Beloved Beyond the End

Part 8.

Wangji entered the pavilion and settled onto the stool beside Weiying’s bed. “Um,” he said softly, prompting Weiying to open his eyes and look towards him. Attempting to sit up, he struggled, and Wangji quickly helped him by placing a pillow behind his back.

Once comfortable, Weiying turned to Wangji and offered a short bow in greeting. Wangji nodded in acknowledgment, his expression serious. “I would like to have some words with you before anyone else asks again.”

Weiying took a deep breath, masking his unease. “How can I entertain Second Master Lan?”

Wangji tightened his grip on Bichen, his voice steady yet probing. “I would like to ask you if you married me of your own will.”

Weiying hesitated for a moment before responding, “Yes.”

“Does this have anything to do with Miss Jiang’s disappearance?” Wangji pressed.

Weiying nodded, then shook his head, leaving Wangji more puzzled than before. Frustrated but determined to get answers, Wangji shifted tactics. “Do you have anything to do with Jiang Yanli’s missing?”

To this, Weiying nodded again, surprising Wangji but he maintained his composure.

“Why did you marry me?” Wangji asked, his patience wearing thin.

Weiying glared at him, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Don’t you think, Second Master Lan, that you should have asked about this before dragging me into the hall by my hair and insulting me and my family?”

Wangji felt anger rise within him as he retorted coldly, “I asked! I asked where Lady Jiang was and why you were here! You didn’t answer then, and you’re not answering now.”

Weiying lowered his head, tears brimming in his eyes as he realized the truth—this was his fault. Wangji had given him opportunities to speak before; he was still offering one now. Yet here he was, hiding the truth.

Seeing Weiying cry broke something in Wangji. He softened, passing a handkerchief to Weiying as he stood. “Uncle has decided to keep you in seclusion—not a normal one. The rules will be different for you as punishment. If there’s anything you want to say, I’m ready to listen.”

He created a butterfly message using his spiritual energy and handed it to Weiying. “While transferring your spiritual energy into it, read the message you want to deliver. It will fly to me; I’ll come personally if you decide to speak.”

With that, he left the pavilion and made his way to the main hall.

In the main hall, Madam Yu glared like a storm ready to unleash her fury upon Weiying. Jiang Cheng sat silently in the corner, unable to escape Yu Ziyuan's wrath after trying to intervene during Weiying's punishment.

“Wangji! You didn’t bring Wei Wuxian with you?” Lan Qiran asked in an annoyed tone.

Wangji bowed his head respectfully but avoided eye contact with his uncle. “The healers said his health isn’t suitable for coming now; we should let him rest for a few more hours.” It was a lie—his first lie to his uncle—and it felt heavy on his conscience.

Yu Ziyuan erupted with anger. “What do you mean!? I want to know where my daughter is! Let me meet him! I don’t care what those healers say; I want my daughter’s location—that’s all!”