Chapter 2
The sky was bright.
Chen Xuanqing slept for a very, very long time.
When I woke up, the heavy snowfall had stopped, and the first rays of dawn were beginning to appear.
Since Gu Jinchao's death, he has been unable to distinguish between illusory dreams and reality.
In reality, he grew old, but her beauty was gone.
In the dream, he was young, but she and her father lived happily ever after. In the dream, her father did not die young in the struggle with Zhang Julian, and he also learned of Zhang's despicable thoughts.
Chen Xuanqing suddenly remembered a day when it was snowing heavily. Gu Jinchao was wearing a red fox fur cloak. Her hair was neatly combed, but she only wore a single gold hairpin with a flower bud on it as she stood under the eaves. Her eyes revealed naked love, but he seemed to hate her. That day, he deliberately showed off his sweet love for Yu Wanxue in front of her.
He remembered that he didn't even glance at Gu Jinchao, and he and Yu Wanxue picked a large bunch of winter plum branches, then walked away hand in hand.
He didn't know why he was doing this, but it was the only way he could calm himself down.
How can she be so blatantly heartless?
In a daze, Yu Wanxue's appearance transformed into Gu Jinchao.
She turned around and saw Chen Xuanqing smile sweetly. He, who rarely smiled, also moved his lips, a hint of sweetness seeping into his usually indifferent heart, mixed with an indescribable sense of taboo.
"Jin Dynasty..."
Before he could say anything more, the person opposite him transformed back into Yu Wanxue.
“Seventh Young Master.” A deep sorrow welled up in Yu Wanxue’s eyes.
Sometimes, Yu Wanxue really didn't want to be that dignified and composed seventh young mistress anymore. Countless times she wanted to yell at Chen Xuanqing, to make him look at the entire Chen family, at her, Yu Wanxue, and at his newly acquired concubine.
Is he still that dashing and debonair scholar?
It's ridiculous that I have to continue living like this, in a daze. I don't know if it's fate or misfortune.
Chen Xuanqing recognized the person who had come in and straightened up.
"Cough cough..." He casually picked up the handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms from beside his pillow and covered his mouth.
Upon closer inspection, it was covered in blood vessels.
"Seventh Young Master, you haven't attended court for a long time. His Majesty has sent palace servants to visit you. May we let them in now?" Yu Wanxue asked with her head lowered, but her eyes glanced at the plum blossom handkerchief in Chen Xuanqing's hand.
Those must be Gu Jinchao's belongings. Yu Wanxue vaguely remembered that before Gu Jinchao was imprisoned, he often liked to embroider plum blossoms on handkerchiefs. The embroidery was exquisite and undoubtedly Gu Jinchao's.
"No need. Go and tell the palace servants that I will send someone to inform the Emperor of my illness and resign tomorrow." There was still blood on Chen Xuanqing's lips, but he seemed not to care.
“But the Chen family…” Yu Wanxue said hesitantly.
Yes, Yu Wanxue only married into the family because of Chen Sanye, the Grand Secretary, and Chen Xuanqing, the third-ranked scholar. Gu Jinchao admired Chen Xuanqing, but he never mentioned it. That day, Gu Jinchao made her kneel as punishment, causing her to lose her child and become infertile forever. What did Chen Xuanqing do for Yu Wanxue? He turned around and took a new lover.
But all this resentment will eventually be swallowed up by this deep mansion and disappear.
“Late Snow…” Chen Xuanqing reached out his hand.
Those hands, once used for painting and writing about the world's people, were now thin and bony, and Yu Wanxue felt a pang of sorrow. In the early days of their marriage, she had believed that Chen Xuanqing married her out of love and respect, only realizing the truth after Gu Jinchao's death.
Yu Wanxue suppressed her negative emotions, stepped forward, took Chen Xuanqing's hand, and said, "I am here."
“In this life, I have ultimately failed you, failed her, and failed everyone…” After saying this, Chen Xuanqing seemed unable to support his weak body and lay down again. “Wanxue, I have already made it clear to my grandmother Chen Ming that we have no children. If I am gone, my grandmother will give you the divorce papers. This time, when you leave the Chen family, the Chen family will definitely protect you for the rest of your life.”
"No!" Yu Wanxue stood up excitedly, "I won't leave!"
Chen Xuanqing smiled weakly, "Wanxue, why bother!"
Yu Wanxue burst into tears instantly, "Seventh Young Master! I, Yu Wanxue, have already decided that you are my husband in this life. If you live, I live; if you die, I die."
Chen Xuanqing was stunned, not expecting Yu Wanxue to be so fierce. He raised his hand to wipe her tear-streaked face, sighed, and continued, "After I leave, Xuanlin will succeed me as the new head of the family. If you refuse to leave the Chen family, he will take care of you in my place..."
"Seventh Young Master!" Yu Wanxue cried uncontrollably. "Ever since Mother passed away, you've always felt indebted to her, but didn't you hate and despise her back then?"
Tears streamed down her beautiful profile, one drop after another, drawing countless tiny circles on the ground. "Is only death able to awaken the love in your heart? If so, so can I!"
"no!"
Chen Xuanqing's resolute answer caused Yu Wanxue even greater pain in her heart.
"Wanxue, I'm tired and want to rest..." Chen Xuanqing didn't want to continue the conversation and wanted to end it there.
Yu Wanxue nodded, remained silent, got up, and pushed open the door to leave.
*
The next day.
A servant came to report that the Seventh Young Mistress had hanged herself in her bedroom, which was also the bridal bedroom of Yu Wanxue and Chen Xuanqing.
A suicide note was left in the room, addressed to Chen Xuanqing.
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