101 No Longer Struggling

The wedding scene was bustling with excitement, and guests offering congratulations came in an endless stream. After all, the Grand Tutor was the emperor’s mentor, and Yun Qixiao had recently received honors; combined with the alliance with the Xiao family, this wedding was destined to be extraordinary.

After stepping down from the carriage, Yun Xueyan continued to follow behind Duan Nanyu, feeling a bit nervous. There were too many people in the residence whom she recognized, and too many she would rather not see.

“Go on inside. Your second brother is in there; you ought to meet him,” Duan Nanyu turned to her, as if summoning great courage, and took hold of her hand.

She resisted, and he knew she would, so he tightened his grip.

“Let me go.” Unable to bear it any longer, she spoke, glaring at him in anger, her hand still struggling to free itself.

“Yun Xueyan!” He gave a low, restrained growl, his eyes frosted and hard. “Do you really want the Yun family to look down on you? Is it so unbearable for you to walk in beside me?”

His chest heaved violently as he looked at her startled, stunned gaze—and the pain there.

His heart softened again. Had he hurt her once more?

He knew he had erred, had wounded her. He wanted to make amends, to win her back, but why did she always reject him? He dared not guarantee he wouldn’t someday lose control and hurt her even more.

What was he to do?

Yun Xueyan stopped fighting back, turned her face away to conceal the tears in her eyes. “Just this once.”

Duan Nanyu let out a bitter laugh. Was he begging her for mercy? Begging her to grant him a single chance?

Even if it was mercy, his heart was glad. He could hold her hand, feel her warmth—the soft, gentle fingers he squeezed lightly in his palm as he led her inside.

The courtyard and grand hall were packed to overflowing, so crowded because the emperor himself would preside over today’s wedding, making it more lively than ever.

Wine and food were of the finest quality; even the table linens were made from exquisite silk.

Yun Xueyan’s eyes tinged with bitterness, her chest tight with sorrow. These things… she had never experienced before. Once, there had been a scene like this, but it belonged to Yun Xinyin. Even the man beside her had belonged to Yun Xinyin.

He held her hand, but how much of his heart was truly with her?

Yun Xinyin was pregnant, and out of concern, he had her take Yun Xinyin’s place. She was nothing but a substitute; the dazzling honors had never belonged to her.

Her fingertips trembled, unable to hide her inner grief. The weight in her heart was suffocating.

“Yaner, I know—I owe you a wedding.” Perceiving her mood easily, Duan Nanyu lowered his voice as he spoke. He owed her too much and would slowly make it up to her.

“I don’t mind, Your Highness. You worry too much.” She rebuffed him coldly, feeling herself about to be swallowed by the crowd, struggling even to breathe.

She felt his hand stiffen for a moment before letting go. Pretending not to notice, Yun Xueyan looked up to see Yun Qixiao already standing not far away.

Dressed in bright red as the groom, he appeared impossibly handsome; his skin was darker than when he returned from the campaign, but his features were even more defined.

Somehow comforted, Yun Xueyan relaxed, seeing Yun Qixiao looking toward her as well.

“Yaner…” he called out joyfully, coming quickly toward her.

Duan Nanyu watched, his pupils widening, and instinctively wanted to pull Yun Xueyan behind him. He still didn’t wish her to be too close to another man—even if that man was her brother, even if he was today’s groom.