Chapter 21 Don't Bite In the evening, the green carriage stopped outside the Xue Mansion...
In the evening, the green carriage stopped outside the Xue Mansion, but no one got out.
Yun Yang wiped the rain off his face and looked into the car through the rain curtain. The lights were swaying, and he saw a figure in green clothes and a jade belt sitting with his knees resting on the curtain. The hand on his knee was slender and thin, with a Hetian jade ring on his index finger, which made the hand look even warmer.
It’s Xue Yu.
Yun Yang stepped forward and looked intently at the people in the carriage.
"Anything to say?" The voice of the person in the car was cold.
He originally hated exchanging his own handwriting for vulgar things, not to mention that calligraphy was an extremely personal thing.
Especially since that calligraphy copybook was specially given to her by him.
The Xue family had never treated her harshly. If she was short of money, she could just tell him instead of hoarding his calligraphy and reselling it at a high price.
He worked hard to make money, and then sold it. What a profit!
It makes people feel disappointed that their true feelings have been misplaced.
"Brother-in-law..." She stood in the rain, biting her lip, as if she didn't know how to start, just looking at him.
Those eyes were still bright and clear, as if they were not polluted by the world, and there was still innocence between their brows.
Xue Yu closed his eyes and didn't ask her to get in the car, nor did he get out himself.
Yun Yang's originally calm heart became angry again. After standing for a long time, her steps became a little stiff. She got on the carriage by herself.
She didn't know if she was seeing things, but she saw Xue Yu seemed to sigh. When she looked again, he still looked inconspicuous.
"Do you think, I... think I..." Yun Yang paused, not knowing what to say. After holding it in for a long time, he looked up and saw Xue Yu's nonchalant and sarcastic expression.
"Don't underestimate me!" The girl couldn't contain her anger, her voice suddenly rising. "Does seeing mean believing? I found someone counterfeiting your handwriting on the market, so I offered a high price to buy back the fakes, hoping to lure the forger out. As for the calligraphy you gave me, it was just to lure them out. I spread the word that I was looking for calligraphy like this."
"I've bought up almost all the fakes on the market. Today was the day I had an appointment to meet the counterfeiter. I haven't touched a cent of the money the accountant gave me every month for the past few months. But even if your calligraphy is a fake, the market price is too high for me to afford. I've used up all the banknotes my parents gave me, so I have to go to the accountant to withdraw money. But I will return it!"
"I was thinking that you are usually busy with official duties, so I would hand it over to you after I accomplished the task and caught the criminal red-handed. Now that you know about it, I will not interfere in this matter. As for the truthfulness of what I said, isn't the Ministry of Justice the best at checking? It should not be hidden from Lord Xue." Yun Yang sneered, with flames burning in his eyes.
"Now I know that I was the one who was doing the unnecessary things. I shouldn't have wasted my time on Master Xue. I will return to Youzhou tomorrow."
"Return to Youzhou?" Xue Yu pulled himself out of his chaotic thoughts and stared at the girl with an indifferent expression. "Why?"
"I came to the capital to look for my sister. Since she won't be back for three years, I can't wait here for three years. This trip has confirmed that the Xue family has an upright family tradition, and my sister's wife is... okay. So I have no reason to stay here any longer." Yun Yang looked sad and tough, and he forced himself to hold back his tears.
"Besides, a country girl like me really can't adapt to this place. I just hope you'll treat my sister better in the future. My sister is very thoughtful, so don't treat her like you treat me!"
Xue Yu remembered that when he first met Yun Yang, her eyes were innocent and bold, and her actions were cautious, which was very different from the noble lady who was born and raised in Shangjing and had seen a lot of the world.
He had never been able to figure out what the difference was, but now he suddenly understood that it was openness.
He had seen too many dirty things in the world in the Ministry of Justice and believed that no one could live a flawless life, so he used his preconceived notions and habitual thinking to speculate about her without even checking.
I was wrong about her.
There are indeed people in this world who are flawless.
Yun Yang turned around and got off the carriage.
Xue Yu reached out, but didn't have time to grab the hem of her skirt.
The carriage curtains were lowered, and it was clearly an autumn night in November, but Xue Yu felt stuffy and reached out to pull at the tightly tied collar.
Since childhood, he was taught by great Confucian scholars to follow the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, the Four Virtues and Eight Virtues. A gentleman should be upright and not show any emotion.
The head of the Xue family needs to be a gentleman who is gentle, respectful, frugal and modest, and no one can find fault with him.
After being told so many times, he accepted it, hid his joy, anger, sorrow and happiness in his heart, kept his mind clear and desires few, put on a flawless mask, and his skills in cultivating his energy became stronger day by day.
But for many years, he felt vaguely bored and felt that this shouldn't be the case.
The image of the girl just now appeared in front of him again.
Her once bright and lively eyes were now filled with anger and disappointment. Everything she did was for him.
He should chase after her, explain to her, admit his mistake to her, and comfort her.
But he seemed frozen, unable to move, and his heart was aching and trembling.
He was enveloped by an unprecedented boredom, emptiness, and anxiety, but he didn't want to break free.
Forget it, tomorrow, I'll go talk to her again tomorrow...
Let’s talk about Yunyang.
Yun Yang returned to her room with such anger that her hands were shaking. She saw that Xue Yu had thought there was some misunderstanding before, and maybe he didn't speculate about her like that, but the sarcasm and disdain in his eyes were so obvious that it was hard for her to understand.
Why does this person look down on others?
He was angry for a long time, then sighed softly, his eyes sweeping over everything in the room. The spring room was exquisite, and the faint fragrance was lingering and graceful.
The rosewood wardrobe was filled with silks and satins, all of which were fashionable materials. The gilt dressing box on the table was filled with gold hairpins, jade ornaments, and small coins. The half-open treasure box on the side was filled with candied fruits and snacks.
All of them were purchased after I came to the Xue Mansion.
She would not take anything away, nor would she leave without saying goodbye.
There were also stacks of manuscripts and calligraphy and paintings on the table. At first glance, they looked like they were written by Xue Yu himself, but she copied his calligraphy every day and knew clearly the strokes and strength of each of his characters. The fakes were similar in form but not in spirit.
The counterfeits on the market have been almost cleared out, but the person who made them has not been caught yet, just one step away...
Yun Yang simply packed up his things, which were not many, just the same as when he came.
He lifted the curtain and entered the inner room, then fell tiredly on the bed, planning to say goodbye to Madam Xue early the next morning.
I was so lost in thought that I fell asleep just as dawn was approaching.
*
The sky was a crab-shell blue, lush flower branches were faintly visible on the window paper, and the heavy rain hitting the window made a rustling sound.
The maid Rong'er's hurried footsteps were heard, and she knocked on the door and called out, "Second Miss, Second Miss! Are you awake?"
Yun Yang sat up drowsily, rubbed his eyes, and said in a hazy voice, "Come in."
"Second Miss, the Fengyang dike collapsed in the middle of the night yesterday, flooding Youzhou and Baizhou!" Rong'er rushed in and said, "An urgent memorial has been sent to the capital, rushing eight hundred miles. There's a flood emergency in Youzhou!"
The damp rain vapor hit her face. Even Rong'er, a well-behaved maid from a wealthy family, was soaked from head to toe. It was obvious that she was in such a hurry that she didn't even have time to hold an umbrella.
Yun Yang thought he was dreaming and stared at Rong'er blankly.
A dam collapse? Fengyang was above Youzhou, of course, but the flood season had already passed, so how could it have burst? Such a catastrophic event came too suddenly, catching her completely off guard.
Rong Er wiped the rain from her face and said repeatedly, "Miss, this news came from the court. What should we do now? What should we do... Fortunately, Miss is here. It is said that Youzhou is now a swamp."
Yun Yang jumped out of bed as if awakened from a dream, got dressed, picked up the bag he had packed last night and the musket, and rushed out the door.
When they arrived at the stable, the groom refused to let her ride away no matter what. The news of the flood in Youzhou was known to everyone in the mansion. With the flood raging, how could they dare let Miss Yun leave the mansion alone and return to Youzhou?
Floods are very ruthless. Not only can people and animals drown, but it is also easy for criminals to take the opportunity to burn, kill and rob. If something happens to a girl like her, how can she explain it to the two elders of the Yun family?
Old Madam Xue rushed over from the inner courtyard, bringing along the ladies from each room, and stood in a stalemate with Yun Yang at the stable, determined to stop her.
The fine rain fell, hitting her wet eyelashes. Yun Yang's face turned pale, and she couldn't tell whether it was rain or tears on her face. She knelt silently and kept saying, "Let me go."
"The imperial court will take measures to control the flood situation. The situation is in chaos right now. What's the point of you going there? Yun girl, just wait in the Xue Mansion. When Lingjun comes back, I will tell him to send someone to Youzhou to pick up your parents, okay?" Old Lady Xue coaxed.
Yun Yang shook her head, bit her lip and said nothing. Her face was pale and even her lips had lost their color due to the agony. She was as motionless as a clay sculpture, staring silently in the direction of the gate.
Everyone started discussing it one after another, and finally decided to wait for Xue Yu to come back before making any plans.
According to the time he usually returned home, Xue Yu would not have returned until the sun had set. However, not long after, the corner of a vermilion robe fluttered, and a pair of black boots stopped in front of Yun Yang, who lowered his head.
He looked down at her, his narrow eyes revealing little emotion as he spoke, "The Emperor has ordered me to immediately go to Youzhou to dredge the water and provide disaster relief. There must be no delay."
Yun Yang looked up at him in a daze.
"How could such a task fall upon you?" Old Madam Xue said angrily, "Disaster relief? That's not a good job. The weather isn't cold enough right now. If a plague follows the disaster..."
"Yun Yang." Xue Yu's calm face seemed to have a calming effect at this moment. He said in a deep voice, "My parents-in-law are still in Youzhou. Do you want to go with me?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Yun Yang nodded like pecking at rice.
"Leaving now?" he asked.
His tone was calm and steady, and he was seriously asking what she meant.
There was no mention of the emperor ordering the Ministry of Works to allocate a hundred craftsmen to repair the collapsed dam, and that officials from prefectures and counties along the way were waiting to be dispatched.
These people are all waiting for his orders to act.
Yun Yang picked up his bag and stood up, "Let's go."
Since it was the emperor's order, Old Madam Xue didn't want to ask about it. However, no matter how she thought about it, it seemed strange. How could the Ministry of Justice be responsible for disaster relief?
"That's good. You were ill before and didn't go to Youzhou to marry Yunjia. It would be nice to meet your father-in-law this time." Old Madam Xue patted Xue Yu's shoulder at the door of the Xue Mansion and said goodbye reluctantly, "Lingjun, be careful."
Along the way, we traveled by land and then by water.
When they were near Youzhou, the land route was washed away, so they changed to official ships and traveled along the Caoyun Canal.
The rain was incessant, and fields on both sides of the river were washed away and displaced people were everywhere. Pots and pans were floating in the muddy river water, and there were large wooden basins filled with frightened and crying children.
Xue Yu was busy providing disaster relief along the way and had little time for Yun Yang. But when she was standing there, she would put a cup of hot tea in her hand, or when she was standing on the bow of the boat in the rain, he would send someone to hold an umbrella for her and put on warm clothes for her.
Yun Yang sighed, feeling extremely anxious, but he could only stare blankly at the ripples on the water. The water was as turbid as yellow soup. Yun Yang remembered that the fish swimming in the water seemed to be floating in the air.
Xue Yu had looked down on her and despised her before. She didn't want to have anything to do with him again, but a sudden flood occurred and he became the Minister of Disaster Relief, so she had to bite the bullet and go with him all the way.
Yun Yang tried her best to avoid any contact with him, and even endured her seasickness alone.
Fortunately, the disaster along the way was not serious, and the state governments provided great help and obeyed the orders, so the trip was relatively smooth.
It was already late at night, but torches were still flickering on both sides of the riverbank. The people were working hard and dared not stop. They spontaneously worked together with the craftsmen to repair the destroyed riverbank.
After Xue Yu finished his inspection and got on the boat, he felt his throat burning. He reached out and loosened his sweaty collar. His official uniform was soaked by the muddy river water and stuck to his body, which was uncomfortable.
Although it was an official ship, it was used for disaster relief. The lower floors were filled with relief supplies, and the cabins for people were on the upper floors. In order to hold more things, there were only two toilets, which was very simple.
Xue Yu likes cleanliness and usually takes a bath and smokes incense every day. She has extremely high requirements for the environment. But during this special period, she cannot be too picky, so she has to bite the bullet and go to the clean room.
When he took off his official uniform, the vermilion color of the uniform was no longer noticeable, as the mud had dried and only made it hard, but the white undergarment underneath was extremely dirty.
Xue Yu hung his underwear aside, with his upper body naked, and was about to take a bath when he heard some movement behind the screen.
I saw a woman's thin shoulders rising and falling and trembling, and she seemed to be leaning weakly on a wooden barrel and sobbing. It was the barrel used to add water to the bathing tub.
Her dark blue eyelashes trembled slightly, and it seemed as if tears were rolling down her cheeks. From Xue Yu's perspective, she was frowning with an expression of extreme pain.
Xue Yu quickly walked forward and leaned over, asking in surprise, "Yun Yang?"
With just one glance, he knew that she was choked by vomit. Xue Yu didn't care about anything else and bent down to pick her up from the ground.
Yun Yang wanted to vomit but couldn't. Suddenly, she felt someone holding her waist from behind. She was so frightened that her breathing stopped and the foreign body sensation in her throat became more obvious.
After finally breaking free, the boat shook and a nauseous feeling of churning in his stomach came over him. Yun Yang quickly lay back on the bucket and retched with difficulty.
Because of repeated vomiting, her limbs had gradually become weak. Now she didn't have the strength to do anything to spit out the dirt stuck in her throat. Her breathing became increasingly difficult and her face turned red as she sobbed.
"Don't move." The man's steady voice came from above, "I'll help you."
The next moment, Yun Yang felt her jaw being clamped, and a foreign object firmly and quickly penetrated her lips. The foreign object was cool and hard, prying her lips and teeth apart, rhythmically pushing against her tongue, and tentatively going deeper...
Instinctively, she struggled and bit his fingers tightly.
"Don't bite." He didn't fear the pain and didn't pull away, his fingers continued to penetrate. "A little further in, and you can spit it out, Yunyang, be obedient."
After saying that, without waiting for her to agree, the hand quickly reached into her throat and pushed down hard.
Uncontrollably, his stomach acid churned and Yun Yang vomited with a "wow".
I had vomited enough these days and there was nothing left in my stomach. All I vomited was water and the piece of sweet cake I had just managed to eat.
Xue Yu used his other clean hand to pat her back to help her calm down.
The warm touch brought a moment of clarity to Yun Yang's chaotic mind. She struggled to turn her head, and what caught her eye was a slightly rolled Adam's apple. Looking up, she saw a cold and sharp jawline.
He wrapped his whole body around her, the hand hanging in the air was slender, the fingertips stained with shiny mucus, it belonged to her...
Yun Yang subconsciously looked up along the hand. The arm muscles were smooth, and there were two shallow light pink scars next to the exposed blue veins.
She felt familiar.
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