Chapter 148 Pride Abounds (Part 10) Whatever you desire, I will help you…
Zhi Rou looked up in surprise. Wei Yuanzhan had already lowered his head, and a tingling sensation was on his lips as he gently sucked and nibbled.
Her heart pounded, but she didn't resist at all. She seemed to have gotten used to or even enjoyed it, letting him tease her lips and caress her waist and spine through her clothes.
The subtle sounds of their lips and tongues entwining made the air thick and sticky. Zhi Rou's heart trembled as he kissed her, unable to tell whether it was uncomfortable or pleasurable.
Finally, the feeling of losing control returned, and she couldn't help but push him away from the overwhelming emotions that were about to engulf her.
Wei Yuanzhan pulled her hand and drew her to his side, like a satisfied lion that wouldn't let her escape, his voice still carrying some of the heat from before.
“You came to see me, you can’t just be here for Sheng Xingyun. You’ve only been here a short time, you’re not allowed to go back.”
The last sound was spoken in a low, fast voice, somewhat domineering, yet the way he held her fingers was incredibly gentle.
Zhi Rou paused for a moment, then closed her fingers and pursed her moist red lips: "Why didn't you come down with them? I saw your men return to camp just now."
First came the rush of hoofbeats from the mountain path, then Lan Ye appeared. She stepped forward to reminisce, naturally mentioning Wei Yuanzhan. Lan Ye turned slightly to show what was behind him, saying that his master was right there.
Hearing her question, Wei Yuanzhan thought of his mother and the Sun family, his brows furrowing imperceptibly. He turned to Zhirou and asked, "Do you want to go up the mountain?"
Zhi Rou paused for a moment, and seeing that he did not answer her question, she said nothing more: "Okay."
In this summer season, the grass and trees are lush and green, and the whole world is dyed green.
The two fast horses slowed down one after the other beside a mountain pavilion. Zhi Rou dismounted, tied the reins to the stone post, entered the pavilion and looked down. The breeze blew through her hair, adding a touch of joy to her moment.
Footsteps drew closer, and a layer of clothing suddenly fell on her shoulders. Wei Yuanzhan's hands paused on either side of her: "Don't catch a cold."
He had an old habit of hanging his clothes by the saddle. Having ridden all the way here, his body temperature had suddenly risen, and now standing in the wind, he was afraid she would catch a fever again.
Zhi Rou casually gathered her collar, her eyes still brimming with the exhilaration of riding a horse: "You don't know, I was almost 'dead' from boredom at home. Sister Xing Hui told me to take medicine, and I gulped it down, hoping to recover my spirits soon and never get sick again."
The image of medicine cups scattered throughout his mind flashed before Wei Yuanzhan's eyes as he imagined her recuperating, and he couldn't help but smile.
Just as he was about to tease her, he unexpectedly met those bright eyes: "By the way, I don't think I've seen Changhuai. Aren't he and Lanye inseparable?"
“I sent him to Yuanzhou.”
Remembering Wei Yuanzhan's previous discussion about seals and speculations, Zhi Rou slowly nodded.
Perhaps the Yuanzhou dungeon left too strong an impression on her, for she glanced at his face and asked, "When did Changhuai set off?"
Wei Yuanzhan said, "The sixth day of this month, the day you came to the Marquis's residence."
"The sixth day of the month... in about ten days, he should be back soon."
"Hmm." Wei Yuanzhan pursed his lips.
Sensing the subtle worry emanating from the person beside her, Zhi Rou freed one hand and slipped it into his palm, holding it tightly as his steady, persistent heartbeat pressed against her skin.
"Is there any news of him? If there's been no response for a long time, I can actually follow his route and help you investigate. Didn't you also come to Qinyang to look for me?"
Wei Yuanzhan's heart skipped a beat, and he looked down at her.
She didn't look away, her eyes gleaming with a golden halo in the sunlight: "Hmm?"
After a while, a dry, warm hand covered her cheek, gently stroking it twice with its thumb before withdrawing: "If there's still no news, I'll have Lan Ye take people to look for her. Don't worry."
don’t worry.
How many times has she heard him say that?
Zhi Rou unconsciously furrowed her brows slightly, her firm tone questioning him like a child's: "Whatever you desire, I will definitely help you. Will you always remember that?"
Upon hearing these words, Wei Yuanzhan paused for a moment, gazing at her for a long time. His eyes were filled with affection, yet also with restraint and forbearance.
Finally, he chuckled and said, "Okay, I've got it."
"Don't forget."
Wei Yuanzhan saw Changhuai again six days later.
The sky outside was overcast, as if it had just rained. Lan Ye helped a disheveled man into the military camp, their boots splashing wet mud as they stepped into puddles.
Wei Yuanzhan came out of the tent and caught a glimpse of a row of shadows leaning against each other. After a moment of confusion, he strode away.
The sky was overcast, and it took him some time to check on Changhuai's injuries.
Seeing his master silently surveying him, and knowing he hadn't heard the greeting, Changhuai swallowed hard, his voice low and hoarse: "Master? The matter is settled, I..."
“From now on, I won’t let you go alone for these kinds of things anymore. It was my rashness,” Wei Yuanzhan suddenly said, cutting him off.
Chang Huai was slightly taken aback. He had probably inherited the poor speech of the men in the Marquis's mansion, and he couldn't utter a single word for half a day.
Fortunately, the army doctor arrived. Seeing his blood-stained robes, he frowned and urged repeatedly, "Quick, help him inside..."
These days, Zhi Rou sent people every day to inquire whether Chang Huai had returned. At that time, Pei Cheng arrived as promised, and waited for a long time before seeing Wei Yuanzhan.
When he returned to the manor to report back to the Fourth Miss, she finally revealed a pretty smile and grasped the letter in her hand: "Okay, thank you."
Of everyone in the household, only the Fourth Miss was most inclined to express gratitude. The lamplight in the courtyard cast shadows on her eyes. Pei Cheng coughed and turned away, saying, "It's nothing..."
Having received confirmation, Zhi Rou finally felt relieved. She returned to her room, grabbed the account books, and took Xing back to the Feng residence.
Su was already used to Zhi Rou bringing people here, and as always, he kept to himself and had an old servant lead her into the house.
The stars and moon were like polished mirrors. A sliver of moonlight entered as the door opened, and then gradually spread out after she stepped in.
Su Du sat astride his horse with an air of authority, resembling a former grassland general. Zhi Rou smiled and said, "You make me feel more at ease the way you are."
Su didn't respond to her teasing, and only asked after she sat down, "Did you have any luck on your end?"
Zhi Rou remained calm, took a sip from her cup, and said, "I think I know who sent the northerners who ambushed me back then."
"Before arriving in Qinyang, I stayed in Yuanzhou for a few days, where I held a northern prisoner in custody. However, he died the next day after being imprisoned in the Yuanzhou dungeon for only one night. I suspected that it was done by Zhang Fenglin, the garrison commander of Yuanzhou, but I had no concrete evidence. Moreover, at that time, I only had a dozen or so men with me, and I was afraid that it would be difficult to control if a confrontation broke out, so I had to leave in haste." She put down her cup and continued.
At the Qinyang Restaurant, Zhi Rou had mentioned the person who had been intercepted to him, but omitted the details. Now, hearing this, Su Du's gaze became focused.
Zhi Rou said slowly, "Not long ago, Wei Yuanzhan sent someone to Yuanzhou with a private seal. Zhang Fenglin carried out the order without fail. That private seal was held by Sun Siren, the Minister of Revenue at the time. I guess that back in the dungeon, Zhang Fenglin must have pried something out of the prisoner, perhaps involving Sun Siren. Officials protected each other, so he was killed."
Upon hearing the name "Sun Siren," a flicker of emotion crossed Su Du's eyes.
Entrusted by Zhi Rou, He Min secretly investigated the Ministry of Revenue official who died suddenly in the sixth year of Shuo De. The man's surname was Wen. He had no wife or children. He was quick-witted and sociable in life. After his death, his funeral was not held by his colleagues or clan, but was handled by a woman from a music brothel.
After many twists and turns, He Min and others found the woman from that year. After spending many days with her, they finally learned that two months before Wen Shao's accident, he had given her an account book and told her to keep it safe, saying that it was his talisman for self-protection.
After his death, the woman was inevitably filled with fear and felt indignant for him. After the funeral, she intended to take the account books to someone for help, but didn't know who to entrust them to. Two years later, a man redeemed her from her servitude, and she left the capital.
Su Du examined the account book in his hand, but found no doctor's signature or official seal, indicating it was not an original. After flipping through a few more pages, he suddenly noticed a red dot next to some entries, and two pages that seemed to be missing something in between.
After a pause, their eyes met, and she said, word by word, "There is an error in the military pay."
The record contained all the military supplies allocated during the war. Embezzling military supplies was a capital offense punishable by death and extermination of the entire clan. If Chang Yu had known about his actions back then, Sun Siren's motive for wanting to eliminate him would have been obvious.
Upon seeing Zhi Rou during the spring search, Sun Siren was so terrified that he couldn't sleep all night. So, when she was leaving, he ordered his men to intercept and kill her.
Su Du's eyes suddenly sharpened: "Where did you obtain this ledger?"
"Don't worry, Aunt He and the others took care of it. I stayed in the mansion the whole time and didn't disturb anyone."
Zhi Rou's lips curled up silently, a hint of smugness in her expression, but she quickly recovered, making Su almost think it was just a figment of her imagination.
"What did you find out?" she asked.
Su Du closed the ledger and said quietly, "The person behind Song Lang is the Crown Princess, Madam Sun."
Zhi Rou was stunned for a moment, then recalled the expression on his face when he heard "Sun Siren" and her thoughts gradually became clear.
No wonder Song Lang has made no further moves recently. With Su Du's abilities, having already uncovered the Crown Princess's secrets, he must have created some trouble for Song Lang, leaving him no time to keep an eye on her.
The flickering candlelight shone on the window. Zhi Rou studied the face opposite her, her tone slightly soft: "What are your plans?"
Contrary to his usual behavior, he placed the account book on the table and advised her, "No rush."
Zhi Rou left the Feng residence and got into the carriage. Her brows furrowed unconsciously. Xing Hui noticed this and asked, "What are you thinking about, Miss?"
She snapped out of her reverie, her brows slowly relaxing as she leaned back: "I was thinking... time really does seem to change one's mind."
In the past few days, Sheng Xingyun has been visiting Song Qizhang repeatedly to reminisce about the past. Ostensibly, it's a chat between former classmates, but in reality, the Fourth Miss invited him specifically for Jing Yao's sake.
The Fourth Miss and Young Master Sheng were true friends; they could chat from day to night. Once, when Xing Hui was teaching Jing Yao, he overheard the Fourth Miss asking about painting, and he acted indifferent.
I think the Fourth Miss is thinking about Young Master Sheng right now. Xinghui said from the side, "Young Master Sheng must be too busy with affairs to write. Didn't he like the folding fan with the tiger painted on it that you gave him last time? He always carries it in his hand when he comes."
Inside the carriage, Xinghui's voice boomed and swelled, leaving Zhirou bewildered. After a long while, she lowered her eyes and chuckled, softly calling out, "Sister Xinghui..."
Seeing her like this, Xinghui suddenly felt a little embarrassed, and her ears suddenly turned hot: "Did I say something wrong... Fourth Miss?"
"No." Zhi Rou looked up, the soft light streaming through the carriage curtain shimmering in her eyes, her smile gentle. "Would you like some late-night snacks?"
The next day, a sudden clap of thunder sounded, and rain began to fall heavily, leaving only a gray and white expanse in front of the courtyard.
Zhi Rou stood under the door, watching the rain pour down, the coolness of the splashing water seeping into her clothes, and suddenly thought of Suzhou.
The matter of Sun Siren needs further investigation; was the Empress's surveillance of her for her own benefit or for the Crown Princess's? Who was behind the treasonous letter from back then? To overturn the case, concrete evidence is required, but Su Du told her to wait patiently.
Is he going to do all this alone again?
Zhi Rou crossed her arms and remained silent. Jing Yao followed her out and said gently, "It's been raining for two days now. I wonder when it will clear up."
Zhi Rou stopped what she was saying and turned her gaze away: "Sister Jing Yao. I won't go with you when Sheng Xingyun arrives."
Before she could speak, Zhi Rou smiled and squeezed her shoulder: "Don't be shy, he's a very good person."
As they spent more time together, Jingyao naturally realized that Young Master Sheng, like Zhirou, was approachable and not afraid of her. However, seeing Zhirou deep in thought, she wanted to help her resolve the situation.
At that moment, seeing her turn to face forward, Jingyao quickly asked, "Are you going out? Take an umbrella..." She went back into the house, grabbed one, and handed it to her.
Zhi Rou thanked her, then opened her umbrella and stepped into the rain.
In the front courtyard of the Song family mansion, there was a century-old pine tree. Raindrops pattered against its needles, making a rustling sound.
As they passed the stone pavilion, a figure in a crab-green robe came into view. Zhi Rou raised her wrist, and the person's full face was revealed under the raised umbrella. It was Su Du.
He approached with Steward Zou and paused for a moment: "Fourth Miss Song."
Zhi Rou stopped in surprise and returned his greeting.
As they brushed past each other, he turned slightly to the side and said in a voice only she could hear, "I have something to say to you."
With just this one sentence, Zhi Rou turned around and waited by the Pingqiao Bridge after the two left.
The rain subsided, and the drizzle densely covered the stone railing, gathering and flowing down in a short stream into the pond.
Zhi Rou folded her umbrella, brushed her damp sleeves, and watched the lotus leaves cover the pond, creating ripples on the water. She knew that after Su Du met with her mother, he would definitely leave the mansion via the same path as the study, and this place would be difficult to avoid.
Zhi Rou had been waiting for a long time. When she saw him arrive, she immediately went up to him and asked, "What did you say?"
Su Du looked puzzled, and she raised her eyebrows slightly: "Didn't you have something to say to me?"
As if just realizing what he'd just said, he turned to look at her and asked, "Do you know how to use a gun?"
Unexpectedly, his question caused the person accompanying him to pause slightly.
Years ago at Qiyun Garden, Zhi Rou studied under Wei Yuanzhan for a period of time, but she was not very proficient and only said, "I have a little bit of knowledge."
Su Du was not surprised and said as they walked, "Come to the Feng residence, I'll teach you."
This conversation was far from what Zhi Rou had expected. She had thought he had come to discuss what to do next, but she hadn't expected him to suddenly bring up guns and even offer to give them to her.
Zhi Rou followed a few steps.
The sunlight peeked through, illuminating his thick, sharp eyebrows and eyes. Noticing her gaze, he looked over and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Don't you have anything else to say?"
"No."
Zhi Rou paused for a moment: "When?"
Seeing him stop and raise an eyebrow, she rephrased, "You want me to learn how to use a gun? When?"
Without a second thought, Su replied directly, "Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM). Spear techniques are not easy to learn, so you should be prepared."
Just as he said.
Zhi Rou arrived at the Feng residence at dawn and returned home at sunset, repeating this routine for three days. Xing Hui, watching from the side, felt a pang of heartache and repeatedly cried out, "Young Master Feng, please be careful! Our young lady is injured!"
Inside the courtyard, Zhi Rou paused, steadying herself before lowering her eyes to catch her breath. Her gaze remained unchanged as she said, "Again."
Su had heard those two words countless times. She was confident in herself, so of course he wouldn't go against her wishes.
The sun was scorching, and it felt as if her clothes were on fire. Zhi Rou fell down repeatedly, only to get up again and again, gripping her gun.
I initially came to learn marksmanship at his invitation, merely to test his abilities. Unexpectedly, the long-lost feeling of being tamed stirred within me, as if I were returning to the old days at Qiyun Garden.
Xinghui rarely watched Zhirou practice martial arts. At this moment, he frowned and twisted his sleeves, knowing that the Fourth Miss was a stubborn person and could not be persuaded at all. So he simply went to find the steward of the Feng residence and went to the kitchen to stew bone soup for her.
The blazing sun gradually faded, enveloping the ground like a pale yellow veil. Zhi Rou lay exhausted within it, panting heavily.
Suddenly, a gun butt came into view. Her gaze followed it upwards, and Su Du, holding the gun, looked down at her.
Bo Hui rested his head on her shoulder, and the same scene flashed before Zhi Rou's eyes, instantly reminding her of the time her older brother held a gun to her, causing her to pause slightly.
Su frowned upon seeing this: "Get up."
She did as she was told, raised her hand, and gripped the gun barrel tightly. With a slight effort from Su Du, she used the leverage to get up from the ground.
Wiping away the stray hairs from her forehead, Zhi Roumingye's eyes were fixed on Su Du's face: "You've been in the north for many years, who did you learn to shoot from? And why did you teach me?"
He paused for a moment, then answered softly, "The techniques I taught you were my father's marksmanship."
He began learning horsemanship and archery from Bayan at the age of eight, and practiced long swordsmanship, but had no opportunity to handle a spear. After returning to the capital, his father's former subordinates gifted him a collection of Chang family spear techniques diagrams, which allowed him to learn them.
Birds perched on branches, and the summer breeze eased some of the oppressive heat.
Su Du turned to look at Zhi Rou, his bright eyes gradually softening with a touch of friendliness.
“After I gave birth to you, I often hoped that you would grow up quickly and that I would teach you everything I knew. But I found that... you seem to know everything, and this is probably the only thing I can teach you.”
These words, spoken in Suzhou, carried an indescribable tenderness.
Zhi Rou curled her fingers, and after a moment, she smiled and said, "I don't know everything, but I can learn anything."
Su nodded in agreement: "Very good."
He strolled to a nearby rack, laid his spear horizontally, and heard footsteps following behind him.
"Do you still have no plans regarding that matter?"
"Wait a little longer," he said calmly.
Zhi Rou walked up from behind and stared at him intently: "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?” Su Dut turned to the side and said, “I’m waiting for it.”
These words, though ambiguous, startled Zhi Rou. Before she could process what they were saying, he turned and walked past the cave entrance, lazily tossing out, "Go eat."
In the evening, after bidding farewell to Mr. Feng, Zhi Rou changed into a clean dress, her bright eyes sparkling, and with a mix of mischief and humility, she bowed to the hall.
"Thank you for your continued concern, Mr. Feng. When the flower market opens tomorrow, may I go and choose a camellia for you? This flower never fades in the cold winter, and I hope you will be pleased to see it and have a happy day every day."
Feng Han smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Miss Cheng Rou."
Su stood to the side of the main seat, looking very docile. Zhi Rou glanced at him a few more times and then said, "Then Mr. Feng, Second Young Master, I will take my leave now."
"Go see her off." Feng Han turned to look kindly at the person beside him. Su Du nodded in agreement and escorted Zhi Rou to the door.
Upon seeing the true face of this Second Young Master Feng and witnessing his repeated setbacks against the Fourth Miss, Xinghui's curiosity about this person vanished instantly.
After the Fourth Sister finished speaking to him, she got into the carriage. Looking back on the constant "come again" scenes of the day, she asked with doubt, "How much longer will you need to learn, Miss? Weren't you most afraid of guns before?"
"I can't say for sure either." Zhi Rou leaned against the car wall, only answering her first question.
She had been afraid of guns before because of her older brother; but now, everything at the Feng residence made her feel a strange joy.
Xinghui was about to speak again when she saw that the Fourth Sister's eyelashes were lowered and she was resting, so she held back and carefully closed the window leaf to shut out the noise from the street.
Upon entering Liuli Street, the carriage suddenly braked, and Xinghui swayed to the side. A strong hand pressed down on her arm to steady her.
Pei Cheng's voice came through the carriage floor: "Fourth Miss, the road ahead is blocked. I'll go down and take a look."
Zhi Rou let go of Xing Hui's hand, observed her for a moment, and seeing that she was unharmed, leaned back against the wall.
The soft murmur of voices drifted in from outside, accompanied by flickering lights and shadows.
Just then, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted from the outside, and a figure in dark blue flashed in.
Zhi Rou instinctively dodged to the side, simultaneously pulling Xing Hui to the corner of the carriage, and with one hand, she pulled out a short sword and slashed at the approaching person, sheath still attached.
In the hazy light, before her face could be seen, the other party's lack of resistance and the faint scent of soap pods on her body made Zhi Rou's grip tighten.
The curtain fell, obscuring the view inside the car.
The sheath was positioned directly opposite the man's collar, just an inch away.
Xing Hui's heart pounded, and after seeing who it was, she stammered, "You, Wei... Cousin, Young Master!"
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