022 White Moonlight 2
Li Yang asked the shopkeeper to pack some dried fruit and snacks that Xiao Taozi liked, and only left after paying the money.
Yuan Chongjing stood beside her, saying nothing more.
On the way back to the manor, Li Yang lost all interest in sightseeing and silently boarded the carriage.
Bei Hai didn't know what had happened between them. Seeing that both of them looked unwell, he didn't dare to ask. Only after Yuan Chongjing had entered the carriage and sat down did he slowly pull the reins forward.
He chose a less crowded route, and the crowds gradually thinned out, and the surroundings began to quiet down. At this time, Li Yang's mood also gradually calmed down. Some things had to be said sooner or later, and some things he would know sooner or later anyway. She asked, "Don't you want to ask her about it?"
Having overheard what Aunt Zhou had said, Yuan Chongjing already had a general idea of what was going on. He asked with difficulty, "How...how did Biyun end up marrying the heir of the Duke of Luo?"
Li Yang didn't know about this at first. After marrying Yuan Chongjing, she bid farewell to her parents the next day and went to Chenzhou, only returning last year. However, after hearing about this matter later, Li Yang inquired about it privately and was able to tell the story now.
"It was the year after our marriage. I heard that it was Prince Luo who took the initiative to ask someone to act as matchmaker, and Miss Xu's family didn't really refuse and agreed. The two were very loving after their marriage, but unfortunately Prince Luo was in poor health and passed away at the beginning of last year. They now have a son who is a little over two years old this year."
Life is unpredictable. No matter how hard he racked his brains back then, he could never have imagined that the three of them would be in this situation now. Yuan Chongjing said, "Is she having a hard time in the Duke's mansion? I remember the Duchess was a kind and gentle person."
“If she were doing well, would she be unable to even come up with eight taels of silver? Besides, you've heard Aunt Zhou say that the second young master of the Duke's mansion is eyeing the position of heir apparent. What can Miss Xu, a woman who has lost her support and whose child is so young, do?”
Yuan Chongjing had already considered what she was saying, but he didn't want to admit it or believe it. Now that Li Yang had said it, even if he didn't want to believe it, he had to believe about 70-80% of it.
An overwhelming sense of sorrow welled up inside him.
He didn't know what to call this feeling; it was a mix of sadness, reluctance, and pity, yet none of them seemed quite right.
He only remembered Xu Biyun from back then, a top student in the girls' academy, whose talent in poetry was no less than his own. Coupled with her elegant demeanor, stunning beauty, and privileged background, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a "favored daughter of heaven." Many of his classmates in the boys' academy particularly admired her.
He was one of them.
For Xu Biyun's sake, he and Li Yang had a huge falling out at the academy. Everyone knew they were enemies, and they would spread rumors about each other behind their backs. They would argue whenever they met, and if they could fight, they would never use words. They would fight rather than get along peacefully.
He stubbornly believed that women should be like Xu Biyun—soft-spoken, gentle, patient, and never showing their teeth when they smile. Unlike Li Yang, who was boisterous, had no manners, and was always chattering away, seemingly eager to stir up trouble. He and Xu Biyun were the same type of person; Li Yang was the odd one out.
But now, he has married Li Yang and has a daughter, while Xu Biyun has become an 'outsider' between them.
The stark contrast between the two events was something Yuan Chongjing found difficult to accept for a time.
Memories flooded back like a burst dam, suffocating him.
The air inside the carriage was terribly stuffy. Even though the curtains were occasionally billowing in the wind, Yuan Chongjing still felt that the air around him was thin, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Once the carriage had settled down a bit, he couldn't wait to lift the curtain and step off the carriage using a footstool.
Li Yang followed closely behind him and entered the gate of the Yuan residence together.
Inside the gate, however, it was quite lively. A solicitous servant stepped forward to explain, "Second Young Master, Young Madam, the Master has returned."
Yuan Heng, Yuan Chongjing's father, was busy at the Ministry of Rites with the arrangements for the tribute mission from the vassal states next month. He would leave before dawn and not return home until midnight. Even when Yuan Chongjing was injured, he only visited him a few times at night. After Yuan Chongjing woke up, he had barely exchanged a few words with Yuan Heng.
Li Yang said, "Let's go see your father in the main hall. He's very worried about your health."
Yuan Chongjing nodded, and the two walked silently to the main hall.
Before they even got close, they heard a burst of lively laughter coming from inside the hall. Li Yang followed and went in, smiling, asking, "What is it, sister-in-law, that makes Father and Mother so happy?"
The eldest young mistress stood behind Madam Yuan, massaging her shoulders. Upon hearing this, she said, "How could I have such great abilities? It's Xiao Li and Xiao Tao. Father hasn't seen them for many days, and now that he's back, he can't wait to see them."
Li Yang followed her gaze and saw Yuan Heng sitting imposingly in the main seat, with Xiao Li and Xiao Tao sitting on his laps, fiddling with a small, intricately carved wooden box. She called out, "Father, Mother, Jing-ge and I are back."
Yuan Heng looked up at Yuan Chongjing behind her: "Hmm, Jing'er, how are you feeling? Are you feeling any better?"
Since entering the room, Yuan Chongjing had been observing Yuan Heng. His appearance hadn't changed much in five years, only his expression had softened considerably. Perhaps because both his sons were now married with children, he hadn't been as strict with Yuan Chongyue and Yuan Chongjing. Over time, the stubborn, stern fatherly aura that Yuan Heng possessed had loosened considerably.
Yuan Chongjing said, "I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, Father."
The somewhat abrupt reply dampened the otherwise lively atmosphere in the hall. Li Yang quickly chimed in, "Father finally has a day off today, and Brother Jing is almost fully recovered. Mother, shall we have a family reunion dinner tonight?"
Mrs. Yuan looked at her with satisfaction: "Alright, it's settled then. You and your sister-in-law can go to the kitchen later and take a look."
"Okay," Li Yang replied. Seeing the fatigue on Yuan Heng's face, she waved to Xiao Tao and Xiao Li, "You two come here, I bought some delicious food, come and see."
Upon seeing this, Little Peach and Little Pear immediately jumped off Yuan Heng's lap, and came to her side hand in hand with smiles.
Li Yang gave them two pieces of candied fruit and then said to Yuan Heng, "Father must be very busy lately. You should take a good rest at home."
Yuan Heng shook his head: "The Ministry of Rites is still busy. His Majesty only allowed us to come back and rest for half a day today. We have to go back tomorrow. However, things have changed, so it may not be so urgent."
"how?"
Since everyone present was from the Yuan family, there was no need for any taboos. Yuan Heng sighed, "The Empress Dowager has suddenly fallen seriously ill. His Majesty is so grateful and concerned that he went to Shou'an Palace early to wait for her. This illness came on so quickly and suddenly; I'm afraid it's not good."
The current Empress Dowager is not the Emperor's biological mother, and the two are only a little over ten years apart in age. However, when the Emperor was young and out of favor, it was the Empress Dowager who helped him greatly, and she also petitioned the late Emperor to adopt him, providing him with much support on his path to the throne. Even so, for the sake of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager never conceived a child herself. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he honored her as the Empress Dowager, and in his daily life, whether it was food, clothing, daily necessities, or etiquette and wishes, he always put the Empress Dowager first.
His Majesty is in his prime, and the Empress Dowager is just over fifty. They take good care of themselves and have so many people serving them, so how could they suddenly fall ill?
However, these are things they shouldn't know. Li Yang said, "In that case, next month's tribute may also have to be postponed."
"It's still uncertain," Yuan Heng said. "I hope the Empress Dowager will be alright."
Madam Yuan interrupted them, saying, "Alright, alright, since we're at home, let's not talk about court affairs anymore. Let your father relax a bit."
Li Yang nodded: "Then we'll head back first. Dad and Mom, you should rest. I'll go to the kitchen with my sister-in-law later to check on dinner."
Yuan Heng was also a bit tired, so he said a few more words before sending everyone away.
After parting ways with Little Pear reluctantly, Little Peach happily asked Xia He to carry the dried fruit and snacks that Li Yang had bought. Holding Li Yang's hand in one hand and Yuan Chongjing's hand in the other, she skipped and hopped forward.
She hadn't finished the piece of dried fruit in her mouth when she opened her mouth again towards Xia He: "Ahhh, Sister Xia He, I want that."
Li Yang pinched her lips: "Chew your mouth clean before you speak."
Little Peach pouted, quickly chewed twice, and opened her mouth to show her: "Mommy, there's nothing there~"
Li Yang gestured for Xia He to leave first: "That's all then. You've already finished today's portion. You can eat the rest tomorrow."
Little Peach: "...Mother, you're lying to Little Peach!"
"Where did I lie to you?" Li Yang asked innocently in the face of her accusation.
Little Peach sniffed and said aggrievedly, "If Mother hadn't said anything, I would have kept chewing that dried fruit until tomorrow. That way, Little Peach would have something delicious to eat every day!"
Yuan Chongjing was amused by her childlike words.
As if she had found a strong support, Xiao Taozi let go of Li Yang's hand and instead hugged Yuan Chongjing's leg, tilting her head back and blinking her big eyes: "Daddy, don't you think so? Mother is so mean, let's not play with her anymore."
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