Chapter 32
Two years ago, Cui Wuyang left thirteen people in Hanmei Town to deliver letters and some gold and silver every ten days.
However, Luo Yan's attitude was not enthusiastic, and Jia Yufang handled everything. He gradually sensed a hint of resistance from her, and once the storm in the capital had passed, he withdrew the ten people.
The remaining three kept watch on the city gate to prevent any suspicious persons from entering or leaving. As for Qingyuan Village, he instructed them to do everything according to his cousin's wishes and not to actively monitor her.
As time went on, the guards realized that Hanmei Town was surprisingly safe, as if some unseen force was protecting it, making it airtight. In addition, Cui Wuyang had advised the prefect to secretly look after his sister, so he withdrew another guard and assigned him to the frontier.
The last two men, whose martial arts skills far surpassed those of ordinary yamen runners, had no interest in seeking military merit and thus settled down in Hanmei Town. They sent two letters each month to inform the officials in the capital of Luo Yan's health.
"This arrived last night." Uncle Zhou hurried over and presented the secret letter. "Counting back, it should have been sent out nine days ago."
She turned her face away, her gaze drifting to the rushing water, and pleaded with him: "I know I cannot escape death today, but I do not wish to be buried in the wilderness, to keep company with insects and ants. I beg you to consider our past relationship and allow me to drown in the river, to sleep with the water plants."
Although the girl looked disheveled, her beauty was undeniable; her delicate features and arched eyebrows were like the morning glow reflecting on snow.
Her body plummeted rapidly, cutting through the howling mountain winds and emitting a series of hisses, like the roar of a giant beast, which reminded Luo Yan of the giant pendulum ride she had taken before she transmigrated.
A hope suddenly welled up in her heart—
If one dies here, will one be able to return to the modern world?
Little did anyone know that his birth mother, Madam Wen, had already passed away. Although his adoptive father dared not rashly elevate his concubine to the status of official wife due to his father-in-law's power, his concubine, though lacking the title of mistress, still wielded real power.
Not only did he mistreat the original owner of the body, but he also coveted her marriage agreement with the fourth young master of the Jiang family, so he secretly poisoned her, intending to have his half-sister Luo Rong take her place.
Luo Yan was then "resurrected from the dead".
Knowing full well that her aunt wouldn't give up easily, she decided that running away was the best course of action. So, on her way to the capital to discuss marriage, she pretended to have an upset stomach, took the opportunity to knock out the maid who was keeping watch over her, and ran away as fast as she could.
"Thump—"
Her slender body crashed heavily into the waves, her lotus-red robes billowing and tumbling as the water rippled, blooming into petals of poignant beauty.
The good news is that I am still alive;
The worry is that they really couldn't go back to the modern era.
Fortunately, it was the transition between spring and summer, and while the water was cool, it wasn't cold enough to make one lose consciousness. Luo Yan continued to drift aimlessly, wishing she could stay a hundred thousand miles away from Yingzhou before stopping.
After an unknown period of time, the water gradually became clear and less than eight feet deep.
Taking advantage of her remaining strength, Luo Yan abandoned the driftwood, gritted her teeth, and swam to the shore, collapsing onto the boulder with her heavy robes still on her.
The bloodstains were a bright red, as if they had flowed down from upstream.
She stood on tiptoe and peered out, and indeed found the source behind a strange rock, which was pitch black.
It is a robe.
Luo Yan felt inexplicably depressed, wondering if it was because it was the River God's birthday and even falling into the water was a buy-one-get-one-free deal.
After rounding the rocks, the view became clear, and a tall, slender man lay on the ground, dressed in a luxurious, indigo-blue robe that appeared as black as ink from a distance. Half of his body was submerged in water, and blood was seeping from the hem.
With this amount of blood loss, the prognosis is probably grim.
Having narrowly escaped death, Luo Yan was a little braver than usual, but she still couldn't calmly face the corpse.
She retreated decisively, intending to leave, but then heard the corpse cough, so abruptly that it startled the swallows that were briefly resting in the woods.
Still alive? Thinking this, she pulled his lotus-red robe tighter around him, and whispered, "I'll give you three days. If you don't wake up after three days, I'll run away on my own."
When she undressed him earlier, Luo Yan had already checked his upper body and found no external injuries. As for his lower body, she couldn't examine it closely, but if it was just a leg injury, could he have bled to death?
The flickering firelight gilded the boy's delicate profile, his features gentle and subtly divine.
It's prettier than the dark, gloomy mountains and forests.
Hearing her steady breathing so close to her, the tension in her heart eased slightly, and she began to try to clear her thoughts.
"My aunt doesn't want me to marry into the Jiang family because she wants to make plans for her daughter, but what about you? Could it be that someone is trying to stop you from marrying a girl from the Luo family?"
Luo Yan did not inherit the original owner's memories, only hearing snippets from her wet nurse and maids.
She knew that Jiang Chen was the legitimate son, with an older brother and two older sisters. As for his half-sisters, she hadn't gone into details. Logically, the Luo family was not as powerful as before, so it shouldn't affect the position of Jiang Chen's eldest brother.
Unable to figure out the reason, she lazily closed her eyes and began to think about the future.
The girl was fast asleep, her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed, her lips full like flower petals glistening with morning dew. Perhaps the night was growing colder, for she unconsciously moved closer to Zhu Yun, her cheek inadvertently resting on a few strands of his hair.
Zhu Yun stared at them for a few moments, confirming that they were complete strangers. He glanced around and roughly guessed their current situation.
Did she save him?
When I was in a daze, I vaguely heard a woman's voice. Now that I think about it, it was not a hallucination.
Zhu Yun's eternally indifferent expression froze for a moment, his forearm trembled slightly, and with disbelief, he lifted the fabric covering his thighs—
Not a single thread was worn.
At the fourth watch of the night,
All was silent, and the crescent moon hid behind the clouds.
Luo Yan plucked a whole green leaf bare, but finally couldn't resist her curiosity and mustered up the courage to poke it with a long branch: "Hey!"
The man was silent, with only the slight rise and fall of his chest indicating that he was still alive.
Since it wasn't the deceased, Luo Yan felt less hesitant and leaned closer to examine it. Unexpectedly, she saw a beautifully sculpted face.
Although its eyes were closed, making it difficult to discern their shape, its thick, long raven feathers, superior facial features, straight nose, and thin lips made it perfect in every way.
"Achoo!" "Thank you for saving me, young lady."
He subtly withdrew his sleeve, turning his profile to Luo Yan, his earlobes red as if dripping blood, a stark contrast to his composed demeanor.
The atmosphere froze strangely. Fortunately, the fish was almost cooked, and Zhu Yun silently handed her a skewer.
Luo Yan was far more "worldly-wise" than the ancients, and adapted very quickly. She thanked him frankly, and even took the opportunity to openly scrutinize him while he avoided eye contact.
When Jiang Chen was awake, he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay. His peach blossom eyes naturally held a smile, but his thin lips were tightly pursed, diminishing his gentleness.
He answers every question with his words, a testament to the refinement cultivated through years of etiquette. His voice is clear and melodious, his demeanor cool and aloof, seemingly gentle and refined, but in reality, he is icy cold.
It can only be admired from afar, not touched or played with.
"Therefore, I can only follow you for now; your plans are my plans."
Since Zhu Yun had promised to repay the debt of saving her life, he naturally wouldn't abandon her. After thinking for a moment, he decided to wait until he met up with his subordinates to verify her identity. If she was indeed a member of the Luo family, he would send someone to take her to the real Jiang Chen.
Seeing his serious expression, Luo Yan suddenly felt like teasing him and joked, "We're like this—"
"Doesn't it seem like an elopement?" In any case, the brief and superficial friendship has finally broken the ice, and they are gradually beginning to feel like allies.
Luo Yan felt much more at ease, chewing the fish carefully. After swallowing, she returned the favor by saying, "I'll keep watch for you in a bit."
Zhu Yun's lips were already turning red, and the remaining poison was negligible. Since he insisted, Luo Yan was unwilling to sit idly feeding mosquitoes. After returning to the thatched hut, she obediently sat at the foot of the bed: "Then go and come back quickly."
Both of them were taken aback.
Zhu Yun nodded almost imperceptibly, arriving and departing in haste.
The room was filled with broken bowls and rotten pots, dust swirling around, and thick cobwebs covered the corners. Unable to find anything to pass the time, Luo Yan got up and stood by the window, lost in thought. Lost in thought, she heard light footsteps outside, followed by two knocks on the door, and a familiar voice said, "It's me."
Luo Yan quickly removed the latch, and the candlelight reflected in her bright eyes, sparkling with dazzling brilliance. She was clearly overjoyed, but she pouted and complained, "Why did it take so long?"
In reality, Zhu Yun had only been gone for a quarter of an hour.
It was all wasted.
Therefore, Zhu Yun did not refute, but answered awkwardly, "I will come back as soon as possible."
After speaking, he realized his mistake and his breath caught in his throat for a few moments.
Luo Yan didn't think too much about it, her expression revealing a hint of grievance due to exhaustion. She plucked a blade of dry grass and said casually, "How do you plan to sleep?"
Zhu Yun pointed to the foot of the bed: "I'll just sit and rest."
“No.” Zhu Yun understood. No wonder she wasn’t as comfortable as she was during the day. It turned out that she was dry and clean now and couldn’t bear to lie on the dusty bed fully clothed.
He glanced down at himself; his outer robe was indeed too large…
Unexpectedly, Luo Yan followed his gaze, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, like a small animal searching for food, bright and focused, sparkling with hope. Zhu Yun couldn't bear to dampen her enthusiasm, but he still had to bite the bullet and refuse, "This is improper."
Even in a desperate situation, it wouldn't be appropriate to be alone with a woman while only wearing his undergarments. Besides, he had already escaped his pursuers and recovered his inner strength.
Luo Yan yawned delicately, her eyes misty with moisture, her beauty breathtaking. She leaned closer, her gaze lingering on Zhu Yun's collar, silently counting how many layers he was wearing.
Zhu Yun felt helpless under the stare. His gaze swept over the top of the girl's smooth hair. After a moment of internal struggle, he snapped his fingers and extinguished the oil lamp.
"You should sleep too," she interrupted Zhu Yun. "You need to conserve your energy so you can face tomorrow, don't you?"
Zhu Yun did not respond.
Luo Yan increased the force, making a sound as she slammed the wooden board.
He closed his eyes tightly, lay down stiffly, half of his body dangling in the air, trying his best to keep some distance.
However, the girl's delicate fragrance was all-pervasive, sweet but not cloying, like a summer flower, domineeringly occupying the nose, mind, and heart.
Zhu Yun exhaled softly, overwhelmed with emotion.
Looking back on the hardships I've endured over the past decade, none have been as unbearable as this moment.
He suddenly had a thought that could be described as unconventional—if he were the one who was actually engaged to her, would he be able to accept it calmly?
She once participated in a spring outing, a long journey in a hard seat. The night was cold and tiring, and she was so sleepy that she felt dizzy and confused. It was extremely torturous.
Just then, a mountain breeze swept by, and the wet clothes wrapped around her body undoubtedly had a cooling effect. Luo Yan blew her nose, returned to the boulder she had been on, and spread out her outer robe to dry.
After resting for a while, her body gradually warmed up, and she slowly regained her senses. Looking into the distance, she saw that the man had not disappeared as she had expected.
Either he was merely using her, intending to reclaim everything that was rightfully his and then view this day as a stain on his reputation, or she would be wounded and then killed.
Luo Yan became increasingly panicked as she thought about it, deciding that it was better to avoid trouble.
Little did she know, the man, though slender, was surprisingly tall, and she couldn't budge him with her strength. Luo Yan's face turned purple with worry as she finally managed to drag him ashore, only to find the ground stained with blood, resembling a crime scene.
"Still not awake?" Luo Yan muttered breathlessly. "Let's get this straight, from now on I'm your savior. You can't repay kindness with enmity in the future, understand?"
The two crescent-shaped jade pendants fit together perfectly to form a full, round disc.
Luo Yan refused to believe it and moved closer to compare the patterns. They were indeed perfect, a picture of mandarin ducks playing in the water.
She gasped, poked the man's shoulder with her finger, and asked incredulously, "You're Jiang Chen?"
According to the maidservant left behind by Wen's mother, the marriage between the eldest daughter of the Luo family and the fourth young master of the Jiang family was arranged more than ten years ago.
At that time, Luo Changqing came from a poor family and after passing the imperial examination with top honors, he sought to marry the daughter of Grand Tutor Wen.
Wen Lian was also a close friend of the young mistress of the General's Mansion. After the birth of their eldest daughter, the two families intended to strengthen their ties through marriage. They commissioned a master craftsman to polish a jade pendant as a token, and the marriage was thus arranged.
You can pretend for a while, but not forever.
As Wen Lian had expected, seeing that Luo Rong was already at the age of toddlerhood, and considering the good deeds he was doing for his daughter, he generously accepted Liu Qiao'er as his concubine, which led to her becoming his aunt.
However, the illness took root in her heart, and within a few months, Wen Lian passed away suddenly.
Luo Changqing subsequently lost power and was promoted in name only but demoted in reality, and assigned to Yingzhou. Since then, the original owner of this body and her fiancé Jiang Chen have not met for thirteen years.
Concubine Liu was quite patient; she had outlasted the mistress in the past, and now she was thinking of outlasting her legitimate daughter.
Relying solely on kinship ties, it was only a matter of time before the whole family moved back to the capital.
Unfortunately, the groom is right beside her now, and whether he is dead or alive, Aunt Liu's wishful thinking has already failed.
Although it was inappropriate, Luo Yan couldn't help but laugh.
"Tsk, we're both down on our luck."
Luo Yan scooped up some clear river water with a green leaf and moistened his pale lips, thinking to herself that it wasn't entirely a bad thing for her.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and decided to go out for a morning exercise to burn off his energy.
Passing by Luo Yan's room, I listened intently as usual, expecting to hear the girl's steady breathing, but today it was unusually quiet.
Zhu Yun's expression changed drastically. He pushed open the door and found the tent empty. The letter was no longer there, and even the wooden sword, hidden weapons, and several hairpins that he had given her had disappeared.
She left.
They left without a sound.
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