Chapter 138
His fingertips paused, and the young man slowly raised his obsidian-colored eyes, silently looking at Zhu Zijin.
Zhu Zijin felt a chill run down his spine under his uncle's gaze. He quickly shifted his eyes, feeling guilty, and said, "I was just asking casually..."
Pei Lingjun withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and said, "A few days ago, Shanzhou sent a letter saying that Lady Zhuang has returned to Anyang for the New Year."
"Oh, oh." The boy nodded in agreement. "Going back is fine, after all, the end of the year is just around the corner, and we'll have to go back sooner or later..."
"Knock knock—"
Pei Lingjun tapped the table, pulling him back from his reverie, "What's going on between you and Madam Zhuang?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zijin instinctively reached out to unfold his folding fan, but he hadn't brought his usual fan with him when he went out today, and he suddenly felt a little helpless.
He leaned against the corner of the long table. "What...what could be wrong?" Suddenly looking down and meeting the young man's sharp gaze, Zhu Zijin scratched his head in frustration. "Well, before she left, she said she liked me, but I didn't reciprocate..."
The winter in Shanzhou is not as fierce as in Jijing, but the wind and rain mixed with frost and snow are not something ordinary people can endure.
The young girl standing in front of the inn had a rosy face and a pointed chin. She wore a moon-white velvet cloak and held a hand warmer in her hand. The frost and snow outside fell on her shoulders, making her figure appear even more slender.
At that moment, her eyes were red, and she took a step back. Most of her body was being battered by the frost and snow, making her look even more pitiful. However, she still resolutely refused Zhu Zijin's subconsciously outstretched hand.
"So it turns out I was just being presumptuous..." Zhuang Yan raised her face and forced a smile, "I thought that since Young Master Zhu gave me the mermaid pearl, and we searched for A-Shu's whereabouts together in Anyang, and then came to Shanzhou together, spending every day together, he must have developed some feelings for me..."
Zhuang Yan suddenly chuckled, wiped away the tears on her face with her fingertips, took a breath and said in a deep voice, "It was my ignorance that caused trouble for Master Zhu. After returning to Anyang, we will never meet again."
The boy standing on the steps twitched his lips, staring at her intently, but ultimately said nothing.
"I've come to say goodbye to Mr. Zhu." Her voice was weak, and there were still tear stains in her eyes.
Ah Shu always said that she was too introverted, but she didn't think so. Right now, she was doing the boldest thing in her seventeen years of living a conventional life.
Even if the result is not satisfactory, she should not regret it when she looks back on the rest of her life.
"May everything go smoothly for you, my lord, and may you always be blessed with peace and happiness."
The woman's aloof and solitary figure disappeared into the distance, along with the maid holding the umbrella.
Zhu Zijin stared blankly in the direction they disappeared, feeling a mix of emotions.
It's so stuffy.
Pei Lingjun chuckled, "If you don't have that intention, then don't go around provoking others. If your philandering causes A-Shu to dislike me as well, then I will definitely not let you off easily!"
Zhu Zijin sat up abruptly from the table, nodding and bowing repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! Uncle, I am a well-known handsome young man in Jijing, not some idle playboy. How can you compare me to those people?"
“In that case,” Pei Lingjun put down his book and glanced at Zhu Zijin with a cool look, “you should stay in Jijing and study hard during this period until the end of the year. Don’t forget, next year is the year of the imperial examination.”
Zhu Zijin, with a long face, was about to speak when an unusual exclamation from inside the courtyard interrupted the conversation between the uncle and nephew.
"My lord! Something terrible has happened! The First Madam has fallen ill again!"
Despite his limping gait, the butler didn't care whether he was disturbing them. He shouted at the top of his lungs, and the door swung open with a 'whoosh'.
Both uncle and nephew had cold expressions on their faces.
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