Chapter 25 Your father is going to find you a concubine...
Yu Tan fearfully shrank further inside, but there was nowhere to hide in the room. Helpless, she could only curl up in the soft blankets, covering her head.
The door creaked open.
The footsteps grew closer, and her heart pounded faster.
She grabbed one corner of the quilt and held on tightly to prevent it from slipping off her body.
The scene was so similar to yesterday when her cloak was ripped off. She clutched the quilt tightly, but in the end, she was no match for its strength. The brocade quilt was pulled off, and her body trembled. There was nowhere left to hide.
A tall, slender figure stood before her, casting a large shadow. "Yaoyao."
She looked up in surprise. Yu He'an's handsome eyebrows furrowed, his lips pressed tightly together. He was holding a large stack of books, with her account book, a thin one, mixed in among them.
Why is it Yuhe'an?
She peered outside fearfully, wondering if Ji Yushang was hiding there.
"What are you looking at?" His slender fingers pressed against her forehead, preventing her head from burying itself in the quilt.
She took Yu He'an's hand, tracing his fingers to his wrist as if grasping at a last straw, and asked timidly, "Brother, is anyone outside?"
“Changming is waiting outside.” Yu He’an’s gaze fell on the fingers wrapped around his wrist, fair, slender, and cold. Even though they were buried in the brocade quilt, they brought no warmth.
"Ji Yushang is outside! Brother, Ji Yushang is outside! Quickly, chase him out..."
His voice trembled, sounding like an out-of-control scream, filled with extreme terror.
Yu Tan wore no makeup, her face was deathly pale, and the dark circles under her eyes could not be hidden. She had lost all vitality, like a piece of white porcelain fired in an official kiln, exquisite yet fragile.
Countless people wanted to snatch it, but once they actually got it, they casually placed it on the windowsill. On some careless night, a light touch would cause it to fall to the ground and shatter into pieces.
Yu He'an knelt down and sat close to her, gently patting her back with his large hands, and said with certainty, "Ji Yushang couldn't be here."
She swallowed hard, her eyes involuntarily glancing outwards.
However, the plot is triggered only when Ji Yushang is present.
She held Yu He'an's warm wrist as if grasping a sliver of hope, and pleaded, "Brother, Ji Yushang is definitely here. Please send someone to search the courtyard and chase him out, okay?"
Yu He'an avoided answering, instead pressing for an answer: "Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Yu Tan lowered her head helplessly, avoiding Yu He'an's gaze. She wanted to leave Yu He'an here so that even if Ji Yushang appeared, he couldn't do anything to her.
She paused for a while, then looked up at Yu He'an and pursed her lips.
He awkwardly tugged at his jacket with his right hand, gathering the frayed collar to reveal only a section of his fair neck.
"The moment I close my eyes, I feel Ji Yushang in front of me, tearing at my clothes... I'm so scared..."
Yu He'an frowned. He hadn't thought this through enough. When Yu Tan was young, she couldn't even sleep well during thunderstorms, let alone after something like that.
Yu He'an comforted her, saying, "Ji Yushang won't bother you anymore. Sleep peacefully."
Yu Tan timidly raised her eyes and tentatively asked, "Brother, have you driven Ji Yushang out of Bianjing? But he will always find a chance to come back... Brother won't always be by my side."
Yu He'an responded softly, coaxing her gently, "I guess so. He'll never bother you again. The Ji residence has burned down... He won't come back."
Seeing that Yu Tan was in a daze and very worried, Yu He'an had no choice but to call Changming and search Lanfang Courtyard carefully, turning over every corner where people could hide.
"Ji Yushang is not at the Marquis's residence, let alone at Lanfang Courtyard."
"Really?" Yu Tan frowned as she answered. Ji Yushang was a disgusting leech; he must be hiding in a corner that Yu He'an hadn't noticed.
Still can't sleep?
Yu Tan nodded, seeing that Yu He'an was carrying books and was planning to leave the mansion to exchange ideas with scholars. "Brother, where are you planning to go? The Imperial Academy should be closed for the year... Will you stay here with me?"
"If you don't go to the Imperial Academy, how can you sleep here while I'm here?"
She nodded quickly, "Yes."
"Go inside and sleep. I'll just read here."
Yu Tan finally showed a hint of joy on his face: "Really, brother?"
Yu He patted her back soothingly, easing her anxiety, then got off the couch and went to her small desk, where writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all prepared, not far from the soft couch.
She pulled the brocade quilt over herself, the scent of cedar still lingering on it. Her tense mind relaxed a little, but she was unwilling to move to the canopy bed in the inner room, so she rested on the soft couch.
After the entire plot had ended, she still hadn't seen Ji Yushang. It took her quite a while before she finally felt relieved.
There really was no Ji Yushang.
Could there be a plot error?
Yu Tan clutched the brocade quilt, recalling the last time she had held onto Yu He'an's sleeve, making him stay with her for a whole day and night.
“Brother, if I oversleep, you can leave directly tonight without waiting for me to… wake up…”
"Hmm." Yu He'an was already studying behind his desk. "Why haven't I seen Lanxin lately?"
Lanxin was sent away by her to take care of Wuniang.
She blushed easily when she lied, so she pulled the quilt over her face and whispered, "Her family member is sick, so I granted her leave to go home and take care of him."
Yu He'an didn't raise his head and didn't ask any further questions about the matter.
Yu He'an didn't press Wu Niang about whether she believed what she said.
She felt uneasy, and her mind became increasingly confused.
After a while, Yu Tan moved the blanket away, needing to think about other things and divert her attention, and secretly sized up Yu He'an.
Even in winter, she wore only light clothing, a moon-white robe with a fur collar to protect against the wind, and elegant cloud patterns on her shoulders, like silver frost, giving her a cold and aloof appearance.
What would Yu He'an look like wearing bright colors?
He usually dresses simply and elegantly; he only wears bright colors for his wedding. The story doesn't mention his marriage, so it's probably much later.
She probably can't see anymore...
She was a little disappointed, but she thought it would be nice if she could sneak back for a look sometime in the future.
Then she thought about why she could only fall asleep when she was near Yu He'an. She had pondered this.
Perhaps it was the dependence left over from childhood companionship, making her feel safe and secure by his side, or perhaps she glimpsed in the story that he was someone who meant her no harm.
As she drifted off to sleep, she suddenly realized that Yu He'an had brought the books to keep her company.
The thought flashed through her mind, filling her with both joy and worry.
Does Yu He'an know that she can't sleep? Will he follow the clues and find out her secret?
When she was little, Yu He'an could always see through her lies at a glance. Fortunately, this time, she has grown up and her lying skills have become more sophisticated, so Yu He'an failed to notice.
She can still enjoy a peaceful period of time in the Marquis's residence.
*
Because of her foot injury, Yu He'an has been visiting her courtyard every day for the past two weeks since he discovered her nightmares.
She returned to her old ways; her sleep improved, and she exuded a lazy, comfortable vibe.
However, the plot seemed to be going wrong, always appearing out of nowhere, but she searched many times and couldn't find Ji Yushang.
Fortunately, Yu He'an was always by her side, easing her embarrassment. She dared not imagine what she would do if these things happened to other men.
While Yu He'an was reading at her small table, she was clearly just reaching for the account book on the table.
The plot unfolded abruptly without warning; she unexpectedly fell into Yu He'an's arms and sat on his lap.
She barely managed to grab Yu He'an's collar. The scent of cedarwood was almost gone, and her heart started racing. A large hand touched her lower back, supporting her so she wouldn't fall over. "Be careful."
The room was heated by an underfloor heating system. She was dressed in thin clothes, and even through several layers of fabric, she could feel the frightening warmth in her palms. She shivered and stood up abruptly, forgetting that her foot was not fully healed.
This time it fell even closer.
"Brother, I didn't mean to."
Yu He'an remained silent for a few moments, then supported her lower back with both hands, helping her to sit up steadily and sit down beside him.
The hand supporting her waist trembled slightly, as if trying to suppress but still unable to hide his disgust.
She suddenly remembered that when she first boarded Yu He'an's carriage at the Li residence and accidentally fell down with him, Yu He'an had done the same thing.
At the time, she mistakenly thought it was the scalding hot lamp oil that was burning her skin and causing great pain, but now she realizes...
Yuhe An dislikes contact with people.
She propped herself up and moved away a little. The hand that was on her waist loosened. She turned around, and Yu He'an's expression was still as indifferent as usual. She didn't see any disgust in those glassy eyes.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Yu He'an didn't mind, and these events passed by easily.
Because of these things, strange things happened between her and Yu He'an. She was always afraid of making a mistake and making Yu He'an dislike her.
When the plot began, she unconsciously wanted to stay away, but the plot wouldn't let her move an inch. She even felt that if the plot was unbearable, Yu He'an wouldn't mind.
Even as the story fades away, one can't help but want to get closer.
Another half month passed, and the end of the year was approaching. This year, only she and Yuhe were still in the Marquis's mansion, so everything was kept simple.
Lanxin had been taking care of Wuniang outside, and in the past two weeks, Wuniang had recovered her health and asked Lanxin to pass on a message.
“Yaoyao, I have to leave after the New Year. I know you have your own ideas and you definitely don’t want to come with me now. I plan to go to Huizhou first, and we’ll meet up after you’ve settled everything.”
Yu Tan agreed to Wu Niang's request, which was indeed the best choice at present.
When the time comes, she will find an excuse to leave the mansion to see Wu Niang off, and then go to find Wu Niang again after more than half a year.
Tomorrow is the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month. Lanxin and Qiaoxin had been busy preparing since early morning, cleaning and tidying up Lanfang Palace and changing all the bedding and cushions. In the afternoon, they finally had a moment of free time to sit in front of the stove and cut paper-cuts for the window.
Ruyi Pavilion sent a letter early in the morning, saying that the custom-made hair ornament was ready, and Huixin went out of the mansion early to pick it up.
Yu Tan cut out a few paper-cut window decorations, then sat on the soft couch eating dried apricots, which were sweet and sour, her almond-shaped eyes slightly narrowed.
The windproof curtain was lifted, and without raising her head, she picked up a piece of dried apricot and put it in her mouth. "Brother, you've come."
"It's me, my lady." Huixin walked in from the outer room carrying a brocade box and placed it on the small table.
Yu Tan quickly got off the soft couch. Her feet had returned to normal. She opened the brocade box from Ruyi Pavilion, inside which was a hair ornament made of pure gold.
She spent half a month embroidering a hairband to match the golden crown. The bright red hairband hung on the dazzling golden crown, gorgeous and eye-catching. At each end of the hairband, she embroidered a white crane.
This headdress is too eye-catching and flamboyant; it doesn't seem like Yu He'an's at all, but rather like Yu Tan's.
Lanxin: "So beautiful, my wife has excellent taste."
Qiaoxin: "My lady's embroidery skills have improved as well."
Huixin: "It's so beautiful, the gold is so beautiful."
Amidst cheers, Yu Tan held the hair crown and admired it carefully. The corners of her mouth curved higher and higher, and she raised her eyebrows triumphantly before turning around with the hair crown in her hands.
"Of course, the designs I drew are naturally the most beautiful."
The windproof curtain was lifted by a hand with distinct knuckles, and then a face of unparalleled elegance appeared. Startled, Yu Tan hurriedly stuffed her hair ornament into the brocade box and frantically shoved the box under the soft couch.
For the past two weeks, she has been keeping her hair ribbon facing away from Yu He'an, hoping to give him a surprise on his birthday.
Yu He'an frowned: "What are you hiding?"
"I didn't hide anything." Yu Tan stuffed the brocade box inside.
Yu He'an's eyes darkened: "Your foot is healed, and you're running so nimbly."
Yu Tan paused, now admitting that Yu He'an wouldn't come tomorrow, but since everyone had seen it, she had no choice but to lie again, her face contorted in distress.
Yu Tan said dejectedly, "Brother, I'm almost fully recovered."
"Come here." Yu He'an quickly sat down behind the small table and took out several yellow envelopes.
Yu Tan's eyes brightened, and she smiled, "Grandmother wrote a letter? She said she wouldn't miss me when she left..."
Yu He'an placed the four envelopes on the small table, gave her a teasing look, and said, "That's quite a lot."
"Why are there so many letters? Does Grandmother miss me so much?" Yu Tan sat down next to Yu He'an on a round stool, but then, fearing the plot was about to unfold, she moved the stool to the side. "Brother, please open them quickly. I miss Grandmother so much too."
Yu He'an held the envelope without moving, while Yu Tan, growing impatient, had already gripped the corner of the envelope and tilted her head to look at Yu He'an. "Brother, what's wrong?"
Yu He'an gently stroked her hair, smoothing the hairpins, then her temples, and finally poked the bump on her cheek.
What are you eating?
The heat spread across her cheeks, and she quickly turned the apricot pit and pressed it under her tongue, her words becoming increasingly unclear, "Brother, it's dried apricot."
"If you were closer, could you see it from that distance?"
She did as she was told and moved the stool a little closer to Yu He'an, no more than a fist's distance away.
Yu He'an handed her two thicker letters. She frowned slightly. Both letters, written on yellow paper, were addressed to Yu Tan.
Chu Minglang's handwriting is neat and vigorous, while Jiang Tingfeng's is unrestrained and free.
When she saw it, it was like a persistent ghost.
Yu Tan quickly sealed the two letters, her lips slightly pursed, the sourness from the apricot filling her mouth overflowing. Her fingertips tugged at the envelopes helplessly, noticing that Yu He'an was still watching her.
One of these two people was favored by Old Madam Song, and the other by Yu Zheng; she couldn't refuse them outright.
She raised the corners of her mouth, forcing a smile, "Brother, I'll look at these later. I want to look at Grandmother and Father's first; I miss them..."
Yu He'an stared at her, and said casually, "After we parted ways in Yuyang, Jiang Tingfeng often wrote to you?"
Yu He'an's words sound like she and Jiang Tingfeng were having an affair, but their relationship isn't exactly close.
*
During her short stay in Yuyang, besides keeping Madam Song company, her biggest pastime was feeding the fish. After feeding most of the koi in the old house in Yuyang to death, she switched to feeding the fish in the stream.
Several times while she was feeding the fish, she encountered a boy in black, his face covered by a straw hat, sleeping on a tree trunk.
Unable to resist her curiosity, she secretly peeked at the boy to see how he could sleep on a branch only half a palm's width wide without falling off.
As she peeked again, the boy suddenly turned around, as if he were about to fall off the tree trunk at any moment.
"Be careful." Yu Tan instinctively reached out to catch it.
The boy actually avoided her, landing steadily, and looked her over with interest. "You were able to catch me?"
Of course she couldn't catch him; she just instinctively reached out to help when she saw him fall.
Yu Tan blushed deeply and returned to the stream to feed her fish.
The boy casually sat on a large rock by the stream: "Young Lady Yu, do you even feed the fish in the stream?"
Yu Tan stared at the boy in confusion; she had never seen him before. "How do you know my name?"
Sunlight bathed the boy, a smile playing on his lips. The handsome and carefree young man rested his hands on his knees, laughing freely.
"Who in Yuyang doesn't know you? You fed a whole prefecture of koi to death."
Yu Tan stamped her foot angrily: "You..."
In the following months, Jiang Tingfeng often came to the stream to sunbathe, and she would run into him a few times when she went to feed the fish.
Jiang Tingfeng laughed at her: "Young Lady Yu, do you know that the fish food in your hand is more expensive than all the fish in this stream? Feeding them to these fish is an insult to this fish food."
"What do you mean?" Yu Tan didn't understand Jiang Tingfeng's words, but her intuition told her that they weren't good. "I've been feeding this fish for a long time, it won't die from being overfed."
The boy took a step closer: "Why do you always come to feed the fish?"
Yu Tan blushed and said with slight anger, "I like it."
She threw all the fish food in her hand out, and the fish in the stream scrambled to grab it.
Previously, when Yu He'an was finishing her studies, she would run to the pond next to the quiet room to feed the fish. As long as she finished feeding the fish, Yu He'an would come to pick her up.
She's been in Yuyang for almost a year now. Yuhe Anqiu passed the imperial examination and hasn't come to Yuyang even once. She's fed the fish so many times, but no one has come to pick her up.
She's gone, and Yu He'an is probably overjoyed; he'll be rid of this troublesome woman.
The boy said in a panic, "Why do you look like you're about to cry? Feed me if you want..."
Jiang Tingfeng was a distant relative of Madam Song. His parents died early, and he was raised in Yuyang. Later, he became acquainted with Madam Song. At the age of sixteen, he asked for a letter of recommendation and went to work under Yu Zheng. He was an ambitious person who was also ruthless to himself.
Jiang Tingfeng didn't tell her when he went with the army; there was no farewell between friends before he left.
*
Yu Tan pulled herself out of her reverie and shook her head: "They send one every year."
"Aren't you going to open it and take a look?"
Jiang Tingfeng's letter was thin and paled in comparison to Chu Minglang's.
The contents of the letter are obvious without even opening it; they are exactly the same as those from previous years.
She's not dead, don't worry. Wishing Miss Yu a peaceful year ahead.
"No, let's not tear it down." There's nothing to see anyway, Yu Tan thought to herself, her head down.
"I can't watch?"
Yu Tan shook her head: "No, there's nothing to see."
Yu He'an's gaze remained fixed on the letter, as if something serious was about to happen if she didn't open it. Resigned, she tore open the letter, revealing only two lines of small regular script on the thin paper:
"I'm still alive this year, and I even got promoted."
Lady Yu, I have good news: the battle went very smoothly, and your father will be returning to Bianjing ahead of schedule.
There's also bad news: your father is going to find you a concubine. You're in for a lot of trouble.
Yu Zheng wasn't looking for a concubine for them; he had clearly discovered his own daughter and was keeping her with him, which led to misunderstandings.
Yu Tan reached out to try and block out the last line of small print, but it was too late. Her face turned pale as she stared at Yu He'an.
“Brother, this man is prone to talking nonsense and cannot be trusted. Father is not that kind of person.”
Author's Note: Thank you to Bi Bao Ya Zi Xi Ha Ye Ze Lu Bian Dang Xian Yu De Lai Jian He Ji Shi Jie Mian Mao uksophie for the nutrient solution [starry eyes]
Today's update is a combined update with tomorrow's! The next update will be at midnight on the 14th.
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