\\u003cheader\\u003e\\u003c\/header\\u003e\\u003carticle\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"1\\"\\u003e It's December, and the weather is bitterly cold. Pandu City has welcomed its first snow of the year. The white sky is filled with fluffy white snowflakes, which flutter and fall, bringing a bone-chilling coolness to the palm of your hand. "The mountain path is difficult to walk on in the snow, young lady, please watch your step," Yu Yue whispered. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"2\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"2\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"3\\"\\u003e From the side came Feng Ruilan's complaining voice, "I really don't understand, why not stay in the capital, why do you have to come to this godforsaken place?"\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"3\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"3\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"4\\\"\\u003e Qingying glared at her without any politeness and said, "If you don't want to come, you don't have to. It saves me the trouble of making this trip."\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\"4\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\"4\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\"0\\\" "Don't be angry, I was just complaining because it's so cold, I didn't mean to blame you." Feng Ruilan smiled ingratiatingly. "Qingying, do you think he's really in the temple? It seems like we're the only ones we've met along the way." "e_order\\u003d\\\"6\\\"\\u003e"Won't you know when we get there?"\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"6\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"6\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"7\\\"\\u003e"Okay, alright."\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\"7\\\" They arrived at Chongfu Temple around noon. When Qingying went to offer incense at the main hall, she encountered a man coming out of it. Qingying was slightly surprised by the coincidence, but pretended not to see him and continued walking forward. Feng Ruilan, however, was extremely excited. She secretly tugged at her sleeve, and upon entering the main hall and kneeling on the prayer mat, hurriedly leaned closer and whispered, "Was that the young master Lu you mentioned just now?" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"10\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"11\\\"\\u003e "Yes." Qingying had shown her Lu Jingyan's portrait, so it wasn't surprising that she recognized him. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cpidx\\u003d\\\"11\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"11\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"12\\\"\\u003e "Truly a dignified and upright gentleman."\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\"12\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\"12\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\"0\\\" Qingying glanced at her, thinking: When did you go blind? Originally, she was worried that her portrait had beautified Lu Jingyan, and that Feng Ruilan would be disappointed when she saw the real person. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"14\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"14\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"15\\"\\u003e At first, when she saw the portrait, she commented that the person's appearance was ordinary. It was only after Qingying told her that this person was the eldest son of the Duke of Lu that her attitude improved considerably. Qingying whispered, "I've inquired beforehand; he'll stay at Chongfu Temple for three days and return to the capital tomorrow. So we'll stay here tonight too. Auntie, you must seize the opportunity." p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"16\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"17\\\"\\u003e "Okay." Feng Ruilan nodded hurriedly. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"17\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"17\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"18\\"\\u003e She was secretly delighted. Although Lu Jingyan was neither particularly talented nor handsome, he was unmarried and had no concubines. Moreover, the Duke's mansion was far more prestigious than the Minister's mansion. If she became the Duchess in the future, Pan Hongyu would have to kneel and pay her respects when she saw her. Just thinking about it made her want to laugh out loud. After offering incense, a young novice monk led them to the side room. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"20\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"20\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"21\\\"\\u003e Qingying entered the house and did not come out again, while Feng Ruilan put down her things and hurriedly left the house. Yu Yue quietly pulled her head, which had been peeking out the door, back inside and said, "She's already gone. Even the heavy snow outside couldn't stop her from heading towards the high gate." p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblkQingying took a sip of tea and smiled, "Of course! Lu Jingyan is the perfect match she could never find, even with a lantern. She'd do anything to get him." (The rest of the text appears to be a series of characters and symbols, possibly a corrupted file or a corrupted file.) Last year, because of Lu Xingli's affair, the Duke of Lu almost lost his title. It was only through the Empress Dowager's intercession that he was able to retain it, but the Duke of Lu's mansion still suffered a severe blow. Now, he faces numerous restrictions in court and walks on thin ice. Lu Jingyan's official career has also been fraught with difficulties, leading to a drastic change in his personality; he spends his days frequenting brothels. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"24\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"24\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"25\\\"\\u003e Feng Ruilan naturally didn't know any of this. She waited happily on the road that Lu Jingyan would inevitably take back to his room, and had her maid go ahead to keep watch. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"26\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"26\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"27\\"\\u003e Not long after, the maid returned, saying in a low voice, "Young Master Lu has arrived."\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"27\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"27\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"28\\\"\\u003e Feng Ruilan hurriedly straightened her clothes, pretending to walk forward. Her maid held an umbrella beside her. The snow was still falling, and the grass and trees on both sides of the winding path were covered in a blanket of white frost. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"28\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"28\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"29\\"\\u003e Ahead, Lu Jingyan walked towards them, wearing an indigo brocade robe, with a dark blue velvet-trimmed cloak over it, a gold-trimmed belt with subtle patterns, a sachet and a jade pendant, and a golden crown binding his hair; he looked like someone of high status and wealth. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"29\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"29\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"30\\"\\u003e She walked forward with her eyes slightly lowered, and suddenly slipped as she passed Lu Jingyan. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"30\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"30\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"31\\"\\u003e "Ah—" she cried out in surprise, finding the right direction and falling towards Lu Jingyan. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"31\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"31\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"32\\"\\u003e Just thinking that the next second he would fall into a warm embrace...\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\"32\\" p_idx\\u003d\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"32\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"33\\\"\\u003e But with a thud, she fell to the ground, waves of pain coursing through her body. Her face paled, and she realized that Lu Jingyan had dodged her attack. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"33\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblkp_idx\\u003d\\\"33\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"34\\\"\\u003e He actually dodged it! Just as she was feeling both angry and annoyed, a gentle man's voice came from above: "Miss, are you alright?" How could she be alright? It's so cold, the ground is chilly, and the snow isn't thick. She felt like her bones were about to break from that fall. She struggled to sit up, her tearful eyes genuinely conveying her pain. "Young Master, it hurts so much..." p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"37\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"38\\\"\\u003e "Can you still stand up now?" Lu Jingyan reached out his hand to her. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"38\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"38\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"39\\"\\u003e Feng Ruilan glanced at it and shyly placed her hand in his palm. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"39\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"39\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"40\\"\\u003e Then Lu Jingyan helped her up, but she couldn't stand steadily, her body swayed, and this time she successfully fell into his arms. Lu Jingyan lowered his eyes to look at the woman leaning against him, lost in thought. After a moment, he said, "You seem to have twisted your ankle. Where do you live? I'll take you home." Feng Ruilan didn't answer immediately, but thought that if Lu Jingyan took her home and they encountered Liu Qingying, wouldn't she be overshadowed by that woman's alluring appearance? \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"42\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"42\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"43\\"\\u003e Then, her eyes darted around, and she said, "I'm new to Chongfu Temple, and haven't asked the abbot to arrange a room for me yet."\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"43\\" Lu Jingyan thought for a moment and said, "In that case, why don't you come to my place first? I always keep some medicine for sprains and bruises on hand; perhaps it can treat your sprained ankle." e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\"“Then I’ll have to trouble you, young master.” Lu Jingyan picked her up in his arms, and she nestled in his embrace, her face buried in her hands with shyness. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"46\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"46\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"47\\\"\\u003e Although her appearance was not outstanding, she could be described as a girl from a modest family, and her quiet demeanor with a blushing face had a unique charm. Lu Jingyan had seen too many passionate and charming women in brothels, but rarely such a shy and quiet one, which suddenly piqued his interest. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"48\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"48\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"49\\\"\\u003e The two had their own thoughts. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"49\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"49\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"50\\"\\u003e Arrived at Lu Jingyan's room, he asked a servant to fetch medicine for his injuries and gave it to the maidservant beside Feng Ruilan before preparing to leave. Feng Ruilan quickly grabbed his sleeve, looking up at him and asking, "Young master, where are you going?" Lu Jingyan glanced at her small hands clutching his sleeve; each hand was slender and white, clearly belonging to a well-maintained young lady. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"52\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"52\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"53\\"\\u003e "The young lady's injury is to her foot. I am a man, so it is naturally not appropriate for me to stay here any longer."\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"53\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk Feng Ruilan wasn't naive; she knew it wasn't the right time to keep trying to curry favor, otherwise she'd be looked down upon, especially since she was still an unmarried young woman. \\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"54\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"54\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\"55\\\"\\u003e So she withdrew her hand and whispered a thank you. After Lu Jingyan left, the maid squatted down and removed her shoes and socks. Seeing a red, swollen patch on her ankle, she exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, you really hurt your foot!"idx\\u003d\\\"56\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"56\\\" e_idx\\u003d\\\"0\\\" e_order\\u003d\\\"57\\\"\\u003e "Nonsense!" she winced in pain, "Even a god would lose a piece of skin from such a fall."\\u003c\/blk\\u003e\\u003c\/p\\u003e\\u003cp idx\\u003d\\\"57\\\" p_idx\\u003d\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cblk p_idx\\u003d\\\"57\\\ Her wrist was also scraped, but luckily she was wearing many layers, so she didn't fall seriously. If she had known Lu Jingyan would dodge, she wouldn't have fallen so hard just to make it look more convincing. Now she's really made herself suffer.
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