Yun Tianbai stared at the five-year-old You Ran in front of him, gritting his teeth, "I heard you also know medicine? When did you learn medicine?"
Xiao Youran blinked her innocent big eyes, "I learned it last year when I was in Taizhou, after becoming an apprentice of Doctor Gu."
"Dr. Gu?" Yun Tianbai pondered for a moment. Could it be the Dr. Gu who would become famous ten years later?
But he clearly didn't appear until ten years later! I was even trying to find out where he was before he appeared, so I could pay him a visit and recruit him!
Why did this person become Jiang Youran's master?!
The more he thought about it, the more horrified he became. He looked at Madam Su again and said, "I've only come to ask one question: Is my mother's death related to any of you?!"
Madam Su felt somewhat guilty and took the blame upon herself. "Brother Bai, this is also my fault. I didn't inform your mother in time that Marquis Yun was not actually dead, which frightened her when she heard the false news."
Yun Tianbai didn't want that answer. "Why would Mother divorce Father out of the blue and then inexplicably marry you? Did you use some means to induce Mother to do this?!"
Mrs. Su was stunned and prepared to explain things to her stepson.
Xiao Youran slammed her hand on the table in anger, "Do you think my mother wanted to marry into the Yun family?! My mother has a pardon from the Imperial Concubine, and she's a high-ranking official with immense wealth in the capital. If it weren't for saving your unconscious father, would my mother have bothered marrying into the Marquis's mansion to become a stepmother? What would she want? Wouldn't it be better for her to live a life of luxury, adorned with gold and silver?"
Yun Tianbai's eyelids twitched again. Something was wrong with this Xiao You Ran. Something was very wrong with her.
She would never speak to him so harshly.
At that moment, Madam Yun's voice rang out from the doorway, "Bai-ge'er! Is this how you speak to your mother and sister?!"
Yun Tianbai suppressed his anger, turned around, cupped his hands, and bowed to Old Madam Yun, saying, "Greetings to Grandmother."
When Madam Yun came in, she didn't sit down. She first said to Madam Su, "Ya Rong, you are now the mistress of the Duke's Mansion. From today onwards, you will have to take care of the affairs of the Duke's Mansion. You should move back to the main courtyard now."
Then he said to Yun Tianbai, "Brother Bai, come to Grandmother's courtyard."
"Yes," Yun Tianbai could only reply.
Su responded with a "yes" and glanced at Xiao Youran.
Xiao Youran gave her a thumbs-up.
Su took a deep breath, got up, and went out to walk towards the main courtyard.
After Zhou's passing, she took over the full management of the household affairs.
What she cannot face now is Yun Yue, her childhood sweetheart but with whom she had no chance to be together in her youth.
She didn't know how Yun Yue was treating her now.
The two men avoided talking about it for the past few days because they were busy dealing with Zhou's funeral arrangements.
Life has to move forward, and she's not the type to always run away.
After Yun Yue finished writing his memorial requesting merit, he walked out of the study to go back to the backyard to change into his court robes, preparing to enter the palace to meet the emperor.
The arrow wound in his back that went right up to his heart hadn't fully healed, and he was very stiff when he took off his clothes.
As he slowly pulled his clothes down, he wondered when he would be able to get a proper look at Su Shi again after she came in.
She married into the family alone while she was in a coma; it was truly unfair to her.
Just then, a hand caught his clothes from behind, and Su's soft voice rang out, "Cousin, let me help you."
Yun Yue froze abruptly, realizing that he had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he hadn't even heard her footsteps as she entered.
Seeing that he didn't move, Su quickly took off his outer garment, picked up the court robe lining from the side, and slowly put it on him layer by layer.
Yun Yue stood stiffly, letting the little woman circle around him.
Su felt the atmosphere was awkward, and while helping him put on his clothes, she asked, "Cousin, are you going to the palace?"
"Yes, His Majesty has granted us a few days to hold the funeral. Now that it's over, it's time to go to the palace."
After thinking for a moment, Madam Su said, "Why don't I go to the palace with you? I also need to go to the palace to express my gratitude."
Yun Yue nodded, looking at the top of her head, his voice steady, "Very well. Although there is an imperial decree for the marriage, you were ultimately married into this family to bring good luck, Ya Rong. I have wronged you."
Su suddenly looked up, meeting Yun Yue's eyes, "Cousin, you..."
Actually, you don't object to it?
Yun Yue suddenly grabbed her hand and said, "Ya Rong, I never thought I would have the chance to marry you."
Su was flustered. "Cousin, you... let me go first."
Yun Yue simply poured out his heart, "Ya Rong, when I woke up, although I was surprised by the situation that the Zhou family had taken care of for me, I was actually very happy!"
Mrs. Su looked at him in shock, "What? My eldest cousin's wife is such a good person, she..."
How could he say he was happy about his wife's death?
Yun Yue knew she had misunderstood, so he quickly said, "That's not what I meant. I mean, I'm glad that when I woke up, I found you were my wife. Zhou was a good person, and I'm grateful for everything she did for me. I have regrets and sadness about her passing. But I don't want her death to become a thorn between us."
Tears welled up in Su's eyes. "You... really want to marry me?"
Yun Yue couldn't help but pull her into his arms and hold her tightly. "I've been missing you terribly. You know, sixteen years ago, I wanted to marry you. But back then... it was just fate playing tricks on me. I never expected that this time, I would turn misfortune into blessing."
Su said softly, "But... I feel a little sorry for my eldest cousin's wife who has passed away like this."
"It's not your fault that she died of illness. She wrote a divorce agreement in advance and welcomed you into the family as a legal wife, all so that your situation would be legitimate and so that we could live a good life together in the future. You can miss her, but you don't need to feel guilty towards her."
Madam Su nodded, "Yes, let's not forget our eldest cousin's wife... no, let's not forget our sister, okay?"
Yun Yue gently kissed the top of her head. "She is my wife, and of course I will never forget her. But Ya Rong, I want to tell you that in my heart, there has only ever been you. I didn't dare to say it before, but now I can say it to you openly. We were husband and wife for over a decade. I could shoulder the responsibilities of a husband and give her all the glory I could. The only thing I couldn't give her was my heart. I thought that this heart would have to remain silent forever. But I never expected that it would see the light of day again today..."
Su went limp in his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, "Cousin!"
"Hmm, so why were you avoiding me like the plague these past few days?" Yun Yue asked in a low voice.
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