Chapter 54 Many thanks to Prince Zhennan for saving my beloved wife from the water, Shutai is deeply grateful…
The autumn air was crisp and clear, with the sun shining brightly. These were probably the last few clear and sunny days in Luoyang before winter arrived.
Under a clear blue sky, distant peaks rose and fell in vibrant red and green, while white curtains were erected around the horse racing track to serve as viewing pavilions. Today, the Prince of Zhennan had invited nobles from Luoyang to play polo, and the women of each household gathered behind the curtains to chat.
One of the ladies made a witty remark, which drew laughter from everyone.
"This Prince of Zhennan is really in high spirits. He's just come off the battlefield and he's already asking to play polo. Hasn't he had enough of riding horses yet?"
Another lady succinctly pointed out, "It's not about riding horses; they're clearly looking for their future brother-in-law."
These words reached Le Jin's ears through the curtain, and she turned to look at Yuan Jingming, who was huddled with them, arms crossed and sulking.
He should have been preparing outside the horse farm early in the morning, but given the circumstances today, he preferred to hide at Meng Shutai's place rather than have any contact with the Prince of Zhennan.
Meng Shutai glanced at the people scurrying around setting up the venue like ants, and reminded Yuan Jingming once again: "The Prince of Zhennan is at the height of his power in Luoyang, and he works for your Yuan family. Even if you are a member of the imperial family, you still have to give him some face, don't you?"
"My mere presence is already a favor; what more do they want?"
Yuan Jingming looked dejected, his handsome brows and eyes filled with dejection.
“I thought that by going to Qingzhou to quell the rebellion and earning some military merits, I could have some say with my father, but in the end, it didn’t amount to anything.”
"Sometimes I wonder, am I a bird that my dad raises? He lets me fly out when he wants, and locks me up when he doesn't, never letting me leave the cage for the rest of my life."
Le Jin quietly glanced at him from beside Meng Shutai, and suddenly realized that Yuan Jingming was no longer the same person he used to be. He was still so frank and lively when they met again at the Water Lantern Festival, but that was only because Jiang Yingyun was present then. Now that she was not there, Yuan Jingming dimmed, like a star silent in the night.
“I know I come from a good family and enjoy wealth and privilege. But look at everyone here, who isn’t crushed beyond recognition by fame and fortune? Power is a tiger, and these people are its accomplices.”
He fell in love with Jiang Yingyun for no other reason than that she was a person, a natural and vibrant person.
"Shutai, for the sake of our years of friendship, can't you take me in?"
From the curtained area came the excited chatter of people. Yuan Jingming had no choice but to ask Meng Shutai for help.
"How can I take you in? If the Prince of Zhennan comes to take you away, do you think I can stop him?"
Meng Shutai remained calm and composed, analyzing that this path was blocked. But only Le Jin knew that his nonchalant attitude meant he had no intention of helping at all, and even found Yuan Jingming's chatter annoying.
You'll still have to rely on me, kid.
Le Jin picked up a cup of tea and drank it down in one gulp as if to bolster her courage, then nudged Meng Shutai.
"I'm going to change my clothes. You stay with the young master and don't worry about me."
In an instant, Meng Shutai's hidden aloofness towards Yuan Jingming melted away like spring snow. He looked up at Le Jin, who had already stood up, and gently hooked his fingertips around hers, saying tenderly, "Come back soon, it'll be dusty riding later."
Le Jin smiled emotionlessly, blurring the lines between whether she would agree or not.
Xie Xianheng is the man "Le Jin" has been having an affair with for a long time after their marriage. In the book, the two are only together to indulge in sensual pleasures and physical intimacy, but Le Jin has been discovering something different these days.
Unlike Song Chengzhi, Prince Zhennan has military achievements that Yuan Jingming longed for, as well as the power to suppress the Meng family. She could easily align herself with Xie Xianheng's power to deal with Meng Shutai.
Moreover, the "honey trap" doesn't necessarily require offering one's body; it only requires understanding a man's heart.
She felt no trepidation or shyness about seducing men; she was only eager to complete her mission.
At this moment, Yuan Jingming even gave Le Jin a perfect excuse to get close to Xie Xianheng—his sister, Xie Lianhui. As long as he could keep this Princess Zhaode in check, he could not only prevent her from developing feelings for Yuan Jingming, but also use her to become familiar to Xie Xianheng.
A perfect two birds with one stone!
Le Jin approached Princess Zhaode's tent with a delighted expression, "Miss, does the Princess have some free time?"
The maidservant guarding outside the tent glanced at Le Jin and, seeing that she was a beautifully dressed lady, said indifferently, "Our princess went to the Cheng River nearby to relax."
Chenghe?
Is that the river where the princess fell in and was rescued by Yuan Jingming?! She went there already?
Le Jin felt a sense of foreboding and grabbed her skirt, rushing out of the venue.
As soon as she disappeared, Yuan Jingming couldn't sit still any longer.
"Forget it, you're a true bodhisattva." He rose, waved goodbye to Meng Shutai, and walked out of the tent. Yuan Jingming was determined not to yield. Rather than wait for the Prince of Zhennan to test him with feigned affection, he would rather retreat first.
Yuan Jingming quickly walked around the rows of white tents, glanced at them, and strode towards Chenghe.
Chenghe is a small tributary of the Luo River, famous for its clear water and beautiful scenery. Yingyun will definitely like it. He'll scout it out first, and then bring Yingyun to visit when he gets back.
Forget about royal power and wealth, is there really no place for the two of them in this vast world? If there truly is no place, he will tear open a world for Yingyun.
Yuan Jingming quickly adjusted his mindset, as if his heart were once again as bright as the sun. He quickened his pace, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone who shouldn't be there.
"Ci Zhang?"
Meng Cizhang has recovered and came with his brother and sister-in-law today.
"What are you doing here instead of staying in your tent?"
Meng Cizhang paused for a moment before saying, "I saw my sister-in-law coming in this direction... but I think I lost her."
Le Jin acted strangely when she left, and Meng Cizhang guessed she had ill intentions. His elder brother had been drugged by this woman and couldn't distinguish right from wrong, but he wouldn't show any mercy.
If she dares to do anything disgraceful to the family in such a grand setting, Meng Cizhang is willing to act as a rein to rein in this wild horse.
The boy was punished by his family and lay in bed for many days, but his sense of justice not only did not fade, but burned even brighter.
He made a sinister vow.
I'll spend my whole life fighting her.
Upon hearing that it was Le Jin, Yuan Jingming frowned. His good impression of Le Jin had completely vanished, but for some reason, Yingyun always protected her, both openly and secretly.
A strange and mysterious woman. Yingyun, Shutai, and everyone close to him are biased towards her.
"I'll help you look for her."
Amidst verdant hills and clear waters, a slender figure walks alone on the soft sands along the riverbanks. A gentle breeze stirs her shawl and ribbons, causing her dress to flutter against the water's surface, making her appear ethereal and otherworldly, as if a goddess were about to return to the water.
Le Jin was panting heavily from running, and when she saw the figure in the distance, she was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat.
"Princess, be careful! The sand beneath your feet is shifting—ah!"
Before she could finish speaking, her feet sank into the soft ground, one foot getting stuck in the river wetland. Her knees buckled, her body swayed, and she fell sideways, tumbling into the water with a splash!
Xie Lianhui turned around at the sound and saw an unfamiliar woman falling headfirst into the water. "My God..."
Her maids, who were with her on the shore, immediately shouted, "Someone has fallen into the water!"
Yuan Jingming and Meng Cizhang heard someone calling for help from afar by the river. Just as they ran over, they saw a figure in black decisively jump into the water and swim to the side of the woman struggling in the river.
The river water was already nearly icy cold as winter approached. The fishy smell of aquatic plants mixed with the water rushed straight into Le Jin's mouth and nose, and the river water choked him, causing him pain in his throat and esophagus, like coughing up blood.
Le Jin couldn't swim, and now that she had no foothold, she thrashed about helplessly in the water, but to no avail. The river water washed over her entire body, as if it could swallow her whole in one gulp.
The river water washed over her face, but she dared not open her eyes. In the darkness, she was so panicked that she couldn't even cry.
What terrible luck! How could she be the one who fell into the water? It makes no sense!
Her ears were blocked by the river water, and all sounds were muffled. In her despair, a pair of strong hands suddenly grabbed her ribs and slammed her into their arms. Once their bodies were pressed together in the water, the man wrapped one arm around Le Jin and dragged her towards the shore.
Driven by her survival instinct, Le Jin clung to him tightly with both arms, not daring to let go even after they reached the shore. As the fresh, clean air rushed into her nose, she burst into tears.
"My eyes! I can't open my eyes!"
The river water had tiny pebbles that got into her eyes and were hurting her eyeballs terribly.
With calloused fingers on her face, Le Jin could clearly feel that even though the person was holding back, they still didn't know their own strength and pinched her chin until it throbbed with pain.
A rough thumb pressed against a damp eyelid and lifted it slightly upwards.
Through her flickering vision, she saw the man before her with deep-set eyes and a high nose. His sharp, deep eyes, like those of a leopard, were fixed on her, cold and calm. He looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.
Their faces were very close, their warm breaths brushing against each other's skin. The man's brow furrowed slightly, his expression serious and focused, as he parted his lips to blow air into her eyes, easing the pain.
The wind quickly made her eyes dry. Le Jin hummed and couldn't help but roll her eyes back under the man's wild, leopard-like gaze, tears sliding down his fingers.
"The residue has come out, and it won't hurt anymore."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a unique air of martial spirit, each word resounding yet defiant and abrupt.
Clutching the man's clothes on his shoulders, Le Jin was still in shock, as if she were still in the water and would be swallowed by the river if she let go.
Feeling the clenched fist on his shoulder trembling, the man lowered his eyes to observe his careless and unlucky wife.
Its eyes were red and raw from crying, its face was pale from being soaked in water, and it kept shivering... just like a rabbit. On the battlefield, these little creatures could only be torn apart and eaten by their legs.
With his incredibly long arms, he reached back and retrieved the cloak he had taken off before entering the water, then unfolded it and draped it over the little rabbit lady's shoulders.
She didn't let go, and so he held her close to his chest.
"Who is this lady? How did she fall into the water?"
As Yue Jin's senses returned slightly, she was speaking in a trembling voice when a familiar hand reached out swiftly, immediately separating her from the man in front of her.
"Ah Jin!"
Meng Shutai suddenly appeared and grabbed Le Jin's arm, ignoring the fact that she was covered in dirty river water. Instead, he held her tightly in his arms as if she were a treasure he had lost and found again, as if he were hiding her in his bones.
He gently stroked Le Jin's wet hair, murmuring behind her ear, "Do you know how scared I was..."
Fortunately, Yuan Jingming and the others informed him in time; otherwise, if Le Jin had been swept away by the river, he would have drained all the waterways in Luojing.
Le Jin was being squeezed so tightly by Meng Shutai that she could hardly breathe. She quickly patted him and said, "Loosen up...it hurts."
Meng Shutai patted Le Jin's back again, then composed himself and turned to face the burly man:
"Many thanks to Prince Zhennan for saving my beloved wife. I am deeply grateful."
Le Jin's eyes widened in surprise as her gaze met that of the man who was half-squatting and looking up at her.
Just now, when he was held in her arms, she only felt that he was broad-shouldered and strong, but now, looking down at him from above, she had a different feeling.
His brows furrowed, exuding a chilling aura, yet when he looked at the soaking wet Le Jin, he chuckled with a hint of nonchalant sneer.
I bet you've never seen a girl this old still plunge headfirst into the water, have you?
Le Jin swallowed awkwardly. She was already so embarrassed on their first meeting. How was she going to seduce him in the future? Besides... she moved slightly to Meng Shutai's side.
This man is so big and strong, it's a bit scary.
Xie Xianheng pushed himself up, not taking the rescue seriously.
"You flatter me, it was nothing."
"I'll take Madam back to the manor to change and see a doctor first. I won't bother Your Highness today." Meng Shutai now understood why Yuan Jingming disliked all this welcoming and seeing-off stuff so much; it was such a waste of time.
Xie Xianheng's cloak was still on Le Jin's body. Meng Shutai took it off, put his own cloak on it, and returned Xie Xianheng's cloak to her.
Xie Xianheng generously said, "No need, just give it to Madam to keep her warm."
Meng Shutai's face turned cold, and he lost all expression: "She doesn't like other men's things. Farewell."
Le Jin was so frightened she dared not breathe. This man was the Prince of Zhennan! How could Meng Shutai be so disrespectful?!
That's incredibly extravagant.
He pulled her by the wrist, and she secretly turned back, mouthing to Xie Xianheng, "Thank you, Your Highness." She quickly turned back, afraid of being stared at by Xie Xianheng's leopard-like eyes.
Xie Lianhui, who witnessed the whole thing, exclaimed in amazement, "Isn't Meng Langjun being a bit too protective? You're not going to eat anyone, are you?"
As he savored the little rabbit's shy and hesitant "thank you" before leaving, Xie Xianheng chuckled and said lightly:
"Who knows? After all, you weren't there when I was eating people."
He turned to his sister and demanded, "What are you doing here? Did you see Yuan Jingming? What did you think of him?"
"Brother! You're interrogating the enemy soldiers!"
Xie Lianhui stamped her foot, helpless: "I don't want to get married, I don't want to see that Prince Pingning's son, can't I just hide from him?"
Besides, with Meng Langjun's wife making such a fuss, she really didn't see a single trace of Yuan Jingming. Who can she blame?
-----------------------
Author's Note: Meng Shutai: No matter who it is, male, level one alert.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
