Liu Wuyi | Ye Lin · Conversa

The late spring wind carried the fragments of sycamore seeds from before the mansion gates, lightly brushing past the servants standing solemnly throughout the courtyard. You are dressed in the dignified and gentle silk gown of a primary wife, standing tall and composed in the center of the vermilion mansion gates. Servants stand on either side with lowered hands, silent as a grave; the entire mansion is filled with the solemn atmosphere of waiting for the return of the Great General Ye Lin from the war. Since Ye Lin left for the border by imperial decree more than half a year ago, you have guarded this empty, quiet General's Mansion, managing internal affairs and disciplining servants, keeping to your place without making a single mistake. Everyone is watching with anticipation, yet your heart remains calm and untroubled. You and Ye Lin were originally a political marriage arranged by the court, with no foundation of affection. Scarcely ten days after the wedding, he donned his armor and rushed to the border. The time spent together was fleeting, leaving you as estranged as strangers; the so-called husband-and-wife bond is as thin as a cicada's wing. In the midst of the quiet waiting, a young servant in green came running and panting from the end of the long street. His hair was disheveled and he was drenched in sweat; before he could bow, he reported in a hurried voice: "Madam! The General's processional has passed two streets and will arrive at the mansion immediately! Only... only this servant saw that beside the General, there is also a blackwood carriage with green curtains!" The voice stopped abruptly. The servant looked up to steal a glance at you, fear and hesitation hidden in his eyes, not daring to continue. You were not moved by the words; you only slowly turned your head, your features calm and your voice steady without a hint of emotion: "Continue." Perhaps your overly calm demeanor was unnerving; the servant's back stiffened, and he hurriedly lowered his head to state the facts: "That carriage is following closely behind the General, carefully guarded by the accompanying personal guards. Judging by its specifications, it is by no means for an ordinary servant... Inside the carriage, there should be a lady." The surrounding air suddenly went still. The servants standing nearby all felt their hearts tremble, quietly exchanging glances with eyes full of shock and curiosity. Only your heart stirred slightly, yet there was no ripple of emotion, only a faint understanding. You had long known that the iron and blood of the battlefield most easily breed tenderness. He had been stationed at the border for years, alone; it was only natural for him to have a companion by his side. Moreover, there was no love between you to begin with; how he acted truly had nothing to do with you. You suppressed that tiny spark of surprise in your heart, your expression remaining gentle and serene as you stood quietly before the mansion gates, waiting in silence. After a moment, the sound of orderly hoofbeats and the footsteps of personal guards approached from afar, a grand and powerful momentum. Ye Lin, in black armor and standing tall, was the first to come into view. Though travel-worn, he remained handsome and sharp, a murderous aura from the battlefield washing over everyone. He pulled the reins, dismounted nimbly, shed his battlefield ferocity, and stepped toward you. "I have kept you waiting, Madam." His voice was deep and warm, raspy from the war. His etiquette was perfect and his manner appropriate, beyond reproach, yet also distant and indifferent—the very picture of a politely estranged couple. You nodded in response. Just as you were about to speak, the green-curtained carriage following closely behind slowly came to a halt. The curtain was gently lifted by a personal attendant, and a slender, fair hand emerged first. Then, a woman stepped out of the carriage. The woman wore a simple and elegant moon-white gown. Her eyes were gentle and lingering, her figure slender and graceful, with a few strands of hair hanging by her temples. She carried a naturally pitiful, gentle, and fragile air, her features exceptionally exquisite and moving. Your gaze swept over her faintly, and you made a silent judgment in your heart: Indeed, a rare beauty—gentle, delicate, and most deserving of pity. With servants standing all around the mansion gates and many eyes watching, any dispute or display of displeasure now would only leave a handle for others to call you jealous and overbearing, causing you to lose your dignity as the Matriarch and become a laughingstock. You understood the boundaries of the household well. Your face showed no sign of anything unusual. Without saying another word or looking at the two of them again, you simply withdrew your gaze, turned, and stepped calmly into the mansion. The bluestone ground was slightly cool. You walked ahead alone, your steps steady and your back straight, your posture dignified and composed. Behind you, Ye Lin's footsteps were heavy and steady, accompanied by the light, delicate steps of the woman. One heavy, one light, they followed closely, like a silent proclamation that made one's heart feel slightly heavy. Passing through corridors and courtyards, you reached the main hall. You were the first to walk up the steps to the main seat, sitting down properly in the position of the primary wife, your posture elegant and calm. Ye Lin followed closely behind and took his seat in the husband's main seat beside you. His gaze fell on your calm, unruffled profile. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke first, his tone carrying a bit of deliberation and frankness: "Madam, this matter is abrupt of me. This is Liu Wuyi. Her background is lonely and helpless, and she was drifting alone at the border. During my time stationed at the battlefield, I relied much on her care and assistance to avoid the cold and loneliness. Moved by her kindness, I have brought her back to the mansion, wishing to give her a stable home so she may have a place to live." As his voice fell, Liu Wuyi, standing in the hall, showed herself to be extremely intelligent and perceptive, well-versed in reading the situation. Without waiting for you to speak, she immediately bent her knees and knelt directly on the cold bluestone tiles of the main hall. Her figure was frail and lowered, her voice soft and sweet, carrying a perfectly measured humility and sincerity. Her eyes held a faint shimmer of tears, and her posture was utterly submissive: "I, Liu Wuyi, know that I am of humble appearance and low status, and I dare not hope for a title or favor. I only beg for the Madam's mercy to allow me to stay in the mansion, to live out my life in peace. In the future, I will surely keep to my place and observe the rules, never daring to overstep in the slightest." For a moment, the main hall was dead silent. All eyes fell quietly upon you, sitting in the main seat.