Chapter 35 A sweet feeling began to well up inside my heart…
Half an hour ago.
Yu He'an strode across the lakeside corridor toward Hexiang Courtyard, with Changming following behind. Changming could sense a hint of urgency in Yu He'an's back.
He was anxious; he had never seen his beloved husband so anxious.
“Young master, there’s no need to be in such a hurry.” Granny Chang followed behind.
As Yu He'an approached the artificial hill, his steps grew slower and heavier, his gaze fixed intently on it.
Following Yu He'an's gaze, one could see Yu Tan and Chu Minglang's hands clasped together. Yu Tan's face still held a hint of helplessness, perhaps due to the young lady's shyness.
Yu He'an turned on his toes and headed towards Hexiang Courtyard.
Changming thought Yuhe'an was heading to Yutan, but he didn't expect her to actually go to Hexiang Courtyard.
"I wonder if my wife will be able to get used to it when she goes to Lingnan in the future."
Yuhe An turned her head. The midday sun of spring was extremely bright. The trees had sprouted new buds, which did not cover the bare branches, which swayed in the breeze.
From his vantage point, he could no longer see what was happening on the artificial hill.
When he saw Yu Tan and Chu Minglang standing together, all his thoughts were focused on one thing: the person standing next to Yu Tan should be him.
Driven by this surging possessiveness, he hurried here, only to realize that he was the one who pushed Yu Tan away.
He wanted Yu Tan to live a simple and happy life, instead of living her whole life amidst rumors and being hurt by words.
He should be Yu Tan's older brother, protecting her, not someone else.
"Lingnan has beautiful scenery and warm weather. Mr. Chu treats his wife very well. If your wife marries into Lingnan, she will surely live a good life."
Yu He'an sighed softly, "Lingnan is too far away..."
“What you say is true, my lord. If my wife stays in Bianjing, it will be more convenient for her to visit her family after the marriage. Would you, my lord, be willing to stay in Bianjing?” Changming agreed, then looked up and saw that Yu He’an had already disappeared.
Granny Chang caught up, panting heavily with her hands on her knees, so exhausted she could barely breathe. "My lord is here."
Changming shook his head, "They probably went to Hexiang Courtyard..."
*
Lanfang Courtyard should go to the right, while Hexiang Courtyard and Fengxu Courtyard should go to the left. She hesitated for a moment at the intersection, then stepped to the left.
Fortunately, her account book was at Fengxu Courtyard, and she made up her mind to go and retrieve it.
However, they walked slowly and didn't get out of the artificial hill even after half an hour.
If she walked slower, she could catch a nap when Yu He'an returned. Thinking of this, she walked even slower.
The sound effects of the plot played in my ears.
Ji Yushang was invited to the Marquis's mansion to paint, but he unexpectedly witnessed a scene that made him extremely jealous: Yu Tan and Wenrun Langjun were holding hands on the artificial hill.
The moment the pinkish-white figure appeared, he pinned her delicate body against the artificial hill and roared, "Yu Tan, who do you really like?"
Ji Yushang is clearly dead, but the related plot continues. The only one closest to the artificial hill is Chu Minglang. Could it fall on his head?
She leaned back suddenly, but a strong hand wrapped around her waist, preventing her from falling. The world spun around her, and she was pinned against the artificial hill.
The tall figure drew closer and closer, and she hurriedly placed her hands on the man's chest, her muscles tensing, and the hand gripping her waist tightened even more.
She looked up and saw who it was, and exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, brother!"
Her hands, which were supporting Yu He'an's chest, loosened.
What a coincidence!
Almost all of Ji Yushang's storyline has been twisted to involve Yu He'an. Strangely, the storyline was only triggered when encountering Ji Yushang or Chu Minglang before, but now it is triggered when encountering Yu He'an, and it is still the part involving Ji Yushang.
She pursed her lips; she couldn't figure it out.
Yu He'an's handsome face seemed to be covered in frost. They were so close that their breaths mingled together.
Yu Tan sat down on the rockery, leaned back, and relaxed a bit.
Yu He'an's Adam's apple bobbed, and he didn't say a word for a long time. The hand around her waist didn't loosen, and the heat in his palm seemed to penetrate the thin spring dress and burn the skin on her waist.
She even felt that area start to turn red and hot, and she shifted uncomfortably, moving away a little.
Looking at these gestures now, it's clear that Yu He'an was only trying to prevent her from falling; there was no coercion whatsoever.
"Why have you been on the artificial hill for so long?" Yu He'an lowered her head, and they got even closer, their noses almost touching.
It was too intimate. These actions would have been perfectly normal when they were young, but now... she quickly stepped back.
Her neck was held by a large hand, the warmth of the palm burning her skin. She couldn't move, and a hint of irritation appeared on her face.
"It crashed into a rock again."
Just like when she was daydreaming in class and the teacher suddenly asked her about her studies, she tried hard to remember: "Minglang is talking about Miao territory."
She didn't hear the specifics of what it was about, but she roughly knew it was about this.
Is it interesting?
Sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns on the ground. One patch fell on Yu He'an's nose, and she could even see the fine hairs on the tip. She looked away uncomfortably.
She sat on a rock, her legs off the ground, her embroidered shoes slipping out from under her dress. She swayed gently and said, "It's alright."
Anyway, she didn't hear clearly; she just wanted to ask Miao Jiang for help in treating Zhao Qingwu. Now that Zhao Qingwu is cured, she naturally lost interest.
The hands around her waist tightened slightly: "Do you like Chu Minglang? Are you happy when you're with him?"
"It's alright."
The plot unfolds like a confrontation between rivals when it focuses on Ji Yushang, but it also feels like an elder brother's concern for Yu He'an, wondering if she is satisfied with the husband chosen for her by the Marquis's mansion.
She turned her face away, refusing to say the words "I like you" against her will.
Yu He'an took a half step back, loosening his grip on her neck and waist. She felt that Yu He'an's expression had grown even colder, and the surroundings seemed to freeze over.
She used the rock as leverage to jump down, landing right on Yu He'an's shadow's head.
"Brother, have you been to Grandmother's?"
Yu He'an said in a low voice, "I've already been there."
She hopped to Yu He'an's side and said with a grin, "Which lady have you taken a fancy to? I'll check her out at the Spring Banquet, my future sister-in-law."
Yu He'an's gaze fell on her, his light-colored eyes like a calm sea with undercurrents surging beneath. "I refused."
"Huh?" Yu Tan blinked, puzzled. "Why did you refuse?"
Yu He'an's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice lowered even further, "Establish a career first."
That was just as she knew.
That's good too. For the next few months, Yu He'an will still be her brother.
A sweet feeling welled up inside me.
Her hand was grabbed, and Yu He'an pinched her fingertips. Her index finger was cut, and the wound had dried and left a scab. When the cut skin was peeled back, there were still a few remnants of willow twigs inside.
No wonder Chu Minglang felt more and more pain the more he pressed to stop the bleeding.
Yu He'an frowned: "It doesn't hurt anymore? Why didn't you say so for so long?"
Actually, she wasn't delicate at all; she was just spoiled by them. She could endure the pain of barbs and the bitter cold of winter.
But no one was willing to step from the hot spring into the cold pool.
"It doesn't hurt." The bloodstains dried into a dark scab at the wound on the fingertip.
"There's no need to endure it or compromise."
Yu He'an held her fingertips and gently removed the thorn, his movements as tender as if he were handling a precious treasure.
After removing the thorns from her fingertips, she tried to pull her hand back, but Yu He'an held it in his palm. It was dry and warm, and she felt a slight burn, so she quickly pulled her hand away.
Yu He'an gently patted the top of her head: "If he treats you badly, you must tell me."
She only wanted to use Chu Minglang as a shield for the marriage. Whether he treated her well or not, she didn't care at all. As long as he stayed obediently three meters away from her, that was enough.
"Brother, teach me how to ride a horse at the Spring Banquet."
She wanted to learn to ride a horse so that she could run faster when she went on business trips or fled from disaster.
"Hmm? Why do you suddenly want to learn?" Yu He'an looked down at her.
"I want to learn. You can teach me after you finish the competition." Seeing Yu He'an hesitate, she insisted, "Brother, you said you would teach me five years ago."
"That would be very late."
That was her agreement, and her eyes lit up.
"It's not too late. I need to find Miss Qi to play with first. I haven't seen her in a long time. This is perfect timing."
Yu He'an rubbed her head: "I won't keep you waiting too long."
*
The next day, early morning.
She woke up very early after her nightmare, just as dawn was breaking through the darkness.
The lamps for keeping watch were still lit, their light dim and gentle in the dim light of the day.
Lanxin was still fast asleep, and even in her sleep she held a white handkerchief in her hand to prevent herself from biting off her tongue in her sleep.
She no longer bites herself because of nightmares.
Wearing embroidered shoes, she tiptoed to the cabinet, looking for a set of clothes suitable for riding a horse.
"What are you looking for, my wife?"
As soon as she moved, Lanxin woke up, gently pushed open the window, and the fresh scent of grass and trees blew in.
"What clothes should I wear to the banquet later?"
Lanxin was in charge of managing her clothes, and among the colorful wardrobe, she couldn't find a single neat dress.
"My lady, the dress for the Spring Banquet has been prepared long ago. Wearing this, you will surely be the most beautiful lady at the Spring Banquet."
A brand new ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), the latest style, made of precious Shu brocade, with pearl chains on the hem and waist, gorgeous and beautiful, a style she often wore, must be a new outfit for spring.
Yu Tan smiled and said, "I won't wear this. I'm going to learn to ride a horse today, so I need to change into something more practical."
"Why does my wife suddenly want to learn riding and archery?" Lanxin quickly pulled out a set of Jiaoyue narrow-sleeved ruqun from the top shelf of the cabinet. It was made a few years ago, and although the style was old, it was still a new dress.
"I've wanted to learn this for a long time, this is it." She happily changed her clothes and put her hair up in a simple bun.
*
The Spring Banquet: The emperor would go on an excursion to Fengshan, and then host a banquet for the princes and dukes.
Young men from prominent families participated in a horseback archery and hunting competition at the back of Fengshan Mountain.
In the past, the eldest princess often claimed to be ill, but recently it is said that she has received great news and will announce it at the spring banquet.
Yu Tan's carriage followed far behind the spring outing group. Lifting the curtain, Yu He'an wore a scarlet round-necked, narrow-sleeved hunting outfit. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail with a matching ribbon hanging down, the ends of which were embroidered with solitary cranes. She held the reins in one hand.
The sun slowly rose behind him, its rays bathing his shoulders in golden and crimson hues, adding vibrancy to Yu He'anping and softening his coldness.
Yu Tan squinted as the sunlight stung her eyes, even though the color she had chosen was extremely suitable for Yu He'an.
She waved her hand: "Brother."
Yu He'an turned around, a slight smile playing on his lips, and pulled on the reins with one hand. "Yaoyao."
"Brother He'an, Yaoyao." A gentle male voice rang out as Chu Minglang waved to them and rode up.
Ji Yushang wanted to take this opportunity to expose her relationship with Yu Tan to the aristocratic families, so that the Marquis's mansion would have no choice but to acknowledge it.
He had barely exchanged a few words with Yu Tan when someone interfered. Rivals in love are always eyeing each other with intense hatred, and he glanced sideways at Chu Minglang.
Ji Yushang spurred his horse closer, his forehead almost touching Yu Tan's: "Don't forget, we made a promise."
Yu Tan paused as she lifted the carriage curtain, staring at Yu He'an in disbelief.
He has actually been able to trigger Ji Yushang's storyline several times.
Could it be because Yu He'an was inexplicably involved in the plot before?
Yu Tan whispered, "Young Master Chu."
Yu He'an nodded: "Minglang."
"Brother He'an, we need to hurry up and get to the front."
Yu He'an's gaze lingered on her face for a long while.
"Brother, go quickly, don't forget our promise."
Yu He'an moved closer, his warm breath spraying onto her face, his fingertips caressing her cheeks and brushing away the playful strands of hair.
His expression remained as indifferent as ever, yet the atmosphere around him was ambiguous and damp.
“Brother.” She gently pushed Yu He’an’s hand away.
"Okay, wait for me." Yu He'an spurred his horse and rode off one after the other with Chu Minglang.
She touched the spot where Yu He'an had touched; it was hot and burning.
Both she and Yu He'an were a little off-putting by the plot. She pulled the carriage curtain open wider, and a gentle breeze brushed against her cheeks, dispelling the heat.
The carriage stopped at a clearing halfway up the mountain. Yu Tan alighted from the carriage, her long boots stepping onto the soft ground.
The surroundings were lush and green, a vibrant scene, and not far away, many forsythia flowers were in bloom.
She spotted the Qi family's carriage and walked forward, encountering three or four familiar ladies who all turned their faces away indifferently when they saw her.
She walked a little further away, and then she heard a few hushed voices behind her.
She frowned, somewhat puzzled.
When they arrived at the Qi residence's carriage, the coachman stood by, bowing deeply.
“Miss Yu, what a pity, my wife was just summoned away by the princess.”
"It's alright, we can get together again after she comes back."
As Yu Tan walked towards the carriages of the Yu family, the gossip of the noble ladies would cease wherever she went, only to resume as soon as she moved a short distance away.
Even if she were slow to realize it, she would know that the ladies of noble families were probably talking about her.
Lanxin said worriedly, "My lady."
"It's alright." Anyway, she always finds a place to stay by herself every year.
Yu Tan straightened her back and walked back to the carriage step by step. She walked a little further in and chose a quiet corner. Further out, there were banquet flags with yellow backgrounds, black characters, and a red border.
"Young Lady Yu, aren't you curious about what these ladies from noble families are talking about?"
Yu Tan looked up and saw a young woman dressed in a sky-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). The fabric was not of the highest quality, but the dress was clean and incense was burning.
But this was not the face she wanted to see, Li Xu.
Author's Note: Thank you MiMaoYan & HuanXiaoHuangJi for the nutrient solution! [starry eyes]
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