Chapter 303 Regret for ever being with me
“Since Lord Lu has seen through me, please let me go,” Jiang Zhi said, her eyes stinging as she pried his hand away. “I’m going back to my residence.”
The force on her waist was like an iron clamp, making her unable to move at all.
Lu Yuan gritted his teeth, his voice sounding as if it came from the underworld.
"Unless you give me a reason that is convincing enough."
"If you think I'll let go obediently, then you've misjudged me."
"Jiang Zhi, don't force me."
His chest heaved violently, like a trapped beast struggling.
Jiang Zhi couldn't break free, so she lowered her head and used all her strength to bite his hand.
Lu Yuan seemed completely oblivious to the pain, letting her bite open his palm until it bled profusely.
He just stared at her, not letting her leave, without saying a word, as stubborn as a glacier that has never melted, leaving no room for maneuver.
Jiang Zhi bit her lip until it ached. When she saw Lu Yuan's blood-covered palm, her nose suddenly stung, and her heart felt like it was stuffed with cotton, an indescribable discomfort.
"Reason," he said in a cold, deep voice.
"Let me go." Jiang Zhi could no longer hold on, and tears streamed down her face, instantly soaking his clothes.
She relented and then fiercely struck him, but Lu Yuan remained oblivious, gripping her wrist with a deep, unfathomable gaze.
"Give me a reason, and I'll let you go if you can convince me."
Jiang Zhi sniffed, a struggle and hesitation flashing in her eyes.
Finally, she made up her mind and calmed down, "Okay, you want a reason, I can give you one."
"Lord Lu, there is no need to go to great lengths to investigate, nor is there any need to probe indirectly."
She stared straight at him, ignoring the suffocating pain in her chest. "Do you know why I don't want you to call me Chanyi? Because I did come from a brothel, and my nickname was Chanyi. Not only that, I also worked in the Zhongqin Earl's mansion and was Yan Wenkang's concubine."
"Is this reason satisfactory, Lord Lu?"
Lu Yuan's expression changed drastically.
Yan Wenkang.
He remembered seeing Jiang Zhi hiring someone to beat up Yan Wenkang in the alley. At the time, he thought Jiang Zhi had only taken action because she couldn't stand Yan Wenkang's persistent harassment.
But when did she ever enter the Earl of Loyalty's mansion?
How could he be related to Yan Wenkang?
Before he could even sort things out, he saw Jiang Zhi's face show a resolute determination, and she smiled again.
"Oh, by the way, I was also kept in a brothel by Xiao Xuanyou for a period of time, and I briefly fell in love with him, and even became pregnant with his child. Although I eventually drank an abortifacient and did not keep the child."
Lu Yuan felt as if he had been punched; the coldness in his eyes was washed away by the turbulent waves, and he felt a mouthful of bloody sweetness rush into his throat.
"Do you still want to be with me now?" Looking at Lu Yuan's expression, she knew that her worries had been justified.
How could Lu Yuan not mind this version of himself?
"Look, I didn't want to tell you this, I wanted us to part amicably. Now that you know what kind of person I am, you must find me disgusting and regret ever being with me, right?"
"Stop talking," Lu Yuan said, struggling to find his voice. "Stop talking, A-Zhi."
He had difficulty breathing, his chest felt tight, and all his strength seemed to be drained away in an instant.
He wanted to tell himself that Jiang Zhi was lying, that she was deliberately deceiving him to push him away.
But seeing her resolute and desperate expression, even the last glimmer of hope vanished.
His pupils were unfocused, and his usually sharp eyes were now shrouded in a deathly mist. He didn't even know how he finally got back to the Northern Garrison Command.
Ye Qi saw him dismount and stepped forward to greet him, "Boss..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Lu Yuan staggered and spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered all over the stone tablet at the entrance.
"Boss!!"
Ye Qi was so frightened that she rushed forward to support him. "What happened? Who hurt you?"
Lu Yuan waved his hand, indicating that he was fine. "Ye Qi, go and investigate something for me. It concerns the Crown Prince and... Princess Qinghe. Be careful and do not reveal anything to anyone."
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These days, Jiang Zhi tries her best to keep herself busy.
She spent three days sorting out the accounts and uncovered the steward who had been secretly falsifying accounts and lining his own pockets.
Xiao Xuanyou didn't care much about Qifeng Tower and didn't manage it much, which fostered the ambition of the manager.
She also instructed the madam to return the indentures of the women who had been forced into the Qifeng Tower but did not wish to stay, and gave them a considerable amount of money.
But many people still prefer to stay at Qifeng Tower.
Many of them were orphans without parents, and even if they left Qifenglou, they would not be able to find a place to live in the capital on their own.
Moreover, those who have frequented brothels rarely manage to start a new life; they are often drowned in the scorn of their neighbors.
In addition, since men in the world are often fickle, they were afraid of entrusting themselves to the wrong person and ending up losing both their money and their love. They thought it better to stay in Qifeng Tower and stick together with their sisters for mutual support. Even Jiangxue made the same decision.
As the days passed, Jiang Zhi traveled back and forth between the Shen residence and Qifeng Tower, deliberately avoiding inquiring about Lu Yuan's whereabouts, and Lu Yuan never came to see her again.
Jiang Zhi's heart finally turned cold.
Lu Yuan was indeed bothered by it.
That's better than him finding out about it himself and then abandoning him without mercy.
More than a month later, Xie Qi defeated all the Northern Di tribes, preventing them from having the strength to make a comeback for a hundred years, and finally led his army back to the capital.
Jiang Zhi knew that the opportunity Xiao Xuanyou had been waiting for had finally arrived.
Xie Qi subdued the Northern Di, and Emperor Xuanzhao was overjoyed. Rewards were continuously sent from the palace to the Marquis of Wuyi's residence.
Furthermore, a victory celebration banquet was held in the palace to welcome Xie Qi and his generals back.
Shen Ci'an and Jiang Zhi also received the imperial decree to attend the banquet in the palace.
"Young Miss, please be careful when you enter the palace this time. Apart from what you have discussed with the Crown Prince, you don't need to worry about anything else. I will take care of things outside."
On the carriage leading to the palace, Shen Ci'an held Jiang Zhi's hand with some reluctance.
After this, they may not see each other for a long time.
Since returning to the capital, he has returned to his residence every day, no matter how late it is. Except for the few days when Jiang Zhi and Lu Yuan went to Jing County to find Hong Xuan, they have never been apart.
Jiang Zhi nodded, "Alright, Master, please take good care of yourself. I will have the Crown Prince send you a message later."
The two talked for a while, and soon arrived at the palace gate.
After getting off the carriage, Jiang Zhi and Shen Ci'an were led to the front hall and the inner palace respectively, and thus parted ways.
Shen Ci'an took a few steps, then stopped and looked back at Jiang Zhi's retreating figure as she was led away by the palace maid. He felt a pang of sadness and clenched his sleeves.
"Lord Shen, this way please," the eunuch leading the way urged, bowing low.
Shen Ci'an sighed and followed.
He will pave the way for the young lady, ensuring her a worry-free journey.
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