Jin Yu ultimately gave in, agreeing to let the child be born. Yun Mei’s emotions occasionally became unstable, and Jin Yu stayed close, helping her stabilize.
Su Xi, the youngest of Jin Yu’s husbands, exuded maturity despite his awkwardness after giving birth, making him even more endearing to Jin Yu.
The rose-colored curtains were warm. Their passionate encounter lasted almost until dawn, with Su Xi falling asleep, exhausted, and Jin Yu holding him contentedly.
Xiao Lian packed her bags to leave and found an exquisite embroidered handkerchief at the bottom of her trunk. She thought of Jin Mo, recalling their first meeting. She realized she might not be as annoying as before and being with him wasn’t bad, especially since she wouldn’t be forced to do embroidery anymore. This thought made her giggle.
As Xiao Lian prepared to leave, Su Xi felt reluctant and wanted to say something to keep her but was unsure what to say. He knew Xiao Lian had suffered these past months, and temporarily leaving might improve her mood.
When Yun Mei learned Jin Yu was taking Chen Bi and Xiao Lian out, she anxiously held her hand. “Wife, you said you wouldn’t get involved in those disputes again…”
“Yes, I said that.”
“Then why are you still going…” Yun Mei’s eyes filled with tears. “Why take Chen Bi? If you still have feelings for him, you could marry him…” She knew Chen Bi was different in Jin Yu’s heart, having been her deeply loved husband. Yun Mei would rather Jin Yu marry Chen Bi than get involved in past conflicts.
Jin Yu smiled softly, stroking her hair comfortingly. “I won’t get involved. This time it’s to resolve Chen Bi’s situation. Leaving him in the mansion would mean he’s just a nameless man I brought home. Although I haven’t touched him, society still considers him my person. He’ll have better opportunities if he leaves the mansion and can perhaps marry someone he likes.” Jin Yu knew her feelings for Chen Bi had faded, not thinking of their previous marriage since being reborn.
Yun Mei looked at Jin Yu with reddened eyes. Jin Yu smiled, gently touching her cheek. “Although I no longer hate him, there’s still some resentment. Taking him out this time is to let go of those feelings. You don’t want me to have others in my heart besides you.”
Yun Mei blushed, feeling a hidden sweetness. “Are you still going to Ten Li Town?”
“Yes, Xiao Lian is going to the Jin family, and Su Xi is worried. He hopes I can personally send him.” Jin Yu felt tender thinking of Su Xi’s concern for Xiao Lian traveling alone, as he desired to keep her close.
The horse-drawn carriage galloped on the road. Xiao Lian lifted the curtain to look outside; the early summer scenery was serene, and his previously gloomy mood began to dissipate. Glancing at Jin Yu, he realized they wouldn’t see each other often in the future and wanted to spend quality time together before returning to Shi Li Town.
Su Chen Bi sat quietly in the carriage. Jin Yu’s remark, “Business matters are inconvenient to disclose,” left him unaware of who had bought his freedom. As the young miss of the Jin family, he never expected she might be that person.
Jin Yu gently cared for Xu Yi and the baby in his belly. Although Xu Yi’s belly was slightly rounded, his petite form nestled in Jin Yu’s arms like a small cat, sleeping soundly.
Upon arriving in the capital, Jin Yu arranged for Xu Yi and Xiao Lian to stay at an inn, then took Su Chen Bi out. Both felt dazed in this familiar yet strange place, remaining silent. Seeing the once-magnificent royal mansion now leveled, Jin Yu felt relieved. The powerful prince admired by the world was gone, the former tyrannical ruler now imprisoned, with a new emperor spreading benevolence.
Royal family members have sacrifices, and she was just another lost in power struggles. Losing meant death, and fortunately, she would no longer be entangled in endless conflicts.
Seeing Su Chen Bi tearful, Jin Yu asked, “Do you regret that thing?”
Su Chen Bi didn’t answer. Jin Yu pressed, “Did you love her?”
A dim, sorrowful look passed through Su Chen Bi’s eyes as he nodded after a moment of silence.
“Do you still love her?”
With tears rolling down and head lowered, Su Chen Bi’s voice was choked but clear as he replied, “Yes.”
Jin Yu looked at the flat ground, feeling a mix of emptiness and fullness. In a calm voice, she asked, “Do you love me?”
Su Chen Bi looked up, surprised and with tears in his eyes. He moved his lips but ultimately said nothing and lowered his head.
After a moment, Jin Yu turned to leave, stating, “Let’s go; we’ll set out for Shi Li Town tomorrow.” Su Chen Bi, feeling aggrieved and guilty, uneasily followed her.
Xiao Lian noticed Jin Mo shrink back slightly. He realized he might have to live with his future wife, which filled him with regret about coming to the Jin household.
Jin Mo saw Xu Yi’s bright eyes and felt genuinely happy, knowing Jin Yu had found a doctor for him. However, he felt disappointed upon realizing someone was missing, but happiness returned when he caught sight of the figure behind Jin Yu. Yet, he soon worried – would he end up marrying the elder sister like Xu Yi?
Jin Yu settled in the Jin household.
Jin Mo was delighted when Xiao Lian expressed her desire to return and marry him. However, she soon felt helpless as Xiao Lian began to avoid him in the Jin household, seemingly afraid to see her.
A turning point occurred when Xiao Lian met Dao’er again in the Jin household. Nervous and recalling past bullying, Xiao Lian was taken aback by Dao’er’s swollen belly. Angered and ashamed that a servant’s belly was larger than his, Xiao Lian confronted Jin Mo, insisting that her belly should be bigger than Dao’er’s. Despite Jin Mo’s conflicted feelings, he reassured Xiao Lian that she could get pregnant after they married.
Ning Zhi, holding back tears, felt resentment and hatred towards Wang Yan, who had once claimed she would marry him despite their families being sworn enemies.
Despite his family’s opposition, he followed her, but she was afraid of her family and wanted to keep him as a kept lover, not daring to marry him. She wanted to take his innocence first, which made him furious. Wang Yan repeatedly tried to take his innocence, promising to discuss the future later. When he refused, she became angry and tricked him into being sold to a brothel. Alone and powerless to resist, he eventually managed to save enough money for his freedom, but he felt hopeless about facing his family again, blaming himself for believing her, which had left him tainted.
The woman believed Ning Zhi was just angry and advised, “I know you’re blaming me. Once you think it through, you’ll agree to be my concubine. I’m now the head of the Wang family, and no one would dare oppose me taking you in.”
Ning Zhi laughed coldly in his heart, his body trembling slightly. Fei’er worriedly held Ning Zhi’s hand and glared at the woman, saying, “You’ve harmed the young master, and you still have the face to come find him. The young master would marry anyone but you.”
“Not marry, take as a concubine. Do you think anyone else would redeem someone of his age? If I hadn’t seen that you still have your charms, I wouldn’t have considered redeeming someone like you.”
Just serve me well in the future,” Wang Yan said coldly, “Ning Zhi, only I can take you away from here.”
Ning Zhi trembled. Once noble, he felt like less than grass, realizing how shameless people could be. She had personally destroyed him and now came to the Smoke Flower Drunk to humiliate him.
Once cherishing him, she tricked him to a brothel and punished, humiliated, and tortured him. Now she has multiple wives and children, while he suffers alone.
