Chapter 49 Dust and Light (Part 8) He gripped her hand tightly. ...
Zhi Rou turned around and stood not far from Lan Ye. She casually stuffed a bag of chestnuts into her arms, and they landed on her two strong arms.
Wei Yuanzhan lowered his eyes and turned around, his gaze fixed on Zhi Rou's face as he looked at her with slight unease: "Are you angry?"
"Aren't you leaving now that you've finished your business?" She turned her head, her face showing no trace of anger.
Wei Yuanzhan's intuition told him: she was angry.
He immediately took off the colorful rope and tossed it in the direction she had thrown it, then followed her, his eyes slightly lowered: "Your jade pendant... is indeed with me."
Saying it aloud sounded like she had suffered some great disaster. Wei Yuanzhan frowned deeply. Seeing that she remained silent, he added, "My family has no worries about firewood and rice. There's no need for me to hide your things."
Zhi Rou paused slightly in her steps.
She turned her head and searched through the crowd. The warm sun shone brightly, and the many people in fine clothes were simply dazzling.
The voice from before still echoed in my ears: "How old are you? Why are you saying such things?"
Zhi Rou felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had heard it somewhere before. This voice was so unique that it was unforgettable.
A moment later, her eyes darkened, and her memory returned to that night.
In the Yuan residence, there is a woman wearing a veil.
The riverbank was teeming with tourists when a beautiful face appeared, seemingly giving orders to those around her before striding angrily toward them.
She is the Lady of Jiayang County.
Zhi Rou remembered Wei Mingying's words and didn't want to get involved with this county princess. She turned back, took off her boots, and asked, "Do you intend to return my jade pendant?"
Wei Yuanzhan, having recovered his composure, realized the absurdity of the situation. Since Song Zhirou had easily given away her belongings, and he had sent someone to retrieve them, they should rightfully belong to him; why should they be returned to their rightful owner?
"If I give it to you, won't you owe me another favor?"
Zhi Rou didn't even blink: "You're right, then you can keep it." In her mind, she estimated that she would probably have to go to the Marquis's mansion to thieves.
Having exhausted all his arguments, Wei Yuanzhan had nothing to say and felt somewhat irritated.
Near a fruit shop, this is where the riverbank begins. Pei Cheng followed Zhi Rou's instructions, and since the carriage was far away, he arranged to pick her up an hour later.
Footsteps approached from behind. Wei Yuanzhan reached out to pull Zhirou, but she dodged to the side. Two guards dressed in dark clothes rushed past, nearly bumping into her.
Ahead of the two, Jia Yang walked hurriedly, his steps carrying a hint of suppressed anger.
Wei Yuanzhan's face remained indifferent. Chang Huai glanced at him and whispered in his ear, "It seems to be the Princess of Jiayang County."
Zhi Rou straightened her sleeves, then suddenly remembered the "Second Prince" mentioned in the notes, and asked in a low voice, "Is the young prince His Majesty's eleventh son?"
Wei Yuanzhan turned his head and stared at her for a moment: "What are you going to do now?"
Zhi Rou leaned closer: "Which prince is His Majesty's second son?"
"What prince? That's His Highness the Crown Prince." Wei Yuanzhan, unwilling to discuss court matters with her in this setting, scoffed upon hearing her voice, "What, you want to become an official?"
Can women hold official positions in our dynasty?
Wei Yuanzhan said quite naturally, "What's so good about being an official? It's all about power struggles, intrigues, and backstabbing. It's utterly boring."
“Is that so?” Zhi Rou said, “If there were an official position that allowed me to travel to all corners of the world, I would do my best to obtain it, and then take my mother and third sister with me, from south to north, to experience all the local customs.”
Even Song Hanjin can be included in her grand plan.
Wei Yuanzhan raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at Zhi Rou with a mocking expression: "You're really something."
Her layered eyelashes fluttered: "You still haven't told me, which prince is His Majesty's second son?"
“It’s not Your Highness, it’s the prince you’re dissatisfied with.” Wei Yuanzhan glanced around, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
After a long period of recollection, Zhi Rou finally realized that he was referring to His Highness the Crown Prince.
As they approached the fruit market, Zhi Rou was still pondering to herself. Wei Yuanzhan noticed her expression and heard someone behind her call "Ninth Brother." Startled, she suddenly turned around in another direction.
Wei Yuanzhan glanced over there, his gaze landing on Ling Ziheng, a hint of coldness lingering in his eyes.
From childhood to adulthood, Song Zhirou had never liked to hide. What could possibly make her avoid him like this… what had this Young Master Ling done to her?
Wei Yuanzhan saw it too obviously, and Ling Ziheng, as if sensing something, looked over.
In their calm gaze, both of them sensed a hint of contempt.
Ling Ziheng was a few years older than Wei Yuanzhan, so he could restrain his sharp edge. He calmly nodded to him and then walked to the front of the stall: "Young Master Wei."
Although the two knew each other, they never spoke. Wei Yuanzhan raised a thick eyebrow, his expression revealing an overbearing air: "Do you know who I am?"
Ling Ziheng smiled slightly, said nothing more, and turned his gaze to Zhi Rou.
It was midday, and half of the fruit shop was bathed in golden light. A young girl dressed in men's clothing stood by the counter, her clothes looking as if they were adorned with splendid colors.
Hearing Ling Ziheng chatting with Wei Yuanzhan, Zhi Rou frowned, thinking to herself that it was too unfair of her to be stuck inside.
Before long, she stepped out. Ling Hewei was giving instructions to a maid and had not yet approached.
Zhi Rou politely asked, "Young Master Ling, are you going back?"
"Yes." After he finished speaking, Zhi Rou nodded slightly and remained silent.
Her cold attitude was something Ling Ziheng could sense. The proud young master who was usually praised by everyone seemed ordinary and unremarkable in front of this Miss Song.
The words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat and gradually faded away.
Wei Yuanzhan waited for a while, his gaze growing increasingly cold.
Logically, he should be pleased that Ling Ziheng and Zhi Rou didn't get along, but at this moment his hostility towards Ling Ziheng was even stronger than before, with a hint of admonition.
"Is this the friend who made an appointment with Miss Song?" A woman's voice drifted over. Wei Yuanzhan glanced at it, then hesitated before turning to Zhirou.
Zhi Rou smiled and said, "Yes, Wei Yuanzhan, my senior brother."
Upon hearing this, Ling Ziheng's eyes revealed a look of "I see."
Last time at the Ling residence, Miss Song chased after him without looking back; wasn't she chasing after this Prince Wei? During the Spring Banquet in February, Wei Yuanzhan fought with others in the training ground, which he also witnessed, but he remained puzzled.
When his attendant inquired about Miss Song and returned to report to him, he did mention Wei Yuanzhan, but he did not refer to him as a "close friend."
They were originally both students of Mr. Xue Nan.
Ling Ziheng smiled slightly, a smile that made Wei Yuanzhan extremely displeased.
Although they were fellow disciples, there was still a barrier of blood between them, making them less intimate. Wei Yuanzhan remained silent for a moment before correcting Zhi Rou's statement: "I am her cousin."
Zhi Rou was taken aback and looked at Wei Yuanzhan in disbelief.
Not to mention that they had no relationship whatsoever, in front of outsiders, he even maintained a distant demeanor towards his older brother and third sister. Although he was closer to her, Wei Yuanzhan's aloof personality meant he wouldn't want others to think there was anything between them.
At most, they can be considered friends; there's absolutely no possibility of them being related by blood or marriage.
"Is that so?" Ling He smiled. "Since we've met today, Miss Song, why don't you invite your cousin to join us for fishing on the upper reaches of the Xiang River outside the city? It's still early, let's see who catches the most."
Before Zhi Rou could speak, Wei Yuanzhan declined on her behalf: "Fourth Sister and I have important matters to attend to, so please excuse us for not staying any longer." With that, he pulled Zhi Rou back into the crowd.
Having embarrassed Ling Hewei twice today, Zhi Rou raised her eyebrows slightly, realizing that she and the Thirteenth Miss probably couldn't remain friends.
She felt a brief pang of regret, but then stopped thinking about it. Since her father had strictly forbidden her from going to the Ling residence again, she figured she should just obey.
Inside the long street, people chattered noisily, and a summer breeze blew from all sides.
Zhi Rou subtly scrutinized Wei Yuanzhan, then addressed him in a strange tone.
"cousin?"
The rising intonation at the end of the note carries a hint of irony and provocation.
“Cousin Wei,” she said again.
Wei Yuanzhan's fingers curled slightly, his face flushed and darkened in turns, and he replied in a slightly agitated voice, "Don't call me that."
"Didn't you say it yourself?" Zhi Rou smiled mischievously, her words laced with amusement. "You're taking advantage of me, Cousin Wei."
Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhan gritted his teeth and stopped walking.
Turning to look at Chang Huai and the other man, they immediately looked away.
Wei Yuanzhan said, "Go to Qiyun Garden and wait. You don't need to come with us here."
"That carriage?" Chang Huai raised an eyebrow.
"Not keeping them."
"yes."
Chang Huai nimbly turned and disappeared from Wei Yuanzhan's sight along with Lan Ye.
Zhi Rou, holding a bag of dried fruit she had just bought, looked away from Chang Huai and the others and fixed her gaze on Wei Yuanzhan's face again: "Young Master Wei, do you dare to say it, but not to admit it?"
She appeared relaxed, but Wei Yuanzhan saw a hint of mockery in her cold gaze.
Somehow, he had a feeling that she was taking revenge on him for a grudge from a long time ago.
Wei Yuanzhan glanced at Zhirou, who was clearly nervous but stubbornly insisted, "In terms of status, we are indeed cousins, and what I just said about no relation is completely inappropriate, but I'm not used to you calling me that, so please stop."
His words were well-founded. Zhi Rou teased him once and was too lazy to delve deeper into the past with him, which made it seem like she cared a lot.
Wei Yuanzhan's eyebrows furrowed.
What does she mean? Does she want to break up with him?
"Where are you going?" Wei Yuanzhan asked.
"I..." Zhi Rou turned her feet and looked around. Her robe fluttered slightly with her movements, and a faint golden light rose and fell on the lines.
She turned back, smiling, and said, "I heard that a shop selling intricate gadgets has opened in Mingjia Lane. I'd like to try playing with Kongming locks."
Wei Yuanzhan said, "I'll go with you."
They hadn't gone far when Zhi Rou and Wei Yuanzhan started arguing again about marksmanship, their opinions differing.
Zhi Rou was still angry, so she teased him with candied fruit.
Wei Yuanzhan grabbed one of her wrists and was about to snatch the bag away when she cleverly tossed it into her other hand and hid it behind her waist.
One after another.
Wei Yuanzhan's lips twitched slightly, and he became somewhat serious.
Zhi Rou was walking backwards without any precautions when a child suddenly bumped into her, causing her to stumble and the bag in her hand to fly away.
There was an alleyway nearby. Zhi Rou sighed and ran in, bending down to pick up the things. Still lamenting that she couldn't eat them, she looked up and saw two masked men and Jia Yang standing about ten feet away.
She straightened up, her gaze meeting Jia Yang's as she looked past his dark robes.
Stunned, chilly.
Zhi Rou's back tensed, and she raised her hand and took a step back, not wanting to get involved: "Just passing by, just passing by."
With a folded boot, Wei Yuanzhan slowly followed, just in time to witness this scene.
The two masked men held knives but did not move, as if waiting for someone to give instructions.
The cracks in the wall looked eerie in the sunlight, reflecting a somber atmosphere.
Wei Yuanzhan silently pulled Zhi Rou behind him, his dark eyes fixed on her, searching for an opportunity.
"You go first," he whispered to Zhirou.
As if she had heard something absurd, Zhi Rou frowned: "Are you kidding me?"
In the alley, Jia Yang stared in surprise at the two figures who had suddenly entered. His gaze involuntarily settled on the slightly shorter boy's face, and his brows furrowed. Who was he?
Jia Yang couldn't help but recall, her pupils suddenly dilated, and she recognized "him".
Before long, hurried footsteps sounded behind them; it was those who should have been there to witness the scene. Seeing two unfamiliar young men standing in front of them, they suddenly stopped, unsure of what was going on.
Jia Yang was helpless; his palms were already aching from clenching his fists, and his breathing was still rapid, without any relief.
Now that things had come to this, she shouted, "What are you standing there for? Someone is trying to assassinate me! Why aren't you killing them?"
At a command, the men who arrived later were about to make their move.
Who could have predicted that eating a piece of dried fruit would lead to such a deadly disaster? Zhi Rou was unarmed, and almost at the same time Jia Yang spoke, she grabbed Wei Yuanzhan and ran outside.
Wei Yuanzhan was initially on guard, but upon seeing the people approaching from behind and hearing the order from the Princess of Jiayang, he knew that he was not in any immediate danger.
The next instant, his hand was firmly grasped by someone with a rather forceful grip.
Wei Yuanzhan didn't know how to react, but instinctively followed her as she ran outside, grabbing her hand tightly and being led into the crowd by her.
Today, both of them were wearing wide-sleeved, round-necked robes. Beneath the wide sleeves, their hands were clasped tightly together, making them difficult to distinguish when they were close; but once they were far apart, their clasped hands became particularly conspicuous.
Zhi Rou turned around and breathed a sigh of relief: "No one's here." They didn't chase after us.
As she tried to look away, she noticed the strange gazes around her. Confused, she raised an eyebrow. Soon, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the two people holding hands. Startled, she immediately separated them.
Wei Yuanzhan once again felt disliked by her, which made him very unhappy.
"Isn't that Prince Wei?" someone asked. "Why is he with a young boy..."
Wei Yuanzhan glanced at the man, who immediately pursed his lips. But there was more than one person gossiping on the street. He could shut one mouth, but not ten or a hundred.
Zhi Rou looked at Wei Yuanzhan with some guilt.
He adjusted his sleeves, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Thanks to your influence, starting tomorrow, the capital will be abuzz with news of my homosexuality."
"I... wasn't I also trying to save you?" Her voice trailed off at the end. Zhi Rou pondered for a moment and realized something was amiss.
Who would dare to assassinate the county princess in broad daylight? Moreover, Jia Yang was clearly accompanied by guards, so why would she be left alone in the alley to confront the thief?
The leather boots worn by the two masked men... Zhi Rou suddenly came to her senses.
The two of them almost shoved her guards from the royal palace by the river!
They are all from Jiayang.
Is Princess Jiayang acting? And for whom is she acting?
A gentle breeze stirred her clothes. After returning home that day, Zhi Rou felt guilty towards Wei Yuanzhan. She didn't have to run away or cause him to be criticized in public.
The next day at the family school, the boys sat far away from Wei Yuanzhan, clearly having overheard something.
Sheng Xingyun had finally been released from home, but before he even stepped into the Song residence, he learned some earth-shattering news.
Facing Wei Yuanzhan at this moment, he felt awkward about something.
He and Wei Yuanzhan usually had their arms around each other's shoulders, and they even took afternoon naps together on the back mountain. He... Sheng Xingyun swallowed hard, then shook his head.
No, it won't.
Wei Yuanzhan glanced over, sensing something was amiss. Sheng Xingyun hesitated, then glanced at the people in the front row with his chin: "Yuanzhan, what's going on with them?"
Wei Yuanzhan glanced at Zhi Rou and said, "Ask her."
Zhi Rou realized the seriousness of the situation and dared not laugh anymore. She quietly recounted the events of yesterday to Sheng Xingyun.
He breathed a sigh of relief and then quipped, "So it's not that he likes men, it's you."
Zhi Rou and Wei Yuanzhan both stopped abruptly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
