Chapter 68 Negotiation: I Want Changjun, Wife Lost
“Liyang, you two have feelings for each other, but you are still young. In the long years to come, you will meet many more people. Even if he is not his father, he will gradually let these feelings fade away over time. When you bring up today’s events again, can you guarantee that he will not regret it and admit that he disobeyed his parents, betrayed his relatives, and even forced his maternal grandfather to his death for you?”
Li Yunru lowered her eyes and did not answer her question.
Yan Sheng had asked her the same question.
Countless nights, she had asked herself the same question.
Cui saw through her thoughts and said, "You see, you're not sure either. Since that's the case, why insist on it and put Changjun in such a dilemma?"
“Liyang, in the past, the Yan family wronged you, but Changjun did nothing wrong. His heart has always been with you, and he stood up for you against his family. He has never wronged you in any way. He now has a bright future and will be a talented person who will be remembered for all time. Can you bear to see him fall and suffer the contempt of the world because of you, becoming an unjust and unfilial person?”
She didn't reveal the matter of the fertility elm, and given its current state, it should remain buried in the ground for the rest of its life.
Li Yunru stood there quietly, listening to Cui's words without responding. Her gaze was fixed on the pregnant woman outside the car window, and no one knew what she was thinking.
About fifteen minutes later, the man finally spoke, "I want to see Lord Yan Changjun."
This was also the reason she came to find someone, and Cui readily agreed.
...
Since the trial at the Yan family ancestral hall, Yan Ning had been recuperating at the Yan residence. Cui Shi hired a famous doctor, and Yan Sheng took care of him day and night. When Li Yunru arrived, he had just finished changing his dressings. Servants carried out the soiled clothes and strips of cloth that had been removed. He was still unconscious, lying on the bed, completely naked except for a brocade quilt that clearly separated his upper and lower body. His fair upper body was wrapped in strips of cloth, and dense, fragmented wounds could be seen all around him, one after another, a shocking sight.
Li Yunru had always thought of herself as a fairly rational person, but only now did she realize that perhaps she hadn't reached the point of heartbreak yet. Just seeing his half-exposed wounds brought tears to her eyes.
“He has been in a coma for five days, and has not eaten or drunk anything, nor can he be given any medicine,” said Cui.
Li Yunru ignored him and walked in with steps as if filled with lead. She sat down beside him and involuntarily reached out to touch the wound on his back. Tears streamed down her face the moment she touched it.
Tears fell onto his back, fading the congealed bloodstains. Some slid down the contours of his back, while others stained the freshly removed strips of cloth red.
Cui said, "This matter is no longer between the two of you. Even if I agree, the Lord and his family will not acknowledge you."
Lacking talent, virtue, and family background is one thing, but to bewitch people to the point of madness is another; she is simply a femme fatale and should not be allowed to live.
What aristocratic families want is a dignified and elegant wife who can stabilize the household and give her husband peace of mind, not a restless woman who causes trouble everywhere and only whispers in his ear to make him oppose his parents and relatives for her sake.
"Liyang, there is no future between you two. Persistence will only hurt others and yourself."
"You can leave now. I want to stay here for a while."
"Um."
Cui did not force him, and said, "Think about it carefully. There is some medicine that has been decocted over there. Try to get it down his throat."
The person then left.
After Cui left, she didn't know what to do. She just lay on him and cried for a long, long time until the medicine soup got cold and she finally came to her senses.
Remembering Cui's words, she took the medicine and tried to force-feed him a mouthful, but he couldn't swallow it because he couldn't even open his mouth; the medicine dissipated as soon as it reached his lips.
"Yan Changjun, please eat something. How can you get better without taking medicine?"
The only answer she received was the breeze blowing in through the window.
The wind was a bit strong, and it made her tears, which had just stopped, come out again, one drop at a time, and they fell right into his lips.
The salty, damp smell seemed to trigger him; his chapped lips twitched, and he let out a muffled groan.
This surprised and delighted Li Yunru. She cried and laughed at the same time, scolding, "Foolish husband."
The person swallowed a mouthful of the medicinal soup, leaned over, and used their tongue to help pass the medicine through their lips.
There was some spillage, but at least I ate a little.
This is useful.
She did the same thing again, delivering the medicine until the soup was empty, then put it down.
The person crouched down beside the footstool, stroked his eyebrows and eyes, and murmured, "Yan Changjun, this medicine is so bitter, so hard to swallow, it makes me feel so uncomfortable. Please get better soon, take your medicine obediently, get better. When you're not here, they all bully me, bully me."
Li Yunru's words were unrelated; she just said whatever came to mind, venting her emotions.
Exhausted from venting, she leaned against him and fell asleep.
This cycle repeated for three days, and as night fell, the person finally woke up.
Seeing him wake up, Li Yunru seemed to suddenly relax, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
Don't cry!
Yan Ning reached out to wipe away her tears, but the injury on her knee had not fully healed, and a new ailment had appeared. The movement caused her pain, and she couldn't help but frown slightly. However, she quickly covered it up with a smile and teased, "It's only been a short time since we last met, and the princess misses me so much that she's crying tears of joy."
"You know perfectly well whether I'm crying tears of joy or not! What's the point of trying to comfort me like this!"
Yan Ning said, "Of course it's interesting."
He wiped away the tears on her face and said, "I like to see a princess smile, but I don't like a princess to cry, especially when she cries for me."
Normally, if she could have pretended to cry after waking up and restrained herself, hearing these words completely broke her composure. She let out a howl and could no longer control herself, burying her face in his arms.
"You're so annoying, waaaaaah!"
Yan Ning chuckled softly, "Is that so?"
He stroked her hair, a smile playing on his pale face. "But I heard that the princess didn't say that in her heart."
"The princess was clearly thinking to herself, 'I like me very much.'"
"No way!"
She denied it, but didn't let go of him. Instead, she hugged him even tighter and tilted her head back to kiss him.
With the soft, delicate woman in his arms, her scent spreading around him, Yan Ning felt his heart tremble violently. He embraced her tightly and deepened the kiss.
Their skin touched, the stubble on his face scratching her delicate skin, but neither of them paid any attention, simply indulging in the tenderness of surviving a near-death experience, unaware of how much time had passed.
Yan Ning's hand moved to her clothes, and Li Yunru suddenly came to her senses.
"No, you're still injured."
"It's alright."
He continued to probe deeper. Normally, Li Yunru would have given in half-heartedly, since it wasn't a big deal. But with him injured like this, how could he possibly continue?
This time, he was unusually resolute.
"no!"
She forcefully pulled her hand away, Yan Ning's eyes filled with resentment, and she called out in a hoarse, sticky voice, "Liyang."
The voice was like the call of a seductive ghost, incredibly alluring. As she listened, her heart fluttered, and she softened her tone, saying, "Let's talk about it when you're fully healed."
Since Li Yunru was so adamant, Yan Ning couldn't do anything about it. The two sat facing each other until the blush on their faces subsided and they calmed down a bit before finally getting close to each other again.
She confided in him, "Yan Changjun, I miss you so much, I really do."
"I know."
He heard it.
These past few days, everyone has heard her tears and her heartfelt words, but he wanted to reach out and embrace her, yet he couldn't.
But isn't he the same?
After the forced marriage incident in Qinghe, he focused all his attention on resolving the matter, thinking about how to balance loyalty to his family and filial piety, seeking the understanding of the Cui family, and praying for his maternal grandfather's safety. He deliberately distanced himself from her, no longer returning to Qingwu Courtyard, and she was also restricted from entering and leaving, so the two rarely met.
On the way back, Mother and the elders of the Yan family deliberately kept them separate, not allowing anyone to get close. If they occasionally bumped into each other, they would only exchange a few words before hurriedly parting ways...
He missed her too.
I really, really want to.
That's why he lost his composure so much, even forgetting about his own injuries.
The autumn wind howled outside, while inside, their love lingered. Embraced, they seemed to have forgotten all their current troubles, yet both knew that the problem remained unsolved, perhaps even unsolvable…
Li Yunru remained silent for a long time before speaking, "Yan Changjun, if I told you that I would let you marry a girl from the Cui family, what would you say..."
Yan Ning was shocked, her dark eyes widening suddenly, "Liyang?"
"But what did your parents say to you?" He was thinking of the rumors about him and Cui Wan.
The man said, "My relationship with my cousin Cui is purely fraternal; there has never been anything more between us, truly..."
He couldn't explain to her that he and Cui Wan had no affair, as it concerned a young woman's reputation. In fact, when he first heard the news, he was incredulous and even angry. He chose an opportunity to ask his cousin Cui Wan about it.
My cousin wept bitterly, saying, "Brother, please forgive me. I had no other choice. On the way back, we encountered villains and only managed to escape after exhausting all our resources. But they betrayed me and humiliated me..."
Upon hearing this, Yan Ning's initial anger gradually subsided, leaving only silence.
He admitted that it was his fault; he shouldn't have given in and told her and her group to go back on their own, otherwise these troubles wouldn't have happened.
However... his sister, Liyang, was extremely intolerant of any wrongdoing. Upon hearing these things, she naturally had her own thoughts. Therefore, she said to others at the time, "This matter is my fault, and I will definitely take full responsibility and bring those thieves to justice. I cannot tarnish my sister's reputation. However, I, your foolish brother, cannot accept this matter. I apologize!"
Cui Wan cried even harder, saying that she was unlucky. She lost her mother at a young age, unlike her younger sister A Yuan, who had a mother to protect her and could postpone her marriage if she didn't want to. If her family knew the truth, they would probably give her away to anyone to protect the family's reputation...
"Alas, this is my fate!" she lamented.
That was all he could say. He had no choice but to accept the situation for now, considering their childhood friendship. He said he would not make the matter public for the time being, but he would come forward and clarify the matter when he investigated the thief's wrongdoing.
He didn't mind his relatives pressuring him, but he cared about Li Yang's feelings. However, there hadn't been a single good opportunity for him to explain himself on the journey, so he figured she had misunderstood.
"Liyang, I cannot explain the reasons to you in detail, but please believe me, this matter is not what you think. I will resolve it and give you an explanation in the end."
"Um."
Li Yunru nodded. She hadn't believed the rumors, but she did have some reservations. Hearing what he said, she agreed. As for his so-called explanation... it was no longer important.
Her tone was calm and emotionless, which was clearly a good thing, but for some reason, Yan Ning felt a heaviness in his heart. He would rather she made a scene, like before, and said to him arrogantly and haughtily, "Yan Changjun, you had better tell the truth, or I will definitely not let you off easily!"
His current attitude is making him very uneasy!
He felt panicked and instinctively chased after anything that could calm him down.
He cupped her face in his hands, lowered his head to kiss her lips, and said in a hoarse voice, "Liyang, no matter what happens, my promise to you before still stands."
He repeatedly emphasized what he had said before: he would not betray her and marry again because of this incident.
“Give me some more time, and I will definitely persuade them to give up this idea and get people to accept yours, if…”
If all else fails, he will take a desperate gamble and leave the Yan family with her.
However, this is only a last resort. After all, he was raised and nurtured by the kindness of his parents and relatives since childhood. Even if he has a thousand faults, this fact cannot be denied. Moreover, as the eldest son and grandson of the Yan family, if this were true, she would probably be criticized for being jealous and immoral, for forcing her husband into such and such situations.
Who knows what future generations will say? But right now, it's all real slander and mudslinging...
He didn't want people to suffer like this.
Li Yunru was puzzled as to why he suddenly kissed her again, and bit her quite hard, but she did not refuse. The two lingered for a while before separating. She helped him change his dressing, accompanied him for some light food, and then, feeling tired, she left.
Before leaving, Yan Ning held her hand and said, "Liyang, stay here with me. I want the first person I see when I wake up to be you."
In truth, he didn't want anyone to see him in such a vulnerable state. He would let anyone see him, but not her. He wanted her to always see his best side.
This is a man's pride in the woman he loves.
However, he was truly at a loss, feeling inexplicably fearful. He needed this person by his side to give him affirmation and support.
"good."
Li Yunru laughed and teased, "Oh dear, when did our Little Yan become so clingy?"
"in spite of!"
He hugged her waist, rubbing his furry head against her stomach, taking advantage of his illness to act arrogantly and shamelessly: "I'm the patient, the patient is the most important."
"Okay, okay, you're the boss."
Li Yunru didn't refute him, letting him hold her. She took his hand and stroked his calloused fingertips, comforting him, "Go to sleep, I'll stay with you."
"Um."
Only after receiving an affirmative answer did the person close their eyes.
However, it opened its eyes again after a moment, confirmed the person's presence, smiled, and then closed them again.
"Like a child."
Li Yunru complained, but her heart was filled with sweetness, which made her even more certain of her thoughts. She watched the person fall asleep, and when the even breathing resumed, she slowly removed the head that was resting on her waist and quietly went out the door.
The maidservants waited outside the door, and she instructed them, "If the young master wakes up, tell him I have to go out for a while and will be back immediately."
"yes."
Having given instructions, Li Yunru went to the Cui family's Buddhist hall without any trouble.
She wasn't familiar with the Yan family, but she knew the location of the Cui family's Buddhist hall fairly well. After all, she had humbled herself and pretended to be a good wife for a few days, paying her respects morning and evening. Now that she thought about it, it was really laughable!
How could a princess like herself lower herself to such a lowly status!
And what good can be the recognition you get by bowing and scraping your head?
She was too naive back then!
Her father and mother were naive too!
...
Li Yunru went over. This time, Cui Shi was not worshipping Buddha. She sat in the courtyard, having already dismissed everyone else. Only she and the old nanny stood in the empty courtyard. They were dressed in luxurious but dark colors, blending into the night.
Um.
Like two ghostly figures, each seeking to steal a soul.
The servants, seeing her arrive, greeted her and invited her to sit down, then ordered the nanny to serve tea and asked, "Is Changjun awake?"
"Doesn't Madam already know? Why ask when you already know the answer?"
She placed people in Wutong Garden so that any disturbance there could be reported immediately.
"So it seems that the county magistrate came here because she listened to what I said and has come to her understanding?"
Li Yunru responded, "Yes, I've figured it out. The Yan family is too prestigious; I can't possibly reach their level. Continuing like this is pointless. Let's be direct. What does Madam want me to do?"
Cui ground the sandalwood incense in her hand, lit it, and said softly, "I want a long-lasting husband, and I will lose my wife."
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Author's Note: Spoiler alert! There are still four or five chapters left where someone escapes death.
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