AWB Chapter 61 How did things come to this between us?
Chapter 61 How did things come to this between us?
Looking at his wife, whose face was calm but whose eyes were full of determination, the Duke of Sheng's gaze darkened even more.
"What are you saying?" Duke Sheng sat down beside her, raising his hand to press his temples. "Whom am I doing this for? If I didn't work tirelessly, could I have protected the Duke's mansion as it is today? Have you forgotten that disaster back then, forgotten why that accident happened? If not for that, how could the bloodline of the Duke's mansion have been scattered abroad?"
"Yes, so no matter how you schemed all these years, I never said a word. But Yangyang was the one who was sacrificed. Back then, I begged you to bring her back, but you refused. You were afraid that taking a baby like her would be too much of a burden and would affect you..." Madam Lan rebuked angrily.
"Lan Yin! Have you gone mad?" Duke Sheng looked at his wife in disbelief. They had been married for so many years, going through thick and thin together, and had never argued with each other. But ever since Lu Yangyang came back, she had acted like a madwoman.
Not only did she throw a tantrum at him without regard for her image, but she also disregarded her own health and wanted a divorce. Now she's even starting to criticize his intentions.
Could it be that after all these years, this couple is going to turn against each other over a child?
Duke Sheng's face was extremely ugly. He held back for a long time before barely managing to control his emotions: "Even if I agree to you, so what? You said it yourself, the marriage was proposed by the Empress back then. Is this a decision that you or I can make? Why should I keep her? The truth will eventually come out. Everyone in the Duke's mansion knows about this. Sooner or later, it will be exposed. Whether I acknowledge her or not, she is still a member of the Duke's bloodline. How could His Majesty not know? Besides, she is so troublesome now. If she really catches His Majesty's eye, what can you do? Lan Yin, under the whole heaven, all are subjects of the king!"
Lan swayed, a hint of despair flashing in her eyes.
After a long while, she spoke as if in a dream: "Alright, putting this matter aside, you promise me that you will not interfere with Yangyang's affairs in the future. If His Majesty does not issue an edict, you will let her be a happy young lady, go to school, and do what she likes. You will not make any advances on her, and you will not let anyone monitor her. Can you do that?"
“If you can’t do it, I’ll go all out, even if it means mutual destruction, I won’t let you get away with it. Ayao will respect my decision.”
Lady Lan stared intently into the eyes of the Duke of Sheng. This once stunningly beautiful woman, whose beauty was unparalleled in the capital, now looked at her husband with no affection in her eyes, only resolute determination.
Duke Sheng's eyes were slightly red; he truly didn't understand: "How did things come to this between us?"
"What do you think?" Lan gave a bitter laugh. Why did it have to come to this?
When she woke up today and learned about what happened at Qingfeng Pavilion, and that they were using some fabricated charge of being a "nemesis" to force Yangyang to go into seclusion, she suddenly became clear-headed.
Her hopes were meaningless.
This home was no longer what she had imagined. However, she had been used to deceiving herself in the past. But after Yangyang returned, she fell into a deeper and deeper illness and realized that she really didn't have much time left. Only then did she finally begin to face herself and this home that she had previously felt was not perfect.
It's really just a joke.
She had no time left; she could only use her last bit of strength to try and give Yangyang a few happy days.
I heard from Granny Shen that she loves reading and wants to go to Taiming Academy. Her daughter is still so vibrant and beautiful. So many hardships have not broken her. It's really wonderful.
She wanted her to stay this happy forever.
Even though she may not be able to see it.
Duke Sheng closed his eyes sadly and said, "Fine."
"Thank you for your kindness, Duke." Madam Lan's face finally relaxed, as if she had finally accomplished something she had been thinking about.
She coughed a few times, feeling unwell, and called for Granny Hui to come in and help her leave.
The brothers Sheng Junyi and Sheng Junye hadn't left yet. Seeing this, they both stepped forward to help her. Sheng Junyi, who was closer, reached out to hold her arm. "Mother, let me carry you on my back?"
Lan brushed him aside: "No need."
Without even glancing at him, she struggled out of the courtyard with the help of Granny Hui, who had already arranged for a sedan chair to be prepared and helped her into it.
“Mother,” Sheng Junyi couldn’t help but take two steps forward, wanting to say something, but Lan Yin’s voice was cold, “I don’t have a son like you who bullies his sister.”
Sheng Junyi had been secretly working for the Duke of Sheng, and Madam Lan knew about this. She never interfered in the affairs of the father and son, nor did she understand those matters.
However, Lanshi could not accept that they had set their sights on her innocent daughter.
This wasn't just a childish argument like Sheng Junye's; they were applying the same tactics they used on outsiders to their family.
She felt cold from the bottom of her heart.
Lan left without looking back. Seeing this, Sheng Junye hurriedly tried to chase after her, but Sheng Junyi stopped him: "Why did Mother come at this time?"
Sheng Junye pursed his lips, reluctant to answer, but knowing his second brother's temperament, he could only reply, "Mother woke up this afternoon and learned about what happened at Qingfeng Pavilion. She was so angry that she vomited blood. She's been keeping an eye on Lu... Lu Yangyang's situation. She woke up several times but didn't hear any news, so she was really worried and came to find Father. I ran into her and came with her. Originally, I wanted to ask Father to send someone to inquire, but I didn't expect..."
Unexpectedly, when I walked outside the study, I overheard those words.
Sheng Junye is also feeling complicated, unable to describe his feelings.
He clearly disliked Lu Yangyang from the beginning, but he never imagined that Lu Yangyang had gone through all these years. Lu Yangyang was his sister, and she was harmed by that family. Why did he not have any compassion for her at all, just like before?
For the first time, Sheng Junye felt lost, as if he didn't recognize himself.
He didn't want to say anything more to Sheng Junyi, so after replying, he shook him off and ran away.
Sheng Junyi stood there blankly, her brows furrowing slightly.
……
When Lu Yangyang woke up the next day, it was almost noon. She was really exhausted the day before, and then she ran into that lunatic Sheng Junyi, which was incredibly annoying.
She yawned and got up to wash up.
Yuanxing peeked in from the doorway and whispered, "Miss, Miss, the imperial physician from the palace has arrived. He's said to be a very skilled physician who hasn't been in the manor for long. He's here to treat the madam..."
"The head of the Imperial Medical Academy?" Lu Yangyang was taken aback, recalling what the Crown Prince had said yesterday. She hadn't expected him to be brought here so quickly.
She didn't even bother to tidy herself up. She hurriedly changed her clothes, casually tied her hair up, and rushed out towards the Jade Orchid Pavilion where the Lan family lived.
When she entered Yulan Pavilion, the hall was already full of people. Duke Sheng was there, as were Sheng Yunzhu and his two brothers from the Sheng family. There were also a few unfamiliar faces, including a thin man who looked about the same age as Sheng Junyi and had the appearance of a scholar, and two women dressed as women.
Lu Yangyang and the Duke of Sheng disliked each other so much that they had no interest in greeting each other. Instead, Lu Yangyang looked towards the inner room.
At this moment, Granny Hui came out and said to Lu Yangyang,
"Miss, Madam invites you in."