Chapter 57
Luo Yan wrapped the wooden box tightly in old clothes; inside were silk paintings unsuitable for children. Apart from these, she left the rest untouched, knowing she would come over for a short stay from time to time.
After lunch, the group packed their bags and left Qingyuan Village.
According to Cui Wuyang, visiting his friend was just a side trip, and it didn't matter if it was a couple of days earlier or later. He insisted on sending Luo Yan out of Linchuan before parting ways.
For this reason, she even gritted her teeth and called Zhu Yun "brother-in-law" to force him to back down.
Luo Yan had no time to worry about anything else. She mounted Yunpian Gao and sped off like an arrow. She hadn't relaxed in a long time, and feeling the mountain breeze on her face while her heart pounded healthily, she felt incredibly refreshed.
This was the first time Cui Wuyang had seen Luo Yan riding a horse, and she seemed quite skilled. His gaze unconsciously followed her, and as he saw her smoky purple robes fluttering like butterflies, a gentle smile curved his lips.
After being bombarded with her aggressive questions, Jinzhan fell silent and remained quiet.
Luo Yan turned around.
"It's pointless, I'm not watching anymore, it has nothing to do with me anyway."
Perhaps she and Zhu Yun, the young man, also had some vague goodwill towards each other, but it has all vanished like smoke, turning into a deep-seated hatred.
Thinking of the pear blossoms by Ruoyun's ear, Luo Yan felt a pang of regret for no reason.
Will Zhu Yun really fall in love with Ruoyun?
She didn't yet know what it was like for him to truly love someone.
Jinzhan followed her back into the room, locked the door, and asked sternly,
"Young lady, how long has it been since your period came?"
Luo Yan rolled her eyes.
"They came more than twenty days ago, but only a few days, and the trip ended in a day or two. I vomited just now only because I felt disgusted by Zhu Yun's pretentious act."
Jinzhan finally breathed a sigh of relief, and her complexion returned to a rosy hue.
"The prince is currently preparing to marry the Marquis of Yun, so you must be careful not to cause any trouble, young lady."
Luo Yan sneered.
"It's not that I shouldn't have caused trouble, it's that I shouldn't have..."
Jinzhan covered her mouth.
"Girl, please stop talking, walls have ears."
She was afraid that if Luo Yan shouted loudly, Miss Ruoyun outside would hear her.
Jinzhan locked Luo Yan alone in the room, then went out to check on her. She was relieved to find that Ruoyun had already gone back.
"Please come out, young lady. Miss Ruoyun only came to take a look and then left. She is from a noble family and has very high standards. It is said that she went to see several houses today to see if they suit her taste."
The room was empty. It was unclear whether He Yun or Luo Yan had secretly broken the lock and slipped out. Jinzhan was so angry she broke out in a sweat, muttering curses under her breath.
"What sins did I commit in my past life to deserve serving this ancestor?"
Luo Yan had already stormed into the prince's study, loudly questioning him.
"Are you really going to marry Miss Ruoyun?"
Zhu Yun didn't look up; he just kept reading the classics.
Receiving no response, Luo Yan angrily snatched his book and slammed it to the ground.
He slowly raised his head, looking at her with a hint of impatience.
"I only married her because she was the daughter of a general, but you are still the one I love most in my heart."
Even when he was impatient with her constant tantrums, he would gently hold her hand and soothe her.
"I really like you the most, stop fooling around."
Luo Yan said coldly,
"Do you think I would still believe such a thing now?"
"How could I not like you? If I didn't like you, I would just find a servant to marry you off to. In two or three years, everyone would have forgotten that there was ever a person like you in the Prince's mansion."
“If you don’t like it, why would I bother preparing ten thousand taels of silver as your dowry and finding you an official husband? Although I have wronged you in some ways, this ten thousand taels of silver is enough to make up for it.”
"I'm not going to marry Yang Ruoyun, but the situation is urgent. I need to arrange a marriage with the general, which involves the court. I can't really tell you this. In short, you'll have to suffer for a while. Once this is over, I'll arrange for you to divorce and bring you back."
Seeing Zhu Yun so casually gloss over Luo Yan's pain, a venomous thought immediately spread through her mind, and she vowed to take revenge on him no matter what.
Seeing that Luo Yan was still unhappy, Zhu Yun hugged her and let her sit on his lap, then kissed her cheek.
He knew that in the end, Luo Yan still loved him and was unwilling to marry someone else. He also knew that Zhen Fei was not up to the task and that Luo Yan disliked him greatly.
Even if he met a better man, he was confident that Luo Yan would only like him, and he only liked Luo Yan.
"It's not that I don't like you, it's just that we really don't need to be together. Don't be afraid, I'll come to see you again after you get married... Zhen Fei has no background in the court and needs my help to advance him, he won't control you. Don't bully him too much, what's wrong with taking the money and enjoying a life of leisure?"
"He didn't like me."
Luo Yan had developed a habit of leaning softly in Zhu Yun's arms, letting him be close to her.
She hated this inertia, but was powerless to change it, and could only hate herself.
“Coming to my study in broad daylight… Luo Yan, you’re really being absurd.”
He felt that Luo Yan was trying too hard to get close to him, so he reached out and pinched her calf. He never expected that she would come to him in broad daylight to ask for his affections.
He knew that Luo Yan liked him very much, and when she saw that Miss Ruoyun come, she was extremely anxious and wanted to possess him again and hold him firmly in her hands.
Her love for him was so intense that it put pressure on him. He couldn't reciprocate her passionate and intense love. He had to marry her off as soon as possible, otherwise, many unforeseen events might occur.
He will bring Luo Yan back later, but he'll have to give her some space first.
Luo Yan suddenly felt nauseous and had that urge to gag again, so she hurriedly ran away.
No, I absolutely cannot let Zhu Yun become suspicious of her.
Only after finding a secluded spot did Luo Yan dare to gag a few times.
Feeling hot and sleepy, Luo Yan went to bed early and didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.
Where is Zhu Yun?
She was feeling drowsy and grabbed Jinzhan's sleeve, asking a question.
"Today, the General's mansion hosted a banquet, saying that Miss Ruoyun wanted to meet some eligible men, so the Prince also went. The girl has high standards, and the General dotes on her, so he let her choose one she likes."
Luo Yan suddenly looked at her and smiled, saying in a childish voice,
"It's so nice that my parents always spoiled me like this."
Jinzhan softened a bit, wiped her sweat, and helped her get up to wash and dress. She had just gone out to get a pot of tea when she returned, and Luo Yan was gone again, making Jinzhan so angry that she jumped up and down.
She searched everywhere but couldn't find Luo Yan anywhere; she didn't know where she had gone off to play.
Jinzhan rolled her eyes. This little miss, we can't just go to the general's mansion and let her be.
Even the prince couldn't control her, so how could a mere maidservant possibly manage her?
Jinzhan had no idea that Luo Yan actually had the ability to go to the General's Mansion.
She went behind the artificial hill and asked a familiar bodyguard for help.
This shadow guard was named Meng Qing, two years younger than her. He was highly skilled in martial arts and had practically watched Luo Yan grow up. The two were like siblings.
Although Meng Qing was highly skilled in martial arts, she wasn't very bright and was rather stubborn. She was simple-minded and honest, and from a young age, Meng Qing had been manipulated and controlled by Meng Qing, allowing her to do as she pleased.
"Ah Qing, take your sister to the General's Mansion. I heard that Miss Ruoyun is holding a matchmaking banquet. It's so lively. I want to go and join in."
Meng Qing blushed.
"Sister, we don't have invitations, how can we go in openly?"
"I didn't say I wanted to go in openly. Just carry me to the roof beam, hide well, and take a sneak peek."
He nodded.
Meng Qing acts without thinking; he gets things done quickly and efficiently without considering the details.
In less than a day, Luo Yan had changed into a black outfit and appeared on the roof beam of the General's Mansion without anyone noticing.
"Sis, aren't you afraid of heights?"
"I'm not afraid."
Luo Yan said she wasn't afraid, but her body betrayed her by clinging to Meng Qing.
She is indeed afraid of heights, but what is that compared to death?
Since her future is already ruined, one more absurd thing won't make a big difference; she won't implicate Meng Qing.
Before the banquet even started, the prince was the first to take his seat. As a member of the royal family, even the general had to show him respect.
A group of young men mingled and chatted, exchanging toasts and trying to build rapport.
Zhen Fei was also among them. He thought that the general's daughter must be a beauty far superior to Luo Yan. If she could take a liking to him, he would be able to rise to prominence quickly.
To be honest, Zhen Fei was young and naive, and did not understand human relationships. She only imitated the sycophantic facade and did not have much experience in officialdom. She thought she was a golden phoenix that flew out of the dirt house and was born to carry the jewel of the general's mansion.
As for whether he would offend the prince, that was not within his consideration.
Yang Ruoyun strode out with great enthusiasm and said loudly,
"I have high standards when it comes to choosing a husband. Whether he is a king or a commoner, he must abide by my rules."
She wore no makeup, still dressed in that round-necked robe, looking like a wealthy young master, with bright, piercing eyes and an imposing presence.
He looks like a man... Zhen Fei was immediately disappointed.
He had thought that the daughter of a general would at most be more temperamental than a delicate beauty, but who knew she was a burly woman with broad shoulders and a narrow waist who had practiced martial arts since childhood.
"My husband must be skilled in archery and horsemanship, and cannot be lazy. If he faints or vomits blood at the drop of a hat, pretending to be a refined and sickly person, it would be too ridiculous."
Several young masters couldn't help but laugh out loud. One of them, who always pretended to be sickly and charming, blushed on the spot. He wanted to pretend to faint, but then he remembered Ruoyun's teasing words and stood up straight, not daring to even faint.
Miss Ruoyun laughed heartily a few times and continued speaking.
“My husband cannot take a concubine, cannot have a maidservant, and certainly cannot go to brothels.”
Zhen Fei frowned. For a young girl to talk about brothels and prostitutes so casually was a bit too shameless. How could this general have raised his daughter like this?
He went to a brothel to vent his anger yesterday, so he has to keep it a secret and not let anyone find out.
Going to brothels on my own is not a sign of promiscuity, but rather there are reasons for it.
He was dragged by the prince to be paired with a courtesan, and was humiliated for no reason. He was so angry that he went to vent his anger, but who knew that this would become a stain on his reputation... This noble lady from the general's family is really hard to please.
"The young lady's request is probably a bit too demanding..."
A dissolute young man felt he was losing face.
Zhu Yun suddenly spoke up,
"It's not particularly tricky; it's not difficult at all."
"Not taking concubines, not visiting brothels, and not having maids as concubines are all basic things, aren't they? They're not that hard to do."
Zhen Fei's face paled. She thought Zhu Yun was shameless, but then she realized that what he said was true.
Zhu Yun smiled, appearing gentle and refined.
“I know some people are spreading rumors about me and my adopted sister, so I’d like to take this opportunity to clarify.”
"Six years ago, I went on a trip and stayed overnight at a small tavern. I got drunk and accidentally knocked over a candlestick, burning the tavern owner and his wife to death. They were left with only an orphaned girl. I felt deeply guilty and took her in as my sworn sister. Now she has reached marriageable age, and I have prepared a dowry of 10,000 taels of silver for her to choose a husband."
Snap—
A drop of water fell into the teacup in front of him.
Those were Luo Yan's tears.
He remained oblivious to the tear in the wine glass, turning a blind eye to it.
"The prince is truly a pure and kind person. He is not only kind and gentle, but also generous to his servants. He also often gives porridge to the poor."
A young master flattered,
"I toast Your Highness!"
Yang Ruoyun seemed quite satisfied with Zhu Yun's explanation and cast a curious glance at him.
The guests became noisy, and Luo Yan's choked voice was like a drop of water falling into an ocean.
"Take me...take me back..."
Meng Qing whispered in her ear.
"No, sister, there are too many people around now, it's easy to get caught."
Luo Yan had no choice but to grit her teeth and watch Zhu Yun's hypocritical act, feeling waves of nausea rising in her stomach.
Even if she jumped and died at the banquet, no one would feel the slightest pity for her.
She was just a helpless orphan; how could she tarnish the reputation of the prince as a great philanthropist?
To this day, there is no evidence as to who started that fire.
But she knew that Zhu Yun had ruined her life, and the blood debt of her parents should also be attributed to him.
Yang Ruoyun laughed heartily.
"I like those who are skilled in archery and horsemanship. Is there anyone who dares to compete with me in archery?"
Zhu Yun smiled slightly.
"I also have some knowledge of archery. Would you be willing to give me some pointers, young lady?"
Everyone went outside to watch Zhu Yun and Yang Ruoyun compete in archery, leaving the room suddenly empty.
"Ah Qing, let's take this opportunity and go."
Meng Qing was indeed agile and unconventional; in no time, he took a shortcut and led her back to the palace, where she quietly changed back into her previous clothes.
Luo Yan felt very unwell and started gagging while leaning against a tree.
"Do you have anything sour? Get some for your sister to eat."
He pulled a piece of slightly dirty jujube cake from his pocket, and Luo Yan ate it without any problem.
"Sister, why do you seem uncomfortable? The general's mansion is so lively, why are you unhappy?"
"Stop talking..."
Knowing Meng Qing's honest and straightforward nature, she didn't say much to him, simply brushing him off with vague answers.
"The roof beams are too high, I'm scared."
"I'm afraid I'll still have to go..."
Meng Qing muttered to herself, then suddenly became nervous.
"Someone's coming."
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Qing disappeared.
The person who came was Jinzhan. She wiped her hands on her skirt, hurried over, and grabbed Luo Yan.
"Oh dear, my good girl, where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere."
"I went to the temple to pray."
Luo Yan lied on the spot.
“Oh my, young lady, you’re raised like a princess, you lack nothing, you don’t even know what to ask for at the temple.”
Her eyes were dark and brooding, and a mocking smile played on her lips.
"I wish for a child."
Jinzhan's expression changed.
"Girl, you can't joke like that."
She pulled Luo Yan into the house, locked the door, and asked nervously,
"Has the young lady already seen a doctor?"
"Go ahead and try." Zhu Yun helped her onto the horse and said casually, "If you can't even avoid this, they can pack up and get buried."
Luo Yan was completely relieved of her psychological burden, and instead felt a strong desire for practical training.
However, since they were both on horseback, the short needles, enhanced by internal energy, could travel further, but their accuracy decreased significantly. Upon reaching the fork in the road, Luo Yan realized she didn't have enough short needles left in her silver bracelet and regretfully stopped.
She looked up and saw Zhu Yun squinting and looking diagonally ahead, his thin lips pressed into a straight line. She followed his gaze.
Zhan Feng and his companions did not go far, but instead stood with their arms crossed beside the horse, as if they were confronting someone.
After passing the obscuring orange-red persimmon tree, Luo Yan finally saw the long line of people and horses opposite her, with eight carriages alone. The accompanying people were all martial arts experts, burly in build, and some even had scars on their faces.
A young man in a white robe with gold embroidery stood in the center, his hands folded in front of him, looking obedient.
Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the young man was all smiles, but those smiles turned into obvious surprise when he noticed that Zhu Yun was embracing a young woman.
In a flash, Luo Yan realized:
If the boy doesn't make any expression, his eyebrows and eyes bear a slight resemblance to Zhu Yun's.
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