"You shouldn’t speak about your private affairs with other people you know? Especially matters between you and your husband. " Lu Yuanjun spoke in a slightly rebuking tone with a lazy sigh, seeing Huang Qian sobbing. She is just a year younger than him and yet why does she acts like little Xuxu who is five years old?
"You should speak with Yanchen directly. Have you two ever tried to have a conversation?" he added and was surprised seeing her laughing, wiping away her tears, like she was amazed.
"You haven’t changed a bit, brother Yuanjun. You always advice me like my big brother would. Back then..." she paused placing the box of tissues on the end table.
"Back then when you saved me from those bad guys who were cat calling me... I thought you were cool... Like a male lead from a drama..." she chuckled and Yuanjun felt his heart skip a beat looking at the phone.
’ Will my plan backfire?’
Yanchen who was listening to his wife’s confession was rather pleased till then by the way his friend handled it. Till then he never held his friend responsible because he knew Yuanjun had only eyes on Li Xueman. It was his wife who has an unrequited love towards Lu Yuanjun.
’She is going to confess now?’
He felt the urge to smash the phone in his room, but when he heard her speak further, he stood there frozen.
"But... Then you started advising me not to go alone at night to those dangerous places and even knocked my head... Just like my big brother. My brother left for his higher studies to another country back then and I was really missing him and from then on, I started considering you my big brother... You are still the same, big brother Yuanjun, " she smiled and Yuanjun could not help but chuckle.
" Fine, I’m your big brother. So what feelings do you have towards Yanchen?" he asked and Yanchen who was listing on the other end fisted his hand.
’ So she thought of him as her big brother and I mistook her? And what does she think of me?’
" I love him. That’s why I married him! But he never let’s me talk and angers me sooo much, I want to strangle him at times..." she fisted both of her hands in front of her face and Yuanjun smiled looking at her.
She was always strong and courageous and together with the blush in her face, she looked adorable. And Yuanjun could bet that if Yanchen sees her like this he won’t let her go ever.
Yuanjun got reminded of Manman and wanted to go home to her soon. If he is lucky, he’d be able to sleep in her room tonight too. That thought made his blush a little.
" You should tell your husband your feelings, Huang Qian. How else will he know? " Yuanjun stood up while gesturing her to sit. He wanted to wrap up this issue sooner.
"I’ll go get him. It may take a while to calm him down... But wait here and help yourself. The kitchen is there and have some snacks or something. There is tea, coffee... ," Yuanjun pointed at the kitchen and got up to the second floor to his room where he was keeping Zhong Yanchen.
He opened the room waiting for a punch from his good friend, but was met with his friend standing frozen like a statue. Yuanjun locked the door and pulled up the map he has marked all over.
"Did she really say she loves me?" Yanchen asked coming out of his shock. He still looked confused as if he imagined he heard that she said she loves him.
"Wasn’t it obvious all along? And you thought she likes me? If so, wouldn’t I have known, idiot! You are married and still..." he clicked his tongue.
"Ha! Look who is speaking! Do you have any right to mock me? You didn’t know Li Xueman only loved you either," frowning, Zhong Yanchen got the phone in Yuanjun’s hand that was of the same model as the phone that was thrown into the sea by him.
"Well..., " Yuanjun really didn’t know how to reply him and ended up pursing his lips. Guess everyone is blind when it comes to their own love life.
Yanchen furrowed his brows looking at the map, "What’s this? And don’t think just because you helped me with Xiao Qian, I’d forget about the tomb we discovered. I need to make a name for myself and... "
"Those two... They are my brother and Sister-in-law," Yuanjun told him the truth about everything, including his past life not minding the look he was giving him, like the elevator does not reach his top floor... Like he needs to be institutionalised.
"You know what, Yuanjun... No need to act like you’ve lost it. I’m..."
"Explain to me how I could read these texts then, Yanchen? Can you find one single person who could read it?" Yuanjun asked back.
"The area I’ve marked is the burial ground of the Emperors during my time and the other area is the burial ground of the concubines. I know you will find my grave... Around here..." he zoomed in the map and pointed at a particular area. The are that once was their Palace is now deep jungle where no one bothers to enter. How it happened, no one knows. Time is really a strong adversary and also a merciful overlord.
The Palace might have been destroyed and the wealth there might have been plundered. And Yuanjun didn’t have much hopes for the graves of other Emperors either. But he knew that there is every possibility for his grave to be still well-preserved, since it was his brother and Mingxia who buried him. Whatever power that kept their tomb safe should have kept his tomb safe too.
" You... " Yanchen didn’t know what to say. He wanted to make a name for himself and it doesn’t matter if it is that tomb or some other tomb.
"You didn’t want your... Brother’s tomb be desecrated but don’t mind your tomb... Ah! This is all weird. You are right in front of me! How could you be dead...?" Yanchen held his head. Everything seemed surreal and he felt he was dreaming all this.
Both of them paused hearing a knock by the door and Yuanjun pleaded with him one more time and Yanchen agreed.
" I won’t talk about that tomb in the cliff, if i could find something in the area you marked... Here... You sure this is the right place?" he still couldn’t believe everything happening.
"Thank you," Yuanjun held Yanchen’s hand. "And I am pretty sure. This is the land I ruled for fifty years! I lived there all my life. Trust me. "
Yanchen was convinced by the assertive words of Yuanjun to his own surprise and let out a deep sigh.
"Consider this my repayment for clearing the misunderstanding I had about my wife," Yanchen patted his hand back.
"And dude, can we stay here for the night? It is really peaceful here," he put his palms together, pleadingly.
"Okay! But don’t ruin my sheets!"
Yuanjun left with his heart settled. Something Manman said casually actually helped him calm Yanchen’s heart and bought him some time. But still he needs to find a way to protect that tomb. Yanchen might comeback for it if he couldn’t find anything in that area. He decided to talk to his brothers to hide that place and transform it into something else so that no one would ever disturb that grave ever again.
As he got into his car, he received a call from his father, but it was his mother speaking and she told him everything happened in the café.
"Did I create trouble for you son?" she asked pitifully and Yuanjun who had no intention of blaming his mother sighed.
"Mum! You should great restraint by not slapping her across her face," he let go of his hands that were balled into a fist. He really wanted to tear up that woman.
What followed was his mother’s wail and stern warning not to speak ill about elders that way and also she is Manman’s mother and so he should respect her and all.
He begrudgingly accepted his mother’s advice and went straight to her home since she already went home.
As he drived in, he could hear some voices out. It seemed to be her mother and Weiye. Her mother was complaining how badly she was treated by his mother and was trying to convince Xueman to back off from the wedding. She also complained about her husband who is abusing her for money and asked money.
He thought of leaving, but then decided to go in to be a support for Xueman. She had promised that she’d cook him dinner and he wondered how her cooking might taste.
Throughout dinner, he had to listen to the complaining of her mother and he wanted to scream to shit her mouth. Weiye put in her usual act and acted as if he had wronged her. If there was a third person here, they’d have thought that he had cheated on the youngest daughter by the vixen of the eldest daughter.
He spent his time enjoying the dinner and he could see the exasperation in Manman’s eyes. He frowned when Manman agreed for her mother and sister to stay in that house for a week. He knew they would never leave and would only cause more troubles. He could interfere but he knew it is not his place to put her mother in her place. Manman should be the one making those decisions herself.
Seeing her looking so tired, he felt bad but since Weiye is there, he decided against staying there and returned to his parent’s home.
"Are you mad?" she asked as he was about to get inside the car.
"It’s your house. You decide who stays here," he said plainly. It was apparent that he didn’t like that decision of hers.
"Yuanjun..."
Lu Xueman could understand what he means and that he is mad but she could not throw her mother who is crying out in the cold.
"I know," he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her forehead. He knew how much of a soft-hearted person she is.
"But be careful. I really don’t trust those two"
"Manman... You know your sister... She was Chu Weiye, right? She remembers her past too. I really don’t like leaving you alone with her. And she is currently watching us" he said holding her close to his heart. He could feel the burning gaze landing on them from the second floor window. She must be fuming!
"She remembers?" Li Xueman was surprised.
"Don’t worry, I’ll be safe" she assured him as he left.
Xueman knew her sister was Empress Chu in her past life. The mother of his children. But she always felt guilty towards her. Her children called her mother and she held her husband’s heart.
He never let her visit her in the past and Mingxia always warned her against Weiye... But she felt like she took what’s hers sometimes. And even this life she fell for him and she felt like she should be pay her back somehow.
She absolutely cannot give up Yuanjun but that doesn’t mean thaf she cannot repay her in oh her means. And that’s why she always gave on to her requests and spent almost every single cent she earned for Weiye. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
Days passed and Yuanjun heard that Yanchen and his wife are honeymooning and was happy for them.
He talked to his brothers about his memories of his past and expected them to laugh at him but was surprised to see them believing him and even corroborated his story.
They remembered too?
Turns out the brothers with heir wives went to a tour and the last day went to an observatory and as the popular binary star, they all looked at Alberio and that’s the day they got their past life memories.
So the four brothers made plans for Li property to be converted into a tourist site that has the most perfect sunset view.
The separated cliff that contained the tomb was reinforced with thick concrete that they use to bury nuclear wastes and on the top of the cliff, they planned to make an observatory.
They also planned to make a statue with a golden tiger and a silver wolf. They decided to spread the word that any couple who loved each other deeply, if they come to this observatory with their soul mate and looked at Alberio, their love will succeed.
This would be the best strategy to cover up the tomb and earn money in the process too. It would soon become a popular date spot and with well maintained gardens and restaurants, this place will be a sure success.
And thy believed it won’t be just a marketing strategy but also the truth. How many lovers have Mingxia helped? Many. She loved people in love and she still would. Even now, Yanchen who intruded in her tomb, somehow found his true love. Yanchen wouldn’t have bothered to clear up his misunderstanding if not to protect the grave. And so, Mingxia is somehow involved in his success love story too.
Of course all this needs Li Xueman’s approval. They were pretty sure she’d approve since she remembered the past too.
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