Transmigrated as the Stepmother of a Rebellious Heir

Over just one single evening, Shu Wan had managed to earn Xu Yinjia's trust to such an extent. This stirred a fresh wave of curiosity about Shu Wan in Qi Yuan's heart.

"You rest here, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll head back to the Qianqing Palace now."

As Qi Yuan spoke, he placed his spoon down and stood up to leave.

Xu Yinjia wanted to follow, but Qi Yuan said, "Huang Bing, award the agate bracelet gifted by Persia the day before yesterday to Consort De."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward," Xu Yinjia quickly said joyously as he bowed.

Qi Yuan returned to the Qianqing Palace to review petitions until late into the night.

That afternoon, he had been discussing state affairs in the Imperial Study Room and had skipped dinner. He had read petitions until now, feeling a vague emptiness in his stomach.

"Huang Bing, bring some pastries over."

"Yes."

Huang Bing promptly brought a few plates of pastries. Qi Yuan tasted a couple of bites but then put them down again.

Huang Bing cautiously approached, "Your Majesty, do the pastries not suit your taste?"

"Never mind, you may leave."

Qi Yuan couldn't exactly say they were unpalatable, but they just didn't taste quite right.

After mulling over Qi Yuan's mood, Huang Bing signaled to his subordinates to take the food away, then he sought out the eunuch on duty that day. "Did His Majesty have any particular activity today in the Changning Palace?"

"Yes," the little eunuch recalled, "His Majesty usually doesn't eat much, but today he actually took two bites of a pastry."

"Oh? What kind of pastry? Who made it?"

"The Junior Attendant, Shu Daying, made it. As for what pastry it was, this servant didn't see it."

"Alright, I understand," Huang Bing thought for a moment and then called over a small eunuch, "You go to Changning Palace and have Junior Attendant Shu Daying make a bowl of the pastries and send them here."

"Yes."

--

Time flies, another winter had come to the Imperial City, and before you knew it, a year had passed since Shu Wan fell into her deep sleep.

Everything seemed unchanged, yet everything seemed different as well.

In the estate, there was a melancholy stillness. Fu Siyu spent each day either at the hospital or at the company, and Fu Yang was either at school or the hospital.

Beneath the calmness was endless pain.

The first snow of the year had fallen. Early in the morning, Fu Yang stood on the balcony watching as Fu Siyu carefully protected each rose sapling and loosened the frosty soil.

For two whole hours, Fu Siyu stood in the snow without moving, and Fu Yang also remained motionless on the balcony.

Fu Yang lifted his head to the sky, warm tears flowing down from the corners of his eyes. He didn't know how long this situation would persist.

Was it an irreparable change forever?

The snow began to fall heavier. Fu Yang glanced at the time; it was time to go to school.

When Shu Wan first arrived, Fu Yang's punctuality for school had never been consistent, but now, with Shu Wan deep in her sleep, Fu Yang had become what everyone considered a model student.

He went to his classroom, where it was usually quite lively but today seemed even noisier. Everyone was huddled together, excitedly discussing something.

Seeing Fu Yang, his deskmate rushed to share, "Hey, Fu Yang, did you hear?"

"What?"

"I heard from those girls that there's a super handsome new male teacher. I wondered, could he be handsomer than you? They're making such a big deal."

Fu Yang wasn't interested in teachers or the lack thereof; he took out his textbooks, preparing to study ahead.

However, before he even opened his book, he heard his deskmate gasp in surprise, "Wow, he really is handsome! Look quickly!"

Indifferently, Fu Yang looked up, meeting a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes.

The new teacher was indeed good-looking, with a tall build and refined features, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose, shielding his eyes.

The teacher walked to the podium, placed down his books, and nodded to everyone, "Hello everyone, I am the new physics teacher, Chu Yu."

As Chu Yu spoke, he picked up a piece of chalk and wrote two characters on the blackboard in a beautiful script that faintly revealed an ancient elegance.

"I'm new here and don't know everyone yet. Let's start with introductions from the first person."

After Chu Yu finished, the students began introducing themselves.

Soon it was Fu Yang's turn. He stood up, his peach blossom eyes displaying slight impatience, "My name is Fu Yang."

With that, Fu Yang sat down immediately.

The students ahead had introduced themselves smilingly, talking about their names and hobbies, but Fu Yang's cold demeanor was quite conspicuous.

Chu Yu didn't seem to mind; he smiled and nodded, "Fu Yang, that's a very nice name."

His deskmate quietly nudged Fu Yang, "Are you not happy today? Your introduction was so brief."

Fu Yang's brows furrowed slightly, he subconsciously looked toward Chu Yu at the podium. For some reason, seeing Chu Yu's beautiful peach blossom eyes only annoyed him more.

"I just simply dislike this teacher. He is irritating."

(Guess who the new teacher is?)