Chapter 47 It turns out, he now has someone to wait for…

Yan Mansion.

Inside Yan Zong's study, a rather beautiful woman was weeping, her face streaked with tears: "Father, even if you don't care about me, please save Zhao Lang for Xuan'er's sake."

The man opposite her was dressed as a civil official, with slightly graying temples, but his eyes were shrewd: "Wan'er, it's not that your father is standing idly by. It's just that His Majesty is furious about this matter, and your father is powerless to do anything about it."

"Besides," he said, looking at his daughter with satisfaction, "with Wan'er's beauty, how could she not find a suitable husband? Even if she brings Xuan'er along, there are plenty of high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital who would want to marry her."

Yan Wan's heart sank completely when she heard him say that.

She had always known that Yan Zong only cared about interests, but she never expected him to be so ruthless. If it weren't for her aunt threatening to kill herself back then, she, an illegitimate daughter, would have been given away to some person he needed to win over as a concubine long ago...

Now, Zhao Lang has been forced to do so many despicable things, and after the incident, he not only kicked him away but also wanted to sell himself.

In this world, women are inherently weak, but mothers are strong. Thinking that her child cannot be without a father, Yan Wan's expression turned solemn: "Father, Zhao Lang clearly did not want to do this, but you forced him. Now he is about to die, yet you remain untouched. There is no reason for this! Although I am just a woman, I am still Zhao Lang's wife and Xuan'er's mother. I will never let this go."

Yan Zong narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint in them, and rebuked her, "Yan Wan! You really think you're all grown up now? Don't forget who your surname really is!"

He winked at his trusted aide standing guard by the door: "Send a message to the Zhao family that the Third Miss has been anxious these past few days and is unwell. She should stay at the Zhao residence for a few days to recuperate before returning home."

Caught a glimpse of Yan Wan's resentful and angry eyes, Yan Zong slapped her across the face: "Don't force me to bring Xuan'er back too."

Upon hearing this, Yan Wan almost fell over, her body swaying slightly. Even though she managed to brace herself against the bookshelf beside her and avoid falling completely to the ground, she was still quite disheveled.

Perhaps it was fate that was deliberately making things difficult for her, for at that moment the door to the study was opened from the outside, and a handsome young man, accompanied by two palace maids and two eunuchs, pushed the door open and entered.

A hint of displeasure flashed in Yan Zong's eyes, but he quickly put on a smile as if nothing had happened: "Your Highness, why did you come so suddenly? Didn't you inform the manor in advance?"

This person was none other than the Third Prince Ji Yao. He did not understand Yan Zong's implied meaning at all, and his face was full of joy: "I suddenly heard some good news about my second brother, and I came here to make you happy, my maternal grandfather."

Hearing the respect in his tone, Yan Zong felt a little more at ease. This time, without waiting for his orders, his confidant walked up to Yan Wan, who had already retreated to a corner, and said, "Third Miss, I apologize for the offense," before trying to pull her away.

How could Yan Wan tolerate such humiliation? She said coldly, "I can walk by myself."

Seeing the red and swollen face of the woman who walked past him with her head down, even the naive Third Prince knew that there had been some unpleasantness here. However, his mother hated his half-sister very much, so the Third Prince naturally disliked his nominal aunt as well.

He deliberately turned his head away in disgust as the woman passed by, and thus failed to notice the hint of hatred that inevitably escaped from her as she walked past him.

Even if he found out, he wouldn't care. As the emperor's most beloved son, why would he bother to look at an ant as lowly as dust?

Yan Wan was taken to Quyou Pavilion, where she had lived with her aunt when she was young. After her aunt was forced to death by Consort Shu and her daughter in exchange for her marriage, no one lived there anymore, so it was now very dilapidated.

Yan Zong's confidant brought two rough-looking old women to her, and then called the two old women out alone to talk to them.

Yan Wan didn't care. It was just a matter of having those two old women keep an eye on him. Hadn't she experienced enough of these tricks in the inner quarters? After telling the two old women that she wanted some peace and quiet, Yan Wan went back to her room alone.

The two old women exchanged a glance and agreed. Their task was to keep an eye on the illegitimate daughter and prevent her from running away. As for whether she would do something rash, that was not their concern.

The room hadn't been tidied up yet. Yan Wan brushed the dust off the stool and sat quietly at the table. If you didn't know her current situation, you would really think she was waiting for someone.

But why did she wipe the other stool clean as well?

"Madam Zhao, what's your decision? Lord Zhao's health can't hold up for much longer."

Yan Wan suddenly looked up and saw a fair-skinned man who had appeared out of nowhere looking at her with a smile.

After the initial panic subsided, she calmed down. It was no different from the first time she had seen this person; she had deliberately dismissed the two old women simply to wait for him.

"How can you expect me to believe you?" Yan Wan only knew that he was a minor judge in the Dali Temple, so she was skeptical of his claim that he could rescue Zhao Lian.

The fair-skinned man smiled, revealing two dimples, and looked naively innocent: "Does Madam Zhao think you have other choices besides me?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Wan was first filled with anger, then overwhelmed with sorrow. What he said was true; if she were on her own, Zhao Lang would only face certain death, since she couldn't even leave the Yan residence now.

Thinking of this, a surge of hatred welled up in her heart again. In Yan Zong's eyes, she was nothing more than a commodity waiting to be sold, and in the Yan family, apart from her aunt, she had never received a shred of warmth.

If that's the case, what's wrong with us all sinking together?

“I will give you their secret letter,” she said, taking a smooth, translucent jade ring from her sleeve and placing it on the table. “Furthermore, give this to Zhao Lang, and he will understand.”

Seeing the death wish in Yan Wan's eyes, perhaps to give her the will to live, or perhaps to get more from her, the fair-skinned man did not leave immediately after learning the whereabouts of the secret letter.

"In three days, everything will surely be settled, and the people from Buming Pavilion will come to take the lady away to reunite with Lord Zhao's family."

"Buming Pavilion?" Yan Wan was surprised and uncertain. She had heard of the name Buming Pavilion, but she did not expect that this person would be related to Buming Pavilion.

The fair-skinned man didn't feel he had revealed any earth-shattering secret. "Otherwise, Madam, what other force do you think could rescue Lord Zhao from the Dali Temple's dungeon?"

Seeing that Yan Wan had lowered her eyes and was deep in thought, as if she was weighing something, the fair-skinned man did not want to urge her. He picked up the jade ring on the table and prepared to leave through the back window.

"Wait," the man who had reached the window turned around and saw Yan Wan clenching her hands as if she had made up her mind. "I have something else to tell you," Yan Wan raised her eyes, "It's about Consort Shu in the palace."

"Oh?" The man licked his sharp teeth. "I'm all ears."

...

Meanwhile, Yokoha's mundane life finally began to change.

"Hengbo! You..." After receiving Hengbo's request for help, the young master rushed all the way from Changzhou because he was worried about her. However, the scene in front of him was quite different from what he had imagined. Looking at Hengbo's face, which was a little rounder than before, he couldn't bring himself to say "You've lost weight".

Unaware of the turmoil in the young master's heart, Hengbo felt that the joy of reuniting with an old friend had eased her lingering sorrow about the past and the future, and she unconsciously felt much more relaxed.

Besides Ah Cai, the young master brought two other guards with him this time. After all, he is now the master of Cangjian Manor, so it's best to be cautious when traveling.

They were staying at an inn next to the Shen residence. According to him, he came here not only to meet with Hengbo, but also to discuss some business plans for Cangjian Manor.

"Once I've settled things up in Yujing, you'll have an extra layer of security here."

Hengbo didn't want to get involved in the affairs of Cangjian Manor, but he was very touched by the young master's enthusiasm, so he took the money he had earned from Ergou and spent a few days having a good time with the young master and Acai.

One afternoon, Er Gou, once again forgotten by Heng Bo, was playing alone in the yard, breaking off tree branches and looking aggrieved. She squatted in front of the tree and grumbled, "Bad Cuihua! You took my money to play with other men! And you didn't even take me with you!"

Just then, a shadow fell over them: "So you're not going to go with them?"

Er Gou was still immersed in his complaints: "Forget it, that young master clearly likes Cuihua. If I can make Cuihua fall in love with someone else, it's nothing for me to sacrifice a little, so that she won't hang herself on a crooked tree."

Who is the crooked tree?

"Who else could it be?" Er Gou rolled his eyes impatiently, and was about to continue when he suddenly realized something before he could utter the person's name.

She immediately stopped talking, pretending nothing had happened, and crouched down, taking small steps forward, preparing to run away once she reached a safe area.

However, if Shen Guitang really let her get away, he wouldn't be Shen Guitang anymore. Just as Er Gou was about to get a step away from him, he gently kicked her, and the cautious Er Gou immediately fell face-first to the ground...

Looking at the person who was pretending to be dead buried on the ground, Shen Guitang said leisurely, "If Cuihua had entered my Shen family, you might have had some good days. But if it's someone else, then who knows?"

Having said that, Shen Guitang didn't linger any longer. One reason he returned to the manor was to find something for this clingy young master to do, so he wouldn't have to come to the young princess every day to cultivate their relationship. The other reason was that ever since the person who had escaped from the imperial mausoleum had escaped, he had had people from the pavilion search for him. Now that they had finally caught him, he thought he should at least inform the young princess about it.

As for whether Black Wind can handle both of these tasks?

But he wanted to see her.

Summer has begun, but the heat hasn't fully set in yet. The afternoon sun is warm but not glaring, and Shen Guitang is still lying in his rocking chair in the courtyard, swaying gently in the breeze.

Compared to the past when it was simply a way to pass the time, now it has a different flavor, and Shen Guitang can't help but savor it in his heart.

But in the past, when had a tiger with a sharp blade in its heart ever paid attention to a roadside rose? He couldn't quite describe his current state of mind in a short time. And in the process of understanding this, as the sun gradually set in the west, he slowly closed his eyes, his breathing became steady, and he fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes again, the sun had already set, and the fiery clouds of molten gold ran rampant in the sky. Beneath this magnificent and dazzling sky, a woman with a cool and aloof demeanor was gazing at him from afar.

Amidst the world's most beautiful scenery, she possesses an unparalleled elegance.

He finally realized the subtle changes in his mindset; he now had the desire to wait for someone to come home.

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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2024-02-24 21:48:02 and 2024-02-28 17:43:04!

Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Shh, 1 bottle;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!