Chapter Twelve: Zhao Yu Reunites with Xu Chumian; Xu Chumian is Kidnapped
The following day at noon.
A colleague from the Dali Temple was celebrating his birthday with a banquet, and the group dined at a restaurant at the end of Pinghua Street.
During the banquet, some people offered Zhao Yu a drink, but they dared not force him to drink. Instead, they tried to persuade the birthday celebrant, Cao Mi, to drink.
Cao Mi quickly waved his hand to refuse, saying, "I asked for leave this afternoon. I have to go back to be with my wife, and I need to buy her incense later."
"Cao Mi, today is your birthday, and you actually bought a gift for your wife?"
Cao Mi gave him a look that said, "You don't understand."
"As long as my wife is happy, I can live a life of joy every day."
Several single men scoffed.
"Is it that Kapok Incense Shop? My wife told me that the proprietress is very beautiful, and many people go there every day just to see her."
Zhao Yu, however, gripped his wine glass tightly.
"Kapok Fragrance Shop?"
Cao Mi was very good at reading people's expressions, and quickly said, "Lord Xie, is there something wrong?"
Xie Zhaoyan said calmly, "It's nothing."
His thoughts drifted away.
In his previous life, after Xiao Qingyan died, he led his troops to fight in the north.
Before leaving the capital, the two of them fooled around day and night, leaving Xu Chuming with enough money and property that the two sisters could not spend in several lifetimes.
On the eve of his departure, he couldn't help but ask, "Chumian, what are your plans if I don't come back?"
Xu Chumian put her arm around his waist and said, "If you don't come back, I'll take Mumu back to Jiangnan, open a perfume shop, and then find a handsome young man to marry into our family."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu wished he could pack up Xu Chumian and take her away on the spot.
Xu Chumian still smiled: "The shop will be named after me and Mumu, called 'Kapok Fragrance Shop.' Also, I like a gentle, fair-skinned young man, preferably knowledgeable, and able to help me with the accounts—"
Xu Chumian's words were cut off by Zhao Yu's lips and tongue.
Zhao Yu's body felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, pressing down on Xu Chumian so much that she couldn't breathe.
Just as they were about to reach the finish line, Zhao Yu pressed in a deep voice, "Say it again?"
Xu Chumian stubbornly refused to change her mind, enduring repeated blows.
Only when she closed her eyes did Xu Chumian nestle in his arms, her hot tears soaking Zhao Yu's chest.
"So you have to come back alive. If you die, I really will go back to Jiangnan."
Zhao Yu hummed in agreement and kissed the top of Xu Chumian's head. "Don't worry, I'll come back alive to marry you."
As memories resurfaced, the love and passion of those years became the only splash of color in Zhao Yu's otherwise dull and tasteless life.
Zhao Yu glanced sideways. "Let's go."
Cao Mi was preparing to leave.
Where to?
"Buy incense."
Cao Mi sighed, "Lord Xie, this is strange. The yamen doesn't go that way."
The others continued eating and drinking.
"It seems that the adult has finally seen the light."
"I was so scared a few days ago that I didn't dare to say a word."
"Winter is over, now it's spring!"
...
Xu Chumian didn't come over from the courtyard until noon.
There weren't many people in the afternoon. The shop assistants were selling things at the front, while Xu Chumian was mixing perfumes in a corner of the shop.
The woman was graceful and well-proportioned, with delicate features and focused intently on her work.
Xu Chumian is preparing to blend her next fragrance. This is the second year of her marriage with Zhao Yu. The fragrance she has blended is even more elegant and pleasant than Zhenwu Pear Fragrance.
Xu Chumian didn't notice the person behind her. She called out, "Amo, give me the galangal by the door."
Footsteps approached from afar, and a plate of galangal was handed to Xu Chumian.
She reached out and took it, but her gaze lingered on her hand near the plate.
Those were hands that belonged only to a man, with long, strong fingers.
Xu Chumian had held these hands for years, and in this new life, she instantly knew who these hands belonged to.
The small scale in Xu Chumian's hand instantly fell to the ground.
With a loud crash—
The weighed spices were scattered on the ground.
The piercing noise pounded against Xu Chumian's eardrums.
The man's voice was very deep, "So surprised?"
Xu Chumian's eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked up at the person who had arrived.
Zhao Yu, who had just turned twenty, had a more unrestrained air about him than the man she remembered from her last life.
Xu Chumian stared at him blankly, her head tilted back, looking very obedient.
Zhao Yu's pent-up frustration from the past few days has dissipated considerably.
He smiled slightly and was about to tidy Xu Chumian's hair when the woman suddenly took a step back and accidentally stepped on a cardamom pod on the ground.
Xu Chumian slipped on her feet and was quickly pulled into Zhao Yu's arms again.
With a warm, soft body in his arms, Zhao Yuqiang held Xu Chumian close, raising his hand to tidy up her unsightly, sticking-up hair.
He gently stroked Xu Chumian's long hair with his large hand and couldn't help but say, "Why are you still so clumsy?"
The person in my arms was very stiff.
Zhao Yu's unique cedar scent overwhelmed Xu Chumian's senses.
He kept reminding her who the person in front of her was.
On the night of his rebirth, Zhao Yu hurriedly left.
This is now her first meeting with Zhao Yu.
Xu Chumian was filled with resistance, and she pushed Zhao Yu away with all her might.
She stood three steps away from Zhao Yu, the blankness in her eyes disappearing, replaced by unfamiliarity and wariness.
The smile faded from Zhao Yu's eyes. He looked at Xu Chumian and slowly said, "Come here."
Xu Chuming kept everyone at arm's length, pointing to the door, "Zhao Yu, get out!"
Zhao Yu's tone was completely calm, his dark eyes fixed on Xu Chumian.
Why?
Zhao Yu felt a tightness in his chest. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Just because of that night?"
Xu Chumian's lips trembled slightly: "Zhao Yu, I have a new life now."
Xu Chumian's forced composure reminded Zhao Yu of the argument she had with him before she died.
The coldness in Zhao Yu's eyes faded, his gaze lowered slightly, and his voice remained emotionless: "Really?"
Xu Chumian nodded, her voice trembling, "Zhao Yu, I don't want to see you again."
Xu Chumian's reaction was like a slap in the face to Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu pursed his lips and stared intently at Xu Chumian's face.
"Xu Chumian, I don't need you—"
Xu Chumian's eyes reddened. "Then you can leave."
Zhao Yu's expression immediately turned sinister, and he coldly curled his lips: "As you wish."
Zhao Yu kept his promise and made it clear this time that he would never come again.
This shop is perfect in every way, and Xu Chumian doesn't want to move away again.
Even if she moves, with Zhao Yu's methods, it's only a matter of time before he finds her.
Xu Chumian splashed cold water on her face, and only after she had completely calmed down did she go to the shop in front.
Amo was busy selecting incense for Lord Cao Mi and didn't notice what happened next.
Seeing that Xu Chumian's face was pale, he asked, "Manager Xu, why don't you go back and rest today?"
Xu Chumian shook her head and smiled, "It's nothing."
Amo didn't think much of it, "That young master who was with Lord Cao just now bought a full hundred taels of silver worth of incense."
Xu Chumian looked at the cabinet.
Sure enough, there were far fewer incense boxes.
She figured that no matter how much she worried, it would be of no use. Once she understood this, Xu Chumian continued making the incense she hadn't finished.
However, it was only that evening...
A gray-clad servant rushed into the cotton incense shop, shouting loudly:
"Manager Xu, please come with me immediately."
"My young lady has been poisoned after using your perfume!"
"If anything happens to my young lady, you'll be in big trouble."
Xu Chumian's expression darkened slightly: "What happened?"
"The doctor diagnosed that there is a problem with your spices. If you can't explain it clearly, we'll go to the yamen and wait for the official to make a decision."
Whispers arose from those around them.
With no other option, Xu Chumian had to temporarily close the shop and take Liu Da and Amo with her.
The three followed the servant in front.
Not far from the shop, Xu Chuming stopped, her pale face revealing a coldness: "Wait a moment, we'll report to the authorities."
The servant's expression was ferocious. He raised his hand, and many burly men surged out from all around.
The people along the way screamed and immediately dispersed.
Liu Da got into a fight with those people.
Although Amo was a man, he did not know martial arts and could only rely on brute force to block Xu Chumian.
Outnumbered, the figures scattered in an instant.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com