Chapter 132 Between the Clouds (Twenty-Two) Hey, why are you lifting my clothes? ...
Upon hearing the words, Zhi Rou turned around suspiciously and saw a bustling city outside, with sunlight streaming onto clothes of various colors, like a colorful sea.
Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she felt somewhat empty.
"What am I thinking? How could he be in Qinyang?" she murmured to herself, shaking her clothes as she walked inside again.
Compared to the crowds in the capital, this restaurant was much more refreshing. Sunlight filtered through the dust, and the seats on the outer ring were separated by screens. Zhi Rou chose a seat and ordered a pot of locust flower tea.
Two tables apart, an old man and a young man were whispering: "...The Fifth Young Master might as well just be a playboy. Look at how busy he is all day...he's dragging so many people down with him. Why doesn't Lord Ling do anything about it?"
“Last time, I overheard the Fifth Young Master telling my master that he was going to the capital. The Ling family has always been based in Qinyang, through the changing seasons, for more than ten or twenty years. The Fifth Young Master… is certain that the family favors him. If it were anyone else, do you think anyone would dare to do that?”
"Do you know why Lord Ling treats the Fifth Young Master so leniently?"
"Who knows? Maybe he's just lucky... The Fifth Young Master is getting married the day after tomorrow, it'll be quite a spectacle."
The older man couldn't help but laugh when this was mentioned.
The Fifth Young Master, who was in his twenties, was still not married, but he was quite proud of it. Every time he mentioned marriage, he would show his domineering side, which made Madam Ling fall ill several times. She even sent him to a temple to eat vegetarian food for two months.
Then he wondered if the Fifth Prince had become even more "diligent" because of his marriage. The elder shook his head with a trembling heart and dropped the matter.
Before coming to Qinyang, Zhi Rou had inquired about all the people and affairs of the Ling family, but she had never heard of the "Fifth Young Master".
The thought of marriage crossed her mind. Perhaps it was an opportunity.
After sitting there for a while, Zhi Rou paid for the tea, gathered her sleeves, and went out.
The road was bustling with people, and the cars were moving very slowly. When a convoy of vehicles passed by, the tourists quickly retreated to the foot of the wall and smiled as they made way for it.
Zhi Rou, intrigued, glanced back a few more times. Just then, the window of the last carriage opened, revealing a handsome face. The man casually looked around, and their eyes met.
"The Fifth Young Master is looking at you."
"There are so many people on the street, they're not looking at me, don't talk nonsense..."
The woman next to them whispered something to each other discreetly.
Zhi Rou was slightly surprised upon hearing this. She tried to get a clearer look at Ling Wu's face, but the window closed, and she could see nothing at all.
Pei Tongliang rented an old house in the south of the city. Although the decoration was old, there were many flowers and trees. Compared with the majestic and solemn Song Mansion, it had a different kind of quiet atmosphere.
After leading Zhi Rou inside, Chu Lan ran to the flower trellis and nudged the guards sitting around the stove, saying, "Make way, make way, I'm serving tea to the Fourth Miss."
Having already visited five teahouses, Zhi Rou quickly replied upon hearing this, "Sister, you don't need to rush. I'm a little full."
He walked to the stone table, brushed off his clothes, and sat down. His gaze lingered briefly on the flower stand before turning to Chu Lan. "What are they talking about?"
As she spoke, her expression became mysterious, and she lowered her voice slightly.
"I've heard that General Ling's father was an illegitimate child, originally from the Ling family of Qinyang. Unfortunately, his mother had a bad reputation, and the Ling family didn't acknowledge him, never even taking him to their residence to be raised. Now that General Ling's reputation has risen, he still can't get a plaque for his own residence. After all, they're all family, and their hearts are so cold..."
After speaking, she suddenly remembered that the Fourth Miss had also been considered an illegitimate daughter in the past, and abruptly stopped talking. Glancing at her expression, she replied tactfully, "Pei Cheng sees that no one lives there and still dares to dream of moving in."
Zhi Rou paused in her play with the scabbard, her brows furrowed, lost in thought.
Chu Lan then asked, "By the way, did Fourth Miss come to Qinyang to look for someone? Should we go out and inquire?"
"We're not looking for anyone," Zhi Rou denied.
Pei Cheng came over, his tall shadow blocking the only light in front of him. His voice was clear and bright: "Fourth Miss, I heard there is a bustling market under an arched bridge here. Shall we go and take a look tonight?"
These night markets are mostly found in the south. Because they are located near water, the north and south ends are connected by a stone bridge. Boats pass under the bridge, and vendors line the banks. Peddlers also sell lanterns on the bridge. The market is bustling with activity and noise.
Pei Cheng and the others had never seen such a market before, but Zhi Rou felt a pang of nostalgia. She nodded with her chin and said, "Okay."
After dinner, Pei Cheng immediately brought a lantern from the backyard and, with Chu Lan's gentle shoving, led her to Zhi Rou. Pei Tongliang, being old, didn't care for such things, so he stayed at the old house to guard the gate, telling them to go and return early.
Carriages and sedan chairs were packed all the way from Yanmen Street to Yueqiao Bridge; the people of Qinyang City knew how to have fun much better than those in the capital. Chu Lan, arm in arm with Zhi Rou, whispered in her ear, "Fourth Miss, so many people are watching you..."
Without a crown or imperial regalia, without any procession clearing the way, she walked among the crowd like raindrops falling on a river, not meant to attract attention. Zhi Rou glanced back; those eyes did not flinch, and even showed some surprise, before stopping only after she had passed.
Zhi Rou became suspicious and began to wonder if they were from Su Du. Her mind was no longer on the market.
In the shimmering light, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure in a robe. Her heart pounded, and before she could even say anything to Chu Lan and the others, she turned and pushed through the crowd to chase after him.
As she approached the arched bridge, the number of vehicles and horses gradually decreased, but the flow of people was like a river. After one wave passed, another surged in fiercely, making it difficult for her to run fast, so she had to stop and go.
Apart from that night in Yuanzhou, Zhi Rou hadn't had a proper rest. When she ran up the bridge steps, she lost her footing and twisted her ankle. She swayed to the side, but someone grabbed her arm to steady her.
Looking up, he saw Wei Yuanzhan smiling: "I saw you a long time ago, why are you running?"
That face was like something out of a dream, and Zhi Rou's heart trembled uncontrollably. A moment later, a smile curved her lips, and remembering the sounds she'd heard outside the teahouse that afternoon, she couldn't help but ask, "Where did you see me?"
He pointed downwards with his boot: "Under the bridge, over there."
The lanterns subtly outlined her figure, and Wei Yuanzhan's gaze instantly enveloped her.
Zhi Rou felt a little disappointed, but quickly cheered up again. After all, the person in front of her was real. More than half a month later, she met those eyes again with genuine affection.
When she asked him how he came to Qinyang, her gaze inadvertently fell on his sleeve. His blue brocade robe was stained with a bit of silver-red, vaguely resembling bloodstains. She took his hand and led him away from the passersby to the stone railing, pretending to lift his sleeve.
Wei Yuanzhan quickly grabbed her wrist, exclaimed "Hey!" and said jokingly, "Why are you lifting my clothes?"
"Let me see." Zhi Rou looked up at her, clearly not buying it.
Wei Yuanzhan stood with his hands behind his back, his back ramrod straight. The lamplight cast a soft, alluring glow on his face. His smile was captivating, yet his tone remained arrogant: "Why should I?"
His appearance surprised Zhi Rou, and now she suspected he was injured. Regardless of anything else, her bright face immediately turned cold.
"Wei Yuanzhan."
Having not seen each other for two weeks, she suddenly heard his name uttered from her lips, carrying a hint of command. Wei Yuanzhan hesitated for a moment, then pulled his hand back in front of him.
Zhi Rou grabbed his wrist and lifted his sleeve. The gauze ribbon, covering his elbow and arm, was stained with blood.
Her gaze was direct and undisguised. Wei Yuanzhan seemed to sense something, his body flushed, and he turned his face away without saying a word.
"Are you still injured anywhere?" Zhi softened her tone. "What happened?"
He slowly rolled up his sleeves, turned his face to look at Zhi Rou, and saw that her eyebrows were not eyebrows, and her starry eyes were filled with worry. He should have been pleased, so he smiled and pursed his lips.
“On his back,” he said, still not in a serious manner, “you shouldn’t look at it.”
Zhi Rou's cheeks flushed red, and she let go of his hand, retreating back onto the bridge. Wei Yuanzhan tried to pull her away, but she brushed him off. She immediately regretted her actions, her gaze meticulously scanning his shoulder and sleeve inch by inch to make sure the wound hadn't reopened.
This time he was more serious and stopped joking. He just kept a warm smile on his face: "I'm only human, and I'm afraid of pain too. If you're going to hit me, be gentle."
"What exactly happened? You were perfectly fine, why did you come to Qinyang... Was it because of my letter?" Zhi Rou asked with some guilt.
Wei Yuanzhan observed her for a moment.
He was indeed annoyed when he first received the letter, but he quickly calmed down and considered his options. He had a military post and could not leave the capital without permission. Just then, he heard that Princess Rongqing's husband had been murdered and the perpetrator had fled north.
Princess Rongqing held a high position and had a fiery temper; no one dared to take on this task, for if they handled it poorly, they would not only fail to gain favor but also incur the princess's wrath. Unexpectedly, Wei Yuanzhan reported to the Emperor that he was willing to lead fifty men to arrest the ringleader. How could His Majesty refuse?
Having chosen two strong horses and led his troops, they set off north from Changfeng Camp that very day. The bandits were cunning, and Wei Yuanzhan and his men were ambushed in Xiaoshan. He did his utmost to capture the bandit leader, and only then were the rest subdued and taken to the capital by his men. However, his injuries had not yet healed, and he could not travel far, so he left Chang Huailanye with him. Once he was feeling a little better, he rode swiftly to Qinyang.
"I originally wanted to find a reason to separate from them. Taking these few blows is a success, and it wasn't in vain," Wei Yuanzhan said casually, having done both public and private good.
Zhi Rou felt uncomfortable listening to this.
He tilted his head and scrutinized her for a moment, then asked, "Are you going to cry?"
The reply was soft: "What's there to cry about?" Her face was slightly turned to the side, her eyelashes lowered, and unusually, she didn't look at him.
Wei Yuanzhan laughed from the side, "Good, good, good." Whether it was sarcasm or teasing, he added, "So gentle."
The flickering firelight blew across her face, making it glow like a rosy satin. After a long pause, Zhi Rou finally spoke: "Wei Yuanzhan, how many days will you stay in Qinyang?"
How long do you want me to stay?
A warm sensation crept into her wide sleeves, their fingers clasped together, Zhirou holding him tightly.
I don't want you to leave.
"Is that so?" Wei Yuanzhan pulled her over and pinched the back of her hand with his fingertips.
"Who left a letter and ran away, coming here alone? You promised to accompany you, but you still don't believe me."
“I didn’t,” Zhi Rou retorted loudly.
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