Chapter 30 There was a certain joy and excitement in seeing his fiancée...
She muttered to herself, "Brother, so you've come out to discuss scholarship."
His gaze lingered on her for only a few moments before shifting away to continue his conversation with the young man opposite him.
She got into the carriage, opened the window, propped her head up, and observed the vendors on the street, waiting for Yu He'an to return to the mansion together.
She felt that someone was looking at her intentionally or unintentionally. She thought it was Yu He'an, so she raised her head and curled the corners of her lips, but her eyes met those of the young man opposite Yu He'an.
The young man laughed heartily; he was the second son of Minister Liu, whom he had met a few times at banquets and they were acquaintances who nodded to each other.
She nodded and smiled.
Liu Erlang laughed even more heartily, looking a bit dazed.
She stepped back into the inner room and waited for a quarter of an hour. Yu He'an lifted the carriage curtain and came in. Sunlight shone on his face, and the confusion on his face had completely disappeared, returning to his usual indifference.
"Brother." She quickly moved to the side to make room for Yu He'an.
"Why are you talking business for so long?" Yu He'an lifted the hem of his shirt and sat on the other side of the carriage, almost an arm's length away from her.
"We only talked about business for a short while; afterwards, I inquired about love potions."
Yu He'an turned his head to look out the car window and sneered, "No good at all, just a despicable person who can't get what he wants and resorts to such underhanded means..."
The tone of his voice was full of mockery and sneer, sounding more like self-mockery than criticism of others.
She frowned. Was Yu He'an such a rare find?
She went through her thoughts and realized with a start that there was a five-year gap between them.
She didn't know who it was, but if Yu He'an wanted it, the noble lady wouldn't be hard to find.
She wanted to tell Yu He'an that if it were a woman he liked, and if she treated her with kindness and gentleness, she would probably grant his request.
But when he looked up, he saw Yuhe looking relieved and at ease.
Her words caught in her throat; she didn't want to say anything more.
She selfishly thought that Yu He'an was just her older brother.
Next, both she and Yu He'an became very busy.
At most, they would chat for half an hour each afternoon, and it would only consist of a few words.
Yu He'an spoke to her less and less. Before the New Year, he would give her some pointers on her business. Later, after she greeted him, he would nod perfunctorily and then bury himself in his studies. I never saw that bewildered look on his face again.
She was busy catching up on sleep, managing her business, and trying her best to salvage the relationship.
A letter arrived from Madam Song, informing her that they had already set off for Bianjing and would likely arrive after the imperial examinations. She happily ran to Fengxu Courtyard, holding the letter in her hand.
He circled around Yu He'an several times and read the letter to him.
Yu He'an nodded again, then coldly moved a little further away from her. Yu Tan tried to grab his sleeve, but the soft, smooth brocade slipped through her fingers.
As she took a step closer, Yu He'an took a step further away.
Yu Tan was a little at a loss. Yu He'an's avoidance was obvious, even though he had said he wouldn't disturb her.
She's always slow to realize things.
"Brother, am I too noisy?"
"No." Yu He'an lowered his eyelids, concealing the emotions in his eyes, which were mostly indifferent.
"That's good." She clutched the letter helplessly, read it a few more times, and returned to her courtyard.
Half a month later, in the third month of spring, the imperial examinations officially began.
The spring chill was still in the air, especially when sitting for long periods during the imperial examinations. Yu Tan, wanting to mend her relationship with Yu He'an, gave him the knee pads she had embroidered for half a month.
The knee pads were made of soft plain brocade, embroidered with a lone crane, and lined with rabbit fur, which was very elegant and suited Yu He'an's taste.
Yu He'an stroked the lone crane on his knee pad with his fingertips, over and over again. Yu Tan glanced at it, and his expression clearly showed that he liked it.
"Did you have it embroidered by a skilled embroiderer again?"
"I...I embroidered it." Yu Tan lowered her head. "Brother, please don't be angry with me, okay?"
"Angry?" Yu He'an paused, his Adam's apple bobbing as he stroked the embroidered patterns. It turned out that his deliberate aloofness was interpreted by Yu Tan as him being angry.
Yu Tan lowered her voice: "Isn't that right? Don't be angry."
Yu He'an reached out and straightened the tassels on her head, then tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ear. "She's not angry, never has been."
Yu Tan was even more confused. What was going on with Yu He'an's unusual behavior?
Yu Tan pursed her lips, her eyelashes drooping, her lips pressed tightly together, looking a little confused and at a loss. They had finally broken the ice in their relationship, so how did it turn out like this again?
Yu He'an reached out and pinched her hair bun. "There are some things I haven't figured out, and I keep thinking about them, so I talk less."
Yu Tan opened her eyes slightly. What kind of question was so difficult? They were almost in the exam hall, and Yu He'an still hadn't figured it out.
Yu Tan looked distressed: "Why didn't we go to the Imperial Academy to ask a few days ago? What are we going to do now? What if we pass the exam?"
"Won't."
"How could they not know? The exam questions are sophistry; this year's candidates are set to govern the country, the next year they'll be tasked with flood control and canal digging..."
Yu He'an smiled and said, "You seem to know a lot about this..."
A warm hand slid down from her hair bun, which she grabbed and stuffed with a yellowed talisman. "Brother, this is something I specially went to Huguo Temple to ask for. It will definitely bless you to pass the imperial examination."
Yu He'an put away the amulet and knee pads. She watched Yu He'an enter the examination hall, thinking that they had finally made up.
The imperial examinations were held in three sessions over a total of nine days.
She had anticipated that Yu He'an's ranking wouldn't be too bad, but she was still nervous. She originally planned to pick Yu He'an up on the last day of the exam to take him back home.
Suddenly, a servant brought news that Madam Song's carriage had entered Bianjing City.
Yu Tan wore a light green jacket and a light green skirt. Her face was only lightly made up, and her hair was decorated with a hairband. She looked charming and lovely.
Because she's been sleeping in lately, she's in much better shape and doesn't need heavy makeup to cover up her flaws. The light makeup makes her look even more elegant and refined.
Leading everyone, they stood in front of the alley of the Marquis's residence and waited for half an hour before finally seeing the carriage of Old Madam Song.
"Yaoyao." The carriage window was opened, revealing the face of Old Madam Song, who was radiant and must have been doing very well in Lingnan.
"Grandmother, is Lingnan fun?" She stood in front of the carriage, welcoming Madam Song to get off.
Old Madam Song patted her hand: "How amusing! You wouldn't go even when I told you to. Have you made a name for yourself in business yet?"
She puffed out her chest proudly: "Business is booming. I'll have Granny Chang check it out later."
“Granny Chang doesn’t have time to check your private accounts. The accounts of the Marquis’s mansion are enough to keep her busy.”
Yu Tan smiled. It was clear that Old Madam Song didn't care about her private accounts, and all the profits would go to her.
"Back in Bianjing, it always feels cold; Lingnan is much warmer."
Yu Tan tilted her head and said in a coquettish tone, "Grandmother, you've been here all winter and you're already complaining about the house?"
"Once I've earned some more money this year, I'll buy a big house in Lingnan. That way, we can drive there in the fall, stay until winter, and then come back. What do you say?"
Madam Song patted her head: "Okay, I'll wait for you to buy it for me. If it's not enough, I'll fill it up from my private treasury."
Yu Tan feigned innocence: "I guarantee it will be fine."
"I must thank Minglang this time."
She helped Old Madam Song out of the carriage. Old Madam Song raised her head in Chu Minglang's direction, and she looked in that direction.
Chu Minglang, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold and with his hair tied high in a ponytail, tightened the reins upon seeing her, spurred his horse, stopped in front of her, and dismounted.
The boy's hurried running pace and the undisguised emotion on his face made it hard for anyone to miss him.
More than two months had passed since they parted, and Chu Minglang missed Yu Tan very much.
Madam Song asked him several times about his feelings for Yu Tan, and he always replied, "Sister Yu is as beautiful as a lotus, charming and lovely. If I could have her as my wife, I would keep her in a golden house."
Madam Song smiled and patted his hand, very satisfied.
With the approval of Madam Song, his marriage to Yu Tan was practically a done deal, and his constant attentiveness over the past two months had not been in vain.
When he saw Yu Tan again, he felt the same joy and excitement as when he saw his fiancée.
He stepped forward and said with a smile, "Sister Yu, what are you doing waiting here?"
"Young Master Chu." Yu Tan curtsied and stepped back slightly. "I heard the news and wanted to see my grandmother as soon as possible, so I came out to wait."
Chu Minglang smiled slightly: "I also want to see you sooner."
Familiar background music played in my ears.
Chu Minglang took a step closer, his face revealing a myriad of emotions. He stared at Yu Tan blankly for a long time, then couldn't help but grasp Yu Tan's hand.
Suddenly, a startled and out-of-control oxcart appeared at the alley entrance, breaking through the crowd and rushing straight this way. Yu Tan was so frightened that her face turned pale. Chu Minglang reached out and shielded Yu Tan in his arms. The ox's hoof stomped hard on Chu Minglang's back, making him sweat profusely from the pain. Fortunately, Yu Tan, whom he was protecting, was unharmed.
Just as Chu Minglang stood up, a richly dressed man appeared at the alley entrance, his face cold and filled with murderous intent.
Chu Minglang endured the pain and asked, "Sister Yu, are you alright?"
Looking down, Yu Tan turned her face away, her expression flustered, staring blankly at the person at the alley entrance.
Yu Tan realized her mistake; she never imagined that her affair with the two of them would be exposed so quickly.
Why is Ji Yushang here?
Chu Minglang stepped forward and blocked her way, his hand already in hers.
The girl's face flushed with embarrassment. This time, she didn't dodge. Rather than being led by the hand, she didn't want to be trampled by a cow. She didn't want to lie in bed for half a month.
Seeing that Yu Tan didn't dodge, Chu Minglang assumed that Yu Tan was interested in him. He smiled and said in a warm and gentle tone, "Sister Yu, I have prepared a gift for you."
To be honest, Chu Minglang wasn't her type, so she didn't understand why she would fall for him in the story.
Are you thoughtful and considerate in your actions, and do you often bring her gifts? Will these things really win her over?
The gift Chu Minglang gave her last time is still tucked away in some corner; she hasn't even opened it.
Yu Tan resisted the urge to pull her hand away: "I've already troubled you this time, and you still brought me a gift."
Chu Minglang's embarrassment became even more pronounced: "No need to be so polite with me. There's something I want to tell you. I'll be visiting the Marquis's residence in a few days..."
"Quick, get out of the way!" The servant hurriedly escorted Old Madam Song out of the alley and hid.
Chu Minglang pulled her to run and avoid them, but suddenly tripped and fell down with her. Fortunately, he used himself as a shield to cover her completely.
The ox's hoof stepped onto Chu Minglang's back and then rushed out of the alley.
"Ugh." Chu Minglang cried out in pain. After several dozen breaths, she endured the pain and then helped herself to leave. "Sister Yu, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Yu Tan shook her head. She was alright, but Chu Minglang looked quite badly injured.
Before her identity was exposed, Chu Minglang treated her with relative gentleness and politeness, and she should have been relatively easy to get along with.
She was more curious about who had replaced Ji Yushang in the role this time.
She glanced at the alley entrance, her face paled, and she quickly moved to the side, afraid that he would see her embracing Chu Minglang.
She had lost all interest in watching the drama unfold.
Author's Note: Thank you to MiMaoXiHaYeZe for the nutrient solution [lop-eared rabbit head].
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