Chapter 23 is finished. Yu He'an discovered it...
Yu He'an's gaze swept coldly over her, and Li Xu shivered. If she dared to stop him again, Yu He'an would definitely not let her get away with it.
He was not as easily fooled as Yu Tan.
Now that things have come to this, she has to let Ji Yushang succeed. She desperately wants to see Yu Tan in a sorry state, looking down on Ji Yushang but having no choice but to marry him.
Li Xu suppressed her fear and stood in front of Yu He'an, but her hand was ruthlessly brushed aside. Yu He'an turned around and said coldly, "Changming, stop her."
Yu He'an strode across the front yard, where a lot of Xuan paper was scattered on the ground. He had drawn with ink and used a vermilion brush to dot the mole under his lip, which gradually spread out, looking just like weeping blood.
He couldn't help but think of a bird that cries out in sorrow before it dies, its eyes shedding tears of blood.
At first, he would pick them up and take a look, but the further he went, the faster his pace became, and the uglier his face became. His expression was so gloomy that it seemed like water could drip from it. His feet trod on the scattered Xuan paper, and his steps became heavier and heavier, as if he wanted to crush Ji Yushang's spine.
He walked through the front yard, where he could faintly hear a woman's voice protesting and crying.
"Get out of my way, or my brother will kill you."
The voice was so familiar, it made his blood run cold.
It was Yu Tan's voice.
His face was stern, and a wild beast was raging inside him, about to break free of its cage. He quickened his pace and roared, "Changming, you stay outside and guard the place. Don't let anyone in."
"Yes." Changming was puzzled, but he still left the front yard and went to guard the gate of the Ji residence, blocking Li Xu outside the gate.
Yu He'an moved so fast that he became a blur, arriving in front of the small hall in just a few dozen breaths.
The walls were covered with fire prevention charts, all kinds of them filthy.
The woman in the painting has eyes full of spring water, upturned lips, and a bright red mole under her lip as she makes love with her lover.
Beside the desk in the center, Ji Yushang lay prostrate on Yu Tan, his hand strangely extended beneath him, his body mostly obscuring Yu Tan, revealing only her flushed face.
Her hair was askew, her sideburns had fallen down, her brows were furrowed, and her eyes were filled with tears. When she saw him, her eyes first darted away, and then she weakly called out, "Brother."
It's obvious what happened; Ji Yushang is incredibly audacious to do such a thing to Yu Tan.
Yu He'an's blood surged, and his heart was filled with boundless rage. His gentlemanly facade could no longer conceal the madness within him.
He was barely able to control his murderous urge; he wanted to tear Ji Yushang to pieces.
"Ji Yushang, you're courting death."
He grabbed Ji Yushang and lifted him up. Ji Yushang's face was strangely pale, and sweat was beading on his forehead.
"Yu He'an, let me explain, I didn't do anything..." Ji Yushang's feet were dangling in the air as he struggled frantically.
Yu He'an was furious, and he spat out each word clearly: "Ji Yushang, I warned you long ago..."
With a cracking sound, the sound of ribs breaking, Ji Yushang was thrown several steps before finally crashing into the wall and coming to a stop.
Yu Tan propped herself up, shrank back in fear, and whispered, "Brother."
Yu He'an's eyes were bloodshot. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths before calming down from his rage: "Are you hurt?"
"No, brother." Yu Tan quickly shook his head. With a movement, his jacket and lining slipped down again, and his robes were mostly open, revealing his fair neck, straight collarbone, snow-white shoulders, and even a glimpse of a corner of his light pink undergarment.
A cold wind blew straight in, making her shiver. Yu He'an's gaze could kill.
"Don't be afraid." Yu He'an squatted down in front of her, blocking the fierce cold wind from outside. His face was so cold it could freeze, and his eyes were as deep as a cold pool. She still couldn't understand the emotions in his eyes.
His hand was already on her shoulder, then moved downwards, his palm dry and warm.
She shuddered, barely suppressing her fear, and said, "Brother."
Yu He'an coldly asked, "Has Ji Yushang done anything to you?"
Yu Tan's mind went blank. She curled up on the spot, hugging her shoulders helplessly, and remained silent for a long time, as if she were lost in painful memories.
"Ji Yushang pounced on me, pinned me to the ground, and started tearing at my clothes, intending to do something indecent to me."
Yu Tan haphazardly tugged at her jacket with her left hand, causing the jacket, which was already loosely hanging on her shoulder, to slip even further down to her elbows, revealing her fair, jade-like arms.
"Don't move, Yao Yao," Yu He'an forcibly held her down, pulling up the slipping lining and then the outer jacket.
He helped her put on her clothes one by one, gently smoothing out the wrinkles on her little jacket.
Her clothes were torn and ruined by Ji Yushang, and no matter how she put them back on, they could never be put back in their original place. Yu He'an picked up the cloak, tied the ties, and patted her shoulder to comfort her.
"It's alright now."
Despite speaking words of comfort, Yu He'an's face was frosty. She was afraid of Yu He'an's scolding, and even more afraid that Yu He'an would find out about Wu Niang. Faced with the fear of her identity being exposed, she couldn't help but tremble.
"Brother, are you going to scold me?"
"I'm here, don't be afraid, I won't scold you." Yu He'an pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back to comfort her. "Ji Yushang will die, and no third person will know what happened today."
"Brother." She leaned against Yu He'an's chest and sobbed for a while. Her frozen body warmed up, and surrounded by the familiar scent of cedar, she felt much more at ease.
There were a few pieces of candied fruit lying on the ground, their edges covered in dust, too dirty to eat anymore.
Yu He'an went out to buy her candied fruit, while she was thinking about how to deceive him.
She kept her eyes tightly closed, not daring to look at him at all.
"Don't be afraid." Yu He'an stroked down her back, soothingly massaging her, and then wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
"Brother, I'm alright..." Yu Tan explained softly. Yu He'an's arms were wrapped around her waist, hugging her too tightly, making it a little hard for her to breathe.
Yu He'an asked softly, "Why did you come here alone?"
How could she tell Yu He'an that she had come to see Wu Niang?
"Brother, loosen your grip a little, my hand hurts." She hurriedly changed the subject, trying to raise her right arm, but failed.
Yu He's attention was immediately drawn to her right arm, which hung down unnaturally. His hand moved up her arm to her shoulder.
The scene was too chaotic, and he didn't even notice that Yu Tan's right arm had been forcibly dislocated.
"Yaoyao, bear with it for a moment. I'll take you back to the manor to see a doctor later. If I don't treat you properly, it'll leave you with a chronic illness."
Yu He'an did not pursue the matter further. Yu Tan breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and whispered, "Alright, brother."
Ji Yushang dislocated Yu Tan's right arm and even attempted to assault her.
A dagger lay on the ground, its blade unsharpened, with only a few traces of blood still clinging to its tip.
"You came here to kill Ji Yushang?"
Seeing Yu He'an's expression, Yu Tan lowered her head and buried it in his chest. Her eyes darted around, and she had already come up with a lie.
Her voice trembled with sobs: "Brother, he threatened me. He drew so many obscene pictures to threaten me, telling me to come alone. If I didn't come, he would scatter the pictures all over the streets... saying that he had been having an affair with me... and ruining my reputation..."
Yu He'an angrily said, "Damn it."
The low growl startled Ji Yushang, who had just been kicked several times in the groin by Yu Tan. The pain had left him lying there, and it took him a long time to recover. Not only had he failed this time, but he might also be ruined for the rest of his life.
Yu He'an's kick made his entire lungs ache.
Ji Yushang shrank back into the corner. Yu He'an picked up the unsharpened dagger, walked up to him, and looked down at him with a sidelong glance.
Despite the excruciating pain, Ji Yushang forced a smile: "Young Master Yu, I really didn't do anything... Please don't use a knife and ruin our harmony."
Yu He'an glanced at him: "Ji Yushang, is it that you didn't do anything, or that you didn't have time to do anything?"
The unsharpened dagger twirled nimbly in Yu He'an's hand, and Ji Yushang fearfully shrank back.
He had only heard that Yu He'an was a young man who passed the imperial examination and was a man of great literary talent, but he had never heard that he knew martial arts. However, the kick he had just received was extremely tricky in terms of both position and force, and it made his internal organs ache.
Ji Yushang, in a fit of desperation, said, "Young Master Yu, if I shout loudly and the servants of the Ji family and the neighbors outside see me... Yu Tan's reputation will be completely ruined... It's better to grant my wish now."
Yu He'an ground his foot on the spot where he had just been kicked, and sneered, "Try it, and see if anyone dares to come in."
Ji Yushang was in so much pain that he saw stars. He said fiercely, "You think I wouldn't dare? I'm going to destroy you all... You're protecting Yu Tan like this. Do you really consider her your sister, or did you two do something illicit? You knew all along..."
Yu Tan felt a chill run down her spine, and alarm bells rang in her mind. She cried out, "Brother, my hand hurts...it hurts so much...can we go back to the manor soon..."
Yu He'an's gaze darted between her and Ji Yushang, making her hair stand on end and her breathing quicken.
“Brother, this man is full of foul language and has mental problems. You can’t believe what he says…”
Yu He'an remained silent for a while, then patted the top of her head. "Go out and wait for me. Changming is guarding the gate, so nothing will happen. I have something to say to Ji Yushang, and I'll come find you in a bit."
If Yu He'an speaks with Ji Yushang alone, then her identity will be exposed.
Yu Tan swallowed hard and pleaded, "Brother, I want to go back to the manor. My hand hurts a lot, and I want it reattached as soon as possible."
Yu He'an insisted, "Go out, I'll come find you soon."
Seeing that there was no room for maneuver, Yu Tan wrapped her cloak tighter and quickly left the small hall.
However, she didn't go to the main gate; instead, she turned and went to the backyard from a corner where Yu He'an couldn't see her.
Even if Ji Yushang is talking nonsense, as long as she moves Wuniang away, she can still refute Ji Yushang's slander against her.
*
Seeing Yu He'an's attitude and the intimate gestures between Yu He'an and Yu Tan just now, Ji Yushang was certain that he had guessed the relationship between them correctly.
He laughed heartily a few times. These outwardly glamorous families were just as filthy as him inside, or even more despicable.
"Yu He'an, could it be that you and Yu Tan had already been having an affair before this... Brother and sister, hahaha, no wonder you're so protective and concerned about her."
"Let Yu Tan marry me, and I promise I'll never interfere with your relationship again... I can even cover for you. Isn't that wonderful? Who else can help you like I do?"
Yu He'an's expression grew even colder: "Our relationship is completely innocent... You're just making baseless accusations against us."
Yu He'an approached Ji Yushang with a dagger in hand, the cold blade brushing against Ji Yushang's face.
Ji Yushang swallowed hard: "This dagger is not sharpened, you can't kill me. Yu He'an, you are not a gentleman... The most important thing for aristocratic families is to uphold etiquette. How could you use torture to kill someone on your own?"
Yu He'an sneered and brought the dagger a few steps closer.
"You really don't understand me. I know what kind of people can understand what kind of language. I usually choose to communicate in a way that others can understand, and you are more suited to this way... I think I understand that."
Ji Yushang opened his mouth in provocation, and the cold blade of the dagger was already plunged into his mouth. The unsharpened dagger was the most terrifying; it couldn't cut off his tongue, but could only be violently mashed by the blade, turning it into a useless pile of flesh and blood.
Ji Yushang was terrified. This was no longer the refined gentleman the world spoke of; he was clearly a madman, a madman whose bottom line had been crossed.
Ji Yushang struggled violently, filled with regret. He shouldn't have provoked Yu Tan time and time again, at least he shouldn't have challenged her under Yu He'an's nose... or even tried to take advantage of Yu Tan.
He finally understood that Yu He'an's act of sending Yu Tan away and leaving her alone was not to listen to Yu Tan's secrets; Yu He'an simply didn't want Yu Tan to witness his atrocities.
Yu He'an was left behind to kill him.
Kill him with this unsharpened dagger.
After a while, Yu He'an pinched Ji Yushang's chin.
He swallowed Ji Yushang's flesh and blood without even soiling the ground.
Yu He'an released his grip and wiped his hands in disgust. "I told you before, you should be glad Yu Tan didn't come into the room."
When Ji Yushang opened his mouth again, all that could be heard was a "woo-woo".
Yu He'an pulled out a dagger, still stained with blood. "Since you have dislocated Yu Tan's right arm, I will repay you double. My sister acted rashly and bought an unsharpened dagger. Please forgive her."
Ji Yushang quickly realized that Yu He'an's idea of dismembering the arm was not quite the same as what he had thought. He intended to use this unsharpened dagger to dismember his arm.
He huddled in the corner, unable to escape even a fraction of a second.
Just as Yu Tan couldn't escape him earlier, he can't escape Yu He'an now either; the karmic retribution is coming too fast.
Cutting flesh with a dull knife is ten thousand times more painful than cutting it with a sharp blade.
Ji Yushang could only let out a "roar" sound before lying on the ground unconscious.
Yu He'an kicked Ji Yushang, and he fainted just like that, which was really too easy for him.
With a cold expression, he looked at the portraits in the room and patiently gathered them all together. Ji Yushang had tried to bury Yu Tan's life with these paintings, but now he would be buried.
He burned away the incestuous affair with a fire, coldly watching the flames gradually engulf the entire front hall before slowly walking towards the gate.
Changming saw the firelight and, feeling uneasy, went inside, where he bumped into Yuhe'an who was coming out.
Changming craned his neck to look inside: "Young master, what happened? Why is there such a big fire?"
Yu He'an said indifferently, "It's nothing. I think this Ji residence is filthy. Burning it down will clean it up."
"It's good that it's burned clean, it's good that it's burned clean." Changming recalled the painting he had just seen, which depicted the graceful figure of Yu Tan. No wonder Yu He'an was so angry.
Yu He'an's hands were empty; the candy he bought was probably lost somewhere.
"Li Erniangzi has returned to the manor. I didn't stop her because I saw she hadn't come in. My lord, let's go buy some more candied fruit. My wife will be happy to see it."
Yu He'an asked, puzzled, "Yu Tan didn't come looking for you?"
Changming looked around and asked, "Is my wife here? I can't see her."
"Jade Lotus".
All that could be heard was Yu He'an's angry roar. When Changming turned around again, Yu He'an had already turned and walked towards the Ji residence.
He said anxiously, "My lord, your anger is too great! Don't go any further! My lord, my lord..."
*
Yu He'an's attention wasn't on her. Yu Tan pretended to walk towards the gate, found a corner where Yu He'an couldn't see her, crouched down, turned around, and walked deeper into the Ji residence.
She needs to find Wuniang quickly and send her away.
Where did the Ji Yu Chamber of Commerce hide Wu Niang?
Yu Tan, wrapped in a cloak, jogged inside. After running for a quarter of an hour, she found that there were no servants or maids in the Ji residence.
A strong wind whipped up withered branches and grass, leaving the courtyard in disarray.
If she were Ji Yushang, where would she place Wu Niang?
Being right under their noses makes it easy to keep an eye on Wu Niang when no one is at the Ji residence, preventing her from escaping.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck: Ji Yushang's courtyard.
Yu Tan clutched her cloak and ran towards the main courtyard. The courtyard had been completely emptied, leaving only a crooked stone table and benches, and scattered Xuan paper on the ground.
Paintings that were once sold for exorbitant prices are now reduced to nothing more than worthless pieces of paper.
The paintings of beauties of all kinds, covering all the surnames in Bianjing, would leave Ji Yushang with nowhere to stay in Bianjing if they were to fall into the wrong hands.
Ignoring the evidence, Yu Tan stepped into the painting with her embroidered shoes, calling out loudly, "Wu Niang, Wu Niang."
"Wu Niang." She walked a little further in and finally heard a faint echo.
"Yaoyao, I'm here." The voice came from the side room of Ji Yushang's courtyard.
Upon hearing the sound, Yu Tan quickly ran to the side room, but the door was locked.
Yu Tan pounded on the door with her left hand: "Wu Niang, are you inside?"
"I'm here, Yaoyao, don't worry, I'm fine..." Wu Niang's voice was hoarse and weaker, mixed with suppressed sobs and cries of pain.
Yu Tan's right hand hung limply at his sides, and he could only use his left hand to pull on the lock, making it clang loudly, but he couldn't budge it an inch.
"Wu Niang, do you know where Ji Yushang put the key?"
Wu Niang sat leaning against the door, lost in thought for a while. "I don't know. He locked me here and never came back. But I think I heard a crash."
Yu Tan closed her eyes and recalled the scene. It must have been that after Ji Yushang imprisoned Wu Niang, he casually threw a bunch of keys on the ground.
Yu Tan walked further in, her embroidered shoes stepping on various paintings. Finally, she found something uncomfortable in a corner. She squatted down, opened the painting with her left hand, and found a large bunch of keys.
"Wu Niang, I found it... I can't use one hand, wait for me a moment..." Yu Tan comforted Wu Niang, awkwardly inserting the key into the lock with one hand. There were too many keys, so she had to try them one by one.
Wu Niang raised her voice and said urgently, "Yao Yao, how did you get hurt... Did Ji Yushang do something to you? Ji Yushang is still here, Yao Yao, run!"
"You shouldn't have come. I shouldn't have come to Bianjing to find you. It would have been so much better if you had stayed peacefully in the Marquis's residence. It's my fault, all of this is my fault."
Wu Niang wept bitterly, and when she was closest to death, she no longer hid her feelings.
Wu Niang leaned weakly against the door. As the door opened, her body swayed, her hair came undone, and her headscarf hung crookedly on her forehead, covered in a large patch of cold sweat. Her face was deathly pale, her brows were furrowed, and there was still cold sweat on the tip of her nose. Her cheeks were taut, and she was in unbearable pain.
"Yaoyao, I don't think I'll make it..."
“Wu Niang, what nonsense are you talking about? Just take the Gu worm out. Come on, I’ll take you out to find Zhao Qin…” Yu Tan supported Wu Niang and walked out. “Hold me up, my right hand is dislocated. Lie on me… I’ll take you out.”
With tears welling in her eyes, Wu Niang nodded gently, "Okay."
Yu Tan helped Wu Niang out of the side room. Night had completely fallen, and the firelight in the front yard had already shot into the sky, but the Ji residence was as bright as day.
Wu Niang asked worriedly, "Yao Yao... what happened? How did it catch fire?"
"It's alright, it's my brother. Let's hurry, we can't let him find out about us."
It must have been Yu He'an who saw those dirty paintings and set the place on fire. Does that mean Yu He'an has finished his business with Ji Yushang?
She had to get Wu Niang away quickly. Changming was guarding the main gate, and she helped Wu Niang run towards the side gate not far away.
Wu Niang was in so much pain that they had to support each other and walk very slowly.
After moving for a quarter of an hour, she finally reached the side gate. Before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, hurried footsteps echoed through the empty alley.
"Yu Tan, what are you doing?"
Yu He'an's voice was so cold it could freeze you in the air, and she was so frightened she didn't dare turn her head.
"Brother, don't come any closer!" Yu Tan quickly called out to stop her. Wu Niang wasn't wearing a veil, and if Yu He'an saw her...
Yu Tan hurriedly stepped in front of Wu Niang.
Oh no, Yu He'an has found out.
"What's wrong with you? Didn't you tell me to go to the main gate to find Changming? Something almost happened just now, don't you know? What if something else happens?"
Yu He'an approached step by step.
"Brother."
"Who is she? Did you come to the Ji residence for her?" Although it was a question, Yu He'an's tone was extremely certain.
"No... Brother..." Yu Tan quickly lied and denied it. She held Wu Niang's hand tightly, her mind a complete mess, and she had no idea what to do.
"Who is she to you? Is she worth you risking your life at the Ji residence?"
"Brother, I..."
Despite the pain, Wu Niang said, "Young master, we don't know each other. I was imprisoned in the Ji residence because I offended Ji Yushang. You kindly rescued me because you heard my cries for help."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Yu Tan stood in front of Wu Niang, she was too scared just now, she was completely flustered, but fortunately Wu Niang was quick-witted, she nodded quickly.
"It's like this," she lied to Yu He'an, feeling very unsure of herself, and swallowed hard. "Why is there a fire up ahead? Did something happen?"
"It's alright." Yu He'an took a few steps forward. "Saving people is a good thing. It seems that my wife is sick. Let's take her back to the Marquis's residence for treatment."
"No need," Wu Niang turned her face away and stopped them. "My home is nearby, and it's getting late, so I won't trouble you any further. I'll be going now..."
"My lady, my lady," Lanxin called softly from outside the side door, her voice like heavenly music.
"My lady, quickly take Wu Niang out." She hurriedly helped Wu Niang out the door. Wu Niang was in too much pain and her movements were not very agile. She tripped and fell, and Yu Tan's body was not able to stop her at all.
Yu Tan hurriedly turned around, her back against the wooden door, staring at Yu He'an in alarm.
Yuhe An stood firmly three meters away from Yutan, taking in everything.
It wasn't until the shoving that he caught a glimpse of the upper half of his wife's face beneath her swaddling cloth. Her soft, almond-shaped eyes had a slight upturn at the corners, and compared to Yu Tan's eyes, they bore the marks of time.
He wanted to look again, but Yu Tan had already pushed him away. He frowned in confusion, recalling what Li Xu had said earlier. He fell into deep thought.
Yu He'an took a few steps closer, her back pressed tightly against the wooden board, her fingertips frantically gripping the wooden door, the barbs digging into her fingertips, causing her excruciating pain.
She will confess to Yu He'an, but not now.
She was filled with anxiety, wondering whether Yu He'an had actually seen Wu Niang's face.
“Brother.” Yu Tan stepped back.
"Yaoyao, what are you afraid of?"
"Ouch..." Her body swayed, and a sharp pain shot through her left ankle. Just as she was about to fall to the ground, a pair of hands caught her.
Her bright almond-shaped eyes welled up with tears, and there was more of a hint of evasion in them; Yu Tan didn't want him to know.
The relationship between the old woman and Yu Tan must be complicated, given their similar eyes.
The two faced off in silence, with flames shooting into the sky behind them; the fire from the Ji residence had already spread over.
Author's Note: Thank you to 必报睚眚西哈椰则uksophie and 路边当咸鱼 for the nutrient solution, thank you! [fireworks]
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