Chapter 66 Yu He'an in reality and in dreams are both...

Yu Tan's legs went weak, and she could barely stand. A feeling of powerlessness surged up her spine and into her mind. All the joy of surviving the ordeal vanished, and only the word "dead" remained in her mind.

She could barely think; after several breaths, a few questions finally surfaced in her empty mind.

What exactly happened to Yuhe'an?

He clearly knew that a great disaster was going to happen in Bianjing, so why did he still die?

Why didn't anyone tell Yu He'an that she was dead?

"Father...Father, how...how could this happen?"

Despite her best efforts to control her voice, it still trembled uncontrollably.

Yu Zheng looked up and saw that two lines of clear tears had already flowed down Yu Tan's cheeks. Her eyelashes were wet with tears, her eyes were still full of hot tears, and her lips were tightly pursed, crying silently.

He suddenly felt overwhelmed. He had originally thought that Yu He'an, that scoundrel, was just hot-headed and only wanted to take on the leader.

Now, Yu He'an, who seems lawless and determined to go down a dark path, and Yu Tan, who is simple and kind, are both headaches.

"Father, Father."

"No, he's not dead. He has hands and feet, why are you worried about him?" Yu Zheng rubbed his temples and sighed a few times. "Has Yu He'an done anything strange to you lately?"

He's not dead?

It's good that he's not dead.

Like someone caught in a torrent, she clung to a sturdy piece of driftwood, finally able to catch her breath.

It took her several breaths to remember Yu Zheng's question, and to recall how Yu He'an had abducted her and forced her to be his lover. Those things were long gone.

“Nothing strange, nothing strange between us.” She shook her head decisively. Yu He’an had been keeping his distance from her lately.

Yu Zheng let out a long sigh of relief; thankfully, Yu He'an was still a normal person.

"Father, when will my brother return?" Yu Zheng's words always made her uneasy. She wanted to see Yu He'an with her own eyes before returning to the manor.

"I'll be back when I'm done." Yu Zheng waved and disappeared into the night. "You must be tired from last night, go back and rest."

Judging from Yu Zheng's headache, he didn't want to mention Yu He'an again.

She had no choice but to return to Lanfang Courtyard first.

With Madam Song's eightieth birthday approaching, she was asked to stay at the Marquis's residence again this afternoon. She had originally planned to refuse, but faced with Madam Song's hopeful face, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to say no.

For three days in a row, she failed to encounter Yu He'an, so Lanxin went to Changming to inquire.

Changming said, "My lord has been busy with official duties lately, and he always returns late at night. He doesn't get much rest before leaving again under the cover of darkness. I haven't been able to see my lord for a long time."

Perhaps it was because I kept thinking about seeing Yuhe'an during the day that those annoying dreams came back.

In her hazy sleep, she felt someone hugging her from behind, a warm and reassuring embrace.

After so long, she has come to understand that she is more comfortable with this strange and eerie relationship at night than with the cold indifference of not seeing each other during the day.

The coldness and distance during the day are real, while the tenderness at night is just an illusion.

She no longer rejected her inner self. When the false Yu He'an embraced her from behind, she turned around and buried herself in the illusion's embrace.

She murmured helplessly, "Brother, why are you avoiding me?"

The muscles in his hands tensed up, just like Tamahaku An's own reaction.

She knew Yu He'an so well that her fantasy was exactly the same as his real self.

The delusional Yu He'an naturally wouldn't answer her, and even released his arms from around her waist, as if to say: You were the one who was going to push me away, so why are you looking so pitiful now?

Yu Tan kept her head down, her cheek brushing against Yu He'an's outer robe. The embroidery scraped against her cheek, even giving her a sense of reality.

She became much bolder in the dark, and now she dared to say things she wouldn't dare to say during the day.

“Brother, I was very scared when the rebels attacked the gate last night. I kept thinking about running away, but running away would only lead to new difficulties. Every path would bring new challenges.”

"Just like my relationship with you, I always thought about escaping, but I finally found a good way."

I'm cowardly, conflicted, hesitant, and greedy; I always wish I could go back to how I was before.

Can you please stop ignoring her?

In the dream, Yu He'an asked, "Which 'before'? The days when you were my lover? Or the days when you were my brother? Or do you want both, maintaining the facade of brother and sister by day, and doing this at night..."

The further she went on, the more ashamed she became.

Her instinct was to argue that she just wanted to return to the friendly and close sibling relationship they once had.

But what does it mean when I dream of my brother every night, and we embrace in my dreams? And what does it mean when I ask to go back to the past?

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to see you to make sure you're alright."

But her delusions were fermenting, growing deeper in the days she couldn't see him, and she began to crave more and more things. In the darkness of night, she spoke out.

In her dream, Yu He'an released her hand and slowly floated in the air, his gaze enveloping her. She lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him again.

His eyes were probably cold and disgusted.

She pulled the blanket over her head, estimating that Yu He'an had left in her dream, before daring to put the blanket down and meet the eyes of a pair of light-colored eyes.

She saw it clearly; there was no disgust in his eyes, only indulgence, a helpless indulgence.

"You still haven't told me the answer. What exactly do you want?" Yu He'an placed his hands on her shoulders, and after waiting for a long time without receiving an answer, as expected, he sighed and left.

She already had the answer, but she didn't want to tell Yu He'an in her dream; she wanted to find an opportunity to tell him in person.

*

I haven't seen Yu He'an for half a month, but I've heard a lot of news about him.

Yu He'an was promoted again, becoming the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and concurrently a Hanlin Academy Academician.

Despite the official promotion, the household showed no joy; instead, everyone was filled with apprehension.

Even though Yu Tan knew part of the future plot, she still felt uneasy.

Yu He'an will eventually join the cabinet and become the Grand Secretary. In the original storyline, was it really that fast?

Everything should be done with a down-to-earth approach; moving too fast is like a death warrant.

Today is Madam Song's birthday, and I'm so glad to finally see Yuhe An.

Given the chaos that occurred a few days ago, it is not advisable to hold large banquets in Bianjing during this period, no matter how important the matter is.

Madam Song held a family dinner in Hexiang Courtyard.

She arrived early, before the sun had set. The courtyard was bustling with activity as Zhao Qiuci and Shen Wujiu chatted with Old Madam Song, recounting interesting stories from the border region.

When she saw her, Zhao Qiuci looked up and greeted her, "Yu Tan, come here quickly."

Because of their friendship while guarding the mansion gate, she and Zhao Qiuci became quite close. Zhao Qiuci often visited her courtyard, bringing all sorts of strange and unusual things.

"What's wrong?" She walked over quickly and stood next to Zhao Qiuci.

"Shen Wujiu just told me that you had saved his life."

"I just ran into him on the street that day. Later, my brother took Mr. Shen to the manor. It had nothing to do with me." She shook her head. She hadn't done anything.

“Young Lady Yu, I misunderstood you before.” Shen Wujiu clasped his hands in apology and bowed solemnly. “I was just being petty and assumed you were greedy for wealth and glory… I’m sorry. If you ever need my help in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Indeed, it’s petty-minded.” Zhao Qiuci punched Shen Wujiu’s shoulder hard. Standing beside him, the friendship between the two was warm and sincere.

She then realized that they were the protagonists of this world, and their love needed no concealment. Everyone blessed them, just as she wished Zhao Qiuci all the best.

She was forced to stay in the Marquis's mansion for refuge due to the restricted plot, so it was normal for her to be misunderstood. The current outcome is already ten thousand times better than she expected.

As the sun dipped low, casting its last golden rays, lanterns were lit in Hexiang Courtyard, filling the air with a joyful atmosphere.

Yu Zheng, clad in iron armor, appeared at the entrance of Hexiang Courtyard, his face full of irritation. He took a few deep breaths in the courtyard, and the maids helped him remove his armor before he entered the house.

Before he even stepped into the small hall, a pair of clear, black and white eyes caught his eye, but the owner of those eyes was looking past him and behind him.

"Father."

She had just suppressed her anger, but the anger that Yu He'an had provoked was about to burst forth again, yet she couldn't bear to implicate the innocent Yu Tan.

Yu Zheng nodded and sat down to the left of Old Madam Song.

Upon seeing Yu Zheng enter, Yu Tan quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be completely indifferent. Zhao Qiuci, standing beside her, covered for her by pouring her a cup of sake.

Old Madam Song asked, "Why hasn't He'an returned?"

Yu Zheng said, "Mother, let's start the banquet. There's no need to wait for him."

Old Madam Song glanced at Yu Zheng's cold profile, sighed, and then looked up at Yu Tan. Zhao Qiuci was leaning close to Yu Tan, whispering intimate words between young ladies.

She was the one who made the mistake in this matter.

If she hadn't interfered, how wonderful it would have been to live in harmony like this. Having gone through life and death, one can let go of everything. If Yu He'an were to tell her now that he likes Yu Tan,

She no longer held the outdated idea that changing identities could be bad, since it wasn't like she was committing murder or arson.

Every family has its secrets; no one can live by the rules forever.

"You can't be too restrained in everything. I've already been fooled once, why are you still following my old path?"

Yu Zheng pursed his lips. Fortunately, Zhao Qiuci hadn't mentioned Yu Tan's biological father and Zhao Qingwu's background to Old Madam Song.

"I understand, Mother. Let's begin the meal."

With Zhao Qiuci and Yu Tan present, the meal was quite lively, and Madam Song's laughter never stopped.

At the end of the banquet, as she did every year, she stood up, raised her glass, and toasted Madam Song three times, wishing her good health and peace in the coming year.

In the past, on Madam Song's birthday, unless there was a large banquet, it was just the two of them. This year, there were more people, and the gathering ended later than usual.

Lanxin helped her back to Lanfang Courtyard. The moon was high in the sky, and its light bathed the earth.

This wine is sweet, but it has a strong aftereffect, unlike the peach blossom wine I've had before. My head is getting dizzier and my legs feel lightheaded.

"Your peach blossom wine doesn't taste right." She and Zhao Qiuci left Hexiang Courtyard together, and she accused her of buying counterfeit goods with a thick lisp.

"You took all the peach blossom wine from the cellar. This is just honey mixed with regular wine. It's delicious, isn't it?" Zhao Qiuci said with a smile as she approached.

Yu Tan's face was flushed, and there were a few drops of sweat on the tip of her nose. Zhao Qiuci was in no better shape.

"Are you drunk?"

"No, I think you're the one who's drunk." She took a step back, and Lanxin helped her walk towards Lanfang Courtyard.

"I am indeed a little drunk, I need to go back to my courtyard to rest." Zhao Qiuci was not shy at all and readily admitted that she could not hold her liquor. Shen Wujiu supported her by one arm and walked towards her courtyard.

In the secluded path, they encountered Yu He'an, dressed in a scarlet official robe. He showed no signs of fatigue, indicating that he had achieved early success and was enjoying a prosperous official career.

Yu He'an had planned to come after the banquet, clearly intending to avoid her, but he hadn't expected the banquet to last so long this year, and they had run into each other again.

The restless branches grow wildly inside, pricking one's lungs with pain.

Yu Tan quickened her pace and headed towards Hexiang Courtyard. Yu He'an in her dream was still a little better.

She shook her head.

no.

Both in reality and in dreams, Yu He'an is a bastard.

"Are you drunk?" Yu He'an turned his head to the side, his gaze slowly creeping over her cheek.

"No, just a little bit drunk." As he looked at her, her cheeks gradually warmed up.

"Get some rest." The scarlet figure brushed past her, getting further and further away.

"Bastard." Tomorrow she's leaving the manor, never wanting to see Yu He'an again.

Lanxin helped her back to Lanfang Courtyard, where she drank a bowl of hangover soup and lay down on the canopy bed. Lanxin then extinguished the lamps for her and left the inner room.

In the dead of night, the window in the inner room opened and closed briefly, and a slender figure climbed in through the window, landing nimbly on the ground. The agility was as if he had done this countless times before.

A tall, slender figure walked towards the canopy bed, where the brocade quilt was crumpled into a ball, but the person was nowhere to be found.

Author's Note: Thank you "Iron-Blooded BG Warrior" and "MiCat" for the nutrient solution! [hugs][hugs][hugs]

Thanks for having a free afternoon today, so I quickly made some, hehe [hug].