Chapter 63 I...I'm sorry...
Having been followed by Jiang Tingfeng before, she was always very perceptive and averse to this kind of spying from the shadows.
Yu Tan frowned and looked around. The bustling street was lively and lively, but she couldn't find anything unusual.
"There's nothing to do at home anyway." She handed the tidied clothes to He Sheng.
"Wait for me, just a moment." He Sheng happily accepted and hurried inside, almost bumping into a customer.
She glanced curiously into the inner room, and He Sheng happily ran towards the kitchen.
Thanks to their familiar relationship, He Sheng brought out a warm osmanthus cake half an hour later.
With so many people around, Yu Tan would definitely not dine here. Despite being an extremely dazzling woman, she always unconsciously avoided the crowd.
"Eat this on your way back; it's very sweet since it's fresh out of the oven." He Sheng handed her the pastry, and she accepted it with a smile.
A gentle breeze blew by, and she felt a chill run down her spine. The disgusting gaze made her feel like she was being pricked by needles. After thanking him, she wanted to leave.
However, a gentle breeze blew the dark clouds lower and lower, and the once bright sky became dark.
"I'm going back now." She picked up the pastries and started to leave. Staying in this place made her feel uneasy; she instinctively disliked this place.
"Don't rush, it's about to rain. Let's go back later." As soon as He Sheng finished speaking, large raindrops began to fall from the sky.
She came by carriage, so there was really no reason for her to linger here.
Summer rains are always accompanied by thunder and lightning. Raindrops splash on the ground, creating water droplets, and she pulled her feet back.
The restaurant was doing really well. He Sheng had only been free for a quarter of an hour when a waiter called him to settle the bill.
She wasn't the type to show weakness in front of strangers, so she smiled at He Sheng and said, "Go ahead, I'll leave once the rain stops, so I won't come to say goodbye."
As they were talking, a carriage sped through the rain and stopped in front of the restaurant across the street. A servant opened an oil-paper umbrella to shield her from the wind and rain. The woman in the bright red ruqun quickly took shelter under the eaves. Only when the oil-paper umbrella was closed did she see the woman's face clearly.
Princess Chang Le, whom I had met briefly at the racecourse before, and the young man who just entered with Yu He'an, should be the Fifth Prince Chu Yun Ce.
Princess Chang Le looked up and met her gaze through the rain. Her eyes darted around as if she remembered who she was.
Her status was now vastly different; she was no longer the lady of the Marquis's mansion. She smiled at Princess Chang Le, who nodded and took the oil-paper umbrella from the servant, then walked towards her.
Although she didn't understand why, she stood up and curtsied, saying, "Princess."
"What are you doing here?" Chang Le closed her umbrella and squeezed into the corridor.
His gaze fell on her oil paper package, and his stomach rumbled unnaturally. After traveling for several hours, the pastries were making Chang Le's stomach churn. She no longer hesitated, "What is this? It smells so good!"
Yu Tan smiled and handed the pastries to Chang Le: "These are freshly baked pastries. If the princess doesn't mind..."
Chang Le took the pastry, quickly unwrapped the oil paper package, put a warm pastry in her mouth, and swallowed it in two bites.
Her water-dampened eyebrows lifted slightly, and a smile spread across her face. Chang Le sat close to her until she finished the pastries wrapped in oil paper, then pointed to the restaurant across the street.
"Yu He'an is over there. You must have come to the wrong place. Let's go over together."
Yu Tan shook her head: "I'm not here to see my brother. I'll leave once the rain stops."
Chang Le asked curiously, "Huh? Aren't you looking for Yu He'an? Then who are you looking for?"
She whispered, "I've come to bring clothes to my husband."
"Ah..." It seems that's true. Chang Le couldn't hide her disappointment, the disappointment of losing another playmate.
"Princess, His Highness is urging you." Chang Le's personal maidservant pointed towards the restaurant. The window on the second floor was open, and Chu Yun Ce was standing alone by the window, gesturing for Chang Le to hurry up.
Within a few dozen breaths, the second-floor window was closed, and no more light could be seen inside the room.
"I have to go." Chang Le, holding an oil-paper umbrella, hurried into the rain.
Half an hour later, the rain gradually subsided, and Lanxin came to help her into the carriage with an oil-paper umbrella. They swayed and bumped all the way back.
After a long day in the carriage, she was extremely tired, so she took a bath and went to bed early.
Lanxin stood in front of the incense burner. "My lady, shall we burn that incense again today?"
She shook her head. "Forget it, incense won't help." Those strange dreams will still come.
"Wife, you're not going to drink the calming soup anymore. It's not good for your health if you drink it all the time." Lanxin was pulling the white porcelain bowl she was holding further away when she was stopped by her.
"It's okay." Drinking it will help me sleep longer, and sleeping is the best way to relieve fatigue. She didn't want to make things difficult for herself; she just wanted to live a better life.
"My lady, I'll stay and keep watch tonight." Lanxin lowered the gauze curtain for her and held the quilt.
"No need." She blushed just thinking about those embarrassing dreams every night. Lanxin was unaware of her entanglement with Yuhe'an. If she couldn't help but cry out in her sleep, how would she explain it? "Go to sleep."
Perhaps because Yu He'an was too cold during the day, the Yu He'an in her dream became exceptionally passionate, so intense that her legs felt weak when she woke up.
She buried her face in her palms, thinking dejectedly.
It's over, it's really over.
Fortunately, the beautiful dream then became warm and was no longer difficult to talk about.
Another month has passed, and lately she has only dreamed of someone holding her while she sleeps, their back against a warm chest, their arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly.
The feeling was so real that she was somewhat dazed when she woke up.
She had clearly promised Madam Song that she and Yu He'an would only be brother and sister, and that the Marquis's mansion would still be her maternal home. This was clearly what she had always dreamed of.
But in the dead of night, she was trapped in a series of beautiful and tender dreams, dreaming of being husband and wife with her brother.
It's as if she dares not ask for things during the day, but in her dreams she demands them back tenfold.
The letter Zhao Qingwu sent to her arrived, mentioning that she had met Zhao Qin, purchased the house, and furnished it. She could visit anytime she wanted.
Zhao Qingwu even took over a dessert shop, and business was doing reasonably well.
Clutching the letter, her empty heart was instantly filled. In a while, she would be able to start a new life. As time went by, her longing for her brother would slowly squeeze out of her world.
However, regarding Xie Ling's case, Yu He'an had previously mentioned the matter of submitting the petition to the Dali Temple, but there had been no follow-up. Apart from their chance encounter last time, they hadn't seen each other for a month, so naturally, they couldn't ask Yu He'an about it.
She packed her things and headed out, intending to try her luck at the Dali Temple.
As soon as the courtyard gate was opened, Liu Mama, looking anxious, was seen pacing back and forth in front of the gate.
"Granny Liu."
"Madam." Knowing that this matter was difficult, Granny Liu wrung her hands anxiously, and after a long while, she finally managed to squeeze out a few words, "Old Madam, we would like to ask you to go back and stay for a few days."
Since leaving the Marquis's mansion, both of my return visits have been unpleasant. The first time, I was forced into marriage, and the second time, I returned to my parents' home...
Yu Tan refused, saying, "Granny, I am already married and have my own family. There is no reason for me to go back to the Marquis's residence. I'm afraid people will gossip about me."
"Mother, Madam." Granny Liu hurriedly smiled apologetically. She had already used this excuse when the old lady was ill last time, but this time the old lady was really sick and had been keeping it a secret. Granny Liu really couldn't bear to see it anymore.
"Please go back, Granny Liu. I have something to do and will not be able to entertain you any longer."
Granny Liu quickly stepped forward and blocked her way. "Madam, the old lady is really ill. She has been ill ever since you returned home. The Marquis has been forbidding us servants from coming to see you, so as not to disturb your life any further."
She buttoned her cuffs, her fingertips pressing against the embroidery lines, the raised edges digging into her fingertips uncomfortably.
“I don’t know what’s happened lately, but the Marquis is so busy that he doesn’t come back to the manor for three or five days at a time, and the young master is the same. He only stays at Hexiang Courtyard for a short while each day before leaving. There’s no one to hold the reins in the manor…” As Liu Mama spoke, she took out her handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Judging from Liu Mama's appearance, Old Madam Song must be seriously ill. She sighed deeply, and it was impossible for her not to be distressed.
"Wait for me a moment." She hurriedly went back into the house and placed the petition in the dressing table's makeup box.
Before she even entered Hexiang Courtyard, she was overwhelmed by the smell of medicine. Several doctors were standing in the small hall, discussing treatment plans.
When she entered, Old Madam Song was buried in the brocade quilt, her cheeks were sunken, her cheekbones were prominent, and her originally rosy lips were pale. Her heart was immediately gripped.
At this moment, she would rather it was just a minor illness of Madam Song, like last time, and that she was just being fooled.
She stayed by Old Madam Song's bedside for an unknown amount of time, just like when Old Madam Song stayed by her side when she was sick as a child.
After discussing for a long time, the doctors drafted another prescription. Liu Mama was unsure and had no choice but to hand it to Yu Tan.
Long-term illness makes one a doctor.
She frowned as she stared at the dosage of the medicine. "Doctor, my grandmother is almost eighty years old. Isn't the dosage too strong?"
The head doctor said, "Madam, there's nothing we can do about it. We can only use strong medicine to get through this first, and then gradually recuperate. The old lady is in good health and can handle it."
She glanced at the much thinner-looking Madam Song, then at the prescription, and hesitated, reluctant to let the old woman take the risk.
"Vast and distant."
When Madam Song regained consciousness, her cloudy eyes looked at her. She called out softly, and she quickly squatted down and leaned close to Madam Song's side.
"I...I'm sorry."
She stiffened, her hands clutching her sleeves, and remained silent, overwhelmed with mixed emotions, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I...I'm sorry."
“Grandma will get better, everything will be alright.” She sniffed and squeezed the thin hand back.
Not long after regaining consciousness, Madam Song fell into a deep sleep again.
By the time she finished serving Madam Song her medicine, it was already late at night. She bent down in front of the bed, suddenly stood up, and her legs went weak. Fortunately, someone helped her up and supported her for a while.
His large palm pressed against her waist, the warmth seeping through the thin fabric. His slender knuckles were pressed against her bones, fitting perfectly, just like every night. She was startled and shuddered.
She tried her best to remain calm and not let Yu He'an notice anything unusual about her. He couldn't possibly see through her skin and know that she dreamed of him every night.
She took a few deep breaths. The person behind her had already left. She turned to the side and saw Yu He'an following Granny Liu to the doctor. She only glanced at him briefly before quickly looking away.
Yu He'an was wearing a light scarlet, wide-sleeved, front-opening official robe with black trim on the collar and cuffs, and a leather belt around his waist, as if he had just returned.
Yu He'an got promoted in such a short time? Could it be because of his recent assignment abroad?
She didn't even know about such a joyous occasion.
As expected, her choice was right. It was the best for everyone. Although she wasn't the smartest, she knew which path was the easiest and least strenuous.
Her joy had barely lasted a few dozen breaths when she suddenly realized that if Yu He'an hadn't taken the initiative to find her after leaving the Marquis's residence, she would have known nothing about him.
Yu He'an had finished discussing the plan with the doctors, and the doctors withdrew.
The footsteps grew closer, and the whole room became oppressive. She sat upright on the small round stool with her legs together, her back straight, afraid that her secret would be discovered.
The scarlet figure stopped beside her, stood there for several breaths, and then spoke, "Go to the couch and sleep for a while. I'll stay here and keep watch."
"No, thank you." Since Yu He'an was here, she didn't intend to make things difficult for herself, but she dared not sleep here. What if she had a dream? "I'll go back to sleep and come back early tomorrow morning."
"Yu Tan, is it unbearable for you to be with me?" Her tone was extremely pitiful, as if she had been driven to the brink of despair.
She looked up in surprise. Yu He'an's face was thinner, making his jawline appear even sharper, like a drawn blade.
There were dark circles under his narrow eyes, which flickered in the light-colored pupils.
Some people, disregarding the scorching candlelight in the darkness, would hold the candle in their hands, only to watch it slowly go out, leaving them with nothing but bloodied hands.
She felt a little unwell.
It's very uncomfortable.
Author's Note: Thank you MiMaoXiHaYeZeIronBloodBGWarrior for the nutrient solution. [Hugs][Hugs][Hugs]
Yu He'an: The name itself means insatiable desire. Once that opening is made, once the restraints are broken, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. When pursuing a wife, if soft methods don't work, he'll use hard methods; if hard methods don't work, he'll use underhanded methods, and on the surface, he'll have to pretend to be pitiful.
They have the responsibility.
The name Yu Tan has been explained long ago. The Yu Tan flower, which is nurtured for a whole spring and only blooms for an hour, is her original fate. It was too tragic, so the nickname Yao Yao was added.
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