Chapter 50: "If God can't do it, then I will..."
As dusk fell, petals were scattered by the wind, bringing with them laughter and chatter. Passersby outside the door couldn't help but prick up their ears to listen, but all they heard were bursts of laughter.
As night fell, the Huai River, not far away, was filled with the sounds of wine and song. The moon and stars were few, illuminating the slightly flushed faces of the group.
On the table were the food that Chu Zhiyan had brought from the music hall, a jar of fine osmanthus wine, and two small pots of jasmine drink suitable for the three girls.
Several people sat around a round table, not minding the crowd. Little Tortoiseshell, having drunk for half a day, was starting to feel tipsy. His eyes shone like stars. After shaking his head for a moment, he suddenly suggested, "I remember Xia Ling telling me once that you guys played drinking games. We happen to have some wine today, why don't we play a game?"
There were six people, three men and three women. Xia Ling was the happiest. She was so excited that she stomped her feet and quickly took out a finger to mark out the positions.
The camps naturally became Qian Yingyi with Qin Lizheng, Xia Ling with Chu Zhiyan, and Chuntang with Xiao Daimao.
Xia Ling tilted her head, thinking of a game even more interesting than rock-paper-scissors. She said cheerfully, "Rock-paper-scissors is so boring! How about this, the three of us girls play, comparing only the numbers on our fingers, the one with the lowest number..."
She looked at the three men and gave them a sinister smile. "The youngest one is the loser, and the other two are the winners. The punishment is half a cup of wine in front of you. You three big men will drink it for us. The loser... if he reacts quickly and drinks the wine in the cup within three breaths, he will be off the hook. If he doesn't react within three breaths, then the two winners will pour the wine. How much or how little he pours is up to the two winners."
The little hawksbill turtle was confused and asked, "Why didn't I understand?"
Chu Zhiyan laughed, “It’s very simple. For example, if you are in a group with Chuntang, and Chuntang is the loser, and you drink the wine within three breaths, Xiao Qin and I will not pour wine for you. On the contrary, if you are slow to react, then we decide whether there is more or less wine in your cup.”
Upon hearing this, the little tortoiseshell suddenly understood. Immediately, it rubbed its hands together, mustered all its energy, placed its hands on its knees, and straddled the ground with great poise. "Come on!"
Qian Yingyi glanced at Qin Lizheng, who had unconsciously placed his fingers on the table, and then cheerfully joined the two maids in playing a drinking game.
It sounds simple, but it's actually quite difficult. In the first round, Xia Ling had the lowest score. Chu Zhiyan was focused on watching her throw her punch when he realized she was the loser. He hurriedly grabbed his wine glass, about to drink, when Qin Lizheng stopped him.
Qin Lizheng's slightly thin lips held a hint of a smile. "Three breaths have passed."
Chu Zhiyan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "Was I a little slow to react?"
Little Tortoiseshell chuckled twice, then quickly got up to pour him some wine, "Drink, drink, drink!"
The young man poured the wine carelessly, almost shoving the entire wine jar into Chu Zhiyan's hands. Qin Lizheng, on the other hand, showed some mercy, only pouring a token amount.
And so, the three girls played drinking games again.
This time, Qian Yingyi had the lowest score. She hurriedly looked at Qin Lizheng, who was smiling and staring at her. He quickly drank the wine in his glass, then turned the glass upside down to indicate that he had been punished.
The little hawksbill turtle pouted and scoffed, "I knew I couldn't catch you."
The ensuing finger-guessing game seemed to be deliberately against the youngest boy. When Chuntang lost, for the first time, Xiao Daimao didn't react in time and was caught by Chu Zhiyan for "retribution".
Soon Chuntang lost every round, and the wine went down to Xiao Daimao's belly cup after cup. His cheeks turned red, and seeing that there were no outsiders, he simply bent down and hugged Chuntang's waist tightly, pleading, "Grandpa, please win this time."
Chuntang was also slightly drunk. She propped her head up and looked at him, gesturing with one hand—just consider this a practice session for your drinking capacity, since you'll have to drink on your wedding day too.
Xia Ling and Qian Yingyi chuckled to themselves and then began to use sign language with Chun Tang.
One gesture—Aren't you ashamed? Thinking about marrying him, you're a little impatient, aren't you?
With a gesture—Oh dear, Chuntang, you're just saying this to him so casually. Luckily, those two don't understand what you're saying.
Qin Lizheng and Chu Zhiyan indeed didn't understand. Qin Lizheng had been by Qian Yingyi's side for so long, and he could only understand some of the simple things about Chuntang's sign language. Let alone Chu Zhiyan.
Chu Zhiyan was slightly taken aback, then suddenly laughed and said, "What are you saying behind our backs?"
Little Tortoiseshell understood, its face flushing even more. It quickly straightened itself from Chuntang's embrace, raised its wine cup again, glanced at the moon overhead, coughed twice, and, wanting to change the subject, said:
"In short, we've gathered together tonight because of Xiao Qin's birthday. To be honest, I, Jiang Yu, am just an ordinary commoner. What merit do I have to... be able to know such important people as you?"
He paused, turned his head slightly to look at Chuntang, and said, "What virtue or ability do I have to marry the one I love?"
The boy, a hazy intoxication rising within him, raised his glass high, a wildly unrestrained smile spreading across his lips. "A toast to the moon, a toast to us, a toast to the mountains and rivers, a toast to the true feelings in this world!"
The remaining people were gradually infected by the spirit, and one by one they stood up and raised their glasses. The night breeze rustled through the air, carrying with it the most heartfelt voices, "To the moon, to us."
The jasmine drink was slightly cool and had a hint of sweetness. Qian Yingyi had just put down her wine glass when a hand reached out, grabbed the pot of jasmine drink, poured her a small cup, and then placed the cup in her hand.
She glanced up and saw Qin Lizheng's smiling expression.
The next moment, he took her other hand, which was hanging by her skirt, and with a "clink," he bumped her wine glass against it. His voice was low and tender, hovering in her ear, "To you, the best Yingyi in the world."
With her friends laughing beside her, her beloved before her, and the night view in the air, Qian Yingyi had a strange feeling in this inconspicuous moment—this glass of wine seemed to have become a toast for the two of them.
She chuckled to herself, then secretly stuck her toes out from under her skirt and gently kicked him. "What are you doing?"
Qin Lizheng's eyes held an excessively gentle smile, and a layer of eyelash shadows and a touch of pale red floated beneath his eyelids, making his usually overly sharp eyebrows seem to hold affection. He raised an eyebrow slightly, "Don't dare to drink?"
It was as if he had already guessed what she was thinking.
Qian Yingyi couldn't stand this kind of provocation. She defiantly gripped his fingertips, drank the jasmine wine in her glass, and a hint of defiance flashed in her eyes. "What's there to be afraid of?"
The two exchanged knowing glances, but Xia Ling was still in high spirits. Seeing that the finger-guessing game was getting boring, she remembered the many stalls she had passed on her way here and said, "I saw some people selling horse-drawn cards outside, not far away. I wonder if the vendor has left or not. Do you guys want to play this?"
Chu Zhiyan was always considerate in front of young ladies, so he stood up and said, "I'll go take a look."
Before long, he returned with a brand new deck of mahjong tiles, looking slightly surprised. "This stuff is only played in the capital, but now it's even spread to Nanjing. Don't all the ladies and young women in Nanjing like to play it?"
Xia Ling secretly rolled her eyes. "Deputy Commander, your information is really outdated. Decades ago, when Miss and I were still in the capital, we played this together. Ten years is not a short time. Even a mosquito flying from the capital to Nanjing should have arrived in ten years, right?"
Chu Zhiyan chuckled awkwardly and quickly bowed, "Yes, yes, Lady Xia Ling is right to reprimand me."
As soon as he finished speaking, he took down the signboard, looked around the house, and asked Qin Lizheng, "Where are all your thin blankets? Take them out so the girls can drape them over their shoulders. It's getting chilly outside, and the girls are easily catching a cold after drinking some wine."
Qin Lizheng nodded slightly, turned and went to the west wing, his figure disappearing into the dark room.
Taking advantage of his temporary departure, Chu Zhiyan withdrew his gaze, smiled at Qian Yingyi, and said, "Miss Qian, you are truly thoughtful today."
Qian Yingyi smiled at him, "Don't just praise me. Actually, he may look cold, but he considers you all his friends. I was thinking to myself, shouldn't birthdays be celebrated in a lively way? You guys are so thoughtful, not minding the trouble of planning with me."
After she finished speaking, seeing that Qin Lizheng hadn't come out yet, Qian Yingyi muttered to herself, "Why hasn't he come out yet?"
He immediately said, "I'll go take a look," and got up to go into the room he had turned into.
Moonlight streamed through the gauze window. Qian Yingyi stepped over the threshold, craning her neck to peek into the room. After a quick search, she didn't see Qin Lizheng, and a sense of doubt crept into her heart. She called softly, "A-Zheng?"
The moonlight reflected on the ground. In the stillness, there was a sudden rustling sound of fabric behind the door. A faint scent of mint swept over Qian Yingyi from behind, and a hand pulled her into an embrace, supporting her back against the door.
Once they were standing still, Qin Lizheng released her, spread his arms and rested them on her shoulders, his eyes gleaming as he stared intently at her.
Qian Yingyi was startled and wanted to yell at him, but the door beside her was wide open, and she realized that they were separated by a door, hiding in this narrow and dimly lit little world.
She glanced up at him, gave him a slight glare, and asked in a low voice, "Where's the blanket?"
Qin Lizheng smiled lazily, "You really think he wants a blanket?"
Sure enough, Qian Yingyi stood still in front of him for a moment, then heard the little tortoise outside calling out indistinctly, "Drink some more!"
Xia Ling, still half-asleep, chimed in, "I'm so happy today, I...I want to drink some more too."
Then came Chu Zhiyan's chuckle, "How can you drink like this? Come on, I'll take you back."
"Xiao Qin, no need to look for blankets! These guys are pretty drunk!"
Qin Lizheng's burning gaze was fixed on Qian Yingyi's face, but he didn't say anything.
After a long pause, there was a series of chaotic footsteps, then the door opened and closed, and the courtyard fell silent again, with only the rustling of the wind remaining.
Qian Yingyi snapped out of her daze and punched his hard arm. "You're deliberately trying to provoke me again!"
Qin Lizheng looked languid, his eyes clear, showing no sign of drunkenness.
He gently grasped her chin, lifted it slightly, and breathed his warm, fragrant breath onto her face. He lightly pecked the tip of her nose as an apology.
He then smiled, the moonlight reflecting the burning heat in his eyes, "Where's my birthday gift?"
Qian Yingyi pursed her lips and turned her face away, "Who told you there would be a birthday gift?"
Qin Lizheng let out a slightly dejected sigh, "Nothing?"
"...Chu Zhiyan must have given you some code word just now, telling you in advance, right?" Qian Yingyi bit her lower lip lightly, staring at him resentfully. "Who would ask someone for this on their own initiative?"
Despite her words, she pulled out a string of shiny little trinkets from her purse and placed them heavily on Qin Lizheng's palm. "They were made by hand. If you dare to complain that they're ugly, I'll leave right now."
Qin Lizheng was initially surprised. In fact, he had only guessed that she had prepared a birthday gift and was thinking of teasing her. He held it up to his eyes for a closer look and was surprised to find that it was a silver ring on a thin silver chain.
His name was engraved on it, nestled close to hers, though the characters were slightly crooked and the workmanship of the ring wasn't quite as smooth. But that didn't stop him from treasuring this sentiment. After a moment of hesitation, he handed it back to her, lowered his neck, and said in a hoarse voice, "Put it on for me."
Qian Yingyi chuckled to herself, took the silver chain and put it around his neck, then poked his chest. "Aren't you going back to the capital first? If you take those people back, it will take more than a month by land. Including your rush back to Jinling to pick me up, it will take about forty days in total. With this, you can pretend that I'm still by your side, okay?"
Qin Lizheng looked at her under the moonlight and couldn't help but chuckle, half-jokingly saying, "Then why don't you come back with me?"
Qian Yingyi's fingertips passed through the ring, pulling him down until his breath was on her neck. "You wish! Escorting criminals isn't that easy. It's dirty and smelly. I don't want to do it."
"Just kidding. I'll come pick you up then, we'll travel by water," Qin Lizheng said, tilting his head to kiss her cheek, his breath becoming increasingly erratic. "I really like your birthday gift."
His two slightly cool lips gradually warmed up, tracing across her chin and landing on her lips, just like before, the kiss was urgent and forceful, filled with intense desire.
Their lips made wet, wet sounds. In the heat of the moment, because of the height difference, Qian Yingyi was pulled up by her legs and hugged. She kissed her haphazardly while saying intermittently, "I'm very happy, so, Yingyi, you should be happy too."
The two passed through the wind, their shadows trailing behind them as they slipped into the main room. When Qian Yingyi was pressed against the cold wall, she shrank back, then suddenly gripped his collar tightly. Her voice, tinged with desire, grew softer, "My back is so cold..."
Qin Lizheng let out a low breath, his eyes dark and deep, like a black lake.
He licked his lower lip, suddenly picked her up and turned around, quickening his pace to lead her to the table.
Qian Yingyi suddenly felt a tightness around her waist, and then she was turned over, her waist bending slightly.
Before her lay his notes spread out on the table. After a moment of silence, the sound of his robes rustling behind her was followed by a wave of heat enveloping her back.
Qin Lizheng stretched out his arms and embraced her, sighing softly, "Looking back, we've come from spring to autumn together. When we first met, Jinling was terribly damp and cold. Summer has only just ended, and now it's getting cold again."
Qian Yingyi's shoulders trembled, and her waist bent even more as he embraced her, which allowed her to see clearly what was written in those notes by the moonlight.
Qin Lizheng untied the ribbon on her stand-up collar jacket, then gently brushed his nose against hers. The warm touch fell on her slightly thin vest. As if knowing she was reading a journal, he flicked her waist with his finger. "Still reading?"
"You wrote in your journal that I'm a restless sleeper?" Qian Yingyi's voice went weak, her elbows resting on the table as she gritted her teeth in anger. "How could I have done that?"
Before she could continue, his hand covered her pounding heart, gently stirring the flutter in her heart. His voice was soft, with a hint of grievance, "You're not being honest, and you won't even let me say it to your face. You kicked me several times and I almost rolled off the bed. I wrote it down in my journal, and I can read it by myself. Why can't I?"
Qian Yingyi let out two soft hums, her breathing becoming heavier. Just moments ago she had felt a slight chill, but now it was as if time had reversed, instantly transporting her back to the humid summer.
Sweat soaked through the hem of her skirt, leaving it slightly damp, and she sought a sliver of coolness amidst the burning sensation. "Ah Zheng... Ah Zheng..."
Every time he heard her call him A-Zheng, the love that surged wildly in Qin Lizheng's heart would grow taller and more abundant, like tangled weeds. He moved closer to her in a low voice, kissed the back of her ear, and replied in a deep voice, "I'm here."
Qian Yingyi blinked her slightly moist eyes, and suddenly her breath caught in her throat. The coolness she craved blocked her heat, and continued to gently and mischievously swirl around, gathering all her feelings on it and teasing her.
Her voice became increasingly out of tune, her waist bent close to the desk, and she suddenly lunged forward, followed by the silver ring that she had clumsily learned to make from the blacksmith.
The amulet seemed to be ingrained in her body, standing behind her, and as he approached, it rolled little by little across her back.
Holding his other hand tightly, he remained patient, like a diligent student, gently comforting her and coaxing her softly, "Great...good Yingyi..."
On the one hand, he made sure the ring fit her perfectly, allowing her to experience his tenderness and love time and time again, a love that was deeply etched in her heart.
From conscious to drowsy, Qian Yingyi alternated between a chill and a wave of heat. She vaguely remembered what day it was, and trembling with panic, tried to sit up, "You haven't finished celebrating your birthday yet..."
As the tide receded, Qin Lizheng was not entirely satisfied.
He turned her over, then sat down in the chair, his expression revealing a subtle, ruthless intent unique to this moment, and pulled her into his arms.
He let her rest on his shoulder, then pulled her hand and stirred a new wave within him. "Birthday doesn't matter, what matters is that you're here."
Under the solitary moonlight, their two hearts remained tightly bound together, feeling no loneliness whatsoever.
In this moonlit night, they held each other's hands as if cupping a handful of ever-flowing hot spring, gradually merging with the moonlight, enveloped only in a long, tender embrace.
The next morning, Qin Lizheng secretly escorted Qian Yingyi back to the Qian residence. On his way back, he unexpectedly bumped into Liang Tu in front of the door.
Qin Lizheng suppressed his slightly excited heart and asked, "What is this, sir?"
Several days have passed since Liang Xizhao returned to his side. Liang Tu often pondered late at night whether or not he should help Qin Lizheng. This time, he finally figured it out and, as Qian Yingyi had predicted, took the initiative to find Qin Lizheng.
Liang Tu maintained his expression, bowed to Qin Lizheng, and said, "I hope you can really bring down Prince Rui."
With just one sentence, Qin Lizheng knew he had nodded, so he simply reached out his hand and shook it tightly, his voice deep, "Yes, you will be able to live in the sunshine with Xixi then."
Liang Tu nodded, a hint of excitement in his eyes. He couldn't help but think that perhaps in the near future, he would truly be able to see the light again and overthrow all darkness.
As September begins, the air is crisp and the dew is cool. In the golden autumn, osmanthus blossoms are in full bloom, and paulownia leaves are falling. People's robes are a little thicker than they were in summer.
Yet there are still those shirtless farmers who shuttle back and forth in the fields, their sweat becoming rain that nourishes the crops, causing all kinds of crops to grow wildly at this time, just waiting for a sharp sickle to cut them open, so that they can repay this rain.
While some people toil away to make a living, others flaunt their wealth and hold lavish banquets. Why? It turns out that the fifth day of the ninth month is Guo Yue's birthday.
Because she was frequently invited to play at the Prince's Mansion, Guo Yue was secretly pleased that her marriage to Yu Minsen was a fact that no longer needed to be guessed. Furthermore, because her father was promoted, the timidity that had been ingrained in her bones was completely overturned.
She held a grand banquet with flowing wine cups on a winding stream, all to make Guo Yue's name known throughout the entire city of Jinling.
All the invitations were sent out, and apart from the Yan and Qian families, the ladies from other households accepted them.
The officials behind them, having heard of the close ties between the Guo family and the Prince Rui's residence, secretly began to speculate, saying:
"Although Prince Rui is a vassal king, he holds a certificate of merit, so he will never have to worry about food and drink in this life. We make a living in Jinling and often travel outside, so let's not refuse him. It will make things easier when we meet in the future."
So on Guo Yue's birthday, even Mrs. Fan brought Fan Baozhu to the Guo family.
Guo Yue has turned the tables this time, wearing an elaborate dress with a skirt that swayed like a butterfly. She also talked a lot with Fan Baozhu throughout the day.
As the banquet drew to a close and the sun began to cast its golden glow, Guo Yue caught a glimpse of Fan Baozhu about to leave. Thinking of how she herself was to marry Yu Minsen, while Fan Baozhu could only marry into the already powerless Yan family, she couldn't help but say something sarcastic, "I remember, the day after tomorrow is Sister Baozhu's engagement day, isn't it?"
Fan Baozhu naturally sensed the arrogance in her tone, but she didn't argue with her, instead basking in the joy of the upcoming engagement. "Yes, will you be attending the ceremony?"
"I won't be attending the ceremony. I've arranged with the Crown Prince to charter a pleasure boat for a river cruise the day after tomorrow."
Fan Baozhu smiled and waved her hand dismissively, "Then I wish you happiness, I'll be going now."
They rode back to the Fan residence in a carriage together. Mrs. Fan went inside first, and just as Fan Baozhu stepped onto a stone step, a soft voice suddenly called out from beside her, "Baozhu."
She thought she was hallucinating, her eyes filled with surprise as she stared blankly at Yan Ruheng, who was hidden behind the side gate. The twilight lay on his drooping shoulder, like an endless fire, illuminating his slightly tired expression clearly.
Because Mrs. Fan's family was quite particular, she suggested that the two should not meet before their engagement. As a result, Fan Baozhu and Yan Ruheng had not seen each other for five or six days.
Fan Baozhu was delighted. With a smile, she dismissed the maid and avoided the gatekeeper. She tiptoed toward Yan Ruheng's house. When she got closer, she asked, "Why are you here?"
A smile played on Yan Ruheng's lips. "I had something on my mind, so I came to see you."
"Did you have fun today?" he asked.
Fan Baozhu thought for a moment and answered truthfully, "Well... I'm not really happy. I didn't want to go, but my mother insisted on taking me. And you're not with me. Guo Yue dressed up beautifully today, but I'm not envious at all. When we left, she took the opportunity to mock me. I understood, but I just didn't want to argue with her."
Just as he was about to look up at Yan Ruheng, Yan Ruheng suddenly handed him a square brocade box and said with a smile, "Open it tomorrow; it contains my heartfelt wishes."
Fan Baozhu looked slightly surprised, but then a deep smile spread across her face. She hugged the brocade box to her chest, glanced around, and seeing that no one was around, kissed him on the lips. "You can go now. You'll see me first thing the day after tomorrow."
Yan Ruheng nodded slightly, a faint light flickering in his eyes, and turned away.
He hadn't taken two steps when he turned back to look at Fan Baozhu. Seeing that she was still standing there watching him go, he was momentarily moved. Suddenly, he strode over and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"...Saburo?"
Yan Ruheng nuzzled her shoulder and neck with his chin, a sigh escaping his lips, "Don't think about unhappy things. Be happy every day from now on, understand?"
Fan Baozhu nodded blankly, "I understand..."
After a long pause, Yan Ruheng's pent-up emotions subsided. He released her, his fingertips tracing her cheek, and without saying anything more, he turned and left.
Yan Ruheng walked straight across the banks of the Qinhuai River, and after a while, he turned into the alley of the Yan family, but instead passed through the vermilion gate of the Yan family and stopped in front of the door of the house next door.
The family living there was a merchant named Feng, who was in the ceramics business and had considerable wealth. However, he and the Yan family had never gotten along well, simply because Yan Yu looked down on merchants and often complained about the Feng family living next door.
Just then, a figure walked out of the Feng family's gate. It was Mrs. Feng. By then, it was getting dark, and she was startled to see someone standing silently outside the house.
He stepped forward with the lantern and shone it on the person, then breathed a sigh of relief. "Sanlang, it's you! Why aren't you home? What are you doing standing here?"
Mrs. Feng was very kind to Yan Ruheng, after all, she had watched him grow up.
Yan Ruheng looked at her quietly for a moment and said, "Aunt Feng, speaking of which, all these years have passed and Sanlang has never given you any gifts."
Mrs. Feng was a little confused and misunderstood. She waved her hand dismissively and said, "Oh, you're so kind. Your father is arrogant and doesn't care. So many years have passed, and our family has long since stopped holding a grudge against him. Are you trying to apologize to us on your father's behalf? No need, my good child. It's late, and it's cold outside. Go home first."
Yan Ruheng stood silently for a while without saying a word. Seeing Mrs. Feng holding a lantern, he asked again, "Where is Aunt Feng going?"
"Oh, your Uncle Feng said he wanted to eat the braised goose from the riverside eatery. He broke his leg a few days ago and it's inconvenient for him, so I took two people to buy it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she walked past Yan Ruheng and headed towards the alley entrance, but he stopped her after only two steps. "Aunt Feng hasn't met my fiancée yet, has she?"
"If you have time, you should meet her too."
Mrs. Feng smiled and waved her hand, "I know, I haven't congratulated you yet. You've grown up so much. Go home now."
After saying this, Mrs. Feng led the two old women to the riverbank.
Just then, the banks of the Qinhuai River were bustling and dazzling. Qin Lizheng and Qian Yingyi were playing chess in a dark room of the music hall. Chu Zhiyan watched quietly for half a day and sighed with a smile, "Miss Qian's chess skills are quite good."
Qian Yingyi laughed, "I learned it from my grandfather."
After devouring one of Qin Lizheng's pieces, she glanced at the slightly calmer river beside her and asked, "Fan Baozhu is engaged to Yan Ruheng the day after tomorrow, which means Lord Fan will make his move the following day. Are you planning to arrest them directly and catch them off guard?"
Chu Zhiyan nodded, "We've been exposed for so long without taking any action, just waiting for this day. We'll make them panic and guess what's going on. If they can't guess correctly, they'll be terrified for a few days. If they still can't wait for us to make a move, they'll eventually lower their guard."
“These days, Lin Bianhong has only been going to the government office as usual, and after work he stays at home. He is obviously very frightened and is also the most cautious.”
“Yan Yu is different from him,” Chu Zhiyan whispered to Qian Yingyi, winking at her. “That’s human nature. When something is lacking, people will always try to make up for it with something else. After he was dismissed from his post and fell out with Lin Bianhong, he became somewhat reckless in his actions. We had already guessed that he was just trying to get rid of Lord Fan so that he could escape when the time came.”
This was the first time Qian Yingyi had heard about Yan Yu's secret, and what shocked her even more was Yan Ruheng: "He's not Yan Yu's biological son?"
Before she could say a few more words to the two men, there was a knock at the door. The Imperial Guard responsible for keeping an eye on the Yan family entered with a solemn expression and reported, "Commander, Deputy Commander, Yan Ruheng is acting very strangely today."
Qin Lizheng paused, exchanged glances with Chu Zhiyan, and then asked, "What did he do?"
The Imperial Guard said, "He stayed indoors for the past few days, only going to the Yan family's kitchen a few times. Today he finally went out, first to the Fan family, then back home, but didn't go inside. He spoke a few words with the lady next door, surnamed Feng. It all seems very strange."
The Imperial Guard took two steps closer, intending to report Yan Ruheng's entire performance in detail, when suddenly a change occurred—
A sudden commotion arose outside the music hall, mixed with a few muffled thuds hidden in the rushing wind of the orchestra. Then someone shrieked, "Smoke! So much smoke!"
Qin Lizheng suddenly snapped out of his daze, his expression changed, and he immediately got up and rushed out, leaving behind the words, "Keep an eye on Yingyi for me!"
Qian Yingyi's eyes widened in shock, and she hurriedly asked Chu Zhiyan, "Yan Ruheng is acting strangely today. Has something happened to the Yan family?!"
She immediately lifted her skirt and ran outside, shouting, "I'm going with you! Chu Zhiyan, you go too! Hurry!"
What could make several people turn pale at the mere mention of it was no small matter. Just half an hour ago, after watching Madam Feng's figure disappear at the alley entrance, Yan Ruheng remained silent and entered the Yan residence.
As they walked to the small flower hall, they saw Yan Yu and Wang Cailing having a meal. So they said, "Father, Mother, I have something to say to you. Please come with me."
Yan Yu was quite satisfied with Yan Ruheng's "honest and well-behaved" behavior these past few days, so she put down her chopsticks, curious about what he had to say to her, and followed him with Wang Cailing.
After a long and winding journey, they arrived at Yan Ruheng's bedroom. Yan Ruheng led them in and sat them down at the round table. Only then did he frown and ask, "Why did you call us to your room out of the blue?"
Yan Ruheng quietly walked to the table, slowly ground the ink, and after a while wrote the character "烆". He then showed it to Yan Yu, "I heard my father say that when I was born and brought to your lap, he planned to name me with this character '烆', is that right?"
Yan Yu thought he was going to bring up old grievances again, and said dismissively, "It's just a word, what's there to care about?"
Wang Cailing pursed her lips, "I didn't want you to use a name that sounds the same as yours before."
Yan Ruheng smiled, holding up the paper, and nodded slightly. "You said you didn't want to, then why did you bring me here? Wasn't it for Yan Yu's selfish desires and to make up for the pain of losing your own child?"
“From a young age, I felt that you were not as close to me as you were to my sister. At that time, I thought it was because I was a boy that you were more critical of me,” Yan Ruheng said. “So even after I graduated from the prefectural school and passed the imperial examination, I always thought about bringing honor to my family and making you proud.”
"When my father revealed the truth while drunk, I couldn't accept it at first. Do you know what I couldn't accept?"
Yan Ruheng's eyes were still gloomy. "I can't accept that the father and mother I've called for twenty years aren't my father and mother. I can't accept the fact that I seem to have everything, but in reality I have nothing at all."
“I want to break away from you, but I can’t,” he said softly. “Call me a coward or a useless person, I’m like a tree. Even if the top half is cut off, the roots are still here. The family ties of the past twenty years... are all real in my heart.”
"So Yan Yu, when I didn't know the truth before, I helped you to be greedy because I was your son, and we were father and son. Now that I know the truth, I still help you to be greedy because I was your son for twenty years and sincerely called you father for so many years."
Yan Ruheng looked at Wang Cailing again, "I have also sincerely changed your mother all these years."
Gradually, he lowered his gaze, staring at the character "烆" on the paper, and forced a bitter smile. "But I also had my own life. If I had never come to your family and replaced my deceased second brother as your son, I wouldn't have to do this."
“Warm, warm light, I was born as a ball of fire.”
As he spoke, he let out another helpless sigh, "You know what? My sister has been missing for so long, and I've always envied her. Whether she's dead or alive, at least she's free... free..."
Yan Ruheng placed the paper in front of Yan Yu, turned around, went behind the door, and locked it. He hid the key in his sleeve.
He then squatted down and carefully dug at a slightly loose floor tile. “Yan Yu, the other day I said you had no heart. I’ve been thinking about it these past few days. I’ve been your son for over twenty years, so I’m probably somewhat like you.”
After a while, under Yan Yu's slightly astonished gaze, he pried open the floor tile with his fingertips stained with blood, and an overwhelming smell instantly swept through the entire room.
Yan Yu sniffed deeply, her eyes widening, and she instinctively sat up abruptly. "What's in your room?"
Yan Ruheng stood up again, took out a tinderbox from his pocket, stood still and looked at him quietly, his eyes like dark holes that wanted to suck Yan Yu's soul in. "Don't you remember? When I was young, because I studied hard, you hired very talented teachers for me. When I was eight, the teacher talked about the things in the world. I found it interesting, and after class, I mixed the saltpeter and sulfur he mentioned together to play with. You scolded me and I even got a beating."
His voice gradually began to chuckle. "Later, when I entered the prefectural school, the instructors there mentioned the 'Tiangong Kaiwu' (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature). I found my memories from when I was eight years old particularly interesting, so I paid attention to what the instructors said. These past few days, I've had some free time, so I've remembered them all."
He immediately threw the lit tinderbox down, stood beside it, and the sparks gradually ignited the hem of his robe. Slowly, a burst of flame shot up. He laughed maniacally, oblivious to the pain. Amid Wang Cailing's scream, he laughed until tears streamed down his face, startling the two of them into standing frozen in place. "Don't even think about escaping. I've buried gunpowder in the house."
He silently felt his robes growing increasingly hot from the fire, waiting for Yan Yu to show even a hint of remorse before her death. But when that didn't happen, he whispered:
"You want to drag someone else down with you as your scapegoat? I'll not let you have your way."
Yan Ruheng's voice grew increasingly indistinct, "When the time comes, we'll all die anyway. Since we're going to die sooner or later, I'll take you all with me first. Baozhu is a good girl, and Lord Fan's family is good too. They shouldn't die with us."
"Yan Yu, didn't you say that God wouldn't let you die?"
"If God can't do it, then I will."
The flames quickly grew stronger, and Yan Ruheng's expression became even more resolute. Wang Cailing and Yan Yu were terrified and ran behind him to knock on the door and cry for help. Amidst their screams, a burst of flames erupted—
With a loud "boom," the entire house was instantly filled with rubble and debris, one after another, like firecrackers exploding in the air in winter.
Thus, Yan Ruheng's tumultuous life was finally resolved, and Yan Yu and Wang Cailing went to the underworld together. No matter how noble they were in life, they were nothing but bones when they died.
Right and wrong, good and evil, are often separated by just a single thought.
When Qin Lizheng and his group rushed to the Yan residence, thick black smoke billowed above the entire house, and the fire had spread to the neighboring Feng residence. Maids and servants screamed and fled, shouting incessantly, "Young Master, along with Master and Madam, were blown up!"
Immediately, a crowd gathered, pointing and shouting. Qian Yingyi stared at the thick smoke, unable to help but take two steps back. She gently tugged at Qin Lizheng's sleeve, her expression filled with disbelief, "He... he's just dead like that?"
Qin Lizheng frowned and remained silent.
Before long, the soldiers from the Five Cities Garrison and the local militia also arrived.
The newly appointed prefect, Wei Ming, looked horrified. Upon seeing Qin Lizheng, he hurriedly asked, "Yan Yu is dead too?"
With Yan Yu dead, a single life had triggered chaos in Jinling. Without waiting for Lord Fan to make any move, Qin Lizheng seized the opportunity and ordered his men, "Immediately lead men to seal off all the city gates. Leave no one alive, including the Lin and Wang families! Move!"
The Imperial Guards were mobilized in a flurry of activity.
Qin Lizheng blocked Qian Yingyi's view, preventing her from seeing these things with her own eyes, and then bowed to Wei Ming, saying, "Please stay here, Lord Wei, as I have something else to attend to."
The next moment, he grabbed Qian Yingyi and rushed out, saying, "I'll take you home right away!"
Yan Ruheng's actions left Qian Yingyi still in shock. She was pulled along by him in the air filled with the smell of burning, and a tear was forced out by the raging fire.
She hurriedly climbed into the carriage, and Qian Yingyi grabbed him tightly, asking, "What are you going to do?"
Qin Lizheng's face was grim. He touched her face soothingly, a hint of agitation in his eyes. "Yan Yu suddenly lost her life. Those few can't possibly sit still. The most cunning one is Yu Chenghe."
"With Jinling in chaos, I can't let him escape in the confusion."
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Author's Note: Yan Ruheng's fate is sealed—
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