“Big sister! Why are you back?” You Jiamu suddenly stood up and quickly ran towards You Yuji.
Madam You turned her head upon hearing You Jiamu’s exclamation.
You Yuji paid no attention to her approaching brother; her gaze was fixed on her mother. When their eyes met, she finally felt that the person sitting in the courtyard was truly her mother.
She quickly rushed to her mother’s side, squatted down, placed her hand on her mother’s knee, and looked up at her, not daring to blink for fear that her mother would fall asleep again in the next moment.
“Mother, are you feeling any better?” You Yuji held her mother’s hand, gently stroking it repeatedly. She tried to put on a smile, but her voice still betrayed a slight tremor.
Madam You turned her hand to hold her daughter’s, softly calling her “Yuan Yuan.” Her voice was light, carrying the weakness of illness.
“It’s lively today, so I came out to see the fireworks.”
You Yuji hadn’t heard her mother say a complete sentence in a long time. Despite her usual composure, tears still fell in public. She quickly turned her head away, wiping the moisture from the corners of her eyes as fireworks burst into the sky.
She turned back to her mother with a radiant smile. “The fireworks are really beautiful this year.”
You Heng, standing nearby, said, “It’s quite a coincidence that just as your mother came out, you came home.”
He laughed heartily, not questioning why You Yuji had suddenly rushed home at this time. Jiao Yushu, however, frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on You Yuji for a moment longer.
“Big sister, it’s so good that you’re back!” You Jiamu ran over, happily placing his hand on his sister’s shoulder.
The cool night breeze brushed against You Yuji’s white fox fur cloak, the soft fur caressing her neck and reminding her of the chill in the air. She quickly grasped her mother’s hand and asked, “Mother, are you cold?”
Madam You shook her head and raised her hand to touch her daughter’s face, gently tucking a wind-blown strand of hair behind her ear. Each small action was something You Yuji had longed for.
You Jiamu chimed in, “Brother Zhao brought a new doctor who gave mother a new prescription. Mother is indeed much better and can get out of bed now!”
You Yuji was aware of what You Jiamu mentioned. Zhao Sheng had brought a highly skilled old doctor from his hometown, who owed him a favor. Upon learning that Jiang Chun was pregnant, the old doctor had taken on the responsibility of providing medical care for her. Zhao Sheng had been concerned about Madam You and had the old doctor come to see her and change her prescription a few days ago.
You Yuji had sent a handkerchief soaked in Fang Qingyi’s brewed wine to this doctor for inspection.
Thinking of Si Que, who had accompanied her, You Yuji reluctantly let go of her mother’s hand and stood up to bring Si Que over.
On the long table were the remnants of the New Year’s Eve dinner. According to the customs of the Si Kingdom, this dinner indeed started at midnight, unlike the Chen Kingdom, where the New Year’s Eve dinner was not much different from the usual dinner time.
Liu Momo had already instructed the maids to quickly add two more chairs and sets of tableware. You Yuji pulled Si Que to sit down and smiled, saying, “Originally, Princess Que and I were out watching the fireworks and suddenly thought of coming back to have a look, so I brought her back with me.”
You Heng didn’t pay much attention to You Yuji bringing Si Que back. He instructed the maid beside him to pour wine and looked at You Yuji, saying, “You should have come back sooner! Spend the New Year at home! What are you doing staying at Prince Jinnan’s residence? In a few days…”
Jiao Yushu lightly coughed.
You Heng then remembered that You Yuji’s divorce had not yet been explained to his aunt. He immediately stopped speaking, took a big gulp of wine, and laughed heartily, praising, “Good wine!”
His naturally loud voice made his laughter even louder than the sound of the firecrackers in the courtyard next door.
Madam You glanced at You Heng, then turned her gaze back to her daughter, speaking gently, “You’ve traveled a long way. Have some hot tea to warm up first.”
Having said so much at once, she had to turn her face away to cough intermittently.
You Yuji deliberately ignored her mother’s frailty for the moment, suppressing the moisture in her eyes, and went to pour tea. She smiled and said in a compliant tone, “Yes, I’ll listen to you, Mother.”
She poured a cup of hot tea and drank it seriously.
The hot tea warmed her throat and lungs.
Madam You had stopped coughing and looked at her daughter drinking tea with gentle eyes. She spoke again, “Your friend as well.”
Si Que looked over.
“Yes.” You Yuji nodded with a smile, helping to pour a cup of tea and handing it to Si Que.
Si Que took it, still looking at Madam You, and said, “Thank you for the tea, Madam.”
Madam You nodded kindly.
Si Que also drank the tea very seriously.
Fireworks and firecrackers were being set off everywhere tonight, making it very noisy. Madam You felt a bit lighter today and, for once, had come out of her room to sit in the courtyard and watch the fireworks, as well as to see Jiamu. She didn’t expect You Yuji to come back at this time, which was an unexpected surprise for her.
You Heng, Jiao Yushu, and You Jiamu continued eating. Madam You couldn’t eat, and You Yuji had already eaten before coming. She pushed her mother’s wheelchair and took her to the back garden for a walk.
Before leaving, Madam You looked at You Yuji with curiosity and softly asked, “Isn’t your friend coming with us?”
— With just the two of them gone, leaving three men at the table, it seemed inappropriate for Princess Que to stay.
You Yuji paused for a moment, looked back at Si Que, and asked, “Would you like the maid to take you to the guest room to sit for a while?”
Before Si Que could answer, she immediately changed her mind, “Why don’t you come with us to the back garden? We have many flowers there.”
“Alright.” Si Que was pleased with You Yuji’s revised suggestion and got up to follow her.
Chewing on a beef leg, You Jiamu mumbled unclearly, “No wonder they say sister and Princess Que are close, even coming home together…”
Because her mother loved flowers, You Yuji had been increasingly meticulous in instructing the servants to tend to the flowers in the back garden after her mother fell ill, fearing that her mother would be upset if she recovered and found the flowers she had lovingly cared for were not thriving.
Walking through the garden, You Yuji couldn’t help but express her hope, “Mother’s health will keep improving.”
Madam You looked at the carefully nurtured potted plants ahead and said softly, “Yuan Yuan, I dreamed of your father last night.”
You Yuji’s steps came to an abrupt halt.
She had always known that her mother’s illness was primarily due to a deep-seated emotional knot.
Suppressing the tremor in her heart, she circled around to her mother’s front, squatting down and teasing her as she used to, “Mother misses Father again.”
Madam You gently stroked her daughter’s hand, whispering, “I often dream of your father; he resides in my dreams and doesn’t want to leave.”
She smiled gently, her weak voice adding, “And I can’t bear for him to leave either.”
You Yuji nearly lost control of her tears. She buried her face in her mother’s lap, hiding her tears.
Si Que looked on in surprise, observing You Yuji’s moment of vulnerability.
Madam You softly patted her daughter’s back and said slowly, “In my dream, your father asked me if you and Jiamu were doing well.”
She looked at her daughter, who was lying on her lap, feeling both sorrow and bitterness. She had been ill for too long, abandoning everything. She had lost her husband, and her two children had lost their father.
She felt she wasn’t a competent mother.
“Yuan Yuan,” she gently caressed her daughter’s thin shoulders, “Mother’s health will improve.”
You Yuji, choking back her sobs, tried to respond in a normal tone, “Yes, Mother’s health will improve. You will live a long life.”
She slowly lifted her face, the tear stains gone, replaced by her usual gentle smile.
Si Que looked at the redness at the corners of You Yuji’s eyes for a moment longer.
Madam You’s health was indeed very poor. Coming out for this brief moment today was already rare. You Yuji had wanted her mother to see the vibrant, well-cared-for flowers she used to love. But considering her mother’s condition and seeing that she seemed fatigued, she had no choice but to take her back to her room.
Liu Momo came up to inquire, “Miss, are you staying at home tonight? Do you need a guest room prepared for Princess Que?”
You Yuji hadn’t paid much attention to Si Que all evening. Hearing this, she turned to look at him. Si Que stood in the courtyard, his white dress swaying in the night breeze. His head was lowered, his expression unreadable, lost in thought.
After giving a few instructions to Liu Momo, she walked over to Si Que and said, “We won’t be going back tonight. Your health isn’t great either, so rest in my room for a while. I’ll come back after settling things here.”
Liu Momo was somewhat surprised by You Yuji’s suggestion for Princess Que to stay in her boudoir, thinking perhaps You Yuji intended to stay by Madam You’s side as before. She said nothing more and immediately instructed the maids to attend to Princess Que.
You Yuji personally helped her mother wash up and get into bed. Her mother soon fell asleep. She sat by the bed for a while but did not stay as Liu Momo had thought.
Throughout her time with her mother, You Yuji maintained a faint smile. Returning to her own room, exhaustion and sadness gradually overcame her.
As the door closed behind her, she leaned against it, letting out a soft sigh.
Si Que had just finished bathing and emerged from the washroom, wearing You Yuji’s light purple nightwear. The pants were a bit short, revealing a small length of his fair, slender ankles. Wearing white so often, this sudden change to softer colors created a different, exotic beauty.
He raised his eyes and looked at You Yuji, who was leaning softly against the door, and said, “I thought you would be back very late.”
You Yuji seemed to notice Si Que for the first time. Her previously distracted gaze gradually focused, landing on him. Suddenly, she walked quickly towards Si Que, the hem of her dress trailing behind her.
When she reached him, she pressed her hand against his chest, pushing him backward. Not far behind Si Que was a swing.
When You Yuji was a child, she loved swings for a while, so her father had one installed in her room to make her happy. Later, when the family moved to Chenjing, her father had her new room decorated exactly like the old one, complete with a swing she had almost outgrown.
Following You Yuji’s push, Si Que sat down on the swing. As it swayed, he realized he was sitting on the same swing he had once mocked as childish. Instinctively, he raised his hand to grasp the ropes and steady himself.
The next moment, You Yuji bent over, cupped his face, and kissed him forcefully. Her kiss was urgent and rough, completely devoid of her usual gentleness.
As You Yuji lifted her leg to sit on Si Que’s lap, he finally snapped out of the overpowering kiss. He stopped the swing from swaying, supporting You Yuji’s back to let her sit on his lap.
You Yuji’s frenzied kisses gradually slowed down. She let go of Si Que’s face, her hands moving slowly down his cheeks, over his chest, and then to his waist to tug at his belt.
Her slow movements suddenly turned frantic as she reached Si Que’s waistband.
Si Que licked the blood from his lips and looked at You Yuji in front of him. She frowned slightly, her eyes downcast. Her curled lashes veiled the urgency in her eyes. Si Que raised his hand, his cool fingertips gently brushing the reddened corners of You Yuji’s eyes.
She looked so captivating when she cried that for a moment, Si Que thought of the phrase “captivating the soul.”
Yet, he still wished she would never shed tears again, her eyes forever lightly curled in a smile, never reddened again.
Perhaps she was too anxious; You Yuji couldn’t untie the belt at Si Que’s waist. Her frown deepened. She turned around, bent over to open a drawer, and took out a pair of scissors with a snip.
The scissors fell to the ground, and the swing swayed.
Along with You Yuji’s tears.
For the first time, Si Que also hoped that You Yuji would get pregnant this time.
