Chapter 35 New Year's Eve Today is New Year's Eve, and I want to spend it with the princess...
With her parents gone, relatives gone, and lover broken apart, this day of reunion lays all these raw truths bare, leaving no room for hiding them. Li Yunru hated this day!
She had no interest in celebrating the New Year; to her, it was a bloodless execution.
Ke Songji said he had never seen how the New Year was celebrated in Jiankang, and he seemed very interested. Shu Yun also said that she missed the folk operas and colorful lanterns and wanted to go out and see them.
She knew that the two of them actually wanted to use this opportunity to let her relax a bit.
Upon returning to Jiankang, she secluded herself in the princess's residence, neither going out nor receiving guests.
She, who always loved joining in the fun, is now like a wounded snail, hiding herself in her heavy shell. She won't come out, and no one else can get in.
If this continues, something bad is going to happen.
Knowing that the two men genuinely cared about her, Li Yunru wasn't too disappointed and granted their wish to come out with them.
She never expected to run into Yan Ning and Lu Wulang. Behind them were two people who didn't get along with him: Cui Wan and Miss Lu.
"I don't want this lantern anymore, let's go."
She didn't want to get entangled with them any longer, so she hung the beautiful crab lantern in the shopkeeper's hand and pulled Shu Yun's hand to walk out.
Yan Ning stepped in front of him and said, "If you like it, why give up so easily?"
He took the lamp back and handed it to her, saying, "Princess, please take good care of it. Some of these things, if you really don't want them, will be lost and never found again."
The person was referring to the lamp, but also to himself.
Li Yunru understood the unspoken meaning in his words, and her heart ached. She was well aware of this, but there were some things she couldn't afford to have, so she simply gave them up.
"What doesn't belong to me, I won't force. My lord, you can take it yourself."
Li Yunru returned the lamp to its owner and started to walk away, but she was called back again after only a few steps.
"Li Yunru!"
Yan Ning addressed him by his given name.
In the past, this was called usurpation, but now... to be addressed like this by a renowned gentleman from Jiangzuo should be an honor, yet she only felt a chill run through her body.
The man's shoulders trembled slightly as he turned around with difficulty, feigning nonchalance and calmly asking, "I wonder if Young Master Yan has anything else to say?"
Yan Ning walked towards her step by step. In the crowded lantern festival, his eyes only saw that person.
She stood there, her slender figure, beneath the large veil, like a bamboo shoot in the wind, seemingly about to collapse at any moment.
This person doesn't know how to take care of themselves.
The people serving him should also be careful not to let her have her way!
"My lord, please have some self-respect!"
At close range, Song Ji blocked Yan Ning's path, saying, "You've frightened my master."
What is he saying? What is he saying?!
Yan Ning really wanted to abandon all pretense of gentlemanly conduct and stab this person to death!
What does his affair with Li Yunru have to do with him? He's just a nobody living off women in someone else's household, what right does he have to talk about him like that!
A fire burned within him, about to erupt, but he forced himself to suppress it, maintaining his composure and refraining from doing so. He looked past Song Ji to Li Yunru behind him and asked, "Princess, is it because you no longer like her, or because you have found someone you like even more?"
Only then would someone be willing to give Song Ji a look, the meaning of which was quite clear.
Yan Ning thought that if she denied it, he would no longer care about these things. He could disregard his parents' thoughts and go to the mansion in person to welcome her back to the Yan family in a grand manner, to tell the people of Jiankang that even though Emperor Xuan had passed away and there were many outrageous rumors, she, Li Shi, was still his wife, and nothing between them would change.
He could give her anything she wanted!
No, I think.
He's already bowing his head like this.
The colorful lanterns flickered, illuminating his handsome face. His expressionless face, devoid of much emotion, held a pair of bright, dark eyes that stared intently at her, posing little threat but instead evoking a sense of resentment and pity.
He seemed to be begging someone.
No way!
Li Yunru quickly denied this, saying he would not lose his composure in public, as it would be contrary to his gentlemanly conduct.
It's just that she can't figure things out and is eager to get an answer.
With this answer, perhaps... he will no longer be so persistent.
Between them...
Yes, it's completely over.
Let it go. It's good that it's over. He won't do those foolish things anymore, and I won't be obsessed, anxious, or heartbroken over it.
Li Yunru bit her lower lip, took a deep breath, looked up at him, and said, word by word, in the interplay of light and shadow, "If I don't like someone anymore, I'll find someone I like even more."
Yan Ning: "..."
The world seemed to fall silent; amidst the hustle and bustle, only each other's voices remained.
Time passed slowly amidst the interplay of lamplight and shadow. No one knew how much time had gone by, but then laughter erupted. Yan Ning, his face contorted with arrogance, said, "Excellent, truly excellent! I wish the princess has finally found her true love. When you hold your wedding, remember to send a betrothal letter to the Yan family. Although we have only been husband and wife for a year, even a day of marriage is worth a hundred days of kindness. I, Sanlang, will certainly present you with a generous gift to congratulate the princess on her newfound happiness and reunion with her new husband!"
"good."
Li Yunru thanked him, then her gaze fell on Cui Wan to the side. A bleak smile appeared on her face as she suppressed her voice and said, "I also congratulate you on finding such a virtuous wife. May you enjoy high office and great fortune in the future."
The two parted on bad terms.
Having experienced this, Li Yunru had no desire to continue visiting the lantern festival and decided to return home.
Song Ji said, "I'll go back with you."
"No."
Li Yunru refused, saying, "Didn't you say you've never seen how people in Jiankang celebrate the New Year? You can stay a little longer."
Before Song Ji could respond, as if he wanted to say something, Li Yunru interrupted him first: "Song Ji, I want to be alone for a while."
"All right."
She didn't insist, only instructing the guards beside her to protect her, before squeezing back into the crowd.
Li Yunru got into the carriage, returned to the mansion, went into her room, and burst into tears.
Yan Ning was the same.
After all that commotion, he lost his appetite, ordered someone to take the two women home, and then turned and went into the restaurant.
Lu Wulang was his closest friend, so he naturally risked his life to accompany him.
The two ordered a lot of wine, filled the cups, and began to drink. They noticed that most of the jars and pots on the table were already empty, but Yan Ning showed no intention of stopping.
He simply drank, without saying much else.
This really left Lu Wulang somewhat helpless. He snatched the wine from his hand and comforted him, "If Changjun can't get over it, why not go to the princess's residence and explain things to Liyang?"
Yan Ning looked up from his daze, stared blankly for a while, and shook his head, "Brother Zizhan doesn't understand."
His princess has stayed indoors ever since she returned, probably avoiding him. Besides, she seems spoiled and willful, carefree and indifferent to the future, but in reality, she is very thoughtful and resilient. She sees everything clearly and understands everything, and her heart is also very hard!
Yan Ning thought of what she had said and her head started to throb again. She took the wine and gulped it down.
"Sigh." Lu Wulang sighed upon seeing this. "I don't know what kind of bewitching potion Liyang gave you. In terms of beauty, there are many women in this noble family who are no less beautiful than her. Why would she make you like this?"
For a young master from a prestigious family to be so heartbroken over a young woman would be a laughingstock if word got out.
Yan Ning remained silent, then took out a glass of wine, tilted his head back, and drank a mouthful.
Lu Wulang also drank a cup, then shook his head and said, "You've met too few women, that's why you're being led by the nose by Liyang like this!"
In aristocratic families, once a young man turns fourteen or fifteen, the mistress of the house will select some clever and sensible maids to enter the household and teach him about matters between men and women, in order to prevent the young man from being ignorant of human affairs and being infatuated with love.
But Yan San was unconventional. He said that he dared not refuse the several maids sent by the Cui family, saying that they were gifts from elders, but he never let anyone get close to him. He placed them all in Qingfeng Villa to do odd jobs. The servant who served him was a servant boy named Chen Jingsheng.
Even when his friends called out to each other and exchanged beautiful women to curry favor, he did not participate.
He was over twenty years old when he married Liyang, arranged by the royal family.
Well, as expected, something bad happened.
Li Zhao was a shrewd man. Knowing Yan Sanlang's character well, he sent a beautiful woman to seduce him, and today their wish has truly come true.
The two drank cup after cup, their faces flushed with intoxication, their minds completely clouded. Lu Wulang spoke with even more shrewdness, offering advice: "She's just a girl, why bother? If you really like her and can't let her go, bring her back and keep her on a country estate. She can't go anywhere, can't do anything, she can only rely on you, depend on you, and live off you. Naturally, she'll be obedient and docile!"
Young masters from noble families always get whatever they want, and the young ladies are even more so. They go to great lengths to please them, rather than the young masters going out of their way to find them. In his view, Liyang was no exception.
People only dare to be so bold and pretentious because they take advantage of Yan San's naivety in matters of the heart. If he were to be more forceful and intimidate her, he would make her realize her current situation and status.
She certainly wouldn't dare!
A gentleman should act like a gentleman; how can he be manipulated by a young lady!
Yan Ning listened, and seemed to suddenly have an idea.
"Smack!"
He turned his wine glass upside down on the table, stood up, and said, "Brother Zizhan, please continue drinking. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."
...
Inside the princess's residence, mournful cries could be heard for a long time before finally subsiding.
After venting her anger, Li Yunru changed out of her wet clothes, tidied herself up, and then reopened the door and came out, only to find that there was another person in the courtyard.
The maid knelt down, trembling, and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. This young master Yan kept saying he wanted to see you, and he was drunk. It's freezing cold, and I was afraid something might happen to him, so I had no choice but to bring him in..."
Li Yunru's gaze swept over and saw Yan Ning sitting slumped on a stone bench in the courtyard, holding a brightly lit crab lantern. His black and gold mink coat and cloak hung down naturally, enveloping him completely, making his face indistinct. However, just by looking at his temperament and figure, one could tell that he was a handsome and dignified young man!
He wasn't too out of line even though he was drunk.
This aristocratic family has truly raised him exceptionally well.
"What brings you here again, my lord!"
The two had already said everything they needed to say, and they had been so ruthless and merciless. Li Yunru really couldn't figure out what else was worth his coming all this way.
Could it be that he couldn't get over it after going back, so he harbored resentment and wanted to come back and get revenge?
puff!
Li Yunru was amused by her own thoughts. Yan Sanlang was a man of refined character, a true scholar of the Qingliu School, the kind of person who wouldn't change his expression even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him. He wouldn't hold a grudge over a few harsh words.
Yan Ning was unaware of her thoughts. He simply looked up at her with reddened eyes and a hoarse, indistinct voice, saying, "Today is New Year's Eve. I think I should spend it with my wife."
Those dark, dreamy eyes stared intently at him, their tone sincere and earnest, a stark contrast to the arrogant, disdainful person who had just stood on the street.
They do seem rather pitiful.
This sight reminded Li Yunru of New Year's Eve in previous years.
At that time, she had only been married into the Yan family for half a year and did not get along well with the others. On New Year's Eve, she went back to the Yan family to celebrate the New Year with him. Although everyone addressed her as a princess on the surface, they did not treat her with much respect. The banquet was cold and no one paid attention to her. The small gathering after the banquet was also not very warm towards her.
Li Yunru saw their deliberate neglect and did not want to wrong herself by forcing herself to conform to them. So, without waiting for the night, she left the mansion and returned to the princess's residence.
At that time, she didn't expect Yan Ning to come back to celebrate the festival with her. She just processed her emotions on her own. When she came back, she smashed a lot of things. After venting, she saw him standing outside the door just like now, telling her, "Today is New Year's Eve. I want to spend it with the princess."
It wasn't that he had deep feelings for her at the time; it was just that he was a gentleman who considered that she was far away from her family and friends in Jiankang, and that she was lonely and helpless.
He said, "The princess left the capital and her family for me, so I should do something for her to repay her for her sacrifice."
Putting aside her noble family background and her past aloofness, which prevented her from expressing much emotion, Yan Ning is actually a very good person.
only……
She hesitated, but the man had already reached out and placed the beautiful lantern in her hand, then grasped her small hand and looked up at her expectantly, "Princess, for the sake of this crab lantern, please celebrate the festival with me."
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