Chapter 46: Hidden Thoughts Behind This Feeling (Part One)

The next morning, Chuxiu awoke in a sticky, humid bed, her entire body aching with weakness and a languid softness she could hardly bear. This sensation was one she had experienced before—etched so deeply into her body and soul that she could never forget it. Thus, in that fleeting moment, panic gripped her heart and a shudder ran through her as she abruptly sat up from the couch. Looking down, she found herself utterly unclothed.

Forcing herself to calm down, she surveyed the room’s furnishings. The layout was vaguely familiar, though she was certain she had never been here before. The cloying scent of desire still lingered thickly in the bedding, and the evidence of last night’s entanglement was plain upon the couch. Recalling how clear-headed she had felt before losing consciousness, a chill settled over her heart.

Before grief or anger could settle in, a gentle male voice sounded from behind the screen at the foot of the bed. “You’re awake?”

Yunci! Instinctively, Chuxiu hid herself beneath the covers, just as Yunci stepped out from behind the screen and approached the couch. In her mortification, she failed to notice that he was walking with ease.

Yunci’s expression was calm and unruffled. “Last night, you were drugged with an aphrodisiac.”

She had already guessed as much, and at his words, Chuxiu buried her face in the bedding. The implication was clear enough—he had been the one to cure her, and there was no doubt about it.

“Do you regret it?” His voice drifted down from above her, both bewitching and resolute.

What could she say? Chuxiu felt her heart thud in her chest, as if a startled fawn were about to leap out. The feelings within her were hard to describe—a strange, fluttering excitement that she could not yet fully understand. But one thing was certain—she did not regret what had happened last night.

With that thought, she slowly shook her head.

“Then why are you still hiding under the covers? Danxin is waiting outside, growing anxious. If you don’t get up soon, she’ll have a laugh at your expense,” Yunci teased, indulgence in his voice as he looked at the tightly wrapped Chuxiu.

As expected, Chuxiu’s body trembled slightly at his words, and even hidden beneath the bedding, Yunci noticed. He cleared his throat softly. “I’ll step out and let Danxin come in to look after you, all right?”

Yet, though he spoke, his feet did not move. Chuxiu, remembering how she had been tricked once before in the separate courtyard, had grown wiser. She whispered from beneath the covers, “Don’t lie to me.” Her voice was barely audible.

“All right, I’m really going this time.” Knowing she was too embarrassed to face him, Yunci finally stepped out and summoned Danxin to attend her.

Danxin was surprised to see Yunci walking so steadily as he left, her brows furrowing as she asked, “Master, did you take that pill?”

Yunci only murmured assent, then glanced at the door, signaling Danxin to say no more.

Danxin’s eyes turned slightly red, but she said nothing more and went in to help Chuxiu wash up.

A short while later, Chuxiu followed Danxin out, awkward and abashed, standing before Yunci with her ears burning red, unable to meet his gaze. She herself did not notice, but to others, her bearing seemed even more alluring and delicate—last night had transformed her, lending her a new brilliance.

Yunci forced himself to look away, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her ear. In a low voice, he said, “Go back now. After this is settled, I’ll go see Mother.”

Chuxiu understood the unspoken meaning in his words and left quietly, head bowed.

Only when both women had departed did Yunci return to the room. He sliced open his fingertip and smeared a streak of fresh blood across the bedding. Gazing at the suggestive stain, he frowned in deep thought...

*****

An hour later, in the study of Pure Heart Residence.

Yunci’s expression was grave, tinged with anger, as he faced the man seated across from him.

Yunqi’s face was filled with shame and regret. “Elder Brother... please forgive me just this once. I truly know I was wrong... When I gave Chuxiu that box, I didn’t know she was the one you cared for…”

“So, if she hadn’t been, you could have done as you pleased?” Yunci’s voice was icy, on the verge of slamming the desk. “Who taught you such things? How could you do something so vile?”

Yunqi, startled, scrambled to his feet. “Brother... When she fell ill, and you went to the other courtyard to care for her yourself, I realized… I truly regret it. I wanted to retrieve the box…”

“Then why didn’t you?” Yunci’s tone was cold.

“Because Mother had someone set fire to the courtyard, which delayed me…” Yunqi explained, trembling. “Later, the box ended up with Qianyun. You know how cautious she is—I tried twice to get it back, but failed and didn’t dare ask outright, fearing she’d grow suspicious. I thought for sure she’d open it herself, so I kept my attention on her these days. I never expected…”

“Outrageous!” Yunci had always prided himself on his composure, but his half-brother’s words filled him with fury and disbelief. “So if Qianyun had been the one to fall victim, you were prepared to ruin her? Tell me, if you’d succeeded, how would you have treated her?”

With a thud, Yunqi dropped to his knees, begging for forgiveness. He had seldom seen Yunci so angry and knew well his brother’s temper—once provoked, it was hard to appease. “Brother, I truly regret my actions... Please forgive me this once. Besides, nothing happened—Chuxiu is with you now…”

“Yunqi!” Unable to bear it any longer, Yunci swept a row of writing brushes from the rack at his brother’s face. “When you behaved improperly in the past, I let you run wild. But now, do you mean to disgrace the Yun family’s reputation of hundreds of years?!”

“Brother!” Yunci’s accusation was too heavy for anyone to bear. Yunqi pleaded, “Punish me, scold me—I admit my fault. Though I’ve been foolish with women, I have always kept my limits. This time, I was truly blinded by anger when Chuxiu ignored me. I only meant to tease her, not to actually do anything…”

“Even now you defend yourself, showing no true remorse.” Yunci was infuriated by his brother’s lack of contrition, a fire burning ever hotter in his chest. “You are my own brother and a son of the Marquis of Lixin, yet look at your conduct! You’re already nineteen and spend your days in debauchery—is this how a Yun heir should behave?”

His words were forceful and unyielding, leaving Yunqi ashamed, unable to lift his head.

“My anger is not solely because of Chuxiu—but also because of your usual conduct,” Yunci said, his voice thick with pain. “Our third brother is just a year younger than you, yet already manages half the family affairs without error. And you…”

They had grown up in the same household, shared the same blood, yet his half-brother’s behavior went beyond mere folly. Yunci had known of Yunqi’s indulgence in women, but never imagined he would stoop to such despicable means! If this continued, how could they not bring shame upon the family?

How could he not be alarmed, not be angry? Even if Yunqi’s target had not been Chuxiu, Yunci would not have let this pass. There is a fundamental difference between “frivolity” and “depravity.” As the head of the Yun family, he could not stand by and let his brother run amok.

“Tell me—how many times have you used such methods? Who else have you targeted?”

Yunqi, trembling, dared not meet his gaze. “Two others… They’re both in Jinlu Hall now.”

Yunci’s voice was scathing. “So you know to keep them in your own courtyard? Is this why you refuse to marry?”

Yunqi quickly defended himself. “No, it’s not. My concubine-mother wanted me to marry, but Mother insisted that no younger brother could marry before the eldest…”

At these words, Yunci was taken aback. The “Mother” he referred to was the Dowager Madam of the Yun family, his own birth mother. He had never realized that the reason his younger brothers remained unmarried was because she forbade it. Was she pressing him to marry first?

Though they were mother and son, bound by blood, why… such scheming? Yunci felt the burden of his title as Marquis of Lixin pressing coldly between them, severing any warmth of affection.

He knew his mother’s nature—strong-willed, always putting the family and status first. If not for this, she would not have forced his father to take concubines, causing the couple’s estrangement. Now that his father was dead, she wielded the same tactics against her sons?

A sudden wave of inexpressible pain surged in his heart—the cold calculations of his mother and the wantonness of his brother felt like two poisoned needles, stabbing into his softest core. Such pain, such disappointment, such unbearable sorrow…

Yunci’s eyes reddened, and with the effect of last night’s medicine wearing off, his legs throbbed with agony.

He felt sweat bead in his palms but refused to show weakness before his brother. Just as he was about to send him away, a tearful, delicate voice called out, “Brother!”

Yunci looked up to see a girl of about fourteen or fifteen, her cheeks streaked with tears, pushing past the bamboo shadows into the room despite the attempts to stop her. It was Yun Xiangrong, Yunqi’s full sister and the eldest young lady of the Yun family.

She was as lovely as a rain-soaked pear blossom, her youthful face wet with tears. Rushing in, she knelt and pleaded, “Brother, please forgive Second Brother! I am willing to take any punishment in his stead.” As she spoke, she bowed her head to the floor.

Though strict with his brothers, Yunci was gentle with his sisters, Xiangrong and Mugé. Seeing Xiangrong beg for Yunqi, his heart softened further.

No matter how much Yunqi erred, at least he had a sister who cared deeply for him. Unlike himself—born the legitimate heir, always solitary and cold. Only during his years at Doctor Qu’s estate had he found a true confidant in Shen Yu.

Yunci sighed deeply and looked at his sister. “Second Aunt sent you here?”

Yun Xiangrong dared not lie but could not say more, bowing her head in silence.

After all, they were family. The second concubine, though usually indifferent to Yunqi, still cared for him in times of need. As for himself...

Yunci composed himself before finally looking back at Yunqi. He knew his mother’s temperament well—any reconciliation would take time. But his younger brother was still young; perhaps strict discipline could set him right.

With this in mind, Yunci’s voice was stern but less enraged. “Is this how you conduct yourself as a son and a brother, dragging Second Aunt and Xiangrong to plead for you?”

Yunqi hung his head, more ashamed than ever.

“For Xiangrong’s sake…” Yunci considered for a moment. “You are confined to Jinlu Hall for one hundred days. Except for paying respects to Mother, you may not go anywhere else!”

“One hundred days!” Yunqi thought the punishment unbearably harsh.

Yunci’s gaze was icy. “All your maids are to be dismissed. From now on, only male servants will attend to your daily needs.”

This time, Yunqi dared not protest.

Yunci’s legs throbbed painfully now, and afraid of revealing his weakness, he waved his siblings away. “Go take your punishment.”

Yunqi and Xiangrong quickly rose and left. Before they reached the door, they ran into Danxin. Knowing the truth of what had happened the previous night, she seized Yunqi’s sleeve in desperation and cried out to Yunci, “Master, come quickly! Chuxiu is coughing blood!”

Coughing blood! Yunci was shocked, his gaze sharp as a blade as he glared at Yunqi. “What exactly did you give her?”