Chapter 72 A Bright Moonlit Night The moon is so round tonight.
After the crisp sound, a dull ache lingered on the back of my hand.
Xie Qinghe looked helplessly at the little guy who was pretending to be heartbroken, and glanced down at the two hands that had been habitually intertwined for some time.
Speaking of hard work...
Since his mother's passing, the Xie family has been in a state of desolation. Father and son are at odds, and grandfather and grandson are estranged. With no one to help him plan, he can only think about things for himself.
The profound principles of being mindful of danger, change, and retreat had long been deeply ingrained in his mind, becoming an instinct and a habit.
Therefore, none of this can be described as hardship; it's just a chilling and lonely feeling that wells up from the bottom of my heart.
Fortunately, Heaven has a benevolent heart...
His gaze, full of sorrow, fell upon her mournful brow. Xie Qinghe bent his fingers and hooked them around her nose, gently shaking it.
"Thank you, Ning Lulu."
Her voice was soft and gentle, tinged with a smile.
Ning Lu wrinkled her nose, and with a little effort, she escaped from his palm, raising an eyebrow triumphantly.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the chill in the air grew stronger amidst the sunlight.
Xie Qinghe swayed, his clothes tucked around his shoulders, his brows furrowed, and he coughed softly.
At first, she thought it was just a common case of being chilled and choked by the wind, but unexpectedly, the man coughed twice, and his thin body suddenly slumped down and leaned against the edge of the bed.
Seeing that Xie Qinghe's pale face was turning red and blue, and that he was even sweating profusely in the cold wind, Ning Lu quickly wrapped the blanket beside her around Xie Qinghe and patted his shoulders lightly.
Xie Qinghe's body and voice floated up and down like a feather.
Seeing this, Wei Zhan, who was standing by, hurriedly handed over some hot water. Once Xie Qinghe had caught his breath, he put it into Ning Lu's hand.
"Want some water to soothe your throat?"
No one missed the glaring crimson stain on the sleeve of his hand that dangled down his knee.
Ning Lu silently bit her lower lip, gently shrugged her shoulders, and slightly lifted his head, which had been leaning on her shoulder at some point.
She tilted her head and used her cheek to test the temperature of his forehead, then handed the teacup to his lips: "If you can't swallow it, it's good to spit it out."
Exhausted and with his chest heaving, Xie Qinghe still clutched the sleeve of her arm, took a breath, and forced himself to sip the tea.
The handkerchief was brought to Xie Qinghe's lips, but he simply shook his head and swallowed the tea.
"I'm tired, shall we go back inside and rest?"
After all that struggling, the man's energy and spirit were almost completely depleted, and he didn't even have the strength to move his arm that was hanging down at his side.
The small hands supporting her on the person's shoulders tightened silently. Ning Lu lowered her voice and said in a seemingly relaxed tone, "Since you're not feeling well, I won't bother you with talking. I just remembered something fun, I'll tell you about it when we get back to the room, okay?"
"Lord Xie?"
Receiving no response, she gently shook her shoulders, her voice a mixture of coquetry and threat.
The breath on his neck quickened, and Xie Qinghe gave a muffled "hmm" in response.
Ning Lu immediately put the tea back on the table, straightened her brocade coat, and made a move to hook her legs and pick her up horizontally.
Ning Lu.
His breathing became increasingly labored, and the fingers gripping her sleeve tightened, becoming even more flustered.
Wei Zhan, who was standing to one side, also looked flustered and quickly followed to his side.
My eyelashes brushed against the veins in my neck, sending a tingling, electric-like shiver through me.
"I won't drop you."
"I...I can do it myself..."
To increase credibility, Ning Lu brought up her own success story: "You didn't fall down last time."
"It's inappropriate for others to be doing this..."
What's wrong with that?
She turned her head left and right to observe, and in that short blink of an eye, Xie Qinghe had the opportunity to get up from the chaise lounge.
Though the movements were slow, they were incredibly determined.
Even with her quick reflexes, she only had time to stay beside him and reach out a hand for support.
Upon seeing this, the guards in the courtyard all avoided looking directly at him.
Looking up again, Xie Qinghe stood tall and elegant, his expression aloof yet resolute, befitting a superior.
All was quiet, and the bright moon rose.
Ning Lu breathed a sigh of relief after helping the person take off their clothes and sit down on the edge of the bed.
"Being too proud is a recipe for suffering."
"If everyone outside knew that I was dying... how could Miss Ning still act so arrogantly in public?"
"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Ning Lu's relaxed expression tensed up again: "How can you be so outspoken? Don't you know about avoiding prophecy?"
"Besides, who am I? Do I need to use your name to show off? Through my hard work and study, I can make my own way in the world and become rich on my own."
"Don't forget, it was who supported you, Lord Xie, in the first place."
"Yes... If there is a future when I am unable to become an official, I will still need to rely on Miss Ning's help."
That's true.
Ning Lu took the hot water bottle that the guard brought in and handed it to him. She bent down, picked up the two legs that were too weak to move, and placed them on the bed.
"I'm telling you..."
"Sir, young lady."
As she spoke, Qinghuai strode into the room, stood outside the bedroom door, gave a graceful curtsy, and decisively cut off Ning Lu's words.
Standing by the door were also guards carrying medicine.
"What's wrong?"
Ning Lu waved to signal them to stop in front of the door, then got up to greet them, took the medicine, and looked at the options: Qinghuai.
"Miss Yu has arrived. She's waiting to see you at the gatehouse."
Qinghuai deliberately lowered his voice when he replied.
The room wasn't big to begin with, so the sound still traveled inside.
Xie Qinghe's curled fingertips twitched slightly, his chest rose, and he paused for a moment.
A shadow fell over her side again, the girl's natural fruity scent mingling with the bitter smell of medicine.
"Lanzhou is here. I need to go back to the east wing. You'd better drink your medicine obediently, okay?"
His gaze shifted to the steaming bowl of medicine in her hand.
Will you come back?
"certainly."
Ning Lu did not hesitate.
Upon hearing this, Xie Qinghe raised his hand and took the medicine bowl.
He frowned, held his breath, stared for a long time, and then swallowed the food spoonful by spoonful, licking the rim of the bowl.
Normally, Wei Chun and Wei Zhan would have to beg and plead to drink even a small half-bowl of their medicinal soup, which would soon be empty.
As the quilt rose and fell, a soft sigh escaped her lips, and a faint blush rose in her aloof eyes.
After he finished drinking, Ning Lu immediately took the medicine bowl.
My gaze fell on his moist lips, our lips met, and we couldn't look away for a long time.
Xie Qinghe, deeply immersed in the quilt, noticed her strange gaze and looked up again.
"What's wrong?"
"No...it's nothing." Ning Lu casually placed the medicine bowl on the table. "You can rest, you don't need to wait for me. I'll be right back."
She took two steps, then turned around and saw Xie Qinghe's cold and lonely expression with his eyes closed in resignation. Her heart tightened, and then she mustered her courage.
Smack—
Just as she guessed, it was bitter and cold.
It's wet and soft.
It tastes excellent.
Startled by the sudden movement, Xie Qinghe looked back, but the person who had done the wrong thing had already disappeared in a flash.
My lips ache slightly from that rough, direct collision, yet they also feel tender and lingering.
She brushed her fingertips against her lips and couldn't help but smile.
"master."
Ning Lu's escape was so violent that Wei Zhan was startled and thought something had happened. He leaned in to check and found Xie Qinghe in a rare good mood.
"Did you get the answer?"
He cupped his hands in greeting and bowed his head. Wei Zhan remained silent.
"What did Tongguang say?"
"The Taoist priest was still using the same old rhetoric. He kept going around in circles, and it all boiled down to the word 'opportunity'."
A cold glint suddenly appeared in his eyes, and his fingertips twirled the quilt.
Shortly after, he raised his hand and bent his arm to block his eyes.
"Master, are you really not going back to the capital?"
After hesitating for a moment, Wei Zhan finally asked the question hesitantly.
“Your health has always required that medication; if we delay any longer, I am worried…”
What are you worried about?
"Physician Luo is the one who knows your condition best. If anything happens..."
Xie Qinghe turned his head and looked at Wei Zhan standing by the door through the candlelight. As his voice lowered, a cold sarcasm hung on his lips.
"Are you worried that I will die in Changzhou...?"
"grown ups."
Wei Zhan hurriedly knelt down, his long sword clanging against the floor tiles.
"It's just one life."
There's nothing to worry about.
The man chuckled, his eyes growing even colder.
As Cen Wei and Prince Jing said, it was a pipe dream for someone like him to want to get away unscathed.
She didn't plan to stay, and he didn't have long to live.
just.
"Lanzhou!"
When Ninglu returned to the east wing, Qingzhi had already invited her to sit inside.
She stood at the doorway, stamping her feet in small steps, rubbing her hands together, and smiling with her eyes crinkling.
"You're here! I thought I wouldn't see you for a long time!"
After their last parting at the courtyard, she was worried that Yu Lanzhou would see through her changes and become disillusioned and distant.
The graceful woman sitting at the table, holding a teacup in both hands, looked up at the sound and was momentarily stunned by the surprise in her eyes before breaking into a smile.
Just as he was about to get up, Ning Lu pulled him back down to sit.
"The sun has already set, why are you here at this hour?"
I have something to give you.
Yu Lanzhou took out a yellowed letter from his sleeve and pushed it back in front of Ning Lu.
“I went to Yanchunlou and redeemed my indenture.”
He deftly unfolded the letter and read the words aloud. Ning Lu looked up in surprise and grabbed his wrist tightly.
"You're free?! That's wonderful!"
I read it over and over again, a smile spreading across my face. I was genuinely happy for Yu Lanzhou.
"These are what I wanted to give you."
Yu Lanzhou pushed the wooden box in front of him toward Ning Lu.
The scratches and dents on the edges of the wooden box indicate its age, the locks are exquisite, and the auspicious patterns on it are quite interesting. At first glance, it is an item used by a wealthy family.
This is not the box that Ning Lu sent over a couple of days ago.
The clasp was opened, revealing a jade bracelet and three taels of silver notes inside.
Ning Lu stood there, stunned.
"This is?"
“I told you, I have some savings of my own.” Yu Lanzhou smiled slightly: “All these things added up, although not as much as two thousand taels, should be several hundred taels of silver.”
She didn't feel anything when the silver notes were in front of her, but now that they were glittering with jewels, Ning Lu couldn't help but gasp.
“You gave me those things, so you probably didn’t keep anything for yourself. I know you might not care about these things since you’re with Xie Qinghe, but serving a ruler is like walking on thin ice, so you still need to have some money to protect yourself.”
Yes.
Not only did it leave nothing behind...
She even owed Xie Qinghe some money.
Nevertheless, Ning Lu waved her hand and pushed the box back.
"I can't accept it."
"Listen to me." Yu Lanzhou grabbed her hands that were trying to push her away, and said in a serious voice, "You have to keep it."
“I’ve seen it. The banknotes were drawn from Xie Qinghe’s residence. I don’t know what your relationship with him is, or what you promised him. You should always keep some money on you for self-defense.”
"Having worked at Yanchunlou for so many years, I understand men better than you do. Take this."
"Lanzhou, listen to me! These are all..."
"Listen to me first!"
Yu Lanzhou interrupted her again: "The reason I didn't tell you about the agreement to redeem myself back then was because it was a promise we made to each other based on the future we both wanted to achieve. It wasn't just friendship, but a partnership to fight side by side."
"When I discovered you had lost your memory, I resented you and felt wronged. But these past few days I've come to understand that you've forgotten some things and had new experiences, and our paths may no longer be aligned. We can't let the past hold us hostage."
“None of us are at fault. And during the time you haven’t thought about the past, nothing is taken for granted, nothing is supposed to be right.”
Their hands clasped together were warm and hot, their tender fingers tugging at each other, their eyes meeting, brimming with tears.
A warm current surged through Ning Lu's heart, and her long-dormant courage was suddenly revived.
The words she had wanted to say but hadn't during their last meeting flowed from her tongue: "It's not like that. Liu Yunying, your Aying has never forgotten your promises, the future you wanted to achieve. The one who doesn't remember your promises is me..."
"It's just Ning Lu."
As if afraid of frightening Yu Lanzhou, Ning Lu spoke slowly and deliberately.
Words that have been accumulating for a long time sprout like spring buds breaking through the soil.
The room was completely empty.
Yu Lanzhou stood frozen in place: "I don't understand."
"I mean, Liu Yunying is Liu Yunying, and Ning Lu is Ning Lu."
After confirming that the doors to both rooms were closed, she lowered her voice and recounted the whole story of how she traveled through time.
"In short, the person in this body is me, Ning Lu, not your good friend Liu Yunying."
"you……"
Are you out of your mind?
The previous speculations and doubts were now proven true, leaving Yu Lanzhou speechless and unable to believe it.
"This isn't funny... Ah Ying..."
“I’m not lying to you. You know Master Tongguang of Yongning Temple. He can testify to this.”
“If you don’t believe me, we can go to Yongning Temple and talk to Master Tongguang to get to the bottom of this.” Ning Lu blurted out, “I just don’t want Liu Yunying to come back and find that her good friend and she are like strangers because of a misunderstanding.”
This matter was ultimately too shocking and unconventional. Yu Lanzhou was both surprised and delighted, and felt a sense of loss. She said she needed to go back and think about it carefully.
She walked unsteadily, turning back frequently.
Ning Lu could tell that she was grateful for the friendship she might have regained.
The laurel tree hangs high, its shadow swaying gently.
As night deepened, Ning Lu stood under the eaves, watching Yu Lanzhou's figure gradually shrink, and felt a sense of bewilderment.
She only intended to tell two people about her time travel, and that's all she told.
One is Xie Qinghe, and the other is Yu Lanzhou.
They reacted very differently.
Ning Lu slowly closed her eyes, looking past Yu Lanzhou's tearful eyes, recalling Xie Qinghe's panic that night.
After many days, she finally understood that what was clearly written in her bloodshot eyes that day was confusion and anxiety.
That guy...
Ning Lu shook her head and turned to head towards the main house. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the bright moon overhead and unconsciously squinted to look up.
The moon is so round tonight.
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