Qiuci lowered her voice: "Yu Tan has gone back."

"I know."

*

Yu Tan originally wanted to go straight back to the mansion she bought, but wrapped in yesterday's clothes and smelling the familiar scent of cedar, she felt a sense of helplessness, as if she had been seen through.

She had no choice but to return to Lanfang Courtyard first, where Lanxin waited at the gate.

“My lady, I stayed in the house yesterday and no one noticed.”

Yu Tan helplessly held her head. Why didn't they stop her when she was drunk yesterday when she made such a mistake?

She was probably drunk, and even Lanxin couldn't stop her.

After taking a bath and changing his clothes, he left the Marquis's residence with Lanxin.

The Marquis's residence had an odd feel to it today, but she herself was also acting strangely and had no time to care about anyone else.

I felt a little more at ease once I got back to my own house.

Perhaps she was too tired, because she wrapped herself in the blanket and slept until evening.

Lanxin was worried that she had a fever, so she came to check on her several more times.

"My wife."

She got up and was surprised to find it was so late; her stomach was empty, and she was unusually hungry.

"Tell Aunt He that I'd like something lighter..."

"My lady, Aunt He has gone out, and I think I overheard something..."

"You went out?" Yu Tan got up, put on her outer robe, took a few bites of osmanthus cake, and finally wasn't so hungry anymore. She felt lazy and said, "Never mind then."

“My lady, I think I heard…” Lanxin looked up at Yu Tan, appearing hesitant.

"Hmm? When did you become like this?" Lanxin was always the most straightforward.

"My lady, it seems that my husband has been kicked out of the Marquis's mansion. It seems that he offended the Marquis, and now there is a great commotion outside."

"How could my brother talk back to Father?" She didn't even care about eating the pastries anymore.

"I heard that when the young master left the mansion, he was beaten to the point of barely breathing. But where is he now? Is Aunt He out looking for him?"

He was barely alive, how could this happen?

She knew where Yu He'an was.

Yu Tan no longer cared about her previous struggles and hesitations; she lifted her skirt and walked out.

*

By the time Yu Tan arrived at the courtyard, it was already completely dark.

As Aunt He was carrying the copper basin outside, she peeked out and saw that the basin was filled with bloody water.

"How is my brother?"

Yu Tan couldn't wait for Aunt He's reply and rushed into the house. There she saw Yu He'an lying on the canopy bed, her inner garment loosely draped over her body.

The muscles in his shoulders and back bulged, and you could see that they were covered with scars.

Yu He'an's face was turned to the side, his brows furrowed into small mountains, his lips even paler than his complexion, and his breathing shallow, as if he were about to ride the wind away at any moment.

She had never seen Yu He'an so weak before.

It felt like a gaping hole had been torn open in my heart, letting in a blast of cold wind; my warm heart was trapped in a frozen wasteland.

She couldn't even tell if it was cold or pain; everything was blurry before her eyes, and she couldn't see clearly. She blinked hard, trying to see more.

“Brother.” Yu Tan leaned over Yu He’an’s bedside, staring intently at him. “Brother, don’t scare me.”

On Yu He'an's pale face, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her eyes rolled around, as if she was trying her best to wake up but still failed.

Yu Tan grabbed her hand outside the blanket and clenched it tightly. Her palm was warm, which calmed her immense panic.

She didn't understand what Yu He'an had done to make Yu Zheng so angry and punish him like this.

"My lady." Aunt He followed her in and saw Yu Tan lying by the bedside, her eyes red, like a red-eyed rabbit. "Has the young master fallen asleep already?"

I was just giving instructions, but since I'm injured, it'll be better for me to go to bed and recover soon.

"She's asleep?" She turned her head and stared blankly at Aunt He for a long while before turning back to look at Yu He'an. She wiped away her tears and felt a little ashamed. "She's just asleep?"

Why couldn't she wake him up?

"The young master has taken his medicine and is sleeping soundly. You should also get some sleep, my lady. He's strong and healthy; he'll be fine by tomorrow." Aunt He added some hot tea, then busied herself spreading out blankets on the soft couch beside her. Before leaving, she even turned up the candle a little brighter.

"I understand. Aunt He, go and rest. I'll stay with my brother."

She stared at Yu He'an for a while, then slowly climbed back onto the soft couch and looked at Yu He'an from the side.

She was a light sleeper to begin with, and was even more worried about this matter, so she stayed awake almost all night. Fortunately, Yuhe'an was a good sleeper and hardly moved at all.

"Water..." came a hoarse whisper.

Yu Tan lifted the blanket, hurriedly poured a glass of water, helped Yu He'an up, and brought it to his lips.

Yu He'an drank a large cup of wine from her hand. "Why is it you? Weren't you going to run away?"

His left cheek was bruised and red, and his eyelashes were drooping, making him look very vulnerable.

"Brother." She took another cup and handed it to Yu He'an. "Brother, would you like some more?"

Yu He'an opened his eyes and glanced at Yu Tan. He knew that even if he forced her, it would be useless. Anyway, the documents had already been signed and sent to the government office to get the official seal early in the morning.

Even if Yu Tan tries to escape again, it will be of no use. Thinking of this, Yu He'an's expression improved slightly.

He drank another large cup from Yu Tan's hand.

"Brother, why did you quarrel with Father like this? Is it because of me?"

She supported Yu He'an, acting as his cushion.

Yu He'an stared at her: "That doesn't count."

These were things he did voluntarily, so why tell Yu Tan?

"Brother, you're always like this, unwilling to tell me anything."

Actually, I could roughly guess that my father's and grandfather's cases were very difficult, and the storms they faced were so fierce that even the Marquis's mansion, a large ship, could not guarantee a safe escape.

Only fathers and brothers would stage a scene of feuding and severing ties with their sons, so that the whole of Bianjing would know that everything Yu He'an does from now on has nothing to do with the Marquis's mansion.

"You're smart this time. I've never seen you think this much before."

"I thought about it all night before I finally understood... Brother, stop now."

Xie Ling met with misfortune while investigating Zhao Ziyin's case. Zhao Qingwu had already suffered enough raising Zhao Qiuci alone; she shouldn't have to drag others down with her.

Even if an investigation is necessary, it should be her who conducts it.

“It’s too late.” Yu He’an struggled to get up. “You now only have two choices: stay with me or watch me do all this.”

“Brother, you shouldn’t have gotten involved. These are my matters.”

"Hmph, I've already meddled in your affairs, whether I should or shouldn't have. Now it's your business to talk about these things."

“Brother, you…” Yu Tan recalled the plot, and when he checked again, the last item had been completed last night.

Imprisonment and humiliation were accomplished in a different way.

Is she free now?

Yu He'an sighed deeply, since he hadn't expected Yu Tan to agree anyway.

"Brother, if one day you find that you could have risen to the highest position in the government, but your career has stalled because of me, and years later, when the passion of our relationship has faded, will you blame me?"

Resent me; you'll be better off without me.

What will she do then? She will have neither her beloved husband nor her most trusted brother.

Last night, facing the possibility of Yu He'an's death, she was even more terrified.

After everything is over, can she really let go and leave?

She comes back every few years to see him marry, have children, and live a happy life, completely forgetting about her. Is she really happy?

The relationship between siblings is both a bond and a chasm.

I dare not express my love.

It cannot be said.

Their love was pulled in opposite directions, sometimes close and sometimes far.

“Yu Tan, I always thought you were only worried about your grandmother and father, but it turns out you were worried about me too.”

Why do you feel that I'm not better off with you?

If your career is not going well, it is fate. If you fight, there will be winners and losers. Why blame it on you?

Or are you saying you don't even have this much faith in me?

Yes, she used to be filled with anxiety, but now she just wants to give it a try.

As long as there's a possibility, just like being able to break free from the constraints of the storyline, she's willing to take a gamble.

She hugged Yu He'an, resting her chin on his shoulder, tears welling up in her eyes and slowly falling, wetting her white robe little by little.

"Brother, I want to try. I don't want to back down anymore. If I retreat any further, I'll really have nothing left."

I'm afraid you'll regret it...

I'm afraid I'll be a burden...

I fear that this single stain on your otherwise spotless life will become a reason for others to slander you.

"Yaoyao, what nonsense are you talking about?" Overwhelmed with joy, she wrapped her arms around his slender waist and pulled Yu Tan closer to him. "It is already my greatest honor that you agreed to my request. As for the rest... I will prove it to you slowly."

Yu Tan had no idea that when they were together, it was always him who felt threatened.

Even after her fake heiress identity was exposed, Ji Yushang and Chu Minglang still longed for her, and Jiang Tingfeng, burdened by family feuds, still thought of her.

He will eventually clear away all the women around her.

Yu Tan hugged her for a while before suddenly letting go. Before she could say anything, someone cupped her cheeks in both hands and gave her a comforting kiss.

"What? Are you planning to deny it again?" Her tone was reproachful as she gently wiped away the hot tears on her cheeks with her fingertips.

"No... Am I pressing on your wound...?"

"There's nothing we can do if they refuse to acknowledge it; the marriage certificate has probably already been stamped with the official seal by the government."

"Marriage, marriage certificate." This time it was Yu Tan's turn to be speechless. "I, I...you, when did you say you wanted to get married?"

Yu He'an frowned in displeasure: "Yesterday, you said you would take responsibility. What did you think you signed?"

"A marriage certificate, how can marriage be treated so lightly?" She had just agreed to give Yu He'an a try, how did it become that they were already married?

"The three letters of introduction and the six betrothal gifts, the formal marriage—not a single one can be omitted! Guards, come here..."

"Wait a minute." She quickly stopped Yu He'an. How could this be getting more and more outrageous? "Let's focus on healing our injuries first."

This time, Yu Zheng really went all out. It took half a month for the wound on Yu He'an's back to scab over, but his leg injury is still not fully healed.

Xie Ling and Zhao Ziyin's cases have been transferred to the Dali Temple, and Jiang Tingfeng has also written a petition to investigate the case of his parents' murder years ago. The two cases are being handled concurrently.

Another half month passed, and Yu He'an's leg injury had almost healed, allowing him to get out of bed and move around freely.

When she was kicked out of the Marquis's mansion, she was forced to kneel in the rain as punishment. She was always worried that her legs would develop chronic problems. Extending this concern to others, she paid special attention to Yuhe's leg care.

When Jiang Tingfeng came to find Yu He'an, it was already close to noon.

Yu He'an's leg had clearly healed completely long ago, but when she left the small hall, she was actually helped out by Yu Tan.

He was utterly dumbfounded; he had never seen such an attitude in Yu Tan before.

Yu Tan was always that proud and aloof lady, attracting everyone's attention in the crowd.

Yu He'an's attitude was completely different; it was no longer the icy coldness of the other person, but rather like a warm spring breeze.

The two had such an intimate and natural relationship that they couldn't tolerate anyone else.

Jiang Tingfeng got straight to the point, stating his purpose: "I have already submitted my complaint, and it has been accepted."

Yu He'an said, "Your parents' case will be investigated together with General Xie's case, and the truth will surely come out in time."

"Thank you both. This is my farewell. I plan to go to Quzhou again. I found some clues about the Pei family's moles in Quzhou. I must dig them all out to deliver a heavy blow."

"treasure."

Before leaving, Jiang Tingfeng said to Yu Xiaoniangzi, "I have a few words I'd like to say to you privately."

Seeing Jiang Tingfeng's heavy expression, she realized that the restrictions imposed on her by the plot were gone, and she was no longer afraid to face Jiang Tingfeng.

Moreover, when facing Jiang Tingfeng, he harbored more resentment towards her on his own, and she was simply acting instinctively to avoid harm and seek advantage.

“Brother, I’ll see him out.”

Yu He'an gave a fairly magnanimous smile: "Go ahead."

She followed Jiang Tingfeng to the courtyard gate, where his tall figure stood.

“Young Lady Yu, I owe you a sincere apology.” Jiang Tingfeng turned around and bowed. “I’m sorry.”

This is what she deserves; all the humiliation and resentment should be washed away.

She owes no one anything.

She could be more magnanimous and let them go, or she could be more calculating and say some hurtful things, making these people suffer the same pain.

But she couldn't bring herself to say anything magnanimous, nor did she want to argue with them anymore.

"Go on your journey, have a safe trip, solve the case as soon as possible, and bring the truth to light."

Yu Tan's words ultimately became an obsession in Jiang Tingfeng's heart.

After finding out the truth, if he has the chance, he can ask her if there is still a possibility for them if none of these things happened in between, and it was only those two years in Yuyang.

Jiang Tingfeng's gaze was too intense for her to ignore. Her lips parted, "Young Lady Yu, if it weren't for all of this…we…"

There were light footsteps behind them. Yu Tan was outside, and Yu He'an couldn't wait any longer and had already come out.

Author's Note: Thank you "Xihayeze", "MiMao", and nutrient solution. [Lop-eared rabbit head][Lop-eared rabbit head][Lop-eared rabbit head]