Chapter 42 The person will eventually be his.
When she woke up, she reached out and touched the blankets beside her.
It was empty, and even cold.
I've been gone for a long time.
She suspected that Yu He'an was right next to her, so she lay down for a while and then left, just to put on a show to reassure her. Fortunately, she slept well.
I've been recuperating from this illness for almost a month, and I'm finally able to get out of bed and walk around.
After washing up, she changed into a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and went to the yard to bask in the sun.
She pinched her ill-fated right leg, which had been injured several times in the past few months.
With Zhao Qin's choice of personnel to be sent to Huizhou finalized, she was now facing a dilemma regarding who to send.
Lanxin was born into a family with both her parents living in the Marquis's mansion, so she certainly didn't want to leave.
Qiaoxin is getting married in two months, and she has already prepared a red envelope for her, intending to let her leave the mansion.
Only Huixin remained. Huixin was interested in going to Huizhou, but if she went, no one would take care of the business in Bianjing.
She used the ledger to shield herself from the sun; it was time to expand her business, giving her a way out.
"My lady, you called me." Huixin quickly entered the courtyard. These days she had been handling business outside the mansion. Yu Tan had basically entrusted her with all the business matters. Unless there was a major change in Yu Tan's business, she would not have been called back to the mansion. "Recently, we have made enough money. Should we expand the business further, or deposit the profits into the bank?"
“Huixin, I mentioned to you before about going to Huizhou.” Yu Tan moved the account book aside and stared intently at Huixin.
Huixin is a rare talent in business. It would be best if she were kept in the household when she left.
“My lady, I can go to Huizhou, but can you find someone to replace me in Bianjing?” Huixin knelt in front of her, her little face full of worry.
She understood Huixin's concerns; while expanding the business was important, the most important thing was the original foundation.
Huixin didn't understand. She never intended to stay in Bianjing. All her businesses and careers had to be moved outwards, the farther the better, the more difficult it was for these powerful and influential people to reach.
Only then can she and Zhao Qingwu live freely.
She handed Huixin a piece of Xuan paper tucked inside the account book; it was a slave contract she had specially obtained, a release contract written yesterday.
When Huixin received the slave contract, her hands trembled. "My lady, what does this mean?"
"After all, we're going to a faraway place, so it's more convenient to be free. As for the business in Bianjing, we'll sell off what we can in the next few days, even if the price is a little lower. Apart from the four thousand taels of silver, we'll deposit the large amount into the bank and carry the small amount with us."
The four thousand taels was the capital she returned to the Marquis's mansion. If she were to scold her again in the future, it wouldn't be too harsh.
Huixin frowned deeply: "Why the rush? We can just sell them slowly..."
The biggest taboo for business people is to give up profits; they want to keep every penny for themselves.
"We need to hurry, business in Huizhou isn't so easy." She shielded her face with the ledger and continued to bask in the sun. "How long will it take to finish these?"
The time before she is exposed is not long. If she is exposed, she probably won't be able to take a single penny with her.
“My lady.” Huixin sensed something was wrong, but seeing that Yu Tan had no intention of continuing, she said, “I can get it done within a month.”
"Okay, after you've taken care of it, let's head to Huizhou with Zhao Qin's men."
"Yes." Huixin accepted the order and left the courtyard.
No matter the season, she doesn't like to move around much. Lying in the yard to bask in the sun at the end of spring has become her greatest pastime.
She still had nightmares at night, but she was able to sleep peacefully for three hours a day without having to rack her brains to run to Fengxu Courtyard every day.
Yu He'an has become noticeably busier. He used to come every day when she was first bitten, but now she hasn't seen him for three or four days.
Chu Minglang came every day, and her feelings for him became complicated.
She became more or less averse to him, and even felt an instinctive urge to be close to him.
A thought arose in my mind.
Perhaps she should try to accept him. If he remembers their past relationship, he won't do anything to her, and might even help her.
She clutched her chest.
This thought is terrifying; it gives me a sense of helplessness, like entrusting my life to someone else.
She lay in the rocking chair, basking in the sun and enjoying the peace and quiet. Not long after, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, and she moved the account book aside.
"Yaoyao, you're the most carefree person in the entire Marquis's mansion." Chu Minglang, wearing a bright blue round-necked robe, walked quickly into the courtyard with a gentle smile on his face. As he moved, a glint of light could be seen on his wrist, and upon closer inspection, a silver bracelet about half a finger's thickness could be seen.
There are many silver ornaments for young men, but they are mostly used as hair ornaments or belts. It is extremely rare for young men to wear silver bracelets in Bianjing.
"Why are you still spacing out?" Chu Minglang walked closer and stood in front of Yu Tan.
Yu Tan was fair-skinned, and although she was holding the account book, her cheeks were still flushed from the sun, just like a young girl blushing when she saw her beloved.
These days, Yu Tan no longer resists getting close to him, and he no longer needs to stand several meters away from her.
"Are you confused by the sun?"
She pursed her lips, a little annoyed: "Move aside, you're blocking the sun."
She's practically grown mushrooms from lying around in the house.
“Your face is all red from the sun…” Chu Minglang squatted down, almost level with the recliner, and lay down next to it.
The sunlight fell back on her face, warm and comforting.
A finger appeared near her face, seemingly intending to poke her, but she subtly dodged it. Her body, as if possessing its own will, veered back, but thankfully the finger had already moved away.
Recently, her leg injury has improved a lot. However, since being bitten by a snake, she seems to have contracted some other illnesses. Initially, she just felt itchy for no apparent reason, and no matter how many times she bathed, she could not get rid of the symptoms.
The itching has subsided a bit in the last two days, but my chest has become filled with an indescribable restlessness, and my lower abdomen feels like it's filled with water, making me feel so uncomfortable that I feel like I'm about to fall down.
She squeezed the sachet hidden in her sleeve, and covered her lower abdomen with one hand to calm the restlessness.
Chu Minglang took in Yu Tan's subtle movements. The love potion was starting to take effect. He smiled and said, "The Marquis's mansion is in a frenzy. Aren't you going to take a look?"
She was stunned.
For a moment, I couldn't figure out what the household had been busy with lately.
"He's really out of his mind. Brother He'an got first place in the palace examination and was personally selected by His Majesty as the top scholar. The news just reached the Marquis's residence, and Old Madam Song is preparing a banquet to entertain the neighbors and share in the joy."
She exclaimed in surprise, "Brother, you've become the top scholar!"
Knowing the plot in advance is one thing, but when she actually faced it, she still couldn't hide her excitement.
After years of hard study, I finally passed the high school entrance exam.
“If you had reacted any slower, you probably wouldn’t have seen Brother He’an return to the manor.”
Ignoring her discomfort, she tossed the account book aside, immediately stood up, and headed towards the gate of the mansion.
Walking too fast caused his injured right leg to show signs of fatigue, and his lower abdomen felt like it was carrying a heavy weight.
New and old injuries seemed to pile up all at once. The more she tried to go faster, the slower she became. She even felt that her right leg was a little weak.
She had been resting in the yard and didn't move around much, so she thought her right leg had healed.
She was a little panicked and needed to see a doctor later. She didn't want to become a cripple and walk with a limp for the rest of her life.
"I was in a daze when I told you just now, but now I'm in a hurry."
Chu Minglang quickly walked to her side and supported her right arm. She finally became more steady, and the restlessness she felt was pushed back into her body the moment Chu Minglang approached. The heaviness in her lower abdomen turned into a dense, aching sensation, as if she were carrying a bellyful of murky water.
Why didn't anyone in the household tell you beforehand?
"I don't know either." Why didn't anyone tell her?
Chu Minglang supported her as they walked from Lanfang Courtyard to the gate of the mansion. After half an hour, the soreness and swelling became more and more pronounced.
A large crowd had already gathered in front of the mansion gate, and Old Madam Song was surrounded by the crowd, smiling broadly.
Several red ribbons were tied around the two stone lions in front of the gate, and a large circle of firecrackers was set off in the open space in front of the gate.
"Yaoyao and Minglang are here." Old Madam Song's gaze shifted from the alley entrance to Chu Minglang's supporting hand, and her smile widened.
"grandmother."
"Madam Song".
Since Yu Tan fell ill, their relationship has become much closer. Yu Tan is no longer cold and distant towards Chu Minglang, nor does she often cling to Yu He'an.
Everything is back on track.
"Today is a good day. He'an High School is one joy, and your grandmother has written several times to finalize your marriage, which is the second joy. It's a double celebration."
Chu Minglang smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam Song."
She remained silent for a long time, then looked up and saw Changming running from outside the alley into the Marquis's mansion.
"My lord is back! My lord is back..." Changming shouted joyfully.
She could no longer hear what her grandmother and Chu Minglang were saying. Changming entered the mansion with a radiant face, and a tall figure appeared at the alley entrance riding a fine horse.
Yu He'an was dressed in a crimson scholar's robe, the crimson color reflecting on his face, making his usually cold and aloof face come alive, and making him even more handsome and unparalleled.
He achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination before reaching adulthood, truly a young man who had achieved great success.
He dismounted and quickly walked to Madam Song, where he bowed.
"Grandmother, your grandson is back."
"He'an, you've worked hard." Old Madam Song patted his shoulder affectionately. "After all these years, you've finally made it through."
"Brother He'an."
"Brother."
Yu He'an turned around and saw her. For some reason, he felt his expression turn cold, and his gaze moved from her face to her hand.
It was as if the celebration had come to an abrupt end.
She curled her fingertips, only to find them being held in someone's hand. The palm was hot, and sticky sweat appeared on their clasped hands.
She quickly pulled her hand away, but fortunately Chu Minglang's grip wasn't too tight, and she was able to pull it away easily.
The atmosphere suddenly became strange. The servants lit firecrackers, and the crackling sound brought the atmosphere back to life.
The exploding cannonballs bounced straight at her. She dodged to the side, but the tall figure enveloped her, and large hands covered her ears, blocking out the noise.
The scent I smelled wasn't the familiar cedarwood, but sandalwood. At that moment, the scent that I had been trying to accept suddenly became repulsive to me.
The firecrackers continued for several dozen breaths. She dodged for a moment, and when the firecrackers stopped, she reached out and blocked Chu Minglang's hand that was covering his ears.
"Yaoyao, you're still the same as when you were little, so timid." Chu Minglang smiled indulgently and let go of her hand.
She tried to move to the side, but Chu Minglang held her arm. Chu Minglang leaned close to her and whispered, "Be careful, or your foot will hurt."
Pain shot through her calves and ankles, as if any further movement would truly cripple her, so she immediately stopped moving.
"It's only been a few days, and you're already whispering under my nose. I need to get your marriage arranged quickly."
Madam Song chuckled and teased, but no one noticed that when Chu Minglang covered Yu Tan's ears, Yu He'an also reached out his hand, which was subtly blocked by Madam Song.
"Hurry up and go inside. What are you standing there like an idiot in front of the mansion gate? Come on in."
Granny Liu helped Old Madam Song in front, and Chu Minglang went to help Yu Tan, but a hand snatched it away first, forcefully separating them and shielding the person under its own body.
"I deliberately didn't tell you, so why did you still come? Your foot injury hasn't healed yet, has it?"
A strong hand supported her arm, and the caressing brought a surge of heat that made her mouth dry and her lower abdomen tighten.
"Brother, I want to see you. It's such a joyous occasion that you passed the imperial examination..."
After leaving Chu Minglang, a wave of soreness and heaviness washed over her, and she could no longer stand. She was practically carried by Yu He'an, and it was only with his help that she was able to walk back.
Looking at the figure nestled in front of him, Chu Minglang felt increasingly uneasy, his heart filled with jealousy.
But it doesn't matter. As long as the love potion remains, the closer the relationship, the more intense the fire will burn. The rising desire will only make others feel like they're drinking poison to quench their thirst, except when they seek him out...
If Yu Tan can survive the first month, there's still the second month...
It gets harder and harder as time goes on.
The person will eventually belong to him.
Author's Note: Thank you to Yi Nan Yu Yan You Zi Mi Mao. Thank you to Yan & Huan for the nutrient solution. [Lop-eared rabbit head]
Happy National Day! [cheering emoji]
The love potion still needs to work. [Milk tea emoji]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
