Upon recognizing the figure before her, Yun Wei Shu trembled, barely daring to believe, "Brother, you..."
Yun Duan Hai stepped forward, taking her hand. "Wei Shu, I'll keep this brief. Don't tell Father and Mother that I'm alive."
Yun Wei Shu was startled and instinctively asked, "Why? Brother, do you know Mother has fainted several times from worrying about you?"
"Wei Shu, you don't understand many things. My death is more useful than my life. Only by dying will the Yun Guo Gong's residence be safe from danger."
Yun Wei Shu looked at her brother. "Tell me, did you do something? What about Aunt? Did she also die because of this?"
Yun Duan Hai nodded. "Yes, but Aunt was personally killed by Prince An."
Yun Wei Shu shook her head. "Impossible, impossible. His Majesty loved Aunt so dearly, how could he..."
Yun Duan Hai sneered. "Do Emperors have feelings? All they care about is their own interests."
"Brother, what do we do next?" Yun Wei Shu asked.
"Pretend I am dead, and the more tragic the better. Only if the Yun Guo Gong's residence appears to be utterly ruined will His Majesty not suspect them, and only then will the Yun Guo Gong's residence remain safe," Yun Duan Hai said.
Although Yun Wei Shu did not understand her brother's intentions, she knew that listening to him was always right.
"I understand, Brother," Yun Wei Shu nodded.
Yun Duan Hai patted Yun Wei Shu's shoulder. "Wei Shu, from now on, you must grow up. Protect Father, Mother, and the Guo Gong's residence for me."
Yun Wei Shu nodded. "Brother, don't worry, Wei Shu is confident she can protect them well for you."
Yun Duan Hai stroked her head and said softly, "I cannot be by your side to protect you, yet I ask you to protect Father, Mother, and the Guo Gong's residence. I have failed you, Wei Shu."
Yun Wei Shu shook her head, quickly saying, "Brother, please don't say that. Your return alive is the greatest protection for me. At least I know you are alive, and we are still together as a family. That is enough. Don't worry, Brother. In the past, you protected me. Now, I will protect you, Father, Mother, and the Guo Gong's residence."
"Wei Shu, you've grown up," Yun Duan Hai said with satisfaction.
Yun Wei Shu replied, "If Brother can grow up, so can Wei Shu. Brother, stay here properly. If there's anything, have Bai Mei find me."
Yun Duan Hai nodded, stroking her head. "Go!"
Yun Wei Shu nodded, leaving with a step-by-step backward glance.
As she walked out of Yun Zhu Xuan, the maid Bai Shao asked, "Miss, why do you seem a little happy?"
Yun Wei Shu was taken aback. "I'm happy? Am I happy?"
Bai Shao nodded. "Yes, you're not as dejected as before."
Yun Wei Shu's heart leaped. If Bai Shao could notice, others would too. "Bai Mei gave me Brother's belongings. I was just remembering when we were little, how Brother liked to tease me, but..."
She started to cry. "Brother can never come back."
Bai Shao said, "Eldest Miss, Bai Yuan just came to say Madam has fainted again."
"I'll go see Mother," Yun Wei Shu said.
Arriving at the Duke's wife's room, Yun Wei Shu almost didn't recognize the gaunt and pale person on the bed as the once arrogant Duke's wife.
"Mother..." she stepped forward, holding her mother's hand, and whispered.
The Duke's wife on the bed stirred slightly, turning her head to look at her, her lips moving. "Wei Shu."
"Mother, you must take care. The residence still needs you to manage affairs," Yun Wei Shu urged.
The Duke's wife shook her head. "Without Duan Hai, what use is this Duke's residence? Without him, my heart is gone."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.
Yun Wei Shu grasped her mother's hand tightly. "Mother, you still have me, and you have Father. You are not alone."
The Duke's wife looked at her. "Wei Shu, you are grown up too. The Duke's residence depends on you now. Mother is tired and wants to rest."
Yun Wei Shu wanted to say more but saw her mother close her eyes, seemingly unwilling to speak with her any longer.
Yun Wei Shu sighed. She knew if she hadn't known the truth, she would likely be like her mother. That was why her brother had told her he was alive.
"Bai Lu, Bai Yuan, take good care of Madam," Yun Wei Shu instructed.
"Yes," Bai Lu and Bai Yuan replied.
Yun Wei Shu walked out. Bai Shao approached her and whispered, "Eldest Miss, the Duke has been summoned by His Majesty."
She nodded. "Father is safe for now. Aunt is dead, and Brother is presumed dead. His Majesty would not dare, nor would he, move against Father."
In the evening, Yun Wei Shu was summoned to the study by the Duke.
"Father, you sent for me?" Yun Wei Shu entered the study. In her memory, her father was very strict, and she seemed to have not spoken many words with him. Now, this was their first meeting without anyone else present.
She was a little nervous.
"Duan Hai is alive, isn't he?" The Duke's first sentence made Yun Wei Shu tremble all over.
She raised her eyes to look at the Duke. "Father, I also wish Brother were alive, but Brother is gone."
The Duke stood with his hands behind his back, looking at her for a long time. "He is still in the residence, isn't he?"
Yun Wei Shu's expression changed. "Father, Brother..."
"His Majesty summoned me today. He told me Duan Hai was rescued. The most dangerous place is often the safest. But what I can think of, others can too. I've called you here to tell you that if you know where he is, hurry and inform him. His Majesty might send people to search..."
Before he could finish, someone outside said, "Duke, the Imperial Guards have surrounded the Duke's residence. Commander Lin of the Imperial Guards says he is acting on His Majesty's orders to search."
"Shu'er, go out through the back," the Duke glanced at Yun Wei Shu and then walked towards the door.
Yun Wei Shu did not dare to delay and quickly ran out the back door.
"Commander Lin, there are many female members in the residence. Please be merciful," the Duke said coldly, looking at the Imperial Guards behind Commander Lin.
Commander Lin replied coldly, "His Majesty's orders, I must obey. For any offense caused, please forgive me, Duke."
With that, he waved his hand and said coldly, "Search..."
The Duke did not stop them nor speak. Soon, wailing was heard from the back courtyard. The Duke's wife rushed over, pointing at Commander Lin. "On what grounds are you searching the Duke's residence?"
Commander Lin looked at the Duke. The Duke stepped forward to comfort her. "Madam, it is His Majesty's order. Don't make things difficult for Commander Lin."
"He makes things difficult? What about me? My sister-in-law just died. Don't I have enough to deal with? Now he comes to bully us too. We can't live like this..." The Duke's wife suddenly lunged towards a tree. The Duke, startled, quickly embraced her.
"Madam, what are you doing?"
"Duke, we have been bullied to this extent. Shouldn't we just end our lives?" the Duke's wife cried loudly.
More and more people gathered at the entrance. Commander Lin frowned. At this moment, a cold voice rang out, "Whoever dares to touch my Duke's residence, I will kill them!"