Chapter 93 The winery burned her so badly it felt like all her clothes had been burned off, leaving her completely naked…
A bright sun shone high in the sky, like a mirror hanging on the edge of the clouds. It was a beautiful day, and the streets were bustling with pedestrians. Le Jin squeezed among them, and soon she was sweating a little.
But looking back at the three beings following behind her, her discomfort was nothing at all.
The three of them had a total of six hands, each carrying large and small bags, and one of them even had a stack of fabric that Le Jin had praised as good tucked under his elbow. At that moment, the three of them wished they had eighteen hands. With gritted teeth and a look of hardship on their faces, they silently weaved through the crowd.
Le Jin couldn't bear it, so she shook Yuan Fang Sui's hand.
He was leading the way, clearing the crowd for Le Jin, like a small boat cutting through the waves in the sea of people.
"What's wrong?"
Yuanfang turned around, his eyes sparkling with joy and anticipation.
Le Jin had no parents or relatives in this world. After meeting Yuan Fang Sui's parents, their marriage was considered settled. Since she didn't refuse, Yuan Fang Sui naturally began to pave the way for their future.
Once a man's heart is moved, he's like a hunting tiger or leopard. These days, Le Jin has been filled with all sorts of things, both necessary and unnecessary.
Similarly, those whose arms were also stuffed full were born one, two, and three.
“Them…” Yuanfang followed Le Jin’s finger and noticed the weary, tearful faces of Sheng Yi and the others. He stared at them for three seconds, then said nonchalantly, “Go back and put your things away before you come out again!”
Le Jin cried out in pain, sounding like she felt sorry for his three hands.
"Stop buying! I only wrote down one page of things I needed for winter outings, just some cotton aprons and jackets, and asked you to get them. Now, I'm afraid we could never use all of this in three lifetimes..."
After spending a year together, Yue Jin finally witnessed the inherited extravagance of his noble bloodline—spendthriftness. When the Imperial Observatory people calculated his fate, weren't they actually suggesting that sending this prince to Shenji Mountain would ensure the national treasury wouldn't be empty?
Yuanfang, who had been beaming with joy for days, finally softened a bit under Lejin's troubled expression.
"You...don't like it?"
His thick eyelashes trembled as if deflated, fanning a heart-wrenching breeze that landed on Le Jin's face, making it feel soft and hot.
"Qing Si, my identity is special, and I will never have a proper wife in this life. Even if you are with me, you can only be a servant, and we won't even have a proper wedding..."
Yuanfang's hand, which was holding Lejin's, trembled slightly.
For a man like him to want to keep her by his side was already selfish. Not wanting to wrong her in any other way, he tried his best to give her everything.
A soft, warm hand covered his trembling hand.
Le Jin smiled serenely and beautifully, the passing crowds around her becoming blurry shadows, the indistinct river reflecting her image.
In the bustling city, she was the only quiet spot.
"It is precisely because you are free from the constraints of identity and can come and go as you please that I have taken pity on you and stayed with you."
Le Jin raised her face slightly, the curve of her lips resembling that of a proud cat.
This is true, but it also obscures some of the truth. When she was married to Meng Shutai, the title "Mrs. Meng" felt like a curse, and her jeweled clothes were like cold shackles, making it hard for her to breathe even when she slept at night.
Yuanfang is just fine this way. If she gets tired of it one day and doesn't want to continue, she can just turn around and leave. Without a proper title in this era, the breakup is also quite straightforward.
Although this plan is quite "scumbag", Le Jin has died several times and is experiencing her first serious relationship. It is understandable that she wants to retain some of her rights.
If you want to blame someone, blame Meng Shutai. If that madman hadn't acted so rudely and left her with so much psychological trauma, she wouldn't have had to put so much effort into her relationship.
Yuanfang was unaware of Lejin's ulterior motives. He looked at her, his heart pounding, and suddenly wanted to reach out and pinch her cheek.
She swallowed her grievances and now comforted him instead, feeling both happy and angry upon reflection.
How wonderful it would be if she had a big fight with him! She could have smashed all the things he had given her, pointed her finger at him and cursed him, and cried and made a scene, demanding a grand wedding... All the other girls had these things, but Qing Si didn't.
Yuanfang reached out his hand, but instead of pinching her, he gently rubbed her cheek with the back of his slightly bent fingers.
"sorry."
Le Jin narrowed her eyes, took his hand that was rubbing against hers, and their fingers intertwined.
"It doesn't matter."
Seeing that his high enthusiasm for making amends had finally subsided, Le Jin turned to Sheng Yi and the others and said, "Let's go back and get some rest. We'll just stroll around by ourselves for a while."
As soon as the words were spoken, Sheng Yi and Er turned around nimbly and ran away, leaving only their hurried and joyful "Thank you, Miss Qing Si" floating in mid-air; Sheng San, because the cloth under his arm was affecting the things he was carrying, carefully avoided the crowd when he turned around, and finally disappeared in a flash.
"Tch, they're all just playing the victim. I bet they have the stamina to walk around Luojing City ten or eight times."
Le Jin was both amused and exasperated, and casually patted Yuan Fang's arm.
"Don't push your luck too far. Look at how you've exploited them."
She really does resemble her cousin's simple-mindedness back then. When she was "Jiu'an," Yuan Jingming gave her to Meng Shutai to serve him medicine as a favor, which made her so angry that she wanted to kick Yuan Jingming on the spot.
The two walked hand in hand across a white stone bridge. Suddenly, Le Jin remembered: I've been back in Luoyang for days, why haven't I seen Yingyun?
"My cousin told me that his wife's business is now very successful. She owns not only a winery and distillery, but also four wineries. One out of every three cups of wine in Luojing is hers. Everyone says that even if she doesn't become a princess, she can still become a rising star in Luojing by making money."
As Le Jin listened, her eyes sparkled, and it felt as if a tender green shoot was sprouting in her heart.
That's wonderful. She now has a son and a daughter, a loving husband, and her career is thriving. Le Jin couldn't help but admire her. Jiang Yingyun's image transformed in her heart into a heavy ear of rice, each plump and firm grain swaying gently in the wind, healthy and beautiful.
Le Jin tightened her grip on Yuan Fang Sui's arm, "Let's go to Ju De Winery, I'll go there."
In her joy, she thought of visiting her old friends, without having a chance to turn back and glance at Yuan Fangsui, whom she was pulling along.
Where is Jude Winery? Even people who live in Luoyang don't know it, but Qing Si does.
Any detail pointing to Qing Si's past caused a huge uproar in Yuan Fang's heart, but he dared not face it, fearing that the past would surge in through the thin barrier of the past.
After a moment of paleness, Yuanfang quickly recovered and smiled at her with an even gentler and brighter smile than before.
——
Le Jin jogged along, her footsteps echoing on the ground like a cheerful song.
The clear sunlight shone on her and Yuanfang, and she suddenly felt a sense of returning home in glory.
She now has a companion, and her life has a solid anchor point; no matter which direction she looks, it's all brand new.
This was the closest she had ever come to happiness, and she couldn't wait to share it with her old friends. However, before she even reached the winery entrance, the contents of the red-and-black notice pierced Le Jin's eyes, shattering all her joy.
"This shop is for sale..."
Le Jin stood under the notice, her brows furrowed.
Yuanfang craned his neck to look into the winery. The furnishings inside were still dazzling and magnificent, showing that it had been glorious in the past, but at this moment it was quiet and the hall was empty.
Le Jin lifted her skirt and stepped into the winery, with Yuan Fang following leisurely behind, a strange sense of pride rising in his heart.
Their arrival at this time is much like the winery owner and her kept man.
Is anyone there?
Le Jin leaned against the stage in the center of the lobby and shouted in all directions.
Suddenly, the curtain on the second floor moved, and a beautiful woman with her hair tied up and no adornment peeked out: "We have distinguished guests here today, madam, please go back."
It's Mrs. Zhang.
Le Jin looked up at her, blinked her eyes with a lively and playful expression, and held up one finger: "We just need a small table, it won't trouble you, Madam."
Madam Zhang's once dark green eyebrows had faded, and she drooped down in sorrow. "Madam, we have no more wine left here, you should..."
Before she could finish speaking, the curtain behind her moved again, and a handsome young man with black hair reaching his shoulders and dressed in white robes as white as snow appeared. The crimson tassel tied around his waist was still faintly visible in the swaying clothes. It was clear at a glance that he had heard Le Jin's voice and had come to see her...
Her eyes, as bright as the Milky Way, overflowed with laughter, pouring down on Le Jin from the second floor.
Le Jin's face fell instantly.
"Madam Zhang is unaware that these two are also distinguished guests."
Meng Shutai explained the identities of Le Jin and the woman behind her to Madam Zhang, and Madam Zhang immediately became excited, all the worry between her brows disappearing.
"Oh dear! I was blind to your greatness. Your Highness, please. Your Highness, please, my lady!"
Her bright and cheerful voice returned, and Le Jin immediately smiled, not even caring about Meng Shutai standing beside her.
As she lifted the curtain on the second floor and entered the private room, Le Jin's smile deepened unexpectedly.
Sitting at the table, looking at her, was Jiang Yingyun, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
As she aged, her face and figure lost the youthful grace, but the passage of time had given her a sense of composure and tranquility, her eyes shining calmly and gently, like jade.
"Cousin-in-law?"
Yuanfang popped his head out in surprise, then took Lejin's hand and went forward to exchange pleasantries.
Le Jin stood quietly, her gaze subtly falling on Jiang Yingyun, a sense of utter turmoil washing over her. The third time they met, the third time Jiang Yingyun didn't recognize her. But thankfully, there wouldn't be a next time.
"It's all because my cousin's wife is too busy and hasn't had a chance to visit you yet."
"It's alright, we've seen them, haven't we? But..." Yuanfang glanced at everyone present and asked, "What brings you here today, sister-in-law?"
Jiang Yingyun looked at Madam Zhang, her eyes filled with heartache.
"Madam Zhang's husband fell seriously ill, and doctors all over Luoyang could not cure him. She thought of selling the winery to raise money to take her husband elsewhere to try their luck. I have been a customer of hers for many years and we are old friends, so I thought that instead of selling the winery to someone else at a discount, she might as well sell it to me."
Yuanfang then said, "This is the best of both worlds. Why did I see Madam Zhang still looking so worried just now?" He turned to Madam Zhang and teased her, "Could it be that you're reluctant to give the winery to my cousin-in-law?"
Madam Zhang smiled wistfully, "What's there to be reluctant about? Does my husband expect me to shed tears and cry my heart out at the winery? It's just..."
"I want this winery too."
Meng Shutai sat to the side idly arranging his tassels. When he spoke, his clear, cold voice carried a hint of lingering affection that was hard to describe.
Although he was discussing business with Madam Zhang, his eyes were fixed on Le Jin.
Yuanfang narrowed his eyes, crossed his arms to block Le Jin, and said in an annoyed tone, "My cousin-in-law wants to buy it because of our years of friendship. You, a dignified young master Meng, don't lack a small winery. What, are you deliberately trying to upset my cousin-in-law?"
Jiang Yingyun sensed the hostility in those words and looked up at Yuan Fangsui with surprise.
She was indeed troubled that Meng Shutai also wanted the winery, but he was also a long-time friend, and had even done her and Jingming a great favor. This wasn't a bidding war between merchants; there was no need to get angry, they could just discuss it amicably. Yuanfang followed...
Meng Shutai smiled faintly, got up and walked over slowly.
Le Jin noticed his steps and gradually leaned towards Jiang Yingyun. Jiang Yingyun sensed something was amiss with this subtle movement and glanced at Le Jin without making a sound.
She turned her head to the side and hid behind Yuanfang, her shoulders hunched, as if she wanted to hide herself completely.
This woman is hiding... Meng Shutai?
Jiang Yingyun looked toward Meng Shutai, who stood three steps away from Yuan Fangsui. His red tassels and white robes made him look like a crane incarnate, his cool demeanor tinged with intense desire.
“I bought the winery not for myself, but for my wife.”
“She loved the pastries from this winery when she was alive, and I wanted to save them for her.”
His words were gentle and tender, filled with love and boundless pity; yet, crimson sparks flew from his eyes, flying towards the hiding Yue Jin without warning.
It burned her so badly that it felt as if all her clothes had been burned away, leaving her standing naked in his eyes.
-----------------------
Author's Note: I'm back! [Sunglasses][Sunglasses][Sunglasses] Regular updates resume!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
