Chapter 24
The electronic sound startled Luo Yan, causing her to stumble. She quickly steadied herself with her palm, but her sleeves were still stained with a lot of yellow mud.
In the haystack, the third sister remained as stiff as a stone sculpture, digital rain pouring from her vertical pupils and condensing into a virtual panel in mid-air.
It's so surreal.
Luo Yan remained in a half-squatting position, the malfunctioning light from the control panel making her squint, and her feet felt light and unsteady. All these sensations made her feel as if the world in the book didn't exist at all, and perhaps she was lying on an operating table, having a long dream due to the anesthesia taking effect.
No, the pain is real.
She looked down and saw that her palms were pitted and bruised from being hit by pebbles, with a few bloodstains mixed in, and a burning sensation gradually arose that was hard to ignore.
"It's not a dream." Luo Yan blinked slowly, large tears welling up in her eyes, but the corners of her lips couldn't help but turn up as she murmured, "It's not a dream."
For the first six months after she transmigrated, she would wake up every day and stare blankly at the antique-style house. Occasionally, she would miss her family, and occasionally, she would fear the death she was told about in the book.
As time went by, her grandmother's meticulous care, A-Yun's close companionship, Changsheng, Qingcao, her third sister and Yunpian Gao, as well as her beloved bow and sword... had long since forged a completely new Luo Yan.
Luo Yan was unwilling to return to the world she had lived in before, especially since she had just agreed to the marriage yesterday.
She straightened up, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, and saw that the virtual panel was almost complete. The third sister, now free, bristled with fur, then jumped onto the treetop and ran away like a gust of wind.
She couldn't help but chuckle softly: "When disaster strikes, everyone flies away."
Just as I was about to leave, the panel seemed to have activated automatic following, remaining fixed in front of my field of vision. The screen displayed two lines of black text: "Download Voice Pack" and "Generate Avatar."
Soon, the scrolling code created a snow-white country dog, about the size of a baby's arm, which enthusiastically circled around Luo Yan and said in a cute child's voice, "Host, host, I've finally found you."
Luo Yan had already regained her composure, dusted off her sleeves, and turned to leave.
The white dog was a little confused. It clicked "Fix Vulnerability" three times and received a message that the system was running normally each time. Only then did it slowly follow over, tilting its head and asking, "Host, can't you see me?"
She was startled by the sudden appearance of the dog's head, covered her mouth and coughed fake, then took out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe her sweat.
"This shouldn't be happening." The white dog slammed its fist on the control panel several times, and an electronic announcement immediately sounded:
The signal was connected. After the matter was over, the maid brought hot water. Luo Yan rubbed her sore wrists, put on an outer robe, and stepped into the bathtub.
Zhu Yun was stripped down to only a pair of shorts, revealing well-defined muscles, but due to his well-proportioned frame, there was no trace of greasiness. His flawless abdomen was speckled with "white porridge," and he currently wore an expression that was half disgusted and half thoughtful.
Luo Yan rested her arms on the edge of the tub and tilted her head to look at him: "Young master, may I stay tonight?"
Zhu Yun had never shared a bed with anyone before and was about to refuse, but when his gaze fell on the blue and purple marks on her body, he nodded almost imperceptibly.
After cleaning themselves up, Luo Yan felt much better. She rested her head on Zhu Yun's shoulder, lifted the hem of his fragrant undergarment with one hand, found a comfortable sleeping position, and asked, "Young Master, you actually practice martial arts?"
"Hmm." If doing extra work doesn't earn her extra pay, Luo Yan must be out of her mind to deliberately seek out hardship.
Having pledged her loyalty, she knew when to stop and returned to her courtyard, feigning a forlorn expression.
The door closed, and she took out the heavy gold hairpin, feeling completely refreshed. If she could buy one or two every time she went out, how could she not accumulate a small fortune?
Besides clothes and jewelry, Luo Yan also bought the Four Treasures of the Study today. Since she didn't have a writing desk, she spread the Xuan paper on the round table. The ink stick was a bit rough, so she wrapped it in a handkerchief and polished it for a while.
While preparing, she opened the storybook with her other hand and glanced at it, thinking to herself that throughout history, love and romance have always been very popular. But when it came to literary talent, Luo Yan had no chance of winning. She thought about playing to her strengths and avoiding her weaknesses, and writing some articles imitating the style of later comics.
I remember when she was in elementary school, there were collections of jokes in four to eight squares that were popular. Since it was a trial work, the length should not be too long, so it was just right to follow the example.
Luo Yan first wrote down the jokes she still remembered, and then sketched a slightly chubby rich man. With just a few strokes, the hilarious image leaped off the page.
"Tsk, still gotta keep his skills sharp." A guest?
Luo Yan looked puzzled and gestured for her maid to lead the way, wondering if it was Tao Hong who had arrived.
Upon reaching the side hall of the front courtyard, they indeed saw a graceful woman, but upon closer inspection, they discovered that it was not Tao Hong, but Yu Rui, who was not close to Luo Yan.
"Yanyan." Yu Rui cried out, as if she had seen a savior, "You must help me, you must help me."
Luo Yan handed over a silk handkerchief, asking calmly, "What's wrong?"
If she remembered correctly, Yu Rui had also escaped from the county magistrate's office and was now following the second young master of the Fang family, the wealthiest family in Jinzhou.
As expected, Yu Rui gradually stopped crying, a hint of resentment flashing across her face, and truthfully said, "Young Master Fang was imprisoned last night, and Master Fang ordered me to come and plead with you to see if Young Master Zhu could say a few good words for him in front of the Imperial Envoy."
Luo Yan thought to herself, "This is giving her way too much credit."
But when faced with those bloodshot eyes, he found it hard to refuse, so he could only reply tactfully, "You know my identity; how could I dare to offend these noble people from the capital?"
Indeed, ever since Yu Rui stepped into the mansion, not a single person has spoken out of turn. They all performed their duties like wooden puppets, which shows that their master values rules and regulations.
"Yanyan, I beg you."
Yu Rui knelt down with a thud, revealing the bloody whip marks on her arms. The wounds had not yet scabbed over; the phrase "skin torn and flesh ripped open" would be the most apt description. "I know your situation is also difficult, but... if you don't agree, they will beat me to death."
Luo Yan was no saint. When she suddenly saw the horrific wound, her heart leaped into her throat.
Xiangye stepped forward, subtly shielding Luo Yan's pale face, and whispered, "Master, don't be afraid."
"It's alright."
Luo Yan bit her lip, paused for a moment, and then reached out to help Yu Rui up. "Since we've known each other, I can't just stand by and watch you be humiliated. I'll go find the young master now."
The maidservant saw Yu Rui off, and she turned and headed towards Qingfeng Courtyard.
Xiangming had been with Luo Yan for quite some time and knew that she was gentle and never showed her displeasure to the servants, so she couldn't help but speak up and advise, "Master Yan, this is probably not appropriate."
She saw an overwhelming fear in Xiangming's eyes.
Thinking that this fear stemmed from worry, Luo Yan felt a warmth in her heart and explained gently, "Don't be afraid. I know the rules of the manor and I am aware of my own status. I am going there to talk to you about something else."
Upon hearing this, Xiangming nodded with difficulty: "Yes."
Luo Yan considered herself to be somewhat clever, but she wouldn't be so arrogant as to show off in front of Zhu Yun, especially since she didn't know how much of his elusive favor remained.
If she were to rely on the intimate relationship between the couple to interfere in court affairs, that would truly be foolish.
Moreover, Yu Rui's smooth entry into this mansion must have been with Zhu Yun's tacit approval.
She was extremely satisfied and examined it again and again in her hands.
No wonder his abs are so defined. Luo Yan then asked, "Does the young master have a woman he admires? Or what kind of woman does he admire?"
Zhu Yun acquiesced to her actions, his cool fingertips tracing Luo Yan's smooth and delicate nape, and lazily replied, "I never thought about it."
The two were now lying together, and although Zhu Yun was cold and indifferent, his temperament was gentler than usual.
Luo Yan was worried that he would try to take advantage of her after his period of enlightenment ended, so she put on a high-pitched voice to show her loyalty: "I was afraid that I might do something wrong and offend you, young master. I did not mean to pry into your private affairs."
But then Zhu Yun's Adam's apple bobbed, and he made a clear swallowing sound.
Luo Yan stiffened, silently withdrew her hand, and said, "Well, it's getting late, let's go to sleep."
Zhu Yun hugged her from behind, and the difference in their sizes caused Luo Yan to snuggle into his arms. His bony chin rested on the crook of her neck, and his hot palms explored her heart like a studious child.
She dared not speak out in anger, forced to endure the scorching heat on her skin. A strange, soft moan escaped her throat, like a complaint, a lament, a sob, each sound reaching her ears.
"Why did you stop me from going in just now?"
Zhu Yun quickly noticed the difference and asked a question that didn't sound angry, but rather somewhat puzzled. Meanwhile, his fingertips continued their wicked actions, making Luo Yan's breathing become erratic.
"Ah..." Luo Yan gripped his strong forearm tightly, her body drenched in sweat. She couldn't answer and pleaded softly, "Young Master, kiss me."
If he were so considerate, he wouldn't be called Zhu Yun.
He parted his lips and bit Luo Yan's earlobe, gently grinding it, while his other hand teased her tongue in the darkness, listening to her whimpers scattered into a melody.
Her body trembled violently, and she curled up like a small animal. Zhu Yun wiped away the water stains with a silk handkerchief and shook a bell.
He was like a hunter with great patience, waiting for Luo Yan to recover before reiterating, "Why did you stop me from going in just now?"
Luo Yan's cheeks were flushed, and her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, obscuring the large expanse of skin that was no longer covered by her bodice. Her almond-shaped eyes were misty, and upon hearing this, she weakly lifted her thin pink eyelids, looking pitiful and adorable.
She sized up Zhu Yun's expression and said weakly, "Young Master is still a virgin. If you act recklessly, I will be the one who suffers."
Zhu Yun snorted, not bothering to argue with her, and lifted her up to bathe her. She then ordered the maid to change the water-stained quilt.
Busy until the early hours of the morning, Luo Yan unknowingly fell asleep. In her hazy state, a pair of steady and strong hands pulled her out of the water, and after that, she slept soundly through the night.
The image has been created; since it is Tianxiang Tower, it naturally needs many beauties.
Women dressed in gauze carried dishes in one after another. From a distance, the dishes looked colorful, but upon closer inspection, one could see the skin underneath, revealing a hint of skin and adding to the allure.
Luo Yan subconsciously looked up at Zhu Yun, only to see him looking down at her with a slightly teasing smile on his lips.
She immediately pulled her white veil tighter around herself, her face flushed, and said in a low voice, "Why doesn't the young master look at the beauty?"
"Who said that?" He poured a glass of wine and handed it to him. "Isn't it nice of me to be looking at the beauty in my arms?"
Upon hearing this, she once again parted the white veil to meet Zhu Yun's gaze. Seeing that there was clearly no affection in his deep black eyes, she muttered, "Liar."
"Would you like to try some?" Zhu Yun asked.
Luo Yan took a closer sniff; it had a fruity aroma. Thinking it wouldn't make her drunk, she drank half a cup, mimicking his posture.
"Oh, it's plum wine."
She wanted to drink more, but Zhu Yun stopped her.
As she moved, her pretty face flashed by behind the white veil, her eyebrows and eyes extremely gentle and charming, yet her temperament was pure and otherworldly, truly a peerless beauty.
Zhou Huanshan, who had always been fond of beautiful women, couldn't help but feel regretful, blaming himself for being so drunk that night that he only saw Tao Hong clearly.
As for Zhu Yun, he was always taciturn, or rather, the people present were not worthy of his attention. Originally, Li Zhiying, seeing that he had taken Luo Yan, wanted to use the same trick again tonight. After all, with a beauty in his arms and fine wine by his side, everything that was inconvenient to say could be said.
To everyone's surprise, Zhu Yun brought Luo Yan with him.
The atmosphere gradually became tense, and Li Zhiying stopped stroking the girl's hand and picked up the food with a slightly restrained manner.
Zhou Huanshan didn't dare to mention it, and instead changed the subject to the scenery of Jinzhou.
The meal was eaten in a very proper and orderly manner.
Only Luo Yan was unaware that she had such a low alcohol tolerance. Moreover, she hadn't eaten anything, and half a cup of plum wine made her dizzy. She leaned weakly against Zhu Yun's chest.
The voice pack was installed successfully. Zhu Yun has become even more handsome in just a few days.
Luo Yan stared at him for a while, then reached out to take his hand, only to have it slapped away. She blinked pitifully, but Zhu Yun keenly avoided her gaze, saying in a deep voice, "What kind of behavior is this?"
"This is your residence, and there are no outsiders here."
It's not entirely Luo Yan's fault. Although the nanny Wang Caifu hired taught her how to bow and how to sit, she never regarded the women as people who could marry into a noble family.
Since it's a fleeting affair or a mistress's lover, formalities are less important than seducing a man.
Zhu Yun also thought of this, but too lazy to correct him, he reiterated: "Waiting for me?"
Luo Yan appeared poised and elegant, but her legs, hidden beneath her dress, were already numb. She asked softly, "If you're not busy, young master, would you like to sit in my courtyard?"
"I'm not going."
"Ah." It floated back to Luo Yan, suddenly realizing, "You're faking it, aren't you! You're definitely faking it, right!"
At the hour of You (5-7 PM), the voices were not loud, but the sounds of toasting and laughter all came to an abrupt halt.
Luo Yan turned around as if sensing something, and saw that the young man was indeed looking at her, his brows furrowed and a fierce look rising on his beautiful face.
Li Zhiying trembled slightly and whispered for Luo Yan to come over.
Despite the soreness in her knees, she rose and knelt down again, her eyes clear and bright, brimming with undisguised joy, a sight that brought comfort to all who saw her.
The young man glanced at her briefly, then looked over the terrified crowd and said with a smile, "I was just thinking about it. Since I'll be staying in Jinzhou for a month or two, it wouldn't be bad to have someone to talk to."
Zhou Huanshan laughed twice and praised her highly: "Young lady is truly a fairy descended from heaven. Young Master Hou has excellent taste."
Luo Yan silently noted down the boy's surname and respectfully poured him wine.
"Has she become mute?" Two days later, Yu Rui was brought into the mansion.
Like Luo Yan, although she was a slave, she was raised as a young lady and was not yet capable of serving others, which made her feel uneasy all the time.
Seeing this, Luo Yan sincerely comforted her, saying, "Everyone has their strengths. Yu Rui, I've heard you're skilled in needlework. How about you teach me to embroider a purse?"
Zhu Yun not only kept the purse she bought on the way last time, but also occasionally wore it at her waist. Therefore, Luo Yan said she wanted to sew one by hand to express her feelings.
As expected, Yu Rui felt much more at ease after hearing this.
Besides, Zhu Yun has been elusive lately, so Luo Yan has had some free time and has drawn up the story of "The Fat Master".
She first withdrew a thousand-tael silver note from the bank, and under the pretext of buying jewelry, exchanged a lot of loose silver. That day, she sent Yu Rui and Xiang Ming to buy fashionable fabrics, while she took Xiang Ye to the bookstore.
Luo Yan was already a regular customer. The sprightly shopkeeper stroked his goatee and handed her Mr. Donglai's new work.
"Young lady, you've come at the right time; there's still one book left."
She put away the storybooks and sent Xiangye to buy a bag of osmanthus cakes across the street. Then she said to the shopkeeper, "I wonder if you could help me find a skilled craftsman? I'd like to try selling storybooks."
The shopkeeper unfolded the painting and thought to himself, "This painting is not the same as the storybook. It is strange, wonderful, and difficult to understand."
"Please help me, shopkeeper." Luo Yan took out a silver ingot. "I'll pay my own wages. Consider it as consignment with you. If the market doesn't go well, I can give up the idea sooner."
She was already exceptionally beautiful, and with such a soft pleading voice, few could bear to refuse her.
The shopkeeper accepted the drawing paper and silver, and said truthfully, "This is much more complicated than ordinary storybooks. It would probably take twenty days to find a few master craftsmen to carve it."
"It's alright, I can wait." Luo Yan decisively took a step back.
However, it was too late. Zhu Yun lifted his eyelids and said emotionlessly, "Do you get up at this time every day?"
The phrase "settling scores later" flashed before her eyes, and she skillfully admitted her mistake: "I won't do it again next time."
"Never mind." Zhu Yunyuan had only meant to scare her. Seeing Luo Yan's legs tremble slightly, he suppressed his anger. "Are you feeling alright?"
Luo Yan squatted down, resting her chin on Zhu Yun's knee, her bright eyes shyly looking at him, and said, "Young Master was truly valiant last night, Yan Yan is still in pain."
The words were so explicit that even the composed Zhu Yun blushed deeply.
He raised his hand to cover Luo Yan's eyes and reprimanded her sternly, "Don't say such things in broad daylight."
"It was you who asked me first, young master."
"Heh." Zhu Yun pulled her up, determined to explain the rules, "As a member of the household, don't you know you mustn't act seductively?"
Luo Yan nodded obediently, walked outside the courtyard, drank the contraceptive soup under Liu Mama's indifferent gaze, and sat back down on the other side of the round table: "Would you like to play chess with me, young master?"
"Um."
Her chess skills were mediocre, but her sportsmanship was excellent.
Despite being repeatedly pushed into dangerous situations by Zhu Yun, Luo Yan remained calm and composed, neither arrogant nor impatient. Even when the situation seemed hopeless, Luo Yan displayed remarkable resilience, earnestly considering her options for turning the tide.
Zhu Yun couldn't help but look at her with newfound respect, and suddenly said, "Luo Yan."
"Um?"
"My courtesy name is Rangchen."
Luo Yan looked up, a hint of surprise flashing across her face, as if she hadn't expected Zhu Yun to reveal his identity so readily. But a smile quickly spread across her lips: "Mountains don't yield to dust, rivers don't overflow? That sounds nice."
Zhu Yun felt inexplicably hot, avoided her shimmering gaze, and stood up: "I still have official business to attend to, you should go back first."
Luo Yan had never run a business before. Rather than reinventing the wheel, she should take advantage of Jin Yuanbao's presence in Jinzhou and use his money to try things out and learn from mistakes. This way, she could gain experience.
Having reached an agreement, she nodded her thanks and pulled Xiangye, who had one foot halfway across the threshold, towards the clothing store.
Besides this, there was another thing that troubled Luo Yan: the indenture.
Now that Yu Rui's indenture is in her hands, if she saves enough money, she can go to the government to cancel her slave status and become a free person.
Of course, Luo Yan did not tell anyone about this matter, waiting for Zhu Yun to return to the capital before dealing with each matter one by one.
However, her own indenture was nowhere to be found. She should find an opportunity to bring it up with Zhu Yun, otherwise, according to the laws of the Great Ling Dynasty, only those with good household registration could acquire land, engage in commerce, or enter politics.
Luo Yan's ears turned red. She looked up at him and said sincerely, "Thank you very much, Young Master Hou."
With the sound of string and wind instruments filling the air, all the guests took their seats.
Magistrate Wang Caifu of Jinzhou County raised his cup to the officials in charge: "I am honored by your presence. Tonight, I have specially ordered my household to prepare fine wine and food. I hope you will not find it offensive."
After a slight pause, Wang Caifu smiled ambiguously: "Although my county is not wealthy, it has beauties that are rare in this world. After the banquet, you gentlemen can take what you like."
As soon as the words were spoken, the dancers filed in. They were voluptuous and fair-skinned, and their movements changed with the music, their allure captivating and naturally charming.
The imperial envoy, who was over forty years old, sat in the main seat. He reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the dancer's jade feet and looked at the richly dressed young man below him, speaking respectfully: "Young...young master, we will be staying in Jinzhou for a month or two. If you see anyone you fancy, please tell me."
"Lord Zhou, there is no need to be so apprehensive."
The young man gave a forced smile, but his handsome features made the expression unpleasant. He said, "You are the imperial envoy, and I am your subordinate. Don't let Wang Caifu see through our act."
"Yes." Imperial Envoy Zhou wiped away his cold sweat and regained his dignified demeanor.
After several rounds of drinks, Wang Caifu waved away the dancers and said with a hint of smugness, "The main event is about to begin."
More than ten women emerged from behind the screen. Unlike the dancers who exposed their breasts, these women resembled noble ladies, dressed in fine silks and carrying musical instruments. At this moment, they lowered their heads, appearing quiet and gentle.
Luo Yan was among them. She sat quietly in a corner, holding a wolf-hair brush in each hand. As the pipa music played, she wrote on the white silk screen, sometimes fast and sometimes slow.
While there are countless talented painters in the world, it is rare to see someone paint with both hands simultaneously. She silently apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, Sister Zhihua," and gestured to the maid to turn the screen around.
A scene of butterflies fluttering among flowers in spring, and a scene of maple forests at dusk in autumn.
Having lived in the Jia family for several years, this was the first time I had ever heard of such a rule.
After the meal, Jia Yufang took some freshly baked pancakes to visit neighbors. Third Sister, perhaps still shaken from the daytime ordeal, lay quietly on her special bamboo bed, her eyes warily fixed on the courtyard outside.
Zhu Yun led her out to admire the moon, and seeing that Luo Yan was absent-minded, he lowered his head and pressed his forehead against hers: "What did that Cui guy say in the letter?"
“It’s not because of my cousin.” Her ears burned, and she said in a deep voice, “You’re too close to me.”
He became even more audacious after hearing this, his nose brushing against her intentionally or unintentionally, his gaze becoming even more direct and intense, as if it could burn through a sheet of white paper.
Luo Yan: "......"
When the man remained unmoved by her threats, she feigned composure and said, "I really want to tell you something, but I just can't bring myself to say it. It's not that I can't say it, but that I can't express it. Do you understand?"
Zhu Yun tried hard to discern the differences, her expression slightly confused.
She found the boy somewhat endearing, and, bewitched, drew closer, blurting out, "Shall we run away?"
"Hmm?" Zhu Yun stepped back and stared at her for a moment. "Let's go."
"Where are we going?"
Zhu Yun didn't answer, but urged her to go back to her room to pack her bags, telling her that it would be best to bring her favorite clothes and bedding.
In short, it became as if he was going to elope with Luo Yan.
She picked out a few of her usual nightgowns, along with a cotton dress sewn by her grandmother, and awkwardly stuffed them into her bundle. Then, she rummaged through her dressing case and found the gold hairpin that Zhu Yun had given her, inserting it directly into her hair.
"Oh dear, how am I going to explain this to Grandma?"
Just as he was at his wit's end, he saw Zhu Yun hurrying back from outside. He smiled and said, "I have already informed Grandmother."
Luo Yan was surprised by his efficiency and asked curiously, "You didn't even ask me why I ran away."
"Does it matter?" Zhu Yun took her bundle with one hand, carrying a lantern in the other. "If you want, I'll take you away."
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