The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 699 - 661: Letting Go (2nd Update)

Yun Huai quickly led Zhao Xi and the others through the main gate.

The Yunxiu Mountain Villa covers a vast area, with mountains and rivers intertwined, long bridges lying across, rare flowers releasing fragrance brightly, pavilions and terraces winding and turning, fully showcasing the beautiful and graceful Jiangnan style.

The guest courtyard arranged for Zhao Xi requires a ride in a black-roofed boat through a lotus pond. Now in early spring, the pond has just begun to show bits of fresh green, and the spring willows on the shore are enveloped in misty waters, as if one has stepped into a painting.

After disembarking, they arrived at a courtyard named "Jingchun Pavilion."

"This place is serene," Yun Huai said. "In the future, unless summoned by His Highness, no one will come to disturb your peace."

He then looked at Song Yuanbao and Eunuch Sanbao, "There will be two women responsible for cleaning in the courtyard. If anything is lacking, just tell them, and my sister-in-law will arrange for someone to provide it as soon as possible."

Song Yuanbao, puzzled, asked, "Aren’t you the Family Head? Why not the Family Head’s wife, but rather your sister-in-law?"

Yun Huai paused and said, "I have not yet married."

Song Yuanbao knew he hadn’t settled down yet, but was curious, "If I’m not mistaken, the Family Head turned twenty this year and has not yet arranged a marriage?"

A slight ripple flashed across Yun Huai’s clear eyes and quickly vanished, "People of the Jianghu don’t place much importance on marriage."

...

After Yun Huai led the Crown Prince and his party away, the crowd at the gate gradually dispersed as well. Xue Yinhuan stayed behind and took the opportunity to ask Yun Shisan, "Why... why did he come?"

Yun Shisan didn’t know how to answer, scratching his head, "He’s on an incognito visit, staying at our villa for a while before returning."

"But he seems ill," Xue Yinhuan said, very worried.

The Zhao Xi she remembered was nurtured by the wisdom of sages, versed in the Five Rites and Six Arts, matured beyond his years, renowned at a young age, and esteemed by countless learned scholars, an unmatched choice for succession.

Back then, he was steadfast and unyielding.

But now, she saw only vulnerability in him.

A fragility that would shatter at the slightest touch.

Xue Yinhuan found it hard to imagine what Zhao Xi had gone through in the unseen year that could bring such a strong person to his current state, and it was clear that the blows he suffered were no small matter.

Thinking about it, Xue Yinhuan felt a block in her heart, as if pricked by needles, it was painful.

After settling Zhao Xi, Yun Huai did not rush to leave; he sat down to chat with a few people.

After a short while, a maid came in from outside, respectfully greeted the few people, and asked Yun Huai, "The old Family Head sent me to inquire if the Family Head wishes to join the table, or should a meal be sent over?"

Yun Huai didn’t speak but looked at Zhao Xi.

Zhao Xi said, "Send it over!"

The maid responded and retreated.

Yun Huai said, "We have quite a few good wines in our family cellar. If Young Master Song doesn’t mind the trouble, perhaps you could accompany me to select some."

Song Yuanbao, hearing that Yun Huai had something to speak with him alone, smiled and nodded, then stood up to follow Yun Huai out.

The two boarded the black-roofed boat, and only then did Song Yuanbao speak, "Does Master Yun have something to ask me?"

Yun Huai was rowing the boat and turned around with a gentle smile, "The matters His Highness has encountered this time are probably extraordinary. Since he is unwilling to speak, I will not pry. I just wanted to consult with Young Master Song alone about whether there is anything to avoid so I can give the order and ensure their rules are not broken."

"Anything else is fine," Song Yuanbao said, "just one thing, by no means arrange maids to serve him."

Yun Huai nodded, "If it’s just this one matter, it can be managed."

——

Having selected the wine, Yun Huai stayed at Jingchun Pavilion to dine with them before returning to the main courtyard, first finding his sister-in-law to give a few instructions.

The old Family Head and others had just finished their meal, and everyone had dispersed. Xue Yinhuan specifically waited at Yun Huai’s Vermilion Bird Hall, stood up, and saluted when she saw him return, "Uncle."

Yun Huai asked, "Were you waiting for me?"

"Yes, I wanted to ask about his... situation," Xue Yinhuan bit her lip, her voice barely a whisper.

Yun Huai was silent for a moment before saying, "On the day of the New Year’s Eve palace banquet, the main wife and two concubine selections for the Crown Prince were already decided."

"I see..." Xue Yinhuan twisted the silk handkerchief, "And how is his illness?"

"Huanhuan!" Yun Huai looked at his niece, who wore a worried expression, "He will marry someone else in the future."

Xue Yinhuan raised her head with a smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, "Uncle, is he seriously ill?"

Yun Huai sighed deeply, "With Yun Shiliu around, he’ll gradually recover."

Xue Yinhuan didn’t ask further questions.

Yun Huai reminded her, "You’re not getting any younger. Consider the marriage arrangement seriously. If you find it agreeable, settle it early to avoid complications."

"I understand." After saying that, Xue Yinhuan left the Vermilion Bird Hall to find Yun Shiliu, from whom she learned that the Crown Prince was suffering from melancholia.

"Melancholia?" Xue Yinhuan’s eyebrows knitted slightly. "Do you know what triggers it?"

Yun Shiliu shook his head, "I don’t know."

Xue Yinhuan could only guess that maybe the burden of responsibility was too heavy, crushing the sixteen-year-old Crown Prince. She thought for a moment and said, "It’s the Lantern Festival today. I’ll cook some tangyuan tonight. When you go to check his pulse, take some with you."

Yun Shiliu hesitated, "Would that be inappropriate?"

"What’s inappropriate about it?" Xue Yinhuan smiled, "Just say it’s from the kitchen. If they like it, they’ll keep it. If not, it’s no big loss to throw it away."

Before nightfall, the Yun Family’s daughters planned to go outside together to save seats to watch the lanterns. They invited Xue Yinhuan, but she made an excuse to decline, saying she hadn’t been feeling well lately.

After the cousins left, Xue Yinhuan went to the kitchen, preparing two bowls of fermented rice tangyuan. The ferment she had made herself previously.

Once cooked, she put them in white glazed bowls and packed them into a food box, closing the kitchen door before going to find Yun Shiliu.

Yun Shiliu was just about to head to the Jingchun Pavilion, holding a waterproof Liuli embroidered lantern to hang at the prow of a Wupeng boat.

Xue Yinhuan handed him the food box, without giving any instructions, only advising him to row the boat carefully at night.

Yun Shiliu took the food box and, seeing Xue Yinhuan about to leave, hurriedly asked, "Aren’t you going to let him know you cooked it?"

Xue Yinhuan shook her head, "It’s just a bowl of tangyuan. It doesn’t matter who made it. If he eats it, that’s what I hoped for."

"Alright, I’m off then."

Xue Yinhuan stood on the shore, waiting until Yun Shiliu’s boat reached the opposite side before turning to leave.

Yun Shiliu arrived at the Jingchun Pavilion, where Zhao Xi had just finished bathing and was reclining on a black lacquered, gold-inlaid Lü Peng’s design seat. The candlelight inside dimmed the weariness of the day, accentuating his naturally graceful and otherworldly features with an extraordinary charm.

Yun Shiliu was momentarily entranced.

No wonder the young women of the Yun Family considered Zhao Xi to be like a heavenly being.

If he weren’t unwell, he would surely rival the Family Head in stature.

"The kitchen prepared some tangyuan, and I brought it over. Would Your Highness like to try it?"

As Yun Shiliu spoke, he opened the lid of the food box.

The aroma of the fermented rice tangyuan quickly spread through the room.

"Smells wonderful." Yuanbao followed the sweet scent of the fermented rice from outside and immediately spotted what Yun Shiliu had brought, grinning widely, "Your kitchen is so thoughtful."

"It’s the Lantern Festival, so they have it in every courtyard." As he spoke, Yun Shiliu had already set the tableware.

Yuanbao scooped up a tangyuan, blew on it to cool it, then took a bite, closing his eyes in enjoyment, "What a unique fermented rice. Is it a secret recipe from your kitchen?"

Yun Shiliu hesitated before nodding, "Yes."

"Your Highness should taste it too!" Yuanbao encouraged, "Their tangyuan has a truly distinctive flavor."

Zhao Xi, initially lacking appetite, moved to the table after hearing Yuanbao’s suggestion, and mimicking him, tasted one.

Yuanbao asked, "How is it?"

Having eaten very little lately, Zhao Xi’s mouth was bitter, so the sweet taste was quite stimulating to his palate. He tried another, nodding, "Indeed unique." It was different from anything he had tasted in the palace.

After eating the tangyuan and resting a while, Yun Shiliu then proceeded to perform the usual pulse diagnosis for Zhao Xi. Yuanbao, sitting beside them, casually asked, "I didn’t see Miss Xue today. Has she gotten married?"

Yun Shiliu withdrew his hand and replied, "Miss Xue is still in mourning and cannot marry. She was around today, but you left too quickly to talk to her."

After a moment of silence, Zhao Xi asked, "Has she been well this past year?"

Yun Shiliu cautiously replied, "With the Family Head protecting her, no one dares to mistreat her. Miss Xue holds some position within the Yun Family."

Zhao Xi understood without needing to ask further. The annulled engagement last year must have affected Xue Yinhuan significantly.

"She’s not married, so is she engaged?" Yuanbao asked again.

Yun Shiliu considered before saying, "They are discussing a marriage."

Yuanbao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Zhao Xi out of the corner of his eye.

After Chief Xue’s death, Zhao Xi had once said he would protect Xue Yinhuan completely. Unfortunately, the two of them couldn’t end up together. Yuanbao thought, one Wan Qiu was enough to break Zhao Xi, but if he knew that the person he promised to protect was doing well now, perhaps he would feel a bit more at ease.