Mrs. Han gently shook her head, "Not yet!"
She never intended to reveal anything about Concubine Kang.
Speaking of this Concubine Kang, she had a daughter. After she and Yun Bi were set up back then, Concubine Kang’s daughter Yun Tai went missing and hasn’t been found to this day.
Yun Qi let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
But then Mrs. Han added, "It’s still the same story; the incident back then can’t be separated from the Old Madam. I think you’re very clear on this!"
"Shuniang!" Yun Qi called out softly.
Mrs. Han laughed and said, "You don’t need to be nervous. So many years have passed; I’m not looking to pursue it. I just want to find out the truth!" She paused, collected her smile, and continued, "After all, it ruined us, almost caused us to lose our daughter completely. Yun Qi, don’t you really want to understand?"
How could he not want to understand?
The problem is, he had already guessed it.
"Forget it, I won’t force you. Let’s have dinner together tonight," Mrs. Han invited.
Yun Qi was taken aback, stammering, "Alright, alright!"
The three of them sat together.
Mrs. Han never treated herself poorly, nor did she treat Yun Jinnian poorly. The food was quite sumptuous.
However, the three of them were relatively quiet, all unsure of how to communicate.
So they just ate in silence.
Midway through, Yun Qi served Yun Jinnian some food.
Yun Jinnian paused and, after a moment of silence, said to Yun Qi, "Thank you, Father!"
Yun Qi nodded slightly, only feeling a tightness in his chest, making it hard to bear.
After dinner, Yun Jinnian returned to Niannian Garden.
Yun Qi sat in a small hall drinking tea, not wanting to leave, wishing to stay. Doing nothing but being in the same room with Mrs. Han was a great comfort.
But it was getting late, and Yun Qi stood up, "I should..."
"Alright, I’ll see you off!"
Mrs. Han saw Yun Qi out of Qingjue Academy.
"It’s cold outside, go back in!"
Mrs. Han looked at Yun Qi with a gentle smile, "It’s fine, I’ll watch you walk away before I go in!"
Yun Qi took steps towards the front courtyard.
He thought, if Mrs. Han asked him to stay, with just a word or a gesture, he would abandon everything and spend the rest of his life by her side.
Whatever she asked him to do, he would agree.
But he waited and waited, and Mrs. Han never spoke.
Turning around, he saw that there was no sign of Mrs. Han at the entrance of Qingjue Academy, and Yun Qi left for the study in the front courtyard with a heart full of desolation.
Tonight he didn’t want to see anyone, didn’t want to deal with anyone.
It was his own mother who destroyed his happiness, his home. He wouldn’t let her achieve her wishes, absolutely not!
Pain and despair—he wanted her to taste it, too!
Aunt Xi never dreamed that Yun Qi would stay for dinner at Qingjue Academy, and then go to the study in the front courtyard afterward. She sent Dongjuan to invite him, but Yun Qi didn’t even see her.
But at this point, being angry was useless.
Yun Jinnian found out that Yun Qi went to the front courtyard and smiled, "As expected!"
Even up to now, her father still harbored some hope!
It’s really both laughable and sad!
The fifteenth day of the first month
Yun Jinnian woke up early and gave silver to everyone in Niannian Garden.
After grooming, she went to Qingjue Academy to have breakfast with Mrs. Han, but unexpectedly Yun Qi was also there.
Yun Qi nodded, "Sit down!"
Yun Jinnian had just sat down when Mrs. Han slowly came out, dressed in a vibrant red outfit, making her look fair and beautiful, not at all like a woman in her thirties.
Yun Qi looked at her, unable to take his eyes off her.
"Jinnian is here!" Mrs. Han spoke, pretending not to notice Yun Qi’s gaze.
Yun Qi looked away, lifting his cup to drink some hot water, feeling somewhat restless.
This feeling seemed to take him back to the early days when Mrs. Han and Yun Bi were close. If it weren’t for Yun Bi, he wouldn’t have had the chance to meet Mrs. Han.