Chapter 81: Another Thread of Tenderness

From that point on, Wei Wujie paid no further attention to what followed. He had already conveyed his intentions; those beneath him would naturally see matters carried out properly.

With his guards escorting him, Wei Wujie made his way to the Gu residence. After today, he still had an important matter to attend to.

The Marquis of Wei had mentioned in his directive that Wei Wujie was to spare no effort in exterminating the Qin people hiding in the mountains, and Wei Wujie could hardly afford to be idle.

Even without the Marquis’s orders, Wei Wujie would have seen the task done. Those who had once tormented him would not be easily forgiven.

Along the way, Zheng Dali kept silent, asking nothing about why Wei Wujie had suddenly changed his mind and altered his approach.

When they arrived at the Gu residence, a guard hurried out from within.

After bowing to Wei Wujie, the guard anxiously said, “Young Master, something has happened.”

The moment the guard approached, Wei Wujie suspected bad news. Now, his intuition proved correct.

“What is it?” Wei Wujie asked, somewhat impatient. Why could he never enjoy a peaceful day? He’d just finished one troublesome matter.

The guard leaned forward and said, “Young Master, the children left in the Gu residence—they are dead.”

Wei Wujie was stunned on the spot. Those children? All dead?

“All dead?” Wei Wujie still couldn’t believe it. They’d been fine these past days; how could they suddenly die?

The guard affirmed, “All dead.”

A strange sensation stirred in Wei Wujie’s heart. Nothing about this seemed normal. He’d seen those children himself—they were healthy!

“When did this happen?” Wei Wujie pressed.

“Just moments ago. It was as if they fell asleep, no sound at all,” the guard replied.

Wei Wujie’s face fell immediately at this. It wasn’t that he grieved for the children, but rather, the thought that someone could kill so freely in the tightly guarded Gu residence gave him a sense of danger.

“Dali, investigate this thoroughly. We must get to the bottom of it.”

He handed the mess over to Zheng Dali. Though irritating, Wei Wujie trusted him.

“Yes,” Zheng Dali answered gravely; it was his responsibility, after all, to ensure Wei Wujie’s safety.

“Good, go then.”

“Yes,” Zheng Dali replied, then left with his men.

Wei Wujie looked up at the sky, suddenly feeling oppressed, as if it might crush him.

“Let’s go,” he called to the other guards, continuing into the Gu residence.

…

Meanwhile, in Wei Wujie’s quarters, Huan’er, supported by a maid, finally managed to dress and stand up.

She’d barely taken a few steps before she cried out in pain, her delicate brows tightly knit.

“Huan’er, you’re truly lucky,” the maid said with envy.

For these maids, a lifetime meant only serving tea and water, forever pressed beneath others.

Even marriage required the steward’s approval, and then only with another servant, their children doomed to the same fate.

Their greatest aspiration was to marry a commoner—truly, anyone who was not a servant.

But such dreams were nearly impossible.

Compared to those hopes, a more attainable path was to seize the chance and bear the master or young master’s child, thereby escaping servitude forever.

But the risk was immense; a mistress with a temper could mean not only losing the child, but even one’s life.

For Huan’er to have climbed into Wei Wujie’s bed was on a wholly different level.

If others were still tinkering with airplanes, preparing to soar, Huan’er had already landed on the moon.

Thus, the maid’s envy was genuine.

By now, Huan’er had thought it all through. She had no power to resist men, let alone someone like Wei Wujie, who wielded authority.

Moreover, compared to other men, Wei Wujie’s advantages were nearly boundless. Not to mention his power and status, his looks and youth alone were enough to satisfy Huan’er.

“What’s there to envy?” Huan’er replied with lingering sorrow.

Though she no longer objected, her worry remained. What if Wei Wujie discarded her? She dared not speak too boldly.

“My dear Huan’er, you do not know how blessed you are!” the maid exclaimed, frustrated that Huan’er could not see her own fortune.

Had she been as attractive as Huan’er, perhaps she too would have tried to entice Wei Wujie.

Why hadn’t they sent her to serve the young master! the maid lamented inwardly.

Yet, if Huan’er hadn’t been the best among them, she wouldn’t have been chosen. Gu Mu had only sought the most beautiful, not any particular person.

“All right, Xiao Ju, it’s almost noon. Let’s hurry and prepare lunch, or the young master will soon return,” Huan’er said anxiously.

These days, Huan’er had learned some of Wei Wujie’s preferences. When it came to meals, he was not to be slighted.

“Let a maid handle everything, Miss. You needn’t lift a finger,” Xiao Ju replied with a smile.

Despite the thick jealousy, Xiao Ju suppressed it; she couldn’t afford to offend Huan’er now.

On the contrary, she needed to curry favor to secure her own future.

She seated Huan’er, poured her a cup of tea, then withdrew.

Watching her once closest friend address her so deferentially, Huan’er felt bewildered.

After just one night, their statuses had diverged so sharply.

Huan’er glanced at the bed beside her. For the first time, she felt the fickleness of fate.

With a creak, the door opened and someone entered.

“Xiao Ju, why are you back again?” Huan’er asked playfully, thinking her friend was joking and their sisterly bond remained.

Yet the visitor was not Xiao Ju, but Wei Wujie.

Startled, Huan’er immediately stood and stammered, “Greetings, Young Master.”

Suppressing her pain, she was about to kneel.

Wei Wujie sprang forward and caught her up in his arms.

“My little beauty, how could I bear to let you kneel?” Wei Wujie said, his manner reminiscent of a libertine.

Cradling Huan’er as he settled onto a stool, he asked, “Huan’er, is your body feeling better now?”

At his question, Huan’er blushed deeply, burying her face—how could she answer?

But Wei Wujie delighted in her shyness, tilting her chin until their eyes met.

What he saw was a pair of clear, enticing eyes, full of a longing to be cherished.

Turning her gently, Wei Wujie made Huan’er sit facing him in his lap.

Huan’er grew increasingly bashful, sensing what might come next.

Sure enough, Wei Wujie leaned in and kissed her.

At first, they hesitated, but soon lost themselves entirely—the scene was nearly indecent.

“Ah!” A woman’s scream pierced the air, followed by a clatter.

The interruption broke Wei Wujie from his passionate embrace, leaving him irked.

“How dare you,” he snapped.

There stood a young maid, flustered as she gathered the fallen basin, terror etched on her face.

Huan’er peeked through the gap in Wei Wujie’s chest, mortified that someone had witnessed such intimacy.

The intruder was none other than Xiao Ju.

“So clumsy—perhaps you no longer need those hands,” Wei Wujie threatened, deliberately frightening Xiao Ju for spoiling his moment.

“Your servant deserves to die!” Xiao Ju trembled, nearly losing her wits.

This young master, handsome as he was, was more terrifying than any beast. Look—was there a single survivor among the Gu family?

Wei Wujie watched her grovel, suddenly bored. Bullies were best reserved for those with strength—it was more satisfying.

At that moment, Huan’er, emboldened, spoke softly, “Young Master, it was only a careless mistake. Please forgive her.”

Huan’er’s gentle voice drifted to Wei Wujie’s ear, making his bones feel lighter.

Fine, he would grant his little beauty this favor.

“Since Huan’er pleads for you, I shall spare you. Next time, there will be no mercy,” Wei Wujie said sternly.

“Yes, your servant understands. Thank you, Young Master, thank you, Miss Huan’er,” Xiao Ju sobbed, overwhelmed at her narrow escape.

“Leave us,” Wei Wujie commanded coldly.

“Yes,” Xiao Ju hurried from the dreadful room.

Wei Wujie composed his smile, his expression once again lewd. “My little beauty, let’s continue.”