Chapter 70
At the prime of his life, Zhu Yun wished he could have more of these encounters every day, but Luo Yan's face was slightly pale, and her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were squinting with sleepiness, so he suppressed his lustful thoughts.
"I'm going to sleep." She fled in a panic, her tossed hair brushing against Zhu Yun's Adam's apple.
Zhu Yun silently curled her lips, put on her trousers, and followed closely behind. Just as she parted the bed curtains, a knocking sound came from the outside.
"It's Akong."
As perceptive as he was, he instantly sensed Luo Yan's emotions, then sat back down and patiently asked, "What's wrong?"
She revealed a pair of watery eyes, glancing suggestively at a certain part of Zhu Yun's restless body, biting her lower lip tightly, and awkwardly refusing to make a sound.
Luo Yan turned her head away angrily, completely ignoring him.
Zhu Yun lifted the corner of the blanket and crawled inside. His surging desire made his body radiate heat. Luo Yan shamelessly pulled her legs together, turned around and hugged him tightly, sighing, "So comfortable."
"What a pity." He chuckled softly, his long arm sweeping across her slender waist, pulling her into a tight embrace. Luo Yan felt instantly satisfied, instinctively pressing closer to the heat source, her tongue eagerly prying open her teeth.
Zhu Yun's movements gradually became fierce, clamping down on her hand as she tried to break free. Their fingers intertwined, and his thin lips sucked hard, like two snow wolves tearing and fighting for something.
Lips and teeth touch, pull away, and touch again.
No one found it boring.
The moment she fell onto the bed, the aching muscles tightened, and Luo Yan winced, the effects of the alcohol mostly dissipating. Her eyes filled with doubt, she rubbed her wrist and asked Zhu Yun, "Where did you learn that?"
Zhu Yun pulled the person into his arms, closed his eyes contentedly, and lazily replied, "In the book."
"really?"
It's not that she's suspicious; it's just that some people's skills are far too proficient. Although there was some awkwardness at the beginning, it was so brief as to be negligible.
Otherwise, his face would have been gaunt and his body empty; how could he have such a spirited appearance?
Luo Yan, quick-witted, said reproachfully, "Young Master Zhu is so valiant, perhaps he has inexhaustible energy."
"Glib-tongued."
Zhu Yun raised a finger and, with a hint of suggestion, caressed her lips, asking casually, "Shall we try it tomorrow?"
Zhu Yun paused, the thick ink dripping onto the paper, leaving unsightly marks.
He squeezed out a "川" character between his brows, revealing a fierce aura that stunned Luo Yan in his arms, causing her to feel a strange sense of fear.
"heartless?"
Zhu Yun gently kissed the back of her hand, his eyes filled with a smile, "When we first met, I was so cold to you, did you ever resent it?"
Zhu Yun laughed heartily, a rare occurrence, his narrow eyes curving like the moon. He raised his hand and stroked Luo Yan's buttocks, saying with a hint of compromise, "Alright, I'll write it for you."
Driven by her temperament, Zhu Yun wrote decisively, completing the words she wanted with a flourish. Seeing Luo Yan's satisfaction, she couldn't help but say, "Why do I feel that your temper has grown lately?"
"Thank you, young master."
Luo Yan peeked at the painting he had made. The lines were casual, and due to the rush, he hadn't focused on details, but it had already captured her features. So she reached out to take it and said matter-of-factly, "Give it to me!"
Furthermore, although Magistrate Wang had hired a tutor, the women only had a rudimentary understanding of a few characters. Hearing Luo Yan explain addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, they inevitably felt dizzy and confused.
Tao Hong asked with a pained expression, "Yan Yan, do you really have to learn this?"
After discussing for half a day, the three sisters decided that Yang Xiucai would be the accountant. He wouldn't have to do everything himself; he only needed to understand the accounts presented by the shop assistants, and then Luo Yan would personally review them.
Incidentally, she suggested hiring some poor girls as helpers, partly because there was a genuine shortage of manpower, and partly to save a life. All three of them came from farming families and had been sold into slavery for a few bushels of rice, so they couldn't help but feel compassion for girls in the same predicament.
Peach Blossom was stunned for a moment, then remained silent.
Luo Yan winked playfully: "There are always people better than me. Perhaps even in the capital, I'd be no better. Besides, beauty fades quickly. How long will the young master's interest last? Once he gets tired of me, either I'll be disposed of as his wife, or I'll be stuck in this little courtyard for the rest of my life. If I give birth to a daughter, she'll only be good enough to be someone else's concubine, and the cycle will repeat itself endlessly, tsk—"
But so what? Things will be different from now on. Once a man has tasted the forbidden fruit, how many can resist? Let alone a man of high rank and power. Given Zhu Yun's status, he is destined to have a harem of wives and concubines, which Luo Yan finds unappealing and unwilling to have any more physical intimacy with him.
As luck would have it, Zhu Yun was also thinking about this matter, but his thoughts differed somewhat from hers.
Lately, Luo Yan has been very clingy, always teasing him until he's burning with desire, which is truly exhilarating, but it also makes Zhu Yun vaguely worried—once he leaves Jinzhou, will Luo Yan be unable to bear the loneliness...?
Zhu Yun's face darkened as she thought about it. She glared at her hatefully and said angrily, "You're right, we should call Cang Shu back."
"I have to remind you."
Zhu Yun said coldly, "Ordinary men can't satisfy you. Let alone size, it's rare to find one who can even last for half an hour."
No rush.
Before returning to the capital, Zhu Yun planned to remove all the male and female servants from his residence. There was a skilled female servant named Zhu in the capital; if she rode at full speed, she should be able to arrive within five days.
"Why are you so jealous?"
He feigned disdain, but a smile crept into his eyes and brows, regardless of how flawed his words were.
"how."
Shi Zhu boldly said, "Beauty can lead one astray."
"Don't you think," Zhu Yun's eyes flickered, a hint of seriousness in them, "that she's more infatuated with my good looks?"
Luo Yan adored his face; whenever he smiled faintly, her eyes would glaze over, and she would look completely disoriented.
Luo Yan also loved his body very much. Whenever no one was around, she would stick to him like a boneless person, using both her hands and feet.
Luo Yan also loved his voice. Even when she couldn't hold on, she would let him do whatever he wanted as long as he coaxed her gently.
"Tsk."
Zhu Yun felt a pang of sadness, but couldn't help but smile. When answering her question, she said firmly, "She really loves me too much."
There is a naturally formed hot spring resort on the outskirts of the city, nestled on the mountainside, with beautiful and pleasant scenery.
Upon hearing that Zhu Yun was going to take her to a hot spring, Luo Yan got up early for the first time ever, quickly packed her bags, and stood by the window, silently urging him with her eyes.
Once outside the city, towering peaks rise, shaded by vast expanses of trees.
Zhu Yun extended her hand to her: "Come here."
Although she was physically weak and unable to lift heavy objects, she had a spirit full of energy, so she begged Zhu Yun to teach her archery, just in case.
Today's trip was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Zhu Yun actually polished a small pure silver bow himself. Due to the short time, there was no time to carve patterns, but its color shimmered like a crescent moon.
"Waaah—"
Luo Yan's ears were practically steaming from the kisses. She broke free from his embrace and sweetly complained, "Don't bother me."
Letters from home have been arriving one after another lately. Even though Luo Yan tried to avoid them, she could still sense the tension brewing. She had no right to press for answers, so she pretended not to know and began to play with the silver bow in her hand.
Zhu Yun glanced at the screen quickly; it was his mother urging him to return to Beijing, saying that his cousin Xia Fangqing would be of marriageable age in two months.
He pulled Luo Yan, who looked slightly childish from being lost in thought, into his arms and teased her by taking a couple of bites, successfully getting her attention. He smiled and asked, "What would you like for lunch?"
Luo Yan was more concerned: "Where should we eat? Is it far? Do we have to climb a mountain? Young Master, carry me."
She swung her legs gently, her voice light and airy, as she brushed against Zhu Yun's ear and flattered him, "Young master is truly amazing! You can carry me so fast. You are strong, agile, and skilled in both literature and martial arts. I like you the most."
Zhu Yun saw through her thoughts: "You can walk down the mountain by yourself."
"unless."
After catching his breath, Zhu Yun moved his palm inward, easily enveloping her, and said leisurely, "Would you like to do something different tonight?"
Zhu Yun, however, thought of her background—
A fondness for spicy and sweet foods, but a dislike for sour and salty flavors—what kind of place is this?
"No need for that." She poked at her rice. "What if it's someone who likes to cause trouble? Wouldn't that be pushing me into a fire pit?"
Moreover, this Luo Yan is not the same Luo Yan; she cannot find a sense of belonging from her "parents" in the Great Ling Dynasty.
Zhu Yun nodded: "Very well, you're doing very well now."
"Yes." At night, Luo Yan leaned lazily against Zhu Yun's chest, bent one leg, and wrapped it around his firm waist.
The atmosphere was enchanting and peaceful, making it the perfect time for casual conversation.
Zhu Yun nuzzled the top of her soft hair, his voice deep and husky after a moment of tenderness, making it exceptionally sexy: "You seem quite concerned about them, but what about yourself? Don't you want anything?"
Yes, but—
Luo Yan immediately replied, "Now that I am of good birth and live in such a magnificent mansion, I can spend every night in bliss with the most handsome man in the world. It couldn't be more perfect!"
He scoffed lightly, but tightened his arm around the person, promising, "Don't be shy in Jinzhou, I'll back you up in everything."
"Mmm." Luo Yan was overwhelmed with emotion and hugged him back, wishing she could embed herself into his body.
It must be admitted that
Meeting Zhu Yun was an extremely lucky thing.
However,
It was all just the calm before the storm.
Male beauty can lead people astray.
The next day, Luo Yan, whose legs were swollen, thought angrily.
Among them were many wealthy young men who bought the book to keep as part of their collections. After waiting for Luo Yan to return for a long time without success, the shopkeeper took it upon himself to print a large number more copies, and sales were still quite good.
"You may decide."
Luo Yan was temporarily too busy to spare any energy, so she picked up a book to give to Xiang Ye to keep her entertained, and told the shopkeeper.
The man was not alone; he was followed by seven or eight servants, who surrounded him like stars around the moon.
He had just seen Luo Yan from afar, noticing her voluptuous figure and delicate features, and had intended to approach her. When the wind blew, he caught a glimpse of her in full view and was even more astonished, instantly becoming lustful: "Take her back for me!"
The reason she had this thought was that, after experiencing Li Zhiying and what happened today, she wanted to gain more ability to protect herself.
Xiangming and Xiangye know some martial arts, which are better than ordinary men. If one or two more highly skilled servants could be assigned to them, they would be able to do whatever they want in the future.
The woman's fair face and rosy cheeks were reflected in his dark eyes. Her almond-shaped eyes were full of affection, and her red lips were parted, giving her a bewitching look that seemed ready to be taken by anyone.
Luo Yan was stunned for a moment. The intense shame made her lower her head and look down, as if she could hide it that way.
Zhu Yun calmly tied a slipknot, making sure it wouldn't hurt the delicate skin on her wrists, before spreading her knees apart and finding a foothold on the soft couch.
A chilling aura swept over him, yet his body was burning hot, a mixture of ice and fire. Luo Yan, unable to contain herself, squeezed her legs together and complained sweetly, "Why did you tie me up!"
It's just a fleeting affection; how could that possibly make her take a gamble?
Luo Yan calmly bid farewell to Tao Hong, and halfway there picked up a custom-made dagger. Its design was exactly the same as the drawing, with delicate patterns and expensive turquoise that shimmered with dazzling luster under the light.
Luo Yan was amused by his peacock-like appearance and casually asked, "If that's the case, have you truly never had someone you liked?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun stopped smiling, gave her a strange look, and remained silent without saying a word.
She assumed that Zhu Yun disliked her prying into her private affairs, and quickly waved her hand, saying, "I won't ask anymore, young master, please take a bath quickly, let's go eat venison."
"Young master, when did you arrive?"
She rubbed her eyes blankly, looking completely innocent.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but gently shake his sleeve twice and say in a soft voice, "Thank you, young master."
Zhu Yun was exceptionally intelligent; seeing Luo Yan withdraw her gaze from the courtyard wall, he instantly understood her meaning. But this made it difficult not to speculate—suppose he hadn't attended the banquet that day, suppose he hadn't spoken up to stop her…
The torrential rain lashed against the tender banana leaves, creating a violent crashing sound in the otherwise tranquil night.
"Clap clap clap clap—"
Zhu Yun's usually formidable self-control crumbled like a riverbank breached by ants. Yet, for the first time in his life, he had truly cared for someone, and his overflowing emotions were unspeakable. He could only gently stroke her dark hair, calling out again and again, "Yan Yan, Yan Yan..."
Repetitive and monotonous, yet also melancholic and tender.
Zhu Yun smiled wickedly, "This is all I can do for you today. Once you're better, I'll do it for three days and three nights, how about that?"
Luo Yan was already delirious and, disregarding her embarrassment, pleaded softly, "Hurry up."
After taking good care of her until her expression relaxed, Zhu Yun called for some rice porridge and went to the bathroom to quickly eat and change into some clean clothes. During the two days Luo Yan had been ill, he, who was usually very particular about cleanliness, had stayed by her side almost constantly, and hadn't even washed his face, which was quite unusual.
After eating and drinking her fill, Luo Yan rested her chin on her hand and discussed with Zhu Yun, "Young Master, my best friend Tao Hong has gone to serve Lord Zhou. Could you take me to see her?"
Mentioning Tao Hong inevitably brings to mind Li Zhiying. She felt a chill, both from that sticky gaze and from witnessing a bloody scene for the first time.
Qin Yuan asked, "Since you are Brother Ye's cousin, you must know where he is now?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Yan's eyelids twitched violently. She thought to herself that Qin Yuan should have already reunited with Cui Wuyang by now, helping him heal his injuries and prolonging his life. Why did he seem completely unaware of this...?
What about the other female supporting character?
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