Chapter 54
Although I've tried it with Zhu Yun once, and lately he's been threatening me to eat it, I still feel embarrassed to talk about it.
Luo Yan felt as if she was holding a scorching hot iron bowl instead of a wooden box. She instinctively wanted to throw it away, but then hurriedly withdrew her hand after raising it high.
This is not something you can litter; it's not suitable for children.
She peeked out furtively and saw Changsheng drunk and unconscious, being helped up by the mute servant, who was preparing to take him back to the Liu family. Qin Yan, though seemingly frail, had a surprisingly good capacity for alcohol and was urging Cui Wuyang to drink one cup after another, while Cui Wuyang was already flushed from drinking.
As for Zhu Yun, she would occasionally glance at Uncle Zhou with a warning, forbidding him from making a move.
Luo Yan then summoned the mute servants who were sweeping outside the courtyard and instructed them to prepare some hangover medicine to send over. She then climbed through the window into the study and tiptoed back into the house.
Where should we hide it?
He paused for a moment.
"It seems that I have a cousin on my mother's side, but I've only met her a few times. She got married when I was very young."
Luo Yan couldn't help but laugh so hard she almost fell to one side. She never expected that Zhu Yun would come up with such a lie just to distance himself from her.
Zhu Yun touched the top of his head in confusion.
Why are you suddenly asking this?
Luo Yan laughed so hard she almost fell over, while pulling a tabloid out of her sleeve and handing it to him, barely suppressing her laughter.
"It's alright, it's alright, they're just nice words, take a look."
Zhu Yun opened the tabloid, glanced at it quickly, and looked slightly embarrassed.
"These are all fabrications written by sycophants to show their loyalty, and some busybodies have embellished them. Don't take them to heart."
He casually tossed the tabloid aside. It was nothing more than a few officials eager to take sides and pledge their loyalty to him, which had made such a fool of him. He couldn't be bothered to even look at such things.
"Okay, okay..."
Luo Yan smiled, though she was already fully aware of Zhu Yun's irresponsibility.
He's always like this, eager to sever ties with her, yet unwilling to admit it outright, dragging things out while refusing to give her a clear answer.
She was fed up with their dragging things out, like cutting flesh with a dull knife, never giving her a quick fix.
Zhu Yun cleared her throat, preparing herself mentally.
“Luo Yan, you’re twenty now… I should… I should give you an explanation.”
He hesitated several times, and Luo Yan opened her eyes wide, looking at him with a hint of mockery.
Zhu Yun lowered his head. These words were too difficult to say. He and Luo Yan were too familiar with each other, almost to the point of being tired of each other. They were both trapped in a fixed way of getting along. Every time he wanted to take a step forward, it seemed that an invisible barrier was blocking him.
Changing a long-standing lifestyle is not an easy thing. He had been avoiding it for too long and now he didn't know how to bring up marriage with her.
He discovered that his relationship with Luo Yan had a certain negative inertia, which, like a natural phenomenon, was pulling them further and further apart.
"There's nothing to explain... It was consensual, and you didn't do anything to wrong me."
Luo Yan only sneered.
Hearing what she said, Zhu Yun knew that they had returned to that awkward yet familiar way of getting along.
He thought resentfully, since Luo Yan thought of him as an irresponsible person, then he would just do as she wished.
If she refuses to change, then he won't either.
"Zhu Yun, since you're a decent person who cares about your reputation, let's not make things too ugly. Let's part amicably, and I won't cause any trouble for you."
Zhu Yun said nothing, only lowered her head.
He couldn't understand why Luo Yan always rejected him like this... and he didn't know how to bring it up with her.
Luo Yan hesitated whether she should be decisive and confront him at this moment.
She felt that Zhu Yun was so young that he certainly wouldn't be worried about having an heir. He could easily remarry a noblewoman of equal social standing and have a legitimate son. He definitely didn't want this nameless and unclaimed child in her womb.
That just so happens that she doesn't want it either; on this point, their interests align.
If it drags on until after he ascends the throne, especially after he gets married, then things will get complicated.
His wife would definitely not tolerate her; not only the children, but even her life was in danger.
"Zhu Yun, do you have any plans to get married?"
Luo Yan asked hesitantly.
Zhu Yun's worry turned to joy; Luo Yan had finally taken the initiative to ask him.
Sure enough, she still cared about him; she must have been waiting for this for a long time.
"Of course."
He took her hand, pulled her closer, and then simply embraced her, placing one hand on her back.
The shape of her spine was still so obvious, and it felt rough to the touch.
"Luo Yan, what do you wish to marry, Marquis Yun?"
"Let's postpone it as much as possible... It won't be too late for Yunhou to get married next spring when the flowers are in full bloom."
Luo Yan spoke to him in a somewhat pleading voice.
Zhu Yun and other noble ladies will eventually get married, but she only hopes that this Yunjian will come later, preferably after she has already flown away.
She had no family background, no relatives, and posed no threat whatsoever. The high and mighty Empress had no reason to kill her... Similarly, killing her would have no consequences whatsoever.
"I've never heard you mention that... I didn't know you liked roses..."
Zhu Yun thought to himself that on the day he and Luo Yan got married, he should definitely order more roses to be planted.
Whether I like it or not doesn't matter, it's just that springtime is the best time for marriage.
Luo Yan thought to herself that his wedding would have nothing to do with her anymore.
“Indeed, spring is more suitable for getting married. Now that it is the height of spring, we still need time to prepare for the wedding. I'm afraid we can't make it this year. It would be more appropriate to get married next year.”
He took Luo Yan's hand and pressed it against his face.
"Um……"
Luo Yan looked at the azure sky, where the remaining willow catkins swept up and soared into the heavens. She thought that by this time next year, everything would have settled down.
He looked at Luo Yan, who didn't seem very happy; at least she didn't seem as joyful about the marriage as he was.
Is it because she doesn't like the palace...? The palace rules are strict, and he doesn't like them either. Since neither of them likes them, then there's no need for such a thing to exist anymore.
Just because it has always been this way doesn't mean it's right.
He didn't know from which generation the royal family had become disabled and deformed, but he was sure it wouldn't be like that anymore.
"Luo Yan, don't worry."
He reached out and touched her hair.
"Cheer up, there's no problem that can't be solved, believe me."
She wasn't listening to Zhu Yun's words; she was just staring blankly at the willow catkins being swept into the sky.
Wherever the wind blows, the willow catkins drift.
But she was different from Liu Xu; she could decide for herself where she wanted to go.
"Luo Yan, the imperial harem selection has been cancelled..."
"Don't the ministers have any objections?"
Luo Yan was unaware of what was happening in the court; she was just asking casually. She thought to herself that Zhu Yun didn't need to rely on the imperial selection to find a wife; there were plenty of suitable candidates to choose from.
"Several emperors were crippled, and the court no longer relied on the emperor to govern. The prime minister held great power, and they couldn't wait for the imperial family to die out. My proposal to abolish the general election was exactly what they wanted."
"Then wouldn't your child also..."
"When there are many people, there are many disputes. If you only marry one wife, the number of offspring will still be within a controllable range."
Luo Yan lowered her head, realizing she really needed to leave quickly.
Zhu Yun clearly wouldn't tolerate her. If she were to genuinely follow Zhu Yun, she would likely be completely exploited and wouldn't even be able to become a concubine.
He kissed Luo Yan's cheek. She didn't show any expression of happiness or displeasure; she just stared blankly as he kissed her.
Zhu Yun smiled at her. Presumably, all of this was just normal treatment in Luo Yan's eyes, nothing special. She probably already knew that he would marry her, so she didn't feel excited at all.
She was indeed like that: proud, easily angered, and capricious. She would never take the initiative to flatter or please him, but would always calmly wait for him to offer her everything.
Today is Luo Yan's birthday, and it's perfectly reasonable that they finalized their marriage today and will officially get married on this day next year.
Luo Yan looked into Zhu Yun's eyes and smiled.
Her old habit has resurfaced; she's trying to guess Zhu Yun's intentions again. From now on, she should just focus on where she wants to go.
Zhu Yun seemed to be in a good mood and brought her a plate of snacks. Luo Yan picked one up and ate it casually.
He reached out and touched the stray hairs on her forehead, looking intently into her eyes.
They will become a well-known couple and live together under completely new identities.
Although he was already very familiar with Luo Yan, his new identity was still a challenge.
He couldn't help but look forward to what Luo Yan would be like as his wife, so that as his wife, she could proclaim to the world the fact that she had always loved him.
When he arrives in Yunhou, he can tell everyone that he and Luoyan have a very deep relationship. He is a person who is loved, and for that alone, he is far superior to his nominal father.
Luo Yan glanced at Zhu Yun secretly, and for no reason, she recalled things from the past.
Zhu Yun had said he liked her and would marry her someday… Maybe it was five years ago when he was the Marquis of Yun, but she couldn’t remember exactly when.
She had forced herself to forget about it, but now she's remembered it again.
The Zhu Yun of the past is gone forever; the current Zhu Yun is so familiar that Luo Yan feels nauseous.
Day after day, the person you once knew will unknowingly change and become unrecognizable, making it difficult to connect them with the person you once knew.
Luo Yan smiled bitterly. Let her think about it; it doesn't concern her anymore anyway.
People can't live in the past; once you open your eyes, you always have to face reality.
The sun has set, and there are evening clouds tonight.
The dim, soft glow of the sunset shone down like a blanket covering people.
Under the cover of dusk, Zhu Yun kissed Luo Yan's lips directly.
He placed one hand on the back of her head and reached the other into her collar, touching her collarbone.
"Luo Yan, it's getting late, let's go inside and rest together."
"Let's not do it yet..."
Luo Yan thought to herself that the female doctor said she had been having too much sex. She wouldn't care if she lost the baby, but she was afraid that she would have a massive hemorrhage and die.
"There's still a year left... Why are you refusing me?"
Zhu Yun frowned. Did Luo Yan intend to pretend and wait until after the wedding to do it...?
Whether it's something they should or shouldn't do, they've already done it countless times, so what's the point of her refusing?
After hearing Zhu Yun's words, Luo Yan secretly sneered.
Yes, there's still a year until his wedding, so he can play with her for a whole year... Therefore, he can do whatever he wants to her during this year.
"It's not convenient lately..."
She made up a random excuse, but Zhu Yun was displeased instead.
"Come in with me, let me see what's wrong with you."
Without a second thought, Zhu Yun simply picked her up horizontally. Luo Yan was very thin and light, so he easily lifted her up.
She didn't struggle, nor did she lean into his arms; she just remained motionless like a doll.
Zhu Yun carried her directly into the Congcui Palace, ignoring the palace maids' evasive gazes.
He should have been filled with malice, half-covered in blood, and ruthless. Yet, in the warm candlelight, he seemed like a gentle and kind boy next door.
"I still disagree." Cui Wuyang gripped the window frame tightly, looking stubbornly at Luo Yan. "How can your marriage be so hasty?"
Qingyuan Village held great significance for her, but Cui Wuyang was too emotionally agitated to refute her, and she only explained, "We were supposed to get engaged two years ago, but something went wrong."
"So early." Cui Wuyang's eyes reddened, feeling more bitter than chewing bitter herbs.
The wind was biting cold. Zhu Yun put his arm around Luo Yan and left the window, saying, "My wife should rest now. We can talk about it tomorrow."
"Wait a minute." Cui Wuyang couldn't bear to watch the two of them sleep in the same bed, but he was also worried about Luo Yan's health. Without thinking of a solution, he blurted out, "I want to sleep in this room too."
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