The cold wind howled, the snow was pure white, the trees were bare, giving off an air of emptiness and desolation.
Just as Wei Zhao had anticipated, the coffin had arrived in Yiling.
The Wei Family was a prestigious clan with deep roots here. Family mbers stood densely packed at the entrance of the old residence, waiting.
The elderly man supported at the front was the Wei Family elder, his face withered like dead wood, hair mottled with gray.
He wore mourning clothes, his expression filled with sorrow.
His hand trembled as he reached for the coffin, tears glistening in his eyes.
"Did Gui Zhi leave any words before he passed?"
In front of the clan elder, even the General had to pay respects, Chi Yu responded respectfully.
"He did not."
His voice was hoarse: "At that ti, there was no opportunity."
Many people wiped their tears, suppressing their sobs.
The clan elder closed his eyes briefly.
"When Gui Zhi sent Feng Xing back then, I was also standing here."
The Feng Xing he ntioned was Wei Zhao’s father, Duke Shun.
"How many years has Feng Xing’s wife been widowed? And now again... how can she bear it?"
The elder still rembered when Wei Fengxing returned to his hotown before marrying, his usually calm deanor unable to conceal his joy.
He said.
"Grandfather, she was engaged since childhood, thinking there would be no chance for us. But when I heard she broke off the engagent, I couldn’t sit still. It might not be the act of a gentleman, but I’ve admired her for years, and I’ve finally seen the moon through the clouds."
Later, when Feng Xing had an accident, his wife almost lost her life.
That dignified and proper woman cried inconsolably in front of him.
"Grandfather, Feng Xing was a Civil Servant with no intent to battle the Imperial Family, and look what happened to him. How can I believe there’s no foul play in his death? Gui Zhi is a Military General, at the border where swords and knives have no eyes, if anything happens to him, I..."
Duchess Shun did not want Wei Zhao to charge into battle and sacrifice himself.
"But he was determined, not heeding my advice. The child is deep in thought, keeping his intentions from . I... I fear his resentnt over Feng Xing’s matters."
"Yes, I’ve been strict with him since childhood, demanding perfection in everything. Knowing his grievances, I turned a blind eye and continued to restrain him. Grandfather, I now regret it."
The clan elder’s knuckles beca pronounced with tension.
He rembered more clearly the night Wei Zhao sat across from him playing chess.
He intentionally probed.
"You don’t need to tell you your mother’s thoughts. Gui Zhi, what your great-grandfather ant was..."
Wei Zhao’s eyes were dark as he nonchalantly placed a piece.
"After Father’s passing, if I lose my power, the next one in the Imperial Palace to act will be ."
"The Wei Family’s lifeline now rests with , I stand at the forefront, how can I protect myself alone?"
If he gained power, he would ensure the Wei Family’s prosperity, and if he perished, his subordinates would protect them from worries.
"Great-grandfather, you shouldn’t persuade ."
Thinking of this, the clan elder breathed with difficulty.
How could soone be forced to this extent?
He was overwheld by grief, yet in the depths of sorrow, one cannot cry.
"I’ve grown old, and my vision is poor. Every ti he ca, I could only see a vague outline. However, he must resemble his father."
But he couldn’t understand.
"These old bones of mine live on, yet I watch ti and again as the gray-haired send off the black-haired."
Wei Zhao was still so young, without any heirs, and now he’s gone.
At this thought, his voice grew even more urgent.
"Among the younger generation, I cherished Feng Xing the most. But now his line has ended completely!"
Suddenly, his vision darkened, and he fainted completely.
The scene descended into chaos.
————
Ze County.
The midnight wind blew fiercely, rattling the windows.
As the night deepened, the alley fell silent, only the distant sound of the watchman’s knock echoed.
In the middle of the night, Wei Zhao awoke, his throat both dry and sore, suppressing a low cough.
Yu Tingwan, a light sleeper, promptly rose from the bed, taking out the Luminous Pearl.
The room was instantly as bright as daylight.
She wasn’t flustered. She stepped off the bed to fetch the loquat syrup left by Doctor Ge. The small bottle held a substantial amount of premium herbs.
Its effects were good, but the taste was unbearably bitter.
Even Yu Tingwan found the sll unpleasant.
She asked softly, "Would you like so sugar?"
Wei Zhao: ...
He truly despised sweets.
Yu Tingwan helped open the bottle and handed it over: "Would you like so coaxing?"
Wei Zhao: ...
Did she take him for the neighbor’s child? Uncooperative in taking dicine.
Yu Tingwan coughed lightly and asked, "Would you like to be fed mouth-to-mouth?"
It’s said that this thod makes the dicine taste less bitter and fosters marital bonding. Yu Tingwan was particularly eager and enthusiastic.
Wei Zhao’s hand trembled slightly, and without any hesitation, he frowned and swallowed it.
The cool sensation alleviated the discomfort in his throat.
But it was truly difficult to drink, so much so that even soone as fearless as Wei Zhao felt a montary twist of expression.
Yu Tingwan: ...
Rejected again.
Fortunately, the girl was already used to it.
Otherwise, how could she beco more and more resilient?
She took the empty dicine bottle, putting it down with frustration. But as she turned around, a bout of dizziness overca her, making her faintly hear her own persuasion.
"Good dicine tastes bitter but cures the illness, Doctor Ge’s concoctions may taste peculiar, even dogs on the road would run away, but it is undeniably effective. Young Master, bear with it and swallow it down."
Following was the man’s lazy, nonchalant voice.
"I’m almost fully recovered, this concoction from Ge is probably ant to tornt ."
Yu Tingwan: "I think you need to drink it."
He was exceptionally agreeable.
"Alright."
Wei Zhao: "Co here, feed ."
"Yu Tingwan, why the spoon this ti? Wasn’t it good yesterday?"
He chuckled.
"Did I kiss your lips swollen, and it hurts?"
The conversation abruptly ended.
But Yu Tingwan felt electrified all over, as if tingling with electricity.
Was the man from her previous life a demon?
It’s clearly the sa person, how can there be such a vast difference?
Yu Tingwan, face tinged with peculiarity, prepared to fetch so hot water from the kitchen.
But as she exited the room, she noticed rustling sounds at the door.
Indeed.
Fu ng had returned again.
A bulging bundle hung around its neck, which it dropped at the Wei Family’s doorstep.
Its paws, though sharp, were clumsily undoing the knots on the package.
With a creak, the door was pushed open from inside.
Under the moonlight and the Luminous Pearl’s glow, the White Tiger’s fur shimred with a glossy sheen.
Yu Tingwan’s hand rested on the door, her gaze flickering.
Surprised, though not exceptionally so.
Yet claiming she wasn’t surprised, seeing the White Tiger filling the pit with items from the bundle, it would be false to say she wasn’t startled.
Fu ng, sensing the sound, eagerly lifted its head, but upon seeing Yu Tingwan, it turned crestfallen.
It didn’t care about anything else, intent on rushing indoors.
But soone moved even faster than it.
With a bang, the door closed.
Fu ng: ???
It was infuriated!!!
Fu ng lifted its paw pads, pounding urgently and heavily on the door.
Open the door! Let it in!
"Cough, cough."
A cough was heard.
It belonged to Wei Zhao.
The sound wasn’t loud, and Yu Tingwan didn’t hear it.
But Fu ng did.
The White Tiger had been warned.
It let out a low, mournful whimper, slowly retracting its paw, desolate.
It was truly heartbroken!!!
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