The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Bitao was instructing her maids on tasks in the corridor when she saw Yunheting approaching from afar. She quickly went to greet him and bowed, saying, "Master has arrived. This servant will go and inform him."

"No need." Yun Heting waved his hand and walked straight inside.

Bitao didn't know whether to stop him or not, so she could only follow behind and raise her voice, "Master, please slow down." This was a reminder to Chu Wanqing inside.

Chu Wanqing was leaning against the couch looking at the account book when she heard the noise. She quickly put the account book down, lay down, and covered herself with the quilt.

Yun Heting lifted the curtain and entered, a smile on his face, his tone gentler than usual: "Is Madam already asleep?"

Chu Wanqing opened her eyes, glanced at him indifferently, and said coldly, "Master, is there something you need so late?"

Yun Heting sat down by the couch, his gaze sweeping over Chu Wanqing's face. He sighed, "Madam, it's been a while since we've had a proper conversation. I won't go anywhere tonight; I'll stay here with you."

Chu Wanqing sat up and rubbed her temples. "If there's anything you need, Master, please speak freely. If not, please go back and rest. I have a headache today, so I'm afraid I can't keep you company."

Yun Heting choked. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Chu Wanqing didn't even look at him. Her aloof demeanor made him swallow back the words he was about to say.

He sat for a while, then stood up awkwardly: "Then Madam, please rest early. I'll be going now."

Chu Wanqing hummed in response, without even raising her head.

Yun Heting turned and walked out, but paused at the door, looked back, and saw that Chu Wanqing had already closed her eyes.

He withdrew his gaze, lifted the curtain, and went outside.

Bitao followed behind for a few steps, then turned back and whispered, "Madam, Master has left."

Chu Wanqing sat up and leaned against the couch, saying to her, "Go tell Zhilan that it's time."

Bitao replied "Understood" and quickly left the house for Zhilan's courtyard.

Zhilan was still awake, sitting by the window staring blankly at a solitary lamp when she heard a knock on the door. She got up and opened it.

"Sister Bitao?" She was somewhat surprised.

Bitao slipped inside, closed the door, and said in a low voice, "Miss Zhilan, Madam asked me to tell you that it's time."

Zhilan's eyes flashed, and she nodded without asking any further questions.

Bitao gave a few more instructions and then left in a hurry.

Zhilan closed the door and opened the window a crack. The cool night breeze blew in, causing the candlelight to flicker.

She put on her clothes, walked to the zither table, sat down, took a deep breath, and placed her ten fingers on the strings.

The sound of the zither began.

She chose the song "Night Rain on the Banana Window".

The melody gradually increases from gentle to rapid, like rain pattering on banana leaves, then suddenly turns into a low and melodious tune, like the night wind blowing through the forest, a lone window facing the wind.

The music carried a hint of loneliness and melancholy, drifting away in the night breeze.

Yunheting was feeling down after leaving Qingshuiyuan when he suddenly heard the sound of a zither.

The sound of a zither drifted from the side courtyard, its melody melodious and plaintive, floating in the night breeze.

He unconsciously followed the sound of the piano, his steps becoming slower and lighter, as if afraid of disturbing the person playing the piano.

"Night Rain on the Banana Window"

He recognized it. The piece described listening to the rain by a lonely window and the sleeplessness of a long night, carrying a hint of melancholy and a touch of longing.

The door to the side courtyard was ajar. He pushed it open and went in, where he saw Zhilan sitting by the window, playing the zither with her head down.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell upon her. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, swaying gently as she played the zither. The candlelight illuminated her jade-like profile, her eyes shrouded in a faint melancholy.

Yunheting stood at the door, looking somewhat stunned.

Zhilan's piano skills weren't top-notch, even a bit inferior to Liu Zhixue's, but her music was filled with emotion—that loneliness, that longing—flowing from her fingertips and penetrating straight into people's hearts.

She was young, and the charm she exuded with every bow of her head and every flick of her wrist was something Liu Zhixue could never match.

Liu Zhixue was already in her thirties, and no matter how well she took care of herself, fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes. Zhilan, on the other hand, was only in her early twenties, with skin so fair and tender it looked like it could be pinched to release moisture, and radiating youthful energy.

When the music ended, Zhilan looked up, as if she had just noticed someone at the door. She quickly stood up and bowed, her voice tinged with panic: "Master, this servant did not know you were here. My apologies."

Yun Heting walked in, sat down in a chair, and looked at her face: "It's so late, why are you still playing the zither?"

Zhilan lowered her head and said softly, "This servant can't sleep."

Yun Heting nodded without saying a word, but his gaze lingered on her.

Zhilan seemed to sense it, her face flushed slightly, she took a step back and said in a low voice, "Master, it's getting late, you should go back and rest."

Yun Heting stood up, walked up to her, and reached out to take her hand.

Zhilan flinched, but couldn't pull away; he held her hand.

"Master..." Her voice trembled, tinged with panic and shyness.

Yun Heting looked at her, his gaze so tender it seemed to melt away: "Zhilan, I'm sorry for what happened that night."

Zhilan lowered her head, her eyes slightly red, and remained silent.

Yun Heting sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness and grievance: "You know, Madam is a very calculating person, and she can't stand me being close to other women. That night, I had no choice but to say that, otherwise Madam wouldn't forgive you, and she wouldn't forgive me either."

Zhilan raised her head, tears welling in her eyes, her voice trembling with sobs: "Master, I don't blame you..."

Yun Heting reached out to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his voice even softer, his fingers lingering on her cheek for a moment longer: "I'm sorry you had to go through this."

Zhilan bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks, looking pitiful.

Yun Heting pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice low and deep: "You don't need to worry about Madam. I will protect you."

Zhilan leaned against him, her body trembling slightly, as if she had finally found someone to lean on after suffering a great injustice.

Yun Heting put his arm around her, gently patting her back. Inhaling the fragrance of her hair, the slight annoyance in his heart gradually dissipated.

He lowered his head. Zhilan closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, but she didn't push him away...

The candlelight flickered; it was a fiery night.

Afterwards, Yun Heting embraced Zhilan as they leaned against the couch, his fingers stroking her hair. His tone was filled with satisfaction and pity: "Zhilan, although Madam is angry, since she has agreed to let you be her concubine, she won't make things difficult for you. Just stay here in the manor."

Zhilan leaned against him, her face flushed, her voice soft and tinged with affection: "Master, I ask for nothing else, I only ask that you do not find me coarse."

Yun Heting smiled and pinched her cheek: "Don't talk nonsense. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Zhilan buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled: "Thank you, sir."

What Yunheting couldn't see was that there was no trace of emotion in her eyes, only a cold calm.

She thought to herself, "Men really can't withstand tests. A few sweet words, a sudden embrace, and he forgets everything."

Such a person is not worth her sincere feelings.