After a long while, Yun Qi finally spoke, "Shu Niang, I feel terrible!"
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Han curved her lips slightly, "Why do you feel terrible?"
Yun Qi wanted to say that he had wronged her, wronged her once again.
But this time, it was different.
The previous two times, he had been tricked, but this time, he had been willing.
"You have someone on the outside, don’t you?" Mrs. Han asked calmly, her voice as unruffled as ever.
There was no rage like the first time, no hysteria like the second, just calmness, a calmness as if facing a matter of no importance.
Yun Qi suddenly stood up, "I, Shu Niang, I..."
"Since you’re going to enter court as an official, if you’re keeping someone outside, that would be a concubine. You should bring her back to the residence!" Mrs. Han’s voice remained indifferent.
Yet Yun Qi walked over to Mrs. Han and knelt down, "Shu Niang, scold me, you can hit me too, but don’t be so indifferent towards me, I’d rather have you be fierce with me, not ..."
Mrs. Han’s detached demeanor scared Yun Qi.
Mrs. Han looked at Yun Qi kneeling before her and reached out her hand to help him up, "You’re about to enter court as an official, how can you kneel before a woman like me!"
Three strikes, and Yun Qi had extinguished her last bit of hope.
Yun Qi became nervous, his entire being grew uneasy.
Mrs. Han began to smile, "Don’t be , Yun Er Ye is a man who should stand tall and proud. Don’t be so timorous; since you’ve decided to enter court as an official, earn an imperial edict for me!"
Yun Qi could only ask for one imperial edict, and if he promised her, that meant the Old Lady would have no chance.
Yun Qi nodded vigorously, wanting to embrace Mrs. Han, but she turned and walked away to tidy up the soft couch. Yun Qi stared at Mrs. Han’s retreating figure, feeling a great emptiness inside.
After a while, Mrs. Han finished tidying, "Go to sleep early, it’s about to dawn; even a short nap would be good!"
Because she had given up hope, whatever Yun Qi did, Mrs. Han didn’t care.
It doesn’t matter if he brings home one woman, or ten or eight—it’s not her money supporting them, so what does it have to do with her!
Yun Qi walked over to the soft couch and lay down fully clothed.
Mrs. Han also returned to bed and continued to sleep.
It didn’t matter if it was disgusting or not, just let it be an uneventful coexistence.
Yun Qi couldn’t sleep; his mind was a mess, feeling hollow inside. The person he loved most was right beside him, but it was as if they were worlds apart.
As dawn broke, Yun Qi left the residence.
Come lunchtime, he brought Yu Rou back with him.
When he brought Yu Rou to Qiyue Academy, Yun Jinnian was sitting on the kang with Mrs. Han, embroidering a lotus seed pod pouch together.
Watching Yun Qi bring Yu Rou back, Yun Jinnian accidentally pierced his finger, "Hiss!" he hissed softly, quickly sucking on the fingertip.
Mrs. Han gently set down the garment in her hands, her expression very serene.
Yun Qi kept watching Mrs. Han, hoping that if she asked him to send Yu Rou away—even with just a simple command, a shattered teacup, or a stern look—he would immediately send Yu Rou packing.
But Mrs. Han said nothing.
Yu Rou, who was quite scheming herself, immediately knelt in front of Mrs. Han, "Concubine Yu Rou pays respects to the madam!"
Mrs. Han looked at Yu Rou; she was good-looking and had a nice figure, dressed so thinly despite the bitter cold.
Mrs. Han chuckled coldly, "Bai Que, prepare tea for Miss Yu Rou!"
But the tea was not for Yu Rou to drink; it was for her to offer to the madam.
Bai Que prepared the tea, and Yu Rou took it, advancing on her knees towards Mrs. Han. When she reached in front of Mrs. Han, she offered, "Madam, please have some tea!"
Mrs. Han accepted it, but without drinking, placed it directly on the tea table.
She removed the Jade Hairpin from her head, looked at it for a moment, then passed it to Yu Rou, "Serve the Second Master well in the future, and may you soon bear him offspring and spread his lineage!"