Chapter 77 Lord Marquis, please have some self-respect
Yu Mingshu vaguely sensed that He Zheng intended to kill Baili Dun, so before he could make a move, he quickly pulled the man out, whispering as they walked, "He is the child my father saved more than ten years ago, and he is now my student."
"What are you talking about behind closed doors?"
Yu Mingshu remained silent, took his arm, and led him back to Weishan Hall.
When no one was around, he said, "There are doubts about the cause of my father's death. He may know the inside story."
Hearing her words, He Zheng's expression relaxed.
Yu Mingshu said, "You've just returned to the capital in triumph, why aren't you in Chang'an being your marquis? What are you doing in Liangzhou?"
He Zheng gave her a deep look, then pulled her into his arms.
"Why do you think that is? Yu Mingshu, we've been apart for a year! Four hundred days and nights, haven't you thought of me even once?"
The person in his arms instinctively tried to break free, but quickly stopped, letting him hold her quietly, her cheek pressed against his chest.
"I've thought about it."
He Zheng was slightly taken aback, not expecting her to respond.
Yu Mingshu looked up and said, "Last August, before you were injured, I had nightmares for several nights in a row."
She heard his heart skip a beat.
"May I take a look at your injury?"
"It's a minor injury, it's healed a long time ago." He Zheng let go of her, subconsciously covering the injured area on his arm.
"Let me take a look." Yu Mingshu gently lifted his collar.
He Zheng's heart pounded like a drum, a feeling of unreality washed over him, and a hint of confusion flickered in the depths of his eyes.
"The injury is on your upper arm, do you want me to take off my clothes?"
"It's not like we haven't seen it before."
"..."
Coincidentally, last time she was also adamant about treating his injury and applying medicine.
"I came from Chang'an, and I'm dirty."
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingshu promptly took a step back. "Then you should settle in first. Later... tomorrow, let's go to the most famous Sishixuan restaurant in Liangzhou. I'll arrange a feast to welcome you."
He Zheng nodded, and as he left the front courtyard of Weishan Hall, he heard two very faint sounds.
He leaped over the courtyard wall and subdued the man in black standing in the corner in three moves.
Just as they pinned the man to the ground, they heard him tremble and wail, "General, spare my life! No, no, no, Marquis, spare my life! I am a guard from the Right Guard Commander's personal guard!"
Upon hearing that they were his soldiers, He Zheng released his grip, frowning as he asked, "People from the Imperial Guard? What are you doing lurking around outside Weishan Hall?"
The guard said with a bitter face, "I am under orders to guard Lord Yu."
He Zheng understood and said, "From now on, wherever I am, you don't need to protect me closely; just follow me from a distance."
The guards should be respectful and attentive.
As night fell, in the study of Weishan Hall, Yu Mingshu put down the letter he had finished writing, got up and lit the candlestick.
A gentle breeze seeping in through the window crack stirred the flames, causing the dim light to flicker. She keenly sensed a shadow outside the door.
"who?"
The person didn't say anything, but simply pushed the door open and came in.
Upon seeing that it was He Zheng, Yu Ming breathed a sigh of relief. "Didn't you go back to the inn?"
He Zheng smiled and said, "I am acting on His Highness the Crown Prince's orders to protect you, and I will do my duty faithfully."
Yu Mingshu found it somewhat absurd, pointed to himself, and looked at him, saying, "A dignified marquis, protecting a lowly official like me?"
He Zheng simply shrugged and pressed her back into her seat, saying, "You go about your business, don't worry about me."
With such a large, living person standing right there, who could ignore him?
He Zheng remained silent. From his perspective, he could clearly see her eyelashes trembling and her fingertips unconsciously twisting the paper.
She flipped through a few pages, then remained untouched for a long time. The page contained only two lines of text; she should have finished reading it long ago.
She was clearly disturbed.
He Zheng's heart tightened; she knew everything.
Perhaps she's waiting for him to speak?
The gaze from above was too intense. Yu Mingshu closed her eyes, unable to suppress the restlessness in her heart. She simply put aside her busy work, stood up, and faced the person beside her.
“Mingshu, I…”
"Let me see your injury."
The two spoke almost simultaneously, and then paused for a moment afterward.
Yu Mingshu said, "What did you say?"
He Zheng coughed lightly, glanced down at his left arm, and pointed to a spot four fingers above his left elbow. "It's nothing, see for yourself."
Do I really need to undress for this? Just roll up your sleeves and you'll see.
Yu Mingshu was speechless. He grabbed Yu Mingshu's left wrist, lifted Yu Mingshu's arm, removed the sleeve bindings, and rolled up the overly long sleeves.
Her palm pressed firmly against his wrist bone, and He Zheng subconsciously tensed his arm.
Yu Mingshu searched his hard muscles but couldn't find any injuries.
"Where? Is it this arm?"
"Here." He Zheng helplessly took her hand and pressed her thumb against the almost invisible wound.
Yu Mingshu moved the candlestick closer, avoiding the shadow of his body, and looked more closely. Finally, he saw a faint mark that was different from the surrounding skin color.
"I heard that the enemy's weapons were poisoned. You were unconscious for three days after you were wounded, and the wound is still so shallow?"
"The military doctor gave me medicine that can remove scars."
Yu Mingshu understood, gently rubbing his old wound twice with his thumb, and said with great emotion, "They say scars are a man's badge of honor. Which military doctor is so meticulous as to think of removing your scar?"
He Zheng pursed his lips and lowered his sleeve.
"Ming Shu, I have a question that has been on my mind for a long time."
Yu Mingshu raised her eyelids as if sensing something and met his gaze. The intensity and greed in his eyes made her feel somewhat unfamiliar with him.
She instinctively tried to back away, but he grabbed her wrist, forcing her to come closer.
"You once said you didn't want to get married. Is there any exception to that statement?"
He asked the question cryptically, but Yu Mingshu understood the subtext of his words.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out. In truth, the unspoken understanding between them should have been broken long ago; before he went to war, there were already signs that his suppressed feelings would erupt.
She had been avoiding talking about their ambiguous and unclear relationship, but today she could no longer escape it.
When he received no response, He Zheng raised his hand and turned her face back, forcing her to look at him.
Eyes don't lie; there was no resistance or disgust in her eyes, only a kind of entanglement he couldn't understand.
"Yu Mingshu, I love you."
He suddenly spoke bluntly, causing Yu Mingshu's eyelashes to flutter, and his suddenly stopped breathing sounded particularly clear in the quiet night.
“Look at me.” He Zheng pressed down forcefully on her shoulder, taking another step closer. “Ming Shu, you’re not uninterested in me, we…”
“Mutual affection and marriage are two different things,” Yu Mingshu suddenly interrupted him before he could finish speaking.
Upon hearing the words "mutual affection," He Zheng's heart pounded, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
“I am already the Marquis of Pingyan, with a title to my name. As my wife, you won’t need to be subservient to anyone.” His gaze was intense. “So, are you willing…”
“I understand,” Yu Mingshu interrupted him again.
“But He Xingzhao, I like my current identity very much. I have used all my knowledge and received the kindness of many people to earn the title of Yu Sheren. I cannot retreat, nor do I want to retreat.”
"You don't need to retreat!" He Zheng said urgently. "I will protect you to where you want to go, and I will protect you to walk openly and honestly in the court and among the people, so that your name will forever live on in the mouths of the world!"
These were the words she had said to him a long time ago, and he remembered them perfectly.
Yu Mingshu was stunned, and a hint of emotion inevitably appeared in the depths of his eyes.
"Marriage is not just a matter between the two of us."
"Marriage can be just between the two of us. If outsiders dare to gossip, I'll rip their tongues out."
What will your parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law think?
He was stunned.
"Can the Duke and his wife accept a daughter-in-law who travels around and appears in public in the imperial court?"
Yu Mingshu looked into his eyes and said, "I know what I want, so I never care about what others say. But He Xingzhao, the Duke and the others are your closest relatives and loved ones, and I cannot ignore their opinions."
He Zheng said, "I will make it clear to them that I am not the heir apparent, and they will not interfere so much with my marriage."
Yu Mingshu suddenly laughed, "If, I mean if, the Duke doesn't accept my unconventional ways and forces me to resign and settle down as your wife, what will you do?"
"Ignore him. Your official position was given to you by the Crown Prince. What business is it of his?"
"If the Duchess of the County urges me to conceive and insists that I abandon my official duties to bear children for you, what will you do?"
He Zheng's face suddenly flushed, and he opened his mouth, but after a long while, he remembered what he wanted to say, "She doesn't lack grandsons, why is she urging you?"
"I asked if."
Why ask "what if" about things that haven't even happened?
"These are the problems we'll face after getting married."
He Zheng felt as if his mind was filled with a thick fog. He forced himself to calm down and stared blankly for a long time before he finally cleared away the fog.
"You don't need to face any of these things. If anyone tries to bother you with these trivial matters, I will stand in front of you."
After he finished speaking, the study suddenly fell silent, a silence that frightened him.
He Zheng looked at her nervously, "Don't just stay silent..."
Yu Mingshu smiled and gently pinched his ear, "He Xingzhao, you're so cute."
"What?" He Zheng wondered if he had misheard.
“I said you’re cute,” Yu Mingshu repeated earnestly.
An unusual blush spread across his face, and his eyes immediately lit up with joy. "You...you agreed?"
Yu Mingshu said, "To be honest, I haven't thought about it yet."
The corners of the person's mouth, which had just turned up, froze.
"Marriage is a major life event and requires careful consideration." Yu Mingshu looked at him and said, enunciating each word clearly, "He Xingzhao, do you want to date me?"
He Zheng looked bewildered. "What does it mean to be in a relationship?"
Yu Mingshu gently pinched his collar and pulled him closer. "It's just... living for the moment."
"no."
"no?"
He Zheng frowned and said, "Without a name or status, and without a marriage certificate, this is against etiquette."
Yu Mingshu gritted her teeth inwardly. This person usually acts recklessly, so why is his view on marriage and love so conservative!
"It is improper for a man and a woman to be alone in a room. I urge you, Lord Marquis, to be mindful of your manners."
He Zheng didn't even realize what was happening until he was pushed out of the study. How could a perfectly normal person suddenly turn on him like that?
As he stepped out of the courtyard gate, two guards greeted him. "My lord, it's our turn to keep watch tonight. You should go back and rest."
He Zheng glanced at the two of them, then looked back at the tightly closed door, feeling a strange, indescribable feeling.
He left without a word, leaving the two guards looking at each other in bewilderment.
The next day at the academy, Yu Mingshu saw He Zhengchao walking towards him from afar. He kept his eyes straight ahead and finished explaining things to Chen Qingyue before bowing to the person who came before him.
"This humble official greets Your Excellency."
He Zheng's face stiffened. Meeting Chen Qingyue and Jing Hong's questioning gazes, he said helplessly, "Ming Shu, why are you teasing me?"
Yu Mingshu said, "How could I dare to joke with the Marquis? That would be against propriety."
He Zheng changed the subject, "Are you going out?"
"Yes, I mentioned yesterday that I would be hosting a welcome banquet for the Marquis at the Four Seasons Pavilion. It's time to set off now." With that, she gestured to the courtyard gate, "The Marquis, please go first."
He Zheng boarded the carriage with a belly full of resentment, but Yu Mingshu did not ride with him.
Upon arriving at Sishixuan, she was even more courteous, treating him as an honored guest.
Besides her and Chen Qingyue, there were also many local officials from Liangzhou at the banquet. The group of people exchanged empty pleasantries and congratulated him on his meritorious service and promotion, toasting him one by one.
During that hour, He Zheng felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, and the time seemed to drag on forever.
He wasn't a good drinker, and after a few cups he stopped drinking. He made an excuse to leave halfway through, walked out of the Four Seasons Pavilion, and stood by the carriage for a while to enjoy the breeze.
Upstairs, Yu Mingshu glanced at the man on the street through the window, exchanged a few pleasantries with the Liangzhou officials, and then ended the banquet.
Chen Qingyue also glanced out the window, her gaze gradually turning strange. She leaned close to her ear and asked, "What's going on between you two?"
Yu Mingshu hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't suppress his feelings and whispered to her, "Is it unreasonable to only talk about love and not marriage?"
Chen Qingyue's eyes widened in disbelief: "This is more than just unreasonable! This is the behavior of an irresponsible and despicable person!"
Yu Mingshu: ...I was scolded.
Chen Qingyue realized she had lost her composure and quickly composed herself, covering her mouth with her sleeve as she asked, "Did General He tell you this? He always seems so respectable, how could he be such a dissolute scoundrel!"
“No, no, no, it wasn’t him.” Yu Mingshu urgently defended He Zheng, “It was me who brought it up with him, and he refused at the time, saying it was against etiquette.”
Chen Qingyue was even more shocked. She blinked for a long time before she could finish, and said with a dry laugh, "On the other hand, the marriage laws are inherently unfair to women. Once the marriage certificate is exchanged, the man can break the contract, and the woman will be punished by the government for breaking the contract. No matter which side goes back on their word, the woman will always suffer. You don't talk about marriage easily, which is also for your own sake."
Yu Mingshu said, "I just feel that how can I entrust my future to someone I've never really known and who doesn't know their true nature?"
“That makes sense.” Chen Qingyue nodded, then asked worriedly, “What are you thinking now? Aren’t you afraid that deliberately distancing yourself from General He will hurt his feelings and cause him to turn to someone else?”
Yu Mingshu lowered his eyes and finished the rest of his wine. "If you change your mind so easily, it only means that there was no point in trying to salvage this relationship."
…
Returning to his lodgings by carriage, He Zheng looked utterly dejected, as if he had lost his soul.
Jinghong asked cautiously, "Young master, did you and Miss Yu have a fight?"
"No."
"Then what is she doing...?"
He Zheng remained silent for a long time before recounting everything that had happened the previous night.
Jinghong was stunned.
"Does my lord mean that Miss Yu wanted to get close to you, and you refused?"
This sounds like a reiteration of facts, but it overlooks many key points.
He Zheng's brow twitched, and he said in a deep voice, "If I agree to her, wouldn't I become a frivolous playboy!"
Jing Hongchou said, "If you refuse her like this, I'm afraid you'll offend Miss Yu's pride."
He Zheng was well aware that he had offended her, but given the circumstances, he couldn't very well agree to let her have her fun!
"Then what should I do?"
Jinghong earnestly advised, "If you still want to win back Miss Yu, you should humble yourself and take more initiative!"
Upon hearing the words "lower your stance," He Zheng's eyes widened in anger. "When have I ever put on airs with her?"
"I misspoke," Jinghong quickly admitted his mistake. After thinking hard for a long time, he changed his words, "Aloofness, my lord, you should put aside your aloofness."
"Shut up," He Zheng said.
For half a month, Yu Mingshu treated him with utmost respect and courtesy, maintaining a clear distinction between superiors and inferiors.
He Zheng was about to reach his limit. It felt like a fire was burning inside him, and he couldn't breathe properly. If this continued, he would suffocate himself sooner or later.
Having learned from the academy that Yu Mingshu had already left, he hurriedly went to Weishan Hall.
The courtyard was deserted, and He Zheng grabbed a subordinate and asked, "Where is Yu Sheren?"
The guard truthfully replied, "She just received a letter of superstition and led two groups of men to Yangjiao Mountain outside the city."
He Zheng had a vague sense of foreboding. "What are you going there for?"
"It is said that they found the place where the Xia family was making contact with the higher-ups, and rushed there to arrest them red-handed."
No sooner had he finished speaking than He Zheng rushed out of the courtyard and galloped away on horseback.
…
As the sun set, the sound of clashing weapons echoed from the abandoned temple.
The masked man, surrounded by several assassins, fought his way through the men brought by Yu Mingshu.
Yu Mingshu shouted urgently, "Stop him! Don't let him get away!"
The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the courtyard. Just then, He Zheng blocked the escape route of the men in black. After several exchanges, he single-handedly took down four assassins and cut off the arm of one of the men in black with a single stroke.
Blood splattered everywhere. The man in black, with a blade pointed at him, had his exposed skin deathly pale and had no choice but to retreat back into the courtyard.
He Zheng glanced at the soldiers who had just been scattered and cursed under his breath: "If you can't even take down these few people, don't go out there saying you're He Zheng's men."
As soon as he finished speaking, a white light flew past his ear, and warm blood exploded behind him.
He Zheng glanced at Yu Mingshu, who had just fired a cold arrow, then looked back at the assassin he had just slain, lying in a pool of blood with a short arrow stuck between his eyebrows. His sword was still raised high, his pupils dilated, and he looked like he had died with his eyes wide open.
The fact that the stab wound wasn't fatal was his mistake.
Yu Mingshu stopped looking at him and ordered the soldiers who were holding down the man in black: "Stop the bleeding and take him to the dark room to be kept under strict guard."
On the other side, Chen Qingyue had already ordered people to seal the seized evidence and load it onto the carriage one by one.
Yu Mingshu turned and walked towards He Zheng, bowing deeply: "Thank you for your timely assistance, Lord Marquis."
He Zheng said nothing and followed her back to Liangzhou City.
Upon returning to Weishan Hall, Yu Mingshu, as usual, kept him out of the outer courtyard.
A look of desolation flashed in He Zheng's eyes. Suddenly, he frowned, clutched his chest, and fell forward.
The man collapsed suddenly, catching Yu Mingshu completely off guard. He instinctively braced himself on the man's shoulder and called out urgently, "He Zheng! Are you injured?"
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