The sky had already darkened by now, and the sunset glow on the horizon was about to fade away.
Yu Tingwan stepped out of the room. Outside, the clinking of glasses and lively chatter continued, and Aunt Wu kept praising how the dishes looked and tasted great.
Seeing her co out, no one was surprised. Who really expected Wei Shen to consummate the marriage?
Hui Niang, who was about to bring in the food, smiled warmly and waved to the girl, "You’ve had a long day, co over and eat."
Indeed.
She was more excited about eating now than she was about the possibility of consummation just monts ago in the room.
A shallow dimple appeared at the corner of the young girl’s mouth as she walked over and sat down.
Hui Niang pointed to the two people beside her to make introductions.
"This is your uncle, and this is your aunt."
Yu Tingwan softly called out, "Uncle, Aunt."
Zhao Yong, not being one for words, nodded quickly, while the woman next to him, from the Yu Family, affectionately grabbed Yu Tingwan’s hand.
"A few days ago, your mother-in-law returned and said Lang was getting married, and that his chosen bride was soone notably beautiful, rare to find in the region. At first, I didn’t believe it."
"I thought she was just pleased with her daughter-in-law and thus boasted about you. Seeing you today, truly, you are remarkable."
Yu Tingwan was surprised.
This Yu Family woman seed very astute.
In just a few words, she conveyed how much Hui Niang valued her, while also expressing her own acknowledgnt.
Yu Tingwan knew better than anyone that the Yu Family woman had no ill intentions.
Back when Lady Xiao died, it caused a great uproar.
Wei Shouzhong and his wife were devastated into illness, and Zhao Yong had nowhere to turn to for justice, seeking help everywhere. It was the Yu Family woman who chased after Lady Xiao’s husband’s family, confronting them fiercely, finally returning with her niece’s body to assist with the burial.
So people privately comnted on Yu Family woman’s assertiveness.
Yet she clearly could have stayed out of it, given that Lady Xiao was rely her niece.
Yu Tingwan felt at that ti Mrs. Wang couldn’t even compare to a single finger of this Yu Family woman.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone gradually left.
Wei Shouzhong escorted the Wei Family’s senior uncle back.
After seeing off Li Lian and the others, Hui Niang returned to see Zhao Yong clearing the table and the Yu Family woman preparing to wash the dishes.
Hui Niang said, "Brother, sister-in-law. It’s dark outside, and it’s snowing too, not safe to walk at night. Stay here tonight."
Zhao Yong looked toward the Yu Family woman.
It was she who made the decisions at ho.
When Yu Family woman married into the Zhao Family, Hui Niang hadn’t yet married. Since her mother-in-law had passed early and her father-in-law was unhealthy, she took charge as soon as she entered their ho.
Her sister-in-law worked neatly, was considerate and understanding.
She cherished Hui Niang like a real sister.
"No need, after helping you clean up, I still worry about ho, I have to return. My brother and I can watch over each other; nothing will happen, right?"
Hui Niang sighed and didn’t persuade further, preventing the Yu Family woman from doing chores: "Then leave now, just getting along the road will take an hour. Who knows if the snow will get heavier later."
The Yu Family woman waved her hand: "It’s no trouble at all."
Hui Niang couldn’t argue with her, truly at a loss.
Soone chuckled softly.
Yu Tingwan said, "Aunt should listen to Mother."
"Mother is just worried about you and Uncle."
"You care for her, so let her care for you too."
Yes, Yu Tingwan sure could say what suited for people and their situations.
These few words made the Yu Family woman feel comfortable, adding yet another layer of satisfaction in her eyes when she looked at Yu Tingwan.
After sending them out the door, Hui Niang still didn’t allow Yu Tingwan to do any chores.
Yu Tingwan then went to the kitchen to boil water; she couldn’t let Hui Niang suffer washing dishes with cold water.
————
After Yu Tingwan went out, Wei Zhao fell asleep.
In his hazy consciousness, it seed like soone was still calling out to him.
It was chaotic.
For a mont, it was the voice of Xiao Huaian, the Heir of Marquis Zhongyong.
["The Ministry of the Imperial Household’s young lady has affections for you, and if you choose not to respond, fine. But she stopped you on the road to flirt, and you first claid she had eye problems, then suspected her of being a spy and had her taken for interrogation?"]
["Are you out of your mind?"]
["Who would dare marry you like this? If your future wife dared to touch you, wouldn’t you break her hand?"]
At that ti, he was wiping his Cloud-breaking Spear, the weapon gleaming with a chilling light, his pitch-black eyes cold and deep.
["I’m on official duty; yet she lingers around. Who’s to say she doesn’t have ulterior motives? If she’s innocent, Wei Family Army would never abuse authority and will naturally release her."]
Xiao Huaian didn’t believe it at all!
After causing such a scene, which young lady from any family would throw herself at Wei Zhao! His maneuver was obviously to eliminate future troubles entirely.
The voice was quickly replaced by others.
["Fu ng hasn’t seen you these days and has been throwing tantrums, refusing to eat."]
Fu ng was the tiger he kept.
He leaned over the writing desk, not even lifting his head.
["Last ti, it shredded the military manuals left by the grand scholars of the previous dynasty, and its punishnt ti is not yet complete."]
Yes, he had the tiger facing the wall to reflect.
Wei Zhao: ["If it doesn’t eat, then it’s not hungry."]
Soon, the voice by his side turned choked and sob-filled.
The other party rushed in, gasping for breath.
[General.]
["The Capital sent news, saying... the Duke may be in dire straits."]
His expression blanked out for a second, as if sothing shattered.
Sorrow and fear spread through his entire body, the pain extended all over, leaving him breathless.
Just then, the sound of the creaky old door opening seed to co from a distance. It tore apart all illusions.
"Husband."
Yu Tingwan looked at the person on the bed, pale and drenched in sweat, body slightly trembling, a bad sign.
"Husband."
She quickly put down the water basin and touched Wei Zhao’s forehead with the back of her hand.
It wasn’t hot.
Perhaps her hands were too warm.
Yu Tingwan leaned down and pressed her forehead against his. As soon as they touched, Wei Zhao’s eyes suddenly opened.
His gaze was hollow, yet it also seed to be filled with a sorrow capable of engulfing everything.
Yu Tingwan was montarily stunned, forgetting to pull back.
As if afraid of startling Wei Zhao, her voice was very gentle.
"You didn’t have dinner, are you hungry? Shall I make so wontons for you? They’re easy to digest and not too heavy on the stomach."
She spoke again softly.
"Was it a nightmare? You’re all sweaty. That’s uncomfortable, let help you change clothes and wipe off."
Wei Zhao watched her lips move, but he couldn’t hear her words.
Slowly, he was pulled back to reality. His eyes shifted slightly, landing on the person very close to him.
"Yu Tingwan."
This was the first ti he called her that way.
"Ah?"
Wei Zhao murmured, "You’re so close; do you want to consummate the marriage that much?"
Yu Tingwan certainly did not!
Don’t slander her!
But Yu Tingwan countered, "Is that not allowed?"
Wei Zhao coolly replied, "No."
Yu Tingwan regretfully gave a small acknowledgnt.
Then, she suddenly thought of sothing, her gaze towards Wei Zhao turned strange.
She had been so proactive earlier, how could Wei Zhao not have any desire?
The answer was evident.
It must have been when he fell from the mountain and injured that area too.
She could just die of sha.
Every ti she was proactive, it was inadvertently harming Wei Zhao.
She held Wei Zhao’s hand: "It’s okay, I don’t find you lacking."
Wei Zhao heard her earnest assurance.
"We can be husband and wife during the day and sisters at night."
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