If Xiao Mingyu had still harbored even a trace of trust in Yun Xiu that night, now there was none left.
Once someone entered the Imperial Prison of the Northern Command Office, even the dead would be forced to speak the truth.
Yun Xiu…
So she had truly wanted to marry his elder brother all along!
Xiao Mingyu felt as though a green glow had sprouted from his forehead—a cuckold’s mark.
“Mingyu, Mingyu, listen to me…”
“Son-in-law… I…”
“Get lost!”
Xiao Mingyu shoved Yun Xiu aside and stormed out of the Yun residence in a rage. Crying bitterly, Yun Xiu chased after him.
Madam Xu wept uncontrollably. Clutching the armrest of his chair, Yun Chengguang glared at Xiao Lanting.
“What exactly do you want?”
“I don’t ever want to hear anyone say again that it was Yun Juan who arranged the bride swap.”
Xiao Lanting’s gaze drifted lazily between Yun Chengguang and Madam Xu.
He had seen straight through their little scheme.
“Otherwise, what happened today will become known throughout Shengjing. I’ll make sure your daughter becomes famous.”
Rising to his feet, Xiao Lanting turned to Yun Juan.
“Let’s go home.”
Yun Juan’s eyes lit up brilliantly. She hurried to his side and followed him out of the Yun residence.
Bang!
Yun Chengguang kicked over the chair and roared,
“Ungrateful daughter! Ungrateful daughter!”
“Master! What are we going to do? Xiuxiu… How is she supposed to survive in the Marquis’ household now?”
Madam Xu hated Xiao Lanting with every fiber of her being.
He wasn’t leaving Yun Xiu even the slightest way out.
“And you’re asking me? How should I know? If it weren’t for her causing all this after the marriage swap succeeded, would Xiao Lanting have gone so far as to publicly humiliate himself like this?”
Furious, Yun Chengguang turned to Concubine Rong and slapped her hard across the face.
“This is the fine daughter you’ve raised!”
Covering her swollen cheek, Concubine Rong collapsed to her knees in tears as the Yun household descended into complete chaos.
Inside the Xiao family’s carriage, Yun Juan stole yet another glance at Xiao Lanting before softly saying,
“Thank you.”
She had always feared that, out of revenge, Yun Xiu would slander her reputation just as she had in her previous life.
Thanks to Xiao Lanting, her name had finally been cleared.
Sitting across from her, Xiao Lanting chuckled.
“Just a verbal thank-you? No practical way of showing your gratitude?”
“…”
Blinking rapidly, Yun Juan gave a light cough.
“When we get home.”
Home.
She silently repeated the word in her heart.
Did she have a home now?
Could the place where she lived together with Xiao Lanting truly be called home?
Yun Juan didn’t know.
But she had begun to feel that Xiao Lanting was actually a very good person.
Well…
Just a little… shamelessly flirtatious.
The carriage stopped before the Marquis’ estate.
Xiao Lanting stepped down first, while Yun Juan accepted Jiaoyue’s hand as she climbed out.
Changfeng approached from the side. After bowing, he handed her something.
Yun Juan had assumed it was one of her belongings from the Yun family.
Looking closer, she realized it was the dress she had worn a few days ago.
Her dress?
A flash of realization struck her.
She immediately remembered Yun Xiu’s strange remark that morning.
Sewing clothes.
Sure enough, Changfeng explained,
“When the Young Master heard that Miss Yun Xiu had argued with you, he ordered me to tear one of your dresses and have her mend it. She stayed up for two nights sewing it. Consider it a bit of revenge on your behalf.”
Yun Juan looked toward Xiao Lanting.
He was standing not far away speaking with one of his subordinates, brows slightly furrowed. His sharply defined jawline made him look exceptionally handsome.
“Thank you.”
She accepted the dress.
She would never wear it again, but she wanted to keep it as a memento.
It was the first time anyone had treated her this kindly…
The first time someone had stood up for her again and again.
The first time someone had protected her.
Yun Juan thought she might remember Xiao Lanting for the rest of her life.
“What are you standing here for?”
Xiao Lanting’s voice sounded above her.
“Oh? She finished sewing it?”
He casually took the dress from her hands.
To be fair, Yun Xiu’s needlework was excellent. Even after staying up all night, the stitches were beautifully done.
With Changfeng watching her, she naturally hadn’t dared play any tricks.
“Give it back,” Yun Juan said. “I want to put it away.”
“Put it away for what? That dress has passed through her hands. Doesn’t wearing it disgust you?”
He laughed lightly and casually tossed the dress onto the ground.
“Come on. If you like this style, I’ll have a couple more made for you.”
Yun Juan wanted to say something.
But passing carriages had already rolled over the dress several times, leaving dirty wheel tracks across the fabric.
She looked at Xiao Lanting.
What was worth remembering had never been the dress.
It was the heart of the man before her—the fact that he had been willing to help her.
Once she realized that, she followed Xiao Lanting into the Marquis’ estate.
Not long afterward, Yun Xiu returned as well.
Her eyes were swollen from crying as she lowered her head and hurried toward the estate, intending to find Xiao Mingyu.
Suddenly she stepped on something soft.
Looking down, it felt as though another arrow had pierced her heart.
Wasn’t this the dress she had painstakingly repaired?
Yun Juan had actually thrown it onto the street!
It had even been crushed flat beneath countless carriage wheels!
A mouthful of blood nearly rose in Yun Xiu’s throat. She beat her chest in fury.
“Xiao Lanting! Yun Juan! I’ll never let either of you off!”
After returning to her parents’ home, Yun Juan’s married life gradually settled into a routine.
She also began growing accustomed to life as Xiao Lanting’s wife.
Other than being especially exhausted at night, everything else was quite pleasant.
When Yun Juan woke, Xiao Lanting had already left for work.
Rubbing her sore waist, she remained in bed for quite a while.
The previous night, wanting to thank him for helping her during the visit home, she had once again ended up swaying beneath him for almost the entire night.
She vaguely remembered losing control near the end…
She hadn’t even managed to keep her cries in check.
Thinking about it now, she didn’t know how she could face the servants of Xiaoyao Pavilion.
Only when the sun was already high in the sky did Yun Juan finally call Jiaoyue in to help her bathe and change.
Jiaoyue wore an amused smile as she poured warm water over Yun Juan’s neck.
“Before the Young Master left, he instructed us to prepare breakfast for you. The ginseng soup is also still warm. You can drink it after you’ve eaten.”
Xiao Lanting had said one bowl a day.
And he truly meant one bowl every single day.
It wasn’t awful…
But it certainly wasn’t delicious.
“My health is perfectly fine,” Yun Juan complained. “When he comes back, tell him I don’t want to drink that medicine every day…”
Smiling knowingly, Jiaoyue said,
“I don’t think the ginseng soup is only meant to improve your health.”
“What do you mean? What else could it be for?”
Jiaoyue leaned close and whispered into her ear.
“You’re so silly, Miss. Now that you’re married to the Young Master, what else could it possibly be for…?”
Yun Juan instantly thought of something, and even her ears turned red.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
She lightly tapped Jiaoyue on the head.
Rubbing her forehead innocently, Jiaoyue replied,
“What are you thinking about? I meant the Young Master probably wants you to put on a little weight… so it’ll be easier for you to conceive. Now that you’re married, shouldn’t you have a child as soon as possible? Then your future will be secure.”
“A child…”
Yun Juan drifted into thought.
She had honestly never considered it before.
Still…
With how often she and Xiao Lanting…
Sooner or later, there probably would be one.
She wasn’t particularly attached to the idea.
Her nature had always been to let things take their course.
If it happened, it happened.
If not, then so be it.
In her previous life she hadn’t had children either, yet she’d still lived quite happily.
After bathing and eating, Yun Juan obediently finished her bowl of ginseng soup.
Whether she wanted to or not, Changfeng was standing nearby watching.
Setting the empty bowl down, she looked at him.
“Don’t you need to stay by Xiao Lanting’s side?”
“The Young Master has plenty of people with him. From now on, I’ll remain with Madam and protect you at all times.”
After a moment’s thought, Yun Juan asked,
“Were you the one following me yesterday? The one who told Xiao Lanting I was with Mother?”
Changfeng did not deny it.
Pressing her lips together, Yun Juan said,
“Don’t follow me anymore. I don’t want someone knowing everywhere I go.”
“You’ll have to discuss that with the Young Master.”
Clink.
Yun Juan dropped her spoon back into the bowl.
Her displeasure was obvious.
Just then, Jiaoyue returned.
“Madam, someone has delivered a box. They said it’s a wedding gift for you.”