Chapter 78 if·Yuan Shuyun (1)
"Sizzle—"
A crackling sound woke Luo Yan.
She opened her eyes and saw uneven rocks. Turning her head, she saw the dim light of day through the overgrown weeds.
"Xuebao, where am I?" Luo Yan asked while checking the virtual panel, but all the images and text were grayed out and could not be clicked.
Undeterred, she called out, "Oxford? System?"
Instead of receiving a response, the birds in the treetops were startled, their wings flapping incessantly, instantly turning the tranquil forest into a noisy mess.
Luo Yan quickly got up and glanced around before leaving, only to find that the figure looked somewhat familiar.
She pondered for a moment and finally remembered—about a year ago, she had come back to life and followed the navigation to Yufang City to find Zhu Yun. On the way, she went into a mountain cave to take shelter from the rain and even dozed off from exhaustion.
But why would they end up here out of the blue?
Luo Yan was completely baffled. She raised her hand and grasped the hilt of the sword, the coolness of the weapon making her feel slightly at ease.
After calming down, she quickly sorted out her thoughts: the most urgent thing was to get out of the mountains, whether to go to Fancheng or Yufangcheng, to buy a good horse, and then to find the lantern shop of Lanyue Tower to send a message.
Zhu Yun is afraid she'll go crazy if she doesn't see her for too long.
With a goal in mind, Luo Yan's furrowed brows relaxed slightly. However, without the map provided by the system, she wandered around the mountains for half a day without finding her way.
As soon as she stepped out of Jixuezhai, Luo Yan took out a handkerchief and quickly wiped away the tear stains on her face. Only the corners of her eyes were a little red, which was not noticeable unless you looked closely.
If someone saw her coming out of Zhu Yun's courtyard with tears streaming down her face, and then exaggerated the story, Old Madam Zhu would probably be the first to come looking for her.
It was all fake anyway. The confessions, the tears, the self-deprecation, the promises—it was all fake.
Zhu Yun was a thousand times colder and more heartless than she had imagined. The more than a month she had spent on him was completely wasted.
If he refuses to help her after she confesses her feelings today, she'll probably have to avoid him in the future. And since she's completely broken ties with Cheng Feng, he won't let her off the hook either.
There were people who repeatedly tried to kill her; she had a vague premonition, but she was too horrified to be sure. Besides, she had no way to fight them.
Luo Yan gripped the brocade box tightly in her hand; the most important thing right now was the impending wedding.
She was in dire straits again. But she refused to sit idly by and let herself be slaughtered.
In a few days, the Duke of Zheng's mansion will hold a small banquet, and many young men from prominent families will come... Even if they are not from prominent families, it is not impossible for them to be from humble backgrounds who are officials in the court.
She had already secretly scouted him out and made some initial contact with him.
Luo Yan took a deep breath and calmed herself down.
News of Cheng Feng's affair reached Lan Hui's ears that evening, and Lan Hui rushed over upon hearing it.
“Luo Yan, how could he treat you like this! Don’t worry, your uncle will come looking for him tomorrow. No matter what, that mistress must not get past you.”
Lan Hui felt both heartbroken and furious.
Although she came from an ordinary family, marrying Zhu Wen was a marriage of the highest social standing. However, she was still from a scholarly family, and Cheng Feng's words and actions far exceeded what she had heard before.
After hearing the report from her confidant, she was utterly incredulous and furious.
"So be it, Aunt, perhaps this is my fate," Luo Yan said, her eyes welling up with tears, on the verge of sobbing. "Can I really just break off the engagement?"
Lan Hui paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Luo Yan, will you resent me?"
Luo Yan's heart sank. Even now, her aunt was still unwilling to stand up for her.
But then again, why would her aunt offend the Cheng family and lose face for the sake of her niece who came from a humble background? Would she herself have done the same?
Having heard that her mother was beautiful, Luo Yan first met her aunt when she was five years old. Her aunt came to sweep her mother's grave, and after seeing her, Luo Yan knew that the rumors were true.
Her aunt was always virtuous and radiant, but at this moment her eyes were filled with complex weariness and guilt. The flickering candlelight shook Luo Yan's mind, then suddenly brought her back to her senses.
The only thoughtful birthday gift she received each year came from her aunt. Her aunt considerately took into account the Luo family's circumstances, always sending gifts that were luxurious yet practical, and not overly ostentatious to avoid arousing jealousy.
Her aunt always remembered the things she mentioned in her letters. After arriving in Beijing, unexpected events occurred frequently, and her aunt was always busy taking care of her.
Everyone has their own difficulties. Even if she's stuck in the mud, what right does she have to ask others to save her? The only one who can save her is herself.
Luo Yan held Lan Hui's hand; Lan Hui's hand was soft and warm, and the warmth was slowly drawn in.
“Aunt,” her voice floated softly in the candlelight, “you must have your own difficulties in taking me to live with the Zhu family, right? I have never had a mother since I was a child, and the only person who has ever made me feel maternal love is my aunt.”
The tears in Luo Yan's eyes disappeared, and she said earnestly and firmly, "So Aunt, I don't blame you. After I get married, I will move to the capital so that I can still be filial to you."
Lan Hui's eyes were red, and her lips trembled as she spoke incoherently: "Luo Yan, in this state of affairs, you've become so sensible. Your aunt would rather you were like A Yue... It's all your aunt's fault."
She suddenly covered her face with a handkerchief and burst into tears.
Luo Yan paused.
Lan Hui's emotions came on fiercely, clearly beyond what was expected. Luo Yan was not particularly sensitive to emotions, even somewhat indifferent, but even she sensed something was amiss at this moment.
Helping her break off the engagement was out of kindness, not an obligation. Would not helping her make Lan Hui feel so guilty that she lost her composure?
Luo Yan gathered her thoughts, gently patted Lan Hui's trembling back, and softly comforted her.
Lan Hui had been the second wife of the Zhu family for many years, and the Zhu family valued appearances the most. She calmed down in no time, but still looked somewhat lost and dejected.
"Your aunt has been saving up your dowry all these years."
Luo Yan was stunned when she learned that Lan Hui had added thirty-six loads of dowry to her dowry.
Although she had income from the shop left by her birth mother, it was far from enough to compare with the noble ladies of the capital. Her stepmother only needed to put on a show, so her dowry consisted of only twenty-eight loads.
She guessed that Lan Hui might prepare valuable gifts, but she didn't expect Lan Hui to be so generous as to add sixty-four loads of dowry to her, which was more than some daughters of officials in the capital when they got married.
Unfortunately, she married Cheng Feng.
"But my cousin is not married yet, so let's give these dowries to her."
“The Cheng family may not know the importance of this, but Supervisor Cheng is getting old. After he passes away, you will have this dowry to rely on, and your life will be much easier. Moreover, they should understand that the Zhu family is behind you because I am adding to your dowry.”
The candlelight shone on Lan Hui's face, revealing a kind and steadfast kindness that made one feel at ease. Luo Yan looked at her aunt in front of her, and a sudden pang of sadness welled up in her eyes.
"Thank you, Aunt."
On the other side of the low-hanging moon, the lush branches and leaves of the forsythia tree reflected the candlelight from the house next door.
"Young master."
"Enter."
The once cool voice, now tinged with a barely perceptible weariness, drifted through the thick sandalwood door, making it difficult to hear clearly.
Hearing the news, he pushed open the door and entered. He thought the young master was busy with official business late into the night, but the scene inside the room surprised him.
On the long desk, which was originally covered with official documents, were now stacks of open scrolls, all of which contained the gentlemanly etiquette that Zhu Yun had learned over the years. Although they had been read hundreds of times, they were well preserved.
But the key point is that these scrolls have all been stored in boxes and haven't been opened for a long time.
Why were they suddenly taken out tonight and piled up on the table?
However, his master was not at the table, but was playing chess alone at a small table by the window. He was still wearing the same moon-white brocade robe he wore during the day, and the moonlight shining on his tall figure revealed an inexplicable coldness.
Wen Feng knew that although Zhu Yun often played chess alone on ordinary days, and sometimes the Second Young Master would play a few games with him, whenever he was troubled, all he could do was play chess alone.
But he looked calm and composed, just like any other day, and didn't seem to be in a bad mood.
"What is it?"
Zhu Yun picked up the teacup and took a sip. His wide sleeves flowed down like water, revealing his strong and slender wrists.
Wen Feng was about to answer when he was completely stunned when he saw the glaring red mark in the black jade bracelet on Zhu Yun's wrist.
Zhu Yun slowly placed the teacup back on the table, her wide sleeves falling down to cover her wrists.
Wen Feng suddenly snapped back to reality, lowered his head, and dared not look any further: "Young master, it's very late, you should rest now."
"The tea is finished, go and get some more."
This means they want to play the game again, and Wen Feng knows that the study will probably be burning candles until dawn tonight.
He sighed inwardly. Although the young master was polite and composed, he was exceptionally stubborn, and once he made a decision, no one could change it. He didn't try to persuade him further and went to take the empty white jade teapot.
"Young master, would you like me to tidy up the books on that table?"
Zhu Yun immediately replied, "Don't move."
There was a rare hint of urgency in his tone.
"yes."
As they stepped outside, Wen Feng suddenly remembered, "Young Master, we've run out of Silver Elixir Grass. Should we send someone to buy some more tomorrow?"
There was a moment of silence in the room before a man's low voice came through: "Never mind."
Hearing this, he responded and took the teapot out of the study.
A night breeze blew in, causing the pages of the book on the table to turn erratically, making a crisp rustling sound.
Zhu Yun turned his gaze to the table full of etiquette and morality, the uprightness of a gentleman, every word and phrase was extremely familiar to him, all of which his father had repeatedly instructed him to keep in mind and remember for a lifetime.
The cool night air seeped into his chest, but did nothing to ease the heavy burden on his body.
Zhu Yun's eyes were dark and stern.
The familiar inn, the familiar thunderstorm.
After eating and drinking her fill, Luo Yan pulled Song Tian aside to get information: "Is it the fourteenth year of Jingming now?"
Song Tian didn't often interact with outsiders, let alone a beautiful woman who was suspected to be the young master's lover. He nodded evasively for a moment, then took the plate and moved to a corner.
She had no choice but to bother A-Kong, who had just been brought back. He was very curious and naive. Luo Yan said, "Do you want to hear about me and your young master?"
Ah Kong sat down with a "whoosh" and grabbed a handful of melon seeds.
“Ah Yun is my betrothed.” She propped her chin on her hand and said, half-jokingly, “About two years ago, we had a fight, so I’ve come to him today to make peace.”
Zhan Feng squeezed in: "I've only ever heard of betrothed wives, how come there are betrothed husbands?"
"Aren't they all the same?"
"Who taught you your light-footed skills? What's your relationship with the poster?"
Luo Yan couldn't answer, so she changed the subject, saying, "Ah Yun told me a lot of your little secrets, so that should prove I'm his wife, right?"
She blurted it all out like beans spilling from a bucket.
For example, Zhan Feng is fond of drinking, especially the apricot blossoms of Luoxia Villa; A Kong loves listening to storytelling, but only loves stories of love and hate; You Yu often imitates Zhu Yun's stern face, but in reality, he can't keep it up for long, and he can't resist walking away when he sees stray cats and dogs in private.
Zhan Feng, intrigued, urged, "Anything else?"
"Anything else?" Luo Yan recounted Qin Yan's confused entry into Lan Yue Tower. "He should be staying in the valley with Chang Sheng right now."
Unexpectedly, A-Kong asked in bewilderment, "Who is Changsheng?"
Zhan Feng looked at Luo Yan with a "finally exposed" look, his words full of schadenfreude: "No, such, person."
"How could that be?"
Luo Yan slammed her hand on the table and stood up. The color drained from her cheeks little by little, and her beautiful face looked as white as frost, as if it had been frozen for a long time.
She murmured, "Didn't A-Yun go to pick up Chang Sheng? Or do Zhan Feng and the others not trust me and are deliberately lying to me?"
"boom--"
A flash of lightning ripped through the night sky, illuminating the boy wearing a straw raincoat in front of the inn. He was soaked to the bone, and blood seeped into the rain from his clothes.
I don't know how long I listened.
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