Chapter 83: A Century of Estrangement (Part 1)

Ye Qianzhan lay in bed for several days, with Wei Zhuang caring for her all the while. Yet he had become markedly silent, speaking far less than before. Whenever he looked at her, he seemed on the verge of saying something, but the words never came; he never asked about what had happened that day, and Ye Qianzhan never brought it up herself.

Thus, the two of them remained shrouded in silence.

She kept her silence because she knew the reason.

But what about him?

In the blink of an eye, it was already the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month—almost New Year.

Juanbi helped Ye Qianzhan lean against the railing of the pavilion, the warm sunlight bathing her body. With her eyes closed, Ye Qianzhan felt utterly exhausted.

Yes, she was tired. From the moment Liuyun left, to the emperor bestowing her marriage, to Qingcheng marrying in her stead; from her family’s ruin, being hunted by the court, to losing her child... all of this had happened in just one year.

She had lost everything, and owed so many debts of gratitude—these burdens weighed on her so heavily she could barely breathe. She was truly, deeply tired.

Suddenly, she regretted returning to Beijing from Jiangnan. Jiangnan was truly her final resting place. Every tree and blade of grass there was familiar, unlike here, where everything felt strange and alien.

She wanted to return—whether to her old home in Suzhou or to seek out Liuyun. She simply wanted to escape Wei Zhuang, escape the shackles of the capital.

That was why she had resolutely chosen to give up the child.

She had always thought herself a kind person, but when she hardened her heart, no one could stand in her way.

Juanbi stood beside her, looking worriedly at her pale face. "Miss, are you alright?" she asked.

Ye Qianzhan opened her eyes and gazed distantly ahead. "I'm fine," she replied flatly, then paused. "Juanbi, I need you to go into the city today. There are some things I need you to prepare."

Juanbi looked at her in confusion. "What things?"

Ye Qianzhan leaned in and whispered quietly in her ear. Juanbi’s eyes widened in shock. "Don't we have those things here in the residence? Why do you need them, Miss?"

Ye Qianzhan rubbed her brow and looked at the dazzling sunlight. Her voice was calm. "Don't let anyone know about this. And don't come back tonight—find an inn in the city and stay there. Tomorrow morning, wait for me at the foot of Mount Song."

Juanbi stared at her in disbelief. "Miss, what are you planning?"

Ye Qianzhan didn’t answer, only asking, "Will you go or not?" Her tone was soft, but Juanbi could hear the note of unquestionable authority.

Juanbi swallowed her questions and nodded. Of all people, she understood her mistress’s temperament best—outwardly gentle and dignified, but inwardly as stubborn as iron. Once she made up her mind, nothing could sway her.

Ye Qianzhan remained alone in the pavilion for a long time, until the sun set behind the western hills and the birds circled and returned to the forests. Only then did she rise and walk back.

Wei Zhuang returned at dusk, strangely unsettled all day, as if something was about to happen, though he couldn’t say what.

He hurried upstairs, but Ye Qianzhan wasn’t in her room. Coming downstairs, he ran into the steward.

"Uncle Gong, have you seen Qianzhan?" he asked.

The steward shook his head. Wei Zhuang smiled. "Never mind, Uncle Gong, you may go about your business." And Uncle Gong walked away.

Madam Hua crossed the Nine-Bend Bridge toward him. From a distance, Wei Zhuang called, "Madam Hua, have you seen Qianzhan?"

Madam Hua came to his side and, rather than answering, simply stared at him with a smile. Wei Zhuang felt a chill and instinctively touched his face. "Is there something on my face?"

Her smile grew more mysterious. "There's nothing on your face, young master, but you have a happy event today."

"A happy event? Why don’t I know about it?" Wei Zhuang asked, puzzled.

Madam Hua pointed toward the kitchen with a conspiratorial air. "In the past, Madam only made soup for you. But today, it seems Madam is going all out—she’s preparing a grand feast for you."

Her words made him nervous and amused. "Is that true? I’ve never seen her cook before."

Madam Hua gave him a chiding look, as if to say he was clueless. "That’s why it’s a happy event, young master. I don’t know which family your wife comes from, but from her demeanor, she’s a lady who’s never so much as washed her own hands. Yet now she’s willing to cook for you—it shows true affection."

Seeing Madam Hua’s delighted expression, Wei Zhuang couldn’t help but feel happy himself. "I’ll go take a look." Since Madam’s miscarriage, he’d rarely felt such joy. Madam Hua, seeing him smile, was pleased as well.

In the kitchen, the flickering candlelight cast moving shadows. Ye Qianzhan stood among them, carefully slicing vegetables. Her movements were slow but meticulous. The candlelight traced the gentle curve of her profile. Wei Zhuang leaned against the doorframe, quietly watching her work. All his disquiet vanished.

He crept up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Ye Qianzhan smiled softly. "You’re back?"

Wei Zhuang nodded. Ye Qianzhan asked, "Hungry? Just wait a little longer, the food will be ready soon."

He didn’t move, but suddenly felt his nose sting with emotion. He buried his head in the crook of her neck. "I missed you."

Ye Qianzhan put down her things and turned to face him. "Aren’t I right here?"

Wei Zhuang stroked her delicate, clean face. "But I still missed you."

Her heart softened. "I missed you too," she said after a moment. "But if you keep interrupting me, there will be no dinner tonight."

Wei Zhuang laughed and pinched her nose. "Are you complaining about your husband?"

She pushed him playfully. "Yes, if you distract me from cooking, I have every right to complain."

But Wei Zhuang didn’t leave. He stayed by her side, sometimes lending a hand. By the time the meal was ready, night had fully fallen.

The dishes were plentiful—four dishes and a soup. They looked quite good, but Ye Qianzhan warned him in advance, "This is my first time cooking. It can’t possibly taste good. But even if it’s bad, you must do me the courtesy of eating some."

Wei Zhuang sat across from her, a faint smile at his lips. "Since it’s your first meal for me, of course I’ll show you respect. No matter how bad it tastes, I won’t let it show."

Without warning, Ye Qianzhan kicked him under the table. Wei Zhuang grunted, grimacing in mock pain. "My lady is truly ruthless."

She smiled brilliantly. "If you know I’m ruthless, why don’t you hurry and eat? And eat slowly, don’t choke."

Wei Zhuang, seeing her playful expression, burst out laughing. "You’re different tonight."

She handed him his chopsticks. "Tell me, do you like me better today or as I was before?"

He accepted them. "I love you, no matter what you’re like."

Her gaze softened. "Enough joking. Eat before the food gets cold."

They ate slowly. Throughout the meal, Ye Qianzhan barely spoke, only smiling faintly. Wei Zhuang, watching her, sometimes felt as if this happiness might last forever.

Happiness had come so quickly, so unbelievably.

Afterward, Ye Qianzhan tidied up the dishes. Only when everything was in order did she go upstairs, parting the curtains. Wei Zhuang was sitting by the window, lost in thought.

Ye Qianzhan went straight to him, removed his hands, and sat down on his lap.

Wei Zhuang looked at her. She seemed changed, though he couldn’t say how. He wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling. "What’s gotten into you tonight?"

Her slender fingers traced his brow, his eyes, his nose, finally resting on his lips. She gazed at his handsome face, lost in the moment. Her voice was gentle and lingering, "Yunkai?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you love me?"

Wei Zhuang was startled, slow to respond. She had never asked such a trite question before. But before he could reply, she said something that struck him like thunder, leaving him frozen in place.

She said, "I love you."

Yes, she would not deny it any longer. Though her love was built on gratitude, she did, after all, love him—didn’t she?

Wei Zhuang seemed not to understand. Dazed, he asked, "What did you just say?"

Ye Qianzhan wrapped her arms around his neck, looked into his eyes, and told him, "I love you."

After a moment’s slow realization, he finally understood. He looked at the woman in his arms, lifted her, and set her on the edge of the bed. Leaning in, he studied her face intently, as if searching for something, but found nothing.

She gazed up at him. His dark eyes shone with something unreadable in the dim candlelight. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him.

Wei Zhuang stiffened, then pulled her close, deepening the kiss.

Their lips and teeth lingered, breaths quickened, the sweet taste and heated passion rising between them, awakening desires long dormant.

Wei Zhuang pressed her gently onto the bed, his fingers lingering on her face. "Are you sincere?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "More than ever before."

He bowed his head and kissed her again.

Outside, the night was splendid, the stars scattered across the sky like jewels. In the room, newly placed plum blossoms bloomed fiercely, their lingering fragrance entwining through the winter.