Chapter 8 This fire... we can't let it die yet...
Back at the inn, the young master, who was dizzy from all the commotion, immediately rushed to the courtyard to vomit. While vomiting, he also accused Hengbo of his evil deeds: "You went too far, ugh—, I was trying to be kind to you, and you still, ugh—."
Hengbo returned to his room without looking back, his back view extremely cold. The young master was furious: "You, you, you! I, ugh—."
After returning to her room and lighting the lamp, Hengbo took out the letter Ruan Wangshu had left for her from her bundle.
The flickering candlelight blurred the four bold characters "To Ayu" on the envelope. Her gaze was lowered, but her body was tense, like a sword poised to strike, silently confronting the lonely beast hidden beyond the candlelight.
Hengbo opened his eyes only when the candle was about to burn out, and decisively tore open the thin envelope.
The letter was folded into a neat square. Hengbo didn't rush to unfold it. She gently stroked the creases, and one could almost imagine Ruan Wangshu carefully trying to align the four corners perfectly.
Ruan Wangshu was meticulous. When they were on the mountain, every time she went to Hengbo's room, she couldn't help but tidy up for her. After tidying up, she would tap Hengbo's nose and say, "Ayu, you are such a slovenly little devil."
However, Hengbo always let it go in one ear and out the other, continuing to wait for Ruan Wangshu to clean his house for him next time.
Thinking of the past, she smiled, the warmth of those memories finally giving her the courage to face parting now.
As the letter slowly unfolded, the handwriting that came into view was different from the vigorous and powerful handwriting on the envelope; instead, it was elegant and refined, and this was the Ruan Wangshu that Hengbo was familiar with.
"Ayu, my little sister."
"Now that you have received my letter, you have already descended the mountain. I just don't know what year it is now."
“Master has always been most worried about you. He always felt that your excessive killing intent might shorten your lifespan. But your senior sister knows that A-Yu is actually the most soft-hearted child.”
"However, the world is treacherous, and people's hearts are unfathomable. Since ancient times, deep affections have often been short-lived, and death always comes to the one you love. Senior sister only hopes that A-Yu's heart can be colder and harder."
"My dear Ayu, your senior sister is gone. Don't cry."
In the dim candlelight, Hengbo's expression was inscrutable, only her clenched hands betraying a glimpse of her inner turmoil. The last vestiges of Ruan Wangshu's life had been extinguished, and from this moment forward, Hengbo would be the only one left to stubbornly resist the long, lonely road of life. But she told herself, "Don't cry."
As she carefully folded the letter along the original creases and placed it back into the opened envelope, the candle burned down to its last flame. As the dim light gradually faded, the lurking darkness surged in from all directions, engulfing her completely.
Meanwhile, the "young master" had finally returned to Zuiyingfang. Inside, Yanran had removed her makeup and elaborate decorations, and was sitting at the table in a plain long dress, clearly waiting for him.
Seeing this, the young master paused slightly, took off his mask and casually put it aside, and smiled slightly: "I knew my sister-in-law would be waiting for me here."
Without the mask to conceal it, what was exposed was a face as if meticulously sculpted by a master craftsman, with eyebrows like cold mountains, eyes like spring water, a high and straight nose, and thin and red lips, creating a unique and elegant style.
However, at this moment, perhaps because he no longer deliberately pretends to be gentle and approachable, that touch of charm is suppressed by his aloof temperament, making him seem like an unapproachable mountain breeze.
"Gui Tang," Yan Ran said with a genuine smile as she saw him return, "Why didn't you send a letter in advance this time? Fortunately, I knew you would be passing through Changzhou during the imperial examinations, so I had your room tidied up beforehand."
She had thought Shen Guitang would arrive in a few more days, so she was quite surprised when the maid told her that the room's owner had come.
In particular, her surprise reached its peak when she saw that Shen Guitang had brought a little girl she had never met before, which is why she was still waiting for him in the room so late.
Shen Guitang smiled, reverting to his carefree and unrestrained demeanor, and explained to her, "This trip is merely a stopover in Changzhou, and I originally did not intend to trouble you, sister-in-law. However, I thought that since I have arrived, I should let you know that I am safe and sound, so I took the liberty of coming to visit."
Yanran knew perfectly well that this was his excuse. He seemed gentle and polite, but he was actually used to being free. Why would he think of letting her know he was safe? But she didn't expose him. She just probed, "The little girl you brought today is innocent and carefree. She doesn't seem like someone from the pavilion."
Upon hearing Yanran mention Hengbo, the smile on Shen Guitang's lips faded: "She's a little mute I picked up on the street. She's not innocent at all; she's just a little ingrate."
This was the first time Yanran had seen Shen Guitang show such obvious emotions since they met today, and she couldn't help but laugh and say, "Oh? Guitang actually suffers a loss? That's really rare."
Receiving a teasing look from his elder sister-in-law, Shen Guitang sighed, "I was just being kind this once." But as it turns out, evil spirits shouldn't have human hearts.
Yanran asked about Hengbo partly because she had a certain fondness for the young girl, and partly because Shen Guitang's identity was sensitive and the mission was of great importance, not to be taken lightly. She was also worried that he might misjudge people, but seeing that he seemed to understand, she didn't press the matter further, only telling him to get some rest.
After Yanran bid him farewell, Shen Guitang's expression completely faded, replaced by the weariness that Hei Feng was familiar with.
“Young Master doesn’t seem to fully trust Red Rouge,” Black Wind said cautiously as he draped an outer robe over him.
Shen Guitang glanced at him sideways: "The way you're saying that makes me feel like you're trying to sabotage me to win favor."
Black Wind looked completely bewildered: "I don't have any."
Shen Guitang: ... It's so boring being with a block of wood every day. If it weren't for Black Wind being the most skilled among the four protectors, I would have kicked him out long ago.
He sighed softly: "My sister-in-law is certainly a trustworthy person, but when a person's heart has been burned by fire for too long, it is inevitable that they will act impulsively."
"And what about you, young master?"
The light from the lustrous pearl fell upon the handsome man before him, as if coating him with a halo of compassion. Yet he said, "I am a demon who goes against the spirits of all the heroes of Zhennan. I will not act impulsively, nor am I worthy of being in the human world."
Black Wind paused for a moment, then said, "Facts have proven that your choice was correct."
"But those who survive will have to endure more."
The next day, as soon as the young master woke up, he saw Hengbo waiting for him in the lobby with all his things packed. He asked in confusion, "Are we leaving today?"
To be honest, seeing that Hengbo had been having a lot of fun these past few days, he thought she was going to stay in Changzhou for a few more days.
Having composed herself, Yokoba nodded upon hearing this.
The young master was eager to go home, and the other day he only wanted to take Hengbo out to play a little longer because he saw her youthful nature. Now that she has proposed to leave, he naturally has no objection.
After a quick breakfast, the two went to the market and bought some steamed buns and flatbreads to eat on the way.
Seizing the last opportunity, the young master enthusiastically introduced her to the local delicacies, saying, "I would never lie to you, these lotus root starch buns are much tastier than plain white buns."
Hengbo frowned as she looked at the strangely presented bag of steamed buns in her hand. Even with the young master's assurance, she was not a little less suspicious.
In her mind, a good steamed bun should be as white and fluffy as the ones steamed by Liu's family. If she hadn't gone to several shops and only found these wrinkled ones, she would never have spent a penny on them.
The young master was so angry at her stubborn attitude that he snorted and wished he could shove one into Hengbo's mouth right now and let her know what true deliciousness was...
Meanwhile, on the second floor of Zuiyingfang, the white-robed young man, who had finished breakfast, stood by the railing, and his black-clad guards witnessed this scene.
Hei Feng reported to him: "The young man traveling with this Hengbo girl is Chu Qingchen, the young master of Cangjian Manor. He secretly left Changzhou shortly after the assassination of the previous master. According to the news from the pavilion, his last appearance before returning to Changzhou was in Yun County, where he was being chased by local caravans."
Shen Guitang toyed with his folding fan in his hand, his expression remaining unchanged. After listening, he simply said indifferently, "Then he is really lucky."
Black Wind, sporting dark circles under his eyes, thought to himself, "Didn't you order me to investigate these two people's identities immediately last night? Why do you seem so uninterested today?"
However, he only dared to keep these words to himself, and remained respectful on the surface. "As for Miss Hengbo, the pavilion has not found any information about her identity. We only know that she seems to have come from Yun County to Changzhou with that young master of Cangjian Manor."
"Oh?" Shen Guitang finally showed some interest. "Even the pavilion can't find anything about it? It seems this little mute's identity is quite extraordinary. Changzhou is going to be quite lively for a while."
Black Wind frowned: "Should I continue the investigation? Or should we stay a few more days?"
"No need, proceed as planned."
A hand, as white and cold as jade, reached out from behind the railing. Shen Guitang felt the direction of the wind and smiled slightly: "The wind in the northwest has begun to rage. We should set off now. Let's not keep our old friends waiting too long."
He had only wanted to see what was so special about the little mute boy who could make him feel compassion, but since he hadn't found out, there was no need to waste any more effort.
Moreover, the wise prince has been in that harsh and cold northwest for fourteen years, and now he suddenly wants to return to the capital to report on his duties. At this moment, the one "in heaven" must be in a state of panic. However, this panic cannot be allowed to escalate just yet.
"Yes, Your subordinate will go and prepare immediately." Black Wind received the order and disappeared back into the darkness. Shen Guitang watched the two figures walking away downstairs, then took out the jade flute beside him and slowly began to play it in the distance.
This parting may last for years; this song is dedicated to your equally clear eyes.
While enduring the barrage of words from the young master, she suddenly turned around as if possessed. Seeing this, the young master followed suit, his face full of vigilance: "What's wrong?"
Hengbo scanned the area but found nothing unusual. He shook his head at him, guessing it was probably just his imagination.
A note from the author:
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The author is back with another cute plea for favorites! Because I might need to reduce the word count if I want to apply for a ranking, I'll at least guarantee one update every two days.
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