CHAPTER 15

After parting with Fu Chengyu, Yi Huan did not return to Yi Qiancheng’s room.

She had been frail since childhood, her energy easily depleted. Last night, upon hearing the news of Yi Qiancheng falling off a cliff, she had rushed to the scene and stayed there until he was found. She hadn’t expected to see an unexpected person upon her return.

Fu Chengyu. She softly whispered his name.

A name she couldn’t be more familiar with, but every time it came to mind, her blood and bones seemed to tremble. She didn’t know how to interact with him, and what worried her most was his intentions.

Perhaps Mr. Fu Yi didn’t know, and her brother didn’t know either, but she was well aware. She knew exactly how many dark thoughts were hidden beneath his unruly exterior.

Mr. Fu Yi had always thought his son was as loyal and devoted as he was, but Yi Huan knew that wasn’t the case.

Fu Chengyu hated her brother. Or rather, he hated the world.

When his mother died, he began hating the world.
He harbored resentment toward his father, toward Yi Qiancheng, and even toward Yi Huan.

He smiled on the surface, but darkness grew within.

After all, one could say that the Yi family and Mr. Fu Yi together abandoned his mother.

Ten years ago, there was an epidemic in Shaji. The disease spread like wildfire, engulfing nearly half the city in a short time.

At that time, Mr. Fu Yi was already a friend of the old city lord of Yi. He volunteered to find his physician friend and eventually returned with a prescription to cure the illness.

Back then, Yi Huan had come down from the mountain to visit her parents. With the situation so dire, the old city lord couldn’t send her back in time and forbade her from leaving her room.

Young and restless, Yi Huan sneaked out of her room.

That was the first time she saw Fu Chengyu—a boy a few years older than her, tall and thin, his face streaked with tears.

He was desperately pulling at Mr. Fu Yi’s robe. “Father, please go back and check on Mother.”

“Yu’er, stop making trouble! You know your mother’s temper—she always uses this tactic to force me to return. The people of Shaji are suffering right now, and I’m too busy controlling the epidemic to indulge in your nonsense. Go back!”

“Father, what if…what if Mother has caught the illness? All the doctors are here at the city lord’s manor. Can’t you take just one to see her? Please, she keeps calling your name.”

“Did your mother tell you to say this? She stays home all day. How could she catch it? Enough! Every moment wasted increases the chances of the epidemic spreading. Go home immediately!”

The young Yi Huan shrank back behind a pillar, watching as the boy’s hand was flung aside by Mr. Fu Yi, who hurried into her father’s study.

The boy turned his head, his eyes filled with confusion and unwillingness, tinged faintly with resentment.

When he looked up, he noticed Yi Huan’s pink dress peeking out from behind the pillar. His gaze turned cold. Yi Huan realized he had seen her and timidly peeked out.

Fu Chengyu glared at her fiercely, clearly displeased that someone had seen him in such a pitiful state. Then he wiped his tears and ran out of the city lord’s manor.

Five days later, Yi Huan overheard the servants quietly praising Mr. Fu Yi.

“Sir Fu is so kind-hearted, always putting others first. He even managed to develop a cure.”

“Indeed! He cares so much about the greater good…even at the expense of his own wife. Sigh.”

Yi Huan listened in confusion, then suddenly realized—Fu Chengyu’s mother seemed to have died in the epidemic.

After that epidemic, Mr. Fu Yi’s reputation in Shaji soared, earning him the love and respect of nearly the entire city.

Back then, Yi Huan didn’t understand. Later, when she recalled it again and again, she could only sigh. It must have been during that time that the seeds of resentment took root in Fu Chengyu’s heart.

The more Mr. Fu Yi sought to assist her father in managing Shaji, the more it hurt Fu Chengyu. But he was too good at pretending; no matter how much hatred he harbored, he never showed it on his face. As time passed, when he began working for the city, his suppressed resentment grew into a desire to destroy it.

The world is vast, and one city being swallowed by another is no rare occurrence.

All it takes is for it to become a city without a master.

Whenever Yi Huan thought of Fu Chengyu’s gaze when they first met, she felt uneasy. That was why she quietly investigated the events of that time and learned the truth—

His mother was a tragic woman. Her husband had no place for her in his heart, only ambition and the lives of the masses. She waited at the door for him, year after year, until she succumbed to illness and died.

His mother had often been ill, but she didn’t want to burden her busy husband, so she said she was fine and scolded Fu Chengyu for exaggerating to his father.

Over time, Mr. Fu Yi became convinced she was feigning illness and grew increasingly impatient with her. Torn between the truths he’d uncovered and his own experiences, Fu Chengyu must have endured immense pain.

Yi Huan remembered the fierce look in the boy’s eyes when they first met. That was his truest self.

She only hoped that a year ago, she had stopped him from doing anything harmful, and now, a year later, his return would come without ill intentions.

Yi Huan thought about it. Yi Qiancheng didn’t entirely trust Fu Chengyu either and always maintained a degree of vigilance. Her brother wasn’t one to be trifled with. As long as they remained cautious, there should be no trouble.

Currently, there was another matter she was quite concerned about: her brother’s new wife. On the day of his wedding, he didn’t even send for her to come back, which clearly showed he wasn’t truly willing to marry this new wife and didn’t accept her in his heart.

Later, when she learned that her sister-in-law was a woman from the Lian family, she immediately understood a bit of the situation. It was likely that her brother was also filled with hatred deep down.

Yi Huan felt a headache coming on. Why did it seem like everyone around her wanted to take out their frustrations on the world?

Though she, too, disliked the Lian family’s behavior—canceling engagements in times of crisis and standing by coldly—she also knew that the young woman from the Lian family was innocent in this matter. Now that her brother had married her, he shouldn’t treat her like an enemy. After all, they were supposed to spend their lives together.

Having thought it through, Yi Huan decided not to interfere with them. From what she could see, her sister-in-law seemed pretty decent. Perhaps, after spending enough time together, her brother’s hatred could dissipate.

She didn’t hope for much right now; she just wanted the two men around her—both of whom were as unpredictable as they were cunning—to let go of their past grudges and live their lives properly.

As for her brother, she would leave it to her sister-in-law to handle.

As for Fu Chengyu... forget it. Let him fend for himself. She was genuinely afraid of that scoundrel.

...

Lian Sheng, caught red-handed, was more embarrassed than afraid.

Though she had a bit of a mischievous nature, she never did anything improper in her daily life. Snooping on someone’s private letters, something so disgraceful, was entirely out of character for her in the past.

But this time, it concerned the safety of Yingtong. She simply couldn’t stop herself. Yet, the one time she decided to do something wrong, she was caught by none other than the person involved.

No, it couldn’t even be called getting caught. Yi Qiancheng had set a trap, waiting for her to walk right into it. And walk into it she did, foolishly. But upon reflection, she didn’t particularly regret it.

Because now she was certain that her dream was real—Yingtong was walking step by step toward the destruction she had seen in her dream.

Before the city fell, her brother, Lian Qi, had led the soldiers to a victorious battle. But not long after, he would die on the battlefield.

Lian Sheng’s heart sank. She even forgot her usual fear and apprehension of Yi Qiancheng, turning to meet his cold, sinister gaze.

“Husband, is it true? Did my brother really win such a battle?”

“What’s wrong? So happy you’re stunned? Shouldn’t you clap for him? Is this the character taught by the Lian family? Snooping around other people’s things?”

“... I’m sorry.” She lowered her eyes. There was no room for argument here; it was undoubtedly her fault.

“I’m worried about Yingtong,” Lian Sheng said in a subdued voice. Perhaps the night spent at the bottom of the cliff had lessened her fear of Yi Qiancheng. For the first time, she was willing to voice a part of her real concerns. “My entire family is there, and now the people are suffering from war. I’ve had the same nightmare for several nights, dreaming that Yingtong fell.”

Yi Qiancheng was a little surprised. He had assumed that he would be furious when she brought up Yingtong again. However, though he still felt some resentment, it wasn’t as strong as he had expected.

What he found even more intriguing was that this woman, who was usually full of lies, was, for the first time, telling him the truth.

Suppressing the complicated emotions in his heart, he lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Your brother seems quite brave. Now that Xiqiang has momentarily ceased its attacks, you should be happy.”

Lian Sheng carefully observed his expression. Seeing that he didn’t immediately mock her, she let out a breath of relief.

“Husband, earlier you said you would discuss with me when we could return to visit my family. Have you decided when you’ll accompany me back?” She couldn’t feel happy at all. Everything was unfolding according to the progression of her dream. After a small victory, a storm would soon follow.

She had to bring Yi Qiancheng back before that and persuade him to send troops to change the city’s fate!

“Three days from now. Once I’ve settled Huan’er and dealt with matters in Shaji, we’ll set off.”

This time, he truly didn’t make things difficult for her. Lian Sheng found it surprising that Yi Qiancheng seemed to be in a good mood, which was unexpected. Although his thoughts were becoming harder to discern, luckily, everything seemed to be heading in the right direction.

She bit her lip and smiled sincerely. “Husband, you’re so good.”

He turned his head away, concealing the strange sense of joy that had surged within him, and the back of his ears turned slightly red.

Her smile was exceptionally beautiful, like a crabapple flower kissed by dew—bright and dazzling. That radiance pierced through his outer shell, forcing its way into his heart and taking root there.

Yi Qiancheng felt a tinge of resistance and tried hard to make himself seem more serious and cynical.

Yes, the reason he was going to Yingtong now was to cause trouble, to ensure that Lian Qi wouldn’t truly rise to prominence. If Yingtong overcame its difficulties without his help, how would he conquer the city later?

The Great General Yi spent half the day brainwashing himself, yet his lips couldn’t help but curve upward.

Then, something even stranger happened.

He heard himself respond in a cold and aloof tone, “Hmm.”

She had said, “Husband, you’re so good.” And he replied, “Hmm.”