"At that time, people told me to leave the children behind again," she said. "They said I was still young enough to remarry if I did not burden myself with them."
Her fingers tightened slowly against the cup in her hands.
"But this time…" she whispered, "I could not do it again."
The room became quiet.
Fu Sheng watched her steadily.
Wei Meilan lowered her eyes.
"I already abandoned two children once," she said softly. "I could not make the same mistake twice."
Something inside Fu Sheng tightened at those words, but he did not interrupt.
Wei Meilan continued quietly,
"It was later discovered that my husband had been involved in embezzlement."
Fu Sheng's brows frowned slightly.
"He was only a low-ranking minister," she explained, "but he had taken money that did not belong to him."
Her expression remained calm.
Too calm.
As though she had already repeated this truth to herself too many times.
