Not only because she was not the previous Jinyu or a person in the cold and ruthless Jin family, but also because Yun Mei had cuckolded Jinyu. For two years, the housekeeper had helped Yun Mei and Jin Mo communicate secretly. Although she never dealt with it, it was a constant thorn in her heart. Even without feelings for Yun Mei, being cuckolded for years would upset any woman. Jinyu found Yun Mei’s behavior disgusting.
Though unwilling to live in this home, Jinyu stayed at the Jin family most nights, only spending a few nights each month at Suxi’s place.
The wind whistled. Even with a thick fur coat, Jinyu felt cold, not just physically, but her heart was also chilled.
She had guessed most of what happened two years ago and knew the whole story. When Jinyu sent Jin Mo away, it was not just because of Yun Mei, but also other reasons. In a large family estate, complicated entanglements were inevitable.
Wists of incense bloomed in the burner, rising like clouds. The pearl curtain hung to the ground. On the carved bed, a light pink bed canopy draped over a young man reclining inside.
Wearing a jade-green shirt, he was covered with a light quilt embroidered with delicate plum blossoms.
The man held a letter, his eyes filled with sorrow. His fair skin looked pale, with a fragile, willow-like quality. After reading, he placed the letter on the quilt and closed his eyes.
The servant Dao’er placed a warm pot by the bed, “Young master, what did the second young lady’s letter say?”
“Nothing much. She said she would be back in a while,” he replied softly.
Dao’er looked happy but confused, “Second Miss is coming back? That’s great news. Why does the young master seem unhappy?”
“What does it matter if she returns? We’ve become strangers. I am the husband of her sister now, and…” Yun Mei shed a tear, his voice choked with emotion. “Dao’er, go burn this letter.”
“Young master, don’t do that,” Dao’er urged, refusing to take the letter. “You’ve kept all the previous letters from Second Miss. Please don’t burn them in a moment of impulse.”
“Dao’er,” Yun Mei’s fragile voice trembled as he made his decision, “burn all those letters as well.”
“I’m afraid you’ll regret this…” Dao’er began.
“Burn them.” Yun Mei’s voice was firm and resolute.
Dao’er fell silent, hesitating but eventually agreeing, “Yes, young master.” His eyes were full of compassion, thinking the young master was truly exhausted.
Yun Mei closed her eyes, listening to the subtle crackling of paper burning. She shed more tears, feeling as if her heart was being reduced to ashes, her feelings impossible to retain.
Dao’er’s hands trembled as he burned letter after letter, feeling heartbroken. Watching the treasured letters turn to ash ached his heart, yet he had to follow the master’s orders. The first letter Second Miss wrote to the young master, which made him so happy he couldn’t sleep for nights, was reluctantly placed in the fire. The letter inviting the young master on an outing, the times he tried on clothes at home, and the letter where Second Miss expressed her desire to appreciate flowers under the moonlight—all brought smiles to the young master’s face.
As Dao’er placed the last letter in the fire basin, he sighed, his eyes misty. Everything the young master cherished was now burned away.
He blinked, clearing the moisture from his eyes, and turned to return to the inner room.
When he raised his eyes, he suddenly trembled, “Young, young miss, how did you come……”
Yun Mei, half-awake, heard Dao’er’s panicked voice and became alert, “Dao’er, what happened?”
Dao’er looked helplessly toward the inner room and then anxiously at Jin Yu, tears welling up in his eyes, “Miss, I, I, the young master……”
Jin Yu spoke flatly, “I’m just here to take a look. You can go now.”
“Miss……” Dao’er reluctantly looked toward the inner room, worried, “Can I tell the young master?”
“Mm, go ahead.”
“Thank you, miss.”
Watching Dao’er’s panicked back as he ran to the inner room, Jin Yu shook her head and glanced at the fire basin. She had seen Dao’er throwing letters into the fire earlier, and now the fire was dying down with most letters burned. Jin Yu noticed a fragment with the character “念,” which she recognized as Jin Mo’s handwriting.
Although she had long known about Yun Mei and Jin Mo’s secret correspondence, seeing the letter still made her uncomfortable. Jin Yu didn’t mind divorcing Yun Mei and letting him be with Jin Mo, but their secret communication felt like a significant insult.
After Dao’er nervously left the inner room, Jin Yu walked in. After her rebirth, she had seen Yun Mei several times and remembered his appearance from their last meeting half a year ago. Yun Mei was much thinner now.
Although he had been neglected for two years and was well-provided for, his emaciation was clearly from lovesickness. Jin Yu knew he wasn’t pining for her, and everyone in town knew who had caused his heartache.
“I’ve instructed the steward to prepare for your return home. You can go back whenever you want,” Jin Yu’s flat voice filled the room.
“Thank you, wife… mistress.” Before their marriage, Yun Mei had always called Jin Yu “young miss.” Now, the term “mistress” felt unfamiliar.
Jin Yu felt uncomfortable at the strange address, which brought back painful memories. Her voice remained flat, “If you need anything, tell the steward. If there’s anything, send someone to find me.”
Yun Mei’s eyelashes trembled as she looked at Jin Yu before turning away, “Yes, Yun Mei understands.”
“Are you feeling well? Call a doctor if you’re unwell.”
“Thank you for your concern. Yun Mei is fine.”
“Have you eaten lunch?”
“Yes.”
“You can go out for a walk if you’re feeling down.”
“Mm.”
Jin Yu took a deep breath; this polite small talk felt ironic. She quickly returned to her usual calm, a coldness in her eyes, “Don’t communicate with Jin Mo again.”
Divorce Letter
Yun Mei’s body trembled slightly, looking up at Jin Yu, “Wife, wife master…”
“Even if you like Jin Mo, as the legitimate husband of the Jin family’s young miss, you should know what you should and should not do.”
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet. After a long while, Yun Mei lowered his eyes. Long eyelashes covered the sorrow beneath, casting a shadow on his cheeks. “Yes, Yun Mei understands.”
“When will Jin Mo return?”
Yun Mei’s eyelashes fluttered, his voice trembling slightly, “The letter says she will return soon.”
“When she returns, I will write a divorce letter for you…”
Yun Mei’s body began to tremble lightly. Was he being abandoned?
“As for what happens between you two afterwards, that is your own business…”
In the end, he was left alone again.
“While you are still the legitimate husband of the Jin family’s young miss, do not do such absurd things,” Jin Yu observed Yun Mei’s reaction, staring directly at him. “Just because I tolerated your past actions does not mean I will continue to do so. I hope you both know your place.”
Yun Mei gripped the bedding tightly, his knuckles turning white. After a while, he calmed down slightly, “Yes, wife master, Yun Mei understands.” His voice still carried a tremor.
After Jin Yu left, Dao’er worriedly called out, “Young master.”
She sighed and did not respond. She was always gentle, but if someone crossed her bottom line, she would be ruthless when needed.
Dao’er entered the room and saw Yun Mei trembling with a poor complexion. He rushed over anxiously, “Young master, are you okay?” He grabbed Yun Mei’s hand, noticing how tightly Yun Mei gripped the bedding, his knuckles turning white. His heart ached.
Yun Mei shook his head, responding softly, “I’m fine.”
“What did the young miss say to you? I saw her leave with a bad expression.”
