Chapter 1
This was the first time in eight years since Xie Yunchu married Wang Shuhuai that she sent someone to urge him to leave the yamen.
The rolling blue clouds swallowed up the setting sun bit by bit. She lay panting on the kang under the moon-shaped window. Her skinny body, which had been suffering from long-term illness, was like a thin bamboo in winter, trembling in the biting cold wind. She opened her bloodshot eyes and stared blankly at the eaves at the gate of the courtyard through the screen window. She asked again and again in a hoarse voice,
"You haven't come back yet?"
Wang Shuhuai was very busy, and she was also known for being cautious and virtuous, so she would not urge him unless she had no other choice.
Chunqi stood by, glanced outside, and dared not say a word, holding back tears.
Xie Yunchu sneered, and a tear slid down from the corner of his withered eye.
She has been married into the Wang family for exactly eight years. She has supported her husband from a high-spirited seventh-rank Hanlin to a powerful prime minister of the cabinet. She is virtuous and filial in serving her parents-in-law and hardworking in educating her children. She manages all affairs in the mansion in an orderly manner, maintains a solemn family tradition, and prospers the family. Anyone who sees her praises her as a role model in the boudoir.
She did everything that the eldest daughter-in-law of a noble family could do, and she also did things that the eldest daughter-in-law of a noble family could not do.
But now, she had been ill for less than half a year and had not yet died, but her stepmother cunningly sent her stepsister to her house, openly under the pretext of visiting her, but secretly manipulating her parents-in-law, planning to let her stepsister become Wang Shuhuai's second wife after she died.
Damn it, she finally got the position of Prime Minister's wife, but her stepmother and stepsister are just thinking about taking advantage of the ready-made position?
What’s even more hateful is that the unscrupulous parents-in-law actually agreed.
Xie Yunchu didn't believe it at first, until he sent his trusted maid to verify it several times. After confirming the news, Xie Yunchu spat out a mouthful of blood from his throat and almost fell on the bed, unable to get up.
She had served her parents-in-law for eight years, day after day, but unexpectedly, when her parents-in-law saw that she was no longer capable, they rushed to choose someone to replace her without considering her feelings at all.
She was still alive, but everyone thought she was dead.
Xie Yunchu could no longer maintain her dignity and reserved composure, and hurriedly ordered her maid to pass on the message outside to ask Wang Shuhuai to return home.
Unfortunately, the message was delivered in the morning, and a day passed without any sign of Wang Shuhuai, nor was there any message sent back.
Xie Yunchu's initial rage faded as the sun set, leaving behind only a sense of desolation and unwillingness.
She was already at the end of her strength, and today's anger had exhausted all her energy. Now she leaned on the pillow with haggard eyes, only breathing out but not breathing in.
The maid Chunqi saw that she was barely breathing, her eyelids were drooping, and she was shrouded in a layer of death. She felt heartbroken, but she held back her tears and tried to comfort her,
"My dear, please don't get yourself hurt by anger. The Marquis has always worked day and night, and he has suddenly ascended to a high position, so he must be very busy. The remnants of the traitors have not yet been brought to justice, so it is possible that the Marquis cannot take care of the family for a while. Please don't think too much, take good care of yourself first, and the rest of the things are not a big deal. As long as you are fine, it will be in vain for the mother and daughter of the Lu family to jump up and down."
Xie Yunchu understood this truth very well.
Unfortunately, her health had long been depleted.
These eight years can be summed up in a few words like a flash of lightning, but every time I think back on them I feel sad and tearful.
Wang Shuhuai came from a prominent family, was handsome and talented, and was the man that all the ladies in the capital most wanted to marry.
Xie Yunchu was naturally satisfied and even secretly delighted to marry him.
But after she got married, she realized that the Duke's Mansion was in a difficult situation, with conflicts of interest among the different families and undercurrents surging, and life was not easy.
When she gave birth to her first daughter, she suffered heavy bleeding, which damaged her health and caused her to become ill.
Her parents-in-law asked her to take care of the household chores while at the same time urging her to give birth to a son as soon as possible, making it difficult for her to move forward.
Unfortunately, Wang Shuhuai devoted himself to state affairs and was away from home for half a month. Seeing that her husband was working so hard for his career, Xie Yunchu didn't want to bother him with the secrets of the rear house, so she endured it in silence.
Fortunately, she endured the humiliation and gave birth to a son in the third year, and finally gained a foothold in the Duke's Mansion.
In the days that followed, her husband became more and more powerful and busier. When her parents-in-law were sick, she served them medicine. When the gate of the Duke's Mansion was in danger, she stood in front of the second wife to protect her dignity and face. When the child had a headache or fever, she worked tirelessly and taught him day and night. Even if that person came back late, she would cook a bowl of ginseng bird's nest porridge and hand him a robe she had made with her own hands.
In the past eight years, Xie Yunchu never complained about being tired, nor did he blame anyone.
This is her responsibility as the eldest daughter-in-law.
Even if it's hard, it's worth it.
But today, they learned that she was not dead yet and her second wife had already married. The whole family was eager to turn to the "new mistress". Xie Yunchu was like a bird struck by lightning or a kite with a rope tangled. He was stunned for a moment.
So, after eight years of hard work, you have only made things worthwhile for others?
After eight years of silent dedication, in the end, I am nothing more than a tool that can be replaced at any time?
What she thought was the favor of her parents-in-law, the kindness of her sisters-in-law, the loving mother and filial children, and the harmonious relationship between husband and wife, was just a joke, her one-man show.
Everyone enjoyed her efforts, but kicked her away when she was no longer useful.
Xie Yunchu was so angry that he laughed.
She told Chunqi with difficulty,
"I'm afraid it won't work. You go find Wang Shuhuai yourself. I want to see him... see him for the last time."
She must ask Wang Shuhuai clearly in front of him.
Chunqi felt a pain in his eyes, covered his mouth and ran away.
A figure flashed before her eyes, and Xie Yunchu took a slow breath. She closed her eyes and swallowed the pain in her eyes, slowly adjusted her breathing, and opened her eyes again. Her gaze fell on the high table not far away, where a gold-painted purple clay teapot was placed. She was very thirsty, and her skinny hand reached out tremblingly.
In a moment, a white and tender arm reached out and gently stopped her. A clear and pleasant voice sounded in her ears.
"Sister, would you like some tea? I'll serve you."
Xie Yunxiu poured a cup of tea and handed it to Xie Yunchu's mouth.
She had a faint smile, bright eyes, and a hint of success in her narrow, long fox eyes. But when you look closely, that hint of success is gone, leaving only a little earnestness and concern.
Xie Yunchu opened his eyes, his gaze seemed to be pulled out from a dark hole, sticking to Xie Yunxiu without moving.
Stepmother Lu sent her stepsister Xie Yunxiu to the mansion for several days on the pretext of taking care of her. Xie Yunxiu has been frequently in and out of the main courtyard during this period, so it is not surprising that she has come to this bedroom.
She gritted her teeth and slowly squeezed out a hoarse sound, "How long has it been?"
"Hmm?" Xie Yunxiu frowned slightly, not quite understanding.
Xie Yunchu slowly leaned back on the pillow, trying to maintain her dignity, and asked expressionlessly, "You haven't gotten married for so many years, how long have you been planning this?"
Xie Yunxiu's body trembled slightly, and after a moment of confusion, she came back to her senses. The expression on her face became dull and distant. She smoothed her dress and sat down opposite Xie Yunchu, not hiding her ambition at all.
"I fell in love with him the first time I saw him."
Xie Yunchu's voice was slightly blocked and her throat rolled as if she had swallowed a fly. She could no longer remember when Xie Yunxiu and Wang Shuhuai first met. Xie Yunxiu obviously did not want to elaborate. Instead, she looked at her elder sister slowly with a puzzled smile on her face.
"Sister, you are already on your deathbed. If you were smart, you would have planned early and found a reliable person to take care of your two children. Why are you acting so foolishly and showing your dissatisfaction?"
"Rather than someone else, it's better to be me. At least I will treat the two children as my own. Besides, Sister Ke and Brother Er treat me very well. The master and his wife also know me well and trust me. If I marry them, they will only be happy."
Xie Yunchu was so nauseated by these words that he couldn't breathe.
She had always been strict with her children, so they were more respectful than affectionate towards her. On the contrary, it was their aunt Xie Yunxiu who would always bring snacks and toys to them whenever she came to visit, thus winning their favor.
Xie Yunchu suddenly realized that maybe Xie Yunxiu had planned this in advance.
Mrs. Lu could tolerate her daughter studying in the academy for many years without getting married. Is it possible that the mother and daughter had been deliberately planning to drag her down and replace her?
When Xie Yunchu thought of this, her heartbeat was like a drum, anger and remorse twisted her chest, and she almost burst into tears. However, she had been the head of the family for many years and had her own temperament. She didn't want to show weakness in front of Xie Yunxiu. The resentment in her heart surged and finally turned into intermittent coughs. She leaned on the kang, her thin body trembling like a cicada's wing. After a long while, she finally put together a complete sentence.
"Even if your parents-in-law are satisfied with you... Ke'er and Yu'er are also bewitched by you... Wang Shuhuai will not agree."
Wang Shuhuai has always had rules engraved in his bones. Not to mention that he has some affection for her as a couple, even if he doesn't, it would be impossible for him to give others a reason to gossip and he would welcome Xie Yunxiu into his family so early.
At the very least, he would have to mourn her for a year.
Xie Yunxiu seemed to see through her thoughts. She gently rolled up her hair with her slender hands and said with a smile, "Madam has asked me to live in the mansion for a year and take care of the two children. It's only a year, so I don't take it to heart. What's more important is my brother-in-law's intentions, isn't it?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. When my brother-in-law came back yesterday to pay his respects to the mistress and master, my mistress told him about this in front of my mother. Guess how my brother-in-law reacted?"
Xie Yunchu's fingers that were pressing on the kang bed suddenly grabbed, staring at Xie Yunxiu with a fierce look without saying a word.
Xie Yunxiu smiled brightly and said, "Brother-in-law did not refute it."
Xie Yunchu's heart was so tense that the string suddenly broke.
No wonder he stood at her door for a long time last night and didn't come in.
She and Wang Shuhuai have been married for many years and know this man too well. If he really disagrees, he will definitely refute it. Keeping silent means that he is weighing the pros and cons, or even acquiescing.
His wife hasn't died yet, but he's already thinking about who to remarry, which shows how heartless he is.
Or maybe he was very satisfied with Xie Yunxiu, and it is not known whether he liked her.
The last glimmer of light in Xie Yunchu's eyes suddenly went out, and his body fell heavily on the kang bed, with phlegm in his mouth that he had not yet spit out, and his eyes gradually became unfocused.
Seeing her like this, Xie Yunxiu sighed leisurely, stood up, held a snow handkerchief, leaned over to wipe her, and said earnestly,
"Sister, why are you doing this? It's been eight years. You don't really think that your brother-in-law must have you and loves you so much, do you?"
"Over the years, what has your brother-in-law done for you besides building a career?"
Xie Yunchu's gray eyes turned half a circle and then froze.
In the eight years since their marriage, Wang Shuhuai has treated her gently and humbly. The couple have shared joys and sorrows, and supported each other through thick and thin. They cooperate very well, one taking care of the outside while the other does the inside. They can be said to be equals and respect each other like guests.
Everyone else envied her for marrying a good husband.
The husband is indeed outstanding, but there is always something missing between the couple.
Wang Shuhuai's handsome face appeared in Xie Yunchu's mind. His every move was methodical, and his every brow and smile were covered with light, a thin layer of distant aura that could keep people away from him.
He is the person in the painting, the fairy from Yaotai.
He never asked her for anything, but he also never told her his feelings.
He had never had a quarrel with her, but he had never been gentle or considerate to her either.
She never really got into his heart.
Perhaps in Wang Shuhuai's eyes, she was not Xie Yunchu, she was just his wife. He would feel the same no matter who became his wife.
Or maybe, he likes gentle and charming women like Xie Yunxiu...
Xie Yunchu's consciousness was groggy, and she slowly closed her eyes. She was afraid that she would not be able to wait for him...
The last ray of afterglow fell on the screen window of the moon-shaped door, like the last ray of light in her life. In this beam of light, Xie Yunxiu's smug smile was brightly reflected. A flash of lightning flashed through Xie Yunchu's mind. All the grievances and unwillingness turned into a touch of hostility. She almost grabbed Xie Yunxiu's outstretched hands without thinking, and let them pinch her neck, harder and harder... Her eyes stared straight upwards, and she let out a desperate cry,
"Someone, help me..."
The last scene before her eyes was Xie Yunxiu's eyes wide open in horror. There seemed to be scattered light and shadows, and there seemed to be waves of voices. She couldn't see clearly, nor could she distinguish anything. She was tired and exhausted. She had done everything she could, and the result was not what she could predict. She just wanted to take a break, a good break, and never be a stepping stone for others again.
I will never serve anyone again.
Xie Yunchu slept so deeply that it felt as if a huge rock was hanging under her head, forcing her to be unable to lift her head.
In a daze, she heard someone calling her, or even pushing her.
She raised her eyelids vaguely and saw Chunqi's shadow swaying.
"Madam, please wake up quickly, the master is back."
Are you back?
Xie Yunchu shuddered suddenly. She couldn't help but want to question him in person. She wasn't dead yet, but he was already thinking about remarrying. She didn't know where she got the strength from. Xie Yunchu didn't care about her messy clothes. She sat up and stared at the door with cold eyes.
Soon, the spring curtain was lifted by someone, floating light surged, and a tall and upright figure came in.
Xie Yunchu didn't want to pretend to be virtuous or decent. With a layer of frost on his cheeks, he sneered,
"You're finally back!" There was obvious sarcasm in his tone.
The figure behind the curtain stopped.
Xie Yunchu cast his gaze over there, and when he saw the handsome face clearly, his expression suddenly changed.
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