break off an engagement
On a clear morning after the rain, the sweltering heat was washed away, and a crisp, cool breeze wafted through the air, carrying with it the heavy scent of earth.
The Qingzhu Garden was quiet, as if the sound of raindrops falling from bamboo leaves onto the soil could be clearly heard.
The candles in the main room had long been extinguished, making it feel somewhat stuffy.
Sitting alone on the edge of the bed, Cen Yan's heart was churning as sultry as the stuffy air in the room.
He remained depressed and withdrawn.
The person in the bed has lost their former vitality.
His face was deathly pale, his lips were chapped, and his hair, damp with sweat, clung to his face, already dry.
Last night, she was in so much pain that she kept whispering in her nightmares, which made him hate himself terribly.
Every whisper of pain she uttered felt like a knife cutting a mark into his heart.
It was his fault for not protecting her.
Xu Lanxin lay on the bed, in a daze.
My mind was constantly torn between wanting to wake up and not wanting to wake up.
If she didn't wake up, could she go home? As soon as this thought crossed her mind, a crimson figure grabbed her and wouldn't let go.
She wanted to open her eyes.
But those eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't open them.
"My lord, you've been keeping watch over the young lady all night without sleep. Why don't you let me take over so you can go and rest?"
No one answered from inside the room, but the familiar scent of agarwood lingered around her nose.
She knew he was there.
Then, the sound of a door closing softly could be heard.
The room fell silent instantly.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, Qingyun's voice came.
"Your Excellency, the Minister has come with his son, Xiao Muhan, to apologize."
Cen Yan suddenly opened his eyes, which were as dark and deep as an abyss, where a storm of resentment had accumulated and could have shattered him at any moment.
But he didn't speak, or even raise his head.
After a long silence, the door slammed shut.
Silence fell over the room once again.
A moment later, the sound of arguing could be heard outside.
"Lord Cen, I have come today with my son to apologize to you."
An older baritone voice sounded from outside; it was probably the Minister Qingyun had mentioned.
Xiao Muhan's father.
"Kneel down now."
"Today, I will return these lashes on behalf of Lord Cen as an apology to Miss Xu."
"Crack, crack," the sound of the whip striking flesh.
Xu Lanxin felt it deeply; it was as if her skin and flesh had been cut open, and the uneven seams on the whip were deeply embedded, taking away some of her skin and flesh.
This memory caused her to furrow her brow.
"roll!"
He finally spoke, his voice hoarse, as if his throat had dried up and become stuck together, forced open.
"My son has apologized, so I'm sure Lord Cen will no longer hold it against him. I'll take my leave now."
Xu Lanxin tried her best to grab his hand, but could only slightly twitch the tips of his fingers.
Suddenly, I was grasped by a pair of icy hands.
Cen Yan's eyes lit up with joy, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"Lanxin, Lanxin, are you about to wake up?"
This was the first time he had called her by her name without her surname, and a flutter of excitement stirred within her.
She felt his warm lips on the back of her hand, and then his forehead came closer.
"Please wake up, I beg you."
She also wanted to wake up quickly so she could personally smooth away the sorrow between his brows.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free from her confinement.
Cen Yan looked up again, his eyes no longer filled with sorrow, but clear and calm.
It was as if a decision had been made.
In the days that followed, aside from Xiaoxi coming in and out to change her dressings and wipe her down, Qingyun came in and out to report on some official business.
No one disturbs me anymore.
And so he stayed by her side, gazing at her intently every day, as if she might disappear at any moment.
Unexpectedly, he was so concerned about her; Lanxin felt as if her heart was being filled with honey.
The clear chirping of birds drifted in from outside, and Xu Lanxin slowly woke up.
Slowly opening my eyes, I followed the call of my heart to find that familiar figure.
The man was no longer as tidy as usual; he slumped in his chair, his hair disheveled, a few strands falling across his face, his complexion pale, and his brows furrowed.
He was still wearing the same official robes he had worn the day he was last seen, wrinkled and crumpled.
As if knowing she had woken up, Cen Yan opened his eyes, his whites bloodshot and dark circles faintly visible under his eyes. His expression changed from worry to joy.
The red figure pounced over.
Lanxin's hand was gripped tightly by him.
"You're awake."
His voice was still hoarse, as if his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, had finally settled down, filled with joy.
Are you thirsty?
Lan Xin shook her head.
"Are you hungry? I'll have Xiao Xi get you some food."
"No need, sir. Go and tidy up, and rest for a while."
Xu Lanxin's voice was soft and somewhat hoarse, as speaking those words had exhausted her strength.
Seeing that he refused to leave, she continued:
"It smells good now."
The man was startled and let go of her hand.
"I'll be right back."
Not long after Cen Yan left, Xiao Xi came in carrying a tray.
His face, which had been smiling, broke into tears upon seeing her again.
"Miss, you're finally awake! You scared me to death!"
"Hungry."
Xiao Xi quickly wiped away her tears and went to get some porridge to feed her little by little.
"herring"
Xiao Xi was taken aback and stopped feeding him.
“Miss, I haven’t met her since I came here, and she’s not at the Xu residence.”
After finishing the porridge, Xu Lanxin felt completely exhausted and had no strength left to open her eyes.
In a daze, I heard the door open.
A white figure entered and slowly walked to the bedside; one knew he had arrived without even opening their eyes.
Cool fingers touched her forehead, traced her brow bone, and lingered on her face for a moment.
His movements were extremely gentle, as if he were afraid of waking her.
Why don't you take a break?
With the relief of the water, Xu Lanxin's throat was no longer so dry.
She opened her eyes and was met with a pool of stars; her expression held a sense of reluctance and a unique affection.
She can't see through it yet.
"Come on up!"
Lanxin strained to move to make room for him, but the movement aggravated her wound, causing her to feel a sharp pain that made her hair stand on end.
"hiss"
Cen Yan nervously hugged her and then lay down on the edge of the bed.
Lanxin lay half-lying on his chest, right above him, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling incredibly safe.
His warm breath acted like a heat source, dispelling the chill caused by her physical pain.
"Give me back my bluefish!"
"good!"
"I've taken the blame for you, so you have to make it up to me once I'm better."
"good!"
"Then kiss me!"
The moment she saw the look in his eyes, she felt something was off.
But I can't quite put my finger on it.
"I've become ugly, and you're disgusted with me."
The gentle, moist kiss on the forehead lingered for a long time before finally leaving.
Xu Lanxin nestled contentedly in his arms and fell asleep.
Cen Yan, however, was not sleepy at this moment, and stroked her black hair back and forth with his hand.
He would kiss her forehead, brow bone, and nose tip from time to time.
His eyes were fixed on those pink lips, but he didn't go any further.
As Xiao Xi entered the room, she saw the harmonious scene of the two sleeping together and quickly closed the door.
The next day, Xu Lanxin sat up and ate her porridge; she couldn't stay in bed too long.
When she woke up, Cen Yan was no longer beside her, only the scent of agarwood remained.
After breakfast, a kind-looking woman arrived at Qingzhu Garden.
She wore a straight-collared, front-opening jacket with delicate orchid embroidery along the edges, a dark-colored inner coat, and an exquisite kingfisher feather and gold crown.
This is Cen Yan's mother.
It was only when Xiao Xi whispered a reminder in her ear that she realized it.
Madam Cen sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand, tears welling in her eyes, her concern evident.
“Xin’er, you’ve suffered so much. Zijin is such a child, how could he let you suffer so much for nothing?”
"It's alright, madam, you see, I'm almost healed."
Lanxin felt an instant liking for her the moment she saw her.
The fact that she was able to raise Cen Yan so well shows that she is a very good mother.
His eyes were sincere and warm; his concern was genuine.
After talking with her for a while, Lanxin felt exhausted.
Madam Cen also sensed her exhaustion, so she took her leave and told her to rest well.
She slept soundly, unaware of the time, and just as she was about to wake up, she sensed someone beside her.
Cen Yan, dressed in a scarlet official robe, was sitting on the edge of the bed. It was already late outside the window, so it seemed that he hadn't changed his clothes after finishing his shift and had come to her place.
The candlelight illuminated the room, casting a yellow glow upon him. She liked Cen Yan's tender side very much.
She reached out and took his hand, then smiled at him.
"Xu Lanxin".
This was the first time in all the time they had known each other that he had called me by my full name so seriously.
His eyes, just as they had when we first met, were filled with a chilling aura.
Let's call off our engagement!
Lan Xin's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but laugh.
"Sir, what did you say? I didn't hear you clearly, please say it again."
The man released her hand, closed his eyes, and then opened them again, slowly uttering each word.
Let's call off our engagement!
After saying that, he turned away and refused to look at her again.
"I will personally petition His Majesty tomorrow to dissolve the engagement."
After saying that, he left without looking back.
"Cen Yan, stop right there."
Lan Xin suddenly stood up and, with great effort, called out to him to stop, but he only turned his head to look at her.
"Cen Yan, if you dare to break off the engagement, we will never see each other again, even in death."
Lan Xin shouted it out through sheer willpower.
A red figure flashed past the door; he was gone.
Xu Lanxin was not sad, did not shed a single tear, but was trembling with anger.
"Little Xi, Little Xi,"
Xiao Xi rushed in, looking very worried.
"Pack up, let's leave."
"girl"
The unspoken words disappeared in Lan Xin's gaze.
A light drizzle began to fall from the sky as Lanxin, supported by Xiaoxi, slowly walked out of the Cen residence.
Qingyun chased after her and said reluctantly, "Miss, you may leave tomorrow."
"No need."
The two disappeared into the night, and Qingyun looked helplessly at Cen Yan, who was hiding behind a pillar.
After exchanging a glance, the two quietly followed.
The faint light from the lanterns on the street could not illuminate the black night, nor could it illuminate the darkness in Lan Xin's heart.
A running pedestrian brushed past her, and then she was knocked to the ground by someone.
Lanxin's tears mingled with the drizzle, blurring the lines between tears and rain.
The sounds of running, Xiao Xi's shouts, and the patter of drizzling rain echoed in her mind.
Eventually, she collapsed from exhaustion.
Qingyun appeared, lifted her into the carriage, and drove away.
On a rainy night, the crimson figure also gazed in the direction the carriage had left.
Repeated overexertion of physical strength, coupled with depression.
In the end, Cen Yan collapsed on the street.
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