Chapter 76 The Ordinary Daily Life of a Couple
The ascension of the Crown Prince to the throne became a popular topic of conversation among people in the martial arts world.
They originally had no interest in court affairs, especially since they all had blood on their hands to some extent, which was a serious crime according to the law, and they were trying to avoid it as much as possible.
But since His Highness the Crown Prince used the alias Ye Ning, within just two years, everyone knew him, and some had even received his favors or sparred with him, making him a familiar figure like the boy next door.
When mentioning the new emperor, it is inevitable to talk about another prominent figure—the new owner of Lanyue Tower.
The two had been at odds, and there were rumors that Zhu Louzhu had even cut off the new emperor's arm. With such a deep-seated hatred, wouldn't he have to repay it tenfold?
They waited and waited, but instead of being punished, they received a generous reward, and the topic gradually turned to the mysterious "cousin".
Resurrected from the dead, cousins, two men vying for one woman... The storyteller concealed their specific names and wove them into one poignant tale after another.
That day, after listening to the storyteller, Luo Yan and Zhu Yun walked back hand in hand. She asked curiously, "Does the old gentleman know that he is in the territory of Lan Yue Lou? How come in every story, Miss Biao always meets you first?"
In various versions of the story, she is sometimes a fox spirit, sometimes an immortal undergoing tribulation, sometimes a lady from a noble family, and sometimes a fisherwoman who has been wandering far from home.
As their identities changed, the reasons for getting to know Zhu Yun also varied.
Some say she coveted his beauty and forced herself on him; others say he fell in love at first sight and kept her as a mistress; still others say the young man saved an orphan girl, and she reciprocated his kindness with her body.
No matter how much they try to rewrite it, the "cousin" is always the one who comes later, the third person.
While it reflects the actual situation, the tone is far too uniform, almost like someone holding a knife to your throat and threatening you to revise the manuscript.
Zhu Yun frankly said, "I just couldn't stand their wild guesses, so I revealed a little bit of the inside story."
She scoffed, "If you really can't stand it, no one will dare to mention it."
"Are you itching for a beating?" He lowered his eyes and glared at Luo Yan, half threatening and half regretful, "I went too easy on you last night."
The girl blushed instantly and looked around: "We're on the street, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Zhu Yun bowed and said, "You clearly like it very much, so why do you always turn your back on me after you get off the bed?"
The small banquet was hosted by the heir of the Duke of Zheng. He was on good terms with Chu Ke and was also particularly skilled in entertainment. Unlike ordinary banquets held in the hall, today's banquet was set up in the garden with tables and chairs. Fearing that the noble ladies would find the sun too strong, many tables and chairs were placed in the pavilion or under the flower trellis.
This way, everyone doesn't have to gather in one place, making it convenient for friends to get together, visit each other, and creating a particularly relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
This also made things convenient for Luo Yan.
Zhu Zhaoyue and Yang Jingling went to the lakeside to enjoy themselves. She pretended that it was too sunny outside and stayed in the pavilion because she had more important things to do.
A servant from the Duke of Zheng's mansion brought up the wine and presented it to Luo Yan slowly and cautiously.
"Miss Luo, please have some."
Luo Yan moved forward almost imperceptibly. The wine infused with the Bewitching Elixir had an extremely faint, exotic fragrance that she would not have noticed if she hadn't read about it in a book.
At this moment, she could clearly feel a gaze fixed intently on her, like that of a hungry wolf.
The sunlight reflected in the glass, making the clear wine sparkle. Luo Yan gently twirled the glass with her slender fingertips and curled her lips into a smile.
Zhu Yun preferred quiet and was aloof. She didn't know where he had gone. Luo Yan looked around and saw that the young men were gathered in twos and threes, but Zhu Yun was nowhere to be seen among them.
The effects of the bewitching medicine are not quick, usually taking half an hour. If the medicine is taken too late, it cannot be administered before returning to the Zhu residence. Therefore, she must have Zhu Yun drink it no later than half an hour before returning to the Zhu residence.
The Duke of Zheng's mansion was lush with flowers and leaves, its pavilions and towers arranged in a pleasing, staggered pattern. The young men and women at the banquet were scattered about, socializing, while servants followed behind with wine cups. Luo Yan, leading Li Lan, passed them and searched along the corridor.
But they found nothing.
She glanced at the slightly lower sun and felt a surge of anxiety. If she delayed any longer, it would be too late.
"Miss Luo."
A male voice, full of amusement, suddenly came from behind her, interrupting her thoughts.
Luo Yan turned around upon hearing the voice and saw that the person was dressed in an indigo brocade robe, with exquisite and translucent gemstones and jade pendants tied around his waist. The folding fan he held in his hand was also inlaid with gold and jade. His whole body was covered in gold and jade jewelry that shone brightly, and it was clear at a glance how extravagant he was.
His eyebrows were thick and dark, but his eyes seemed somewhat unfocused. He was clearly still young, yet his face had a faint, murky look. He bore a striking resemblance to Cheng Feng.
Luo Yan thought of four words: excessive indulgence.
She replied, "Young Master Chu."
Chu Ke gave a surprised "Oh," and narrowed his eyes, saying, "Miss Luo recognizes me?"
Luo Yan smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying.
Chu Ke snapped his folding fan shut, took a step closer with a nonchalant air, and said with a half-smile, "Miss Luo and I hit it off immediately. How about we find a place to chat for a bit?"
Luo Yan subtly stepped back: "Young Master Chu, I have something to discuss with my cousin, so it's probably inconvenient for me."
As she spoke, she secretly observed her surroundings. This place was next to the Duke's mansion's garden, and there were quite a few people admiring the flowers and chatting. Chu Ke certainly couldn't force himself on her here.
Chu Ke smiled knowingly: "Cousin? Is that Mingxun? I have some connection with him, why don't we come together?"
Luo Yan sneered inwardly and looked at him leisurely: "It's my older cousin."
As expected, Chu Ke's expression immediately froze. He had been appointed to one of the Six Ministries this year and had some official dealings with Zhu Yun. Zhu Yun was rigid, boring, and bound by convention. On several occasions, Chu Ke had only drunk some wine before going to his post, and he was reprimanded by Zhu Yun.
Upon hearing that Luo Yan was going to find Zhu Yun, all her romantic thoughts vanished.
He pressed further, "Are you very familiar with him?"
Luo Yan said meaningfully, "My eldest cousin has always been considerate of his juniors."
Chu Ke frowned upon hearing this. How could it be that Zhu Yun treated his nominal cousin quite well? Then his plan today... no, he was the eldest son of the Chu family. Once the deed was done, no matter what Zhu Yun did, could she possibly bypass his father and aunt to interfere with him?
However, it's still daylight, so it's not advisable to act now. We should wait until she drinks the drugged wine and the effects kick in before making any moves.
Chu Ke immediately decided to let Luo Yan go for now: "Miss Luo, please go quickly, don't keep Lord Ling waiting."
Luo Yan took in Chu Ke's changing expression, knowing that even if she intentionally misled him into thinking that Zhu Yun was familiar with her, he wouldn't give up easily. The eldest son of the Chu family, raised in luxury, was actually so pathetic, his mind filled with lust. But she remained outwardly calm: "Excuse me."
After seeing Chu Ke off, she looked at the twilight, which had darkened further, and couldn't help but feel irritated.
She had searched almost the entire Duke's mansion, but still hadn't seen Zhu Yun. Could he have gone back home first?
Lilan behind him hesitated and said, "Miss, perhaps..."
Luo Yan shook her head, whispering as if to reassure herself, "There's still time."
After saying that, she turned a corner, and a figure appeared in front of her. Before she could react, she bumped into the person head-on.
Luo Yan nearly bumped into someone's arms, staggering. She instinctively tried to maintain her balance and stepped back to create distance.
A steady force came from her arm, easily stabilizing her body. The familiar scent made Luo Yan stop in her tracks.
Her expression softened instantly, and tears welled up in her eyes, still shaken: "Cousin, cousin."
Zhu Yun lowered his eyes to look at her and gave a faint reply.
This was the first time Luo Yan had met him since their last meeting at Jixuezhai. Today, he was wearing a snow-white round-necked brocade robe, which made his handsome face appear even more like it was carved from cold jade. As always, his expression was calm, his dark eyes were unfathomable, and he exuded a cold and aloof aura that made people afraid to approach him.
"As pure as white jade, it burns yet remains cool," Luo Yan suddenly recalled a poem she had read before.
Her gaze drifted to the dark circles under his eyes, which were particularly noticeable against his pale skin.
Her voice was soft: "Cousin, have you been very busy these past few days?"
With such severe bruises, it's likely he hasn't had a proper rest in days; he's far too conscientious about his official duties.
As soon as he finished speaking, he paused for a moment.
Perhaps he didn't expect that when he saw her again after the incident at Jixuezhai, she would still speak to him with concern as usual.
He softly said "It's acceptable," and then remained silent.
“Cousin,” Luo Yan bit her lip, her expression troubled, “What happened last time was Luo Yan’s recklessness. Cousin protected me many times, but I was so ignorant. I will soon be leaving the manor to marry into the Cheng family, and I thank you for taking care of me during this time.”
Her words were heartfelt and sincere. After speaking, she picked up the wine cup from the tray held by Lilan behind her and said to Zhu Yun, "If there is anything I can do to help you in the future, I will do my best. Today, I toast you, cousin."
Zhu Yun looked at her with dark eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable. After a few moments, he finally did not refuse and turned to get the wine cup.
His wine jug was empty, suggesting he hadn't drunk with anyone; he was only carrying the jug to follow the etiquette of a small banquet.
Luo Yan turned her head slightly, picked up the wine pot, and poured the wine into Zhu Yun's wine cup before Wen Feng could pour it behind him. Her movements were fluid and graceful.
The sound of water splashing softly could be heard.
She poured the wine in one smooth motion, then placed the wine pot back on the tray. Her smile remained unchanged, relaxed and open, revealing no hint of anything amiss.
"Cousin, please."
Luo Yan raised her wine cup slightly, but the person in front of her did not move. He simply lowered his eyes and stared at the wine in his cup, his long eyelashes obscuring his eyes, making it difficult to see the emotions in them.
Could it be that he figured it out? Luo Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she tightened her grip on the wine bottle.
But the next moment, the man picked up the wine glass, drank it all down, and as he tilted his head back to swallow, his prominent Adam's apple bobbed.
After finishing his drink, he looked at Luo Yan, tilting the wine cup slightly to show her that he had finished it—a common courtesy among aristocratic families.
Just now she was worried that he would see through her, but the moment he drank it down so readily, Luo Yan's heart sank even more for no reason.
There was no turning back for her.
After Zhu Yun finished her drink, it was her turn. She looked at the clear, transparent wine in the wine cup, her eyes filled with an unfathomable darkness.
She clenched her fist, took a deep breath, and as if making up her mind, slowly picked up the wine glass and quickly tilted her head back to drink it down.
Luo Yan doesn't drink often, and her stomach burned as soon as she drank it, but Zhu Yun in front of her remained unmoved, and her gaze deepened.
A dose of medicine in just one glass of wine shouldn't be ineffective for him, right?
But since things had come to this point, she had no choice but to continue.
"Cousin, I'll be going now."
See you later.
Zhu Yun gave a soft "hmm".
The scattered sunlight was dim and yellow, and as darkness gradually fell, the servants of the Duke of Zheng's mansion scattered with candles and lit the lamps one by one.
Luo Yan returned to the pavilion and sat down. The candlelight illuminated her profile, which surprisingly revealed a sharp and fierce look.
The medicine was starting to take effect; her whole body began to feel weak. She looked at Lilan.
Lilan understood, moved quietly outside the pavilion, and then quickly left.
After walking for a while, Lilan, keeping track of the time, adjusted the white jade lotus petals on her skirt and slowly walked into the secluded path in the back forest where few people lingered.
Lilan on the other end didn't expect that she would find the person so quickly, near the artificial hill not far behind the pavilion, much less difficult than the search she had done in the afternoon.
Wen Feng sat with his master behind the rockery for a while, and saw Li Lan running around, covered in sweat and looking anxious, on the verge of tears: "Young Master, something terrible has happened! The young lady has been taken away by the Chu family's men!"
Wen Feng was taken aback, but immediately understood: "Young Master Chu?"
Lilan nodded hurriedly, concealing her nervousness, and looked at the man sitting upright on the stone chair.
He frowned slightly, but his expression remained normal: "Lead the way."
Lilan's heart skipped a beat. Apart from his normally clear voice being slightly hoarse, there was no sign of the medicine taking effect. Could it be that he hadn't drunk enough and the medicine wasn't working? What should she do then?!
That night, a disciple presented a box of things, saying it had been sent back from the capital by fast horse.
Luo Yan uncovered it and saw a bright yellow imperial edict in the center, with a note attached that read: "Sister, I have chosen a residence for you. You are welcome to come to the capital for a chat when you have time."
Zhu Yun focused intently on drying her wet hair, and only glanced at her after he finished: "Want to go?"
"A tiny bit."
In her previous life, she came from a well-off family and was groomed as an heir along with her brother. Although she had to put that on hold due to health reasons, she was not opposed to going into business.
Therefore, it's worth a trip to the capital just for the sake of Futabado.
The journey was long, and she had originally planned to set off in two years, but now that she had the teleportation function, she could set off at any time.
"My dearest husband, would you like to witness the coronation ceremony?" Luo Yan hooked her finger around his face and pressed her lips to his. "Just for a day or two, and afterwards we can go back to Luoxia Manor, okay?"
Zhu Yun raised his hand and pulled her into his arms, then leaned back onto the canopy bed, smiling slightly: "Want to go?"
"think."
"Then seduce me."
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