13. Wounds
"Zhihe, how is it?"
After the last exam, Cui Mingyu rubbed his neck and walked out tremblingly, and saw Yun Zhihe.
Yun Zhihe was also a little tired and said softly, "It's okay."
Cui Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief. She was exhausted from the three exams in recent days. She hugged Yun Zhihe and wanted to run to the brothel with Ma Fu, but Yun Zhihe glared back at her.
Although the imperial examinations were held these days, things in the outside world were also complicated. Madam Fu Ya's illness inexplicably improved and she was able to get out of bed. Fang Li had a fight with someone in front of the Song family's door a few days ago and became a laughing stock in the capital.
The second prince and the prime minister's son had a fight, and in the end both of them were put in solitary confinement.
She just listened casually for a few seconds and then stopped paying attention.
But before her exam, Wen Yanhe went to the temple to get her a talisman to bless her to do well in the exam. Now, holding it in her hand, she felt a little warm.
She really needed to relax at this time. She stretched and wanted to go back to sleep, but she lowered her eyes and thought that her parents' death anniversary would be in a few days. She declined Cui Mingyu's invitation and went to Yun Mansion.
Her mother was a fifth-rank censor, extremely honest and upright. The Yun Mansion was naturally small, and it did not look like a wealthy family from the outside. It was just next to Prime Minister Wen's house.
There were only a few old servants left in the mansion. When they saw her coming, they hurried out to welcome her. The old man came out, took Yun Zhihe's hand, and started chattering.
"You look thinner. How did the exam go? What do you want to eat? Daddy will make it for you... It doesn't matter if you don't do well on the exam. The money left by the old lady is enough for us to live comfortably..."
Yun Zhihe smiled helplessly and soothed his father's nervous mood, "Zhihe is confident, don't be nervous."
Nanny Wang breathed a sigh of relief. She would leave the palace and come to Yun Mansion every once in a while in recent years. Compared to the magnificent imperial palace, this place felt more like home.
After a while, Grandpa Wang brought out a plate of pastries with a kind smile.
"Our Zhihe is not young anymore, but which young man has she taken a fancy to?"
Yun Zhihe took a bite of the cake and shook his head, "Daddy, I'm focused on a career in politics, so I don't have any plans for now."
"How can this be... The old lady had already married the master when she was your age." He looked at Yun Zhihe and frowned.
"The young man I brought back that day looked handsome, like a lotus emerging from the water, a beautiful and charming person. But are you interested in him?"
"He's a pitiful and virtuous child, but his family has fallen on hard times... Alas..." He sighed and spoke again, his eyes full of anticipation, "This pastry was made by him. Is it delicious?"
Yun Zhihe coughed lightly, unable to understand his father's thoughts, "It's delicious, but..."
"We are not like those nobles who ask about your family background. Daddy just wants you to find someone you like, even if they are of humble status."
Her mother only married her father, and the two of them agreed to be together for life. When they were young, they were the envy of others.
Yun Zhihe put down the pastries and opened his mouth to politely refuse his nanny's attempt to introduce him to a woman. At this time, Qingzhu came over with a pot of tea and poured the tea with his eyes lowered.
The tea has a refreshing aroma and tastes delicious.
It was inappropriate to talk about these things in front of the main person, so she shut her mouth, picked up the tea and started drinking.
After not seeing Qingzhu for many days, her temperament became even clearer, as transparent as spring water, and her eyes were gentle and virtuous.
The nanny smiled and walked out, leaving Yun Zhihe and Qingzhu behind.
"You two continue chatting, I'm leaving first."
Yun Zhihe sighed imperceptibly and said to Qingzhu, "Don't take Daddy's words to heart."
Qingzhu naturally knew what she was referring to.
Qingzhu looked at her and nodded gently, "Uncle Wang treats me very well...but I won't take those words to heart."
For example, bringing the two of them together.
"You don't have to call yourself a slave. I've already returned your indenture to you. You can leave at any time if you have a place to go."
Qingzhu paused, curled her fingertips a few times, lowered her head, and said submissively and weakly, "Qingzhu knows. Thank you, Madam Yun, for taking me in."
After a few pleasantries, she walked towards the yard. It was inevitable that there would be some awkwardness and strangeness in talking alone with Qingzhu. She sighed and walked towards the yard of her childhood.
Although no one has lived here for a long time, the yard is clean and tidy and someone cleans it every day.
She sat on a stone bench, watching the leaves falling, then stared blankly for a while and looked away.
There was a dog hole in the corner of the yard, which she had specifically instructed not to seal.
She and Wen Yanhe used to play through this dog hole when they were children, and his yard was just opposite.
The young man had been mischievous since he was young. He loved to come over and disturb her when she was reading, and drag her to play with him, only to be dragged back home and scolded by the angry Prime Minister Yun.
Then in the middle of the night, he would cry on the other side of the dog hole, complaining about how cruel and unreasonable his mother was, and how she was nothing like the elegant and graceful Prime Minister Wen that people said she was.
Thinking of this, she smiled. The autumn wind was a little chilly and she wanted to go into the house, but suddenly she heard a slight sound, as if someone was calling her name softly.
"Yun Zhihe... Yun Zhihe..."
She paused, not hearing clearly, and walked forward again. Only then did she hear clearly that the sound came from the dog hole. She squatted down and knocked on the wall.
"...Wen Yanhe?"
"It's me!"
Wen Yanhe stretched his hand out from the dog hole, swayed it, and said, "My mother put me in solitary confinement."
"...How did you know I was here?" Yun Zhihe was obviously confused and at a loss.
The young master paused, his voice as clear as jade tinged with helplessness, "Someone from my courtyard saw your carriage parked in front of the Yun Mansion. Could it be that I'm someone in disguise?"
The fingers sticking out of the dog hole were as slender as jade, and belonged to Wen Yanhe.
Yun Zhihe's eyes lit up with a smile as he asked, "How long will you be detained this time?"
Wen Yanhe frowned and muttered, "Half a month."
"Let me make it clear in advance that I did not take the initiative to provoke that ferocious Second Prince this time."
"He was the one who wouldn't give up. When he heard I was going to the temple to get a talisman, he insisted on going with me. He even started fighting with me for the last one left."
"And then..." Wen Yanhe glanced, "then the fight started."
Yun Zhihe was stunned, looked at the talisman he was holding, and said, "The one given to me is the one you asked for?"
"Of course... I paid a heavy price." Wen Yanhe paused, his tone becoming increasingly unhappy, and his anger seemed to be visible even through the wall.
"Do you think the Second Prince is a man? He's so strong, like a rough woman."
"No wonder I can't get married."
The young scholar had never practiced martial arts, so he was no match for the second prince, who was so aggressive. After a few pushes, he was pulled away.
"Look, this is where he whipped me." He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his wrist with whip marks. The red whip marks and the jade-white wrist looked shocking.
Yun Zhihe frowned, thinking that the situation was indeed serious. He sighed and felt that the talisman in his hand was extremely heavy.
"I have some Begonia Skin Regenerating Cream in my library. I'll have someone send it to you later."
"Don't fight him next time. He has a bad temper... If he gets angry, he will really get physical."
Wen Yanhe paused. It was really inappropriate for a young man like him, who was as clear and bright as the moon, to stay in the corner and talk to the dog hole. He lowered his head and looked at the dog hole, with some indescribable emotions in his eyes.
He pursed his lips but still said nothing.
Just as he was about to pull his arm back, it was suddenly grabbed.
“Hmm!”
Wen Yanhe was startled. His hand was held by the woman's warm palm, which felt hot. His injured wrist was carefully supported, and he couldn't help blushing and his heart beating fast.
"You, what are you doing..."
Yun Zhihe's clear voice came from the other side of the wall, "Wait a moment... I'll ask Azhi to get the medicine."
Wen Yanhe pursed his lips, his voice hoarse and tinged with seriousness.
"Zhihe... My reputation has been ruined this time." He sneered again and sighed softly, "What if I can't get married at all?"
Yun Zhihe paused and analyzed the situation. Azhi had already taken the ointment. She put a little on her fingertips and gently applied it to the edge of his wound.
"No, it's just a little farce. After a few months, when the rumors die down, there will still be people who want to propose marriage."
She spoke softly, carefully paying attention to not hurting him when applying the medicine.
Wen Yanhe felt the coolness on his wrist, and could also feel the warmth of the medicine gently applied by her fingertips. He lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "Hmph... You are quite insightful."
"If no one really wants to marry me, you..."
Yun Zhihe continued to speak, analyzing the situation carefully. "It's not like no one will marry you. You're the prime minister's son, with outstanding looks and talent. Even if..."
"Stop." Wen Yanhe interrupted her, lowered his eyes, pulled the corners of his lips into a bitter smile, and said softly.
"That's not it……"
Yun Zhihe couldn't hear clearly because of the wall, so he lowered his head and carefully applied the medicine to him. Just as he was about to finish, the young master suddenly withdrew his hand, his voice hoarse and teasing.
"You're just like my dad."
So nice to everyone.
Yun Zhihe frowned, as if he could imagine the smile in Wen Yan and Fox's eyes, "If you hadn't been beaten for asking for the talisman for me, I wouldn't have paid any attention to you, a heartless little thing."
She passed the remaining ointment through the dog hole and said, "Twice a day, apply it frequently. It won't leave scars."
"No." Wen Yanhe refused with confidence, let out a light breath, clenched the white jade folding fan in his other hand, and glanced at the fox's eyes.
"...Anyway, my mother doesn't care, and you don't care either, and you still call me heartless."
Yun Zhihe paused and heard a hint of loneliness and annoyance in his tone.
"I'm just kidding. How could Prime Minister Wen not care about you? Don't be angry. Accept the medicine."
The other party still didn't answer, Yun Zhihe took a breath and spoke.
"I feel like I did very well on the exam this time, all thanks to Young Master Wen's talisman. Young Master Wen is a crane in the sky, beautiful and kind-hearted. How could he be heartless?"
"It must be that the Yun family girl is so unsympathetic that she took Master Wen's kindness for granted."
"Since I am so sincere, could you please accept the medicine, Young Master Wen?"
After a long time, the dog stretched out a hand and took the ointment.
A smile appeared in Yun Zhihe's eyes.
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