Chapter 153 Pride Abounds (Fifteen) Wait for me to return, and we'll get married...
A short while later, a hearty laugh came from outside. Zhi Rou rushed to the door and said to Wei Yuanzhan, "It's Master!"
He immediately ran to open the door. Xue Nan, wearing a crane cloak, stood under the eaves and slowly praised Lan Ye with a smile: "...How can you not get wounded when you're on the march? Good lad, you're becoming more and more heroic."
Lan Ye scratched his brow in embarrassment, his face slightly flushed. Just then, he heard the Fourth Miss's voice behind him echoing, "Master is right, he is becoming more and more heroic." He smiled again, took a half step back, and said, "There is another one inside."
Looking into the room through Zhi Rou's shoulder, the autumn sun streamed in like water, casting a hazy glow on Wei Yuanzhan's face. He smiled and bowed, saying, "Master."
Xue Nan looked him over and smiled after a while: "Just like Rou'er, I almost didn't recognize you. You're still injured, please sit down."
Wei Yuanzhan did as he was told and stepped back to the stool, his eyes following him closely: "You've always been in good health?"
Hearing this, Xue Nan realized it was exactly the same as Zhi Rou's words. She stepped inside and walked to his side. "I'm not that old yet." Before he could finish his sentence, she ordered, "Take off your clothes, let me see."
Wei Yuanzhan was startled and looked up, only to meet a gaze from not far away that was also slightly taken aback. Zhi Rou reacted faster, immediately turning around, her fingers curling up in her sleeve.
Wei Yuanzhan then turned his gaze and began to undress again. His lean waist and abdomen were exposed to the light, with white cloth wrapped around his shoulders, the dark crimson showing through.
Xue Nan frowned and looked at him for a while. He was seriously injured, and his lips were slightly pursed. When he took off his clothes, he accidentally aggravated his injuries, and his shoulder and back spasmed for a moment. Xue Nan knew that this kid was enduring it again.
Tan Huai took out Qinghen Powder and other analgesics: "Have Lan Ye and the others administer them to you, and be careful."
Wei Yuanzhan replied, hastily and somewhat stiffly putting on his clothes.
Xue Nan glanced at his flushed face, then looked at Zhi Rou, and a smile slowly crept onto her lips.
"Before, when you two were together, you could hear you arguing even through several walls. Now that you're older, you don't argue anymore. Have you grown distant from each other after not seeing each other for a few years?"
Hearing Zhi Rou cough twice, she strolled over and simply said, "No."
She sat down in the chair next to Wei Yuanzhan, appearing open and honest, but her eyes seemed unable to meet his gaze.
Wei Yuanzhan's gaze occasionally fell on her as he listened attentively to her conversation with her master.
Mentioning the battle before dawn, Xue Nan glanced at Wei Yuanzhan, her words still leaning towards Zhi Rou: "Is Rou'er very familiar with that Northern Khan?"
In Daizhou, Xue Nan had already had questions in her heart, but she was too busy to ask them. Now that the situation had eased up a bit, and seeing that the man was interested in Lancheng, and that Yuan Zhan was stationed there, she took the opportunity to ask him on his behalf.
Wei Yuanzhan glanced around slightly, then fixed his gaze on Zhi Rou's face without making a sound.
She gripped the edge of the chair with both hands, her head tilted slightly to the side. Upon hearing this, she straightened up and said, "I'd say I know him about 50-60%... I often interact with people from the royal court in Beili, so it's inevitable that I'll have some dealings with him."
"What kind of temperament does he have?" Xue Nan asked.
Zhi Rou thought for a moment: "He is not born of the Khan's wives or concubines. He has lived as a subordinate for a long time but his spirit has not been broken. He is a man who is good at hiding his true intentions. We must be very careful when fighting him."
Wei Yuanzhan's brow furrowed briefly, then slowly relaxed. "You're right," he said. "It was my carelessness. This time, we owe a great debt to you, Master, and the reinforcements from Daizhou."
"You're not bad either. The commander braved arrows and stones, and the army was no match for him. Enhe is just unlucky to have met you." The sunlight shone on Zhirou's face, giving her a romantic beauty.
A smile flashed across Wei Yuanzhan's eyes. He first lowered his eyelashes to hide it, and when he looked up again, his gaze kept lingering on her.
Smoke rose from behind the camp, casting a soft golden hue over the barracks. As the soldiers passed by, their eyes couldn't help but linger on the young outsider.
Hearing the door open, Lan Ye turned to the side: "Where did Fourth Miss go?"
"Just taking a walk." Zhi Rou glanced at the bamboo cane under his hand, and frowned slightly. "Is your injury... serious? Could it lead to serious illness?"
Lan Ye smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Fourth Miss, I'm thick-skinned and tough, it's nothing to worry about."
As she spoke, she smoothed her brows and lowered her head, "Our young master...thanks to Fourth Miss."
He had heard about what happened on the battlefield from Chang Huai. Zhi Rou received his thanks, but her expression remained the same as usual, with a slight smile playing on her lips.
Changhuai interjected, "Is Fourth Miss still returning to the capital?"
"I will go back once Wei Yuanzhan's injuries have healed a bit."
“Then I will find you and Mr. Xue Nan a place to stay. It is inconvenient to stay in the military camp for a long time, but there are a few houses in the city where you can stay temporarily.”
With her nod, Changhuai instructed Lanye to accompany the Fourth Miss, while he went to arrange her lodging.
When I returned, it was already afternoon.
Zhi Rou and her master had a meal in Wei Yuanzhan's room. They talked about embarrassing things from their childhood and started bickering again.
Xue Nan always defended Zhi Rou. Seeing Zhi Rou raise her eyebrows at him triumphantly, Wei Yuanzhan couldn't help but chuckle: "I can't argue with you."
She pulled her arm back from the table, sat up straighter, and prepared to get up and stretch. Just then, Changhuai came outside to report that accommodations were ready and she could go and settle in.
Wei Yuanzhan's gaze then drifted to Zhi Rou's face, as if he was reluctant to see her leave now.
Xue Nan glanced between the two of them, smiled subtly, and stepped out of the room first.
The door was open, letting in a burst of sunlight that enveloped the two of them. Wei Yuanzhan stood up and asked, "How long are you staying in Lancheng?"
Zhi Rou looked at him closely for a while, her tone tinged with amusement: "You don't want me to leave, do you?"
He tilted his head slightly to the back and saw that Chang Huai and the others were standing far away outside the door and not looking into the room. Then he walked closer and, following his usual style, reached out and touched his face. He noticed that he had become thinner and then pinched his chin with his fingers.
Wei Yuanzhan raised an eyebrow, grabbed the mischievous hands, pushed the person behind the unopened lattice door, and leaned down to kiss her.
Zhi Rou was slightly startled and subconsciously looked up. Then, remembering where she was, she quickly moved her mouth to the side and tried to separate herself from him by pushing her hands against his chest. However, he held her cheeks and turned her back, his nose brushing against her cheeks as he gently kissed her lips.
The humid heat made their breaths even thicker, and Wei Yuanzhan's hand, which was pressed against Zhi Rou's neck, caressed her like water, yet with a distinct roughness.
Having not seen him for many days, her longing for him grew stronger, and at this moment, her body unconsciously leaned towards him, gradually taking the initiative.
But this is, after all, a barracks, and someone could come at any time.
Thinking of this, Zhi Rou began to tense up and soon found it hard to breathe. Her chest heaved, and she used a little force in her palms to say, "...The door is open...Wei Yuanzhan."
Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhan stepped back slightly, his breathing erratic, and reached up to meet her eyes with his eyelashes.
"When I get back... let's get married. Okay?"
Zhi Rou was clearly taken aback by this sentence. Her eyelashes trembled violently, and then she raised them, looking at him frankly and directly.
The lattice window cast a thin shadow, and slivers of light floated in from the side, falling directly into his eyes. His gaze was warm and bright, brimming with affection that flowed from his eyes down into hers.
After staring at each other for a while, Zhi Rou calmed her breathing and said, "When? I... don't have much patience."
Wei Yuanzhan frowned.
His tired appearance made her unable to suppress a smile, and she said with sparkling eyes, "Okay, okay, I'll wait for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the softness he had just kissed pressed against his cheek, but he withdrew it after only a light touch.
Before she could say anything, Zhi Rou had already left the room, walking backwards and looking back into the room with a grin.
The floating light clung to her figure, and for a moment, Wei Yuanzhan was in a daze as if the drums and horns had stopped, the killing had ceased, and he had returned to his body, back to her side.
Wei Yuanzhan looked down to check, and Zhi Rou quickly turned her back, suppressing her sneaky emotions. She called Chang Huai and her master, leading them forward and hoping they would not look back.
A few days later, Zhi Rou overheard the news of the Sun family's massacre from the soldiers' idle chatter.
Her face went blank for a moment, unsure whether they were referring to the Sun family: "...Are you talking about Minister Sun of the Ministry of Revenue in the capital?"
"Exactly."
Since the battle with the Enhe cavalry, everyone knew that among those who came with the Daizhou army was a close friend of General Wei. Grateful for his help, he had become quite close to her in their conversations, and now that she had asked, he naturally did not hesitate to tell her.
"I don't know what kind of grudge they committed. I heard that when the government arrived, there were corpses all over the place, and not a single person was left alive in the mansion."
"Not only that, I've also heard..." The soldier coughed softly, leaning his shoulder closer to Zhi Rou, "that a Lord Song has also disappeared without a trace. It's being said in the capital that he and that Minister Sun from before are birds of a feather. This time, he's been punished by some strange martial arts master, and he probably won't have a good end."
The surrounding sounds gradually faded away, and an overwhelming silence pressed in. Zhi Rou forced herself to nod, but as soon as she turned around, the composure on her face vanished, and her breathing became shallower.
It must be Su Du. She was absolutely certain, yet she didn't understand.
Why?
Zhi Rou's steps slowed down as she suddenly recalled the day Su Du saw her off at Qufei Lane.
That was the only sentence she could remember.
She immediately sensed something was amiss. Was he indeed... going to say goodbye to her?
Her chest tightened for a few breaths, then suddenly a pair of hands gently grasped her arms, and a hint of unease lingered in the voice: "Zhirou?"
She was in such a rare state. Wei Yuanzhan noticed her sluggish movements as soon as he came out of the barracks and strode over to her side.
Zhi Rou paused for a moment, blinked, and straightened up: "Wei Yuanzhan... I have to go back to the capital."
Her call stirred something within him. Without asking why, he simply said calmly, "Okay, I'll make the arrangements."
...
It was early August when we arrived in the capital.
When Zhi Rou first left Gantong County, intending to detour back to the capital, she wrote home. The letter said that her return would be a little delayed, but Song Congzhao couldn't wait and immediately sent people out of the city to secretly search for her, but there was no reply for a long time.
It wasn't until the end of last month that he saw Zhi Rou's name in a government gazette and learned that she had gone to the border.
Now that she has returned safely, the way the servants in the manor look at the Fourth Miss has changed. She paid no attention, and went straight to Xixiang Garden upon returning home.
It rained last night, and the bluestone slabs on the road were slippery with rainwater. When you stepped on them, the sound of water splashing was rapid and continuous.
As they approached the door, Xinghui emerged carrying a wooden tray. Their eyes met, and a glint of light flashed in her eyes. She immediately jogged over and asked, "When did you return, young lady? Are you alright?"
Zhi Rou shook her head, glancing down at the wooden tray in her hand: "What is this?"
Xinghui glanced at the door and sighed softly, "The day after you left, Aunt Lin fell ill. Doctor Wang has come to see her several times and said that Aunt Lin's physical condition is not serious, but she is depressed and caught a cold recently due to the cold weather. She has not recovered yet. I just finished giving Aunt Lin her medicine and she has already gone to bed."
The case involving Ms. Sun occurred on June 22nd, and the news broke the day after she left Beijing.
Zhi Rou curled her fingers slightly, and after a few moments, she replied softly, "Thank you, Sister Xing Hui. I'll go in and see Mother."
As Xinghui said, Lingxi had taken her medicine and fallen asleep when Zhirou arrived. She didn't wake her, but stood behind the curtain for a while, then knelt down on the edge of the bed and covered her face with her hands.
Her hair fell down her shoulders like a handful of quiet raven feathers, and the light streaming through the window illuminated the subtle trembling on her shoulders.
After a long while, she lowered her hand, turned her head, and glanced at Ling Xi again. She hadn't even changed her clothes, and had already gone to the Feng residence, looking travel-worn.
The same old steward answered the door. When he saw her, his face turned slightly serious. After a moment, he bowed his head and said, "Miss, please go back. The young master is not here."
If he were in the capital, how could Mother have fallen seriously ill? Zhi Rou's deep eyes, like a still spring under the eaves, gazed intently at the other person and asked, "Did he leave a single word before he left?"
The old servant looked sorrowful and shook his head slightly.
Zhi Rou's eyes grew even darker, her breathing became rapid and heavy, as if some invisible force was pulling at her chest. She couldn't believe that Su Du had disappeared without leaving her a single word.
The night was pitch black, and the stars and moon were nowhere to be seen.
After Zhi Rou returned to the Song residence, she told Song Congzhao about what had happened along the way. Upon hearing this, he wanted to invite Xue Nan to stay at his residence for a while to repay her kindness in protecting him. However, Xue Nan did not want to be a bother and found an inn in the city to rest.
With fewer worries in one's heart, one can find peace on one's pillow.
Zhi Rou lay on her back in bed, tossing and turning, remembering what Song Congzhao and she had said.
Su Du visited her mother on the day she left the capital. After that, only one of his men came once, and then there was no further news. The murderer of the Sun family remains at large; is Su Du... still alive?
In a state of confusion, she suddenly got up from the bed, groped around in the dark to turn on the lamp, and began searching through the table, making a series of clanging and clattering noises throughout the room.
Hearing the noise, Xinghui assumed a thief had broken into the house. He put down the storybook in his hand, jumped up, and went from the side room to the main room.
The lamplight was as bright as day. The gauze curtains beside the bed were drawn, concealing the scene inside. The desk was in a mess, and the wardrobe opposite was open. Someone was squatting there, half of their body covered by the wardrobe.
Recognizing that it was Zhi Rou, Xing Hui's pounding heart finally calmed down, and he stepped forward: "Miss, what are you looking for? Why aren't you wearing shoes..."
Before his hand could touch her, she turned her head, and a rare emotion appeared in her eyes: "Sister Xinghui, I had a pair of dangling earrings on the table, where did they go?"
This was the first time Xinghui had seen panic on Zhirou's face.
After a brief moment of shock, she quickly set off to help her search, muttering angrily, "Jingyao must have packed your things, but I don't know where she put them. That person of hers is really... You've only been gone from the capital for a few days, and she's already left the manor without even saying goodbye. You treated her so well, and I beg Young Master Sheng to teach her how to do business..."
Before she could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door, followed by a report: "Fourth Miss, Aunt Lin has woken up and wants to see you."
Zhi Rou froze. Seeing this, Xing Hui walked over, helped her up, and said, "Go ahead, Miss. I'll go find her."
Under the eaves, two lamps swayed gently in the wind, as if dozing off, illuminating the darkness. The room was equally dim, with only a tall lamp standing by the bedside, clearly illuminating the features of the person on the bed.
Zhi Rou's gaze lingered on her face for a moment: "Mother, are you feeling better?"
Ling Xi smiled at her, her expression still carrying a hint of weariness from illness: "I'm getting old, I'm no longer useful. It's alright."
Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou felt a surge of bitterness rise to her nose. She turned her head to suppress it and retorted softly, "What nonsense are you talking about? Mother is still young."
Ling Xi smiled and looked her up and down: "I heard you did well on the front lines. I hear them talking about it all the time at home. How are you? Are you alright? Are you injured?"
At this, Ling Xi suppressed the sharp pain in her heart, composed herself, and said in an extremely calm voice, "Zhou Ling and the others have gone to look for him, and they will definitely bring him back."
Ever since learning about the Sun family's affairs in Lancheng, Zhi Rou's heart has been like a pot of boiling oil, fearing that Su Du would be foolish enough to repeat the old dream and hurt her mother.
Now, sitting beside her, seeing her calm demeanor, most of the torment and fear suddenly subsided, and my tense shoulders relaxed: "Father told me that my brother's men came to see you. Is there any news about him?"
Ling Xi remained silent.
After waiting for a while, and seeing no sign of her speaking, Zhi Rou leaned closer and called out, "Mother?"
She moved slightly, took something from the side, and handed it to her: "This may be something he left for you."
Zhi Rou held it in her hand and turned it around. It was just an ordinary box, but what made it slightly different was the lock on it.
How to open without a key?
Just as Zhi Rou was about to ask a question, Ling Xi sat up slightly and took her hand in his: "Rou'er, can you promise me something?"
Her eyes, illuminated by the flames, held a tenderness that seemed to defy all odds. Being gazed upon like that, Zhi Rou's doubts vanished in an instant.
"Mother, please speak."
"No matter what happens, you must prioritize your own safety and refrain from any reckless actions."
Although she didn't know why she said that, Zhi Rou slightly bent her fingers, squeezed her hand back, and said firmly, "I promise you."
Having received her promise, Ling Xi glanced at the box and leaned back against the pillow: "You just got back, you must be tired. Go back to your room and rest, I'm fine."
Ling Xi looked tired, and Zhi Rou, not wanting to disturb her, stood up and said, "Then take care of yourself, Mother. I'll come to visit you again tomorrow."
As they approached Longyue Pavilion, a light rain began to fall again. Xinghui came out to greet Zhirou, holding an umbrella, a bright smile playing on her lips: "Miss, I've found your earring!"
Where?
Xinghui followed Zhirou into the house with her umbrella. The sound of rain pattering outside the window accompanied her footsteps. As soon as she reached the table, Zhirou said, "Sister Xinghui, I'll sit here for a while and then go to sleep. You can settle in first."
The Fourth Miss was quite different tonight. Xinghui, with her keen eye, nodded and said, "Alright. If anything happens, remember to call me."
Zhi Rou hummed in agreement, and only after the footsteps faded into the distance did she pick up a lamp and stand on the table, carefully examining the lock on the box under the lamplight.
What could be inside?
She retrieved the tools she used to tinker with when she was young and tried to unlock the lock for half an hour, but it remained unopened.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the earrings in the wooden box beside him. On a whim, he took them out, gently turned the tip of the jade bead against the keyhole, and the latch clicked softly.
It's open.
The moment Zhi Rou lifted the box lid, she saw a plain piece of paper. Below that were several pages of torn-out account statements, all signed by the same person.
"That night in the attic, you seemed so reluctant to part with even a moment. What are you waiting for now?"
"Didn't you say that actions require evidence? I'm waiting for it."
Zhi Rou clenched her fist tightly.
I see.
I see……
It turns out that he never intended for her to participate. His words "wait" that day were just to wait for irrefutable evidence that he could personally kill Sun Siren, and there was still a chance.
He never considered seeking revenge in any other way.
Zhi Rou felt as if something had been lost from her heart. Emotions she had never experienced before flooded her body like water, leaving her unable to resist and only able to quietly feel them.
"May my sister be happy all year round, free from worry and illness."
Author's Note: The next chapter is the last chapter of the main text, and it will be quite long.
Thank you for your company.
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