I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 217: Chapter 90: That Love

As twilight fell, the last ray of light vanished from the horizon. A pale moon hung in the treetops, and the world began to dim. The air seemed shrouded in a fine, black gauze, while the snow piled beside the covered walkway glimmered with faint specks of light.

Lanterns were hung one by one, casting a soft, hazy glow that illuminated the path ahead.

It was in this atmosphere that Fang Rui arrived at Third Lady’s residence.

The residence was as serene and secluded as ever. A gentle evening breeze stirred the light gauze curtains, and the air was filled with Third Lady’s faint, elegant, orchid-like fragrance.

Fang Rui was struck by the memory that Third Lady had always been this quiet. She never vied for attention or competed for anything, like an orchid in a corner that, even when forgotten, continues to watch and wait in silence.

He entered quietly and saw Third Lady. She was sitting by the window, her chin propped in one hand, gazing blankly outside as if lost in thought. She wore the same simple, plain clothes as always, with a single jade hairpin, which glowed with a gentle luster, tucked into her coiled hair.

’Yes, even while managing such a large enterprise, Third Lady remained as simple and unadorned as she had been back in Changshan County. She owned no colorful clothes and little jewelry. Her most precious possession was that jade hairpin—a gift from him.’

Looking at Third Lady, so desolate and lonely, Fang Rui felt a lump form in his throat.

He suddenly realized that he had been paying far too little attention to Third Lady lately. Although he knew his heart hadn’t changed, he had rarely shown it. He had barely even spent time with her, let alone shown her more concern.

"Third Sister!" Fang Rui called out instinctively, embracing her from behind.

"Ah!"

Third Lady turned her head. When she saw it was Fang Rui, her tense body finally relaxed. "Brother Rui, I heard... you sent Miss Liu away..."

"I did."

Fang Rui couldn’t help but say, "Third Sister, you’ve been wronged."

"Not at all."

Third Lady reacted with a touch of panic. "Brother Rui, I’m the one who put you in a difficult position. I was just thinking about it... I knew that even if I ordered them to keep it from you, I couldn’t hide it. And I knew how you would probably react—by sending Miss Liu away. But... I just couldn’t bring myself to persuade you otherwise..."

"Brother Rui, am I a bad woman?" she asked, her voice filled with apprehension as she turned to look him in the eye.

"How could you be?"

Fang Rui smiled. "If Third Sister is a bad woman, then I’m a bad man. That makes us a perfect match."

To be fair, Third Lady had already handled things very well. She wasn’t an overly jealous person; she could even tolerate the two head maids, Qing Yun and Bai Shao, as well as the twelve little maids.

"How about... we let Miss Liu stay after all? I can tolerate it. At worst, we can just interact less at home. I won’t hold anything against her." In the end, Third Lady’s heart softened, and she took a step back.

Of course, this wasn’t magnanimity toward Liu Pan’er, but rather tolerance for Fang Rui’s sake.

"No. I decided to send Liu Pan’er away, and that’s final. Third Sister, you don’t want to put me in a difficult position, but how could I bear to see you unhappy?"

Fang Rui could feel that Third Lady’s words were sincere, but he still refused.

"Third Sister, let me give you a proper status," he said suddenly.

"No."

As expected, Third Lady refused again. "Just hearing you say that, Brother Rui, makes me very happy. But I’m not worthy."

She gazed into Fang Rui’s eyes with utmost seriousness. "Brother Rui, you deserve better."

This was just one reason. For the rest, Third Lady simply shook her head and didn’t elaborate.

What woman doesn’t want a proper status?

But the one offering it was the Fang Rui of today, not the Fang Rui of the future.

Third Lady was afraid that the future Fang Rui might regret it.

’Knowing Fang Rui’s character, the chances of that happening were very, very slim. Still, she didn’t want to allow even that possibility. She had to leave him a way out.’

Because she didn’t just love the Fang Rui of today; she also loved the Fang Rui of the future. She loved every part of him and didn’t want him to suffer even the slightest grievance over this matter.

That’s right, it was love! From Changshan County to Yunshan County, from the Three Southern States to Wuzhong Huaiyin Prefecture, they had weathered so many storms together. Third Lady could finally face her own heart and utter that heavy word.

Perhaps their life together was simple, lacking any heart-stopping thrills or life-or-death moments. But it was this very simplicity, this companionship amidst the mundane, that was the most captivating.

’This wasn’t some fleeting infatuation, a rush of hormones, nor was it the suspension bridge effect, where one can’t tell love from obsession. This was pure love—the truth behind the saying that ’a flower’s true color is known only when it is at its most subtle.’’

In Third Lady’s understanding, love was probably just like this: like aged wine buried in a corner, growing richer and more fragrant with the passage of time.

"Oh, Third Sister!"

How could Fang Rui not understand Third Lady’s heart? He hugged her even tighter. "Third Sister, I know. I know everything!"

At this moment, he felt how much he adored the person in his arms. He was truly, madly in love with her. He couldn’t help but promise her earnestly, "It’s alright if Third Sister doesn’t want a proper status. But from now on, I won’t be bringing any other women home."

By not bringing any other women into the household, Third Lady would be second only to Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family. This was, in effect, giving Third Lady a proper status in a roundabout way.

"Brother Rui!"

Third Lady was deeply moved, knowing Fang Rui was doing this for her. She shook her head, her crystal-clear eyes shimmering with tears, and said nothing for a long while.

After a long time, she finally whispered, "After Liu Pan’er entered the residence, you came to see me less, Brother Rui. My heart ached, too... But I know Auntie wants to hold a grandchild, and I also want to see you have heirs... I feel so conflicted..."

"From now on, you should slowly take Qing Yun, Bai Shao, and the other little maids, Brother Rui. The family needs to grow and flourish. I will manage them well..."

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