A few days passed.
It was now the tenth day of the fifth month, the day Lanyin was to attend the banquet at the Duke of Lu’s residence.
Early in the morning, Lanyin got up, dressed and groomed herself, then had breakfast. Seeing that the time was almost right, she took Shi Yu and headed outside. However, just as she stepped out, she saw that a carriage had already been parked in front of the Qi residence.
It had been five days since the incident with the bracelet.
During these five days, Lanyin had interacted with Qi Yubai just as she always had, without revealing the slightest hint of anything unusual. Now, seeing that Qi Yubai was also heading out so early, she was somewhat surprised. Just as she was about to go over and greet him, she suddenly heard a loud and clear call of “Miss Gu!”
Lanyin had seen many of Qi Yubai’s guards before. Tianqing and Yunkuo were both steady and composed, while the others, whose names she did not know, were also quiet and reserved.
Sometimes, Lanyin even felt that Qi Yubai must not like noisy people. Otherwise, why would everyone around him have such similar temperaments? But this sudden, unexpected shout… She was momentarily caught off guard and was visibly startled.
She stopped in her tracks.
Shi Yu was also taken aback. Holding onto Lanyin’s arm, she looked forward with annoyance, wanting to see who was so ill-mannered. When she saw a face that closely resembled Tianqing’s, she was stunned. After a brief moment of realization, she no longer cared whether he was Tianqing or not. But because of Qi Yubai’s presence, she could only glare at him with suppressed anger.
“Master, are you alright?” After shooting a glare at the black-clothed young man, Shi Yu turned her head back and asked Lanyin in a lowered voice.
Lanyin shook her head. She had also seen the young man dressed in a black combat outfit with his hair tied in a high ponytail. Perhaps realizing that he had been too abrupt, he scratched his head somewhat sheepishly under Qi Yubai’s frowning gaze. When he saw Lanyin approach, he softened his voice and apologized to her in a low tone, “Apologies, Miss Gu.”
“It’s nothing.”
Lanyin shook her head at him but turned her gaze toward Qi Yubai. “He is…?”
Even though he looked exactly like Tianqing, Lanyin could still tell that they were not the same person.
“This is Zhusheng, Tianqing’s younger brother,” Qi Yubai explained to her.
Lanyin was surprised. “Twins?”
Qi Yubai nodded. “He was away for some time and only just returned. He was raised by my grandmother since childhood and is a bit more spirited. Please don’t take offense.” This was his way of explaining Zhusheng’s rashness.
Lanyin had indeed been startled earlier. Anyone would be if they were unexpectedly called out like that without warning. But this was not a big deal. She smiled and shook her head. “It’s alright.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but glance at Zhusheng again. This was the first time she had ever seen such identical twins. However, despite their similarities, they were still quite easy to tell apart. Tianqing was steady and mature, whereas Zhusheng carried an air of youthful exuberance, as if he had yet to fully grow up.
It seemed that he had been well cared for since childhood. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have developed such a personality.
Still, Lanyin found herself liking this lively and energetic Zhusheng. He had a bright spirit. She nodded at him before withdrawing her gaze and asking Qi Yubai, “My lord, are you also heading out so early today?”
“Mm.”
Qi Yubai replied, “Yanming and I have a case to discuss.”
Yanming was the courtesy name of Tu Yici.
Even on his day off, he had no time to rest, and he still had to handle a case while attending a banquet. Lanyin couldn’t help but sigh at how hard he worked. But there was nothing she could do, so she simply nodded. “Then I’ll be on my way.”
After Qi Yubai inclined his head slightly, she turned to board the carriage. But when she looked back, she noticed that Shi Yu was still staring at Zhusheng.
Thinking that she was still upset about Zhusheng’s loud call from earlier, Lanyin gently called her name.
As Shi Yu’s gaze slowly refocused, Lanyin spoke, “Let’s go.”
Shi Yu quickly helped Lanyin onto the carriage, then followed her inside. Just as she was about to pull down the carriage curtain, she couldn’t resist glancing in Zhusheng’s direction again.
She had a nagging feeling that those eyes looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she had seen them before.
The carriage set off.
Qi Yubai also turned and got into his carriage.
Keeping the same not-too-far yet not-too-close distance, he followed slowly behind Lanyin.
At about the same time—
In the Chengbo Manor, Madam Xiao led Jinglan into Xiao Ye’s room.
It had been some time since Xiao Ye had been beaten. He had been bedridden for many days, but his injuries had mostly healed. After all, he had practiced martial arts since childhood, and his physical constitution was much stronger than that of an ordinary person. If it were someone else, they would have needed at least a month to recover, but he had gotten better in less than half a month.
Yet, even though his body had healed, he still seemed utterly dispirited.
He stayed in his room every day and refused to go out. Even when people came in, he ignored them, like a walking corpse.
During this time, Madam Xiao had tried everything she could. She had Madam Xu bring the child to see Xiao Ye, had the newly-talking Yi’an call him “Father” at his side, and had even… brought Gu Qing to him. But nothing worked. He ignored everyone, refused to look at anyone, and spent his days either sleeping or lying still, staring blankly at the canopy above him as if he were dead.
Today, Madam Xiao came not only to bring him medicine but also to try persuading him once more.
As she stepped into the room, the heavy scent of medicine that had lingered for more than half a month filled her senses. Even though the doors and windows were kept open for ventilation every day, the air was still thick with the unpleasant odor. Madam Xiao pressed a handkerchief to her nose, waving away the smell slightly before stepping into the inner chamber.
Seeing Xiao Ye still lying on the bed, looking no different from before, she felt both anger and heartbreak.
The medicinal soup was still steaming hot, freshly taken from the stove. She had Jinglan set it aside before sending everyone else away. Once only mother and son remained in the room, Madam Xiao looked at Xiao Ye’s despondent state and forced herself to soften her voice as she spoke to him in a casual tone.
“The sun is nice today. Since your body has recovered, why not go out for a walk? If you keep staying at home like this every day, you’ll end up making yourself sick even if you weren’t ill to begin with.”
Xiao Ye said nothing. He showed no interest.
He didn’t want to go out. He didn’t want to see anyone. He didn’t even have the motivation to practice martial arts, something he had never skipped a day of before.
His utterly dejected, lifeless state finally pushed Madam Xiao to her breaking point. Unable to hold back any longer, she furrowed her brows and raised her voice in anger.
“Xiao Ye!”
But the moment she saw his face, clearly thinner than before, her throat felt as if it were suddenly gripped by an invisible hand.
In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to be too harsh on him.
Watching his chest rise and fall with heavy, labored breaths, Madam Xiao hesitated for a long while before ultimately sitting back down.
She sat on the chair by the bed, looking at Xiao Ye as she spoke.
“I went to see your younger sister not long ago. She hasn’t been eating or sleeping well because of you—she’s lost a lot of weight. You’ve always doted on her since childhood, yet now, you haven’t even asked about her once.”
“And then there’s Lin’er… He’s grown a lot. I think it won’t be long before he’ll be able to call you ‘Uncle.’ Didn’t you used to like that child the most? Now that you’re at home with nothing to do, why not go visit him?”
At the mention of this name, Xiao Ye’s long eyelashes trembled slightly.
For the first time, his expression, which had been indifferent to everything, finally showed some change.
“Lin’er…”
His hoarse voice called out the name.
Thinking of Lin’er, he couldn’t help but think of Lanyin—the person he had tried so hard to suppress and forget, yet had never truly erased from his heart for even a moment.
He remembered when Lin’er had just been born, how he and Lanyin had gone to the Duke of Lu’s residence to see him. The tiny baby was wrapped in a bright red swaddle, his skin wrinkled and sparse of hair, with his eyes still tightly shut. People always said that nephews resembled their uncles, but when he looked at that wrinkled, scrunched-up little thing, he couldn’t see a single similarity between them.
Back then, he couldn’t help but mutter under his breath.
Siyu was still in her postpartum confinement. Upon hearing those words, she was so furious that she nearly jumped out of bed to hit him. Lanyin also slapped his arm in annoyance and said to him, “Newborn babies all look like this. Besides, how is he ugly? He’s clearly very good-looking.”
After shooting him a reproachful glance, she turned back to the clueless infant in her arms and coaxed him gently, “Our Lin’er isn’t ugly. Our Lin’er will definitely grow up to be tall and handsome, even better looking than his uncle. Isn’t that right?”
He still remembered that it had been a bright and sunny day.
Lanyin was dressed in a lilac-colored gown, holding the swaddled baby with gentle movements, even bringing her nose close to touch the baby’s tiny nose.
She was so gentle.
So gentle that, to this day, Xiao Ye could still recall how she looked bathed in sunlight. From head to toe, even her hair strands seemed to glow with a soft radiance.
Back then, as he watched Lanyin, only one thought filled his mind—if Lanyin ever had a child, she would surely be incredibly gentle with them.
She would teach them to read and write, to play the zither, to paint, and to practice calligraphy. She wouldn’t force them to do anything they didn’t want to do. If they fell, she would be the first to rush forward and help them up, brushing the dirt off their hands and clothes while telling them, “Don’t be afraid.” She wouldn’t just stand by coldly, watching from a distance and forbidding anyone else from helping.
That child wouldn’t be like him.
That child would have the best, most gentle mother in the world.
Xiao Ye had never really liked children, even though he already had one of his own. But at that moment, he had truly wished for a child with Lanyin—a child that truly belonged to them.
He would take good care of them and teach them everything he knew.
His eyes suddenly turned red.
Madam Xiao had still been trying to persuade him, but when she suddenly saw his reddened eyes, she was startled. “Ye’er, what’s wrong?”
Thinking that he was feeling unwell, she hurriedly moved toward him, only to see him suddenly shut his eyes tightly.
Tears silently slid down from the corners of his eyes, soaking into the bedding. As she watched the spreading wet stain on the fabric and the way her son’s lips trembled uncontrollably, she understood the reason behind it.
Madam Xiao opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she closed it again.
She neither tried to persuade him further nor said anything else.
She only stood at the bedside, staring at him with a complex expression for a long time.
Suddenly, she turned around and walked toward the door. Just as she was about to step over the threshold, she spoke in a cold tone without looking back.
“Xiao Ye, remember your status. Remember the responsibilities you bear. The Chengbo Manor still needs you to hold it together.”
There was no response from behind her.
Madam Xiao gritted her teeth.
“You and Lanyin are already separated.”
This was the first time she had mentioned Lanyin since everything had happened.
Without caring how the man behind her was reacting, she clenched the handkerchief in her hands tightly, her voice sinking lower.
“You sit here wallowing in sadness, utterly dejected. But do you know what she’s doing?”
“She has already reopened her businesses. Her restaurants are thriving with guests and have become the liveliest places in Bianjing. She is even about to open a new shop.”
“Go outside and see for yourself—listen to how people talk about you two now.”
Hearing the heavy breathing from behind her, Madam Xiao pressed her lips together. In the end, she didn’t continue and merely said a few final words.
“Think for yourself.”
With that, she strode away without looking back.
Jinglan had been waiting outside. Seeing her come out, she quickly called out, “Madam,” and followed closely behind.
Madam Xiao ignored her and walked forward on her own.
Outside, the sun was shining brightly, yet she felt as if she were standing in the depths of winter.
The warmth of the sun brought her no comfort—on the contrary, it stung her eyes.
It was like a person who had lived in darkness suddenly being forced into the light.
She squinted slightly and raised a hand to shield her eyes.
After taking a few steps, she suddenly started coughing.
“Are you alright?” Jinglan quickly stepped forward to support her.
Madam Xiao shook her head, but her coughing didn’t stop.
She covered her mouth with her handkerchief and coughed uncontrollably.
By the time it subsided, her chest felt tight, and she was even slightly hunched over.
It had only been a few days, yet she was already completely exhausted, drained both physically and mentally.
She had even aged significantly.
The once lustrous black hair that others had praised so often was now streaked with white at her temples, impossible to conceal.
And yet, despite reaching this state, Madam Xiao did not dare to let anyone know.
Right now, the entire Chengbo Manor was relying on her alone to hold it together. If something happened to her, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Her son was in such a state, and her grandson was still too young to understand anything. As for her husband…
Not long ago, she had received a letter from Xiao Zhishang. The man, who had been staying far away at the estate, had finally learned about what had happened in the city. When she first received the letter, Madam Xiao had felt a sliver of hope. But upon opening it, she found that it was filled only with words of blame toward Ye’er, without a single useful solution.
Thinking of that weak and incompetent man, Madam Xiao suddenly recalled the question Lanyin had asked her that day—
“All these years, have you ever regretted or grown tired of your marriage and your husband?”
At that time, she had answered firmly—no.
No matter what kind of person Xiao Zhishang was, she had the ability to support an entire household on her own. His existence was merely for the sake of maintaining her status and dignity. But only now did she realize how fortunate it would be to have a husband she could rely on in times like these.