Sweet Dream
"Since your young master isn't here, we won't disturb you any longer," Jiang Yan said politely with a smile, pulling Huang Ying to leave.
“Miss Liu, the young master instructed his subordinates that if Miss Liu comes here, you must be kept here. Miss Liu, please.”
Jiang Yan had a vague feeling that he was threatening her, but judging from his appearance, he was upright and polite, and did not seem to be threatening her.
“Miss Liu, the young master said that you would not come here unless there was something wrong. He also said that you can come to him no matter what the problem is, and he will do his best to help you.”
As Qingfeng spoke, he walked up to Jiang Yan's side, smiling politely. Jiang Yan glanced at him a few times and decided to stay.
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
"please."
Jiang Yan sat down at the low bamboo table where she had sat last time, and waited for Chen Run.
Huang Ying stood quietly behind her, occasionally tilting her head and peeking outside on tiptoe.
"We're afraid we won't be able to leave here easily until we see Chen Run today."
"Hasn't that person already left? Why does Master still think that way?"
“Where did he go? He just didn’t appear in our sight. This Chen Run, he looks like a weak scholar, but he’s quite shrewd. He even managed to predict that I would come to find him again. It seems that we can’t underestimate him in the future.”
"Young Master Chen is a man of great learning and talent, a renowned scholar in the capital. He must be quite intelligent."
Jiang Yan looked at her jealously: "So you mean you think I'm stupid?"
“No, my lord, I am just telling the truth.”
Jiang Yan laughed: "You really are honest, telling the truth." She sighed softly, "To be honest, it's my fault. I said I'd find someone to help me, but I didn't even know anything about them. Isn't that ridiculous?"
“Master, Young Master Chen has treated you well, so you don’t need to worry about it so much.”
Jiang Yan smiled slightly and said nothing more.
Chen Run did indeed go to court, and did not return until 9:00 AM. Upon his return, he went straight to Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan was starving, so she asked Qingfeng to send someone to bring her and Huang Ying some food. Just as they finished eating, Chen Run appeared in her sight with a big smile.
"Ruyi, have you been waiting for me? I didn't know you would come today. If you hadn't, I would have been waiting for you here long ago."
Jiang Yan smiled politely and said, "Young Master Chen is a man who must attend court now, how can he waste his time? It's my bad timing that I've come."
"Ruyi, don't say that, it will make me sad."
Chen Run wasn't lying; his eyes betrayed his pain as he spoke. Jiang Yan quickly shifted the focus and changed the subject.
"The food in your residence is quite delicious."
"These cooks were all chosen according to your taste, Ruyi."
Jiang Yan felt embarrassed and gave a dry laugh.
Chen Run didn't say anything more, but just gazed at Jiang Yan with deep affection. Jiang Yan felt uncomfortable from his burning gaze and looked back at him.
"Chen Run, I need to talk to you. Do you have time right now?"
"Yes, I have plenty of time."
Jiang Yan chuckled dryly twice, then glanced at Huang Ying beside him and said, "Chen Run, are you... in cahoots with Prince Su?"
Chen Run was not surprised. On the contrary, he remained calm, pulled Jiang Yan to her feet, and walked outside.
"Did Shangguan Zeyu tell you, Ruyi?"
The fact that he dares to address Shangguan Zeyu by his full name shows that he harbors considerable hostility towards Shangguan Zeyu!
"No, he didn't say anything. I just guessed it myself."
Chen Run was silent for a moment, then said, "Ruyi, you must have heard that I have now entered officialdom and am now the Emperor's subject."
What does that have to do with Prince Su? Please explain clearly.
"Oh. Um... Prince Su has been leading his troops outside the city for so long, hasn't His Majesty said what to do?"
Chen Run paused, stopped, and turned to look at Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan also stopped and looked back at him.
"Ruyi, are you sure you're not here to plead for Shangguan Zeyu?"
From the first moment Jiang Yan saw Chen Run, his eyes had always been soft and gentle. But now, his eyes were sharp as a knife, reflecting a chilling light.
"......no!"
Chen Run stared intently at Jiang Yan for a while without blinking before revealing a slight smile, transforming back into the gentle, frail scholar he once was.
"Ruyi, do you know why I entered officialdom?"
Rumors circulated that it was for his beloved, but it must have been for Liu Ruyi, right?
Why?
"For you." Chen Run suddenly stopped again.
Jiang Yan subconsciously took a step back, which Chen Run noticed.
"Ruyi, I once told you that I would never pursue an official career in this life. Do you still remember?"
"......"
Chen Run forced a bitter smile, turned his head, and continued walking: "But for Ruyi, I would do anything."
Jiang Yan sighed unconsciously, unsure how to respond to him, after all, she really wasn't Liu Ruyi.
Jiang Yan followed Chen Run at a distance for a while longer. Chen Run said, "The Emperor has long been wary of Shangguan Zeyu. Now that Prince Su is acting, it is naturally at the Emperor's behest. Shangguan Zeyu has lost his strong backing. It remains to be seen whether he will give up power on his own or wait for the Emperor to send someone to arrest him."
"...Shangguan Zeyu is utterly loyal to the Emperor. Has the Emperor been misled by treacherous people?"
Chen Run chuckled: "Ruyi, Shangguan Zeyu is so naive, how come you're just as naive as him? This isn't like you at all!"
Jiang Yan frowned: "Isn't there any other way?"
“Shangguan Zeyu is doomed to die; this is his destiny.” Chen Run slowly stopped again, then turned around, looked at Jiang Yan, and said solemnly.
Jiang Yan couldn't see the emotions in his eyes or the expression on his face. After a while, she looked away and said.
“He didn’t mean that, he didn’t have that thought. He’s loyal to the Emperor and has done his best for the Zhou Kingdom, so why can’t we tolerate him?”
A cold, hard smile slowly spread across Chen Run's lips: "If a ruler doubts his minister, the minister will surely die."
Jiang Yan suddenly felt that the Chen Run in front of her was a complete stranger, so much so that he was not the same person as the gentle and weak scholar she had seen before.
"Ruyi, don't worry, no matter what happens, I will find a way to protect you."
Jiang Yan couldn't manage a smile; even a polite response wasn't enough to elicit a genuine smile from her.
"My father... is he also targeting him?"
Chen Run looked at her with a pained yet helpless gaze: "Ruyi, I think you'd better not know about this."
Jiang Yan panicked for a moment: "I guessed right, didn't I?"
Chen Run didn't respond, but instead turned and walked forward with a complicated expression.
Jiang Yan stood there, completely flustered, watching him walk away before slowly following after him.
Shangguan Zeyu is still accompanying Xiao Yiqing for a stroll in the garden today.
Xiao Yiqing was very excited, like a young girl in love, her every smile and frown revealing shyness and happiness.
Shangguan Zeyu had a peaceful expression and a faint smile on his face as he listened to her endless chatter. When they passed a waterside pavilion, he pulled Xiao Yiqing inside.
The waterside pavilion is an excellent choice for appreciating the scenery. Standing on its outer platform, one can see scenery that resembles an ink painting.
Xiao Yiqing exclaimed in amazement, "I have lived in this palace for many years, but I have never seen such a pleasing sight!"
Shangguan Zeyu smiled gently and said, "That's because the princess is usually preoccupied and can't see such ordinary scenery."
Xiao Yiqing pondered sleepily, "Yes, these years seem to have passed in the blink of an eye. I truly have no other images left in my mind." She looked at Shangguan Zeyu with great satisfaction.
"With me by her side from now on, Your Highness will be able to see such beautiful scenery every day, at all times."
"Your Highness, I have a feeling that this is not real."
Shangguan Zeyu withdrew his gaze from the distance, looked at her, and smiled, "Why does Your Highness say such a thing?"
Xiao Yiqing's affectionate gaze remained fixed on Shangguan Zeyu as she whispered, "I feel like I'm dreaming, a beautiful dream that feels like I'm about to wake up. Your Highness, I wish I could stay in this dream forever and never wake up."
Shangguan Zeyu couldn't help but laugh out loud, then looked into the distance and said, "Dreams, whether beautiful or nightmares, will eventually end. Why cling to them?"
For some reason, upon hearing his words, Xiao Yiqing felt a sudden surge of intense bitterness in her heart, and her eyes instantly reddened.
Jiang Yan returned to Pear Blossom Residence and nestled in her favorite rocking chair, lost in thought.
From the information she received from Chen Run, and from what Shangguan Zeyu told her, she guessed that in a few days, this magnificent and vast Duanwang Mansion would probably cease to exist, and the people in the mansion would probably also cease to exist. So she wanted to take the opportunity to do more things to alleviate her future pain and regret.
Huang Ying didn't keep her company, and she pondered alone. When the sun set, she got up to go find Shangguan Zeyu.
When she arrived at Yunxiao Pavilion, Shangguan Zeyu had only recently parted ways with Xiao Yiqing. She asked Zhang Qin to inform him, and after receiving Shangguan Zeyu's permission, she went inside.
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