Chapter 54
The night was cold and windy. Jian Xinyi quickly wrapped herself tightly in clothes, sniffed her nose, and prepared to go home.
Even though it was almost late at night, the streets were still bustling with activity. The taverns and teahouses along the way were decorated with lights and colorful decorations, which made her reluctant to leave.
She walked back home along the river bank and happened to pass by a Buddhist temple.
Candles are always lit in the Buddhist temple, and occasionally a few sky lanterns are released to pray for the people.
Jian Xinyi walked in quietly. There were still many people releasing sky lanterns inside, praying for good weather, peace and happiness in the coming year.
But the inner door is closed, and I don’t know who is here.
Following the instructions of the kind-hearted person, Jian Xinyi asked the young monk for a sky lantern so that she could release it as well.
She took the incense with great piety and bowed towards the Buddhist temple.
Just as he was about to light the fire, the novice monk next to him came over with his hands clasped together.
"Does the donor have any wish?"
Jian Xinyi pondered for a moment, but her heart became confused when she talked about her wish. Several images flashed through her mind, but she shook her head and remained silent.
Soon, the novice monk was heard saying, "In the cycle of reincarnation and extinction, all we seek is our original mind."
Just my true heart.
She was stunned for a moment, and suddenly thousands of thoughts flooded into her mind, and she forgot where she was for a moment.
When the incense burned my hands, I finally remembered that I was still in the temple. I wanted to look for the master, but when I looked around, I was surrounded by monks in robes and could no longer distinguish what he looked like.
Thousands of words merge into a sigh.
More and more people were setting off lanterns in the front yard. It was her first time setting off lanterns, and she was afraid of accidentally hurting someone, so she went to the bridge by the water behind.
Jian Xinyi used the incense in her hand to light the sky lantern in front of her, hoping that the light could guide her.
The sky lantern rode on the wind and flew in the direction she let go.
But just as she let go, she saw the locked inner door suddenly open.
A group of people walked out, and as soon as she looked up, she saw him.
He looked like he had just come in from outside, and his dark-colored robes were slightly dusty.
The monks around him occasionally talked to him, but he only gave brief answers.
He seemed to be in a hurry, as he walked past hurriedly with his head lowered, but he still had a stern face and a slightly furrowed brow, and I don't know what he was thinking.
Jian Xinyi stood alone on the bridge, her eyes quickly retracted in an instant, and she wanted to tilt her head back to watch the lights fly away.
But in just a moment, she felt a distant gaze following her.
Helplessly, the two looked at each other across the countless sky lanterns in the sky.
The sky lantern flew higher and higher, gradually disappearing in the sky, and could not be found.
Jian Xinyi was still standing on the bridge, looking at Qian Yuan who was walking further and further away under the bridge, not knowing how to react for a moment.
She had never felt a step so heavy.
But when she looked back, the person behind her had disappeared.
When I walked to the front yard, I saw fewer lights around, and the groups of people in front of me were mostly holding hands and going home together.
Jian Xinyi lowered her eyes secretly, rubbed her hands, and walked back quietly along the street.
The street lights were no longer as bright as before, with only a few lights remaining at the street corners.
She wasn't afraid of the dark, but there weren't many people on the street, so she couldn't help but feel scared.
In the darkness, a cold wind suddenly blew, and a tinkling sound was heard behind.
Jian Xinyi suddenly froze in place.
This sound...
She closed her eyes and turned to look over.
The night wind was still restless, and the light flickered. Qian Yuan walked out from the shadows behind and slowly stood in front of her.
"Not hiding anymore?"
She should have said something harsh, as she had done before, to make him back off.
But the words were stuck in my throat, and before I could open my mouth, tears started to fall.
When Qian Yuan saw this scene, he was originally a little angry with her, but this time his anger subsided a lot.
"You were so aggressive before, why are you like this now?"
Jian Xinyi sniffed and looked up at him, "I didn't."
It must have been a while since they last saw each other, so the two of them were silent for a while and walked all the way back to their new home.
No one knew how to start.
After holding it in for a long time, Qian Yuan spoke first.
"Your injury should be much better now."
Jian Xinyi recalled for a long time before she realized that he must be talking about the sprained ankle she had sprained before, and nodded.
"Um."
The two continued walking east, straight out of Hongcheng Lane. Qian Yuanfang felt something was wrong and asked hurriedly, "This doesn't seem to be the way back to your home?"
"I moved to a new house in the alley of East Street." Jian Xinyi explained to him slowly, "Mr. Cao wanted to come to the backyard of the shop, so he gave us this place."
Qian Yuan frowned lightly and didn't ask any more questions.
It was Jian Xinyi who spoke up again, asking him, "How's the case going on over there?"
"A few days ago, we found Hundred Insect Killer fragments in the Lianguan kitchen. We followed the clues and found the man. He used to be a kitchen servant, but later escaped from the city. After interrogation, we found out that he was being used. We have yet to uncover the true mastermind behind this."
Qian Yuan sighed in response, "My father ordered me to investigate this time. I'm sure this case will involve important officials in the court, or even relatives of the emperor, and members of the royal family."
"During this investigation, many officials also expressed suspicion that it was related to the Poor Relief Gang."
"Poor relief gang?
Jian Xinyi was cautious, as she felt like she had heard this word somewhere before.
Just mentioning the Poor Relief Gang, Qian Yuan couldn't help but feel angry. "They used the pretext of robbing the rich to help the poor to threaten officials in the court. If they didn't work for the gang, they would expose them."
Just by listening, she was able to point out the pros and cons of this.
"But if you're not in the officialdom, how would you know the twists and turns involved?"
“So it’s not just the case that needs to be investigated.”
Qian Yuan clenched his fist and stared straight into the darkness ahead, "We need to find out who did this and why."
His eyes were clear, and he seemed to have made up his mind.
Jian Xinyi silently pulled his sleeve, and seeing how sincere he was, she simply reminded him, "Then you, take care of yourself."
Qian Yuan was about to say something when he was interrupted by Jian Xinyi.
"I have arrived."
She looked at the person who had been so confident just now and immediately looked at a loss, and she wanted to laugh.
"oh."
Qian Yuan held back all the words in his heart, and lowered his head like an eggplant hit by frost.
Jian Xinyi looked at the slightly lonely man in front of her, and for a moment her steps hesitated and she did not move forward.
"From now on, can you please stop hiding from me?"
The breeze gently blew up two or three strands of Qian Yuan's hair, and then gently dropped them down.
Jian Xinyi looked into his eyes quietly. It was pitch black around her, and only the big red lanterns under the eaves reflected his shining eyes.
She quietly turned her eyes away, not daring to say anything.
She didn't dare to make any promises. Even just a word would require her to put in a thousand times more effort.
She was not afraid of him as a person, but of the environment in which he lived.
I am afraid that the sincerity at this moment will be worn away by the trivialities in the future.
Then she would have nothing.
"I see."
Jian Xinyi lowered her head, looked at Qian Yuan's slightly hesitant expression, and quickly closed the door.
She was still an emotional coward.
Even though life has changed a lot compared to before, she still worries.
Are you willing to sacrifice your future freedom for an illusory promise?
Ultimately, she still didn't believe him.
She didn't believe that he could stand alone and protect her from the wind and rain.
"……What's wrong?"
At some point, Lao Lin appeared behind her. Looking at her huddled at the door, he frowned and asked, "Has anyone been here?"
Without waiting for Jian Xinyi to explain, Lao Lin suddenly opened the door.
Qian Yuan, who was at the door, had not left yet. When he saw the door suddenly open, his eyes lit up.
When he saw the person coming, he lowered his head and dared not say a word.
"Come in."
Old Lin didn't say much, but welcomed the person in.
"father……"
Jian Xinyi wanted to explain something, but seeing Lao Lin's serious face, she dared not say anything.
When they reached the main hall, Lao Lin spoke, "Zhuiyu, it's getting late. You should go to bed first."
She knew that Lao Lin just wanted to get rid of her, so she couldn't say anything about going back, and she didn't dare to turn back to sleep. She could only stand in the distance and watch the two of them from afar.
Only Lao Lin and Qian Yuan were left in the main hall. Lao Lin poured a glass of water for Qian Yuan and said slowly, "Young Master..."
Old Lin coughed lightly and looked at Qian Yuan.
"Before, you repeatedly approached Zhuiyu, and I simply assumed it was just official business between the two of you. But as time went on, the rumors intensified, and even I began to have some doubts. But when I asked my daughter about it, she always said it was all official business, and there was no personal connection at all."
"So, I thought I'd ask you one day, are you interested in my daughter?"
Jian Xinyi vaguely heard the word "intentional" and became a little nervous, staring at Qian Yuan from a distance.
Qian Yuan had never been questioned so fiercely before, and he didn't know how to answer for a moment, neither yes nor no.
Even the teacup in his hand was about to be crushed by him, but he didn't say a word.
Seeing his expression, Lao Lin naturally understood that he had not come with the intention of reaching an agreement today, so perhaps this would make things easier.
"Parents' orders and matchmaker's words are the final word. Young Master, you should understand this principle. Especially since you are not from an ordinary family, you cannot make the final decision on many things."
Lao Lin slowly raised his hand and poured himself another glass of water. He glanced at Qian Yuan from time to time, and seeing his serious expression, he knew that his words had taken to heart.
"But I hope that Zhuiyu can marry into a family where they can make the decisions, and at least give her someone to rely on."
When Jian Xinyi heard Lao Lin say this, she knew that he was determined to persuade Qian Yuan to withdraw today.
After all, he always talks about marrying someone of equal social status.
However, Jian Xinyi felt that instead of giving such an awkward reason, it would be better to just say that we can't afford him.
After all, Lao Lin could say this, but it was not easy for her to say it.
I've said this several times before, but it's not very helpful.
"Can……"
Qian Yuan obviously wanted to argue a little, but in front of Lao Lin, his pale rebuttal seemed so powerless.
"I raised Zhuiyu, so I naturally understand her personality and temperament. She has never understood those twists and turns, and she is not good at scheming people's hearts. Can she stand firmly in that place just by relying on the favor of one person?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com