Chapter 53 Bring them back quickly!
Her tone was as gentle as moonlight, as if, just as Yu He'an had said, she only needed to nod to return to the Marquis's residence.
Old Madam Song will treat her the same as before, and everything will be the same as before.
If only we could go back to the way things were.
Why do we still have to wait?
My back rested against his warm chest, as if it were the most solid support in the world.
After asking, I stopped pressuring her and patiently waited for an answer.
She didn't answer, but instead hugged Yu He'an tightly with both hands, turned her face away from his caresses, and buried it in his chest, as if all the difficulties and obstacles were blocked outside.
Despite knowing the difficulties and obstacles, she was still moved.
Yu He'an is a man of his word; he always does what he says he will do.
If there is even a glimmer of hope, can things truly turn out perfectly?
"Yaoyao, don't worry about leaving her to me."
"Brother, I'm sleepy."
Her fingertips brushed against his warm cheek, but she remained nestled in his arms, like a vine clinging tightly to a tree trunk.
Just moments ago, my heart was tense from wanting an answer, as if it were filled with heavy, wet cotton. The water inside the cotton was squeezed out, leaving only the cotton filling my heart, like a puppet with a mechanical fake heart propping it up.
He kept trying to comfort himself.
As long as Yu Tan is there, that's fine. I can tell him the answer next time, or I can wait a long time, as long as he's there.
Yu Tan has always faced more challenges than him, and taking this step is ten thousand times more difficult for her than for him.
Haven't I been telling myself not to pressure her?
A long time passed, so long that he thought Yu Tan wouldn't answer.
A muffled sound rose from his chest.
"Brother, I'll tell you the answer after you come back, okay?"
Even though he's usually very perceptive, it took him half a quarter of an hour to react; his emotions outpaced his brain.
Joy spread from my chest to my whole body.
He cherished it and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you."
Yu Tan's hand did not loosen; even in her sleep, she held him just as tightly.
He knew what Yu Tan's answer was.
If she refuses, she will say it out loud on the spot, giving no hope whatsoever.
Facing difficulties head-on has never been in her nature. She would choose the easiest path and try to make herself as comfortable as possible. That's why, even after learning about her background, she still hid in the Marquis's mansion, secretly planning for herself and trying to live a better life in the future.
It took her the greatest courage to agree to walk this path with him.
His heart was already full; he wanted to resolve everything quickly so they could be together openly and honestly.
*
When Aunt He got up early in the morning, the wind had picked up the night before, and she occasionally heard the cries of kittens, probably startled by the wind.
Leaves were blown all over the yard, and while sweeping, I caught a glimpse of the house.
The young girl tiptoed to adjust Yu He'an's hair ornament, and the atmosphere between the two was more intimate than before.
She hurriedly looked away and finished sweeping the yard. Half an hour passed before the door to the house was finally opened.
The girl's face was flushed, and there was still a glistening moisture on her lips. She stood beside Yu He'an, not five meters away as usual.
Seemingly noticing her gaze, he stopped dodging and smiled at her, his smile as bright as the morning sun.
When he saw Yu He'an out of the courtyard, he no longer hid and let her hold his hand.
After seeing Yu He'an off, Yu Tan returned to the courtyard.
Only then did Aunt He notice that Yu Tan looked very different today. She was wearing a light red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and a bright crimson shawl, looking lively and vibrant.
A serene and elegant demeanor has never been her style; this is the real her now.
The withered flowers were replanted by the florist and bloomed beautifully.
"Madam, you should have told me sooner that those dresses aren't your usual clothes." Aunt He put down the broom and washed her hands in front of the courtyard.
For a while, she was living in a daze and didn't care about the style of her clothes.
Yu Tan turned around and said with a smile, "Aunt He, we can buy the dress later. Today is the most important day. I want to eat noodles for dinner."
Aunt He, unaware that it was her birthday, smiled and agreed.
Although Aunt He was keen on gossip, she had no interest in prying into people's secrets; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone for so long without discovering that she was a woman who had been kicked out of the Marquis's mansion.
After lunch, she put on her veil and, as usual, went to the teahouse to listen to storytelling.
When she returned, the sun was setting. As she entered the alley again, she saw Jiang Tingfeng there the day before, and she felt somewhat uneasy.
The advantage of being afraid of death is that she is keenly aware of other people's malice and avoids it clearly. She adheres to the principle of not provoking her and not provoking her either.
Fortunately, she didn't encounter her frightened figure again along the way.
When she returned to the courtyard, Aunt He had already kneaded the dough and baked the shortbread. The aroma wafted outside the courtyard. Only when she saw her enter the courtyard did she start rolling out the dough.
The noodles were stretched into long strands, dropped into boiling water, and rolled several times before being scooped out and placed in a white porcelain bowl. Bright green scallions floated on the surface, and a golden fried egg rested on top.
She sat at the octagonal table, closed her eyes, and prayed for a smooth year ahead.
I heard footsteps beside me. When I opened my eyes, I saw Yu He'an standing tall and graceful in front of the table, blocking the last rays of the setting sun. The gold around him was gilded.
Changming stood in the courtyard, carrying a bundle on his back, looking quite anxious about the matter.
Did the banquet at the Marquis's residence end so early?
Yu He'an apologized, "I got back a little late."
"Brother, have you eaten yet?"
They only briefly visited the banquet at the Marquis's residence before rushing here.
"Not yet." Yu He'an sat to her left, shook her head, got up and went to the kitchen to get a bowl of noodles, quietly enjoying the peace.
The proper etiquette for dining is to remain silent while eating and sleeping. After putting down his chopsticks, Yu He'an finally spoke: "I might have to go for a month or two."
The situation was more complicated than he had imagined. The journey to Quzhou was long, and in addition to overturning the case, he now had an additional official duty.
The original plan was to leave after Yu Tan's birthday, but three secret orders were issued in succession, urging him to set off today.
"So long?" Then it will be midsummer when he comes back. She originally thought that Yu He'an was just going to Quzhou to find a few witnesses and check the statements from back then.
She finally finished her bowl of longevity noodles, and feeling a little bloated, she lay back in her chair, squinting and feeling sleepy.
“I’m afraid Bianjing is not peaceful… Yaoyao, do you want to go to Yuwu Manor?” Yu He’an’s gaze fell on Yu Tan’s face. If only he could shrink Yu Tan a little, he could carry her around wherever he went.
Yu Tan shook her head; she was used to staying here.
She also needed to contact Zhao Qin to discuss future business in Huizhou, as going to Yuwu Mountain Villa was inconvenient.
"News has come from the palace that the Emperor is seriously ill. The First Prince is ambitious and may cause trouble, affecting innocent bystanders." Yu He'an paused, then added, "Chu Minglang is currently serving under the First Prince and is enjoying great influence. He will be returning to Bianjing soon."
"I will avoid him."
She remembered Chu Minglang's use of Gu poison, and she would have a chance to take revenge someday. Right now, she didn't have the ability to confront him head-on.
Seeing that Yu Tan insisted, he didn't force her anymore, thinking that Aunt He and Uncle Chen wouldn't cause any trouble.
"Remember to go out with Aunt He in the future." She gave him countless instructions before he left, and then carefully explained the details of the antidote, afraid that something might go wrong.
"Don't worry." She stood in front of the courtyard, her heart filled with sorrow.
It seems like we're always seeing people off; last time it was Zhao Qingwu, and this time it's Yu He'an.
*
A month passed, and the summer heat intensified. She became increasingly reluctant to move around and spent her time in the yard reading through all the storybooks she had bought.
In the past, she would go to the teahouse to listen to storytelling after lunch, but for several days in a row, even with the sun high in the sky, she did not go out.
Another day, when she woke up, dark clouds covered the sun, and the heat dissipated a bit. She planned to go out again to buy some storybooks.
As usual, Aunt He went to the East Wing to buy tea, drinks, fruits, and vegetables. The summer heat was intense, and the teahouses started telling stories in the morning. When she came out after listening to the story, Aunt He had not yet returned.
She stood in front of the small bookstall and bought all the newly published storybooks, when a sense of oppression suddenly appeared behind her.
When she turned around, she saw Jiang Tingfeng dressed in black light armor, without a sword at his waist, standing behind her, staring intently at her. She was so frightened that she took a few steps back.
When did you arrive?
How come she didn't notice at all?
She covered the curtain, ready to put on a show of mistaking someone for someone else.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Tingfeng went straight to the point, "Have you been sick these past few days?"
"No."
Who would curse someone to get sick the moment they meet? She frowned, and the vendor had already packed up the storybook and handed it to her.
A hand reached out to the vendor before she could, gesturing for her to hand him the stack of books.
The stack of books was quite heavy, so the vendor naturally handed it to the strong and healthy young man.
"It's good that you're not sick." Jiang Tingfeng didn't press further, but he didn't intend to return the notebook he was carrying. He followed her all the way to the alley where they encountered the vicious dog.
Yu Tan stopped moving. She didn't want anyone to know where she lived, fearing that her rare peaceful days would be shattered.
Jiang Tingfeng followed along for a long time, pondering his words, but couldn't utter a single one.
Xie Ling's case is questionable and there is a strong possibility of it being overturned.
However, from the moment he firmly believed that Xie Ling was the murderer who killed his parents and began to extend his resentment to Yu Tan, he was destined to be kicked out of the game.
Yu Tan stood far away from him, and every time he saw her, the first thing he would look at was that blade.
He originally thought his hatred was hidden in his heart, but Yu Tan already knew.
"Give me back the book."
"I've already asked for leave and will be going to Quzhou tomorrow. I'll investigate General Xie and Lord Zhao's case thoroughly." Jiang Tingfeng handed her the book, which she accepted with both hands.
After keeping these words hidden for so long, I've finally said them.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I took my anger out on you without knowing why."
She didn't understand; Mingming and Yuyang were actually quite good friends.
Even a few years ago, Jiang Tingfeng would send her letters to let her know he was safe.
Ji Yushang was lustful at first sight and wanted to drag her down with him, while Chu Minglang wanted to use her to gain the support of the Marquis's mansion.
Why did Jiang Tingfeng's childhood friend turn into someone who hates her?
After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke up: "Could you tell me why?"
Jiang Tingfeng looked up, his eyes filled with surprise. He thought Yu Tan knew all this, which was why she was avoiding him.
Yu Tan repeated, "Why do you hate me?"
Jiang Tingfeng gave a bitter laugh: "I was blinded by hatred and mistakenly thought that Xie Ling was a spy and the murderer who killed my parents, so I took my anger out on you as well. I'm sorry."
He resented her because of Xie Ling.
Who is Xie Ling to her?
Yu He'an will investigate Xie Ling's case and Zhao Ziyin's case together.
Zhao Ziyin, Xie Ling, and Zhao Qingwu.
Everything makes sense now.
Jiang Tingfeng hated Xie Ling and therefore hated her as well, simply because Xie Ling was her father.
No wonder Yu He'an was so eager to overturn the verdict.
If the case is not overturned, she will be the granddaughter of Zhao Ziyin, who was corrupt and abused his power, and the daughter of Xie Ling, who betrayed the country and colluded with the enemy.
Jiang Tingfeng said again, "I'm sorry."
She nodded, indicating that she understood.
The storybook in her hand felt a bit heavy, so she turned and walked into the alley. She knew these streets and alleys well; with a few twists and turns, she could always shake off people.
Jiang Tingfeng remained where he was, as if this chance encounter was merely an apology.
The midday sun shines on people, and their shadows fall at their feet, just tiny black dots.
No matter how hard he tries to climb up the social ladder, he is no longer worthy of Yu Tan.
Everything ended at the moment of resentment; clearly, he hated the version of himself who had fallen in love.
The group of people sneaked around the alley, their whispers reaching his ears.
"I clearly found out they lived here, so why can't I find them?"
"Quickly bring him back. Young master, you need to finish your business for the Crown Prince and return to Bianjing."
"My lord specifically requested to see Yu Tan."
Jiang Tingfeng instinctively reached for the sword at his waist, but missed.
*
Yu Tan finally rushed back to the courtyard, placed the storybook on the desk, fetched water outside the courtyard, and wiped the thin layer of sweat from her face.
There was a knock on the door outside the courtyard.
Author's Note: Thank you to Yuyanyouzi, ., Cat Head, AQ, and Giraffe for the nutrient solution! So happy! [Lop-eared rabbit head]
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