Chapter 5 Memory

Late at night, Yan Jiyue lay on the bed fully clothed, staring at the handwriting on the divorce papers with a moment of absent-mindedness. Everything had happened so fast that he hadn’t had time to process this wild joy.

Without realizing it, he fell asleep, and soft whispers infiltrated his dreams along with the sound of the wind.

In the dream, the light was a jumble of dreams and illusions. Yan Jiyue seemed to see another ending for him and Su Mu.

At that time, they hadn’t divorced yet. Su Mu often came to Handan Court to show goodwill to him. Knowing that he couldn’t leave the Yan mansion, she would bring him some new trinkets from outside every few days to relieve his boredom.

But at that time, Yan Jiyue disliked Su Mu and indulged Xiao Ping in mocking her with words. Su Mu’s eyes were disappointed and dim, but the next second, she forced herself to reveal a smile, her eyes as bright and moist as stars.

Although she came from a servant background, her back was always straight as a ramrod. This was the only thing Yan Jiyue liked about Su Mu.

But in front of Xiao Ping, she lowered her head for the first time.

Su Mu’s forbearance was actually all seen by Yan Jiyue inside the room, but he harbored resentment in his heart. Watching her being defamed without dignity by Xiao Ping, he hesitated, then did nothing.

But he didn’t know that this was the last time Su Mu would bend her back to please him.

A year after their marriage, Su Mu started doing business, spending more time busy outside and less idle time in the Yan mansion.

No one would take the trouble to bring him cheap little trinkets to relieve his boredom anymore. Half a year later, when Yan Jiyue had worn out the last paper kite Su Mu had given him, he thought of Su Mu who used to often bring him new things, and felt a bit nostalgic.

By this time, Su Mu had achieved some success in her business, and it was heard that her reputation outside had improved considerably. The servants in the Yan mansion changed their attitudes greatly, even his personal attendant Xiao Ping’s attitude became more ambiguous, dressing more seductively in private, as if waiting for someone’s appearance.

But Su Mu never came to Handan Court again, always staying in her Luofeng Court without going out. Even when going to pay respects to her father, she would rather take a detour around Handan Court.

Gradually, rumors spread in the mansion that Su Mu had picked up a foreign servant from outside named Xie Yi, whom she favored greatly.

When the rumors reached Yan Jiyue’s ears, a strange feeling suddenly surged in his heart, indescribable and inexplicable.

He went to the lotus pond in the garden to enjoy the flowers and clear his mind. From afar, he saw Xie Yi, who was rumored to be greatly favored by Su Mu.

He was holding a cluster of lotus flowers, running happily towards Su Mu, his green eyes more lustrous than lotus leaves.

Su Mu took the lotus flowers, with gentle laughter in her eyes.

The next second, Su Mu saw Yan Jiyue, her smile instantly froze, and she gave him a distant and indifferent bow.

Remembering her former attitude towards him, Yan Jiyue clenched his hand. After not seeing each other for half a year, she had become so cold.

“Xie Yi, greet the brother,” Xie Yi beside her imitated Su Mu’s manner and bowed to him.

Yan Jiyue’s eyes were cold as he blurted out, “Where did this lowly thing come from? Who’s your brother?” Xie Yi’s green eyes were flustered, looking towards Su Mu like a child who had made a mistake.

Su Mu stood in front of Xie Yi, her eyes looking at Yan Jiyue devoid of any emotion: “It’s my fault for not teaching Xie Yi well. He doesn’t speak Central Plains language well and has offended the young master. Please forgive him.” Yan Jiyue suddenly felt stifled and uncomfortable in his heart. He threw down a sentence, “Keep your dog in check,” and stormed off angrily.

“Young master. Young master.” Suddenly, Xiao Ping’s familiar voice came from the edge of the sky. The vivid scenery around began to change. Yan Jiyue opened his eyes and saw Xiao Ping’s worried gaze.

“What are you calling me for?” Yan Jiyue was still immersed in the dream, his attitude not good.

Xiao Ping hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Did the young master have a nightmare?” “What do you mean?”

Xiao Ping bit his lip, with a resolute attitude, said, “You called the young mistress’s name all night.” He had been guarding outside the room all night, awakened by Yan Jiyue’s murmurs of Su Mu’s name in his dream.

“Nonsense,” Yan Jiyue said angrily, “How could I call her name in my dream?” Xiao Ping hurriedly knelt down, “I guess so too. The young master dislikes Su Mu so much, how could you dream of her? The only possibility is that you had a nightmare, and Su Mu was the one who gave you the nightmare.” Yan Jiyue was silent for a moment, “You may rise.”

He covered his chest. Perhaps last night’s dream was too real. Even after waking up, he could still vividly feel the suffocation and humiliation of the Yan Jiyue in the dream when faced with Su Mu’s suddenly cold attitude and her protection of Xie Yi, and also a bit of pain.

Where did that pain come from? The Yan Jiyue in the dream didn’t know, and the Yan Jiyue who woke up didn’t know either.

Xiao Ping stood up with relief, looking at Yan Jiyue’s reaction, thinking in his heart that he had just found the right words, and continued to curse Su Mu.

“If I may say so, it’s all that Su Mu’s fault. If it weren’t for Su Mu, you wouldn’t have nightmares night after night, young master.” “Shut up,” Yan Jiyue reprimanded.

Xiao Ping’s heart jumped, muttering, “Young master, what’s wrong with you?” Yan Jiyue choked, not knowing what was wrong with himself either.

Perhaps that dream had too great an impact on him. Yan Jiyue suddenly realized that the reason Su Mu’s attitude towards him changed so quickly in the dream was inseparable from Xiao Ping’s foul mouth.

…Of course, it was also inseparable from the indulgence of Yan Jiyue in the dream.

But anyway, they were already divorced, weren’t they?

Whether Su Mu’s attitude was cold or not was no longer important. This inexplicable dream should be forgotten.

He steadied himself, looked at Xiao Ping’s puzzled eyes, and replied, “Nothing’s wrong. Don’t mention Su Mu again in the future. We’re already divorced.”

“Stupid! How could I, Mo Hui, give birth to such a stupid son!” Yan Zhujun wielded a wooden stick, hitting Yan Jiyue’s body one blow after another.

Yan Jiyue endured the pain without making a sound.

Xiao Ping hid outside the room, secretly peeking out his head. Seeing the usually high and mighty Yan Jiyue being beaten to such a miserable state, he shrank back in fear.

The wooden stick was broken, but Yan Zhujun’s anger had not yet been vented. He directly picked up his own cane and continued to beat. Yan Jiyue’s face turned pale as he fell to the ground.

Ling Hua couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Yan Zhujun was truly blinded by anger, even using deadly force on his own son. He wanted to go help Yan Jiyue up.

“I’d like to see who dares to plead for him today!” Yan Zhujun raged, jabbing at his shoulder’s soft bone, “All these years I’ve really wasted my love on you, raising such an ungrateful son who divorces Su Mu.” Yan Jiyue lay on the ground, feeling as if his bones were about to be shattered. His voice was weak, “Father, I never liked Su Mu in the first place.” “I don’t care whether you like Su Mu or not,” Yan Zhujun blurted out, not caring whether his son’s marriage could be happy or not, “Do you really have the heart to watch the family business left by your mother and sister be snatched away by those good-for-nothings? Will there still be a place for you and me in the Yan family then? Do you want your own father to end up on the streets?” Yan Jiyue remained silent without answering.

Yan Zhujun angrily threw the cane to one side. Ling Hua quickly went to help Yan Zhujun calm down.

Ling Jing then helped Yan Jiyue, who was nearly crippled, to get up.

“Master, please calm down. Given the situation, we should quickly think of ways to remedy it,” Ling Hua said.

Yan Zhujun immediately said, “The divorce must not be leaked to anyone.” Ling Hua nodded, “Rest assured, only a few of us know about this matter, and the news has already been sealed.” Fortunately, Xiao Ping was the person they had planted by Yan Jiyue’s side. Upon learning of the divorce, he immediately informed them. Otherwise, if Yan Jiyue hadn’t said anything, who knows how long they would have been kept in the dark.

Yan Zhujun sighed, “It’s a pity Su Mu has already taken the divorce papers and left the mansion overnight. What else can I do? Find another wife-master for Jiyue? Not everyone is like Su Mu, having no desire for the Yan family’s wealth. You’ve all heard about cases of married-in wife-masters turning against their husbands’ families in recent years.” Ling Hua suddenly had an idea, “If others won’t do, why not bring Su Mu back?” Yan Zhujun’s eyes lit up, but then he worriedly said, “If Su Mu could come back, that would be the best. But will she come back? At the time, I had to swallow my pride to beg her to be a married-in wife. Now, would she still agree to remarry?”

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Yan Jiyue’s pale face lost all color. So on their wedding night, her explanations were all true.

Yet he had still slapped her.

“Su Mu will definitely agree,” Ling Hua said in a low voice, speaking so that only the few people present could hear, “Have you forgotten? You saved Su Mu’s life. If it weren’t for your mercy back then, Su Mu would have died long ago. How could she have today?” Ling Jing chimed in, “That’s right, you saved her life and gave her food to eat. Such great kindness, letting her repay it by being a married-in wife is not mistreating her. If she refuses, she’s truly ungrateful and has a wolf’s heart and a dog’s lungs.” “I won’t remarry her,” Yan Jiyue said, his eyes dim and lightless.

“That’s not up to you,” Yan Zhujun coldly swept a glance at him, “Xiao Ping, take good care of your master.” Xiao Ping entered the room, trembling with fear.

Yan Zhujun stood up with Ling Hua’s support, “Go find Su Mu.”

Su Mu had studied late into the night yesterday. It had been a long time since she had experienced this fulfilling feeling of staying up late to catch up on lessons.

She only woke up hazily around 8 o’clock in the morning.

As soon as she woke up, Xie Yi lifted the curtain and brought her water to wash up.

“Su Mu, wash water,” Xie Yi’s Central Plains language still had a strange intonation, but the pronunciation of “Su Mu” was exceptionally standard.

Su Mu put on her outer garment and smiled silently, “It’s not ‘wash water’, it’s ‘wash face’.” Xie Yi nodded, imitating the way she had just spoken, carefully saying, “Wash face?” “That’s right, clever,” Su Mu said.

Xie Yi seemed to understand that she was praising him. His eyes curved, and a dark green light shone through his thick lashes, instantly brightening the dark room.

After washing up, Su Mu wanted to go to the kitchen to cook.

Although Xie Yi was of mixed blood, he had always grown up in the Western Regions. He probably wouldn’t be very good at cooking the rice and noodles of the Central Plains people.

But in a second, Su Mu realized her thought was wrong.

Xie Yi brought out a bowl of fragrant vegetable porridge from the kitchen. Next to the porridge was a small plate with freshly cut pickles that had just been fished out of the pickle jar.

“Su Mu, eat,” he said.

Su Mu smiled and took it, seeing only one bowl of porridge, she asked, “Where’s yours?” Xie Yi was stunned for a moment, as if he couldn’t believe it, “Mine?”

Su Mu answered, “Of course, go and scoop a bowl for yourself.”

A dark light flashed through Xie Yi’s deep green eyes for an instant. He obediently ladled a bowl of porridge from the kitchen and returned to the hall. The fragrance of the vegetable porridge rushed into his nostrils.

Having not eaten all night, his stomach ached with hunger.

“Eat,” Su Mu said.

Xie Yi tightly gripped the bowl in his hand, finally picked up the spoon, and began to eat, kneeling at Su Mu’s feet.