Chapter 79 if·Yuan Shuyun (2)
Zhu Yun spent half an hour dealing with the troublesome wandering knight, and his arms ached and felt slightly numb.
I originally planned to meditate in the temple and wait for the rain to stop, but then I remembered the awkward phrase "go early and come back early," so I decided to ride back.
He hadn't looked closely at the woman who claimed to be his wife during the day, but he vaguely remembered that the girl was dressed in a peach-red dress, which was beautiful but not vulgar.
But it must be admitted that she is very capable.
Not only is he proficient in his sword techniques, but his internal energy also comes from the same lineage, and he even wears his sword tassel.
Zhu Yun wasn't usually very curious, but she managed to gather so many suspicious points in one person. Even knowing it was a trap, she still couldn't help but step into it.
Sure enough, Zhan Feng and A Kong were already captivated by her, not even noticing the sound of horses' hooves.
He looked coldly at the girl in the candlelight, who was speaking animatedly, using terms like "husband" and "A-Yun" in succession, so intimate that it made him dizzy, and he couldn't help but wonder if he had really lost some memory.
The answer is naturally no.
He had never seen her before, and didn't even know her name.
But one thing Zhu Yun was certain of: if it really were his wife, she would never smile so brightly at others; his temperament simply wouldn't allow such a scene to occur.
Therefore, it must be the person in charge of the headquarters.
Meng Jing is used to manipulating people's hearts. Now that she is on her last legs, she is worried that the Zhu family bloodline will end, so she put on this show.
Zhu Yun curled her lips in a mocking smile, her gaze refocusing on the girl with superb acting skills. She had to admit, she possessed a pleasing face.
Noticing his gaze, Luo Yan's eyes immediately lit up, like a wilted flower that had just drunk its fill of rainwater. Then she rushed over like a whirlwind, calling out in her sweet voice, "A-Yun, A-Yun."
His throat moved slightly, and his elbow bent as he prepared to use his sword to deflect the persona.
Unexpectedly, the girl stopped a step away, frowned, and made no attempt to hide her disgust at his blood-stained body.
"Miss, Supervisor Cheng has arrived and is waiting in the flower hall."
No more than a day after returning from Yueshan, Cheng Feng came knocking on his door.
Lilan lowered her voice: "Should we make any other preparations?"
Beside the snow-white gardenias, a woman in a long dress embroidered with lotus leaves and peonies held a small golden pair of scissors. With a gentle "snip," the jade-like flowers instantly lost their life, and the leaves rolled around on the ground before stopping beside the woman's exquisite cloud-patterned shoes.
The light blue shawl draped over her slender arms accentuated the cool hue of the woman's beautiful face.
"No need."
Luo Yan wasn't surprised that Cheng Feng would come. Cheng Yi had been bitten by a wild beast, and he would definitely tell Cheng Feng that it was because of his appointment with her that he encountered the beast.
She released a wild beast, but failed to kill the person in one strike, leaving behind endless trouble. Others might believe her, but how could Cheng Feng not believe his own son? Knowing Cheng Feng's character, if he couldn't ruin this marriage today, he would definitely not let her go after the wedding and would torture her to death.
If it really comes to that, she will have no choice but to—
Luo Yan stopped thinking about it and walked towards the flower hall.
The Flower Hall, situated on the east side of the Zhu Mansion, was a riot of reds and greens, with bamboo and roses casting large swaths of shadow. A breeze swept through the spacious corridor, causing the octagonal rosewood lanterns with painted flowers and birds hanging from the eaves to sway gently in the summer wind. Because of the arrival of guests, servants brought in a blue-and-white porcelain ice jar with turquoise patterns; wisps of icy vapor curled upwards, adding to the chill in the air.
"Greetings, Supervisor."
Luo Yan walked slowly and gracefully, her expression indifferent and her tone calm, as if she were just meeting an ordinary guest.
Cheng Feng had been sitting there for a while, and his already agitated mood was becoming increasingly restless. But when he saw Luo Yan's beautiful face, he couldn't help but stare at her, as if a spring breeze had swept over him.
But the next moment, he noticed the coldness on the beauty's face, and his mind instantly turned to his son, who had almost been eaten by a wild beast. He had been lying in bed unable to get up before he left.
The skin that had been scalded by the tea was still burning slightly. The scalding hot tea made him rest for more than half a month, and he even developed blisters for a few days, which also injured that area! To this day, he has not been able to get intimate with the beauty.
This made Cheng Feng feel even worse than if he were dead.
Cheng Feng's lips drooped again, and the wrinkles on his face were pulled up, making them look even more like withered tree bark, covering his dry and droopy cheeks.
At first, he didn't quite believe his son's doubts about Luo Yan. How could a woman from a small town have such ability and courage? But after his son was injured, he believed it completely and decided to settle all old scores with him!
Cheng Feng snorted coldly. He had lost a lot of weight due to the torment of illness these days, and his already loose eyelids had been pressed into deep wrinkles, forming a fierce triangular shape.
A teacup painted with green mountains and bamboo was slammed down on a rosewood table with a loud thud that echoed through the flower hall.
He had expected to see Luo Yan either panicked or trying to appear calm, but to his surprise, Luo Yan didn't even shake the hairpin hanging on her head; she just looked at him calmly.
"Is the Supervisor's burn still healing, which is why he can't hold the teacup properly? Perhaps I should call a servant..."
"Don't!"
After Cheng Feng instinctively cried out in surprise, he saw Luo Yan's calm and composed expression and immediately realized that he had clearly come to humiliate her, but instead, he was easily exposed by her!
It was like a cowhide being punctured by a needle and deflated. Cheng Feng was even more furious and sneered heavily: "Luo Yan, I gave you some face before because of the marriage agreement, but I didn't expect you to be so audacious."
"I don't understand what the Supervisor means."
"Hmph, I know you won't admit it without evidence. But so what? You're going to marry into the Cheng family in the future, and the Cheng family will believe you, right?"
After saying this, Cheng Fengxin calmed down considerably, as if she had regained control, and her eyes turned contemptuous: "I know you've always fantasized that some young master would be willing to marry you, but have you ever thought about whether they would be willing to make enemies with me for your sake? In the end, beauty can't compare to power and face. You should understand that only I am willing to marry you as my principal wife. With your family background, you wouldn't even be enough to be their concubine!"
Luo Yan's expression turned cold.
Among aristocratic families, only the Zhu family has a rule against taking concubines, because their ancestors had a history of favoring concubines over wives, nearly ruining their family fortune and reputation. This is why Luo Yan chose Zhu Yun. Others might not have been willing to marry him as their principal wife.
Seeing that Luo Yan didn't speak, Cheng Fengxin thought that he must have touched a sore spot, and couldn't help but feel a sense of victorious pleasure: "Actually, with your family background, you are far from enough to be my legal wife."
Luo Yan stood in the flower hall, her posture as upright as the green bamboo behind the hall. She slowly said, "The supervisor has no evidence but slandered me and harbors resentment. Although I am of humble origin, I am a person of noble character and my integrity cannot be broken. Our marriage is hereby called off. I will inform my aunt and write to my parents in Ningzhou to return the marriage certificate and betrothal gifts."
"Give up?" Cheng Feng seemed to have heard a joke, his cloudy eyes full of wicked amusement: "Miss Luo is beautiful, and I, the Supervisor, cherish her dearly and cannot bear to part with her. If you don't know what's good for you, just tell your aunt that as long as I insist on marrying you, see if your parents will break off the engagement? No matter how powerful your aunt is, can she make decisions before your parents? If she could, why didn't she intervene sooner?"
Luo Yan's eyes darkened. Cheng Feng was usually arrogant and muddle-headed, but he hadn't completely lost his mind.
"I understand that you are lonely after marrying far away, so I have found you another sister. A few days ago, a servant came to report that the mistress on the estate is pregnant."
Lilan, standing behind Luo Yan, changed her expression drastically.
Cheng Feng smiled even more smugly, his face as crumpled as a piece of dry paper, covered with dense wrinkles. "Being pregnant and a mistress is really a bit of a waste, especially since she is a respectable woman. Although she spent a few days in brothels, she only sold her art, not her body, and her status is not much lower than yours. I plan to formally bring her into the household, and the date will be half a month before your wedding."
Cheng Feng spoke casually, his face radiating an air of ease as if he held the power of life and death in his hands.
"When she gives birth to a son, there's no need to bring him to you. You're too young to raise him. At that time, you can make her your secondary wife, and that way she will be considered a legitimate son."
This is an outright humiliation! What family would take in a mistress half a month before the main wife is married? At that time, the whole of Shengjing will regard Luo Yan as a laughing stock! Li Lan wished she could immediately step forward and tear Cheng Feng to pieces.
She glared at Cheng Feng and said angrily, "The Supervisor has betrothed my young lady with the rites due to a principal wife, how can you humiliate her like this! You didn't take her into your household in the first place, and now you want to make her a secondary wife, aren't you afraid of being laughed at by outsiders?"
Cheng Feng raised an eyebrow smugly. He certainly wouldn't elevate his mistress to the status of a secondary wife; he was merely using this to humiliate Luo Yan. Seeing Luo Yan's maidservant's uncontrollable rage, he guessed that she must feel the same way, but was just putting on a good act.
Now that the pretense has been completely broken, Cheng Feng simply stopped pretending and laughed triumphantly: "What can outsiders do to me, the Supervisor? Luo Yan, I advise you not to struggle anymore. I can torture you to the point of wishing you were dead with the slightest movement of my finger. If you lower your head and admit your mistake, consummate the marriage ahead of schedule, serve me well, and take your dowry maid as a concubine after you enter the house, perhaps I can consider letting you go."
Lilan was so angry that she was about to rush forward, but Luo Yan stopped her by taking a step.
“Supervisor,” she said, her eyes sharp as cold stars, a mocking smile playing on her lips, “you came all this way just to humiliate me? The Imperial Academy is a place of learning and propriety, a place of knowledge and conduct. Instead of being busy cultivating talent for His Majesty, you come to the Zhu family to utter such vulgar words. Isn’t that rather inappropriate?”
"Or is it that the Supervisor is too old and should not overwork himself?"
Cheng Feng was momentarily speechless. His old age and the deliberate neglect he received at the Imperial Academy were painful memories for him, and how could Luo Yan, of such lowly status, dare to expose him so directly! Cheng Feng's face flushed with anger, and he spoke sharply: "I have served as an official at the Imperial Academy for many years and have never made a mistake. When did it become your place, a lowly woman, to speak?"
Luo Yan gave a cryptic laugh.
Having said that, breaking off the engagement according to custom was completely out of the question; Cheng Feng would not let her off the hook. So she had no choice but to find another way. Fortunately, Luo Yan was no stranger to this path; having grown up arrogantly, she had sought too many alternative routes because she couldn't take the proper path.
She couldn't be bothered to listen to Cheng Feng's arrogant and vulgar words any longer, and raised her hand to call someone to see the guest out.
"Supervisor, I have other matters to attend to, please excuse me."
Cheng Feng had no interest in staying any longer and said disdainfully, "The wedding dress will be delivered in the next few days. Get ready to marry this supervisor, Miss Luo."
After Cheng Feng left, Li Lan asked anxiously, "What should we do, Miss? Are we really going to..."
Luo Yan's face was half-hidden in the light and shadow, and the autumn water in her eyes was now frozen into icy blades.
"Let's go back to our room first."
As Luo Yan led Li Lan out of the flower hall, a figure suddenly appeared in the corridor like a ghost. It was unclear how long it had been there, but it startled Li Lan so much that she almost screamed, and Luo Yan also trembled.
Wen Feng lowered his head and bowed respectfully: "Miss Luo, the Jade Bamboo Courtyard invites you."
Yuzhu Courtyard was Zhu Yun's courtyard.
Why would Zhu Yun invite her to his courtyard?
Luo Yan suddenly remembered the blood-stained forsythia handkerchief he had tucked into his sleeve; he had said he would wash it and return it to her. She realized that he had invited her over today to return the handkerchief.
Zhu Yun could not possibly return such a private item as a woman's handkerchief to her outside, for it would ruin his reputation if someone saw it. Therefore, he sent someone to invite her indirectly.
Luo Yan thought for a moment and then instantly understood the cause and effect.
Zhu Yun was trying to avoid suspicion, but Luo Yan wouldn't do that.
Luo Yan smiled kindly and gently: "I will go back to the courtyard first and then rush over immediately. Please wait a moment, cousin."
Although Zhu Yun was aloof, he was always humble. His subordinates followed his example and naturally shared the same style. Upon hearing the news, they said nothing, simply agreed readily, and went back to report.
An incense stick had already burned by the time Luo Yan entered the Jade Bamboo Courtyard. Rumor had it that there were other important matters to attend to, and the person who came to greet Luo Yan was a servant she had never seen before.
Yuzhu Courtyard and Flower Hall are both located next to a bamboo grove, but the difference is that the bamboo in Yuzhu Courtyard is more abundant and denser, possessing the charm of lush bamboo forests described in books, which is elegant, subtle and distant.
Apart from the green bamboo behind it, there were no other flowers planted in the courtyard, making it quiet and serene, just like the owner of the courtyard.
Each house occupied a courtyard, which was further divided into several smaller courtyards. However, the Jade Bamboo Courtyard was solely inhabited by Zhu Yun and was quite spacious. Luo Yan walked along the pebbled path, passing a small courtyard. Unlike the other courtyards, which, though uninhabited, were kept clean and tidy, this courtyard—
The dark, solid rosewood door was tightly closed, with an iron lock hanging on it. It was covered in dust, as if it had been sealed for a long time. The tall gate cast a shadow, and a heavy sense of oppression rushed in.
Luo Yan glanced at it a few more times and frowned.
She didn't like the courtyard.
This dusty little courtyard is very close to Zhu Yun's residence. After walking along a cobblestone path with white walls and black tiles and green bamboo planted all over it, you will arrive at Zhu Yun's residence. The characters on the plaque are vigorous and upright, and it is called Jixuezhai.
Luo Yan silently recited the mantra before stepping through the courtyard gate.
Near the entrance stands a sandalwood screen wall, serving as a screen to completely block out the view of the rear room. It is carved with majestic peaks and cascading waterfalls, the craftsmanship exquisite and lifelike. Notably, the screen wall is almost entirely covered with text in neat small regular script.
Luo Yan approached and took a quick look; the gentleman was diligent all day long and vigilant at night.
Then I came across another sentence: "A wise man is cautious about what he does not see, and fearful of what he does not hear."
Densely packed.
The edges of the engraved words are somewhat blurred, but those at the top are exceptionally clear, as if they have been touched hundreds of times by the fingers of a child who has not yet grown up.
Luo Yan stared at the screen wall, suddenly feeling a little breathless. The screen wall was made of wood, majestic and lustrous, yet weighed a thousand pounds.
Passing the screen wall, there is no doubt that Zhu Yun's courtyard is full of charm and scholarly atmosphere, as calm and wise as his personality, but devoid of vitality.
The only thing that seemed to have any vitality was a lush tree in front of the house, its branches and leaves so abundant and verdant that it stood out starkly from the rest of the yard.
It is a forsythia tree.
He also likes forsythia? Luo Yan was a little surprised. Forsythia flowers are pale yellow and vibrant, and no one would think that they have any connection with Zhu Yun.
The door of the house, carved with a landscape on sandalwood, was open. The man sat inside, wearing a moon-white brocade robe. His hand, with its distinct fingers, held a book, but his gaze was not on the book. Instead, it was fixed on the velvet floral carpet on the floor. His angular face had a slightly tense jawline, and his expression was as still as water.
Hearing her approach, his dark eyes refocused. He closed the book, smoothed it with his long, slender fingers, and placed it on the table beside him.
"cousin."
"Um."
Zhu Yun got up and took out a brocade box from the shelf by the window. "I have already had your handkerchief washed."
He paused for a moment, then said, "You weren't in the courtyard when I arrived. I didn't know if it was something you cherished, so I had to ask you to come over."
Luo Yan took it and casually placed it on the table beside her. "My cousin knows I went to the flower hall."
The tone was not questioning.
"That's what the servants in your courtyard said."
"Does my cousin know who I'm going to see?"
Zhu Yun glanced at her and slowly replied, "I know."
Luo Yan pressed further: "Then, cousin, do you know what we said?"
Luo Yan didn't know how long Wen Feng had been outside, how much he had overheard, or whether he would inform Zhu Yun.
Zhu Yun lowered his long eyelashes and pursed his lips, remaining silent. Luo Yan understood everything he said.
He turned his back, his tall figure like a majestic mountain facing Luo Yan, his tone turning cold: "I have other things to do, take the handkerchief and go back."
The next instant, the force from behind made him stagger, and the sweet fragrance of a woman immediately enveloped him, swirling around him without any refusal.
His waist and abdomen were tightly embraced.
"Cousin, can you help me?"
He didn't love her; he was just a dangerous stranger.
Besides, Zhu Yun had taken the initiative to fall in love with her in the past, and Luo Yan had no idea what to do or say to win his heart.
She gave up struggling and walked out without saying a word.
The downpour had stopped, and the long street had returned to silence. Inside the corridor, Luo Yan rubbed her arms and stared blankly at the dark sky.
She stood still for a moment, and when she realized that there were no people from Lanyue Tower around, she suddenly thought: Why not take this opportunity to slip away?
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