Chapter 64 He was the most special existence to begin with.
She replied softly, "No." Nothing was unbearable.
She clearly just greedily wanted everyone to be well, but it seemed like she couldn't achieve it no matter what she did.
What is the right thing to do?
"Go back and rest. Go wherever you want." A helpless sigh came from beside me, sounding like a weak compromise.
Her heart skipped a beat; the night was too dark, and her mood became heavy.
When she turned her head to the side, Yu He'an was sitting on the small round stool where she had just sat, and she could only see half of her haggard face in the candlelight.
“Grandma will be alright.” As if afraid that she would worry, Yu He’an added.
Granny Liu chimed in, "Madam, please go back. I'll stay here and watch over you."
Her gaze lingered for only a few moments before quickly shifting away. She nodded, choosing neither to stay in Hexiang Courtyard nor leave the mansion, and returned to Lanfang Courtyard.
After a long day of commotion, she was even a little guilty, worried that she might dream of Yu He'an at the Marquis's residence. However, her worries seemed unnecessary, as she slept soundly through the night without any dreams.
The next day, when she arrived at Hexiang Courtyard, she happened to meet Yuhe'an as she walked through the winding corridor and turned onto the path. They exchanged a glance across the lush flowerbed.
Recalling yesterday's unpleasantness, she froze on the spot. Yu He'an nodded, and the two parted ways.
She stood there, clutching her chest. The weather was so hot and humid; was it going to rain?
She took a few deep breaths and strode into Hexiang Courtyard.
Old Madam Song was in good health and woke up around noon. Her cloudy eyes rolled around a few times before they cleared. "Why did they call you here? I told them I couldn't trouble you anymore, so how could I possibly bother you?"
She sat down in front of Madam Song: "Grandmother, does this mean you don't recognize Yao Yao? Isn't it normal for you to visit her often when she's sick?"
When Madam Song woke up, she held her hand and burst into tears. "Yaoyao, I'm so sorry. I'm getting senile and I've put all the blame on you."
"What happened back then was something our Yu family wronged you with. Did you know all along? Why didn't you say anything?"
Granny Liu explained the whole story: "After the lady returned home on her wedding day, the Marquis found the witness from that year and learned that it was Lady Zhao who saved Lady Qiuci, and that there was no malicious switching..."
She lowered her head. Zhao Qingwu had mentioned this matter before leaving, but even if she spoke up, she couldn't change the switch.
"Grandma, let bygones be bygones. Don't cry when you're sick. Just take good care of yourself."
There is heartache and resentment, but it cannot cover up the years of nurturing grace. Only time can heal the wounds that have been torn open.
"And there's also your brother's matter." While she was still lucid, Madam Song wanted to finish speaking in one breath.
"Grandmother, rest for a while. We can talk about it later." She didn't want to hear it now.
She helped Old Madam Song lean against the headboard, handed her a cup of warm tea, and fed it to her while supporting her back.
She didn't want to talk about that messy relationship anymore; they were far apart now.
She had a premonition that they couldn't even be siblings anymore; they might be only slightly better off than strangers.
She had originally thought this was the outcome she wanted, but in the end…
She was very upset and didn't want to back down anymore.
If we push her any further, it will only backfire; she really wants to fight for herself.
"I know he's the one who's been harassing and forcing you. I'm sorry you've suffered this."
I clearly saw through his intentions from the start, so why blame it on you?
She was stunned. Was that what Yu He'an said?
"Only after being sick can a person truly understand that fame and fortune are all illusions, and only living each day peacefully is real. Thank you, Yao Yao, for still being willing to come see me."
"Grandmother, stop talking and just focus on getting better." Her mind was in turmoil.
Madam Song recovered almost completely in just ten days and was able to get out of bed and move around freely.
Yu He'an was very busy, so busy that her shifts ended later and later. At first, she tried to avoid Yu He'an, but then she realized that it was not necessary at all, and they would never run into each other.
Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, the enchanting and tender dream vanished, and she finally felt more at ease, no longer afraid to see Yu He'an.
Several autumn rains arrived, extinguishing the summer heat, and summer quietly departed.
After lunch, she spent time with Old Madam Song and planned to go home. As she passed the corner of the artificial hill, she met Yu He'an, whom she hadn't seen for many days. Yu He'an was standing at the intersection, holding a sky-blue oil-paper umbrella, gazing into the distance, seemingly looking somewhere.
A light autumn rain was falling from the sky. She had left in a hurry without an umbrella, and the raindrops gradually soaked her hair.
A tall, upright figure walked towards her, an oil-paper umbrella sheltering her head.
"Brother." The voice trembled as it uttered the words.
For some reason, Yu He'an was waiting for her here.
"Don't leave the Marquis's residence for the next few days, no matter how important it is." Yu He'an led her towards Lanfang Courtyard. Along the way, there were more than twice as many patrolling guards as usual.
She remembered that Old Madam Song had been constantly asking her to spend more time with her.
"Is something about to happen?" She stared at Yu He'an's face, her brows furrowed and her thin lips pressed together.
"It will be fine in a few days. Just stay obediently in the Marquis's residence and spend more time with your grandmother."
Her eyelids twitched involuntarily as she recalled seeing Yu He'an and the Fifth Prince getting very close the last time she saw them, and also thought about Yu He'an's promotion.
The storyline reveals very little about Yu He'an's background; she has no idea how he rose to such a high position.
Yu He'an exuded a restless aura, as if he wanted to ascend to the top in one step.
The rain gradually intensified, making a pattering sound on the umbrella. She stood far to the side, and the more the umbrella leaned towards her, the wetter Yu He'an became, with half of her body soaked in the rain.
She had no choice but to move closer to Yu He'an, and then closer still, until the umbrella completely covered them both.
When she returned to Lanfang Courtyard, she met Lanxin, who was looking for her with an umbrella.
"Wife, come in quickly, the rain has suddenly become so heavy."
She hurried to the porch to take shelter from the rain. Yu He'an turned around, intending to walk into the rain, but she clutched the hem of her clothes. "Brother, the rain is too heavy. Let's go back later."
Yu He'an's gaze slowly moved from her face to the fingertips clutching the hem of her clothes. His furrowed brows tightened and then relaxed. He sighed softly and turned back to the corridor.
Yu Tan was alright; only the tips of her hair got a little wet at first. Yu He'an, however, had almost half of her outer robe soaked. Only then did she realize that it was wrong to keep her here, but it would be even stranger to send her away now.
The atmosphere in the small hall became strange for a moment, as Lanxin placed two bowls of ginger soup on the small round table.
"My lord, why are you so wet? This umbrella is quite big."
Yu Tan said, "Quickly go find some dry cloths and wipe yourself."
"Oh dear, my lady, you forgot, you have my husband's outer robe here. I'll go find it right away."
Yu He'an's gaze fell on her, and she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground. How did she end up with Yu He'an's clothes?
Lan Xin quickly took out a white robe from the wardrobe. It was indeed Yu He'an's outer robe, the one she wore when she was kicked out of the Marquis's mansion.
It's likely that Aunt He put this outer robe together with her dress, and by some twist of fate, it ended up being brought back to the Marquis's residence.
The white robe was stained with her incense, held in her slender fingers.
Lanxin tidied up the porcelain bowls and left, leaving only the two of them in the room.
"You always do this, making me misunderstand."
You know perfectly well we're not siblings, yet you always come to the study, keeping me company even though you don't like reading.
He misunderstood; she felt safe and secure near Yu He'an, and was just there to get some sleep.
"It's always so close to me, giving me the illusion that I can hold the bright moon in my arms."
She interrupted, not wanting to hear any more: "Brother."
"Especially when I discovered that your marriage to He Sheng did not have a marriage certificate from the government, and that you had been maintaining contact with business contacts in Huizhou."
You treated me like a child, just like my grandmother. You used the marriage to make my grandmother happy, and your affair to make me happy. In the end, you settled everything and left.
She looked up anxiously and saw Yu He'an with her eyelashes lowered, her long lashes casting small shadows under her eyes, looking extremely lonely.
She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a word because of her expression.
My heart felt even more heavy.
Yu He'an's robe, from his left shoulder to his waist, was soaked, and it was tightly cinched at the waist, making him look extremely pitiful.
Her fingers curled incessantly; she could barely contain her urge to hug him.
Tell him that he is the most special person.
Whether they are together or not, he is the most important person to her. It is precisely because he is so important and she cares so much that she dares not take the next step.
In the story, every man who gets entangled with her initially wants to be with her, but later they all wish she were dead.
She feared that Yu He'an might end up like them, and that years later he would discover that being with her was the only obstacle in his otherwise successful life. Once love and affection were stripped away, would all that remain be resentment?
At that time, she will not only lose her lover, but also her brother whom she can rely on.
What will she do then?
Therefore, she would rather have a clandestine relationship than walk openly in the sunlight.
“Every time I’m about to give up, you sneak a little taste of sweetness through your fingers, and then push me away without any mercy. It’s so cruel.”
In less than a quarter of an hour, Yu He'an's dejected expression disappeared, the occasional vulnerability vanished, and he returned to his usual aloof self.
"You should reject me the same way you rejected other men. Don't give me any hope, and it's best to stay far away from me." His tone was like that of an older brother instructing his younger sister, patiently telling her how she should deal with him.
After Yu He'an finished speaking, he took his outer robe and went behind the screen without looking back, his slender shadow falling on the screen.
The rain came and went quickly. When Yu He'an came out, the rain had stopped. He walked to the corridor, shook the rain off his umbrella, and quickly left Lanfang Courtyard with the umbrella and his wet outer robe.
The tall, slender figure receded further and further away from her until it disappeared into the depths of the path. This scene tormented her until she fell asleep, but even when the gong sounded at midnight, she was still unable to drift off to sleep.
He put on an overcoat, got up and left the house. His legs unconsciously led him toward Fengxu Courtyard. The inner room was dark and Yuhe'an was not there.
When she came to her senses, she hurriedly headed towards Lanfang Courtyard before anyone noticed.
At the artificial hill, they encountered Zhao Qiuci, who was wearing soft armor, with a short sword at her waist and her long hair tied in a high ponytail, looking like a spirited young general.
Behind him followed several soldiers, also dressed in soft armor. They were well-trained and, rather than being the marquis's men, looked more like generals.
"I've been looking for you for ages, what are you doing here?"
She whispered, "I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk."
"Come on, follow me to Hexiang Courtyard." Zhao Qiuci grabbed her wrist and walked towards Hexiang Courtyard.
"What's wrong? What happened?" The artificial hill is located on a higher elevation than usual.
She looked out and saw that the night was exceptionally bright because of the firelight. The night, which had been quiet just moments before, had suddenly become restless, and she could vaguely hear the sounds of swords slashing, screams, and cries.
A chill ran down her spine as she suddenly remembered that Yu He'an had specifically asked her to stay at the Marquis's residence that afternoon.
"A prince is plotting a rebellion and forcing the emperor to abdicate. He is kidnapping the families of court officials to hold them hostage."
She understood Zhao Qiuci's meaning: if the main gate of the Marquis's mansion could not be defended, Hexiang Courtyard would be the last line of defense.
"Walk."
When she arrived at Hexiang Courtyard, all the women of the Marquis's household were gathered in the courtyard, surrounded by guards. Old Madam Song was standing in the crowd and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her arrive.
Granny Liu was having her maids search for a final weapon for self-defense.
"Don't be afraid, I've led troops in the army, I can protect you." Zhao Qiuci gripped the hilt of the knife in her hand.
Give me a knife.
Zhao Qiuci stared at her in disbelief.
Yu Tan repeated, "Or give me another weapon."
Zhao Qiuci suddenly realized that if Yu Tan hadn't been born prematurely and hadn't had a high fever in her childhood, and had been raised by Zhao Qingwu, she might have been braver and more capable than her.
She doesn't have to be caught in the middle of these grudges, torn between two conflicting interests; she can be a carefree woman just like her.
Zhao Qiuci said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have given you this disease."
"What disease do you transmit?" Yu Tan suddenly realized something and chuckled. "That's not something you can control, and you don't blame me, do you?"
A series of thuds came from the gate, and the guards rushed in.
"My lady, the rebels are carrying a log and ramming the gate of the mansion."
Author's Note: Thank you to the reader "Embracing the Bright Moon".
"Xihayeze"
“lappland”
“yyNgyE”
"Mi Cat"
Nutrient solution for [lop-eared rabbit head][lop-eared rabbit head][lop-eared rabbit head]
Yao Yao's worries will soon pass.
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