Chapter 45 Dust and Light (Part 4) What's there to hurt? I haven't even touched you yet...
It was half past 3 PM, on Chengping Street.
Two pairs of shoulder blades stepped in and blocked Jin Hui's path.
Wei Yuanzhan stood under the door frame and looked around. It did resemble a tea shop, except that it had far fewer utensils than the others, and it seemed to only have tea.
"Distinguished guests, you're late," a well-dressed man said, tidying up behind the counter. "Our shop is closed until noon tomorrow. Please excuse us..."
Changhuai took out a two-tael silver ingot and placed it on the counter, interrupting him.
The man looked up and his gaze fell on the silver ingot. A smirk appeared on his lips, but a hint of disdain lingered in his voice: "Please come again tomorrow."
"What kind of logic is it to turn down business opportunities?" Changhuai asked bluntly.
The man continued to gather his belongings, wiping a jade pendant with a handkerchief. Wei Yuanzhan glanced at him, finding the jade pendant in his hand somewhat familiar.
He finished wiping and straightened up: "Doing business is about rules. When it's time to close, we go home. That's the rule. Do you think you can force us, esteemed customer?"
His demeanor exuded a refined, scholarly air, suggesting he had no interest in money but rather in elegant objects.
Wei Yuanzhan gently tugged at the jade pendant at his waist and handed it to him, saying, "We are indeed late. Please stay a little longer, Manager Meng, after all your hard work today."
As the jade-like peaks of Cangshan came into view, the man finally abandoned his contempt and seriously observed Wei Yuanzhan for a long time, thinking to himself, "He's a talkative young man."
He took the jade pendant and turned it over in his palm twice: "May I ask what kind of tea you would like to buy, esteemed guest?" After a moment, he added, "Our shop does not accept cash for exchange. This piece of jade of yours is worth ten coins of pre-Qingming Longjing tea."
They don't accept gold or silver, but exchange goods for tea, and at such a high price. It seems the imperial court hasn't truly shut down this establishment; this "tea" is probably just a rumor.
"I just saw a jade pendant in the shopkeeper's hand. May I take a look at it?"
The man hesitated for a moment, then took his hand out from his sleeve and presented it to him.
Wei Yuanzhan examined it for a while and recognized it as Song Zhirou's. He raised an eyebrow slightly, then relaxed his grip and returned it: "I want to know what the owner of this jade pendant bought."
As soon as he finished speaking, the man pondered for a moment, without asking for the reason. He simply touched the jade pendant in his palm and made a decision: "Honored guest, please wait a moment." He then went into the back hall.
When he came out again, the man handed a tin can to Wei Yuanzhan.
He reached out and took it; a rough texture pressed into his palm—it was a piece of paper attached to the bottom of the tin can.
Walking onto the street, Wei Yuanzhan tossed the tea to Chang Huai, unfolded the note, and saw a familiar name written on it: Yuan Zhaobi.
Changhuai, holding the jar, scoffed: "That shopkeeper talks about rules, but he even sells information about buyers. What rules are there?"
It's just a spout; all it does is pour water out.
Changhuai spoke up for the Fourth Miss, then, seeing Yuan Zhaobi's name on the paper, asked in confusion, "Why is the Fourth Miss inquiring about Lord Yuan?"
Rounding up, this gentleman was practically their neighbor.
Wei Yuanzhan also thought Song Zhirou's behavior was very strange, but he was more concerned about her jade pendant and the jade ring at the moment.
He put the note away and instructed, "Retrieve my and Song Zhirou's things in a little while."
Changhuai glanced at him: "Sir, how much silver should we leave?"
Wei Yuanzhan lowered his eyelashes, deep in thought. To be honest, the shopkeeper was very straightforward, requiring little persuasion from him, but he was just too straightforward. He sold Song Zhirou's affairs without hesitation, which made him feel somewhat uneasy.
Wei Yuanzhan said, "Whatever you say."
Changhuai was always stingy with money, and with the master's words, he naturally wouldn't leave the man much. He would just wait until dusk to return to Zhitu Pavilion and retrieve the items.
As night falls, the long street is shrouded in darkness, with flickering lights casting shadows.
Zhi Rou walked in the shadows. As soon as she left the mansion, she tied her hair up again, using a ribbon to gather all her black hair. Finding her clothes inconvenient, she quickened her pace, wanting to finish her business and return home as soon as possible.
The Yuan residence was not in a remote location, just one street away from the Yining Marquis's mansion. This area was mostly inhabited by officials and nobles, and it was deserted at night with hardly any pedestrians on either side.
Walk along the high wall, and after passing this street, turn right, and you will soon see Yuan Zhaobi's residence.
Before Zhi Rou had even gotten close, she suddenly saw a woman wearing a veiled hat get off the carriage and walk to the side gate of the Yuan residence.
She immediately hid behind the wall, peeking out with a hint of curiosity on her face.
The woman grabbed her sleeve and knocked on the door three times.
A short while later, the door opened slightly, and an old servant bowed and came out, quietly welcoming the person inside, while furtively glancing around.
Zhi Rou immediately withdrew her head, frowning as she thought, "Isn't Lord Yuan without a wife or children? Who is that woman wearing the veil? Adding another person just adds another layer of uncertainty."
Zhi Rou tied up her clothes, climbed onto the roof, and stepped very lightly on the blue tiles, slowly finding the Yuan residence.
This official is indeed incorruptible; the candlelight in his residence is dim, and lamps are not lit everywhere.
The old servant led the woman to the room with the brightest firelight, said "My lady," and the door opened from the inside.
The woman entered the room, closed the door, and the old servant withdrew.
Only three servants remained walking ahead in the courtyard, and they looked rather wary.
Zhi Rou squatted on the eaves, looking at the layout of the house. Seeing that there was no one below for the time being, she jumped down.
Before her shoes even touched the ground, the old servant suddenly turned back. Zhi Rou had no time to think and quickly darted to the right side of the house, standing against the wall with her shoulder just an inch away from being exposed to the window paper. She dared not move an inch.
The people inside were completely unaware of the commotion outside the window. Their conversation became quiet, and when they heard Zhi Rou's expression change, she curled her fingers.
"...It's my fault for being useless and for making you suffer."
"We've been together for so many years, why are you saying things like that?"
"If I hadn't spoken up for Chang Er before the Emperor back then, I wouldn't have been demoted and banished from the capital. Our marriage might still have been possible. How could I have let you marry someone like that..."
"Huaiming, be careful with your words."
Do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper.
Zhi Rou had already been morally condemned for sneaking into this place. She had originally planned to go back today and try to atone for Lord Yuan's sins, but unexpectedly she overheard their conversation.
Zhi Rou felt that her sins were too heavy, and she was so ashamed that she could hardly breathe.
Wanting to leave quickly, she had just moved her boots when the words she had just heard echoed back, jarringly drawing her attention.
Chang Er…did she hear wrong? Could it be General Chang?
Zhi Rou's eyes narrowed slightly. She heard the footsteps gradually fading away, so there should be no one left.
She paused for a moment, then slipped into the south side of the Yuan residence, where there was no light at all, as if taking one more step would engulf her in darkness.
Zhi Rou held the tinderbox in her hand and blew on it, illuminating a towering pavilion in front of her, similar to the Song family's library, but it was locked.
She walked quickly closer, took out an extremely thin hairpin from her bosom, and gently pried open the door. The light inside flickered, revealing more than a dozen shelves filled with books.
Zhi Rou flipped through the pages according to the years on the spine, starting from the seventh year of Shuo De and going back to the previous ones. Even though she could only read ten lines at a glance, it was still too slow.
She only had an hour and a half and needed to get back as soon as possible, but she absolutely did not want to do such a sneaky thing again. If it didn't work today, she would have to find another way in the future.
Time flows by.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Zhi Rou quickly blew out the tinderbox and hid herself.
She hadn't dodged anyone in a long time, and a cold sweat broke out on her palms. Suddenly remembering something, her heart skipped a beat.
Half an hour ago.
Chang Huai returned alone from Zhi Tu Inn. The moon was already high in the sky. He caught a glimpse of a slender figure at the street corner and paused for a moment.
Upon arriving at the Marquis's residence, Changhuai presented the jade pendant and jade ring to Wei Yuanzhan, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the piece of paper that Wei Yuanzhan had placed under the book.
The top half of the character "袁" is visible.
Chang Huai frowned slightly. Wasn't that mansion just now the residence of Lord Yuan?
“Master, I think I just saw Fourth Miss outside…” Changhuai looked at Wei Yuanzhan.
"What?"
"The silhouette looks similar, but the clothes... I'm not sure if it's her."
When the Fourth Sister is out, she almost always wears men's clothing; that figure from behind wasn't one of them.
Wei Yuanzhan stopped writing, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Where is it?"
"It seems they went to the Yuan residence."
"She's alone?"
"yes."
Wei Yuanzhan's eyes darkened.
What exactly is Song Zhirou up to?
Thick clouds obscured the moon. Inside the room, Yuan Zhaobi opened the door and asked the old servant, "What happened?"
"Someone just asked if we ordered food from Jade Wind Pavilion, sir, what do you think..."
Yuan Zhaobi was startled, but quickly composed himself and waved his hand, saying, "I understand, you may leave."
He closed the door and looked at the woman beside him, his expression turning grave: "Could it be that he sent someone to test us? Our matter, he..."
"No, no," the woman said, as if trying to reassure herself. Her neck was damp with cold sweat, and she was so flustered that she could barely stand.
Yuan Zhaobi brought her a veil and put it on her: "I'll see you out."
"No need." The woman composed herself and said to him, "I will send you another message. Don't come to the Prince's Mansion for the next few days." With that, she lifted her robe and went out, heading back towards the side gate.
The unexpected turn of events gave Zhi Rou a chance to catch her breath. Hearing the footsteps turn back, she immediately dropped her book, locked the door, and jumped over the wall.
After all, he was skilled in martial arts and often performed feats like leaping across rooftops, so there was no reason for him to make a mistake.
But Zhi Rou was too anxious and her nerves were on edge. When she jumped down, she didn't land properly and suddenly lost her balance. Her back hit the wall hard, and she felt a dull pain in her ankles and back.
A few feet away.
Wei Yuanzhan sat in the carriage and waited.
He instructed Changhuai to use the name of Yufeng Pavilion to investigate the situation inside the Yuan residence.
Hearing the sound, Wei Yuanzhan lifted the carriage curtain and saw a figure bent over under the wall, seemingly injured, with his hand hovering above his ankle, as if he was about to touch it but was afraid of the pain.
Wei Yuanzhan jumped off the carriage and walked quickly toward her.
The person who came did not turn on the lamp, so she could not see his face clearly, but his figure was familiar to her. He stepped closer to her in the darkness and dim light.
Before long, the face became clear.
Zhi Rou endured the pain and managed a laugh: "I'm really unlucky."
He always seemed to be there for her in her most vulnerable moments. Was it fate? Was she destined to be scolded by him?
Wei Yuanzhan completely ignored her self-deprecating humor. Seeing her like this, he felt terrible and pulled her up by the arm: "Can you still walk?"
Zhi Rou glanced up, the moonlight like a stream settling in her eyes, yet her brows and eyes held a touch of heroism. She was usually unwilling to admit defeat, but tonight she didn't show off, awkwardly shaking her head.
Wei Yuanzhan felt his heart soften as she shook him, and his expression became gentler. He took one of her hands and put it on his shoulder, then picked her up in his arms.
Zhi Rou instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling a warmth that wasn't hers on her body—it was a little hot.
After getting into the carriage, Wei Yuanzhan helped Zhi Rou down, sat down next to her, and immediately began to examine her wrist without saying a word.
She suddenly shouted.
Wei Yuanzhan's hand was still an arm's length away from her boots; to be precise, he had only just begun to move.
Wei Yuanzhan's tone was calm, with a hint of teasing: "What's there to be hurt about? I haven't even touched you yet."
Zhi Rou's cheeks flushed slightly, and her gaze lingered nervously on her legs: "I can do it myself."
When Chang Huai returned carrying the empty food box, he overheard their conversation. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Sir, shall we go?"
Inside the carriage, Wei Yuanzhan raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhirou.
She moved very slowly, her fingertips touching the edge of her boot several times before pulling back, as if moving even an inch would cause excruciating pain to her wound.
"Don't rush me." Zhi Rou raised her left hand.
Wei Yuanzhan remained silent.
In his memory, she was indeed very afraid of pain.
A moment later, Wei Yuanzhan said to Changhuai, "Let's go to Qiyun Garden."
The carriage slowly began to move.
Wei Yuanzhan had waited for her for a long time, but his patience ran out. He couldn't bear to see her looking so anxious, so he finally bowed down to her.
"Let me take a look for you."
"No!" Zhi Rou grabbed him and pulled him up. He wasn't paying attention and was pushed against the car wall by her force, hitting his shoulder.
The minor bump didn't make him cry out in pain; instead, he scoffed, glanced at her face, and asked a rather unreasonable question.
Why not?
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