What is it?
Jiang Yan was overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness and helplessness. She returned to her residence dejectedly, and without even putting down her bag, she slumped into a chair.
Seeing her so sad, Huang Ying felt bad too.
She poured Jiang Yan a cup of tea and handed it to her, saying, "Master, please have some tea."
Huang Ying had never encountered such a situation before, and for a moment she didn't know how to comfort Jiang Yan. All she could do was offer her some comfort.
Jiang Yan did not take the tea offered to her, but stared blankly at a certain spot in front of her.
Qingfeng disagreed with, and even more so with, the Prince of Su's bestowal of a marriage upon his master, Chen Run. Seeing that Chen Run had some free time to paint, he voiced his dissatisfaction.
“Young master, I think you should not marry Miss Liu.”
Chen Run paused suddenly while painting, then continued painting as if nothing had happened: "Why do you say that?"
Qingfeng stared intently at Chen Run's profile and said, "Master, you are not lacking in qualities, so why do you insist on marrying a woman who has been married before?"
Why not?
Qingfeng's brows suddenly furrowed: "She is none other than Shangguan Zeyu's concubine!! This will do you no good whatsoever for your reputation or your career!"
Chen Run suddenly got angry and threw his brush on the painting, ruining a nearly completed butterfly and flower painting.
"Even you think so? I thought you'd understand my good intentions after being by my side for so many years!" He didn't look at Qingfeng.
Seeing that he was angry, Qingfeng hurriedly explained, "No, young master! It's not that I don't understand your good intentions, it's just that... with your qualities, young master, it's certainly... Why does young master insist on making Miss Liu his wife?"
Chen Run suddenly turned his already furious face and looked coldly at Qingfeng, saying, "You don't need to stay by my side to serve me anymore."
Upon hearing this, Qingfeng felt as if the sky had fallen.
He rushed to Chen Run's side, incredulous yet trying to appear calm, and said, "Why is the young master acting this way? Was it because I failed to take good care of him? I can correct it!"
But Chen Run didn't explain to him, and simply said, "Go down."
Qingfeng panicked and instinctively grabbed Chen Run's arms with both hands, his expression pained yet unaware of his own pain, saying, "Master, please don't! I won't say another word! Young Master, please let me stay and serve you!"
But Chen Run was determined. He forcefully broke free from Qingfeng's grip on his arms and quickly left the study.
Prince Su's bestowal of marriage upon Chen Run and Jiang Yan will take place at the end of this month, which is ten days from now. Therefore, from the day they learned of the marriage decree, the entire Chen family has been making preparations for that day in a great hurry.
Chen Run's parents shared the same attitude towards this arranged marriage as Qingfeng.
On this morning, the fog was very thick and the dew was very heavy. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but a vast expanse of white.
Jiang Yan was feeling depressed, so she got up in the middle of the night and sat in the rocking chair in the room, pretending to doze off.
Huang Ying had gone off to do something, and just as Jiang Yan was starting to feel drowsy, she suddenly ran back with anxious steps.
Jiang Yan was even more frustrated. She sighed, slightly opened her eyes, and looked at her: "Take it slow, don't be in such a hurry."
"Master, Young Master Chen's parents have arrived!!"
"Huh?" Jiang Yan was stunned, then suddenly sat up, her eyes gleaming, and said, "Are you here to stop his son from getting married?"
"I rushed back as soon as I heard the news, and I didn't have time to ask anything else." Huang Ying felt very guilty.
"It's nothing, perfect timing, let's go listen to it."
Jiang Yan suddenly perked up, as if the wilted, frostbitten eggplant from before was not her at all.
With the help of the oriole, she quickly washed and dressed, changed into a decent outfit, and went.
Chen Run and his parents were both in the main hall. Jiang Yan had Huang Ying keep watch for her from a distance, while she herself sneaked into the main hall and hid behind a nearby thick pillar, carefully eavesdropping.
"...Mother, I have made up my mind, and I will not change it." Chen Run knelt on the ground, his head half-lowered, and said firmly.
"My son, how can you do this? Where is your father's face?" A kind, deep, and resentful voice rang out, which must have been Chen Run's mother.
Chen Run remained kneeling without speaking or moving.
"Sigh, why are you still so stubborn? So inflexible?" Chen Run's mother sighed helplessly again.
At this moment, a deep, resonant male voice said, "My son, I have wronged you! Now that you insist on marrying her, I will not stop you. I only want to ask you one thing..." The voice suddenly lowered, and Jiang Yan held his breath, barely managing to make out a few words, "...What's going on with Prince Su?"
Judging from the tone, it must be a very serious matter. Jiang Yan was very curious and quietly moved closer to the side of the lobby door.
"...Does Father know?"
Chen Run's father was very anxious and nervous: "It's already being spread! Son, this is a matter of life and death, how could you get involved in this mess? Oh dear, how foolish you are!!"
“Father, I only acted this once! I know my sins are grave and will implicate you both, but I still did it! I am sorry, Father and Mother!!” Then came a series of sounds that sounded like kowtowing.
Chen Run's mother asked, her voice trembling with confusion and tears, "What kind of bewitching drug did she give you? You're willing to risk your parents' lives for her?"
“It’s what I owe her! It’s also what my mother and father owe her, isn’t it?” Chen Run’s voice was very calm and soft, but it conveyed a thousand bitterness and suppressed anger.
Chen Run's father sighed heavily, yet with a sense of relief, and said, "It seems the rumors are true! Son, this time, your father won't blame you, and neither will your mother!"
Chen Run's mother suddenly burst into tears, which sounded very sad and heartbreaking.
Jiang Yan guessed that they had finished talking, so she didn't dare to linger and quietly left.
Back at her residence, Jiang Yan couldn't help but keep hearing Chen Run's father's words, "This is a matter of life and death!"
What exactly happened? Could it be fatal? And is it related to Prince Su?
Jiang Yan hadn't paid attention to court affairs before, but after what happened with Shangguan Zeyu, she started to learn about them. However, the problem was that she was currently staying at the Chen residence and causing trouble for others, so the people there avoided her like the plague, disappearing in a flash like mice before a cat. Therefore, she had no chance to ask them anything.
As for Chen Run, whenever she asked him about matters of the court, he could always dispel her curiosity with a single sentence. Therefore, so far, he truly knew nothing about what had happened in the court recently.
Jiang Yan couldn't figure it out, and she didn't intend to continue thinking about it.
She had already spoken frankly with Chen Run, so she no longer kept things to herself. After Chen Run's parents returned home, she couldn't wait to go find Chen Run.
When she found Chen Run, he was painting in his study, but he hadn't started yet; he had just picked up the brush.
Chen Run did not find it inappropriate that she entered his study without his permission; on the contrary, he seemed to think it was a good thing.
Jiang Yan felt a little guilty and didn't dare to meet Chen Runming's clear eyes. Looking at the hem of his clothes, she said, "Tell me honestly, what exactly is your relationship with Prince Su?"
Chen Run remained calm and said, "We are all subjects of the Great Zhou, that's one layer of relationship. Closer still, he is a prince and I am a subject, that's another layer of relationship. Why is Ruyi suddenly curious about these things?" He walked towards Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan lowered her eyes, pondering his words, when suddenly everything went dark. She looked up abruptly and saw him standing in front of her, slightly bent over, smiling at her.
His eyes were so bright and clear, like stars twinkling within them. A person with such pure eyes must have a heart as pure as well, without a single flaw, right?
Looking at Chen Run like this, Jiang Yan suddenly felt an emotion that was hard to grasp and indescribable, yet made her very uncomfortable.
She quickly looked away and pressed on, "Is there any relationship that could threaten your life?"
Chen Run's eyes suddenly lost their dazzling light.
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