Chapter 12: It Was My Own Willing Choice

“The doctor is already on his way. Miss, please hold on!”

Liu Yan led the way, turning around half of the mansion before finally returning to Autumn Water Garden.

The desolate scene inside the courtyard, with no extra servants attending, made it unimaginable that this was the residence of a young lady.

Pei Ji’s eyes darkened with growing displeasure, as if a storm was approaching.

Entering the room, he gently placed Shen Yuan on the bed and instructed Liu Yan to clean the bloodstains from her body to facilitate the doctor’s examination and treatment.

“I understand, thank you, Commander Pei! Without you, my lady would have surely died under the master’s whip! I kowtow to you in gratitude!” Liu Yan wept with gratitude, kneeling in thanks.

Pei Ji’s face showed no expression, but his heart was in turmoil.

He swallowed the words he wanted to say and calmly remarked, “She’s destined to live; she won’t die.”

Liu Yan didn’t respond immediately.

When she looked up again, Pei Ji had already stepped out of the room, standing quietly in the lonely corridor.

After the bloodstains were cleaned, the doctor arrived promptly. The wounds varied in depth, with old scars overlapping fresh injuries—a shocking sight.

Liu Yan couldn’t hold back her sobs, which startled Pei Ji. He thought something had happened and instinctively stepped into the room, catching sight of the gruesome scars.

His brow furrowed deeply.

The doctor soon came out and explained the situation inside: “Third Miss’s wounds vary in severity. She needs to apply medicine twice daily, and the wounds must be kept clean to avoid infection.” He stroked his beard, then lowered his voice to ask, “Has Third Miss been beaten before?”

Pei Ji nodded.

The doctor shook his head with a sigh, “In the future, it will be difficult for her to marry well.”

Pei Ji’s heart churned with emotions, memories flashing past like a carousel.

Those marks had existed even before he met her.

He stood before the intricately carved window adorned with pear blossom patterns.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his voice hoarse, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

After the painful treatment, Shen Yuan had no strength left; it was as if all her energy had been drained.

She lay face down on the bed, her lashes unmoving, silent without a word.

“Mother said you eloped with Xue Zhao.”

Pei Ji didn’t dare recall how he had endured that time.

He had prepared countless questions, yet standing before her, he couldn’t utter a single accusation.

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Shen Yuan gave a bitter smile and replied, “Commander Pei, what kind of answer do you want to hear?”

Pei Ji’s gaze dimmed, the light in his black eyes sparse and shattered, like a flawed relic abandoned from a shrine.

“Jiang Yao, I’m very sad.”

Hearing that long-buried name again, Shen Yuan’s expression became distant.

A wave of indescribable pain surged up to her throat.

“Madam Pei was right; I did elope with Xue Zhao. Commander Pei, there’s no need to pretend to miss the past. I’m but a humble commoner, unworthy of your concern.”

This was not the answer Pei Ji wanted to hear, and he felt as if his feet were nailed to the ground, unwilling to move.

Noticing his mood, Shen Yuan gave a self-mocking laugh, “Back then in Qingzhou City, I was the one overreaching by being with you. Now that things have returned to normal, soon you will marry Wan Ning, and I will wed a suitable match. Isn’t that a perfect arrangement?”

Pei Ji was indeed provoked.

He looked up, his eyes bloodshot, struggling to suppress his emotions as he softly answered, “It’s not that you overreached—it was my choice.”

Shen Yuan’s heart trembled.

Then she heard his footsteps fading away.

Suddenly, she had an illusion, as if she had returned to the days in Qingzhou City.

Her nose tingled, and she fought back tears that spilled over, soaking the pillow.

Shortly after Pei Ji left, Shen Yi and Shen Lang came to Autumn Water Garden together. When they saw Shen Yuan, each showed some pity but more so reproach.

“You clearly knew Commander Pei was Wan Ning’s fiancé, so how could you let him leave with you? Shen Yuan, you better not interfere with Wan Ning’s marriage, or you’ll regret it!”

Shen Lang remained harsh-tongued, his words as cold as the indifferent Shen Yong.

Truly, like father, like son!

Shen Yuan looked at him weakly, her gaze indifferent, “Second Brother’s meaning is, can things get any worse for me?”

Shen Lang wanted to argue but was cut off by Shen Yi.

He stepped forward a few paces, silently gazing at the frail figure on the bed. He said nothing of the punishment or of Pei Ji.

As usual, his gentle expression said, “There’s a medicine in the capital called Snow Moisturizing Ointment. Applying it can restore a woman’s skin to porcelain-like purity. Someday, I’ll bring some for you, alright?”

Shen Yuan didn’t respond. Shen Lang tried to question further but was driven out by Shen Yi.

Once only the siblings remained in the room, Shen Yi sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice: “Are you blaming me for not stopping Father just now?”

“Brother kept his distance from me earlier, as if watching a play.”

“A ruler and subject have their boundaries; so do father and son. Even if I wanted to protect you, I couldn’t disobey Father.” He looked at Shen Yuan deeply, his tone tinged with resignation.

“No need to explain, Brother. I’ve long grown accustomed to getting beaten.”

Shen Yi paused, then smiled warmly, “Then let me make it up to you, alright? Whatever you want, whatever you want to do, whether spending money or effort, I’ll do it.”

His voice inspired a sense of security.

Shen Yuan thought seriously, then shook her head, “Not for now. Just keep it in mind.”

“That’s fine. Tell me when you decide.” Shen Yi placed his warm palm on her small head, gently rubbing it, saying softly, “I won’t disturb your rest. Get well soon.”

“Thank you, Brother.”

Watching Shen Yi’s departing figure, Shen Yuan’s eyes gradually grew cold.

Brother was always gentle to others and in all matters.

Yet when she was being punished, he stood aside as if indifferent, not even blinking. Now, he quietly apologized before her.

What was truly on his mind?

Outside Autumn Water Garden.

Shen Lang was dissatisfied with Shen Yi’s actions.

“You’re too merciful! That’s why Shen Yuan dares to bully Wan Ning so shamelessly. They quarrel all the time, but when it comes to Commander Pei, if Shen Yuan really steals him away, what will happen to Wan Ning?”

Shen Yi shook his head, thinking Shen Lang was always rash and rude, and in the end, even when he was right, he’d make himself wrong.

He explained, “Yuan has a strong character. She’s suffered many grievances over the years. Seeing Wan Ning dressed in finery and receiving attention naturally breeds resentment. You and I are brothers; even if we favor Wan Ning, there must be limits. As long as Yuan stays in the house, we are still her brothers. Let’s try to be as before.”

His voice grew softer as he spoke, even he knew there was no going back.

Shen Lang, blunt as ever, frowned in confusion, “Brother, say it plainly.”

Shen Yi rolled his eyes, patiently explaining again: “As Father said, today Yuan was lucky to be saved by the Commander. They have never met before, so there’s no love between them. The marriage between Commander Pei and Wan Ning is set in stone and cannot be disturbed. If we want to ease Wan Ning’s worries, we must marry Yuan off quickly.”

The engagement was already arranged—Mother had chosen Lord Lu Chengyuan.

For someone of Yuan’s status, marrying Lord Lu was more than sufficient.